Looking for some advice from the BBI faithful.
My son (14) and I are visiting NY this weekend for a few days. We are staying near the Upper West Side a little north of the Natural History Museum.
So far plans are to head to the museum and take in a musical, but I am also looking for any advice on restaurants or recommended places to visit while we are out there for 3 days. Any things you would prioritize with a 14 year old? Always interested in good food places you have enjoyed as well.
Thanks!
Andrew
While not what anyone would describe as a "fun" trip, it is a very important place and a great chance for your son to experience American history (as strange as it is to type that since it feels like just yesterday).
If you are with your 14 y.o. son, it kind of depends what you guys are into. Modern Art? there is the MOMA. Airplanes and stuff? the Intrepid Museum.
It's endless of course, some like to see where their favorite TV shows were filmed, others like history and such. The tenement museum is terrific and Broadway deserves a thread of it's own.
Intrepid Museum, 46th and 12th.
Just amplifying some of this. Take the Staten Island ferry round trip. Great views of the city and the Statue of Liberty, especially at night. A walk across the brooklyn bridge is great...the return trip giving some of the greatest views of lower manhattan.
Stop in the actual tavern...the oldest standing structure in NY, btw, and have an Oyster Stout. You can eat in there as well so perhaps you can have lunch there. It might be the coolest place I've ever had a beer.
Take a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, great view of the city. Have a great time!
The Statute of Liberty may be the most beautiful public monument in America. DC can't even match it. Grand Central maybe the best public space in America. The ESB, Chrysler Building and Woolworth Building the best deco skyscrapers anywhere. Times Square is still completely unique. The Brooklyn bridge an historic masterpiece. So, I'd have to disagree a little.
But isn't there another deli that doesn't get quite the publicity that Katz's gets that's also really terrific and maybe even better than Katz's? I know there is a place I've seen on TV a couple of times that I thought if I ever get back to NYC I want to stop there.
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the tourist stuff is not so great, such as the Empire State Building, the Statute of Liberty, etc.
The Statute of Liberty may be the most beautiful public monument in America. DC can't even match it. Grand Central maybe the best public space in America. The ESB, Chrysler Building and Woolworth Building the best deco skyscrapers anywhere. Times Square is still completely unique. The Brooklyn bridge an historic masterpiece. So, I'd have to disagree a little.
Feel free to disagree, just my opinion. Maybe it is being dragged to those places on countless field trips make it not much of an attraction to me. However, I do agree with you that Brooklyn Bridge, especially walking over it, is a must.
I thought the Intrepid Museum was a waste of time IMO...but I am spoiled by Washington DC's Air and Space museum and Udvar-Hazy Center (Air and Space Annex) by Dulles Airport.
Museums otherwise are all excellent.
Pick one to go to top:
Rockefeller Center
Empire State Building
World Trade
Hit a Pizza Place
Johns Pizza on Bleecker (traditional) or Keste Pizza right across the street are both very good.
Go to Katz's Deli. It's a tourist trap...but a good one and is a neat experience. (Go to Economy Candy around the Corner as well)
Times Square at night is an absolute must do.
Take the Subways...cheap and entertaining.
Basically have fun and walk all over the place.
But isn't there another deli that doesn't get quite the publicity that Katz's gets that's also really terrific and maybe even better than Katz's? I know there is a place I've seen on TV a couple of times that I thought if I ever get back to NYC I want to stop there.
Pastrami Queen on Lex in the upper 70s?
I'd Uber or cab if you're staying within Manhattan.
The good thing about ubers specifically in NYC are they won't take the "long way" and sit on the cross streets for 20 minutes unnecessarily with the meter running like cabs may do, it's upfront pricing and you don't need to swipe your credit card.
Bad thing about Ubers is many of them are just regular people as opposed to maniacal NY cab drivers and don't drive like their hair is on fire and they need to get some water to put it out risking every pedestrian's life as well as your life and their own. So rides can take a lot longer even if they take the long way. I've seen uber drivers stop at yellow lights and let cars in - lol, never would a NY cab driver do that.
The point though is the subways smell like urine, have dirty people, are not always convenient, and are in no way entertaining (to me at least).
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And it is worth it. You must get a pastrami sandwich.
