Nyc

[dinobaggio]

Just wondered if anyone could recommend some interesting bars/clubs/restaurants/things to do in NYC. First time to the big Apple this week, and spending about a week there. Obviously watch related stuff is also appreciated- markets/vintage shops etc, but any cool places off the tourist route frequented by real new yorkers would be great.
Ted

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[photo]

As a Native New Yorker..I'll make a few suggestions for starters.. .Music, clubs, bars- Go to Bleecker street in the west village.. PS..Just Remember if your standing on the North side of Houston Street your in the West Village..if you cross to the south side ..You're in Soho. Now-a days..Soho is increasingly European and on weekends always has been a mecca for bridge and tunnel people (what we affectionately call our NJ neighbors).

Bleecker Street is where locals go for live music ..Cafe Wha? 115 Macdougal/Minetta Lane , NY - (FYI: Dylan (AKA: Bob Zimmerman), Hendrix etc, etc.. all hung here with locals) The Red Lion ( Free Live Music), The Bitter End, Zinc Bar, Wicked Willy's.. Jazz .. You go to The Blue Note (Jazz Club) 131 W. 3rd St. Relax and walk around.. down the side streets - You can't miss it.. stop at Mamoun's Falafel restaurant..119 MacDougal Street (Everyone, goes here even if you hate falafel people love it- It's an institution- (BTW- Great Hot Sauce - Fastest lines in town-) sandwiches $2.50/ food plates $5.00. It's home to Natives since 71'. You take your food and walk over to Washington Square Park at 5th Ave, Waverly Pl., W. 4 St. and Macdougal St. (Situated By NYU) and sit and chill out with real New Yorkers and enjoy the performers and free entertainment (Just go by the fountain near the arch way at 5th Ave, center of the park and sit on the wall). It's also the home to serious Chess Masters.

Want Great Italian food - Fresh made to order (True Old NYC Style)..Go to Trattoria Spaghettto 232 Bleecker St, West Village on the corner of Carmine street and 6th ave by the Father Demo square across from the church- (Green Awning- the "Chin" ate here along with many other local celebs .. (I remember him in a gorgeous rich blue bathrobe- ;) Cash only..(Most Entrees $12.00)..On a beautiful day or eve sit outside it's great people watching ;)

Watches.. For starters?
Rolex/Wempe boutique (first Rolex boutique in New York) 5th avenue at 53rd street. BTW-"The boutique is the first to get all the Basel novelties". Rolex Watch U.S.A. Inc. 665 Fifth Avenue, New York

There are others but I have to run to an appointment .. .
Meanwhile hope this helps.. . Have a great time!! And do take the ferry to Staten Island just for the ride and to see the statue of liberty the New Yorker way!! Cheapest boat ride in town.. .

[dinobaggio]

Thanks photo, really appreciate this- far more detail than I expected which is brilliant!!!

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[FTX I]

Gus and Marc told me about Peter Luger in Brooklyn and it was really great.

[GhostInTheMachine]

Rolex/Wempe at 711 5th Ave has the new Sea Dweller 4k 40mm, I can vouch for that, I tried one on. They are not on display, you have to ask for it. Or at least weekend before, it was not.

[locutus49]

For great window shopping, try Madison avenue from 56th or so up to the mid-70's and beyond. Yes, real New Yorkers, albeit affluent ones, have been spotted on upper Mad. Ave.

[unclesallie]

I must say, I would add Washington Square in the Village, Central Park, so many things to do...including fountains, boats, live music, John Lennon's "Strawberry Fields(72nd and
Central Park West).....the NY Historical Society; the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim, Museum of Modern Art....Breakfast at the Lexington Candy Shop(low 90's and Lexington Ave on the Upper East Side).....

And, if you can handle trains and moving out of your comfort zone, try Flushing, NY, a 40 minute ride on the 7th Avenue Subway or on the Long Island Railroad(LIRR).

Amazing place! Chinatown, NY is crowded, impersonal, noisy crowded....and it needs to be said: low end.

Flushing is high end, and it's Asia in the middle of the West. It looks, feels, smells and really is like being in Beijing or Taibei. However, it is the advanced class getting there...so consider a car service.

