NYC reccomendations

[panther4life]

Heading to NYC summer for a wedding. Hotel is booked in Rye Brook NY Thurs-Sunday and Sunday night in Long Island same place as hotel wedding venue. 

Flying in Thursday morning and have tix to check out a Mets game at noon that day. Will have the rest of Thursday and all day Friday to spend in the city. Rehearsal dinner at 6 in Long Island will possibly allow us to spend until  early to mid afternoon Saturday as well in the city. 

Not sure if best to use public transportation or rent a car. Looks like Uber to initial hotel is $100-$120. So considering renting a car just for first day. Have a free ride with fam to rehearsal dinner and hotel in Long Island day of wedding so won’t need car for that(also partly why we chose to stay in Rye Brook).

Mainly looking for site seeing/attractions/food/entertainment for Thursday and Friday in Manhattan. Would also welcome any input on renting car vs public transport. 

First time going so everything is new to me, girlfriend will be with me as well, she’s from there but hasn’t been back in over 10 years. 

Thanks in advance!

[Anybodyhome]

New exhibit "Play It Loud" starts at the Met Museum next week:

https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2019/play-it-loud

It's only $25.

The Hendrix Strat he played at Woodstock. The Ludwig drum kit used by Ringo Starr when the Beatles did the Ed Sullivan show. Chuck Berry's Gibson, Don Felder's double-neck he used to play the intro and solo on Hotel California, Keith Emerson's original Moog he built...

Trying to talk the wife into a road trip to go see the exhibit. Her brother lives right across he river in NJ...

[PanthersBigD]

Hit 6th Avenue/Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan in Midtown Manhattan and just walk it. You can hit the MoMA, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, Central Park, etc., etc. just walking in this area. 

Get a taxi or take the subway down to Lower Manhattan to check out the Financial District, Battery Park, Chinatown and Little Italy. 

I don't know how bad traffic is these days, but I'm guessing in the summer time, it'll be busy, and parking will be scarce and expensive. I'd defer to your local relatives' judgement on the best way to get in and out of Manhattan. 

If you like jazz, my friends tell me good things about Blue Note: http://www.bluenotejazz.com/newyork/schedule/

 

[Still Brooklyn]

You're not giving yourself much time, but I'll share my opinion. You'll be out of the Mets game around 3 or 4. If you take the 7 train back you'll make it to midtown 45 min later. Same with an Uber. So you're looking at just that evening. Try:

- Walking the High Line

- A good dinner (I can suggest)

- Seeing comics at the Comedy Cellar (the latest show is best)

- Maybe a Broadway/Off Broadway/Off Off Broadway show

- Catch a band at one of the many, many, many venues

- Local dive bar in the Lower East Side

- Expensive, but Sleep No More is one of the best interactive shows in the city and would be memorable

 

Friday gives you all day. You can do any of the above but I also suggest:

- MoMA or The Met for a museum

- Central Park

- Go shopping in SoHo

- 9/11 Memorial (it's free)

- Top of The Rock/Empire State Bldg/Freedom Tower (choose one) for a view

- Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and then stroll around Brooklyn Bridge Park

 

Avoid: Times Square (simply not worth it even for the first time), Wall Street (not much to see), Chinatown (way too crowded)

 

You can't do hardly any of this in one day, but research it and see what looks appealing. You'll want to use the subway while in the city. Renting a car would be pointless, but maybe smart to get to the city (drop it off in the city). Uber is fine but expensive while in the city.

Let your GF take the reins if she used to live here so you get around quicker.

 

[frash.exe]

rooftop bars are nice and your gf would probably appreciate brunch at bagatelle

[cookinwithgas]

I'm up there for my cousins wedding in September it is going to mess with at least one game so we better have a good time.

