What should I do in NYC next week?

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I'm totally overwhelmed with options. My girlfriend and I will be there from Thursday, April 13th through Monday April 17th. We'll probably be in Manhattan staying w/friends most of the time. Any recommendations for less expensive restaurants/bars, record stores, and local bands to check out would be much appreciated. Thanks!

darin (darin), Thursday, 6 April 2006 15:48 (twenty years ago)

um, what kind of restaurants/bars?

phil-two (phil-two), Thursday, 6 April 2006 16:22 (twenty years ago)

Sorry, I guess I wasn't being very specific. As far as restaurants go - Thai, pizzerias, and delis maybe for starters. We're trying to budget ourselves for around $150 a day, so less spendy is good. And as far as bars go, quieter places where you can have a conversation and maybe a decent wine menu.

darin (darin), Thursday, 6 April 2006 16:40 (twenty years ago)

Deli of choice, for me at least, is Sarge's on 36th and Third. 24 hours, amazing food, killer atmosphere.

I'm not that big on Thai in NYC, mostly because Seattle has spoiled me for it. (Ditto sushi.) If you like Japanese and Korean, Angel's Share, near St. Mark's Books, is a great place--upstairs. Dinner service is often hectic but they do really good appetizers and I love the eel and rice there. Again, killer atmosphere.

Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Thursday, 6 April 2006 16:43 (twenty years ago)

I'm not that big on Thai in NYC

Sripraphai in Woodside rules

Renard (Renard), Thursday, 6 April 2006 16:46 (twenty years ago)

Thanks, Matos - we'll put Sarge's and Angel's Share on the to-do list!

darin (darin), Thursday, 6 April 2006 16:48 (twenty years ago)

Well, the best Thai is in Queens at Sripraphai, supposedly the best in the city if not the country. You can have a queens day and see Jacques Tati's Playtime at the Musuem of the Moving Image...but you'll get lost.

The best Pizza in nyc is, UNQUESTIONABLY, Di Fara's in Midwood Brooklyn, and is an easy trip on the Q train. Then you can walk around and see all the orthodox bakeries...and not much else.

Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Thursday, 6 April 2006 16:49 (twenty years ago)

Sripraphai in Woodside rules

the best food in new york is usually in queens.

the man from mars won't eat up bars where the tv's on (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 6 April 2006 16:51 (twenty years ago)

Kebab Cafe is beckoning me...

Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Thursday, 6 April 2006 16:52 (twenty years ago)

The best Pizza in nyc is, UNQUESTIONABLY, Di Fara's in Midwood Brooklyn,

di fara's is amazing, but i have a soft spot for V&T up by columbia and the L&B spumoni gardens in bensonhurst.

xpost OMG KEBAB CAFE

the man from mars won't eat up bars where the tv's on (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 6 April 2006 16:53 (twenty years ago)

L&B spumoni gardens in bensonhurst.

but only for the sicilian slices. the round pies are fine, but the squares are where it's at.

the man from mars won't eat up bars where the tv's on (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 6 April 2006 16:54 (twenty years ago)

yeah, the Di Fara's opinion is very much a minority one

gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 6 April 2006 16:55 (twenty years ago)

I went to di Fara's about a month ago and damn Dan is right. oh my Lord. if you go, though, get there early and be prepared to wait.

Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Thursday, 6 April 2006 16:56 (twenty years ago)

minority? really? most everything I've read about pizza in NY seem to agree.

Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Thursday, 6 April 2006 16:56 (twenty years ago)

yeah, gabb is talking out of his ass on this one. ;-)

the man from mars won't eat up bars where the tv's on (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 6 April 2006 16:57 (twenty years ago)

wheres midwood??

phil-two (phil-two), Thursday, 6 April 2006 16:57 (twenty years ago)

OK, Sripraphai and Di Fara's added.

