NYC, what's good?
white_tea
3,262 Posts
Going to be visiting the Big Apple from Jan. 25-30, I regret to say, for the first time in my 28 years on the earth. Should have a few evenings free and, aside from visiting whatever it is that folks *have* to see (as well as Good Records, assuming it's open), I was hoping the Soul Strut brethren might be able to point me in the right direction. I'll be staying somewhere in the area right around Times Square. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Comments
GIANT WARM COAT, leave the times square section as fast as you can, go record shopping thursday through saturday downtown, catch the William Eggleston show if its still up at the Whitney- incredible, eat soup dumplings and dimsum for lunch, pizza for snack, and small italian or spanish wine bar for dinner, meet fleshy midwestern white milfs at your times square hotel lobby bar and let them fawn over you and buy you whiskey sours
Some restaurant recommendations:
Fatty Crab
Caracas
Mandoo House
Arturos
Panna II
Vietnamese spots downtown on Baxter St.
Nicks on w51st and 9th
Hitting the Strand is usually a good idea. If you like Rice pudding go to Rice to Riches. If you like Macaroni and Cheese go to S'Mac. If you like chocolate go to Vosges.
terrible tourist suggestions..... blech never recommend that ghey rice pudding place. go to a real specialty food shop like takashimaya or diPaolo's not one that some dude from hackensack and his investors opened for tourists who want to try 45 different kinds of rice pudding
Have you been to Vosges? Have you been to S'Mac? I call bullshit on your opinions.
If you like rice pudding, then rice to riches is a great recommendation, and I don't think there's another rice pudding place in the city. Italian specialty shops are rather plentiful in New York, there's also Joe's Dairy, Murray's cheese, and others. Recommending a visit to an Italian grocer in New York is like recommending that someone bring their walking shoes.
Grandaisy bakery.
Azuri's Cafe for falafel.
there you go now those are some good suggestions.
and you can call wtf you want on my opinions i hate that theme park shit. but i guess i also hate that rice pudding pod, it is too full of hello kitty vibes, plump tourist chicks though if you're down w that
carry on wayward son
saying. DO IT.
I saw an episode a few weeks ago of Bobby Flay's Throwdown, with a falafel spot that supposedly was the best in the New York -- so named by the Times and the New Yorker. Anyone know if that's Azuri's Cafe?
Musicwise, same deal: New York house, hip-hop, jazz, Latin, I am down. See that APT isn't that far from the hotel (Club Quarters), so might see if anything's going there.
Cosign on Caracas, Joe's Dairy too(if you want some bomb mozzarella). Definitely hit APT. Try to avoid eating around Times Sq, almost everything is terrible unless you want to drop bank.
For food, I'd add this bahn mi spot, also Grand Sichuan for the fresh chicken, soup buns and offensively bad service, and Rhong Tiam, probably the only the only authentic, very spicy thai food in Manhattan, and also very reasonable. If you happen to make your way a little more uptown, my personal favorite pizza spot is Sal and Carmine's (bring on the hatt). I would highly recommend making the pizza pilgrimage out to Di Fara tho....
but really that bahn mi poasted directly above is
Moved to the interior of the Essex Market. They have very few seats but still a huge menu. I wouldn't say Shopsin's is essential, the food is good, but the wait staff can be really nasty.
Eat ramen at Ippudo on 4th Ave.
Pastrami or corned beef at Katz's on Houston.
Eat some pernil or mofongo at La Fonda Boricua on 106th btwn Lex and 3rd Ave.
Drink good beer at Jimmy's 43 on 7th St close to 2nd Ave.
Damn I dropped the ball leaving this out.
Can't cosine above William Eggleston exhibit... Way too large for my taste, images all ran together. Some nice highlights, but could have been half the size. Though, some of the permanent collection the Whitney has up right now was great- Sol LeWitt wall drawing I just can't seem to forget about...
I DO recommend the current show at the MoMA, REBUS, currated by Vik Muniz. And, if you haven't seen the MoMA's permanent collection, you should. It's a museum worth developing a long relationship with.
