A guide by getupandgo
After nearly three weeks in NYC I still felt slightly detached from the city. It was only after a morning scouring thrift shops for furniture & 'stuff' for a friend's apartment that I found my way into what the real New York is all about. After a lot of odd conversations and chats that were so more sincere than any other meeting I had had in the last 21 days I found an answer. It was then that I haggled like a local for a kitchen table, caught a ride back (for another haggled $20 delivery & the trip home myself!), made an odd stop on the way courtesy of the driver to a famous 2nd hand furniture dealership, met some very dodgy looking people, ran sooo many red lights in a scary journey across town and was helped by a random person to take my heavy (but - oh such a bargain!) table up two flights to the apartment. I cracked open a beer and realised that this is a great city after all. PS. I'm trying to go back to live - must have been a hell of an epiphany (oh, btw the 'friend' is the real reason but I don't think I can put him as a recommendation).
East 23rd Street - a whole line of them in one street!
A cluster of parking lots in downtown NYC are transformed on a Sunday to a giant outdoor antiques market, full of trash and treasure and people-watching opportunities.
I got an amazing silver necklace for $25 a few years ago, and there's always a few oddments that are good for people back home who hate tacky souvenirs but expect a gift.
Look for the tourist leaflets - the markets are clustered around 20-something street.
A little shop tucked away in Nolita that sells jeans, jeans, and more jeans. We're talking all the latest brands (Seven for all Mankind, Citizens of Humanity, Earl, etc). It's a great little shop with friendly staff who don't overwhelm you and who can also recommend styles to you. (You'll need the help as there are so many models on offer.)
You have the time to try on whatever you want as the shop is quiet. They also have a lovely range of vintage belts. However, it's not the cheapest place for jeans (expect to pay $100 average).
9 Prince St
New York, NY 10012-3506
(212) 274-9921
Directions: B, D, F, Q at Broadway/Lafayette; 6 at Spring St, Bleecker St; N, R at Prince St
Great oysters and clams, open late and fabulous service - ask for Sam Ehrlich, the manager. If you are going to Brooklyn then it is worth spending a bit of time in Fifth Avenue as it is a great place to just wander along. It has a LOT of good restaurants and cool little shops of all kinds.
The nearest subway station is Union Street, on the R/M line; walk one
block uphill along Union St. to Fifth Avenue, turn right and walk three
and a half blocks along Fifth Avenue. Blue Ribbon is closer to First St.
Here's a link to a good site:
brooklyn.citysearch.com/profile/11523897/brooklyn_ny/blue_ribbon_b
rooklyn.html
This is one of the most important 'must do's' every time I'm in New York.
A spectacular selection of paper, stationery and journals. Unique designs and excellent quality.
Kate's now has several shops in Manhattan. Check their website:
www.katespaperie.com
Nestled in the gritty streets of Hell's Kitchen, Cupcake Bakery is a haven for all sweet tooths. The magic these people make with a bit of butter icing and cake is a sight to be seen. Expect to find trays of cupcakes topped with a colourful array of flowers, served up with a dose of old-time music and Hell's Kitchen charm.
522 9th Avenue (at 39th Street)
www.cupcakecafe.com/
Despite the shiny new shop fittings and a slight hike in price since its days as an Army/Navy store when you could still get a Carhart jacket here for less than $10 and a pair of 501's for not much more. Dave's is still one of the cheapest places in Manhattan to get your Levis, Lee, Dickies and Carhart.
581 Sixth Ave (between 16th and 17th streets) Subway: 1 & 9 at 28th St www.davesnewyork.com/
$24 buys unlimited travel on the subway AND the buses for a week.
They can be bought at any subway station;
www.mta.nyc.ny.us/metrocard/mcgtreng.htm
Hoboken is a mile square city best known, perhaps, as Frank Sinatra's birthplace. It also disputes Cooperstown, NY as being the birthplace of modern baseball. It is an eclectic, thriving community located directly on the Hudson River across from Manhattan, sporting amazing views from one of three riverfront parks.
The main street - Washington Street, hosts trendy and traditional cafes, restaurants, bars, and shops -a pleasing blend of the "old time" Italian and German Hoboken, and the gentrified new Hoboken.
Hudson Street, just two blocks from the river, is lined with elegant brownstones and mansions that once belonged to the rich and famous of NYC who sailed to Hoboken for a days' respite.
