alf_stewart Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 ...for my 30th next month We're there for 5 days, and I'm trying to compile a list of things to cram in. We'll spend a few days hitting the 'must see' attractions; Empire State, Ellis Island etc; but I'm much more interested in potential lesser-known/underground things to do. There's so much tourist literature out there, and most of it is reiteration upon reiteration of the better known attractions. Has anyone been who can recommend things worth seeing and doing off the beaten track? A few additional questions, should anyone feel they can provide an answer: The Knicks play on the evening of the 16th (our day of arrival). Am I likely to be able to secure tickets on the day from Madison Square Garden/street vendors? Or should I book in advance? Hip hop is my musical genre of choice, and I fancy mooching around West Queens (Queensbridge Park etc) due to the associated history. Am I likely to get shot? Is Coney Island worth going to? Bring in mind I'm partial to a bit of grime/sleaze. I thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Make sure you cross the road without looking and almost get ran over by a taxi. When the car stops turn to the driver, slam your hands down on the bonnet and scream "IM WALKIN' HERE!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjw63 Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Is Coney Island worth going to? Of course! You can squeal "Warriorsssssssssss, come out and play-e-yay"!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmooney Posted January 6, 2011 VT Supporter Share Posted January 6, 2011 If you're lucky, there's a bloke there who owns the Brooklyn Bridge, and I understand it's for sale. If you happen to bump into him you could get a real bargain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alf_stewart Posted January 6, 2011 Author Share Posted January 6, 2011 Make sure you cross the road without looking and almost get ran over by a taxi. When the car stops turn to the driver, slam your hands down on the bonnet and scream "IM WALKIN' HERE!" That ain't a bad way to pick up insurance you know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulver Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 First advice. Stay in the Lower East Side Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSufferingVilla Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Has anyone been who can recommend things worth seeing and doing off the beaten track? - Word of warning it'll be fecking freezing over here and a lot of the off beat things require hypothermia at this time of year. Best parts of the city to explore are the neighborhoods: East Village, West Village, Chinatown, Tribecca, Upper West Side, Upper Eastside, Hells Kitchen, Gramarcy, Washington Heights, Harlem, El Bario, Downtown, Midtown. On your wanders you'll find loads of fun stuff to see and do. Head to the batting cages and driving range at Chelsea piers. Take the cable car to Roosevelt Island (if it's fixed), Statan Island ferry with cheap beer onboard, bounce over to Hoboken on the Path take in the view and visit the local footy shop run by a Villa fan. Eat street meat using http://midtownlunch.com as your guide (a site also run by a Villa fan). Visit Eataly on 23rd and 5th/Broadway for an intense food porn session. For the best BBQ of your life venture up to http://www.dinosaurbarbque.com/ in Harlem, from there you can fight back at the food coma with a stroll down the water, over to Columbia Uni or up to Fort Tryon Park and The Cloisters museum. Not to mention if there's a game on over to Legends on 33rd street and 5th to watch the Villa with me and the boys. The Knicks play on the evening of the 16th (our day of arrival). Am I likely to be able to secure tickets on the day from Madison Square Garden/street vendors? Or should I book in advance? - The Knicks are reasonably decent this year so I imagine ticket demand has gone up, best spot for getting tickets imo is Stubhub.com but I doubt the game against Atlanta will be a sell out. Hip hop is my musical genre of choice, and I fancy mooching around West Queens (Queensbridge Park etc) due to the associated history. Am I likely to get shot? - Yes, you will be shot but it will be a great story to tell the kids if you survive. Nah, to be honest West Queens is grand the whole area is undergoing heavy gentrification so you'll be more likely to see people walking around with a rat dog in one hand and a latte in the other than somebody with a boombox. Is Coney Island worth going to? Bring in mind I'm partial to a bit of grime/sleaze. Totally, Coney Island is brilliant however I've never ventured down there in the dead of winter so I'm not sure how much of it will be open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mottaloo Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 i booked in advance for the ny rangers hockey match at MSG & collected the tickets during the daytime - all peace of mind. Whenever i go stateside i gotta take in a sporting event/game whatever it may be. Yes, it'll be cold so "bundle up" as the locals say. They also say "this weather sucks man, i'm off to florida" alot. If you're walking around at night stay in the populated, well lit streets - unlike me, looking for a local bar i'd heard of, well my bottle went after taking the 3rd wrong turning & practically dived headfirst in to a passing taxi after hearing what i believed to be a gun being cocked. Otherwise, enjoy..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alf_stewart Posted January 6, 2011 Author Share Posted January 6, 2011 I won't paste the whole post, but that's a cracker TSV, really helpful! Perusing stubhub.com as we speak, and will definitely check out Dinosaur Barbeque. Chuffed as tits Queens will be relatively safe. Looks like FA Cup 5th round is scheduled for 19/02/11, so assuming we get that far, will definitely be up for watching the game. Cheers also mottaloo. More intuitive recommendations please... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alf_stewart Posted January 6, 2011 Author Share Posted January 6, 2011 TSV, is the footy shop in Hoboken the Prem Soccer Shop? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b23avfc Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 I'd definitely return to Coney Island, apparently there are better beaches for sure but it's easy to get to, is near "little russia" as well (brighton beach) and has a famous boardwalk and fair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulver Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 The subway ride to Coney Island was quite a dismal one from what I recall, and it was pissing down when I got there. But it was still worth the effort in a weird way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alf_stewart Posted January 10, 2011 Author Share Posted January 10, 2011 I just booked our Knicks tickets, through stubhub.com, so cheers TSV! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiddybloke Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 Im going for a couple nights for free in Feb, actually cant wait! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alf_stewart Posted January 11, 2011 Author Share Posted January 11, 2011 Im going for a couple nights for free in Feb, actually cant wait! Result! With work? Made any plans? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Lions_Roar Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Where are you staying alf_stewart, trying to find a suitable hotel for my visit later in the year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iancharlie Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 im going to start my honeymoon in NYC in June - staying at Hilton Times Square for free! should be great never been before Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alf_stewart Posted January 11, 2011 Author Share Posted January 11, 2011 Where are you staying alf_stewart, trying to find a suitable hotel for my visit later in the year. Here mate. Mainly due to the ridiculously low price we got the room for... £380 for 5 nights. It gets a lot steeper in peak periods though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiddybloke Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Im going for a couple nights for free in Feb, actually cant wait! Result! With work? Made any plans? Well im working at a lab in chicago so i change a newark from brum so im going to stop over on the way out (tho i have found out its going to cost me £150 to stop over..... which is the same cost as the normal flight with a return from chicago to newark). Got a couple of mates from uni over there at the moment so im going to crash on their sofa for three nights. VERY excited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts