nyc stuff to do...it's long.
consumableonline.com - it's the music publication i write, but if you want to buy used compact discs and take a cheap food trip around greenwich village, this is it. i wrote it while in college years ago, most of it is still current; check under the links section of consumable...
times sq. - the prostitutes are gone, for the most part, and it's all disney-fied. i believe the madame tousseau's wax museum will be up in the next 6 months, but i'm not sure. they also have the lion king, etc. many shows film 2 blocks up on broadway / 7th ave. (42-47 st.) so there's ooh and aahing...
world trade center...about 1/2 mile from the ferry to the statue of liberty. and right near the bull (of course), and the merc is located across the street by the world financial center...yes, you can arrange to see the nyse, with enough lead time...
tkts is located in midtown (bet. broadway and 7th ave), but also downtown somewhere in the world trade center; they give half-price tickets for most broadway plays. i don't like most plays, but i did like phantom...i don't know if they have TKTS tickets, usually, however.
i'd suggest going to the www.villagevoice.com or new york press (i forget the site) site to check stuff out.
MOMA located in midtown, 53rd st or so...a few blocks south of central park. the met is at 80thish on one side of central park...and if you want, the cloisters are nice but st. patty's day might not be the best time to go up there...
hotels...umm, you'll be getting a real small room no matter where you go. the 'good' motels near the wtc run $200 a night during the week. usually, weekend hotels are LESS expensive in the city, as the business travelers aren't here...you can find $70-80 ones in midtown - portland hotel, perhaps? i'm drawing a blank on it. check your AAA book, they might have stuff.
subways - they have various types of passes now. they're good to get; if you get the metro card (yellow), and put $15 on it (10 trips), you get an extra free. they also have day cards - i believe they cost $4 each.
in terms of meals...if you don't mind eating *slightly* off the main streets, you can do well.
food:
little italy - some natives say 'don't go there', but since the food isn't significantly worse than the good italian places, and there's the classic 'ambience', it's great for visitors. mott/mulberry st.
chinatown - go to joe's shanghai. order the appetizer (steamed buns). main meal so-so, buns great. right off of mott st.
thai - in midtown, we're hooked on chanpen (50th/9th). inexpensive! in fact, in midtown, if you go over to 9th (and 8th) avenue between 43rd and 55th, you can find tons of ethnic foods (viatnamese/thai/afghan/indian/more) at reasonable prices. i'm not talking super fancy, but not dives either.
french - l'ecole. it's a place that serves as the training ground for future chefs. you will *definitely* need reservations, but i believe the 5 course meals cost $30? (not including wine). you won't find that anywhere else.
i'd also suggest checking out the usenet newsgroups nyc.food, nyc.general and others like that...
tips on things NOT to do: don't stare up at the big buildings, keep your wallet in front pockets, keep money in separate places on your person, be prepared for 'bait and switch' tactics which are designed to prey on willingness to help others...(if you do want to look at the buildings, stand off to the side of the sidewalk) * sorry, that stuff's true...
you can find everything to do in nyc, and the web makes it much easier. tbis should be a starting point... - bob |
