Event Going to NYC in May. Suggestions?

[KingSpeed]

Both Wicked and Chicago are good. I can get you house seats for Wicked. You have to pay full price but they will be the best seats in the house, the ones reserved for Stephen Schwartz, the composer. I would also recommend Dear Evan Hansen. Come during the basketball season and I can get you celebrity seats for Knicks. Regardless, let's have dinner and watch a playoff game at a sports bar while you're here. Oh and as far as restaurants, go to 9th avenue between 42nd and 57th. A billion restaurants away from the tourist areas.

 

[KingSpeed]

Here are all the lottery/rush policies for all the Broadway shows:

http://www.playbill.com/celebritybu...-rush-lottery-and-standing-room-only-policies

Also- join Playbill Discounts. You'll get discounts for all the same shows that are up at TKTS and you won't have to wait in that line.

I'd also recommend the show IN AND OF ITSELF. It's sort performance art- part monologue, part magic. Frank Oz directed it and Neil Patrick Harris produced it.

 

[KingSpeed]

I haven't seen Avenue Q but its supposed to be dirty and funny. Kinky Boots also is supposed to be great. I think I may see that when I am there in 3 weeks.

We once did an audio walking tour of "old NY". It was great. I heard that AirBnB has a new thing - where locals create local experiences for you. That sounds fun - https://www.airbnb.com/s/experiences

Avenue Q is wonderful. I've seen it many times. I highly recommend.

 

[KingSpeed]

If your a Seinfeld fan, the Kramer reality tour is essential. So fucking awesome. Book ahead of time, it's only on certain Saturdays.



.

That is less than a block away from my apartment.

 

[Strenuus]

Both Wicked and Chicago are good. I can get you house seats for Wicked. You have to pay full price but they will be the best seats in the house, the ones reserved for Stephen Schwartz, the composer. I would also recommend Dear Evan Hansen. Come during the basketball season and I can get you celebrity seats for Knicks. Regardless, let's have dinner and watch a playoff game at a sports bar while you're here. Oh and as far as restaurants, go to 9th avenue between 42nd and 57th. A billion restaurants away from the tourist areas.

I'm really interested in Chicago for the mere fact it's the only one playing on my birthday (which is one reason I'm doing this trip, most musicals I found have their one day off on Monday). Though, seeing wicked would be amazing too. I'll let you know in the next couple weeks.

Dear Evan Hansen looks AMAZING. I've spent about a week debating on that one or Chicago, really. Avenue Q, I freaking love that soundtrack. I gotta see how much I can swing in terms of musicals + a yankees game.

And yes, my plan is to try to hit a borough a day, and try a restaurant in it. The more "un-touristy" the better. I'll see Central Park, Times square and all, but the food I'm gonna really research and try.

If I come another time, I'll def. take you up on that offer for the knicks.

I'll respond to your PM in a bit as well. But I saw this and wanted to write some stuff.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Trip report?

 

[Shaboid]

Trip report?

Translation: "Did you get laid, bruh?"

 

[Lanny]

There are so many:
1. The United Nations;
2. Columbia University;
3. The Empire State building;
4. The Chrysler building;
5. The new Freedom tower;
6. Wall Street;
7. Central Park;
8. The museum of natural history;
9. Grand Central Station;
10. The Brooklyn bridge;
11. The art museum;
12. Famous Original Ray's Pizza;
13. Fifth Avenue;
14. Delmonicos Steak House (you can say you've been to the best steak house in the world);
15. Chelsea Market;
16. Broadway where I'd see Hamilton if I were you. It's supposed to be really good.
Most of these places, but not all, can be reached by a tour bus that runs a circuit. When you buy a ticket you can hop off and hop on whenever you want. They have several buses with a guide telling you what you're seeing as you go along. Your ticket is good all day. It's been ten or 15 years since I did that so I can't recall the name of the tour company.

There are so many places and things to see that you just can't do it in less than a month.

