Weekend In New York City

Last weekend I was up in the Big Apple with my girlfriend and her family. This was my first time back since the 2007 US Open, and first time being “of age” so that I could really enjoy the city. The reason for our trip, besides a much-needed vacation, was that Katie’s relative, Erin Davie, performs in the Broadway musical Side Show. Despite a little bit of rain, we were still able to have a blast and get around to most of the sites. We ended up staying at the DoubleTree Metropolitan on Lexington Avenue, which worked out really well location-wise. Great to reconnect with a couple of friends we have that are living up there now, but man, that cities wore me out. The delayed Sunday night flight out of LaGuardia didn’t help, either.

So this’ll be mostly pictures, followed by my much-research New York City to-do list.

Broadway: We started at Sardi’s, then went to Angus for dinner, and eventually found the St. James Theatre for the show. I thoroughly enjoyed Side Show — it reminded me of this season’s American Horror Story, actually! But Erin was fantastic in the show! I highly recommend seeing it if you’re a fan of musicals.

Update: The show is closing in January 😦

Would like to spend more time on the High Line next time around. Tons of construction, and it was a rainy day, but this would definitely be THE spot (besides Central Park) during summertime.

• Harlem / Upper West Side
  • Columbia University (Morningside Heights W 116th)
  • Central Park starts up at 110th Street to 59th
  • W 81st Street – Museum Nat History
• Upper East Side
  • Central Park – 5th and 59th Street
    • Belvedere Castle – 79th Transverse
    • Trump/Woolman Rink – south most end
    • Bow Bridge
    • Bethesda Fountain, The Carousel, Zoo
  • MET Museum – 5th and E 82nd – donation based
  • Guggenheim – 5th and E 88th
• Midtown / Hell’s Kitchen
  • Hotel – East 51st and Lexington Ave
  • Ess-a-Bagel: 831 3rd ave @ E 51st
  • Times Square – 7th and 47th
  • Rockefeller Center – 5th and 50th
  • Grand Central Station – 42nd and 5th
  • Broadway – Broadway and W 53rd
  • Mexican Place branden: Toloache – 8th and W 50th
  • Sony Wonder Tech Lab – If Rain – Madison Ave and E 55th
  • Lavo / TAO – nightclub and italian food – 39 E 58th @ Madison Ave
  • MoMA – 11 W 53rd @ 5th Ave – free on Friday nights?
• Chelsea
  • HighLine – W 30th and 10/11th Ave all the way down to Washington St / Gansevoort St.
  • Chelsea Market – W 15th/16th and 9th/10th
• FlatIron District / Nomad
  • 2nd Ave Deli – 3rd Ave and E 33rd
• West Village / Hudson Square / NoHo / East Village
  • High Line
  • Standard Beer Garden – W 13th
  • Hudson River Park Piers along West St.
  • NYU – W Houston St – E 8th Street
  • Pommes Frites – 123 2nd Ave @ E 7th
  • Fat Cat Bar – 75 Christopher at 7th ave
  • Kraine Theater. Saturday night if rain: Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind show – 2nd ave and E 4th street
  • Dominique Ansel Bakery – Cronut – 189 Spring Street @ Sullivan/Thompson St.
• Little Italy / China Town / SoHo / Lower Manhattan /Nolita
  • Canal Street
  • Nightclubs cheaper than Midtown
  • Prosperity Dumpling – $2/10 dumplings – canal st and 46 Eldridge Street before Hester
  • Lombardi’s Pizza – oldest in NY – 32 Spring Street @ Mott St
• Lower East Side / Tribeca / Civic Center / Two Bridges
  • Brooklyn Bridge / Dumbo – 10 blocks south of Canal
  • South Street Seaport
  • Farther south: South Cove / World Trade Center / Wall Street / Battery Park
  • Staten Island Ferry – departs BMB (Battery Maritime Boats?) – End of FDR Drive and Whitehall St.
  • Attaboy (cocktails) – 134 Eldridge St. @ Broome and Delancey
  • Weather Up (cocktails) – 159 Duane St. @ Hudson and W Broadway
  • Freemans (cocktails) – 191 Chrystie Street #2F – off Rivington St
• Brooklyn
  • Grimaldi’s and Ignazio’s – under bridge on Front St and Water St.
• General
  • Week long subway pass as opposed to paying for individual trips. This way you can be worry-free.
  • Check out Groupon NYC and pick up a TimeOut magazine that shows the best things to do each week.

1. Eater 38 best in city list, and NY Eater Maps is a good place for lists/references.
2. Brunch Options: Bubby’s in TriBeCa, Sarabeth’s (many locations), Norma’s @ Le Parker Meridien ($$$$$$), Cafe Orlin – Cheap, popular, Cookshop, Jane, Penelope, Almond, The Diner – Amanda Freitag’s place
3. Foodie Touristy Spots: Eataly – Flatiron, Katz’s Deli – LES, Russ & Daughters Cafe – LES, Meatball Shop – several locations, Momofuku Noodle Bars & Momofuku empire – east village area, Ippudo – Ramen
4. Coffee: La Colombe Torrefaction (cafes – several), Mud, Stumptown (@ Ace Hotel), Blue Bottle (not my fave)
5. Bagels: Ess-a-bagel – two locations, Murray’s 6th avenue @ 12th street, Zuckers BAgels – tribeca, Black Seed bagels (Trendy, but not the old school ones)
6. Hot Restaurants, but not clubby: Gato, The Gander, Bar Primi, il Buco Alimentari, Casa Mono, Buvette, Marta, Little Prince, Uncle Boon’s – Thai, so good, RubiRosa, Charlie Bird
7. Locals only finds: Smith & Mills – Tribeca, Downing Street Wine Bar (very small), Peasant – Downstairs hidden location, Motorino – awesome pizza, but not NY style, Do Hwa – This Korean spot is owned by Quentin Tarantino. It’s cheap(er), fun and always loud. but people just don’t know to go!

If you’re planning a trip, let me know if I can help! Will try to update with more links and thoughts…