Blue Velvet in New York City

[Blue Velvet]

I'd love some advice from you guys on what to do for a very short visit. Single woman mid-40s travelling by herself from London. Interested in design, music, street life, comedy, delis, people watching... Not too interested in shopping this time around or theatre, for instance.

I've never been to NYC before, in fact I haven't been to the US (LA) for over 30 years... and I'm going to New York for less than 48 hours in a couple of weeks time, just passing through on my way down to Maryland.

Flight lands on a Weds afternoon, I've got Weds and Thurs night booked at a hotel downtown, round about Bowery/Grand Street. Leaving town early on Friday morning.

I have no idea what to do apart from soaking up the atmosphere, but probably would like to do a bunch of small and quick things to get the vibe of the place, rather than spend all of Thursday at the MOMA or hours queueing to go up the Empire State Building, for instance. Assuming the weather is good, even just wandering around in some interesting parts of town will be novel enough.

Thanks for any tips and help you can provide to someone who hasn't travelled for a very long time...

 

[Macky-Mac]

walk.....it's a great way to see NYC

central park, subway to brooklyn and walk back across the brooklyn bridge, rockefeller plaza, china town, grand central station, a nice cafe in chelsea, times square, gelato from a street cart in little italy, the ferry to staten island and back

you can use the subway to make the leap from one area to another

there's a lot to see and spending the time walking about is a great way to see what's what

 

[kernkraft]

48 hours is not a lot for NYC...

I'd love some advice from you guys on what to do for a very short visit. Single woman mid-40s travelling by herself from London. Interested in design, music, street life, comedy, delis, people watching... Not too interested in shopping this time around or theatre, for instance.

I've never been to NYC before, in fact I haven't been to the US (LA) for over 30 years... and I'm going to New York for less than 48 hours in a couple of weeks time, just passing through on my way down to Maryland.

Flight lands on a Weds afternoon, I've got Weds and Thurs night booked at a hotel downtown, round about Bowery/Grand Street. Leaving town early on Friday morning.

I have no idea what to do apart from soaking up the atmosphere, but probably would like to do a bunch of small and quick things to get the vibe of the place, rather than spend all of Thursday at the MOMA or hours queueing to go up the Empire State Building, for instance. Assuming the weather is good, even just wandering around in some interesting parts of town will be novel enough.

Thanks for any tips and help you can provide to someone who hasn't travelled for a very long time...

Wise people choose the Top of the Rock, anyway. Search for Rockefeller Center - you have a ticket to see it during the day and during the night. It's a fantastic view and it's further into the nicer part of Manhattan. In addition, you can see the Empire State Building!

You don't have to spend afternoons in the MOMA, Natural History, Metropolitan and Guggenheim. If you'll be around when some of these places have the days when you pay as much as you wish, then you can just pay a nominal fee and pop in and out in an hour. You have to visit Central Park, but then see the two larger museums in it, see the Guggenheim and have a quick walk around the park. There are a few less-known attractions there but if this is your first time in NYC, you'd better stay organised and mainstream, so no Whitney and (God, I can't remember the industrial magnate, whose house is close to Guggenheim and on the edge of Central Park).

I wouldn't bother with the Statue of Liberty. It just recently opened again and it will be busy. Get the free ferry to Ellis (?) Island, that will pass the Statue of Liberty.

But most importantly, try to get as active as possible. New York has such a fantastic atmosphere, you'll love their optimism and energy! The last time I've been there, I spent two weeks on the East Coast - NYC, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Boston and a quick trip to Canada: Toronto+Niagara Falls. I loved every minute of it. But to be fair, I can't imagine what I'd be doing if I went there for much longer. I loved DC, but apart from NYC, all these places seemed so boring and almost undeveloped. But you can have fun and enough inspiration in NYC for a very long time.

Enjoy your holiday!

 

[iJohnHenry]

... just passing through on my way down to Maryland.

I smiled.

Have fun.

 

[Blue Velvet]

walk.....it's a great way to see NYC

central park, subway to brooklyn and walk back across the brooklyn bridge, rockefeller plaza, china town, grand central station, a nice cafe in chelsea, times square, gelato from a street cart in little italy, the ferry to staten island and back

That's more or less the same kind of advice I give for people coming to London for the first time. You get far more of a sense of scale and atmosphere by doing so. Thanks for the tips on where to go. Gelato, mmm.

Enjoy your holiday!

Thanks also for your excellent advice. I might have about 2-3 hours to spare when coming back from DC and flying back out from JFK a few days later. Is there anything interesting to do around the Penn Station area?

Also, is getting a yellow cab from JFK to downtown the fastest way to get into town?

Have fun.

Oh... betcha bottom dollar, I will.

 

[JNB]

A quick bite at Ben's Deli should be on the list. Not as touristy, expensive, or overstuffed as 2nd Ave or Katz's (unless you just have to have a public orgasm). Also a lot more convenient to midtown. Corner markets/deli's should be avoided, as they all serve the identical Boar's Head crap any more.

