Out and about in NYC

[Marge_Simpson]

I've been to the Num Pang at Union Square, their sandwiches are delicious. They also have very tasty gazpacho.

mahn, Hudson Warehouse always puts on a terrific show, even if King Lear is not Shakespeare's most entertaining play.
The Soldier's and Sailor's monument is a perfect place for a picnic, so you might want to pick up dinner first and eat it there. And you should stop off at Rita's Italian Ice before or after you go, it's not far from there:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ritas-new-york

DustPuppy, you are plotting to make me fat.

[manhn]

Hmm, I'm gonna also have to check out the Chelsea Market--I'm a sucker for a public market. I would like to check out the Sports Center, but not sure if you need a membership or you can drop in. And I love me some discount shopping--Century 21! Never heard of it before, only as a real estate agency service.

http://www.c21stores.com/
http://chelseamarket.com/
http://www.chelseapiers.com/sc/

And as an Ugly Betty uber, I remember when the show moved its production to NYC and there was a scene with Betty and Marc at a NYC coffeeshop with these HOOOOOGE windows. I was, like, "Where is that?!?!?" I think I know where it is. It's Joe Coffee in the Morningside Heights neighbourhood. I'll be going there!

[Marge_Simpson]

Today's mission: visit the Arts and Design Museum, near Columbus Circle:
http://www.madmuseum.org/
My coworker kept berating me to visit, after i admitted I go into the gift shop all the time, but I've never paid admission and gone upstairs to see the exhibits. At any rate, I quite enjoyed the "Shangri-La" collection and the "Art of Scent" exhibit.

BTW, who advised me to check out Jacques Torres chocolate? Most likely DustPuppy, who is plotting to have me join Weight Watchers.
Anyway: I ate dinner with my friend, and we were planning to stop at Levain Bakery for dessert. But we passed a Jacques Torres first, so we went in to investigate. They were giving out samples of milk chocolate bark with hazelnuts and pistachios, which was heavenly, so we promptly decided to purchase some. Then we spotted the cookies, and decided to do a taste test: Jacques Torres chocolate mudslide vs. Levain's chocolate chocolate-chip.
Jacques Torres won.

[dinakt]

Today's mission: visit the Arts and Design Museum, near Columbus Circle:
http://www.madmuseum.org/
My coworker kept berating me to visit, after i admitted I go into the gift shop all the time, but I've never paid admission and gone upstairs to see the exhibits. At any rate, I quite enjoyed the "Shangri-La" collection and the "Art of Scent" exhibit.

BTW, who advised me to check out Jacques Torres chocolate? Most likely DustPuppy, who is plotting to have me join Weight Watchers.
Anyway: I ate dinner with my friend, and we were planning to stop at Levain Bakery for dessert. But we passed a Jacques Torres first, so we went in to investigate. They were giving out samples of milk chocolate bark with hazelnuts and pistachios, which was heavenly, so we promptly decided to purchase some. Then we spotted the cookies, and decided to do a taste test: Jacques Torres chocolate mudslide vs. Levain's chocolate chocolate-chip.
Jacques Torres won.

Thank you! Lots of info I can use here. Levain is my favorite destination stop ( bad for the waistline, but combined oh- so- well with a long walk in Central Park), but I've never tried Jacques Torres- now I'll have to.
Would you say Arts and Design museum is child- friendly? I'll be having my 8-year- old with me in NYC next week so I wonder if it's something he might like ( he has an artistic streak, but not for "old art"). I also heard that New Museum in Lower Manhattan is smth. to explore.

[Marge_Simpson]

Child-friendly: no, not really, although he might possibly enjoy the Doris Duke Shangri-La thing, if he's into home decor.
OTOH, you can see everything in there in less than an hour, so perhaps you could bribe him: accompany me to the museum without complaining, and I will buy you a throwdown wafel at the "Wafels and Dinges" cart. (It's parked right across the street, in front of the Time-Warner Center). Or promise a trip to the Central Park zoo, which is very close to the museum.

[dinakt]

Thanks! I'll go on my own later.

[DustPuppyOI]

BTW, who advised me to check out Jacques Torres chocolate? Most likely DustPuppy, who is plotting to have me join Weight Watchers.

Yup! Guilty as charged! (And not regretting it.) Evidence is here. I really hope you had the cookies heated so their a complete mess of melting chocolate.

Will probably be taking some out of town guests to l'Express tomorrow for breakfast based on recommendations in this thread. My guests like their coffee. Trying to figure out whether I should be heading to Petrossian to pick up their croissants or go to Balthazar and try for their chocolate babka as accompanying gifts.