We stayed at the Hotel Afinia, which was very very nice. It's located within walking distance of the Empire State building. You can sit directly across the street from the Empire State building and have a cup of coffee and a pastry while viewing the building. The coffee shop was located in an all Korean district which has a border right across the street from the Empire State building. My wife is Korean so we enjoyed walking through the Korean district and browsing all the shops and restaurants.

There is also a Chinese district somewhere near the Brooklyn bridge on the Manhattan side if memory serves me. It has a wonderful fruits and vegatables market.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

That is less than a block away from my apartment.

I'm going on the tour again at the end of the month. I'll yell Kingspeed!

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Question:

The Met
vs.
Moma
vs.
Guggenheim

I am leaning towards Moma for the Dali melting clocks + Starry Night. I may have time to do all 3 but admission prices add up yo.

 

[Lanny]

Question:

The Met
vs.
Moma
vs.
Guggenheim

I am leaning towards Moma for the Dali melting clocks + Starry Night. I may have time to do all 3 but admission prices add up yo.

I forgot the Guggenheim.
My niece played the Cello at the Met one time.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Going there next week to check out Christmas shit.

Any suggestions for the holidays?

This is my schedule so far:

Thursday
2pm- Get in
3pm- Check into Hotel
4pm- Go to Holiday Market at Columbus Circle, Union Square or Bryant Park
Night time- Walk around Rockefeller, Holiday Christmas Displays on 5th Avenue, etc.

Friday
Morning- Breakfast and Central Park
-Zabars
-2pm Free Tours by Foot (Christmas Movie Tour)
-5pm Macys Santaland @ 34th Street (need to make reservations when avail)
-7pm Seinfeld @ Becon Theatre?

Saturday
-SantaCon NY

Sunday
-1pm: Brunch at Minetta Tavern
-Hudson Yards + Highline + Chelsea Market
-Washington Square Park
-Little Italy/SoHo
-Chinatown


General things to see:
Holiday Markets:
Union Square
Bryant Park
Grand Central
Columbus Circle

Restaurants:
Rolf's German
Tavern on the Green
Keens
Mercado Little spain Hudson yards


Things to do:
The Ride
https://experiencetheride.com/things-to-do-nyc-blog/the-ride-holiday-edition-is-coming-to-town/


Rocketts
https://www.rockettes.com/christmas/

 

[Lanny]

• Famous Original Ray's Pizza;
• The top of the Empire State Building;
• Radio City Music Hall;
• Museum of Natural History;
• Madison Square Garden.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Watching a game in MSG is on my bucketlist, but no games while I'm there.

I want to scream "IN THE FACE!!!!!"

 

[Strenuus]

• Famous Original Ray's Pizza;
• The top of the Empire State Building;
• Radio City Music Hall;
• Museum of Natural History;
• Madison Square Garden.

It was pretty surreal stepping out of Penn station, turning right.. Walk half a block and look right and seeing madison square garden right there. I had no idea. It was a surreal moment.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

It was pretty surreal stepping out of Penn station, turning right.. Walk half a block and look right and seeing madison square garden right there. I had no idea. It was a surreal moment.

That happened to me too the first time I went to NYC (not as a kid). I was staying at my aunts house out in Queens and then took the subway into Manhattan. Same scenario....stepped outside and was amazed.

 

[Stevenson]

It was pretty surreal stepping out of Penn station, turning right.. Walk half a block and look right and seeing madison square garden right there. I had no idea. It was a surreal moment.

That's one of my favorite things about New York, especially with a first timer - every time you turn a corner, you see something you have seen in the movies a hundred times. So fun.

In other news, I was there a few weeks ago and saw Jeff Daniels in To Kill a Mockingbird. Fantastic. And Dear Evan Hansen. Really didn't like it much at all.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

There are so many:
14. Delmonicos Steak House (you can say you've been to the best steak house in the world);

I'm waitlisted at Keen's Steakhouse. I'd go to Delmonico's but its all the way downtown. I'm going to the Minetta Tavern which is supposed to have the best burger in NY.

Trying to go to Rubirosa too.

