Re: Travel/Overseas thread
New York is like all big cities – the more you don’t look like a tourist, the better you fit in. Be aware of your surroundings, and if you don’t get a good vibe of where you are, turn back around or find a coffee shop to settle the nerves.
The Subway system is very safe (especially on Manhattan Island), although initially a little intimidating. Perfectly safe to ride the subway most times ( I have caught it caught if from the AFL Grand Final @ 4am). I usually tell visitors to catch a cab after 9pm but whatever mood suits you is best.
Neighbourhoods
To be honest, like most Manhattanites, I don’t really venture out of Manhattan much, unless there is a real reason to go there. So I will mostly focus on that.
Here is a good map of New York to give you an idea of the neighbourhoods:
http://www.nycvisit.com/content/index.cfm?pagePkey=429
Starting from the south:
Wall Street (Business District):
From 8-6 Monday to Friday it is a busy place, on the weekends and late at night it is as quiet as a mouse. Apart from the Stock Exchange the real money men are in the midtown region of Manhattan, but it interesting to walk around. The Fulton St fish market has just closed, however the South Street Seaport is a good place to go for lunch and the half priced Broadway tickets both is there.
Also close by:
- Staten Island Ferry
- Ferry to Ellis Island & the Statue of Liberty
- WTC site
- Battery Park City (don’t bother going to – nothing to see)
- Mayor’s residence & the law courts (Law & Order etc)
- Brooklyn Bridge
Chinatown.
Although there is a greater Chinese population in San Francisco, I got the impression that NY’s Chinatown is a lot bigger. A lot of Restaurants and Chinese knick-knack shops (as well as fake stuff) This is a great place to wander around just before lunch or dinner… The main street in Chinatown is Mott St, but Canal St has all the fake stuff
Little Italy
As more and more Chinese move into the surrounding areas, Little Italy gets smaller and smaller. However, along Mulberry St, and a few isolated spots close by, The Italian heritage of NYC is still intact.
NoLIta (Short for North of Little Italy)
Since I have been here, this area has always looked like the next big thing in NYC, without really taking off. Might have something to do with the size of the buildings, and their quality. Funky bars, up and coming designer boutiques, and restaurants (including Eight Mile Creek) is what this area is known for.
TriBeCa (Short for Triangle below Canal Street)
Originally a warehouse district, this is the area where Rob De Niro grew up. Now somewhere between an expensive oasis (expensive Apartments that look like dumps until you go in) Media type businesses, expensive restaurants, and ….nothing,.. Hit hard by 9/11. Rob De Niro still lives here, along with a lot of other famous people. (Nobu is here)
SoHo (Short for South of Houston (pronounced Howston) St)
Yuppie Central!!!! Higher end boutiques, and some nice restaurants, a great place to wander around on a Sunny day and look at the “beautiful people” and try-hards.
Lower East Side
Used to be a great place to investigate Jewish culture, but as time goes on, the Jewish culture seems to vanish. Have been out here a few times, but really see no real reason for a tourist to go here except for Katz’s Deli – When Harry met Sally – the fake 0rgasm.
West Village
Adorable 4 storey Brownstones litter this area, which has a great combination of Old NY charm, mixed with a modern street feeling. A great area to go out; with a bit of research you can find a great Restaurant and a bar to kick on afterward. Christopher Street has a lot of “rainbow flags and Mardi-Gras feel” so you are warned. NY University is close by so it has a bit of a University campus feel to it. Blind Tiger Ale House & The White Horse are here.
East Village
The place I like to go. A lot more of a bohemiam feel to it. With generally more interesting (not necessarily better) restaurants and bars. Imagine a bigger version of Brunswick Street (as I remember it). Curry Hill (cheap Indian) and Little Tokyo (Japanese food) along with St Mark’s Place (East Village Central) are here. Also here are Nevada Smith’s, Jules and Decibel Sake Bar.
Alphabet City (East of the East Village)
So named because this is where the Nth/Sth Avenues have Letters (A, B, C, D, E) instead of numbers. As the East Village gets a little more cleaned up and expensive, the edgier parts move to Alphabet City… Was told by a work colleague that you would not have wanted to visit this region 10-15 years ago. It still is a little edgy – even for NY. Perfectly safe during the day, and with a couple of male friends at night. Unlike most of NY, here it is a real pain to get a taxi. Zum Schneider & The Sunburnt Cow are here.