On the less exotic side, but lots of fun(should I add expensive fun?): B.B. King's....great music and very good food.
Whatever you do, take your time, slow it down, and take the time to fully experience NYC.

[SUBversive]

Enjoy. You will have a great time.

[photo]

You're most welcome.. .contrary to what some people think of New Yorkers we're actually friendly and try to be helpful-

On steakhouses.. do Make reservations (call).. truthfully, I have to say Peter Luger, 178 Broadway, Brooklyn (at Driggs Ave) is a notorious tourist destination but an institution none the less ( Just be prepared as it's expensive and wait staff can be somewhat rude)..

As for other great steak houses around town. ..as NYC really has no shortage of really good/great ones as we tend to be spoiled.
But just to name a few more depending on where you are headed .. .
Keens Steakhouse- 72 W 36th St, (between Fifth and Sixth Aves)
Quality Meats, (opened by son of restaurant owner of old New york institution Smith & Wollensky) 57 W 58th St, (between Fifth and Sixth Ave
Wolfgang’s Steakhouse, 409 Greenwich St, (between Beach and Hubert St downtown in Tribeca ( which stands for the triangle below Canal Street))
Sparks, 210 E 46th St, (between Second and Third Ave) once notorious as a "mafia hangout"
Strip-house, 13 E 12th St, (between Fifth Ave and University Pl)

Yes, New Yorkers do indeed shop all over the city - LOL and If you have any specific thoughts as to what you might like.. feel free to let us know and we'll try to accommodate you as best we can.. Heck, Johns Pizza on Bleecker is another local NY institution as Best Pizza- Bleecker between Carmine/6th ave (AKA: Avenue of the America's and 7th Ave (AKA: Varick Street).

On side note..Btw; Hudson street is 8th ave and Greenwich is 9th ave from the West village south.

Tip, Italian food.. in NYC natives consider Arthur avenue in the Bronx the real Little Italy..Great cheesecake and you can visit the Bronx Zoo..

Yes, some of us Native New Yorkers have deep pockets! some even own authentic Rolex Watches! then there are those who shop Canal street home of the knockoff..watches, bags..etc, etc.

If you just, give us a hint of what you might enjoy and where you're going to be and I'd be happy to suggest some additional options.. Honestly, there are a lot of suggestions that can be made..

Also, how are you traveling from the airport to and fro? Hip natives generally use the blue and yellow vans "Super Shuttle" they can be booked in advance looked up online and they have a set fee. And all they do is airport runs door to door and they are courteous and know all short cuts and are never late - No nonsense over charging naive tourists or exhausted/weary business travelers..or otherwise. No flagging yellow devils which really is an absolute PITA in the rain ;)

RE: Rolex boutique yes, they apparently won't sell their display models but you can certainly try them on.. as mentioned, just ask and you shall receive ;)

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by photo

As a Native New Yorker..I'll make a few suggestions for starters.. .Music, clubs, bars- Go to Bleecker street in the west village.. PS..Just Remember if your standing on the North side of Houston Street your in the West Village..if you cross to the south side ..You're in Soho. Now-a days..Soho is increasingly European and on weekends always has been a mecca for bridge and tunnel people (what we affectionately call our NJ neighbors).

Bleecker Street is where locals go for live music ..Cafe Wha? 115 Macdougal/Minetta Lane , NY - (FYI: Dylan (AKA: Bob Zimmerman), Hendrix etc, etc.. all hung here with locals) The Red Lion ( Free Live Music), The Bitter End, Zinc Bar, Wicked Willy's.. Jazz .. You go to The Blue Note (Jazz Club) 131 W. 3rd St. Relax and walk around.. down the side streets - You can't miss it.. stop at Mamoun's Falafel restaurant..119 MacDougal Street (Everyone, goes here even if you hate falafel people love it- It's an institution- (BTW- Great Hot Sauce - Fastest lines in town-) sandwiches $2.50/ food plates $5.00. It's home to Natives since 71'. You take your food and walk over to Washington Square Park at 5th Ave, Waverly Pl., W. 4 St. and Macdougal St. (Situated By NYU) and sit and chill out with real New Yorkers and enjoy the performers and free entertainment (Just go by the fountain near the arch way at 5th Ave, center of the park and sit on the wall). It's also the home to serious Chess Masters.

