Out and about in NYC

[Marge_Simpson]

The Merchant's House Museum is another favorite place of mine:
http://merchantshouse.org/
It's another NYC place that is rumored to be haunted. But unlike St. Mark's, there is serious evidence to back this up. Definitely visit when they are giving a guided tour, the volunteers who run the tours are passionate about the building and you'll learn a lot more than you would if you tour the building on your own.
I took one of the candlelight ghost tours here in October, and it was seriously spooky. (although we did not encounter any actual ghosts) At the end of the tour we could enter a raffle: the winner would get to spend a night in the house with some psychic researchers who were going to try to make contact with the resident ghost.

[ioana]

I tool one of the candlelight ghost tours here in October, and it was seriously spooky. (although we did not encounter any actual ghosts) At the end of the tour we could enter a raffle: the winner would get to spend a night in the house with some psychic researchers who were going to try to make contact with the resident ghost.

And you didn't jump on the opportunity to sign up for that?

[Marge_Simpson]

Err, no....I'd probably scream my head off if I saw a real ghost.
There were a bunch of young guys on my tour, though, who practically tripped over each other in their rush to enter the raffle.

[ioana]

Well, last one to sign up would be the biggest baby . This is good to know in case I ever end up spending Halloween in NY, though.

[Marge_Simpson]

Another cool place, the Morgan Library:

http://www.themorgan.org/home.asp

I haven't been here in awhile, but I'm planning to go this weekend to see the Beatrix Potter exhibit. This place is a must-see for book lovers; you will positively drool over
Pierpont Morgan's library. I itch to open the books and have a good look, but alas, they are all under lock and key. The gift shop is pretty cool, too.
Anytime I've been here, there are volunteers cruising the lobby and asking visitors to take a short survey. Definitely do this if they ask you, they will give you a coupon for a free admission.

Last January I did something I'd wanted to do for ages: take part in the No-Pants Subway Ride.
It was a hoot. I'm going to do it again this year as I happen to be off that day. Info here, for anyone who would like to take part:
http://improveverywhere.com/2012/12/...way-ride-2013/

[Marge_Simpson]

Yet another great place, close to Bryant Park:
http://www.icp.org/

They have a great gift shop, and if you want to save money, go on Friday eves when it's pay what you like. If you are interested in photography, the school has dozens of classes at any given time. If you visit during December, you should check out the skating rink and the holiday fair in Bryant Park. I am especially enamored of this place, which has a booth in the park:
http://www.wafelsanddinges.com/
The "throwdown wafel" is divine.

[Marge_Simpson]

The Trocks will be at the Joyce Theatre from 12/18 till 1/6. They are hysterically funny and everyone should see them at least once. Info here:
http://www.joyce.org/

If you've never heard of the Trocks, this will give you an idea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23MdOu9nm4I

[Evilynn]

I'm so going to print out this entire thread the next time I go to NYC.

[Marge_Simpson]

Cool! Maybe I will have to organize a "NYC Dessert" tour.

Any crafty people here? I've got some links for you.

Want to learn how to sew? I took classes here several years ago and can't recommend them highly ehough:
http://www.lovesewing.com/Default.as...ng.com/newyork

If you quilt, embroider, or knit, check out this fabulous shop in SoHo. They also have classes:
http://www.purlsoho.com/purl

This place is a quilter's paradise, and they have tons of classes, too:
http://www.cityquilter.com/


Want to hit up the garment district, but aren't sure where to start? This blog can help you out:
http://www.shopthegarmentdistrict.com/

Looking for ribbon, lace, rhinestones? This place is a trimming Mecca, and the website only has a fraction of what's available in the store:
http://www.mjtrim.com/

Are you seriously into buttons? This place is more like a museum than a retail store, and it's fun to browse here even if you don't plan to buy anything:
http://tenderbuttons-nyc.com/

NYC has a Michael's, at Columbus and 100th St.:
http://www.michaels.com/

Do you make jewelry? You'll want to hit up the bead shops, which are all in the same area, 6th Avenue between 35th and 38th Street. This place is a favorite of mine:
http://www.j-genuine.com/

