New York, New York, It’s a Wunnaful Place
An Insider’s Guide to the Big City
Welcome to the Big Apple, which fortunately for you has thawed out early. It looks like we are in for a great week weatherwise. Not that you’ll have time to get outside the doors of the Roosevelt Hotel, but just in case you feel brave, here are a few tips for the outside world.
I grew up here in the city on the Upper Eastside. I was a child actress, and I went to the “Fame” school near Lincoln Center for professional kids. We didn’t dance on cars, but we did cover every nook anad cranny of this city. I think I covered more territory in New York in high school than I did as a full-fledged adult New Yorker. Obviously, a lot has changed since high school (too long ago to mention), and I have been in Florida for the past few years finally getting my college degree at FAU. So, I’m not plugged in to the hip-hoppping new spots. But as a seasoned New Yorker, I'll be able to steer you in the right direction.
Rain on the Parade
For those of you that may not have the luck of the Irish do not….I repeat..DO NOT attempt to go anywhere near the hotel on St. Patrick’s Day. March 17 is the day from hell for anyone who has lived in New York. The streets are packed with drunken and lewd Irishmen wearing strange green outfits, and after the parade they stagger through the streets yelling, fighting and throwing up. The Roosevelt Hotel just happens to be in the heart of the Irish pub center in Manhattan and is also one block from the parade route. I know it sounds tempting (not), but if I were you I would pass on the parade spectating. It is really monotonous, loud and BORING.
NY Navigation
Okay, time to brave the subway and get out of this neighborhood. Put on your hiking boots and walk across the street (just opposite the hotel entrance) to the secret tunnel entrance to Grand Central and the subway hub. Or since it’s warm, you can just head East (left out the door) to Vanderbilt. Turn right to the entrance of Grand Central, and follow the signs to the subway lines 4, 5 and 6. Once down in the belly of the beast, you have to buy a MetroCard. If the line is long, you can get one quickly in the machines with a credit card or cash. If you buy one for $20, you get two free rides ($24 value). You all don’t need one. You can swipe the turnstile as many times as you want, so you can share the cards. You also can use it on any bus within an hour and a half for free. Buses run on virtually every street, stop on every other corner and run every few minutes. So if you want to see the scenery while you move around, hop on the bus, Gus. But first…go down to the subway and get a MetroCard. Buses don’t make change and don’t take bills. Stupid, I know. There are maps in every station, or go to the MTA Web site for a preview. You can also pick up a free copy of AM NY at the subway stations, which tells you what’s going on around town and free stuff.
Downtown
The best direction to head is downtown on the East side (which we're already on). Take the bus down Lexington or the 6 train to 23rd Street to the Flatiron. There are hip bars and restaurants, and if you head down to 14th Street, there is Inion Square park with lots of pigeons and people watching. Or go to Prince Street in Soho, and walk around the shops. It's window shopping only for most, since they are fairly pricy. If you keep going downtown to the village (take the subway to Bleeker), there are lots of hippie, tatoo and piercing joints and a real character collection. Noho Star (right at the subway exit on Bleeker) is cheap and good and Gonxales y Gonzales on Broadway just North of Houston is fun and festive. South of Houston on Lafayette next to the gas sation is Puck Fair, a three-story Irish pub. Just don’t go on Saturday! Just East of that is Mott Street and Elizabeth Street, which is wall-to-wall boutiques and restaurants. Then go further downtown (if you want to skip the first part, you can take the subway to Canal Street, home of the knock-off handbags on the street) and go to Little Italy. Vincent’s Clam House or Puglia’s on Mulberry are old favorites. Otherwise, go South of Canl and hit Chintown. There are hudreds of good cheap restaurants that can accommodate a big group.
Across Town
Times Square. I assume everyone has seen it on television, but I guess it’s worth a six block walk across town. Take your camera and snap a shot in the middle of the island where the TKTS booth is (half-price theater tickets for that night’s show if you can spend an hour or two in line). There is no shortage of food here since all of the Broadway theaters branch out from Times Square. But most of the theatergoers don’t tend to frequent the big, mega-theme restaurants that burn your cornea with their flashing lights. Carmines, on 45th Street, is a family-style Italian restaurant that is fairly reasonable. They don’t take reservations so get there early. It’s a long wait in a noisy bar. Otherwise grab some fast food, and wander through the theater district.
Central Park, It’s Free
Stroll through the most beautiful park in the country. The landscaped gardens, ponds, tree-lined paths are the scenes for countless movies. Stop for a drink at the Boathouse Café or watch kids sink their remote conroll sailboats in the boat pond on the Fifth Avenue side in the 70’s. The zoo is great too - for a small entrance fee, which goes to feeding fish to the seals and our tuxedoed friends. You can get a taste of wildlife smack dab in the middle of the city.
The Metropolitan Museum
Do not be afraid. A little culture won’t hurt anyone, and donations are tax deductible. Michael Jackson almost got married in the Temple of Dendur in the back where there is a glass room housing a genuine Egyptian crypt. Every period of art is represented here and the building itself is worth seeing.There’s also a currrent exhibition caslled “Closed Circuit: Video and New Media” that you might find very interesting. For the culturally weak-kneed you can sit outside on the steps and watch the crowds or grab a hot dog from the cart – the best in town! Check out the Metropolitan Museum's Web site.
Brooklyn
For the more adventurous you can catch the L Train at 14th Street (not to be confused with L Word) to Bedford Ave in Williamsburg Brooklyn where you’ll find a trendy host of restaurants, shops and music spots. (Galapogos with emerging bands live music, Sea, a modern asian spectacle with fountains, sushi and a real live river running through it.) If you are feeling energetic and it isn’t puring rain, you can get off at the Brooklyn Bridge stop on the Manhattan side and walk across the bridge to Brooklyn. It’s a great thing to say you’ve done, and you can tell your grankids all about it.
South Street Seaport
It’s like stepping into another century. It has cobblestone streets and autherntic tallship you can romp around. You expect Robert DeNiro and Clemenza to walk around the corner at any time. Lots of contemporary shops like Gap, Bananaa Republic, Brooks Brothers etc. and a pier full of restaurants.
Local Grub
This may sound weird but if you really don’t want to stray too far from home, your best bet might be the newly renovated Food Court in Grand Central (the oldest train terminal in NYC). There’s a lot to choose from. Other than Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse and the Oyster Bar, the choices are not bank-breaking and still very tasty.
Alternative Route
Ignore this whole thing, walk out the front door and just start walking. No matter which way you head or where you wind up, you will see things you’ve never seen before and experience something special in this amazing city.
Here’s a map of Manhattan if you want some help.
Have fun, whatever you do. And don’t be afraid to ask for directions. We New Yorkers are not as bad as you think we are!