Flat Iron/ Union Square/ Gramercy
Gramercy is like the West Village, nice buildings and surprisingly residential for NYC.. If I could afford it, this would be the area I would live in. Union Square is now an area of Super stores
Flat Iron is famous for the Triangle building. Some good places to hang out, though you will need to do some research beforehand. Mizu is here.
Chelsea
Rainbow flags litter eighth avenue. There are some great restaurants here. I used to live here, and had a great time here and there are some electronic super stores close by. If you are into night clubs, this is the area for you.
Meatpacking District (West of Chelsea)
Until Sex and the City made it famous, used to be famous for the name it was. Now it has become a yuppie hangout. Some good wine bars (if a little expensive) and restaurants. Go here to feel like an extra in Sex & the City. Also here is Hogs & Heifers, made famous by the film Coyote Ugly.
Garment District
If it wasn’t for Macy’s and a couple of other stores, there would be no reason to go here. ‘Nuff said.
Murray Hill
If you are sick, this is a great place to be – plenty of doctors and hospitals. There are also a couple of restaurants here , which may make you visit the area.
Midtown East.
Start’s to become the New York of traditional wealth. Some good “old school” Restaurants (Sparks and Smith & Wollensky’s) are here. If you are here with kids, make a visit to an Ice cream shop called Serendipity. BIG sundaes. This is also roughly the area of Niketown, Tiffany’s Bloomingdales, and MOMA.
Times Square/ Theatre District/ West Midtown
Unless you are there for the accommodation or to see a show, try not to hang around here. There is a reason why Nyers don’t go here. Too many people, and generally the restaurants are not great. If looking for a pre or post dinner restaurant think about Joe Allen (a NY theatre institution (not that expensive) Nola (small but very good) or Grand Schezuan (Chinese – order the Eggplant and pork with garlic sauce.) If like me, you are not into B’way, see a film here, as the screen sizes and sound is enourmous
Upper West Side
Suburbia for New Yorkers, this area for me is a little too sterile, although it has some great restaurants (including Café de Luxembourg) and some Sushi bnars. Also good to find a small irish Local. The Dakota Building (where John Lennon lived) and the Musuem of Natural History are here.
Upper East Side.
Old NY money lives here, although the further north you go, the more up and coming it gets.. I sometimes go to a Moroccan place called Al Bharakka(?)which has belly dancing on the weekends Also here is the Met and the Guggenheim
East Harlem
Don’t go here, there’s absolutely nothing to see or do. I don’t think I have ever been there.
Morningside Heights/Harlem
Although the Yuppies are moving closer and closer, it is still representative of life there. Try some hang-over soul food. The main drag of Harlem is 125th St (MLK Blvd). At Morningside Heights is the Seinfeld Diner (112th & Broadway)
Outside of Manhattan
Brooklyn
Coney Island is here, and there are some good neighbourhoods like Park Slope. The Botanical Gardens are also here, so in Spring may be worth a visit. A lot of people rave about Brooklyn, but if you are a tourist, for the most part why bother?
Queens
Residential neighborhood with Flushing Meadow (Tennis) and Shea Stadium (Mets Baseball) Also where JFK airport and La Guardia Airport is) Will find good Greek Food if you look hard enough
The Bronx
The Home of Yankee Stadium and the Bronx Zoo, but by far the most questionable neighbourhoods. If here for the baseball go early to have a few beers at one of the bars surrounding Yankee Stadium.
Staten Island
People live here, and there are some cows and horses. No reason for a tourist to explore here.
Hoboken
Young and single, and want to meet a young and single American? This may be your place.. A lot of the bars have a College Bar feel. In New Jersey (neighbouring state) it is easy to get to, and also the home of Baseball & Frank Sinatra.
Upstate New York
About one hour north of Manhattan is the West Point Military Academy. Interesting if you are into war history. The area is also pretty nice in Autumn with the leaves changing colour.
