WARNING -- WARNING -- This is just the beginning of a rough draft. It is definitely a work in progress. I published it for my nephew who is going to NYC tomorrow. I will continue to make revisions and additions, etc.
New York City now seems like a world away from Mississippi. I still think about my summer often, and I'm always thrilled when people ask about it. One of the most asked questions I get is about what to do in New York City. There are so many choices that you just have to choose the ones you feel that you are most interested in. I want to share some places I went and tips that I picked up while there. If you are lucky enough to find yourself in New York City, I hope some of my favorites become your favorites too!
We used two guide books, one was "The Best Things to Do in New York, 1001 Ideas"
First tip: Get a good map that you can carry around with you. I highlighted places that I wanted to go on the map and kept it with me. I might have a destination in mind, and I would go there. Afterwards, if I had some extra time, I would check my map to see what else might be nearby that I might want to do. Next, if you have a phone that you can download apps on, download HopStop (it's free). You can put in your present location and where you want to go, and this app will tell you what subway to take and then how to walk to your destination once you exit the subway station. You can pick up free subway maps at some subway stations. If you happen to find one, by all means, get it and also keep it with you. These maps are also available for purchase at numerous locations. They are handy for getting an overview, but you can trust HopStop to take you where you are going. The subway map can help you determine if another train would go to the same place. Also remember that the subway is colored-coded. Subway routes that have the same color (for example B, D, F, and M are all orange) can be interchangeable. Some are express routes that don't stop at all the stops the local routes do, but it is worth checking out if you are having a hard time catching the right subway "train". New Yorkers call it a "train" rather than a subway. Also on HopStop, if you look down in the directions, it will tell you alternate trains that you can take, which can be very helpful.
Remember that you have to pay before riding the subway. I used a MetroCard and bought $20 or so at a time. There are machines in the subway station that you can purchase and refill MetroCards. They will take cash or credit/debit card -- just be sure that you pay attention to what form of payment the machine you are using will accept. I didn't find the subway to be intimidating after the first few rides. Walking was my main form of transporation and the subway was my second. I did not like the MTA buses at all, so I tended to avoid them unless absolutely necessary. The only time it was necessary for me to ride the bus was going to Laguardia because the subway does not go to Laguardia.
Tip 2: In Manhattan, if you are going north, this is called going "uptown". If you are going south, this is called going "downtown". If you can actually stand on the avenues (not the streets) and look up and down them, uphill is uptown and downhill is downtown. Manhattan is divided into east and west with the main dividing line Fifth Avenue. So if the street address is, for example, West 34th Street, it will be on the west side of Fifth Avenue. And if the address is East 34th Street, it will be on the east side of Fifth Avenue.
I'm going to start as far uptown as I went, which was Harlem. Harlem is actually located right above (north) of Central Park. I rode the subway there and back twice, and both times, I felt comfortable. I walked on Malcolm X Boulevard, which is also known as Lenox Avenue. The places I went to were located on this street or just a few blocks off this street. Restaurants of interest are Amy Ruth's, Red Rooster, Lenox Lounge, Sylvia's. The Apollo Theater is also here. I found the murals on the hospital very interesting and beautiful.
Heading back downtown is Central Park, which I went on the outskirts and actually into it a few times, but did not explore in depth. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is on the Fifth Avenue side of Central Park, and the American Museum of Natural History is on the Central Park West side of the park. The southern end of Central Park is 59th Street. Going east to 1011 Third Avenue at 60th Street is Dylan's Candy Bar (Mon. - Thurs. 10 am - 10 pm, Friday & Saturday 10am - 11 pm, Sunday 10 am - 9 pm). Dylan is Ralph Lauren's daughter. This is a three-story candy store, complete with a bar on the top floor). A few steps further east on 60th Street is 225 East 60th Street, home of Serendipity 3. I actually ate at Serendipity three times while in NYC, and each time it was delicious. Reservations are definitely recommended as this is a small place and hard to get in, but it is open from 11 or 12 until 12 or 1 at night, so you have a big window to get in. The frozen hot chocolate is their speciality, but is enough for 2 or 3 people. (We shared one of these all three times we went here). Moving just a little further east on 60th Street is the 59th Street or Queensboro Bridge. This is where the tram to Roosevelt Island is located. It is definitely worth a ride, day or night. It costs one subway ride, so you can use your MetroCard to ride. Roosevelt Island is a quiet place and has a very nice walkway around the island. We walked almost around it, but avoided the end where the public housing projects were located. You can ride the tram back to Manhattan or take the subway back.
On the Fifth Avenue side of Central Park, you will find The Plaza. Located in the basement is a wonderful food court that has all manner of food. I particularly liked Luke's Lobster. I had the lobster roll, which was delicious and the best lobster roll I had while in NYC.
Going back to about the midpoint of Manhattan, right below Central Park is the Museum of Modern Art and Rockfeller Center. Moving on down Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas), you will come to Times Square and the Theater District. This is a vibrant and busy area. Continuing on down Sixth Avenue, you will come to Bryant Park, one of my favorite parks. I think it is a very beautiful park and there is a wonderful story about its restoration found on the fences surrounding it. A branch of the New York Public Library is located on the 42nd Street side of Bryant Park. This is where the famous lions, Patience and Fortitude, guard the entrance to the library. Going east on 42nd Street, you will come to Grand Central Terminal (Station) and even further east is the United Nations.