[CRA]

12 hours ago, Still Brooklyn said:

You're not giving yourself much time, but I'll share my opinion. You'll be out of the Mets game around 3 or 4. If you take the 7 train back you'll make it to midtown 45 min later. Same with an Uber. So you're looking at just that evening. Try:

- Walking the High Line

- A good dinner (I can suggest)

- Seeing comics at the Comedy Cellar (the latest show is best)

- Maybe a Broadway/Off Broadway/Off Off Broadway show

- Catch a band at one of the many, many, many venues

- Local dive bar in the Lower East Side

- Expensive, but Sleep No More is one of the best interactive shows in the city and would be memorable

 

Friday gives you all day. You can do any of the above but I also suggest:

- MoMA or The Met for a museum

- Central Park

- Go shopping in SoHo

- 9/11 Memorial (it's free)

- Top of The Rock/Empire State Bldg/Freedom Tower (choose one) for a view

- Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and then stroll around Brooklyn Bridge Park

 

Avoid: Times Square (simply not worth it even for the first time), Wall Street (not much to see), Chinatown (way too crowded)

 

You can't do hardly any of this in one day, but research it and see what looks appealing. You'll want to use the subway while in the city. Renting a car would be pointless, but maybe smart to get to the city (drop it off in the city). Uber is fine but expensive while in the city.

Let your GF take the reins if she used to live here so you get around quicker.

 

Time Square definitely sucks overall but if you have never been to NYC.....I think you kinda have to check the box on that one. 

I mean you don't have to put in much time there but it is an easy walk to get after a Broadway show or doing one of the other things you suggested. 

Then...you just never go back.  

 

[PanthersBigD]

45 minutes ago, CRA said:

Time Square definitely sucks overall but if you have never been to NYC.....I think you kinda have to check the box on that one. 

I mean you don't have to put in much time there but it is an easy walk to get after a Broadway show or doing one of the other things you suggested. 

Then...you just never go back.  

 

That's what I originally typed, but I felt like projecting my opinions about what sucks and what doesn't isn't really what he was looking for. Everyone should see Times Square, very briefly IMO, because it's become crowded and crassly commercial, like Disney World, but dirtier and with creepier costumed characters. If you're in the area, you can walk to it and through it in 30 mins on your way to more interesting places. 

If you're already in the area, I still say walk through it, but it's definitely not worth going out of one's way to see. 

 

[CRA]

3 minutes ago, PanthersBigD said:

That's what I originally typed, but I felt like projecting my opinions about what sucks and what doesn't isn't really what he was looking for. Everyone should see Times Square, very briefly IMO, because it's become crowded and crassly commercial, like Disney World, but dirtier and with creepier costumed characters. If you're in the area, you can walk to it and through it in 30 mins on your way to more interesting places. 

If you're already in the area, I still say walk through it, but it's definitely not worth going out of one's way to see. 

 

agree.  

if you are a tourist hitting all the main NYC things to do you actually would have to intentionally avoid it to a degree IMO. 

just stroll through it one night.  See the tacky lights and crowds of people.  

I'm going back this Dec.  I'm not sure I have ever seen NY when it wasn't the holiday season but the main thing I am looking forward to is checking out the Freedom Tower.  Last time I was up there they were partially done w/ the 9/11 Memorial.  

One thing I will NEVER do again is the Macy's parade.   

 

[Dex]

Do not rent a car if you plan on bringing it into Manhattan. Go see the The Lion King. I still go every year. 

[panther4life]

Thanks for the advice so far, please keep it coming.

So far I’m sold on top of the rock and Central Park and again already locked into a Mets game.

Based on some online research I’m also intrigued by:

1.The American Museum of Natural History

2. The Beast speedboat

3. Spyscape Museum

4.Bronx Zoo (do this on the half day of time available Saturday before we hit rehearsal dinner)

5. Some kind of magic or comedy show, top rated magic show was minimum $125 per person so not sure about that. 

Also want to grab some famous NY bagels and Pizza while there too. So any reccomendations on where to get these would be welcome.

 

 

 

 

[CRA]

6 minutes ago, panther4life said:

 

Also want to grab some famous NY bagels and Pizza while there too. So any reccomendations on where to get these would be welcome.

 

 

Sbarro in Time Square.  Don't let the clowns misdirect you!!!

but seriously, if this is your first time in NY....don't be lazy.  NYC is a great walking city.   Put the miles in on foot.  I mean, yeah the banking district, central park, or many things will require public transportation but once you get into certain areas you can hoof it in NY.  Worth it IMO to take in the energy and vibe of NY. 

[Still Brooklyn]

You can also Citi Bike. Just stick to the bike paths or you'll die.

[frash.exe]

new york pizza suprema is right across from MSG and it’s no frills just real NY style abeetz