 

[riverman]

I always thought I'd never been to NYC but my mother corrected me....she and my father danced at the Apollo there when she was pretty far along pregnant with me....1953...they saw Count Basie, Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington if I remember correctly...she said the hotel in Harlem they stayed in had hookers knocking on the door offering specials every hour all night long...embarrassed my dad. I was thrilled to know I was actually in the Apollo when those legends were performing!

 

[riverman]

If I went to NYC I'd have to try a Rueben sandwich and break my vegetarian diet for the trip....I've been on a lifelong quest to have the best Rueben sandwich I can find!

 

[Lanny]

It was pretty surreal stepping out of Penn station, turning right.. Walk half a block and look right and seeing madison square garden right there. I had no idea. It was a surreal moment.

I forgot to mention Penn station. I was only there once and that was in 1967. Some guy in a plaid suit followed me all over the place as I tried to find a taxi stand. He followed from a distance picking up his newspaper as if to read it whenever I looked in his direction. Now that was surreal.

 

[Lanny]

If I went to NYC I'd have to try a Rueben sandwich and break my vegetarian diet for the trip....I've been on a lifelong quest to have the best Rueben sandwich I can find!

I've eaten probably a thousand Reuben sandwiches including the famous Rose's Jewish restaurant and deli on NW 23rd ave. near Burnside in Portland. The best Reuben by far is a Reuben made by my wife, an Asian lady.
I remember eating a hamburger in Times Square that was overpriced and served by a waiter with a filthy hand towel tucked in his waist. The hamburger smelled bad and tasted of tainted meat. Really soured me at first on NY city.

 

[Lanny]

I'm waitlisted at Keen's Steakhouse. I'd go to Delmonico's but its all the way downtown. I'm going to the Minetta Tavern which is supposed to have the best burger in NY.

Trying to go to Rubirosa too.

Go to Delmonico's. It's a must if you like good food and especially if you like a good steak.

 

[Lanny]

That's one of my favorite things about New York, especially with a first timer - every time you turn a corner, you see something you have seen in the movies a hundred times. So fun.

In other news, I was there a few weeks ago and saw Jeff Daniels in To Kill a Mockingbird. Fantastic. And Dear Evan Hansen. Really didn't like it much at all.

What I loved was the excellent NY thin crust pizza you could buy by the slice on practically every block in Manhattan near Times Square.

 

[Strenuus]

I've eaten probably a thousand Reuben sandwiches including the famous Rose's Jewish restaurant and deli on NW 23rd ave. near Burnside in Portland. The best Reuben by far is a Reuben made by my wife, an Asian lady.
I remember eating a hamburger in Times Square that was overpriced and served by a waiter with a filthy hand towel tucked in his waist. The hamburger smelled bad and tasted of tainted meat. Really soured me at first on NY city.

I went to this pizza place in hells kitchen while i was there and it was alright. Chicago pizza is worlds better than new york IMO. I tried 3 pizza places in each and it wasnt even close. Though the one in the village was my favorite for new York.

 

[Strenuus]

That happened to me too the first time I went to NYC (not as a kid). I was staying at my aunts house out in Queens and then took the subway into Manhattan. Same scenario....stepped outside and was amazed.

Right? Everywhere you look. I was staying in Jersey City and I took the train from ellis island through jersey city and the breathtaking view of Manhattan as you took it in was amazing. I still get flashes of it randomly and remember my reaction.

 

[Strenuus]

So my next birthday trip is Hawaii in may.


I am so stinking excited. And the airbnbs are super cheap when you factor in that its all ocean views!!

 

[yankeesince59]

During my only 2 visits to NYC I experienced the best bagels and the best pizza I've ever had in my entire life.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

So my next birthday trip is Hawaii in may.


I am so stinking excited. And the airbnbs are super cheap when you factor in that its all ocean views!!

What island?

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

During my only 2 visits to NYC I experienced the best bagels and the best pizza I've ever had in my entire life.

I've done Ess-a-Bagel (long ass line) and Russ and Daughters for bagels. Planning on hit up old school Zabars this trip.

I'm staying in midtown which is kind of a culinary dead zone. We'll see whats up.