Eat your way through the city, as well. Follow above dudes reommendations on cheap neighborhood eats... they know better than anyone.
Himalaya Caf?? on 1st street, just East of 1st Ave. is bomb authentic Tibetan food. You're not really gonna find that in many other places outside of the SouthEast Asia.
Chiyono on 6th Street, just west of 1st Ave. is incredible home style Japanese. No Teriyaki, no sushi. Just Chiyono in the kitchen grandma style.
Lan Caf?? is also on 6th Street just west of 1st Ave. All vegetarian Vietnamese, homestyle also.
If you wanna do pasta hit Becco. They make three pasta dishes each night, and you get a salad and as much pasta as you can handle. Decently priced wines also.
Trying to step out for a pot of tea? Hit McNally J on Prince Street between Lafayette and Mott.
I eat on a budget, and I also don't get North of 14th Street very often, so my selections are skewed in that sense.
CHeck and see what the Japan Society has going on.
Go to the Rubin Museum and peep the Tibetan art.
Seriously, F*ck Kenny and his mutant offspring. I dont pay money to get abused while I eat pumpkin pancakes. I cosign all of Garcia's suggestions, although I still think that Sapporo on 48th beats the pants off Ippudo even if the ambiance is not nearly as toight and shexy. I would add:
Flor De Mayo uptown for some Chino Latino.
L&B's in the Hurst for some pizza.
Vanessa's on Eldridge for dumplings.
Tony Dragonas' food cart on 62nd and Lex for chickensaladricehotsaucewhitesauce
Congee Bowery for Chinese foods
Ferdinandos in Red Hook for rice balls and panelle
Serendipity if you've got kids with you
Alidoro in Soho for an amazing overpriced sandwich.
Ahh, the swarth...
Corner Bistro is ghey. Saba will not go there, although his clones may. Saba stays on the East Side.
The dude used to know Muhammed Ali so there's a gang of boxing photos all over the bar. Its grimmy but the jukebox is INCREDIBLE.
Srt8 oldschool soul/doo-wop/R&B steez.
After that I'll probably go check out Q-tip and Rich Medina DJing at Santos in tribeca.
I havent been in a minute.
My buddy had me meet him at The Forrest Gump (Bubba Gump's) tourist trap.
Terrible decor and all that, but around 1pm, the bar was empty and they had a well stocked bar.
It was upstairs and the tourists weren't upstairs w/ us. Dont sleep.
..::: E V E N T S :::.
WEDNESDAY, Feb 25th
+ Feedback NYC with The Orion Experience, The Cringe
& Semi-Precious, Weapons. Hosted by Rachel Ray (!)
at Santos Party House | 96 Lafayette at Walker in Chinatown
7-10PM | $14 advance tix at Ticket Web
http://www.santospartyhouse.com
+ George Clinton & The P-Funk All-Stars
at BB Kings | 237 W. 42nd St. near Times Square
8PM | $37.50 | http://www.bbkingblues.com
+ BANG! with Eli Escobar & Hex Hector
at 105 Riv | 105 Rivington b/w Essex & Ludlow in the LES
10PM | FREE! | http://www.cosmobaker.com
+ Little Ricky's Rib Shack with Rich Medina
at APT | 419 W. 13th b/w 9th & Washington in Meatpacking
10:30PM | $10 | http://aptwebsite.com
+ The Hump feat. DJ Naz & Mr. Len
with resident DJs Lindsey & Myles. Hosted by LinYee
10PM | FREE! | http://www.myspace.com/thehumpnyc
THURSDAY, Feb 26th
+ Sweeeeet Swap Meet! Clothing and stuff swap.
with music by Walter Shih & Night Swim
at Envoy Gallery | 131 Chrystie in the LES
7-10PM | FREE!
