***NYC TIPS FOR 2013 FALL TOUR***

Suziemay wrote:

PJ212 wrote:

BIG FISH is now a musical. No Pearl Jam music in it (I know bummer), but great cast and creative team. If you loved that movie, which I did, perhaps I'll see you there.
http://www.bigfishthemusical.com/

Also, I used to live down the street from where the Barclay Center is now. Here are some neighborhood food recommendations that would be within walking distance of the venue (15min walk or take the bus down Atlantic Ave.)

Bar Tabac - French place, makes a good burger
http://www.yelp.com/biz/bar-tabac-brooklyn
*On Smith Street which is also a cute street with shops, cafes, bars

67 Burger - more burgers. mmm burgers
http://67burger.com/

Joya - Thai
http://www.yelp.com/biz/joya-brooklyn
*On Court Street which is another cute street with Shops & Restaurants.

There's a great bookstore called BookCourt also on Court Street.

Added, thank you!

I also mentioned Bar Tabac and a handful of other Brooklyn restaurants over here.

For the link lazy:

dankind wrote:

Brooklyn

All the pizza places you already know about (Juliana's, Grimaldi's, Di Fara, Lucali, Spumoni Gardens, etc.) plus:

Henry Public: for the turkey leg sandwich -- it's one of the best damn sandwiches I've ever had.
Buttermilk Channel: for Doug's pecan pie sundae -- also, their duck meatloaf is insane.
Bar Tabac: a great neighborhood bistro with great bistro staples (steak frites, duck confit, coq au vin, moules frites, etc.).
Brucie: menu changes every day depending on what's fresh at the market, making for a very special and memorable meal.
Char No. 4, good fatty food and all the bourbon a person could dream of -- the pancakes for brunch are dynamite.
two8two burger, their sauce is the closest thing you'll get to In-N-Out, and their burgers are sized so that you don't feel like taking a nap after eating one.
Red Rose, a classic red-sauce joint.
The Good Fork, one of the best meals I've ever had was here -- worth the trip on the B61, and Red Hook could use your business.
Defonte's, also worth the trip on the B61 -- if you need a boozemop on Saturday, the potato & egg will right the ship (closed Sunday).
Le Gamin, another good neighborhood bistro that's a little closer to Barclays.

PM me for more. I could go on all day.

It looks like I just missed living in the same neighborhood as PJ212.

Suziemay wrote:

Hi everyone,

Thought I'd start a thread for NYC and consolidate a few things I've seen here and there as well as offer some thoughts of my own. I am by no means an expert on all things NYC but will be happy to keep this first post updated with useful info. So NYC locals, please post tips and I will update! Everyone else, post your questions!

Will try to caveat if there's disagreement on things

CONCERT/BARCLAYS INFO

• 7:30 start time (is this doors? when the opener comes on? when the band comes on? don't think we know yet)
• Seating chart (including 3D): http://www.barclayscenter.com/events-ti ... ing-charts
• A-Z guide on Barclays: http://www.barclayscenter.com/guest-services/a-z-guide
• Transportation to Barclays: http://www.barclayscenter.com/getting-here

TRANSPORTATION
Airport
From Newark:

• Airtrain to NJ Transit: Takes you right to Penn Station. You have to take Airtrain to NJ Transit ($5.50 one way). NJ transit is not 24 hours so check schedule in advance of arriving. http://www.panynj.gov/airports/ewr-airtrain.html
• Coach USA express bus (my fav way): $16 one way, $28 round trip. http://www.coachusa.com/olympia/ss.newarkairport.asp
• Taxi: Think around $80 after tolls and tips to midtown Manhattan, but haven't taken a taxi in awhile so will update if someone else has more accurate info

From JFK:

• Airtrain to subway or LIRR (best way in my opinion): For travel from JFK, the Jamaica Station line airtrain from the airport to the Jamaica Station allows you to either subway (E train) into Manhattan for $7.50 one way, or LIRR either to Manhattan (Penn Station) or directly to the venue (Atlantic Terminal) for $15.00 one way. http://www.panynj.gov/airports/jfk-to-from.html

