NEED HELP FROM A NYCer! Help me Plan the Best 3 day trip in NYC!!!

Hard2IMAGINE2007VIC

So I figured I would come back here for some great advice about NYC and how to best experience the Big Apple in a short trip. So now that many of you have helped me figure out subway or taxi from airport, I am looking for some tips on maximizing my 3 day trip in NYC. I arrive in NYC on 6/23 at 6pm and leave at 1pm on 6/26. I have been on the net searching stuff to do and see and I am not sure I can do it all in 3 days with the Pearl Jam shows at MSG both nights. I am just looking for some suggestions on the typical NYC famous tourist sites that I must see and which might be OK to pass on until when I return to NYC with more time than 3 days. I appreciate any thoughts on how you think another PJ fan might enjoy his short trip in NYC! Thanks!

BetterManningNYG

not really a typical "tourist" thing to do, but a worthwhile experience for any music fan:

http://www.iridiumjazzclub.com/talent.php?talent=1&month=6&year=2008

you might be able to catch the late show if you don't have any delays getting in.

thecory

if you like plays matinées are wednsday. see one before night 2. David Mamet who did glengarry glenross has a new play called november. haven't seen it but mamet rarely disappoints. or see something else.

angryyoungman

theres this big pointy building that has an interesting observation deck, the name escapes me though

angryyoungman

madame tussauds wax museum is kinda interesting, bring a camera

ovechkin8

wax museum? are you joking?

alex grey museum COSM in the meatpacking district is pretty cool.
the nicholas roerich museum on the upper west side is also a really cool, offbeat kinda place to visit.
if you like pizza, check out the brooklyn pizza tour. this italian dude, tony, takes you around BK, shows you a few things about the borough, and you get a slice at l and b and grimaldi's, which are considered two of the best pizza shops in ny.

MOMA is always a good time as is the museum of natural history.

STAY AWAY FROM TIMES SQUARE- its a tourist trap and its basically all generic crap...its interesting to see the spectacle, but you don't need to spend more than a half hour in the area to get the gist of it...again ,STAY AWAY FROM TIMES SQUARE

if you're into a off center electronic music, check out club love on 8th and macdougal.

angryyoungman

ovechkin8 wrote:

wax museum? are you joking?

alex grey museum COSM in the meatpacking district is pretty cool.
the nicholas roerich museum on the upper west side is also a really cool, offbeat kinda place to visit.
if you like pizza, check out the brooklyn pizza tour. this italian dude, tony, takes you around BK, shows you a few things about the borough, and you get a slice at l and b and grimaldi's, which are considered two of the best pizza shops in ny.

MOMA is always a good time as is the museum of natural history.

STAY AWAY FROM TIMES SQUARE- its a tourist trap and its basically all generic crap...its interesting to see the spectacle, but you don't need to spend more than a half hour in the area to get the gist of it...again ,STAY AWAY FROM TIMES SQUARE

if you're into a off center electronic music, check out club love on 8th and macdougal.

he asked for touristy kind of stuff. . .he didnt ask about being educated

MrStyles420

mets home game at shea against seattle, follow it up with Joe's Shanghai on 51st between union and main, they got trademarked "soup" dumplings highly recommended by zagat and NY Times, cheap too! all followed up by some authentic flushing bubble tea.

nukeboot

The Rose Planetarium at the Natural History Museum is fantastic, as is the whole museum if you have the time.

The Circle Line boat trip is a great way to see NYC (or take the Staten Island Ferry for free).

You can catch a play at the Wed. matinee performance - discount tickets in Times Square - TKTS booth.

Bathgate66

http://www.hopstop.com

http://www.green-wood.com/


and of course you should head down to the WTC site downtown.

Chazz

OK, so as you can see I'm not a NYer and I've only been there once so far (going to the shows in June though ) but I can give you some tips as a 'real tourist'.

The best thing we did was buy a 'hop on hop off' tour bus ticket that lasted two days. It had a downtown route and uptown route covering all the 'landmarks' a tourist would want to see. It was brilliant for getting the 'lay of the land' as we did all our other sightseeing on foot. It also included a trip across the Brooklyn bridge at night so you could see the New York skyline all light up. Think it cost about $45 per person back in 2002 but it was well worth it for us, being naive English tourists Make sure you go on the top deck though or you won't see much!!

We also booked a boat trip right round Manhattan island that was really good too.

qcrete

http://www.metmuseum.org/

http://nyzoosandaquarium.com/cpz

guacamolejoe

angryyoungman wrote:

theres this big pointy building that has an interesting observation deck, the name escapes me though

If you plan on going there, go late at night around 11ish, I think it closes at midnight but you should check. The lines during the day suck, bunch of stinking tourists (not you of course). And the veiw at night is incredible, even with an overcast, makes it even better imop.

juliefer

i'm visiting new york in a week and a half and want to try to fit in some wandering around greenwich village/ west village. any recommendations of where i should start? what i should see? (what subway stop to get off at?)

JaneNY

ovechkin8 wrote:

MOMA is always a good time as is the museum of natural history.