[Marge_Simpson]

Some fun things to do in NYC this month, many of them free, most of them off-beat:
http://www.timeout.com/newyork/thing...-december-2012

My coworker and I are going to participate in the "Unsilent Night"

[oleada]

My friends and I are doing SantaCon this year. Great excuse to be silly and drink for a good cause

[Marge_Simpson]

I'd love to do SantaCon, but I don't have a costume. (I do have a pair of jingly reindeer antlers. I wear them to work on Christmas eve. And Christmas day if I am stuck working then. )
I will have to be satisfied with donating some food.

Tonight I dragged my friend to the Lower East Side so we could have dinner here:
http://www.sanmarzanonyc.com/
Those of you in Secret Sources may remember that I recommended this place to someone for their wedding rehearsal dinner, which is taking place this month. Naturally, I felt obligated to visit this place again to be sure they are still up to par.
They are. I had the pomodoro pizza, which was really nice. My friend had the octopus salad. She swore it was delicious, but I wouldn't eat octopus on a bet so I had to take her word for it. We shared a bottle of wine, which caused us to throw caution to the wind and order dessert. The tiramisu is divine.

Before we had dinner we stopped off at this gallery, because I wanted to see the photos of NYC Ballet:
http://www.foleygallery.com/home
They have some really nice photos on display, but there are only about 20 of them. So I wouldn't rush down to see this unless you're a real NYCB fanatic. However, it's free, so if you happen to be in the area you might as well take a look.

After dinner we went for a stroll (we needed to sober up!) and my friend insisted on going inside this shop, even though the smell of fish makes me want to heave:
http://www.russanddaughters.com/
The place has been there for about 100 years. If you like smoked fishy things, this is the place for you!

Something really cool happened when we got to GSC to get the train home. A flash mob turned up out of nowhere and began to sing Christmas carols. They were so good, we decided to take a later train so we could hang out and listen.

BTW: Has anyone been to the Chelsea Clearview to see Rocky Horror?
When I was in college (this was way back in the dark ages, of course) a whole pack of us used to go see it in Brooklyn fairly often. Every time I pass the Clearview I wonder if I should try it again. I imagine all the lines have changed, but probably the props are the same?
Please advise!

[DustPuppyOI]

Whoo! to those doing SantaCon. I was giving a friend a tour of NYC and we were in the midst of the NYU campus when we were faced with er... extremely ruddy faced Santas. I pity the parent who has to explain to their kids why there are so many Santas in various states of sobriety.

Anyways, if you're by the NYU campus, I'd recommend at least sticking your head into The Chess Shop: http://www.chess-shop.com/
At least gawk at the variety of chessboards in the window.

For those mentioning delis, I've got a friend who swears by 2nd Ave Deli (no longer on 2nd) though I hear many people prefer Katz's. http://www.2ndavedeli.com/

I haven't gotten to the Morgan, but I like The Frick http://www.frick.org/visit/museum, http://www.frick.org/visit/museum/admission
On Sundays, it's pay what you wish from 11AM to 1PM.

My other favourite small museum is The Noguchi Museum in Long Island City: http://www.noguchi.org/
Nearby is the Socrates Sculpture Museum: http://www.socratessculpturepark.org/

For those into music, definitely check out Steinway Pianos http://www.steinwayshowrooms.com/steinway-hall

For those into farmer's markets and other artisanal type food, here's a handy reference to the Green Markets around NYC: http://www.grownyc.org/ourmarkets

Out of curiosity, has anyone gotten to displays or performances at the Park Avenue Armory? http://www.armoryonpark.org/
Or St. Mark's Church in the Bowery? http://stmarksbowery.org/art-partners.html

[Marge_Simpson]

Another Frick fan here.