From Laguardia:

• Bus to Subway or Metro North to Grand Central: You can take the M60 bus from LGA to a block away from the Harlem-125th station. Then you can take the Metro North to Grand Central or the 6 train anywhere on the green line. The bus costs $2.50 one way with free transfer to subway and you need either exact change or a Metro Card. You'll need another ticket for Metro North (will be more expensive)
• Bus to subway (on N/Q line): If the N or Q train is better for your travels, you can take the same M60 to Hoyt and 31st (about 5 minutes out of LaGuardia) and get on the N/Q train at the stop called Astoria. All for $2.50 one way
• Taxi: I think this is about $30-$35 including tip and tolls to midtown Manhattan. If anyone has better info please post!

Getting around town

• MTA (subway) info: http://new.mta.info/
• Hopstop - to plan out travel: http://hopstop.com/

HOTELS
Brooklyn

• Holiday Inn Express Brooklyn
  Group rates for Oct 18-20 $209 per night including all taxes and breakfast
  http://forums.pearljam.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=213168

Manhattan
Hotels with shared rooms/bathrooms

• Hotel 31: http://www.hotel31.com/default.aspx?pg=contact
• Hotel 17: http://www.hotel17ny.com/
  "I can vouch for Hotel 17 being pretty decent, yet affordable. Good location by Union Square station. Slowest elevator in New York though" ~dustinpardue

Hostels

• West Side YMCA http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review ... _York.html
• New York Budget Inn http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review ... _York.html

FOOD
Brooklyn

• Smorgasburg (outdoor food market, thanks BD!): This happens in Fort Greene on Saturdays and Williamsburg and DUMBO on Sundays http://www.smorgasburg.com/ | http://www.brooklynflea.com/markets/smorgasburg-dumbo/
• Grimaldi's (Pizza): http://www.grimaldis.com/
• (within 15 mins walking from Barclays) Bar Tabac - French place, makes a good burger
  http://www.yelp.com/biz/bar-tabac-brooklyn
  *On Smith Street which is also a cute street with shops, cafes, bars
• (within 15 mins walking from Barclays) 67 Burger - more burgers. mmm burgers
  http://67burger.com/
• (within 15 mins walking from Barclays)Joya - Thai
  http://www.yelp.com/biz/joya-brooklyn
  *On Court Street which is another cute street with Shops & Restaurants.

Queens

• ZUM STAMMTISCH RESTAURANT (German): http://www.zumstammtisch.com/index2.html
  "My favorite German restaurant in Queens... So worth it this time of year( a think a little after Oktoberfest, whatever's)
  Food is amazing ( yager schnitzel is my favorite) great beer.... Get Das Boot. Don't do it show day, you won't be able to walk out of there nevermind jump around at a show " ~CROJAM95

STUFF TO DO

• Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge: http://brooklyn.about.com/od/brooklynbr ... hattan.htm
• Museum of Natural History: http://www.amnh.org/
• Daily Show taping: http://www.thedailyshow.com/tickets
• Colbert Report taping: http://www.colbertnation.com/tickets
• Bike ride along West side/Hudson and Harlem: Rent a bike and ride up and around central park and down on west side on the hudson river. Great ride! While your up at the top of the park also go check out Harlem. Red Rooster is a great restuarant and check out the Apollo Theater. (H.Chinaski)
• Chelsea Piers (all kinds of fitness activities - bowling, indoor climbing, etc): http://www.chelseapiers.com/sc/

THEATRE

• Last minute tickets: http://www.tdf.org/TDF_ServicePage.aspx?id=56
• The Glass Menagerie (starring Zachary Quinto!!): http://theglassmenageriebroadway.com/tickets/
• Betrayal (starring Daniel Craig & Rachel Weisz!!): http://www.betrayalbroadway.com/
• BIG FISH the musical: http://www.bigfishthemusical.com/
  

