Foo - Attractions and eating in New York

My wife and I are staying in New York for 3 days (May 6) before heading to Bermuda.

We are staying at the Comfort Inn 442 West 36th Street, Midtown.

We won't have a car or bicycles, but do not mind walking, taking cabs, subway or bus.

My wife is a vegetarian and I do not eat cow or pig.

Do you guys have any recommendations for attractions or places to eat?

I am also interested in visiting a bike shop and trail/outdoor shop. Any of the larger ones nearby that hotel?

We are planning to visit the more common tourist hits, such as;
Twin Tower memorial
Statute of Liberty
Empire State Buulding

We were also told that BLT Burger located at 470 6th st has amazing milkshakes.

Thanks!

Digger

I guess Grays Papaya is out!

Send a PM to Pgoat or MrCrassic, two city residents that I can think of off hand.

Take the Circle Line, you'll find out more about NYC and Manhattan in three hours than you though would be possible. Times Square, China Town, Little Italy all have good places to eat and shop. MOMA, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Natural History are good ways to spend an afternoon. Like beer? Try the Peculiar Pub in the Greenwich Village. If you do get to the Statue of Liberty, also go to Ellis Island, no make that don't miss Ellis Island. Like History? Federal Hall on Wall St. is where George Washington was sworn in. Be prepared, there is heavy security on Wall St by the NYSE. Broadway?, go to TKTS to see what you can get. Oh yea, have pizza, pretty much anywhere will be good. And if you want real adventure, try a hot dog on the street.

Try to break down your trip into neighborhoods so you don't spend your whole day riding the train or taking cabs back and forth.

For example:
Day 1: Statue of Liberty > WTC > lunch @ Chinatown > SoHo > dinner @ Greenwich Village
etc.

Thanks to things like Google Maps, you can pretty much visit NY without visiting NY.

There are a lot of things to check out in the outer boroughs as well (Bronx Zoo, Brooklyn Botanical Garden, etc. etc.) but due to your time constraints, and especially if this is your first time here, I can understand why you want to see what you do.

These are my recommendations (for Manhattan):

FOOD:
Beer: Blind Tiger Ale House - 281 Bleeker Street http://www.blindtigeralehouse.com/

Pizza: John's Pizzeria - 278 Bleeker Street http://www.johnsbrickovenpizza.com/ (not sure if this counts as vegetarian; they have a really good house salad though and pasta dishes)

Shakes/Burgers: Shake Shack - Madison & E23d. http://shakeshack.com/ (close to your hotel)

BIKE SHOPS (both are pretty high-end):
http://www.conradsbikeshop.com/
http://www.sidsbikes.com/ (pretty close to your hotel)

There are some great vegetarian restaurants in NYC.

http://www.happycow.net/north_america/usa/new_york/new_york_city/

Check out bike maps here (http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/bicyclists/bikemaps.shtml): Click on the "Front" PDF download, look for the little red bicycle icons for bike shops that rent (the names of the shops correspond to the number of each icon, located on the back of the map). You'll be near "Bike and Roll" and "Enoch's" is right near the greenbelt path that goes along the Hudson River; you can go all the way uptown along the river and then back down to Battery Park...it's gorgeous watching the sunset along there in May:)

If you venture far from the end point and get tired, you can always walk or ride the bikes a few blocks over to the subway and bring them onto the train and get a lift back to 34th street; but NYC is so flat and easy to bike that you should be fine; there are lots of bike paths now. Having said that make sure you wear a helmet and ride carefully. And while the warnings about safety/theft, etc. here are often over dramatized, do not leave bikes unattended without a lock that weighs as much as you do.:p

The blue subway lines (E & C) will be your friend along 8th ave to get up and down town. If you go down along west 4th and just stroll you're sure to find something good to do and eat.

There's a hummus place on St. Mark's Place between 1st Ave. and Ave. A.....Cafe Blossom on Columbus Ave. between 82nd and 83rd street is a vegan place that's pretty good; Angelica's should be fine, those are on the list Ms. Incredible provided, you should be fine with any of those.

Nothing beats a hot dog with mustard and a pretzel and a coke from a street vendor in Midtown.

Just sayin'.

As a NJ resident I am much more excited for your bermuda trip than NYC ;) But do enjoy the time off at both stops.

Annoying website but cool little place and some most awesome donuts - made sure I went there - featured on the food channel btw - oh and Italian Plum donut - SUPERB.

Did a cruise around the harbor - it was quite nice. Surprising was some artwork by and artist who did "waterfalls" under many of the bridges at that time (last year). Enjoy! I had a great time there!

http://www.doughnutplant.com/

<edit> Oh, and I most unfortunately forgot about the other forumites whom I met there. They rock!

