New York

Thanks! That is all super helpful. yeah we'll definitely be roaming around the city, just good to have some ideas close to where we are staying. Strand was already for sure on my list.

I'll be there tonight to Friday, it's an ILX Chicago to NYC exodus!

Go to the Lower East Side Tenement Museum!

Didn't make it to the Tenement Museum, couldn't convince the family. But we had a great time, my son is already asking when we can go again. Didn't hurt that he was able to get a selfie with Dustin from Stranger Things after the performance of Sweeney Todd we saw, and that he got to visit Flight Club, an apparently super popular sneaker store.

A few thoughts:
best food was Bazar Tapas on 26th, Black Tap (I loved the burgers, kid loved the insane shakes), Anita Gelato, Stone Street Tavern
Academy Records was great, found some good stuff at reasonable prices
Rough Trade at 30 Rock was fine I guess? decent selection, but packed with random tourists completely uninterested in looking at the selection (due to the location), also hate when these newer shops stock their CD shelves so you can only see the spines, makes it hard as hell to find anything and gives you a sore damn neck (lol, old)
shout out to the super nice bartender at Fraunces Tavern that let us bring the history loving kid in after 11 pm to look around and gave him a tour
Strand lived up to the reputation, had to come back a second time due to being kinda overwhelmed the first time on a crowded weekend day
McNally Jackson was really nice! obvs not as deep as Strand, but had a cool vibe, super friendly employees and a thoughtful approach to curation
Hadestown was fine, but honestly don't get the insane hype
kid loved the audio tour at Ellis Island
so glad to finally get to experience the Guggenheim
High Line kinda sucked tbh, we went at 9 am on a Tuesday and it was already so packed we could only kinda shuffle along
Felt really out of place at the ritzy Hudson Yards mall thing, but The Edge was cool
Fuck JK Rowling forever and I kind of felt gross about the Harry Potter store when we randomly stumbled upon it, but hard to argue with the absolute magic in my son's eyes as he got excited about all the wands and butterbeer and everything

all in all, A+++++++ visit would recommend, fuck the "NYC is scary and violent" narrative. can't wait to go back when my wife is less tied to her work and we can hit up some of the other boroughs.

Reviving Jon’s question above. We’re bringing our 3 teenage girls to NYC this weekend, also staying in Chelsea. They say they don’t want to book tickets for any shows and would rather wander south on shopping adventures. I’m into that but would welcome any ilxor endorsements or recs for exhibits or other events that don’t involve Times Sq or Central Park madness. South of Chelsea would be a plus but I’m shaky on NYC geography and am not picky on that point.

I'm pretty out of the loop on stuff, but I know there's a Harry Smith exhibit at the Whitney right now that looks pretty cool.

staten island ferry is free; brooklyn bridge park for views of LM (accessable via A/C to high st; F to York - CHECK YOUR WEEKEND TRAIN REPAIR INFO). Chinatown for curios and breakable stuff and good eats (Tasty Hand Pulled is my jam). Outdoor Holiday markets at union sq (near the Strand) and Bryant Park.

Wandering shopping from Bleecker St at christopher, all the way over to 10th and B and down to Reade or so (excite 4 u 2 b poor). Your garden variety brand names/flagship stores are on lower broadway so if ur looking for unique you won't find it there.

Central park is enormous and once you get about 70th st or so the crowds thin out dramatically (I would advise going to any of the 110th st stops and walking DOWN to the reservoir or belvedere castle)

If I knew what they actually liked I may be able to help more.

https://americanindian.si.edu/visit/reopening-ny

https://www.mocanyc.org/

https://www.govisland.com/things-to-do/events/winter-solstice-celebration

the new museum is cool and it is right on the bowery. https://www.newmuseum.org/exhibitions

for shopping, i recommend that area, like elizabeth street, mott street, etc. a little off from the main soho drag with the mall-like stores.

Walk south on the high line

Hudson yards is worth a trip, you can get to it from the high line as well

Thanks peeps