I'm going to NYC for the March 19 protests! What should I see while

[burn the bush]

there? What is the biggest must see's? Tell me what is the coolest, can't see anywhere else, thing to see in NYC?

and thanks in advance for your advice.

[Hissyspit]

1. Central Park.

Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Museum of Modern Art. Guggenheim Soho. New Museum of Contemporary Art at 538 Broadway (You can look at some of the original mid-Victorian cast-iron facades while you're down around there, Greene Street mainly.)

Ground Zero.

Tom's Restaurant on West Side - inspiration for Suzanne Vega's song and establishing outside shot for Seinfeld restaurnat.

St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Walk Across Brooklyn Bridge (or not).

Bleeker Street and Greenwich Village at Night.

Hip Record Stores.

Go See Something Off-Off-Broadway.

See a First-Run Independent Movie in any Old Theater With Real New Yorkers.

Tramway to Rockefeller Island - doesn't take too long, not high priority, though.

Walk by U.N. Building.

Restaurants!
Lombardi's - supposedly the oldest still-operating pizza parlor in the U.S. Great Pizza.
One If By Land...
Cafe des Artistes.
Balthazar's
(Something) Moon Diner. (sorry forgot full name; guy who wrote Rent used to work there)

Visit Bill Clinton in his office in Harlem. Apollo Theatre.

Place In Front of Dakota Where John Lennon Was Shot. Then to Attone for Your Morbidity Across the Street to Strawberry Fields.

Grab a copy of Sexy New York City 2005.
:evilgrin:

There's all kinds of hidden stuff in the city, too. I can't think of some of these things, offhand, maybe some New Yorkers will tell you. Those love-bird hawks (eagles?) nest somewhere on the Upper East Side near the Metropolitan Museum, not sure where exactly, but I saw one of them flying once.

[TomClash]

10. A Good List except . . .

I would skip Tom's Restaurant. Mediocre food, even for a diner.

[Hissyspit]

11. Yeah, I remember that. I was almost gonna mention that. Just..

go look at it.

[TomClash]

12. I lived near there in my school days . . .

. . . and we always went to the now defunct College Inn, which was next door, because the food was a little better.

[burn the bush]

17. lol OK (making memo) Don't bother to go into Tom's.

thanks

[burn the bush]

16. Great ideas!

I think I will do Grenwich at night, see Toms', Ground zero and wouldn't that be fun if I really caught Clinton in? haha

thanks for the great ideas

[slor]

2. Good advice from Hissyspit...

I went for the Feb.15th, they shut down all routes that lead to it, so I missed it, but New York is a fantastic place, and I will suggest a meal at Thai Angel in SOHO. Get the fish balls...they are out of this world!

[jumptheshadow]

3. The Brooklyn Promenade

Grab a cab downtown and ask them to take you to the foot of Montague Street in Brooklyn. Ask somebody where the Promenade is -- it will be a very short walk. Then be prepared for one of the most awesome sights in the world. The best time to go is twilight, when you can watch the lights turning on in Manhattan.

From there, grab a meal or a beer on Montague Street. Ask your waitperson for directions to the subway back to Manhattan. There are lots of subway lines back to the city in or near that neighborhood.

[TomClash]

9. An excellent choice

Beautiful and interesting old buildings adjacent to the promenade too

[burn the bush]

18. This sounds cool. I think I will try to fit it in.

thanks

[Clark2008]

26. While you're in Brooklyn, be sure and stop by

Henry's End for dinner and pop over to DUMBO for a young artists' treat!

[TomClash]

4. There are a million guidebooks

and many, many things to see and do.

But if you've never been here before, here's a tip: if you just travel around by foot, bus or train, you see a lot.

Can't see anywhere else: Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Wall Street (NY Stock Exchange), United Nations, The Village (NYU, Wash Sq. Park, E. Village), Broadway/Times Square.

If you like architecture - go to the Empire State bldg, then walk up 5th Ave to the NY Public Library, then right on 42d street to Grand Central station and the Chrysler building (they're across the street from one another).

[katmondoo]

5. Now I feel very nostalgic for the City

that I worked in for over 25 years. Fifth and 29th street was my working place. From my window I could see the Empire State Building. I lived on 39th and third for about five years. I didn't realize at the time how lucky I was to live in New York City, the greatest place in the world.

[Hissyspit]

7. Whoa! Just caught a whiff of my cat's breath and it took me right back

too! :P

NYC doesn't SMELL like any other place in the world either!

[burn the bush]

19. Good idea. I was planning on taking subways and walking but the buses

will make it much better to see whats going on.

thanks

[0007]

6. The museums are some of the best in the world!

Of course one can always get stuck in the Blue Note.

[Divernan]

8. Take one of the double decker bus tours.

After over four decades of visiting Manhattan to see plays, visit museums for special exhibitions and going to some terrific restaurants, last spring I got talked into taking one of the bus tours set up for tourists - I think we got on in the Times Square area. (The occasion was my SO & I took his college freshman son for his first visit to NYC. )
I think it was the Grey LIne tours - anyway you buy a pass and the busses, which depart every 15 minutes or so start out on a big loop all the way down to lower Manhattan. You can get off at any stop, do some sightseeing and then go back to the bus stop and get on the next tour bus that stops. Unless the weather is really miserable, stay bundled up and sit on the open air top deck - great view of the city. There is a tour guide on each bus describing everything you're passing. Stops included China Town, Little Italy, Wall Street, the United Nations, Ground Zero, Rockefeller Center/St. Patrick's Cathedral - to name a few. We happened to be there the day of the St. Gennaro festival in Little Italy - remember that parade in The Godfather - with the streets all decorated?

Don't know how much time you will have in the City, but if you opt for the spectacle of a Broadway musical - I highly recommend "Wicked". Excellent production in a magnificent theater. My favorite restaurant is Cafe des Artists - last time I was there we were sitting at a table caty-corner from Liam Neeson. But everyone should dine at least once at the picturesque Tavern on the Green in Central Park. They have a good Sunday brunch. At either of course, you'll need reservations. Also, have breakfast in one of the classic New York delis.

I love museums - and New York has some fantastic ones - but really, a single museum takes at least half a day , and preferably longer, to visit. And on weekends they are mobbed. I once got to spend a week in Paris, and I choose to spend one
day at the Musee D"Orsay and half a day at the Musee Rodin, but did not go into the Louvre, which I think of as the best museum in the world. I did sit on the steps outside it and listen to some street jazz musicians one July afternoon as I was walking around the city. But my plan is to return some time and spend 3 or 4 days at the Louvre, to begin to do it justice - not dash in for 2 hours to look at the Mona Lisa and Winged Victory and kid myself I've "been to the Louvre".

The point I am finally getting to is that New York City, like Paris, is one of the most vital cities in the world and well worth simply walking around and absorbing the incredible energy and diversity of the place. There is an intensity in NYC that is just incredible and it is a fantastic place to people watch.

Have a great time!

[burn the bush]

20. Yes, another good point. We've decided to only try one museum type

visit. That won't really be adequate but it will the most we should consider trying to do. Thanks for bringing that up.

[TomClash]

13. If you were coming in the spring or summer . . .

. . . I would recommend my all time favorite "touristy" thing to do in NYC - the Circle Line boat trip around Manhattan.

[burn the bush]

21. that sounds like a lot of fun. I'll bet is will be too cold still to do

it though. I think I'll look for their website and have the info with me just incase it happens to be great weather.
thanks

[bettyellen]

14. the boatride around new york is nice..

everybody who visits seems to love it. we have ferrys now to brklyn, queens and new jersey that are a lot more fun than taking the train if you're exploring.
i'm sure someone said the empire state building, but you have to go at sunset and watch the lights come up.
have a great buger fires + listen to the great jukebox at the corner bistro in the west village. very reasonable.
strand bookstore and the greenmarket in union square and then walk up lower 5th ave to shop.

[burn the bush]

23. aahh the ferry is another good idea.

thanks for all your ideas.

[spartan61]

15. I'm in Florida now, but still having NYC withdrawal.

How I love NYC!!! I lived in Connecticut, so it was a Metro North train ride to get to the city. If Tony and Tina's Wedding is still playing (off Broadway), try to see it. So much fun! I also love to eat in Little Italy at Puglia's.

[deacon]

22. Museum of Natural History, a trip to the Village, Metropolitan Museum

of art....and a good restaurant, which is real easy there :)

[all.of.me]

24. the cloisters

they're in the bronx, i think (i have not lived there for a zillion years....)

museum of natural history was my favorite as a kid

[Hissyspit]

27. Cloisters on northern tip of Manhattan Island.

You will recognize it from motorcycle chase in "Coogan's Bluff" with Clint Eastwood (1968).

[all.of.me]

28. i knew it was up there somewhere!

my mother took me there when i was about 12 or so. we lived in connecticut, and she used to spend a lot of time there just soaking up the history, the beauty and the wall hangings. i was too young to appreciate it.

[cire4]

25. Just walk around! NYC is a city where the best thing to do

...is walk through all the different neighborhoods and take in the atmosphere of each. Experience the ethnic influences on each...

[kbm8170]

29. Can you get David Letterman tickets?

[Rush1184]

30. I love to goto SoHo and China Town, also try and get tickets

for a taping of a show, it is a great expirence, and it is usually free. I got tickets in the summer of 2003 to see tough crowd with colin quinn, as the daily show was booked, and it was a really great time.

[Bridget Burke]

31. Hint for museum-going....

Pick one museum & plan your campaign. The museums have websites with plans showing regular exhibits, plus news on special shows and events. I went to the Met some years ago--one day is not enough to see the whole thing. Advance planning would have helped me know what to see that day & what could wait. (Yeah, some year I'll go back.)

This is especially helpful if you've got companions who may have different tastes.

[leftynyc]

32. Lincoln Center at night

My most favorite spot in the city