Tell me about New York City

[Reynolds Woodcock 4815]

4 hours ago, locodos said:

Need a safety related opinion.   I'm thinking about going to see a show at Brooklyn Steel (In Williamsburg)  Is this the sort of place to be ubering to and from or is it ok to walk ?  In a city I don't know I prefer to walk a bit but I don't want to blithely walk into a place I shouldn't.  When I say walk, I mean from the nearest bus/train stop or to a bar(s) afterwards.

You can walk to and from the Graham street L stop. I’ve done it probably a hundred times. The venue itself is directly across from a large housing project; I’ve never felt unsafe after a show (particularly given the large number of people leaving). Once you get west of Kingsland you are basically back in prime Williamsburg.

Nothing special about it, but I often stop at Harefield Road for a night cap before hopping back on the L. 

[Your Mom 4856]

What’s the best Hilton property in Manhattan?  I’m sending the girlfriend and her daughter up there for 3 nights.  I’ll probably join them for part of the trip and leave them alone for the rest.  I have a free night  and enough points for 2 more at any property up there.  They are seeing a concert at Barclays in Brooklyn one night but doing typical Manhattan shit the others.  Restaurants, a Broadway show, one of the museums, Central Park…  I’m sure they’ll walk thru Times Square but they don’t want to stay there, nor would I.

Hilton Midtown on 53rd?  Any better options? I thought there was a Conrad Midtown but I’m only seeing one downtown now.  We’re all pretty content with Doubletrees and Hamptons on most trips but I’d hate to waste a free night on that.  

[parkavenueguy 13]

Here is my list of activities to do in NYC since I have no where else to share it:

Cheap & Fun:

• Central Park
• The MET
• Natural History Museum

Restaurants (my personal favorites, first things that come to mind):

• Le Relais de Venise L'Entrecôte Midtown East (they only serve steak and frites, that's it. like $35 for a full course including salad, two servings of steak, and two servings of fries.)
• Minetta Tavern (good burger)
• Pastis (great burger)
• Cafe Reggio (nice cafe, open late)
• Lucien (French food, decent spot, trendy though so annoying people go to eat there)
• Raku (the one on MacDougal)
• uluh (good Sichuan spot)
• Spot Dessert Bar (dessert bar on St. Marks)
• Little Poland (beef goulash is great)

Bars (barely go out anymore but these places are fun):

• Sake Bar Decibal (underground Japanese bar)
• Studio 151 (Japanese jazz bar, $20 cover)
• Generally can go out anywhere in the LES or East Village, but those two came to mind as places I enjoy the most.

Would try and avoid midtown / Times Square area, but understand people like to visit just to see it. Personally biased to the Upper East Side, but I'm boring. Enjoy and be safe!

[The Ace of Aces 5194]

On 11/7/2024 at 8:25 AM, SimonBolivar said:

Yellow Face any good? Looking to add another performance to our trip the week before Thanksgiving.

It is 

[locodos 5412]

Welp looks like it's going to be pissing down rain when I'm in town... Guess I'll be buying an umbrella.  In the UK I usually carry a back pack with a rain jacket, phone bank, and a water bottle.   I was hoping to avoid carrying one, because I figured it might be a pain at restaurants, on public transportation, etc.   

1. Any advice re the rain/backpack?
2. I'm tempted to wear waterproof hiking boots... am I going to get hassled about footwear?  Not planning on going anywhere super fancy, but I have seen dress codes posted for some places (aka No sneakers)  

[stc 1466]

2 hours ago, locodos said:

Welp looks like it's going to be pissing down rain when I'm in town... Guess I'll be buying an umbrella.  In the UK I usually carry a back pack with a rain jacket, phone bank, and a water bottle.   I was hoping to avoid carrying one, because I figured it might be a pain at restaurants, on public transportation, etc.   

1. Any advice re the rain/backpack?
2. I'm tempted to wear waterproof hiking boots... am I going to get hassled about footwear?  Not planning on going anywhere super fancy, but I have seen dress codes posted for some places (aka No sneakers)  

wore hiking boots when i was there last month and had no issues, even ate at a few fancyish places. no one seemed to care about dress code. 

[The Ace of Aces 5194]

FUCKING HELL

Landry’s has purchased Keen’s. There goes that iconic restaurant. This is devastating. 

[Gale Snoats 243]

FUCKING HELL
Landry’s has purchased Keen’s. There goes that iconic restaurant. This is devastating. 

Oh no!! My son’s favorite and we’re going there this weekend. Hopefully they haven’t fucked it up yet. Maybe they won’t fuck it up. Vic and Anthony’s isn’t bad.

On another note we get in town tomorrow morning and are staying at the Carlyle. Is there a fun place to watch the tx game close by? Will have our 11 and 13 yr olds.

