Hey New Yorkers!

[vanillasugar]

I'll be leaving on Thursday for my first ever trip to NYC! We're going to a seminar, and I have NO idea where I'm staying or how much spare time I'll have, but I figured I'd ask for tips anyways.

I'm not into "touristy" things. I like to experience a place as it's meant to be, so steering me clear of tourist hot spots would be great!!

Best places to eat? (I have no idea what meals I'll need to eat out, but assume I'll have at least one lunch and one dinner where I can eat where I want. Anywhere in the city.)

Coolest thing to see? (Again, NON touristy please)

Dog store! (I need to find at least one NYC calibre dog store. I'd love to find a Bella Bean or equally special collar for Sierra while I'm away).

Tips for navigating the city, and any other advice you'd like to give would be more than welcome!!

 

[vanillasugar]

I could have sworn we had members of this forum that live in NYC...

 

[SizzleDog]

I spent a week in Manhattan, so here's what I've got...

1. AVOID those street vendors like the plague! They are VERY good at sniffing out out-of-towners, and will cheat you. (but get the roasted nuts, they're amazing!)

2. Just walk around - we found a lot of great places to eat, just by walking around and going into restaurants that looked good. Later on today I can get back to you about their names... but none of them are very fancy. There's a to-die-for pizza place in SoHo, but again I'll have to get back to you on the name.

3. Go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art - it's "touristy" I suppose, but you simply cannot miss it. It's amazing, breathtaking, we spent 6 hours in it and wanted to *go back* again the next day! And *everyine* goes to the Met, not just tourists. It's probably my favorite place in NYC.

4. Get a subway pass and don't be afraid to use it - it's so easy to ride the Subway, just follow the very conspicuous maps and directions.

When I remember more, I'll let you know!

 

[SizzleDog]

LOMBARDI'S is the pizza place! I knew it started with an "L"!

http://www.firstpizza.com/

 

[milos_mommy]

Sizzle Sizzle Sizzle.

You can get pizza pretty much anywhere in NY and it's awesome. I particularly like Penn Station's Pizza.

I wasn't going to suggest staying away from street vendors...but i'm not an out-of-towner so i don't know if they cheat out of towners. The roasted nuts are good.

Oh...there's a pretty cool restaurant...crap i can't remember the name of it, or where it is. They give out free condoms (there's a bunch of resturants in NY that do, though). uhhh. **** IT I CAN'T THINK OF IT. Starts with a Y....crapppppp. I'll think of it. They have really good food.

In new york, there really aren't that many super-touristy places, besides like, the statue of liberty. no one who lives in NY actually goes to the statue of liberty except maybe on a kindgergarten field trip, lol. The thing is, there are SO many people in NY, whereever you go there will probably be more NYers than tourists. The museums are great. The natural history museum is amazing, as are many of the art museums.

Be very careful crossing streets. It sounds ridiculous, but if you're not careful, you WILL get hit. Taxi's don't stop for people in the street. They might honk, but they won't even slow down.

If you're carrying a purse, make sure to hold it under your arm, tightly. #1 rookie NYer mistake is holding your purse they way you would in your local wal-mart. If you do this, you WILL get robbed, and you probably won't even notice.

I second a subway pass, if you're not going to be in one single area. And the walking around thing. If you see a place that looks good, go into it.

I don't actually know of too many dog stores...i'm pretty sure stores like Bloomingdales have pretty big dog sections and actually allow dogs into areas of their store.

 

[RedHotDobe]

The Stage Deli is really good. I think it's up near 7th Avenue and 54th Street? I don't quite remember. We also tried this place just for the fun of it, but there's a Japanese fast food restaurant called Yoshinoya on 42nd I think, below Times Square, that was pretty good. Obviously nothing special as it's fast food, but it was neat.

I'm not sure if you categorize this under "touristy," but I think Macy's is always impressive. It's huge. There's a Victoria's Secret right across the street, too.

If you don't like crowds, stay away from anything in Times Square.

I don't have many interesting suggestions. But like Sizzle said, get the nuts!

 

[Baxter'smybaby]

I agree--go to the Met. Museum of Art--it's not to miss!!

 

[PoodleMommy]

Sorry I didnt see this thread earlier.

The Stage Deli is okay but the Carnegie Deli is much much better It is around 55th and 7th... beware the lines at these places can be very very long.

There are so many good restaurants... if you tell me what kinds of food you like I could give you a couple of restaurants.

The New York Dog Shop is my favorite dog store... google it they have a website I think the address is Columbus and 72... but I am not 100 percent sure... the website probably tells. However, you cant go more then 5-10 blocks without finding a cute little dog store... so just walk around a little and you will find some good things.

Go to central park... its beautiful and although a bit touristy the pedicab tours are so much fun... I have actually done them just because it is a great way to see the park.

If you have a night free... go down to Times Square and find a comedy show to see.

If you find out where you are staying let me know I can try and give you more specific things in that area.

If you have any questions please PM me because I dont really search the boards much and I dont want to miss your questions and ignore them.

Most importantly... HAVE FUN... NYC is truly the best city in the world.

And I would say not to ignore the streeet vendors, also... you can get cute little deals just drive a hard bargain.

Elissa

 

[bubbatd]

Sardi's (sp ) for lunch !! Central Park to people watch .....Tavern on the Green ....and do watch the vendors !!! Don't buy , but they're entertaining !!! I was sucked in by a shell game !!! Did get my $10 back after sticking around and warned everyone that 2 people " watching " were part of the scam !!! They were ready to slit my throat !!

 

[SizzleDog]

I wasn't going to suggest staying away from street vendors...but i'm not an out-of-towner so i don't know if they cheat out of towners. The roasted nuts are good.

I should clarify - the street vendors who sell *stuff* are great - I have a wonderful cashmere scarf that I got for $5! It's the food street vendors that will get you if they see you're a tourist. I'm pretty good at blending in (grandparents live in Chicago, so I learned how to blend in pretty well) and even I got stiffed by a hotdog vendor outside the Met! Grrr...

 

[bubbatd]

Enjoy the scarf ... but I doubt if it's cashmere !!! Being in the clothing business , every I saw was a fake !! I remember one Polo shirt vendor ,,, the logo had the polo stick pointing the wrong way !!

 

[GoodDogCoffee]

:hail:>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>:hail: