Going to nyc for the new year

[longearedfriend]

Hey everyone

leaving in a day or two

anyone got some tips and/or recommendations for places to visit, things to do ?

(I don't plan to buy or smoke over there)

the last time I was there, I hardly remember I was so young

I'm gonna be residing in brooklyn, plan to go to time square for the new year

most of the time i'm gonna be visiting solo

thanks in advance

 

[bench warmer]

Going to nyc for the new year

Hi bro!

That sounds really exciting.

I haven't been to NYC yet so all I can suggest is have a fantastic time & be safe.

Look forward to pics & some good stories.

Have a happy New Years!!!

 

[raypack]

You gotta eat a slice of pizza there. Best in the world. Any non-chain restaurant is fine, bad ones don't last long there. $3/slice nowadays I think.

 

[WasntMe]

here is a tiny list to get you started.... but there are a million places in NYC ... what do you wanna see/try.... might be easier to point you in the right direction if you have any particulars in mind already or things you won't do/eat.

Food:
Pizza - L'asso (on Kenmore and Mott) (There is pizza, then HERE is real pizza. Everything here is amazing... the special clam pizza only on the weekend)
Sushi - Tomoe Sushi NYC (172 Thompson St) One of my Favorites
Doughnuts - Doughnut Plant (379 Grand St) (peanut butter & jelly doughnut or the creme brûlée one)
Nice Dinner - Basta Pasta (37west 17th St) - Jap and Italian Fusion -Get the Spagetti tossed in parmigiano wheel with Prosciutto on top.
Lunch - Cafe Habanna (17 Prince St) - Cuban - You have to try the corn... trust me!
Want Live octopus sashimi? Try Sik Gaek (it's Korean)..the octopus tastes great as it wiggles it's way down.

Price range will play a big factor in eating in NYC ... but there are defiantly lots of cheap eats. Just stay away from the regular hotdog/pretzel food carts this time of year. Not only are they not very sanitary but the also double/triple their prices for tourists. I saw one the other day charging $5 for a $1.25 pretzel.

Wanna see NYC skyline at sunset? Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Observation tower? Empire, Chrysler,30 Rockafella

Times Square on NYE? remember there are NO bathrooms available to the public and if you leave the area once you are finally in.. you will not be let back in. What does this mean? It means plan accordingly (warm clothes, food/drink) and plan to hold your piss for about 12 to 15hrs. Oh, and no backpacks. Pick one stage area.... If you pick in the middle then the audio from both sounds like ass as they try to broadcast over each other.

What other touristy crap are you planning on doing? any museums? That would help us know what areas you will already be in and then we can suggest places near those areas...

 

[Wiggs Dannyboy]

NY City is like a jungle in some ways, and just like a jungle NYC has some serious predators looking for prey. Being on your own in NYC when you are from out-of-town can be like bambi munching on grass in the African savanah.

The predators, seeking their prey, are looking for signs that a person is inexperienced in the big city ways. One of these is the habit of continually looking up at how tall the buildings are...people who are familiar with the city long ago stopped doing this.

Problem is, if you aren't used to seeing giant buildings lining the streets, its very hard to not look up. And, once you get spotted....you spotted. There are likely dozens of ways to spot easy prey, but, not being a predator in the big city, I am not aware of them all, so I can't advise. I know member Stoner4Life spent a bunch of years there, he could probably give good advice.

What I would advise you to do, try very hard to find a local city dweller to hang out with. Not only will you be less likely to be taken advantage of by predators, the local person will take you to the best spots while avoiding the rip offs.

But, definitely do the visit, and have some great fun. Just be aware.

I wouldn't be able to do the New Year's Eve thing without a pee bag strapped to my leg...ugh full bladder pain would totally fuck the evening.

 

[supermanlives]

its a jungle alright dont be a pidgeon. its a must for everyone atleast once. its information overload and crowds galore. have fun. keep wallet safe and double check every time someone bumps into ya . you will be doing this alot. having an empty wallet in your back pocket and waiting to see how long before its picked could be added fun.

 

[longearedfriend]

thanks everyone

I know it's gonna be intense

but I am going prepared for a challenge

it will be a good chance to trust my instincts

@Wiggs Thanks, this is the kind of tips I had in mind

Predators can spot a prey but a prey can spot a predator too

I'm only going for a few days, and I will try not to go out at night

read some books, get a feel of the city, take some pictures

I didn't know you had to pay for the timesquare thing, I thought it was a free for all thing

My uncle has been living there for a long time so he will surely guide me a long

I will be enjoying the time away from here so, even if I stay at home and look out the window it will still be fun haha

not saying that that's what I will be doing

just bought my bus ticket too



I am now going to buy some travel insurance

 

[schwilly]

Dude, nyc is crawling with overzealous empowered cops since 9/11. It's a huge holiday, undercovers will be everywhere. You are probably safer from violence** than you would be in any other major us city.*

*not so sure about deep harlem though if you're white

**if you do catch a beat down or get robbed, most likely it's by the cops

 

[longearedfriend]

-

 

[longearedfriend]

thanks schwilly

I just bought my travellers insurance

 

[WasntMe]

Get familiar with the subway map before arrival. There are free iPhone apps. Also get familiar with how the street grid works in manhattan .... generally streets are east west and avenues are north south.
Wallet goes in your front pocket. take out what you need and put it away, don't linger with it out.
Don't stand in the middle of the sidewalk with your friends in a circle while looking at a map = prey and annoying to others.
People walk very fast in NYC. stay to the side and let people pass or you WILL here about it.
Buy a "Metro Card" for subway transport.

 

[Stoner4Life]

I grew up in NYC & it's all about the food.......

Top end to visit once, an awesome meal in Times Square:
Plataforma Churrascaria: Brazilian Rotisserie Dining.
316 W 49th Street (Between 8th & 9th Avenues)
Fixed price but all you can eat.

This will cost you between $80-100 per head depending on your drink & dessert selection but you will know that you've eaten like a king, their salad bar rivals the full menu at most restaurants including shrimp cocktail all you can eat, some meat and seafood dishes meant to be sampled and of course about 40-50 salad dishes. Once you're done with salads those dishes will be cleared and the side dishes you've selected for your meal will be delivered, then the all you can eat meats start arriving at the table, all rotisserie cooked by brazilian master chefs, friggin' awesome. big bragging rights and you will forever crave this dining experience again. Here's their link:
Churrascaria Plataforma


2nd tier dining cost wise and real fine grub is:
Brother Jimmy's BBQ
1483 2nd Ave between 77th & 78th
walk in and you'll likely be the minority unless you're a brotha'

everything's a la carte and so depending upon entree cost you'll drop $35-40 per head w/tip, less if you cheap it out or just do a lighter lunch visit.



HOT DOGS!!!
NYC is known for its hot dogs, stay away from sidewalk vendors and go only to the Nathan's Famous in Coney Island, take the subway (N train in manhattan to the final stop in brooklyn) to 1310 Surf Avenue Brooklyn.

If you can't afford the time to travel to Coney Island then

2nd tier hot dogs @ these two joints:
Papaya King
179 E 86th St, NYC; uptown east side.

Gray's Papaya
Broadway & 72nd St; upper west side.
Sixth Ave @ 8th St; Greenwich Village.
From Wikipedia:
Gray's Papaya is famous for its inexpensive, high-quality hot dogs. The "papaya" in the name refers to the papaya fruit drink sold at the establishment. They also sell orange, grape, piña colada, coconut champagne (non-alcoholic), and banana daiquiri (non-alcoholic) fruit drinks.

the same would hold true for the Papaya King, same price, quality & beverage selections.


NYC Pizza.......
as mentioned above just stay AWAY from chain store pizza & you'll be fine, almost any pizza joint will have your basic NYC pie, I like mine reheated to crisp up the crust. I could live on the stuff, have it with a root beer soda, NYC traditional pizza & root beer, most joints will have fountain root beer for this reason. And yes, while in NYC the common jargon is 'pizza joint' not pizza parlor, as a stoner 'joint' should be easy for you to remember.



Indian food.......
6th Street between 1st & 2nd Avenue has about 16 Indian restaurants on the one block alone, almost all of these places are owned by Bangladeshi immigrants. Because competition is so high in that small area there tends to be a price war going on, entrees can be had for $5-7 on the low end (more for top end) per item allowing you to sample several dishes at your table, again a la carte dining adds up but your dining dollar can be stretched on 6th St day or night. Menus w/prices will be posted in every window so sidewalk shopping for your best sounding meal is easy. Traditionally some of these restaurants will be vegetarian.


Cool clubs to visit:
Greenwich Village, The Peculiar Pub @ 145 Bleecker St.
Greenwich Village, Jekyll & Hyde @ 91 7th Ave South
Greenwich Village, The Slaughtered Lamb @ 182 W 4th St/Corner of Jones St. right across the street from the Slaughtered Lamb & next to the Music Inn is Shisha Intl a fairly nice glass shop.

On Google Maps look up the Slaughtered Lamb in street views, look across the street for the green stripped awning for Shisha Intl, as mentioned the Music Inn & The Pink Pussycat lingerie shop are next door. Slaughtered Lamb & Shisha can be seen from each others doorway.


enjoy the hell out of NYC longearedfiend.


EDIT:
Don't walk down the sidewalk with your head tilted up & mouth hung open and you won't look like a tourist, walk eyes even and like you have a destination in mind and you'll generally be left alone; walk around as if you're in wonder and awe and you'll be targeted and I do mean targeted by pros.

yes as mentioned above it's safe as hell on the streets but there's a million con artists out there, DO NOT stop on the street to watch the 3 card monte guys ply their trade even if you don't play the game pick pockets work the crowd that gather.

 

[Plant Early]

Spend a day at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Even if you're not into the 'art thing' the place is packed with History.

But don't go if its raining or really bad weather, because it will be packed.

http://www.metmuseum.org/

 

[Weird]

katz deli on the other side of Brooklyn if you take the Williamsburg bridge

spumoni gardens is considered the best brooklyn pizza

 

[longearedfriend]

thanks guys

What about taking pictures ?

I had a cheaper camera but broke it, I only have a nicer model, it's a bit bulky

i've been told to not carry it in my backpack

but I feel if i'm carrying a camera someone might be enticed to steal it

 

[BornToBeWild]

Had the best ice cream at Led Zeppole bud check it out! Came from Boston and had to stop there, and had some. I enjoyed it so much more was on my shirt than in my belly!

 

[187020]

(I don't plan to buy or smoke over there)

Your trip is ruined/sucks

 

[longearedfriend]

duly noted

 

[HueJass]

I second the Plataforma Churrascaria Stoner4Life suggested, that place rocks. One of the the more satisfying meals I've had in NYC. I've had other Brazilian BBQ and nothing comes to close to what they offer and the quality of the food.

 

[187020]

My fave BBQ in manhattan is wonjo Korean on w32nd K-town... Real charcoal not gas, and it's fun.

Where in bk you stayin? Why no cannabis for new year 2012?

Peace homie!