Want Great Italian food - Fresh made to order (True Old NYC Style)..Go to Trattoria Spaghettto 232 Bleecker St, West Village on the corner of Carmine street and 6th ave by the Father Demo square across from the church- (Green Awning- the "Chin" ate here along with many other local celebs .. (I remember him in a gorgeous rich blue bathrobe- ;) Cash only..(Most Entrees $12.00)..On a beautiful day or eve sit outside it's great people watching ;)

Watches.. For starters?
Rolex/Wempe boutique (first Rolex boutique in New York) 5th avenue at 53rd street. BTW-"The boutique is the first to get all the Basel novelties". Rolex Watch U.S.A. Inc. 665 Fifth Avenue, New York

There are others but I have to run to an appointment .. .
Meanwhile hope this helps.. . Have a great time!! And do take the ferry to Staten Island just for the ride and to see the statue of liberty the New Yorker way!! Cheapest boat ride in town.. .

This makes me nostalgic for when I used to live and work in the Village in 1984. I'll bet it's changed a bit in 30 years.

[photo]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

This makes me nostalgic for when I used to live and work in the Village in 1984. I'll bet it's changed a bit in 30 years.

Adam.. ."Changed" is an Understatement.. .but it sure was a great time!

[gulfstream69xr7]

If you are whiskey drinker, Try the Brandy Library in Tribeca.

[dinobaggio]

Guys cheers again for this, seriously appreciate the info, I just want to get under the skin a bit of New York, proper new York eating, culture etc, and with what you've given me I should be able to get off to a good start! Any things to watch out for- Btw thanks for info on super shuttles (photo) any other info like that? Cheers guys.

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[jpl20]

McSorleys Old Ale House:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6ThJe3Foyc

[Urosfan]

I agree with photo he gave you a slew of places cheers and have fun in the big apple

[Fifth Ave Rolex Man]

Originally Posted by GhostInTheMachine

Rolex/Wempe at 711 5th Ave has the new Sea Dweller 4k 40mm, I can vouch for that, I tried one on. They are not on display, you have to ask for it. Or at least weekend before, it was not.

Wempe Jewelers is not at 711 Fifth Avenue.
They're at 700 Fifth Avenue, at the corner of 55th & 5th Ave.

(next to the Hotel Peninsula).

[tinger]

Seiko boutique is now open on Madison Ave.
:)

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by Fifth Ave Rolex Man

Wempe Jewelers is not at 711 Fifth Avenue.
They're at 700 Fifth Avenue, at the corner of 55th & 5th Ave.

(next to the Hotel Peninsula).

I think he was referring to the Rolex boutique (by Wempe) at 665 5th ave

[Hairdude1]

You have to try Wolfgangs for a STEAK!

[bayerische]

Reading this thread makes me want to go back again.

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

This makes me nostalgic for when I used to live and work in the Village in 1984. I'll bet it's changed a bit in 30 years.

I used to spend summers in the village from 84-86 and moved to the village in 99. The difference between 84-present day is a total transformation... not necessarily in a good way; Pharmacies, banks, and chains have completely taken over the city in general. residential sq footage has gone from $280 sq ft to $1300 sq ft in that time.

I'm seriously contemplating selling my place and living in Miami permanently

[antbkny]

Le Bain rooftop on top of the standard hotel

[DCheeta]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

I used to spend summers in the village from 84-86 and moved to the village in 99. The difference between 84-present day is a total transformation... not necessarily in a good way; Pharmacies, banks, and chains have completely taken over the city in general. residential sq footage has gone from $280 sq ft to $1300 sq ft in that time.

I'm seriously contemplating selling my place and living in Miami permanently

Residential AND commercial sq footage. Thanks to those pharmacies, banks and chains, we normal people can't afford to run a business anymore in Manhattan.

We're seriously contemplating selling our place and moving to NZ. So long, old New York.

As for the OP: his visit to NY was two months ago, but I love that people keep giving him suggestions on where to go. I'm sure he appreciates it.

[mtrunner]

Originally Posted by DCheeta

Residential AND commercial sq footage. Thanks to those pharmacies, banks and chains, we normal people can't afford to run a business anymore in Manhattan.

We're seriously contemplating selling our place and moving to NZ. So long, old New York.

As for the OP: his visit to NY was two months ago, but I love that people keep giving him suggestions on where to go. I'm sure he appreciates it.

I had to chuckle when I saw that people were recommending places a few months after his trip.

But to your point, it is so frustrating to see great bars, restaurants and other great locally owned businesses being driven out due to insane rents that banks, pharmacies and chain restaurants are willing to pay.

How many Duane Reade and CVS stores do we need? I have literally sen a chase bank on the the same block but on opposite sides of the street. Is that really necessary? On a daily basis I read about a great bar or other business closing due to rents. Last night was the last night of the Rodeo Bar. A country music institution in NYC the last 27 years. Kicked out due to high rents and one of the most famous dive bars, the Subway Bar, is closing at the end of the month to make way for another high rise.

[1000ft=300m]

Please do keep recommending places, I'm heading over for my honeymoon in November!

[tfly212]

Originally Posted by mtrunner

I had to chuckle when I saw that people were recommending places a few months after his trip.

But to your point, it is so frustrating to see great bars, restaurants and other great locally owned businesses being driven out due to insane rents that banks, pharmacies and chain restaurants are willing to pay.

How many Duane Reade and CVS stores do we need? I have literally sen a chase bank on the the same block but on opposite sides of the street. Is that really necessary? On a daily basis I read about a great bar or other business closing due to rents. Last night was the last night of the Rodeo Bar. A country music institution in NYC the last 27 years. Kicked out due to high rents and one of the most famous dive bars, the Subway Bar, is closing at the end of the month to make way for another high rise.

I hadn't heard Rodeo closed...that sucks. I lived 2 blocks away for years and went all the time. Cold beers, peanut shells on the floor and live music with little or no cover...it was great.

I have been here 12 years and while it has always been expensive, i am definitely starting to worry that this is really becoming just a place for billionaires to park cash.

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by mtrunner

I had to chuckle when I saw that people were recommending places a few months after his trip.



But to your point, it is so frustrating to see great bars, restaurants and other great locally owned businesses being driven out due to insane rents that banks, pharmacies and chain restaurants are willing to pay.



How many Duane Reade and CVS stores do we need? I have literally sen a chase bank on the the same block but on opposite sides of the street. Is that really necessary? On a daily basis I read about a great bar or other business closing due to rents. Last night was the last night of the Rodeo Bar. A country music institution in NYC the last 27 years. Kicked out due to high rents and one of the most famous dive bars, the Subway Bar, is closing at the end of the month to make way for another high rise.

Never was a fan of rodeo bar but I did hear about the subway bar. It's a real shame to see that go. Even if the owner ends up re opening, as he says, it won't be the same. It changed after they "renovated" it several years ago.

That was my go-to place when I first moved to NYC. You couldn't beat the $2.00 Bushmills

[mtrunner]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

Never was a fan of rodeo bar but I did hear about the subway bar. It's a real shame to see that go. Even if the owner ends up re opening, as he says, it won't be the same. It changed after they "renovated" it several years ago.

That was my go-to place when I first moved to NYC. You couldn't beat the $2.00 Bushmills

Yeah not everyone was a fan of Rodeo bar. I am a country music fan so it was a great venue for country musicians to play and probably the only venue that I know of in NYC that had live country music.

Just a bummer all these places are getting squeezed out and you are definitely right once a place moves it never has the same charm.

[JakobZ]

For future references:

Le Bain - Awesome... (It's at the Standard Hotel just by the High Line, which also is really nice)
230 fifth - THE best roof top bar in NYC, seriously. (also has a AWESOME brunch)
Loeb Boathouse in Central Park, go there for the drinks. Food's alright.
Artichoke Pizza - Just have it, yumm...
Staten Island Ferry - Great views and just takes about an hour and a half roundtrip.