What is this Jacques Tati's Playtime at the Musuem of the Moving Image that you speak of? Sounds interesting.

darin (darin), Thursday, 6 April 2006 16:57 (twenty years ago)

Jacques Tati's Playtime at the Musuem of the Moving Image

!

gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 6 April 2006 16:57 (twenty years ago)

if it's nice out I would recommend a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge from the Manhattan side to the Brooklyn side, pizza at Grimaldi's, then walk back

Sripraphai is sort of in the middle of nowhere if you're coming from Manhattan but it's cheap and I don't think you'll be disappointed. I think I've eaten there more times than any other nyc restaurant (but on the other hand, I live in Queens)

Renard (Renard), Thursday, 6 April 2006 17:00 (twenty years ago)

I'm not saying that Di Fara's isn't the best - I haven't the faintest idea - but most 'best pizza in NY' lists that I've seen eternally put Totonno/Grimaldi's/Lombardi's/John's/etc. on top, and fail to mention Di Fara's. I'd venture that most who know of those places have never even heard of it.

gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 6 April 2006 17:01 (twenty years ago)

Nevermind. I just googled the Playtime film. Very cool!

darin (darin), Thursday, 6 April 2006 17:01 (twenty years ago)

It can be true simultaneously that it's unquestionably the best, and that its unquestionability is a minority opinion.

gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 6 April 2006 17:02 (twenty years ago)

the vietnamese pork chops at l'annam on 13th/university are really really good. lunch special, hute plate of pork chops. $6.50 or something like that

phil-two (phil-two), Thursday, 6 April 2006 17:03 (twenty years ago)

hute = huge

phil-two (phil-two), Thursday, 6 April 2006 17:03 (twenty years ago)

gabb is playing the same "the populists are right" card he played when he was saying phoenix was a better city than tucson because it had a major airport and some sports teams.

the man from mars won't eat up bars where the tv's on (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 6 April 2006 17:04 (twenty years ago)

last time I was at the Museum of the Moving Image I think I stared at that kinetic animation sculpture with the strobe lights for like a half-hour

Renard (Renard), Thursday, 6 April 2006 17:04 (twenty years ago)

oh man, phil, that sounds so good.

Special Agent Gene Krupa (orion), Thursday, 6 April 2006 17:06 (twenty years ago)

i have an eternal love with gray's papaya & papaya dog. $2.75, get two dogs with kraut & mustard & onion and delicious papaya juice. i want it NOW.

Special Agent Gene Krupa (orion), Thursday, 6 April 2006 17:07 (twenty years ago)

i like l'annam a lot, but it's definitely the most americanized vietnamese food i've had. which isn't a criticism, just a warning if you care about that sort of thing.

the man from mars won't eat up bars where the tv's on (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 6 April 2006 17:08 (twenty years ago)

fyi to Darin, I noticed in that other thread that the Jacques Tati movie is this weekend only (April 7-9)

what kind of record stores are you looking for?

Renard (Renard), Thursday, 6 April 2006 17:10 (twenty years ago)

(Where did I say they were right? I'm quite willing to believe it's the best. I'm just saying Dan's UNQUESTIONABLY implies in some sense that All New Yorkers Agree, when most have never even heard of the place. And I don't know what populism has to do with Phoenix being a 'better city' than Tucson, which I conceded might be a cooler place to live, just one with fewer options, broadly speaking, and it was irrelevant anyway because afaik only one of those places has a corporate legal community and rich retiree base)

gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 6 April 2006 17:11 (twenty years ago)

i like l'annam a lot, but it's definitely the most americanized vietnamese food i've had.

yeah. the rest of the menu, im not so into, but those grilled pork chops are probably the best vietnamese grilled pork chops ive ever had. oh oh oh oh oh i want some now.

also the location is great. you dont have to trek into queens

phil-two (phil-two), Thursday, 6 April 2006 17:12 (twenty years ago)

oh, the ringling bros circus is in town!!!

phil-two (phil-two), Thursday, 6 April 2006 17:22 (twenty years ago)

restaurants/bars, record stores, and local bands

oh yeah, there's also Cake Shop in the lower east side that has a coffee shop in front, record store in back and local bands (or sometimes national bands) play in the basement bar

Renard (Renard), Thursday, 6 April 2006 17:29 (twenty years ago)

gabbneb, those lists usually are just talking about the best brick-oven pizza joints, of which those are all classics. Di Fara's is a standard oven, so it's a bit like comparing apples and oranges...over-rated, soggy-crusted apples to delicious, 4 cheesed, homegrown herb'd oranges.

Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Thursday, 6 April 2006 17:52 (twenty years ago)

I wish I was sufficiently epicurean to trek around the boroughs for mere food ... but I'm not.

However, the weekend you are here, you could see Wings of Desire at Moving Image, or some exotic 16mm Anna May Wong films:

http://movingimage.us/site/screenings/mainpage/anna_may_wong.html


The permanent exhibits have all sorts of old film equipment and memorabilia -- eg Brando Godfather makeup, and Orson Welles' requested "Jewish nose" for Compulsion.

There are also tons of old-school Greek eateries in Astoria, tho I've eaten recently only at Uncle George's:

http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7329045/long_island_city_ny/uncle_george_s.html


Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 6 April 2006 17:56 (twenty years ago)

I like Pizza Gruppo on Ave B (near 12th). Very thin crust and unusual, fresh toppings - like whole garlic cloves, jalapenos, zucchini, etc. One large would only feed about two hungry people though.

I don't really have a favorite Thai. I like Kai Kai on Ave A (near 9th) - the stuff's already cooked so you just point to what you want - but it's surprisingly good and very inexpensive. No table service, but there are a few small tables for eating in.

For delis, I think it's hard to beat Katz's (Houston St). Get the enormous pastrami sandwich and help yourself to lots of the free pickles.

o. nate (onate), Thursday, 6 April 2006 17:59 (twenty years ago)

what kind of record stores are you looking for?

Just something with a better selection than one might find in other towns (I'm visiting from Portland, OR). Lots of imports would be cool.

darin (darin), Thursday, 6 April 2006 18:00 (twenty years ago)

Other Music is a good place to start.

o. nate (onate), Thursday, 6 April 2006 18:00 (twenty years ago)

and Mondo Kims are the two biggies.

though Other Music is quite small.

though they pack a lot into that space.

If you're looking for used vinyl, I'll submit a lengthier response.

Anyway, Other and Mondo Kims are close enough to each other to make it easy, and while in that area you can easily hit Turntablelab, A1, Gimme Gimme etc. So if you were gonna pick one afternoon/day for record shopping, the East Village is your friend, starting at Other and walking East towards Avenue A, ending at Etheria.

Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Thursday, 6 April 2006 18:10 (twenty years ago)

I mean Adult Crash.

Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Thursday, 6 April 2006 18:12 (twenty years ago)

We'll probably just CD shop since our record player is currently out of commission.

I assume all of the shops you mentioned are in the East Village?

darin (darin), Thursday, 6 April 2006 18:17 (twenty years ago)

Other and Mondo Kim's have a lot of CD's but if you don't want vinyl I'd skip Turntablelab, A1, Sound Library etc.

yeah those are all in the Village

Renard (Renard), Thursday, 6 April 2006 18:24 (twenty years ago)

virgin megastore sometimes has nice import finds.

phil-two (phil-two), Thursday, 6 April 2006 18:26 (twenty years ago)

as does Tower, where our own Sci-Fi Soul is in charge of them. after going to both Virgins looking for the Robyn album and coming up empty, i found four copies at Tower. (across the street from Other Music). i'm a whore for that little "Made in SWEDEN" sticker on the back.

Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Thursday, 6 April 2006 18:41 (twenty years ago)

yeah, the basement of Tower, which is bascially accross the street from Other Music, is a suprising find of super-hip import CDs.

Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Thursday, 6 April 2006 19:01 (twenty years ago)

I'd also recommend, foodwise, Saints Alp, also near Angel's Share, further north a couple blocks. Great bubble tea, tea eggs, deep-fried cuttlefish balls. I like that place a lot.

I do confess to being an ignoramus re most boroughs' restaurants. Flying back this past weekend from Seattle my seatmates were a couple women from Queens who were recommending lots of places there; I should have taken notes.

Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Thursday, 6 April 2006 19:05 (twenty years ago)

Saints Alp is a snacky place, btw, not one for serious meals, but definitely worth a visit.

Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Thursday, 6 April 2006 19:06 (twenty years ago)

My fave pizza I've had here is up on 81st and First or so--I forget the name, unfortunately. Quiet, rather large Italian restaurant, amazing thin crust pizza. I'll do some Googling.

Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Thursday, 6 April 2006 19:07 (twenty years ago)

haha got the address wrong! 94th & First. Francesca's is the place: http://www.menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaid=1&restaurantid=139&neighborhoodid=0&cuisineid=35

Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Thursday, 6 April 2006 19:10 (twenty years ago)

you're sure you don't mean Nick's?

gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 6 April 2006 19:13 (twenty years ago)

haha it has been a few years, so I might have it wrong. either way there's two options for ya.

Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Thursday, 6 April 2006 19:14 (twenty years ago)

http://www.galapagosartspace.com/events.html

Go see the thing a friend is producing, tonight and every friday in April. Musical jack and the Beanstalk, with puppets.

Ed (dali), Friday, 7 April 2006 04:59 (twenty years ago)

franz ferdinand is playing 2 shows. though im sure they're sold out, but there will probably be some big afterparty somewhere. clap your hands say yeah are doing 2 shows too somewhere, i forgot where.

phil-two (phil-two), Friday, 7 April 2006 05:01 (twenty years ago)

too bad youre not here on the 12th. im "djing" at happy ending, i think.

phil-two (phil-two), Friday, 7 April 2006 05:52 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, I noticed that CYHSY and Franz Ferdinand were playing that weekend, but I was kind of hoping some locally-known NY musicians might be worth checking out - we don't really want to pay covers for bands that come through Portland twice a year.

Sorry we'll miss your dj set on Wednesday night, Phil-two. We'll be red-eyeing it from Vegas that night.

darin (darin), Friday, 7 April 2006 07:29 (twenty years ago)

i'm not the best person to ask, but if you want local, or at least east coast, i second the cake shop nom. if you don't like what's there, go next door to piano's.

gabbneb (gabbneb), Friday, 7 April 2006 10:29 (twenty years ago)

local bands play at crash mansion all the time, as well.

more nyc cuisine: i fell in love with abbondanza's all over again this week, sandwich/pizza/salad joint on bleecker st. bw 6th and sullivan. not too pricey and absolutely delicious.

bar i like a lot: commonwealth in park slope.

joseph (joseph), Friday, 7 April 2006 11:21 (twenty years ago)

oh yeah, bars

in the Village I like WCOU Radio aka Tile Bar at 7th St and 1st Ave (friendly dive)
Hi-Fi at 11th and Ave A (mp3 juke with a zillion records)
d.b.a. at (I think) 3rd St and 1st Ave (big scotch & bourbon list)
Angel's Share already mentioned (intimate, great cocktails)

Renard (Renard), Friday, 7 April 2006 12:00 (twenty years ago)

I second Commonwealth, moreso on weeknights when it's not as mobbed (joseph, did you put a personal-ad parody on an index card in the back yet?).

Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 7 April 2006 12:44 (twenty years ago)

Just to clarify, Matos's suggestion is good, but Angel's Share is the bar that you get to through the restaurant that he descibed, which is called Village Yokocho--its up the stairs past St. Mark's Books. Both places are great.

if it's nice out I would recommend a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge from the Manhattan side to the Brooklyn side, pizza at Grimaldi's, then walk back

I second this suggestion, but try a water taxi back, which you can get at the Fulton Ferry Landing. There is also a great ice cream store here, if you want to up your caloric intake--Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory--it's in an old white builing.

For good Thai in Manhattan, I like Jaiya Thai at Third Avenue and 28th Street. (There's an original branch in Queens also.)

For Manhattan pizza, there is Lombardi's on Spring Street.

For delis, Katz's on East Houston is a classic. I can't believe 2nd Avenue Deli closed.

I would also recommened Chinatown for atmosphere--try walking down Mott street--you can also get bubble tea here, if you like.

Quiet bars? Defintely Angel Share, but be prepared to wait, especially on the weekend. Marion's on the Bowery is a good martini bar; they also have food, but it's not so great.The Scratcher on East 5th street is usually mellow--it's easy to pass the entrance though.

Have fun!

Mary (Mary), Saturday, 8 April 2006 02:52 (twenty years ago)


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