Its been a bucket list thing of mine since I really fell in love with Theater (and became even bigger when I watched Will & Grace and RENT) to take a train across the country and spend my birthday in NYC. So, I am doing just that in late may. I'm doing it all NYC style too. No rental car, just taxis,ubers, subway, etc. Still deciding between Wicked and Chicago for my musical to go see (Hamilton doesn't instrest me) and doing the Times Square/Central park thing. Aside from that, anyone who has been there have any other local things to see. Maybe not so touristy stops? I'll be there for 7 days, so I have time. @KingSpeed I know you live(d) there, anything of interest (theater or otherwise) I should check out? I'm going to be staying in an airbnb (because holy shit, so much cheaper than a freaking hotel) either in Brooklyn or Jersey City, which is a short commute into midtown, for a reference point.
I'd try and take in a basketball game at the Garden if I were you...always wanted to do that....the live music scene in NYC is supposed to be really good...for a guy like me who loves jazz and blues....I'd check out the Apollo, the Lincoln Center...all those venues and the small clubs like the Blue Note...
Yeah, the Apollo is on my itinerary. And unfortunately, it'll be May so no game at the garden. I hope to at least see it and take a picture in front of it. And yeah, hoping to go out for music and drinks one night, for sure. I love a good jazz bar if I can find one. I'll look up the Blue Note.
Red Rooster chicken restaurant in Harlem I think. Saw it on an episode of Worth It on YouTube. Looks sooooooo good.
I'm hoping to hit all the major parts (Harlem, Brooklyn, etc) during my trip so when I get there I'll look that place up!
Go see my favorite baseball team, the Yankees. You will love the atmosphere being a huge baseball fan that you are! Besides, you'll be able to watch Stanton, Judge, and company play against 2 of baseball's best teams, Astros and Indians, during the first week of May!!!
I go the last week of may. They do play the astros the last week of may, but it'd be cutting it close. I'm also going with a friend that may or may not like baseball as much as I do. lol. I am trying to swing a trip to PNC park on the way back if I have enough money, but it'd be close.
As much as I love baseball lore and history..... god it'd be tough to step foot and pay to help the Yankees economy... LOL. Will probably take a picture in front of it though. The friend I'm going with is a huge photo person and a wedding photographer, so I imagine she's gonna take a lot of pictures as well. It's still somewhat surreal that I've wanted to do this for close to 20 years and I'm paying for everything in about a week and a half and going in 5 months. Logistics for this are a biznitch LOL.
Hmm. Everybody loves food. Try the real deal New York style pizza at Di Fara's, Lombardi's, or Totonno's!
Oh you KNOW we're trying the pizza. I had chicago style pizza in chicago... no one told me how fucking huge that was going to be. I paid $20 for what I thought was 3 slices... it was like 3 Nurk in april slices!
I've seen both Wicked and Chicago there recently. Didn't't like this version of Chicago as much as others I have seen. Wicked is fantastic. That gets my vote. There's also a fantastic BBQ restaurant (of all things) near the theatre district - Virgils. Katz's Deli if you like Deli. I agree with @riverman - spend a day at the Met. For history, the lower east side tenement museum is excellent. The Comedy Cellar in the Village is a blast.
I'm telling ya, If I could afford it, Id stay two weeks. There is SO much to do, I have no idea when I'm going to sleep - or IF. I know it's the city that never sleeps... but good lord.
If your a Seinfeld fan, the Kramer reality tour is essential. So fucking awesome. Book ahead of time, it's only on certain Saturdays. Bagels and Lox. Russ and Daughters is next to Katz. It's pricy though. Other spots are good too around town. Walk around Little Italy and get a bunch of quick bites in the small family owned delis and pastry shops. Ferrara has awesome stuff. Washington Square park is awesome just to kick it and hang. Highline is an interesting walk as is the Chelsea market. Go to Eataly by Madison Square Park. The park is cool. NY Public library.