Going back to Sixth Avenue and continuing south to where Broadway and Sixth Avenue meet at 34th Street, you will find Herald Square. This is where Macy's is located and the Empire State Building. This is also where we lived -- in Herald Towers. Continue south on Broadway or Fifth Avenue, and you will come to Madison Square Park. The original location of the Shake Shack is located here (near Madison Avenue & East 23rd Street). I would recommend dining here at night as the lights and the setting is beautiful (11 am - 11 pm). Their speciality is the Shake Stack, which is a burger and a cheese stuffed portebello mushroom. (There are other locations of the Shake Shack, and I'm sure the food is equally good at any of these locations, I just like the setting of this one.) Continue south on Broadway to Union Square. There is a green market located here that operates on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. It is so interesting to explore and look at all the vegetables and foods that are not so common for us. One block to the west of Union Square, at 102 Fifth Avenue, between 16th and 15th Streets, is Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill. We ate there. It was absolutely delicious (but pricey).
Continuing south on Fifth Avenue will be Greenwich Village and Washington Square Park. This is a large park, and something is always going on here. A large part of New York University is in this area. To the west of Washington Square Park is the area known as the West Village. I found this to be a particularly quiet area that I very much enjoyed walking around and exploring. Going south from Washington Square Park is SoHo (South of Houston -- prounounced house/ton). I also loved this area. It is a great area to walk and explore. Moving east and south of Soho is Little Italy and Chinatown. Chinatown has almost overtaken Little Italy, which has been reduced in size to just a few blocks, mostly the area between Mott and Mulberry Streets.
Continuing south or downtown, you will eventually get to the Twin Towers area and the Financial District. Also located in this area is the Staten Island Ferry, which is a free ferry to Staten Island. You can get a reasonably good view of the Statue of Liberty from the ferry. When you get to Staten Island, you can disembark and return or explore Staten Island and then return.
Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge -- Ride the subway to Brooklyn. Explore the Empire Fulton Ferry State Park and Dumbo (down under the Manhattan Bridge overpass) area. There are wonderful views of the Manhattan skyline from here. Also, you have to look for it, but if you go near the Manhattan Bridge in the Empire Fulton Ferry State Park, there is a water tower that has been replaced with reclaimed plexiglass giving it the look of stained glass. After enjoying the view from here (the ice cream at this park is said to be some of the best in New York), walk back across the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan. This is the preferred way so that you are not having to turn around to look back at Manhattan, but rather you will be walking toward it. It is quite stunning at night. Hint: Stay out of the bike lane, the cyclists will run over you or yell at you.
Moving back uptown on the Hudson River (west) side of Manhattan, you will find the Meatpacking and Chelsea areas. This is a nice area with lots of nightclubs. I particularly enjoyed the Chelsea Market (75 oth Avenue at 15th Street), home of the Food Network. Inside the marketplace are numerous food places allowing you to try all manner of food. There are tables in the hallways where you can sit and dine. Going out the back door of the marketplace turn left on Tenth Avenue and then left on Washington Street to Gansevoort Street. Enter the High Line Park from here. There are stairs up or there is an elevator here. Walk along the High Line all the way to 37th Street (there are places all along that you can exit, but trust me, check out the whole park). You will get a wonderful view of the Hudson River and New Jersey as well as a view of Manhattan from above it all. There are places along the park that you can sit and watch the traffic through glass windows. This is just an all around fantastic place. Many of the apartments along the High Line have interesting art displayed so keep a lookout for the unexpected.
Mood, 225 West 37th Street (3rd floor)
Vezzo (paper thin crust pizza), 178 Lexington at East 31st Street
Delicatessen, 54 Prince Street -- good food, not really a deli
Fishs Eddy, 889 Broadway -- great dish store
FAO Schwarz, 767 5th Avenue at 58th Street
Lombardi's, 32 Spring Street (between Mott & Mulberry) -- America's first pizzeria
Pearl Riber Mart, 447 Broadway (between Broome St & Grand St.)
Ford Foundation Building, 320 East 43rd (between Lexington & 3rd Avenue)
Hester Street Fair, intersection of Hester & Essex Street, 10 - 6 every Saturday -- one of our favorite markets (lots of crafts, antiques, vintage, etc.)
Carl's Steaks, 507 3rd Avenue -- great Philly Cheesesteak sandwich (limited seating)
Katz Deli, 205 East Houston -- very old deli, good pastrami, brisket, etc.
Pomodoro Pizza, 51 Spring Street (between Mulverry & Lafayette), slice of pizza and bottled water -- $5.75
Mott Street is restaurant row in Chinatown
Wo Hop, 17 Mott Street -- said to be best Asian restaurant in Chinatown
John's Pizzaria, 260 West 44th Street (in theater district) -- sold in pies only, said to be best pizza in NYC
Soup Nazi (The Original Soupman), 259A West 55th Street (between Broadway & 8th Avenue)
Chobani SoHo, 150 Prince Street
Hotel Metro Rooftop Bar, 45 West 35th Street (between 5th & 6th Avenues) -- closeup view of Empire State Building, drinks are expensive
Vesuvio Bakery (Soho), 160 Prince Street -- GREAT cookies
The Diner, 44 Ninth Avenue -- good hamburger, Katie & Kelsey recommended the mac & cheese