Hey, I just saw that feature on those doughnuts...I wants to try 'em


Be sure & give us a yell when you and the furniture man get back over here:thumb:

No cow or pig, huh? What the hell do you eat? Gyro's? Filet-O-Fish from McDonald's? You inquire about all the great places in NYC and you want the masses to rule out meat?

I love, love, love this place, but it's so far from home! Vegetarian dishes are fantastic!

http://www.10best.com/New_York,NY/Restaurants/Indian/44286/Vatan_New_York_NY/

No cow or pig, huh? What the hell do you eat? Gyro's? Filet-O-Fish from McDonald's? You inquire about all the great places in NYC and you want the masses to rule out meat?

:rolleyes:

here are a few of my favorite veg- or veg- friendly restaurants to consider:
Blossom= 9th ave b/w 21st & 22nd www.blossomnyc.com
Souen= 3 locations http://souen.net/
Caravan of Dreams= 6th St. b/w/ 1st & A www.caravanofdreams.net
Siggy's Good Food= Henry b/w Pineapple & Orange, Brooklyn Heights www.siggysgoodfood.com

Enjoy!

Hey, I just saw that feature on those doughnuts...I wants to try 'em


Be sure & give us a yell when you and the furniture man get back over here:thumb:

Sure will! btw - the Doughnut Plant is a little place too - I loved the Italian Prune. The other guy (who shall not be mentioned hehe - who was with us and lives there - went back recently and sent back his reviews - and he loved this lemon donut that was featured now - I love the innovation).

This year is pretty much used up for traveling back and forth to Pitts - plus Cleveland this next weekend to meet up with him - but we want to hit NYC - who knows - but I'll definitely keep you informed when Couch and Tude land again in NYC! Oh and I have even more places I want to go - darn food channel! :)

Oh and I sent "he who shall not be named" to another food channel listing in NYC - $35 hamburger - made with Angus beef, a most aweome cheese and on a brioche bun, with carmalized onions. Looked good on TV (didn't know how expensive it was) , and he said it was superb, however that was a one time $35 cheeseburger.

Darn food channel :D

so much food, so little vaca time....

I'm veggie, but still found plenty to like about the landmark Katz's Deli (http://www.katzdeli.com/).

from the menu

Bagel and Cream Cheese 3.25
at least you should ask for tomato
A NY experience not to be missed.

My wife and I are staying in New York for 3 days (May 6) before heading to Bermuda.

We are staying at the Comfort Inn 442 West 36th Street, Midtown.

We won't have a car or bicycles, but do not mind walking, taking cabs, subway or bus.

My wife is a vegetarian and I do not eat cow or pig.

Do you guys have any recommendations for attractions or places to eat?

I am also interested in visiting a bike shop and trail/outdoor shop. Any of the larger ones nearby that hotel?

We are planning to visit the more common tourist hits, such as;
Twin Tower memorial
Statute of Liberty
Empire State Buulding

We were also told that BLT Burger located at 470 6th st has amazing milkshakes.

Thanks!

Digger

don't bother.

Take the Circle Line, you'll find out more about NYC and Manhattan in three hours than you though would be possible. Times Square, China Town, Little Italy all have good places to eat and shop. MOMA, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Natural History are good ways to spend an afternoon. Like beer? Try the Peculiar Pub in the Greenwich Village. If you do get to the Statue of Liberty, also go to Ellis Island, no make that don't miss Ellis Island. Like History? Federal Hall on Wall St. is where George Washington was sworn in. Be prepared, there is heavy security on Wall St by the NYSE. Broadway?, go to TKTS to see what you can get. Oh yea, have pizza, pretty much anywhere will be good. And if you want real adventure, try a hot dog on the street.

correct, and read the fine print at the Met and the Natural History Museum: the admission prices are suggested, pay what you wish.

this is not the case at MOMA.



Pizza: John's Pizzeria - 278 Bleeker Street http://www.johnsbrickovenpizza.com/ (not sure if this counts as vegetarian; they have a really good house salad though and pasta dishes)

no love for lombardi's? it's not New Haven pizza, but it's not bad for manhattan.


There are some great vegetarian restaurants in NYC.

http://www.happycow.net/north_a merica/usa/new_york/new_york_city/

correct.



Souen= 3 locations http://souen.net/

exactly.

Once in New York I was told of some architecture tour of Manhattan offered by a university.. Seems it was the City University school of architecture... ?. . It was highly recommended.. I did not have time... I can imagine Woody Allen being the guide... If I had a chance to return to New York City , I'd make time..

The Metropolitan Museum and the Museum of Natural History will both take the better part of two days each at least. There's also lots of other less famous, but just as good museums to go to. Check out nycgo.com.

IMO, Lombardi's gets the nod over Johns on Bleecker. Further uptown is Patsy's which pwns them both. For other food recs, search the Manhattan and Outer Boroughs board at chowhound. The same question gets asked all the time so plenty of threads to help you out.