+ Gelf Magazine presents DJ Scottie B & others
at Happy Ending | 303 Broom St. b/w Forsyth & Eldridge in LES
7:30PM | FREE! | http://www.gelfmagazine.com
+ Flashy & Trashy / Antwan's B-Day!
with DJs Rok One, Eyesinhood & Jay McElfresh
at Le Poisson Rouge | 158 Bleeker in the W. Village
9PM | FREE! | http://www.ithinkyoureswell.com
+ Toque! Congas, Claves, Bongos and Cowbells!
with DJ Chuck Wild & live percussion by Eddie Hall
at Bembe | 81 South 6th St. at Berry in W'burg in BK
10PM | FREE! | http://bywayof.net
+ JetSet NYC with DJ Equal & Morse Code
at Mr. West | 559 W. 22nd St. & West Side Hwy in Chelsea
11PM | FREE! | Early entry advised. Dudes, bring dudettes
http://www.myspace.com/djequal
+ The Bail Out with DJs Double-O, Mick Boogie & Parler
at Sutra |16 1st Ave., b/w 1st & 2nd St. in the E. Village
10PM | ? | thebailoutparty@gmail.com
FRIDAY, Feb 27th
+ BOUNCE | empanadamn at White Rabbit
145 E. Houston, next to Sunshine Theater in the LES
10PM | FREE! | http://whiterabbitnyc.com
+ Jose Rejas: A Blessing in the Skies (ART)
Collective Art Show feat. the works of Josef Diaz & Ray Maravilla, and others
at 45 Main St., 12th Fl. in Dumbo in BK
7-11PM | FREE!
+ Work It Out with DJ D-Lo
at Happy Ending | 303 Broom St. b/w Forsyth & Eldridge in LES
10PM | FREE! | http://www.happyendinglounge.com
+ With Cheese with DJs Ballintino & Witnes
at Le Royale | 506 5th Ave. b/w 12th & 13th in Park Slope, BK
10PM | FREE! | http://www.royalebrooklyn.com
+ Famous Friends x Fool's Gold
with Treasure Fingers, Nick Catchdubs & The Philadelphyinsz
at Europa | 98 Meserole at Manhattan Ave. in W'burg, BK
10PM | $10 | Reduced tix at Dijital Fix
+ 1992 at Open (Oscar's B-Day!)
with Rich Medina & Q-Tip
at Santos Party House | 96 Lafayette at Walker in Chinatown
10PM | $15 | Early entry advised
+ Hip-Hop 1942 | 1940-70s jazz transformed to hip-hop & back again
with guests Phont?? (Little Brother), DJ Ge-ology, live musicians & more
at Le Poisson Rouge | 158 Bleeker in the W. Village
11PM | $10 with RSVP
SATURDAY, Feb 28th
+ Bring Out The Sound System: The West Indian Roots of Hip-Hop
with DJs Kool Herc, Red Alert & Ralph McDaniels, feat. Just Ice,
Patricia Chin, Dr. Natasha Lightfoot, & more
at The Point CDC | 940 Garrison Ave. in The Bronx
3-6PM | ? | http://www.thepoint.org
+ And You Will Know Us By The Trail of The Dead
with So So Glos & Midnight Masses
at Bower Ballroom | 6 Bowery St. & Delancey in Chinatown
8PM | $15 | http://www.boweryballroom.com
+ Crooked Disco feat. Todosantos (live) & DJ Vin Sol
with DJ Morsy & Keystar
at Public Assembly | 70 N. 6th St in W'burg, BK
Open bar 10-11PM | $5 with [email]RSVP@crooked-disco.com[/email]
http://www.nanachill.com
+ Energy 2 Burn presents Negroclash Reunion!
with DJs Lindsey, Duane Harriot & Prince Language
at Trophy Bar | 351 Broadway b/w Keap & Rodney in W'Burg in BK
11:30PM | FREE!
TUESDAY, March 2nd
+ Deadly Dragon Sound
at APT | 419 W. 13th b/w 9th & Washington in Meatpacking
11PM | FREE! | http://aptwebsite.com
But still, that looks like a good list. You put that togetgher empanadamn? Or is it from somewhere, I wouldnt mind subscribing...