STAY AWAY FROM TIMES SQUARE- its a tourist trap and its basically all generic crap...its interesting to see the spectacle, but you don't need to spend more than a half hour in the area to get the gist of it...again ,STAY AWAY FROM TIMES SQUARE

if you're into a off center electronic music, check out club love on 8th and macdougal.

I like the MOMA, didn't like the museum of natural history that much.

Times Square - if you've never been to NY its kind of fun to be standing in the place you always see on TV though, with the big screens and all.

piaget77

juliefer wrote:

i'm visiting new york in a week and a half and want to try to fit in some wandering around greenwich village/ west village. any recommendations of where i should start? what i should see? (what subway stop to get off at?)

Take the A,C, or E subway down to West 4th street.

Very, very cool area. What kind of things do you want to see?

juliefer

piaget77 wrote:

Take the A,C, or E subway down to West 4th street.

Very, very cool area. What kind of things do you want to see?

I don't really know! We're already doing all the touristy stuff, museums and harbour cruise and such, and we probably only have about half a day to check out those neighbourhoods. I don't care too much to see art galleries (I did the art school thing years ago and am pretty much done with gallery hopping) but we do like neat shops, and looking at houses/architecture/real estate, and food, especially bakeries...

nukeboot

juliefer wrote:

i'm visiting new york in a week and a half and want to try to fit in some wandering around greenwich village/ west village. any recommendations of where i should start? what i should see? (what subway stop to get off at?)

Since you're in town for a show, why not explore some rock history?

Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios – 52 West 8th Street (East of 6th Ave.)
Led Zeppelin’s “Physical Graffiti” cover - 96-98 St. Marks Place (E. of 1st St.)

NY PJ1

ny pj1 's crib for the best greens in nyc

then we can go to the brooklyn crib for the best italian food

TransplantedNewf

nukeboot wrote:

Since you're in town for a show, why not explore some rock history?

Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios – 52 West 8th Street (East of 6th Ave.)
Led Zeppelin’s “Physical Graffiti” cover - 96-98 St. Marks Place (E. of 1st St.)

Awesome idea!

My 17 year old neice in really into Hendrix/Doors/Zeppelin and she'd LOVE a photo of that building. I was feeling bad that i wouldn't be in town for her highschool graduation but that would definitely make up for it.

juliefer

nukeboot wrote:

Since you're in town for a show, why not explore some rock history?

Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios – 52 West 8th Street (East of 6th Ave.)
Led Zeppelin’s “Physical Graffiti” cover - 96-98 St. Marks Place (E. of 1st St.)

sadly, i won't be there for a show, we booked our trip way before PJ announced their tour, but i'll check those places out, thanks! (we're taking our first non-pj related trip, so we're making up for it with broadway shows.)

piaget77

Krisdababe wrote:

Awesome idea!

My 17 year old neice in really into Hendrix/Doors/Zeppelin and she'd LOVE a photo of that building. I was feeling bad that i wouldn't be in town for her highschool graduation but that would definitely make up for it.

Dylan's apartment is also on West 4th street.

Best thing to do is wander around MacDougal Street.

Bleeker St. and St. Marks Place are also a lot of fun, but you can literally spend hours on MacDougal alone. Best falafel place, and my favorite tea house. Cafe Wha? is also down this street.

Sullivan Street is very cool too.

If you like REALLY modern art, the New Museum is great to check out, located along the Bowery.

You might be better off without an itinerary for Greenwich, you'll stumble upon plenty of things to do.

TransplantedNewf

piaget77 wrote:

You might be better off without an itinerary for Greenwich, you'll stumble upon plenty of things to do.

Thanks for that! I only have an itinerary for the airplane, after that i could end up anywhere! The best adventures are always unplanned

Allie

I would want to see the Empire State Bldg, Times Square, Central Park
the Village is my favorite area of the city
I also like Union Square (and the park over there), and there's a Virgin Megastore over there that's pretty nifty. I like it much better than the one in Times Square.
And have a slice of Pizza!!!!!

Allie

juliefer wrote:

I don't really know! We're already doing all the touristy stuff, museums and harbour cruise and such, and we probably only have about half a day to check out those neighbourhoods. I don't care too much to see art galleries (I did the art school thing years ago and am pretty much done with gallery hopping) but we do like neat shops, and looking at houses/architecture/real estate, and food, especially bakeries...

http://mta.info/nyct/maps/submap.htm

the F and V trains also stop at West 4th. (the V only runs during the week).

Washington Square Park, I believe, is closed for renovations? but the brownstones near there, by the NYU campus are historical.

the West Village has become super touristy. The East Village (by St Mark's Place) is near like where CBGB's used to be.

Bleecker Street is still interesting, imo.

John's of Bleecker St-Pizza...

http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7116744/

That's not my favorite pizza place though. There's another place on Bleecker. I can't remember the name of it, it's either Pizza Garden or Pizza box, or something like that, it's past LaGuardia Place, on the Left side of the street. They have a garden out back, it's really nice.