Visit the Cube. You know you have to. Not that it's anything special once you've been, but you can get your obligatory picture in front of it.

 

[Macky-Mac]

W....

I wouldn't bother with the Statue of Liberty. It just recently opened again and it will be busy. Get the free ferry to Ellis (?) Island, that will pass the Statue of Liberty....

I suspect you mean the Staten island Ferry

The Staten Island Ferry is run by the City of New York for one pragmatic reason: To transport Staten Islanders to and from Manhattan. Yet, the 5 mile, 25 minute ride also provides a majestic view of New York Harbor and a no-hassle, even romantic, boat ride, for free! One guide book calls it "One of the world's greatest (and shortest) water voyages."

From the deck of the ferry you will have a perfect view of The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. You'll see the skyscrapers and bridges of Lower Manhattan receding as you pull away and coming into focus again as you return.

ride over, exit the boat, then get on the next one back for the return

 

[nospeed411]

NY is an awesome place to visit. The wife and I do the Rockets Christmas show every year and we have a blast. I have no clue how you guys that live there do it though...too many people for me on a regular basis.

@ BlueVelvet......"do it for Van Gogh baby"

 

[DylanLikesPorn]

Visit Little Italy. The italian food is unbelievably delicious.

 

[_Matt]

Chat N Chew

Union Square

Get the mac and cheese.

 

[kernkraft]

I suspect you mean the Staten island Ferry



ride over, exit the boat, then get on the next one back for the return

Of course, sorry about that! It's 4.00 a.m. in the UK and I'm still working on something, so I can only half-heartedly write my comments, hence the confusing grammar and other mistakes.

 

[einmusiker]

Visit Little Italy. The italian food is unbelievably delicious.

I would have to respectively and greatly disagree. It's the center of kitch, and it's basically chinatown now. The only thing left of little italy is mullberry and the italian food there is overpriced garbage that doesn't actually resemble anything italian.

For food, try Tia Pol for Tapas and a nice spanish wine selection in chelsea. 22nd street west and 10th ave. Definitely hit up the Shake Shack for frozen custard. Get yourself a peanut butter split smoothie at Juice Generation and try a falafel sandwich from Pita Grill

 

[einmusiker]

I would have to respectively and greatly disagree. It's the center of kitch, and it's basically chinatown now. The only thing left of little italy is mullberry and the italian food there is overpriced garbage that doesn't actually resemble anything italian.

For food, try Tia Pol for Tapas and a nice spanish wine selection in chelsea. 22nd street west and 10th ave. Definitely hit up the Shake Shack for frozen custard. Get yourself a peanut butter split smoothie at Juice Generation and try a falafel sandwich from Pita Grill

for the true NYC experience, you have to walk the parks. Central and Riverside are good starts. there are many. New Yorkers walk, it's our way.

 

[panoz7]

Check out the high line too. Probably my favorite park ever.

 

[DylanLikesPorn]

I recommend the cuisine in Chinatown, then. The prices are very low compared to the rest of Manhattan.

 

[latergator116]

I really like prospect park and the botanical garden in Brooklyn. Really great area to wander around. When I visit New York I usually find myself somewhere wandering in Brooklyn... Manhattan can be pretty overwhelming and crowded. Definitely recommend walking the Brooklyn bridge! (and the subway museum on the BK side is worth checking out if oyu have the time). Walk around, you cant go wrong. have fun.

 

[Tilpots]

If you really like people watching, try going to a Yankees game. You won't find a better place to see a cross section of Americans.

I may be biased because I'm from DC, but I hope you get to spend some QT there. NYC is awesome, but DC is better for touring IMHO.

 

[OutThere]

I like to make maps for people on Google Maps and I kind of got into it. http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=U....741665,-73.979359&spn=0.086751,0.133209&z=13

I put together 15 of my favorite places that, for the most part, don't require any time commitment or purchase (aside from the Katz's Deli and gelato in Little Italy ). You can go, walk around, check out the scene, move on, check out stuff nearby, etc. All of them are easily accessible on the subway or by walking. The list covers a few of the less 'trappy' of tourist traps, some places I just really enjoy walking around, and a few places that are worth seeing inherently or provide great people watching. Hopefully some of my suggestions will come in handy...I'm sure you'll have a great time no matter what you go see!

I do like the idea of taking the Staten Island Ferry...I've never taken it, but it sounds cool. Maybe I'll surprise my girlfriend with a trip on the (free!) ferry this weekend.

Also—taking a cab from the airport to manhattan is $45 but worth it with luggage, in my opinion.

Also—I don't know why I didn't use capital letters in the annotations on the map I made, I just noticed that. Doh!

 

[quagmire]

If you really like people watching, try going to a Yankees game. You won't find a better place to see a cross section of Americans.

