Going to New York - shopping/restaurant recommendations?

[TheFoo]

Originally Posted by Manton

Brown is too small time to actually have a physical clubhouse.

 

[Mr. Moo]

Regarding hotels: The Hotel Belleclaire is unavailable during the dates when we are going. The Park Central is roughly $350 per person more than we are currently spending. The Milburn is a definite possibility, as it is about the same price as what we are spending and has available space during our time of visit. Important point: So... what are the pros/cons of staying at a place like the Milburn, here: http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8...image&resnum=1 Versus staying much closer to Times Square, where there are more things closer that we want to see? Here: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&cl...image&resnum=1

 

[Manton]

Originally Posted by Mr. Moo

The Park Central is roughly $350 per person more than we are currently spending.

Wait. What????!!?

Are you talking about this place?

http://www.parkcentralny.com/

That is $350 more per night than wherever else you were going to stay? You have to try hard to pay more than $350 at this place.

 

[Mr. Moo]

Originally Posted by Manton

Wait. What????!!?

Are you talking about this place?

http://www.parkcentralny.com/

That is $350 more per night than wherever else you were going to stay? You have to try hard to pay more than $350 at this place.

I meant as a package price with flight and hotel for 4 nights. It's $1200 or so per person, whereas we were looking at around $850 per person.

 

[TheFoo]

Originally Posted by Mr. Moo

Important point: So... what are the pros/cons of staying at a place like the Milburn, here: http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8...image&resnum=1

Versus staying much closer to Times Square, where there are more things closer that we want to see? Here: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&cl...image&resnum=1

It takes about 6 minutes (plus walking and waiting time) to reach Times Square from the UWS by subway. You should, of course, see Times Square, but it is a cultural vacuum without anything worth doing unless you want to be stuffed in an immobile crowd of confused and bedazzled tourists caged in by Red Lobster, TGIF, and the Disney Store. Real New Yorkers stay away from Times Square at all costs.

The UWS is a real Manhattan neighborhood where New Yorkers live, eat, and play. It has it's own feel and character with established neighborhood stores and restaurants that people have been going to for decades. It is much quieter than Midtown and downton, and is surrounded by parks (Riverside Park on the west end, and Central Park on the east end). But it's true: if you want to be surrounded by dazzling lights, cigarette smoke, and bars, it is not the place to be. Instead, think tree-lined streets, park benches, cafes, and pre-war buildings.

 

[Leffot]

My apologies if this has already been mentioned.

Best free activities, Walk the Highline, and Brooklyn Bridge. Staten Island Ferry for great relaxing ride past the Statue of Liberty.

Italian - I Sodi (West Village)
Japanese - Matsugen (Tribeca, Jean George creation)
Basque - Txikito (Chelsea)
French Bistro - Pastis (Meatpacking)

I'm a downtown guy what can I say. Have fun, you really can;t go wrong.

 

[teddieriley]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

Real New Yorkers stay away from Times Square at all costs.



So do you consider yourself a real New Yorker?

 

[TheFoo]

Originally Posted by teddieriley

So do you consider yourself a real New Yorker?

No. But I suppose you're going to take this opportunty to whine about me pretending to be, no matter what I've said.

 

[voxsartoria]

Originally Posted by teddieriley

So do you consider yourself a real New Yorker?

Originally Posted by mafoofan

No. But I suppose you're going to take this opportunty to whine about me pretending to be, no matter what I've said.

- B

 

[RJman]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

No. But I suppose you're going to take this opportunty to whine about me pretending to be, no matter what I've said.

There used to be an ad for Windows on the World, back after the end of the 1980s, describing what real New Yorkers did and knew of as good values: send their kids to Dalton, shop at D'Agostino (IIRC), and, well, eat at Windows on teh World.

 

[teddieriley]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

No. But I suppose you're going to take this opportunty to whine about me pretending to be, no matter what I've said.

WTH would I whine about anything. Do I come across as a whiner? I was just asking. Foo.

 

[voxsartoria]

Originally Posted by RJman

Windows on teh World.

A saddening reference.


- B

 

[IndianBoyz]

Originally Posted by teddieriley

WTH would I whine about anything. Do I come across as a whiner? I was just asking. Foo.

 

[Mr. Moo]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

It takes about 6 minutes (plus walking and waiting time) to reach Times Square from the UWS by subway. You should, of course, see Times Square, but it is a cultural vacuum without anything worth doing unless you want to be stuffed in an immobile crowd of confused and bedazzled tourists caged in by Red Lobster, TGIF, and the Disney Store. Real New Yorkers stay away from Times Square at all costs.

The UWS is a real Manhattan neighborhood where New Yorkers live, eat, and play. It has it's own feel and character with established neighborhood stores and restaurants that people have been going to for decades. It is much quieter than Midtown and downton, and is surrounded by parks (Riverside Park on the west end, and Central Park on the east end). But it's true: if you want to be surrounded by dazzling lights, cigarette smoke, and bars, it is not the place to be. Instead, think tree-lined streets, park benches, cafes, and pre-war buildings.

Ah, I see. This is nice... I guess once we're out of the hotel in the morning, we are out and on our way and it really doesn't matter where we are as long as we're not in Jersey.

Would the Upper West Side work well for a stroll in the evening to a cafe or restaurant/something romantic? Would it be better than Times Square (I assume it would)?

Originally Posted by Leffot

My apologies if this has already been mentioned.

Best free activities, Walk the Highline, and Brooklyn Bridge. Staten Island Ferry for great relaxing ride past the Statue of Liberty.

Italian - I Sodi (West Village)
Japanese - Matsugen (Tribeca, Jean George creation)
Basque - Txikito (Chelsea)
French Bistro - Pastis (Meatpacking)

I'm a downtown guy what can I say. Have fun, you really can;t go wrong.

Thank you for the recs. I will look into the restaurant and we will most likely end up doing the Brooklyn Bridge and Staten Island Ferry for sure. What is the Highline?

Originally Posted by voxsartoria

A saddening reference.


- B

No kidding.

One of the few days that I can recall exactly what I did almost to the minute. And at that time I couldn't remember what I had for breakfast the day before (I was 18).

 

[TheFoo]

Originally Posted by Mr. Moo

Would the Upper West Side work well for a stroll in the evening to a cafe or restaurant/something romantic? Would it be better than Times Square (I assume it would)?

Absolutely. My wife and I like to walk through and along Riverside Park at night. There are dozens of small restaurants in the area. They are not generally as hip or edgy as their downtown counterparts, however.

Times Square is the opposite of romantic.