New York City Restaurant Week
Hello. It has been too long since I have reached out to all of you looking for activities here in New York City. While it is a little warn this time of the year, it is still a wonderful time to enjoy many of the options available to you in NYC.
Restaurant week goes from July 12 thru 25, 2010. There are almost 300 restaurants participating and you can find almost any cuisine in almost all New York neighborhoods.
In the West village you have SushiSamba & One if by Land, Two if by Sea to name a couple. Tribeca has Nobu and the Tribeca Grill as another example.
The deal is you can have a 3 course meal for $24.00 for lunch and $35.00 for dinner.
Enjoy.
Best New York Indie Shops
Couple Shopping in the historic SOHO district of New York City
You can find just about anything you want here in NYC, you just have to know where to go looking. During my New York Tours, I always recommend that my guests go off the beaten path when visiting New York City. One of my favorite areas is The Lower East Side. There, you can find such stores as Babel Fair, Gargyle & Kaight. These Indie boutiques offer the shopper items from all over the world such as floral frocks from Australia & designers Rachel Comey & Karen Walker.
If you venture into Brooklyn you can find such places in Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill as Mongo, featuring Indian Quilts. Olive’s very Vintage features laced gloves and hand dyed corsets and slips to name a few items.
Back to Manhattan, SOHO has numerous hot spots including Flight Club & Dunderdon, featuring Swedish apparel.
Look to future blog postings for additional locations to shop in New York City during your holiday.
Outdoor spots in New York City for a cocktail
When I travel, one of my favorite things to do is discover the neighborhoods of a city with a vibrant outdoor cafe scene. New York City is has a variety of locations for tourist and natives alike to enjoy wonderful neighborhoods such as Greenwich Village & the Meat Packing District to name a couple.
The Standard Beer Garden (848 Washington Street) has quickly become one of my favorite locations in New York to people watch, meet locals and travelers alike & enjoy a variety of great beers in a unique and attractive setting. You will thoroughly enjoy your time spent here and you are within steps of The High Line as well as The Meat Packing District, Chelsea and West Village destinations.
Another of my favorite areas is Macdougal and Bleecker Streets in Greenwich Village. This particular intersection is lined with outdoor cafes and restaurants and just steps from a variety of live music venues that line both streets. Great for New York City nightlife.
When visiting New York, these two locations are a must.
Short Term Apartment Rental when visiting New York
When visiting New York City and planning on staying for at least 3 nights, you may want to consider a short term apartment rental. The rentals come furnished, are often in good residential neighborhoods and typically will cost less then a hotel. You may find a place in SoHo, Greenwich Village or Chelsea to name a few. Some of these apartments can have wonderful views of the Empire State Building and the NY skyline if you are lucky. Not to mention with a full kitchen, you can also save of the cost of food so you do not have to eat out all of your meals.
A few companies to consider contacting for your NYC visit include the following:
Cyberrentals
Gamut Realty Group
City Sonnet
Manhattan Gateways
Metro-homes
I am sure there are several other companies servicing the tourism industry here in New York. The aforementioned are only a few suggestions. This is a great way to experience a neighborhood you may not otherwise visit and save some money in the process.
My Favorite New York Pizza
Like most native New Yorker’s we are passionate about our pizza. We all have our local favorites. I remember growing up, after a night out with ‘da boys, we would head to Nick’s Pizza on Gun Hill Road in the Bronx. The place never disappointed (yes there is a Gun Hill Road in the Bronx).
You can always tell someone from out of town when they order a pizza saying “can I have a slice with cheese.” A New Yorker would never order a slice “with cheese.” We just say, ” give me a slice.” It already has cheese.
Some of my personal favorites are lined up on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village. So when visiting New York City be sure to head to Bleecker between 6th & 7th Avenue.
Bleecker Street pizza on the corner on Bleecker Street & 7th Avenue is my personal favorite. I especially like their “square” as we call it.
Keste Pizza on Bleecker Between 6th & 7th serves wonderful individual pies. The place is cozy, narrow and often crowded. They offer a wonderful variety of selections.
There is always John’s on Bleecker which always is a safe bet. Do not be fooled by the “hole in the wall” feel of the place, the pizza is excellent.
Lastly, there is Joe’s Pizza at 7 Carmine Street, just off of Bleecker and 6th Avenue. Small place with a wonderful, classic, New York slice.