I think Bleecker Bob's records is still in business? (anyone pls correct me if I'm wrong?)
http://www.bleeckerbobs.com/


Magnolia Bakery was made more famous by 'Sex and the City'-imo the cupcakes are a bit overpriced and a bit over rated, but that's the spot. This is kind of a far walk down Bleecker


http://www.magnoliacupcakes.com/

somebody else just mentioned this in a thread a few weeks ago, I can't remember who,
but this place is amazing, Veniero's

http://www.venierospastry.com/

Once you go down Houston Street, that's venturing into Soho which is super touristy.

Also walking down Broadway imo is interesting. There's a lot more chain stores then there used to be (ie: clothing stores) but to me it gives you the 'flavor' of walking through the village, and if the weather is nice, there are street vendors selling jewelry and things like that. Tower Records used to be on Bdwy but that has gone out of business also, unfortunately.

The Champ

Allie wrote:

somebody else just mentioned this in a thread a few weeks ago, I can't remember who,
but this place is amazing, Veniero's

http://www.venierospastry.com/

I posted about the place first. We're going tomorrow to put our wedding cake order in. I should get a fucking cut from all the business I drove their way as this bakery is now mentioned in virtually every NYC tourist/food thread ..

Btw Allie02, I specifically remember you arguing with me that Junior's is/was better..I guess I won, ultimately ..

Allie

The Champ wrote:

I posted about the place first. We're going tomorrow to put our wedding cake order in. I should get a cut from all the business I drove their way as this bakery is now mentioned in virtually every NYC tourist/food thread ..

Btw Allie02, I specifically remember you arguing with me that Junior's is/was better..I guess I won, ultimately ..

Hah, you remember me being Allie02! LOL. Idk if I was 'arguing' per se, I do concur Junior's is better, but
the person asked about bakeries in the Village. There's another place in Little Italy that is super fantastic and I can't think of the name of it..

OH! I just googled. Ferrara's! That place is out of this world. The Cannolis are to die for

oh and congrats, your wedding cake!!!! Wow! Yay! I hope it comes out tasty!

Another good spot for live music that is still on Bleecker is the Bitter End.

And there's a bar, gosh I can't remember the names of the places anymore but it's on the right side of the street, just past LaGuardia place, it's a dive-y spot but the drinks are super cheap.

I don't like the Red Lion at all. the food was atrocious.

Caliente Cab Company-the food there is tasty and 'reasonable' and you can get these super ginormous drinks and you get to take home the glass. Some people think it's cheesy/touristy but I like it It's LOUD in there though.

I don't mind helping folks out but honestly, so many folks have asked these questions, can we combine them to 1 thread, please? And can we get a sticky for the NYC Subway map?!

The Champ

Allie wrote:

Hah, you remember me being Allie02! LOL. Idk if I was 'arguing' per se, I do concur Junior's is better, but
the person asked about bakeries in the Village. There's another place in Little Italy that is super fantastic and I can't think of the name of it..

OH! I just googled. Ferrara's! That place is out of this world. The Cannolis are to die for

oh and congrats, your wedding cake!!!! Wow! Yay! I hope it comes out tasty!

Another good spot for live music that is still on Bleecker is the Bitter End.

And there's a bar, gosh I can't remember the names of the places anymore but it's on the right side of the street, just past LaGuardia place, it's a dive-y spot but the drinks are super cheap.

I don't like the Red Lion at all. the food was atrocious.

Caliente Cab Company-the food there is tasty and 'reasonable' and you can get these super ginormous drinks and you get to take home the glass. Some people think it's cheesy/touristy but I like it It's LOUD in there though.

I don't mind helping folks out but honestly, so many folks have asked these questions, can we combine them to 1 thread, please? And can we get a sticky for the NYC Subway map?!

Some good information, but Ferrara's Cannolis to die for? No, you had it right the first time with Veniero's ..It's the best not only in the Village but the best by far across NYC..Ferrara's is more of a tourist trap than anything..

Thanks, and of course the cake will come out tasty..lol...

Agreed with the rest..aside from the comments regarding Junior's..

Allie

The Champ wrote:

Some good information, but Ferrara's Cannolis to die for? No, you had it right the first time with Veniero's ..It's the best not only in the Village but the best by far across NYC..Ferrara's is more of a tourist trap than anything..

Thanks, and of course the cake will come out tasty..lol...

Agreed with the rest..aside from the comments regarding Junior's..

Have you been to Ferrara's though?
Oh man. That's tasty right there. I don't think it's a tourist trap
and I have 2 words: Strawberry Cheesecake! Lol

NYCslacker

I heard that Veniero's was closed last week for DOH violations. Not sure if it's reopened again.

Hard2IMAGINE: my favorite must-do for out-of-towners is the Top of the Rock observation deck. It's much better than the Empire State Building. It's generally less crowded but also you're in the middle of the skyline and you can actually see the ESB from it. It's at Rockefeller Center, 50th St. b/w 5th and 6th Aves.

http://www.topoftherocknyc.com/

I also recommend a boat tour - some form of the circle line - either the full tour or a shorter version -- or the staten island ferry. The experience of the city from the water is magnificent.

Enjoy!