for pizza.... scroll to the bottom of this link. (tier 1) lists some NYC pizza joints. go for the Coal fired oven places. They call it "PIE" not pizza...
Jeff Varasano's NY Pizza Recipe
Don't waste your time finding the best pizza. Just go to Tito's next time you're in Greenville SC. It's better than most of the pizza you get in Naples, where it was invented. Believe me, I lived in Naples for 1-1/2 years and I love pizza.
But most any one slice walkup in NYC is pretty good, YMMV.
<Edit: I just followed the enclosed link and yeah, that looks like pretty good pizza. I'm not sure I'd spend an awful lot of NY time chasing pizza but if you're into it, go for it. At least work it into an exploration of a particular neighborhood.>
I like the push cart hot dogs and a sandwich in any deli that looks busy when it's not eat time. Same for the cafes, if it's crowded off hours it's probably pretty good.
Most of the Little Italy restaurants are about the same, and pretty good. The really good Italian restaurants are off the beaten track and visitor unfriendly.
The bed can be your most expensive item. What are you doing for that?
We stay at a converted rooming house in Gramercy for about $80/night.
But small rooms and bathroom down the hall.
You don't have to go to Jersey City to see Ellis and Liberty, there are boats from the Battery every 20-30 minutes. Some go to one, some go to the other, some go to both. For me just riding by Lady Liberty is awesome, trying to climb her is not worth the time. Good view of lower Manhattan from out there, without the time spent for the Staten Island Ferry.
The water taxi is a good view of Manhattan they say, keep meaning to try it. Circles the city and you get off one, back on another for a fixed price. They go from various places, the only one I know for sure is South Street Seaport.
Don't worry too much about trendy restaurants, as soon as they get trendy the get flooded and go to heck. Everybody eats out in NYC and most of it's pretty good.
For the subway get the book of tickets, most any news stand/cigarette stand especially near a subway entrance. They're best for uptown/downtown. Cross town sometimes buses are easier. Most any street vendor will help you.
Taxis aren't bad either, unless you need one like it's raining like heck, then they go and hide. But the umbrella vendors come out of the woodwork.
There are a couple of last minute unsold ticket outlets where you can get a pretty good buy on show tickets, after 2PM on the day of the show IIRC. One is in Time Square, one on (maybe) 44th St. Your hotel or someone working in the BroadwayTimes Square area, say Hard Rock Cafe, can probably direct you. Or one of the ticket booths. BTW Times Square epitomizes the change NYC has undergone in the last 40 years. What was once the pimp/junkie/scammer capitol of the world is now as family friendly as Disneyland.
There was just a huge wipeout of ancient trees in a microburst in Central Park last week. I love Central Park and seeing it under distress might be interesting.
Teddy's place, the Nat i.e. the Museum of Natural History is up that way and free (for a donation) on the weekend. A brief breeze through there and you'll want to go back for a day sometime.
The New Yorker magazine is the place to check for all the latest on theater, music, concerts, dances, museums etc.
I started reading it to see what's happening and ended up subscribing because the writing and cartoons are so good. But we go there every chance we get.
It's the capital of the world.
The upscale flea market at Columbus Circle is pretty cool. The Lincoln Center is nearby, worth a walk-thru.
X2 on top 'o the Rock*. Don't waste your time on the Empire. It's cool but takes forever. The Chrysler Building is worth looking in the lobby. Closed to the public unfortunately. One day I want to get inside somehow.
*In that 'hood I always go in St Patrick's Cathedral as well. FAO Schwartz is nearby and lots of fun.
I like to pick a neighborhood and walk around. There are tourist books set up that way.
Chelsea and Soho are some of my favorite strolling areas. Lower Upper West Side (Seinfeld country) is very NYy. Park Ave/ Fifth Ave in the 50s-60s is pretty classy, best shopping in the world, but spendy.
Planning to 'do' NYC in a 4-1/2 days is like 'doing' Europe 19 countries in three weeks. Best recon and get an overview then know where you want to spend time next time you're there.
IMO the fabulous museums etc there need a half day to a day each, and there are scads. The Gug is pretty cool though and if there's an exhibit on that you're interested in, well just do it. The 'museum mile' in the Upper East Side is loaded with museums, but the MOMA, recently comprehensively renovated, is in mid-town, between Rock Center and the Park. That's one I'm looking forward to next trip.
I'm sure I'll think of other stuff as time goes on.
You're going to love NYC. Who wouldn't now that it's cleaned up. Horns hardly honk, I've even had cab drivers stop and wave me across the street. People even speak sometimes. It's like there's been a spell cast over it.
Weird.
b