One can get Hoboken from NYC via the PATH train (subway from NYC to New Jersey), at Christopher Street in Greenwich Village, 9th, 14th, 23rd and 33rd streets.
A $2.30 bus ride (gate 205) from Port Authority Bus Terminal will take you to Washington Street, the main drag, and the 38th street and pier 11 ferries will give you a lovely ride across the Hudson River in a matter of minutes.
One of the oldest and most authentic bars in Manhattan.
Frequented by many (it gets busy) but mainly by locals and workers around Grammercy and Union Square.
A very long zinc bar, an amazing tin ceiling, some of the best burgers in town and just a great place to hang out and feel as if you are a part of New York. As with most things in New York, this bar just 'works'...it's a great place.
18th street between Park Avenue south and Broadway
Recently opened in Hells Kitchen. This really is a sexy place - with no attitude and a good vibe. It's billed as a 'stylish, sophisticated gay bar'. Early evening is happy hour, half-price martinis. America seems to like 'shaken' martinis - everyone knows they should be stirred but, what the hell, when in the USA, do as the Americans do.
They're lethal. The music gets going a little later, and an upstairs level opens up, doubling the capacity. It's dark, loud and full of gorgeous boys and girls - many still in their work suits, others out for the evening. I was out on the town on my own, and I really liked it there - the people were friendly and were happy to chat. I left, several hours later, staggering, but smiling.
VLADA LOUNGE
331 West 51st Street
212-974-8030
www.vladabar.com/index.html
Discount clothes retailer - it is very well known but the secret is that there is a second store in Brooklyn which is much less manic than the Wall Street one.
86th Street in Brooklyn
Going bowling, how American can you get? Take the lift to the 4th floor and you could be anywhere in the US, well anywhere where they dim the lights on the lanes and have fluorescent pins.
110 University Place @ East 13th
www.bowlmor.com/
Last summer I went to the Atlantis Marine World Aquarium in Riverhead, Long Island, NY. It is about one hour in the car from Manhattan but there is also a train. I looked at a giant octopus and at a tank with a giant turtle with big sharks. There is a cage you can go in to be near the sharks but you have to be 12 years old or more to go in the cage. There are seals and penguins outside and the seals do tricks. But the most exciting bit was when me and my dad went swimming in a big outdoor pool with leopard sharks, rays and other fish. You wear a wetsuit and a mask and snorkel and you can touch the sharks if you want but they are quite fast. The rays are friendly and they are easier to touch. This aquarium is much better than the London aquarium, which I also like a lot.
From Finn Bennett (age 7).
www.atlantismarineworld.com
431 East Main Street, Riverhead, NY 11901
Tel: 631 208 9200
A 24/7 van service that takes passengers from JFK (as well as Newark Liberty and La Guardia) to their hotel. The cost from JFK to Manhattan is $17-$20 depending on where in Manhattan you need to go to. I think they also go to the other boroughs as well.
Reserve a seat in the shuttle at the Ground Transportation Desk once you exit customs. I have never had to wait more than 30 minutes for the shuttle to arrive and the shuttle is fast, even though you have to share the van with other passengers who are going to other destinations in the same area.
Worth saving the money of getting your own cab as you get to see the city during the ride.
Ground Transportation Desk (once you exist customs)
What better way to see the weird and wonderful sights of Central Park on a beautiful sunny day? We had planned to go rollerblading but didn't have the gear or the skill.
We hired 'cruiser' bikes from the boathouse for $9 per hr and proceeded to cruise around the car free one way road that takes you on a tour around the whole park.
It was just glorious. Not too energetic or time consuming. It took about 40 minutes at a gentle pace. It was on a sunny Saturday so we got to see every sort of New Yorker and tourist doing what they wanted to do - playing baseball, 'football', chilling out, frisbee, juggling, dancing, shouting, singing, getting married, sailing, people watching and on and on.
It was the highlight of our trip.
The Boathouse is in the Central Park on the East side between 74th and 75th streets.
This is a brand new theatre opening October 25, 2007 in beautiful Newark, NJ, just over the bridge from New York City.
Thur 10/25 & Fri 10/26 features My Chemical Romance opening for Bon Jovi. Check this out for a night of music enjoyment.
Tickets are available now at www.ticketmaster.com.
Prudential Center
165 Mulberry Street
Newark, NJ 07102
www.prucenter.com
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