But isn't there another deli that doesn't get quite the publicity that Katz's gets that's also really terrific and maybe even better than Katz's? I know there is a place I've seen on TV a couple of times that I thought if I ever get back to NYC I want to stop there.
Pastrami Queen on Lex in the upper 70s?
Actually I think it's 2nd Ave Deli.
I'd Uber or cab if you're staying within Manhattan.
The good thing about ubers specifically in NYC are they won't take the "long way" and sit on the cross streets for 20 minutes unnecessarily with the meter running like cabs may do, it's upfront pricing and you don't need to swipe your credit card.
Bad thing about Ubers is many of them are just regular people as opposed to maniacal NY cab drivers and don't drive like their hair is on fire and they need to get some water to put it out risking every pedestrian's life as well as your life and their own. So rides can take a lot longer even if they take the long way. I've seen uber drivers stop at yellow lights and let cars in - lol, never would a NY cab driver do that.
The point though is the subways smell like urine, have dirty people, are not always convenient, and are in no way entertaining (to me at least).
But it is a different world to a 14 year old...
going 20-25 blocks...uber. Midtown to Downtown...Subway.
I bet his kid can get any number of burgers in Austin that are better or equal to the Shake Shack, but I am quite positive he cannot get a Pastrami sandwich in Austin better than Katz's deli. As an aside, Austin is a great city with great food, but the Shake Shack hamburger is a decent fast food burger, nothing more nothing less that can be surpassed in almost any mid to major city in America.! Coming to NYC to eat at the Shake Shack (besides if you are just passing by and are hungry)is a waste of a meal.
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instead of a Pastrami.
I bet his kid can get any number of burgers in Austin that are better or equal to the Shake Shack, but I am quite positive he cannot get a Pastrami sandwich in Austin better than Katz's deli. As an aside, Austin is a great city with great food, but the Shake Shack hamburger is a decent fast food burger, nothing more nothing less that can be surpassed in almost any mid to major city in America.! Coming to NYC to eat at the Shake Shack (besides if you are just passing by and are hungry)is a waste of a meal.
We have a Shake Shack in Orlando, now.
I agree, don't go to NYC and go to Shake Shack. One thing I wish I did though was go to Papaya King and get a hot dog. As a hot dog connoisseur, I definitely want to see what the hype is about.
Look I've yet to try Shake Shack and looking forward to the day that I do. I'm not criticizing!
I agree, don't go to NYC and go to Shake Shack. One thing I wish I did though was go to Papaya King and get a hot dog. As a hot dog connoisseur, I definitely want to see what the hype is about.
There are not many around anymore, but as a New Yorker, I never knew which one was the real one, "Gray Papaya" "King Papaya" "Papaya King" "Papaya's Dog" etc it is kind of like the Ray's Pizza, Original Ray's, Ray's original etc etc.
Yeah, we definitely have some great hamburger, steak, & BBQ places out here. The Austin food scene is actually awesome right now with a number of highly talented young chefs.
I'm looking forward to the Deli, Pizza, & Italian recommendations you all made. I keep talking about how much better they are in NY/NJ so this is perfect.
Also thanks for the recommendations on places to visit - especially the historical museums - I hadn't known about them and I think my son will love them!
Yeah, we definitely have some great hamburger, steak, & BBQ places out here. The Austin food scene is actually awesome right now with a number of highly talented young chefs.
I'm looking forward to the Deli, Pizza, & Italian recommendations you all made. I keep talking about how much better they are in NY/NJ so this is perfect.
Also thanks for the recommendations on places to visit - especially the historical museums - I hadn't known about them and I think my son will love them!
For Italian, Piccolo Angelo on Hudson street, plus from there it is a great walk through the west village.
I'd Uber or cab if you're staying within Manhattan.
The good thing about ubers specifically in NYC are they won't take the "long way" and sit on the cross streets for 20 minutes unnecessarily with the meter running like cabs may do, it's upfront pricing and you don't need to swipe your credit card.
Bad thing about Ubers is many of them are just regular people as opposed to maniacal NY cab drivers and don't drive like their hair is on fire and they need to get some water to put it out risking every pedestrian's life as well as your life and their own. So rides can take a lot longer even if they take the long way. I've seen uber drivers stop at yellow lights and let cars in - lol, never would a NY cab driver do that.