I may be biased because I'm from DC, but I hope you get to spend some QT there. NYC is awesome, but DC is better for touring IMHO.

+1 on a Yankees game. New Yankee Stadium is amazing and the food is top notch( I suggest Lobel's steak sandwich).

Use stubhub to get the best deals for tickets.

 

[Blue Velvet]

A quick bite at Ben's Deli should be on the list.

It is now, thanks. I'm also on the look out for great pizza.

Visit the Cube. You know you have to.

I think I'll skip it. So much to see and do and so little time. Although I own quite a few Apple products, I'm not really that much a groupie, especially when it comes to the stores. Besides, although it's not a huge glass cube, the largest one in the world, with no doubt the largest queues in the world, just opened here in London.

Staten island Ferry

Now that is kind of tempting to do, especially as I see it runs until quite late. Evening views are probably quite spectacular.

"do it for Van Gogh baby"

Baby loves Blue Velvet.

Chat N Chew... mac and cheese.

Ooookayyy.

For food, try Tia Pol for Tapas and a nice spanish wine selection in chelsea. 22nd street west and 10th ave. Definitely hit up the Shake Shack for frozen custard. Get yourself a peanut butter split smoothie at Juice Generation and try a falafel sandwich from Pita Grill

Frozen custard sounds brilliant. Don't think we have that over here. Thanks for the tips, although I might skip the falafel sandwich. Plenty of falafels here in London.

for the true NYC experience, you have to walk the parks. Central and Riverside are good starts.

Check out the high line too. Probably my favorite park ever.

I really like prospect park and the botanical garden in Brooklyn. Really great area to wander around. When I visit New York I usually find myself somewhere wandering in Brooklyn... Manhattan can be pretty overwhelming and crowded. Definitely recommend walking the Brooklyn bridge! (and the subway museum on the BK side is worth checking out if oyu have the time). Walk around, you cant go wrong. have fun.

Thanks very much for those tips. I really hope the weather will be good, but I guess I also better make some backup plans in case of rain. I understand it can get quite hot in New York over August, though.

If you really like people watching, try going to a Yankees game.

That would be fantastic, but I don't think I'll have the time. Depending on how things go, I'd like to return for a longer trip sometime within the next couple of year. Besides, who goes to watch baseball by themselves?

I put together 15 of my favorite places...

Thanks so much for doing that! I've bookmarked it and will do a bit more reading before coming over. Really helpful opinion on cabs, too.

+1 on a Yankees game.

Next time.

:::

Of course, much will depend on weather and jet-lagginess. I'll do some reading on TimeOut as well, wouldn't mind finding some good music bars...

Any advice on areas to possibly avoid while walking about or being out at night by myself?

 

[Tilpots]

Besides, who goes to watch baseball by themselves?

I was guessing a solo Globetrotter might!

Anyway, have a ball! Don't plan your trip too much, though, because half the fun of NYC is finding what's around the next corner. At least add some "exploration" time to your itinerary. For such a big city, it's the small things that always amaze me.

 

[iGav]

..even just wandering around in some interesting parts of town will be novel enough.

Wandering around New York is not as interesting as paddling.

 

[leekohler]

Stay down around Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn- the only areas of NYC left worth visiting for anyone with a creative bent. Like others have said, walk around a lot. Area-wise, NYC is not that big. It's very walkable.

Make sure you get some Two Boots pizza!

 

[redAPPLE]

I'd love some advice from you guys on what to do for a very short visit. Single woman mid-40s travelling by herself from London.

single woman travelling = single

or

single woman travelling = alone, single?

back on topic. 48 hours is not a lot. i hate travelling long distances especially crossing time zones. i almost always miss days! because of jetlag.

i would personally pick out a top 3 must see spots, maybe top 2 eats and the rest of the time, enjoying new york.

 

[Blue Velvet]

At least add some "exploration" time to your itinerary. For such a big city, it's the small things that always amaze me.

That's kind of what I was hoping to do... but wanted to get an idea of where would be interesting places to start, trying to avoid anything that's too plasticcy and touristy. I'm not really interested in going to Times Square, for instance.

Wandering around New York is not as interesting as paddling.

Heh. Scary... for the likes of me. I could capsize a canoe just by looking at it.

Stay down around Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn- the only areas of NYC left worth visiting for anyone with a creative bent... Make sure you get some Two Boots pizza!

OK, thanks. And yes, pizza!

single woman travelling = single

or

single woman travelling = alone, single?

Both. Are you free?

But seriously, what that means is that I'm free to do as I please, coming and going, eating and hanging around where I like. I don't have kids, parents or partners in tow. I can stay out until 4am if I wish or spend all day lying in bed... which I'm not going to do. I've only got one tentative casual meetup planned and that's not pinned down to anywhere specific at this stage.

I like all the suggestions so far, except perhaps for Ahmed's. Thank you!