Free, Romantic things to do in NYC for Valentine’s Day
Enjoying a Central Park walk during the winter in NYC
One of my favorite things to do in New York is a walk through Central Park. If you have time to really venture well into the Park, some recommend locations include Bethesda Fountain, The Bow Bridge & The Ramble. True, you may get lost trying to find these locations, however, it just makes it that much more fun. If you are limited on time, simply entering the Park at the 59th Street and 5th Avenue entrance and going around the Gapstow Bridge and towards the Wollman rink creates some wonderful, romantic views (see attached photo).
A walk on the Brooklyn Heights Promenade is very romantic. Wonderful scenic views of the Manhattan skyline and The Brooklyn Bridge in the distance. Easily accessible by subway from Manhattan. While there you may want to walk towards Smith Street for a nice meal and dessert.
A walk on the Brooklyn Bridge is always a great activity. You do not need to walk all the way over, simply walking towards the middle between the arches makes for wonderful views and a romantic experience.
Just a few, free suggestions for spending your Valentines Day here in New York City.
New York City Karaoke bars
Enjoying the New York City nightlife is as an essential part to someones visit. While you should catch one of the many wonderful Broadway shows, and dine in the many delicious and culturally diverse restaurants NYC has to offer, you should not overlook the karaoke bars. They are very entertaining, especially after kicking back a few.
Some of my favorite include the following:
Wicket Willy’s
(149 Bleecker St between La Guardia Pl and Thompson St$1 per song) is not a proper karaoke bar—there are no private rooms—but it does host amateur performers Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at around 8pm.
Winnie’s
(104 Bayard St at Baxter St, $1 per song). If you want to get a taste of Chinatown’s “underground” karaoke scene, this place is for you. You may want to stop off at my favorite off the beaten path Chinese restaurant while you are there called Wo-Hop’s on Mott street; the place is a New York City dining institution, especially for night revelers.
Karaoke Kave
(9 E 13th St between Fifth Ave and University Pl.) Set in Greenwich village, not too far from NYU, great setting for Karaoke and you are well situated to continue your evening of dining and entertainment in NYC by going to either the West or East village.
Things to do in New York during the winter months
Couple enjoying walk in Times Square during winter months in New York
As the holiday’s are in the rear-view mirror, just wanted to give a few suggestions for things to do during the winter months in New York.
The New York Botanical Gardens offers a tropical rain forest.
Barneys Warehouse sale @ 255 West 17th Street offers their annual sale with 50% – 70% discounts.
The Grace Hotel 125 W. 45th Street offers a steam room, sauna & indoor pool for $10 all day.
NYC photos at the Museum of the City of New York. Images on view include photos from Stanley Kubrick, amongst others. Admission is $10, 5th Ave & 103rd Street.
The Grand Central Partnership sponsors a free 90-minute walking tour of Grand Central Terminal and the surrounding neighborhood, with the generous support of Altria Group. The tour meets in the Sculpture Court of the Whitney Museum at Altria on East 42nd Street across from Grand Central.
Restaurant Week in New York City
Just a reminder from us here at PhotoTrek Tours, restaurant week commences on January 25 and is scheduled to go until February 7. If history is any indicator, the promotion will probably be extended in order to accommodate as many tourist and New Yorkers alike who take advantage of the savings offered during this time.
Price fix lunches usually begin at $24.07 per person with dinners at $35.00 per person. The restaurants run the range in genres and neighborhoods. You can select a Greek place in Hell’s kitchen or a seafood restaurant on The Upper West side.
Whether you are sightseeing, honeymooning or just a local in NYC during restaurant week, you should take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.
New York City Jazz Clubs
When visiting New York City, I often encourage my guests to see live music. Often these venues are in Greenwich Village or the Lower East Side on NYC.
While you are walking around New York, you may miss these neighborhoods, so I thought I would list of few of my favorites:
Village Vanguard
178 Seventh Ave. South, 212-255-4037, West Village, Manhattan
Blue Note
131 W. 3rd St., 212-475-8592, West Village, Manhattan
Birdland
315 W. 44th St., 212-581-3080, Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan
Jazz at Lincoln Center
33 W. 60th St., 212-258-9800, Upper West Side, Manhattan
Iridium
1650 Broadway, 212-582-2121, Midtown West, Manhattan
Jazz Standard
116 E. 27th St., 212-576-2232, Gramercy, Manhattan
Smalls
183 W. 10th St., 212-252-5091, West Village, Manhattan
Arthur’s Tavern
57 Grove St., 212-675-6879, West Village, Manhattan