The point though is the subways smell like urine, have dirty people, are not always convenient, and are in no way entertaining (to me at least).
I disagree. I mean if you find the subway disgusting, that is your thing, but there are times when the traffic is just impossible. I like cabs at low traffic times but the subway is the way to go through midtown. The sense that Uber's are better than cabs in NY is just false. Uber drivers are often inexperienced and just use Waze, which doesn't really cut it in Manhattan., If you like the Uber app paying experience, just download Curb.
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but as a non-native NYer, I find the subways disgusting and in no way entertaining.
I'd Uber or cab if you're staying within Manhattan.
The good thing about ubers specifically in NYC are they won't take the "long way" and sit on the cross streets for 20 minutes unnecessarily with the meter running like cabs may do, it's upfront pricing and you don't need to swipe your credit card.
Bad thing about Ubers is many of them are just regular people as opposed to maniacal NY cab drivers and don't drive like their hair is on fire and they need to get some water to put it out risking every pedestrian's life as well as your life and their own. So rides can take a lot longer even if they take the long way. I've seen uber drivers stop at yellow lights and let cars in - lol, never would a NY cab driver do that.
The point though is the subways smell like urine, have dirty people, are not always convenient, and are in no way entertaining (to me at least).
I disagree. I mean if you find the subway disgusting, that is your thing, but there are times when the traffic is just impossible. I like cabs at low traffic times but the subway is the way to go through midtown. The sense that Uber's are better than cabs in NY is just false. Uber drivers are often inexperienced and just use Waze, which doesn't really cut it in Manhattan., If you like the Uber app paying experience, just download Curb.
Even if you find the subway more convenient for traveling, it's still not entertaining (to me) or an experience I'd recommend for a tourist. I'm in NYC twice a month on business and bring my family there a couple times a year (Christmas and usually once in spring or summer). I definitely try and avoid the subway if I can.
I mostly just walk in NYC, the blocks seem to go by quickly, especially in nicer weather.
WRT uber vs cabs it's not the paying, it's because in my experience so often the NYC cab drivers will take awful routes to destinations cutting up the side streets and sitting through 4 or 5 light cycles with their meter running while Uber drivers are definitely less experienced but they also have no incentive to take longer routes or ones with wait times since they don't have meters.
The Met is good too.
MSG is a great visit and I would definitely catch a Knicks game. If you are on the west side it's a quick subway down. The subways hardly ever smell like urine, and are not disgusting. Just avoid the empty cars (the bum piss cars.)
Definitely check out Lincoln Center and Julliard, Columbus Circle. Even just strolling through it's beautiful.
I'd also hit Washington Square Park, it's cool to see an awesome university tucked into a neighborhood and lots of great people watching. A start to a good stroll through the West Village to catch a great slice at John's. If you're up to it keep walking and get to Hudson River path. Killer view of WTC and downtown.
New York is an amazing city, even just staying in Manhattan.
Yeah, we definitely have some great hamburger, steak, & BBQ places out here. The Austin food scene is actually awesome right now with a number of highly talented young chefs.
I'm looking forward to the Deli, Pizza, & Italian recommendations you all made. I keep talking about how much better they are in NY/NJ so this is perfect.
Also thanks for the recommendations on places to visit - especially the historical museums - I hadn't known about them and I think my son will love them!
Pastrami Queen
A special exhibit on Pre-Columbian Gold just opened.(link)
They have a basement cafeteria that is just OK, and a cafeteria in the American Wing with good views of the park.
Link - ( New Window )
They have the world's greatest collection of Tiffany Lamps, for those who like that stuff.
Link - ( New Window )
Get a cookie from Levain Bakery. Go to Ippudo for a bowl of ramen.
You really can't go wrong. Plus it has some neat shops and food stalls.
But isn't there another deli that doesn't get quite the publicity that Katz's gets that's also really terrific and maybe even better than Katz's? I know there is a place I've seen on TV a couple of times that I thought if I ever get back to NYC I want to stop there.
There's 2nd Ave Deli which is now on Third Ave (33rd st) and Barney Greengrass which is UWS, Amsterdam Ave.