Things to do in NYC?

de8212

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2000
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Going to NYC in a week and looking for some things to do. My wife is actually going on business so we'll have a day and a half together then I have two days alone.

She mentioned a Broadway show. Can anyone recommend one? Where is the best/chepaest place to get tickets? I don't want to get scammed on a street corner for them.

Any good places to eat? Not fancy suit and tie places but good NY food?????

Any other suggestions?

I have searched google and know all the "normal" tourist spots (Ground zero, empire state bldg, central park, etc.). I'm just looking for places that maybe you have been and would highly recommend that may or may not be one of the "normal" spots.

 

Slick5150

Diamond Member
Nov 10, 2001
8,760
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Go to the TKTS booth in Times Square for show tickets. They sell same-day performance tickets only, so go in the afternoon (they open around 3 if I remember right) and buy tickets for a show that night. They generally have a good selection of tickets available. Its generally the best and easiest way to get discount show tickets.

My recommendation would be to go to Greenwich Village and just wander around. You'll find a ton of cool little shops and restaurants. Its one of the best areas in NYC and is not really "touristy" at all.


 

techs

Lifer
Sep 26, 2000
28,559
4
0
Smoke crack?
Visit a hooker?
Make fun of the homeless?

There's lots of fun things to do in NYC.
 

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,504
12
56
Originally posted by: techs
Smoke crack?
Visit a hooker?
Make fun of the homeless?

There's lots of fun things to do in NYC.

You are really on a troll terror today.
 

MixMasterTang

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2001
3,167
176
106
I think it would be eaiser to compile a list of things not fun to do in NYC. Seriously whatever you're in to, you can find in NYC. Searching around and finding it for yourself is half the fun!
 

Mr Pickles

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2006
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You could spend a few days just going to look at things that you should see at least once in your life.

Statue of Liberty
Ground Zero (which kind of sucks now because there is construction, so you aren't sure which is rubble and which is construction, but the church is there and stuff...)
Chrysler Building
TRL! That one dude that plays guitar nekkid!

I don't know. Go nuts...
 

StevenYoo

Diamond Member
Jul 4, 2001
8,628
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Go see Avenue Q or Phantom of the Opera. You can get the tickets at the TKTS booth in Times Square or at the South Street Seaport the morning of the show.

Go have a meal (or 2 or 10) in Chinatown! It's cheap and awesome.

Don't hang around Times Square any longer than you need to. Just go there, see the pretty lights and stores, but don't buy anything! It's a complete waste of funds that can be used to buy awesome food in Union Square or the East Village. Did I mention Chinatown yet?
 

Vonkhan

Diamond Member
Feb 27, 2003
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Astor Place - plenty of cool chops and restaurants
Nintendo / Apple Stores
NY pizza, of course ... try Lombardi's
McSorley's is the oldest irish pub in NYC, really interesting deco - google it

For food & an experience try Ninja NYC (google it)

Stay away from the tourist trap places :p
 
Feb 6, 2007
16,432
1
81
Originally posted by: techs
Smoke crack?
Visit a hooker?
Make fun of the homeless?

There's lots of fun things to do in NYC.

You can't do that anymore, Giuliani ended all crime ever, remember? I think it was right after 9/11....
 

compman25

Diamond Member
Jan 12, 2006
3,767
2
81
Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy
Originally posted by: techs
Smoke crack?
Visit a hooker?
Make fun of the homeless?

There's lots of fun things to do in NYC.

You can't do that anymore, Giuliani ended all crime ever, remember? I think it was right after 9/11....

Can you still get mugged?
 

Slick5150

Diamond Member
Nov 10, 2001
8,760
3
81
Originally posted by: Vonkhan
Astor Place - plenty of cool chops and restaurants
Nintendo / Apple Stores
NY pizza, of course ... try Lombardi's
McSorley's is the oldest irish pub in NYC, really interesting deco - google it

For food & an experience try Ninja NYC (google it)

Stay away from the tourist trap places :p

If by interesting deco you mean its a smelly dump. And you get to choose your beer from a vast selection of beers that include "Light" and "Dark" and... wait, that's it. Oh, and it will come in glasses that have been slightly washed since the last time someone drank out of it.

They're just still there because they can claim "oldest bar in NYC" and tourists will go there, but it really isn't worth it.

 

Stifko

Diamond Member
Dec 8, 1999
4,799
2
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Originally posted by: Slick5150
Originally posted by: Vonkhan
Astor Place - plenty of cool chops and restaurants
Nintendo / Apple Stores
NY pizza, of course ... try Lombardi's
McSorley's is the oldest irish pub in NYC, really interesting deco - google it

For food & an experience try Ninja NYC (google it)

Stay away from the tourist trap places :p

If by interesting deco you mean its a smelly dump. And you get to choose your beer from a vast selection of beers that include "Light" and "Dark" and... wait, that's it. Oh, and it will come in glasses that have been slightly washed since the last time someone drank out of it.