I've never gone to the Armory (I'm adding it to my bucket list, though) but I've gone to dance performances at St Mark's, although not recently. I've also attended the New Year's day poetry marathon. (Unfortunately can't do it this year as I'm working that day)

I still need advice about the Rocky Horror Show....should I go?

I love this "Forgotten NYC" website:
http://forgotten-ny.com/
They run walking tours fairly often (I recently did their GreenWood cemetary tour) but you need to check the website from time to time to see if they have anything scheduled. Their book is a really good read.

I went to a wine tasting at the Chelsea Wine Vault last year (because I had "attend a wine tasting" on my bucket list):
http://www.chelseawinevault.com/
The Wine Vault is in the Chelsea Market, which has some nice shops - and several bakeries
http://chelseamarket.com/

[BigB08822]

We were in NYC a few years back and saw TONS of Santas walking around. That must have been during SantaCon. lol

[DustPuppyOI]

The Wine Vault is in the Chelsea Market, which has some nice shops - and several bakeries
http://chelseamarket.com/

No clue about the Rocky Horror Picture show but another thing to check off my list is to have a sandwich at Bower Kitchen Supplies: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/forkin...i_3.php?page=4

[ioana]

The Wine Vault is in the Chelsea Market, which has some nice shops - and several bakeries
http://chelseamarket.com/

I highly recommend Fat Witch brownies http://www.fatwitch.com/index.html#replay while in Chelsea Market. And Dickson farmstands has some good sandwiches, as well --or just go for their hot dog with kimchi. http://www.dicksonsfarmstand.com/

[Marge_Simpson]

As long as you mentioned sandwiches..........
I found this place, near Union Square, by accident. There was a line out on the sidewalk, and being of a nosy persuasian, I went to see what everyone was lining up to buy. It's a hole-in-the-wall place that does Cambodian sandwiches. They are GOOD.
http://www.numpangnyc.com/

I also like Tiny's Giant Sandwiches on the LES. I recommened the Big Mack Daddy.

http://tinysgiantnyc.tumblr.com/

[Marge_Simpson]

NYC trivia: We have a Venetian gondola in Central Park. The gondolier even has a blog:
http://www.centralparkgondolier.blogspot.com/

Everyone knows about our Lenin statue, right? He can be found on the roof of a building called "Red Square"
http://artnerdnewyork.tumblr.com/post/1413180548

I was off tonight and went to a free talk at the NYPL, which has tons of events and classes. Info can be found here:
http://www.nypl.org/

The talk I heard was an author flogging his book, "Up On the Roof". He was a good speaker and showed dozens of photos from the book. Quite interesting! I didn't buy a copy there because they only had one display copy and some old hag was hogging it and not letting anyone else get a peek. When I got home I checked if Amazon had it and promptly put it on my wish list. (maybe it will turn up under my Christmas tree)
http://www.amazon.com/Up-Roof-Hidden...skyline+spaces

When I came out of the library I stopped off in Bryant Park to buy a "throwdown wafel" (link in a previous post) and was approached by several men, asking if I was Jewish. Which could only mean the "Mitzvah Tank" was parked nearby. I'm sure most New Yorkers have come across it at one time or another. I'm not Jewish, and I certainly wouldn't pretend I was so that I could get inside their truck.
But does anyone know exactly what's in there? And what goes on inside? Inquiring minds want to know!
http://www.mitzvahtank.com/templates...h/Schedule.htm

[Marge_Simpson]

A former favorite place of mine, the Forbes Gallery:
http://www.forbesgalleries.com/

Why "former"? Well, they used to have the largest collection of Faberge Easter eggs, and I came here many times to ogle them. But several years ago they sent them back to Russia.
However, entrance is free and they change the exhibits all the time. So if they have something that catches your eye, you may as well stop in and have a look.

If you're in that area, I suggest stopping in for a bite at Max Brenner:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/max-brenner-new-york
They serve regular food, which is perfectly tasty, but I'd scratch that and just get dessert. I am a big fan of the Mexican hot chocolate.
One of my many fantasies is to go here with a large group and order ALL the desserts.