OTHER EVENTS OF INTEREST
Food Network Food & Wine Festival (Oct 17-20): http://www.nycwff.org/
CMJ Music Marathon (Oct 15-19): http://www.cmj.com/marathon/

BOOKSTORES
[*]BookCourt on Court Street (near Joya Thai in Brooklyn)

RECORD STORES
Generation Records: http://www.generationrecords.com/
Other Music: http://www.othermusic.com/

COFFEE SHOPS
Birch (NYC): http://www.birchcoffee.com/
Joe (NYC): http://www.joenewyork.com/
Stumptown (Portland): http://stumptowncoffee.com/location/new-york/
Intelligentsia (Chicago): http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/locations#nyc
Hi-Collar (Japanese-style European coffee bar): http://www.hi-collar.com/
Nolita Mart and Espresso Bar: http://nolitamart.com/

Heres a link to my food thread so you can add in the first post. I added yours to mine!
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=214831

Great thread! I wish I knew some of this stuff last time I was in NYC! Oh well this time I'll be going with a friend who's never been so now I can seem more knowledgeable

Suziemay wrote:

:wave: :wave:

:wave: :wave:

I live and work in Downtown Brooklyn, and I'll be glad to answer questions or provide information, however I can. Here's a link from the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, which has a lot of good information about the area: http://downtownbrooklyn.com/

Duffield Street, in Downtown Brooklyn, has 3 nice, new hotels: aLoft, Sheraton and Hotel Indigo. They're all within walking distance of Barclays (10-15 minutes), and steps away from public transportation (and closer to Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge). The area may not look that appealing - there's a lot of construction (but none on weekends), and the neighborhood is changing - but it's safe, convenient and somewhat residential.

Also in Brooklyn is the Marriott Brooklyn Bridge, at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge. It's near Brooklyn Heights, the municipal center and the Brooklyn Promenade, and the new Brooklyn Bridge Park. And, there's the Nu Hotel on Smith Street, which would be an easy, straight walk to Barclays. Smith Street has tons of little restaurants and shops and an old neighborhood feel.

It's great that a Ten Clubber booked a block of rooms - It exemplifies the concern and community of this forum. The Holiday Inn Express on Butler Street is further into Brooklyn, and further from Manhattan, on the border of the Brooklyn neighborhoods, Park Slope and Carroll Gardens. IIt's also a direct walk to Barclays. It is on the 6-lane Fourth Avenue, which is envisioned as Brooklyn's Champs-Elysees, but, right now, is mostly industrial, with a few new condos, some bars and tire shops. That hotel is touted for people going on cruises from the Brooklyn Terminal. The Downtown Brooklyn hotels are going to be more convenient and closer to the non-concert activities, except for Park Slope and Prospect Park.

Suziemay wrote:

[*]Maialino at the Gramercy Hotel: http://www.maialinonyc.com/


Pricey restaurant where Black Diamond eats http://gonyc.about.com/od/restaurants/t ... unches.htm
In all seriousness, many of these have been around for awhile and have consistently been ranked top NYC restaurants. I just wouldn't recommend any of these to people I know because they are probably more for special occasions and you have to shell a lot to eat there. Of the list, I'd probably forgo DB Bistro Moderne. It's in Midtown near office buildings and really not a fun atmosphere.

That's because Black Diamond knows how to eat! If anyone here is really into Michelin quality food then don't miss out on some of these. Expensive, yes, but as Black Diamond's link points out: Great lunch value. In 2010 I ate lunch at Jean George before the MSG show. I think they were doing an offer of $29 for 2 courses. It may be a bit pricier now. I've eaten at Maialino and Le Bernardin as well, both top notch. Le Bernardin is probably in the top 10 best French seafood restaurants in the world. If your into this type of food take advantage whilst in NYC.