They're just still there because they can claim "oldest bar in NYC" and tourists will go there, but it really isn't worth it.

McSorley's is worth the trip and the chillie is delicious. I have not been there in years, but the dark is good. There was a bar down the block called Burp Castle, but I don't know if it is still there.

I think the TKTS boothe has moved cause the are doing construction where it used to be. If you get tickets from TKTS make sure you don't get obstructed view seats.

 

de8212

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2000
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76
thanks (to most of you) for all the info.


I have been to NY once, briefly, and saw a few of the "must visit" spots so that's why I was asking for other opinions.

Just a few comments.
I'll have to find the TKTS booth if it's moved. Guess I can ask around. How can I tell if the seats are obstructed? Will they tell me? Any other SHows that anyone can recommned?


I'll have to find Lombardi's cause I'd like to get some pizza. I lived in Italy for 3 yrs forever ago and nothing around comes close so I figure NY may be the next best thing????

The ninja place looks neat but not my kind of food. ANd it's expensive.

I've still got a lot of googling to do but welcome any other suggestions.
 

glutenberg

Golden Member
Sep 2, 2004
1,941
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Originally posted by: de8212
thanks (to most of you) for all the info.


I have been to NY once, briefly, and saw a few of the "must visit" spots so that's why I was asking for other opinions.

Just a few comments.
I'll have to find the TKTS booth if it's moved. Guess I can ask around. How can I tell if the seats are obstructed? Will they tell me? Any other SHows that anyone can recommned?


I'll have to find Lombardi's cause I'd like to get some pizza. I lived in Italy for 3 yrs forever ago and nothing around comes close so I figure NY may be the next best thing????

The ninja place looks neat but not my kind of food. ANd it's expensive.

I've still got a lot of googling to do but welcome any other suggestions.

The TCKTS booth didn't move far. There are signs all over the place pointing out where it is. It basically moved from being the middle of the street to the side of the Marriott Marquis Hotel. It's directly across the theater that's playing Chicago if my memory is serving me correctly.
 

rockyct

Diamond Member
Jun 23, 2001
6,656
32
91
If you want to do the "see the city from the top of a freakin' tall building", I recommend the Rockefeller building instead of the Empire State building. I think it was about the same price, but the Rockefeller building has some very nice observation decks at the top three stories of the building (I heard the Empire State observation is not actually at the top). I went in July and even then there was no line for the tickets, getting on the elevator, and plenty of room at top. We literally walked into the building and five minutes later we were at the top. The views are amazing because the very top deck doesn't have any walls or bars. It's completely open higher than your waist because if you fell, you'd only fall 10 feet to the next deck. Any decks that are on the edge have Plexiglas walls, so even then it's not bad.

I also enjoyed the tour of the UN building, but I'm nerdy about that kind of stuff. You do go into all of the assembly halls though.

Another popular spot is the MET but I was sort of disappointed with it because a lot of the stuff I wanted to see was closed for renovation.
 

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Originally posted by: compman25
Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy
Originally posted by: techs
Smoke crack?
Visit a hooker?
Make fun of the homeless?

There's lots of fun things to do in NYC.

You can't do that anymore, Giuliani ended all crime ever, remember? I think it was right after 9/11....

Can you still get mugged?

I'd certainly hope that Giuliani wouldn't erase one of the quintessential NYC experiences just for the sake of safety!
 

hiromizu

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2007
3,405
1
0
Check out Bangcock Express on 1st ave between 20th and 21st st. Get their pad thai extra spicy.
 

compman25

Diamond Member
Jan 12, 2006
3,767
2
81
Originally posted by: jagec
Originally posted by: compman25
Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy
Originally posted by: techs
Smoke crack?
Visit a hooker?
Make fun of the homeless?

There's lots of fun things to do in NYC.

You can't do that anymore, Giuliani ended all crime ever, remember? I think it was right after 9/11....

Can you still get mugged?

I'd certainly hope that Giuliani wouldn't erase one of the quintessential NYC experiences just for the sake of safety!

Oh good, I was hoping I'd still have the chance to have the true NYC experience!
 

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Originally posted by: hiromizu
Check out Bangcock Express on 1st ave between 20th and 21st st. Get their pad thai extra spicy.

Are you sure that's a restaurant and not a gay bar?:laugh:


psst...it's "Bangkok";)