[PenelopeWitherspoon 19171]

Well, I guess I have been to Keens for the last time. Fuck Fertitta.

I just got back from Los Angeles and London. Glad to be back in NYC.

[The Ace of Aces 5194]

On 11/23/2024 at 9:55 AM, PenelopeWitherspoon said:

Well, I guess I have been to Keens for the last time. Fuck Fertitta.

I just got back from Los Angeles and London. Glad to be back in NYC.

I tried to get reservations next Friday night but no dice. If you have an in, dinner on me and my wife. 

Edited Monday at 12:43 AM by The Ace of Aces

[SimonBolivar 10961]

Just got back last night and had a wonderful trip as always. It was a rainy trip with about 36ish hours straight of drizzle but we made it work Low key favorite meal was the Lomo Saltado at the Flor de Mayo location on Amsterdam and 83rd after the Children's Museum.

Blue Note/Birdland > Broadway still especially at the price point but A Wonderful World was really good too. James Monroe Iglehart is talented as fuck.

[Gale Snoats 243]

Any thoughts on best pizza on upper east side?

[locodos 5412]

On 11/25/2024 at 11:40 AM, SimonBolivar said:

Just got back last night and had a wonderful trip as always. It was a rainy trip with about 36ish hours straight of drizzle but we made it work 

Got back Sunday, but yeah cold and rainy Thurs & Friday

Restaurants:

• Nom Wah Tea Parlor:   Dim Sum...  It's just ok, chances are it's not better (or possibly as good) as places you might have at home.  But it feels old and authentic and hit the spot after flying in early.  I was the only gringo in the joint.
• Foul Witch:  Really good 8/10  Focaccia & cultured butter with the Testa...  fucking great.  Scallops also great.  Skip the Lobster Linguini, would have had the Pork Collar but pine nuts fuck me up and I didn't want to risk it.  Arrived a bit early so pregamed at the The Library next door.  Would do that again too.
• The Mansion (diner):  Nice place to sit and easy to hit before The Met.  Pricey for diner fare, clean bathrooms, and relaxed vibe. Sinatra XM playlist was a bit on the nose.
• Il Passatore (Brooklyn):   Felt a little dumpy and thought I'd made a mistake.  But, the staff are all Italian from Italy and I relied on them to guide us a bit.  Best bang for the buck.    Suppli Al Telephono not as good as in Rome, but this is the first place I've seen it in the States.  Ravioli di burrata was very good.  Had some sort of Pepper Gelato and it was great.   Awesome place to hit before heading over to Brooklyn Steel
• Sake Bar Decibel:  Food is ok/good, but made better by the Sake.   Cool vibe.  I would recommend this place to anyone who likes grungy but authentic.  You have to look for this place, you'd never just stumble onto it.  But you should go IMO

One other note, I was a bit worried about dress code.  We were packing light and the weather was crap.  It wasn't close to an issue anywhere we went, but as you can see above, we didn't go anywhere fancy. ymmv

Also big shout out to the folks (plural) walking around rainy cold streets in socks and Crocs...  

 

Edited Tuesday at 08:27 PM by locodos

[PenelopeWitherspoon 19171]

17 hours ago, Gale Snoats said:

Any thoughts on best pizza on upper east side?

San Matteo.  There is one at 81st and 2nd. The other is at 89th and 2nd. Both are Neopolitan style. Both really good.  I think I prefer the one on 89th slightly, but both are absolutely solid.

I also like Patsy's. One at 69th and 1st and one near Bloomingdale's on E 60th (just east of the store actually between 3rd and 2nd). I do not think I have ever had a bad pie from there (those are where I usually order from as they are both close to my house).

On 11/24/2024 at 7:43 PM, The Ace of Aces said:

I tried to get reservations next Friday night but no dice. If you have an in, dinner on me and my wife. 

I used to (colleague knew the guy who keeps the book).  Best thing I can tell you is to try and go after a show. They stay open late, and I have definitely called them and walked right in.

[Gale Snoats 243]

I used to (colleague knew the guy who keeps the book).  Best thing I can tell you is to try and go after a show. They stay open late, and I have definitely called them and walked right in.

Great rec - we went to San Matteo’s and it was awesome.

Re Keens - we called several times bf the trip and they said they were full. We got the concierge to call once we arrived and got a table for 12 at 9:30 one night so maybe go through your hotel. Or as PW said shoot for a later time as they stay open pretty late.

[The Ace of Aces 5194]

We had a super mediocre dinner at Bar Boulud Mindy’s night. 

[PenelopeWitherspoon 19171]

Rainy Thanksgiving AM here in Manhattan. I had to head to the LES to pick up a pie, but I detoured to 5th Ave first.