Give me a 3 Days in New York, NY Trip

[mtmartin71]

My bro and I are looking to go out there from 11/10 to 11/13 and we've both never been there. I guess weather could be a wild card. We'll be celebrating our b-days (38 and 42) and want to mix some local history stuff with the party/night life. We'll be keeping it to Manhattan only. I looked for some bigger name bands playing there and the Foo Fighters are at MSG 11/13 but I have to leave that morning. So, I'm thinking just going to some cool music venues and seeing what's going on.

Recommendations on the best area to stay and base ourselves from? Landmarks and places to go? I know this is a huge, open question for a place like NY, but who better than to sling opinions and ideas than TGPers!

[boldaslove1977]

this answer could go on and on and on... but...

times square and central park (specifically strawberry fields, 72nd street & central park west) are obvious.

ground zero... while i still don't think of it as a tourist spot... and i still get mad when i see people taking pictures of themselves there... is worth seeing with your own eyes.

the intrepid... old battleship, turned into an air and space type museum.. on the hudson in the 40s.

take a ride on the staten island ferry, then come right back. it's free... and it's by far the prettiest view of the statue of liberty.

5th avenue has plenty of shopping... if that's your thing. the union square area has lots of cool stores too.

walk across the brooklyn bridge

there are a few shows on broadway that would be fun for even the non-broadway types... i think rock of ages is back... you'll know every word to every song.

the museum of natural history is on the upper west side... interesting stuff.

check out little italy and chinatown... good food all over the place in both spots.

30th street guitars... very cool store.

as for the other stores... guitar center is on 14th between 5th and 6th... and there are the stores on 48th street... but you're not gonna find much there you couldn't find in denver. the one exception may be rudy's on 48th street, but in my own experience... i find the place to be overpriced and the staff can be obnoxiously rude. just my experience.
check out bleecker street on friday or saturday night... some very cool live music spots in there.... a tourist from denmark once told me it was his favorite place to see live music in the world.

[mtmartin71]

this answer could go on and on and on... but...

times square and central park (specifically strawberry fields, 72nd street & central park west) are obvious.

ground zero... while i still don't think of it as a tourist spot... and i still get mad when i see people taking pictures of themselves there... is worth seeing with your own eyes.

the intrepid... old battleship, turned into an air and space type museum.. on the hudson in the 40s.

take a ride on the staten island ferry, then come right back. it's free... and it's by far the prettiest view of the statue of liberty.

5th avenue has plenty of shopping... if that's your thing. the union square area has lots of cool stores too.

walk across the brooklyn bridge

there are a few shows on broadway that would be fun for even the non-broadway types... i think rock of ages is back... you'll know every word to every song.

the museum of natural history is on the upper west side... interesting stuff.

check out little italy and chinatown... good food all over the place in both spots.

30th street guitars... very cool store.

as for the other stores... guitar center is on 14th between 5th and 6th... and there are the stores on 48th street... but you're not gonna find much there you couldn't find in denver. the one exception may be rudy's on 48th street, but in my own experience... i find the place to be overpriced and the staff can be obnoxiously rude. just my experience.
check out bleecker street on friday or saturday night... some very cool live music spots in there.... a tourist from denmark once told me it was his favorite place to see live music in the world.

Thanks! Some really cool recommendations in there.

[mtmartin71]

How about some good hotels that are reasonable (I realize this is relative in NY)?

[overunderdrive]

It's literally impossible to make suggestions on things to do without knowing you, and night life means very different things to different people so I'll spare you the suggestions.

I will say this, though...

I lived in NYC for many years, and one of the main reasons I love to visit is the FOOD.

Get yourself a Zagat guide before you go. Best investment you'll ever make.

As far as places to stay--with props to boldaslove1977--we've stayed at the W in Hoboken several times, and for around the same rates as a mediocre midtown Manhattan hotel, you get a high-end room with a KILLER view of the NYC skyline.

Its a 2 minute walk to the PATH train, which is a 10 minute ride to the West Village.

[boldaslove1977]

It's literally impossible to make suggestions on things to do without knowing you, and night life means very different things to different people so I'll spare you the suggestions.

I will say this, though...

I lived in NYC for many years, and one of the main reasons I love to visit is the FOOD.

Get yourself a Zagat guide before you go. Best investment you'll ever make.

As far as places to stay--with props to boldaslove1977--we've stayed at the W in Hoboken several times, and for around the same rates as a mediocre midtown Manhattan hotel, you get a high-end room with a KILLER view of the NYC skyline.

Its a 2 minute walk to the PATH train, which is a 10 minute ride to the West Village.

yup... the w does have sick views... i think you can get rooms for like 200 bucks a night. and you are 2 minutes from the path... or about a 10 minute walk the other way to the ferry to midtown. either way, you are only a few minutes away from the city.

[mtmartin71]

Thanks again. I know that it's tough to gauge without knowing me so I appreciate it all of the suggestions and yes, food will be huge for us...probably literally AND figuratively. As far as bars/clubs, places that aren't too pretentious or exclusive and have a nice mix of crowd. I can pass for my 30s.

[joolzriff]

its the only man made place in the usa worth a shit and visiting! i loved it... aint no other town/city as good.....but it aint as cool as london...
just walk about and dig it.....go to the village

[jonleecourage]

Second the staten island ferry suggestion, that's where I proposed to my wife.

Mott street for Chinese food and scenery. Mulberry for Italian and scenery. (they're right next to each other). Veineros bakery for the best desert you'll ever have.

Ride out to coney island on the subway for the day. Have the worlds best pizza at totonno (check his schedule it can be odd and when he runs out of ingredients he closes up) then have the worlds best hot dog at nathans. Walk on the boardwalk a bit. Ride the cyclone a historic rollercoaster.

Indian food on India row in the east village, and walk around the area, especially St marks place. Hit vasaks bar. Ludlow St btwn Houston and Stanton, pitcher of margarita at el sombrero. Don't plan on much after this, that shit will hit u hard.

Have another amazing pizza at patsy grimaldi in Brooklyn then stroll the promenade for the best views of NYC, from a historic Brooklyn brownstone neighborhood.

Have the best steak you'll ever have at Peter Lugers. Nothing else nearby, move on. Cab there and back.

Central park zoo is cool, then picnic at Sheep meadow on stuff bought from zabars. Check out strawberry fields for sure.

Find a Turkish or Russian bathhouse in the east village, have a schvitz and a sauna.

Eat dim sum for lunch at golden unicorn (back to Chinatown).

Moma and the met, at least 1/2 day each. Maybe the Guggenheim if you're into that.

Jazz shows in the village, pick a classic place and chill for the evening.

Mcsorleys old ale house a must. The oldest bar standing in NYC. My great great grandfather drank there and every generation since.