[SaSherka]

Er, forgot to check in on this thread, but I've been in the city since yesterday. I may have some free time either before or after lunch tomorrow.
Throw me your must-do things around Columbus Circle / Lincoln Center (lunch/early and late dinner&drinks places are most welcome)

[Marge_Simpson]

If you like Mexican food, El Centro is fairly close by. The food is nice and so are the mojitos.
http://www.elcentro-nyc.com/menus.htm
Don't miss the Wafels and Dinges cart in front of the Time Warner Center. The "throwdown" wafel is a must!

[DustPuppyOI]

Heard that Rosa Mexicano is rather excellent (including their drinks) haven't been there myself though I trust my foodie friend's recommendation.
http://www.rosamexicano.com/newyorkc...location_id=14

Bouchon Bakery on the third floor has some non-dessert options.
http://bouchonbakery.com/

The Robert restaurant http://robertnyc.com/, within the nearby Museum of Arts and Design (http://www.madmuseum.org/visit), has good food and a great view too.

In terms of non-food:
* Metropolitan Opera small galleries (free) http://www.metoperafamily.org/metope...ery/about.aspx
* Met Opera Shop http://www.metoperashop.org/
* Shopping at the nearby C21 http://www.c21stores.com/lincoln-square/

[manhn]

Booked my flight and hotel. Staying at the Holiday Inn in the SoHo District (seems more like Chinatown--or Little Saigon, because it seems like a million Vietnamese places are next to the hotel--can't wait to try one of them out!) at a very reasonable rate (IMO).

Looking forward to checking out one of the Apple Stores that are open 24/7. Love that!

[barbk]

Today's mission: visit the Arts and Design Museum, near Columbus Circle:
http://www.madmuseum.org/
My coworker kept berating me to visit, after i admitted I go into the gift shop all the time, but I've never paid admission and gone upstairs to see the exhibits. At any rate, I quite enjoyed the "Shangri-La" collection and the "Art of Scent" exhibit.

BTW, who advised me to check out Jacques Torres chocolate? Most likely DustPuppy, who is plotting to have me join Weight Watchers.
Anyway: I ate dinner with my friend, and we were planning to stop at Levain Bakery for dessert. But we passed a Jacques Torres first, so we went in to investigate. They were giving out samples of milk chocolate bark with hazelnuts and pistachios, which was heavenly, so we promptly decided to purchase some. Then we spotted the cookies, and decided to do a taste test: Jacques Torres chocolate mudslide vs. Levain's chocolate chocolate-chip.
Jacques Torres won.

Ooh...we did this one afternoon. Pretty cool exhibit on Doris Duke and her Hawaiian home, and some cool glassware and constructions. I wasn't as happy with the perfume exhibit ..sticky my head into a cavity to sniff some perfume and then repeating that for fifteen(?) other scents was a bit of an overload. And the last one was really, truly a stinker. They also have a great gift shop.

[barbk]

The Mandarin lounge overlooking Columbus Circle/Central Park is awesome. Beer and wine was not ridiculously expensive, or at least it didn't have to be. We split some desserts. All very, very luxe, and views to die for.

[barbk]

Would you say Arts and Design museum is child- friendly? I'll be having my 8-year- old with me in NYC next week so I wonder if it's something he might like ( he has an artistic streak, but not for "old art"). I also heard that New Museum in Lower Manhattan is smth. to explore.

No on the Arts and Design museum. The two kids I saw when I was there seemed rather completely bored.

[Marge_Simpson]

barbk, I've put "have a drink at the Mandarin Lounge" on my bucket list.

mahn, your hotel IS in Chinatown. The Tribeca location of the 92nd Street Y is just a short walk from your hotel. The schedule is not available yet for the dates when you'll be here, but check their website when they update and see if there is something that interests you. I've gone to several lectures here and enjoyed myself each time.
http://www.92y.org/Tribeca/index.aspx

[Marge_Simpson]

Here's a website with FREE stuff to do in lower Manhattan. If you live or work in the area, check out the ice-carving on Friday. I saw the one they did near Bryant Park recently and was completely fascinated.
http://brookfieldplaceny.com/content...ate=2013-02-22

[DustPuppyOI]

Booked my flight and hotel. Staying at the Holiday Inn in the SoHo District (seems more like Chinatown--or Little Saigon, because it seems like a million Vietnamese places are next to the hotel--can't wait to try one of them out!) at a very reasonable rate (IMO).

Get thee to Nha Trang on Baxter for pho http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/nha-trang/
Banh Mi Saigon for sandwiches http://www.banhmisaigonnyc.com/

Chinese food options:
Xi'an Famous Foods http://www.xianfoods.com/
Joe's Shanghai http://www.joeshanghairestaurants.co...store_eng.html
Big Wong http://bigwongking.com/ Decent Chinese style BBQ (not the most spectacular), congee, noodles for cheap breakfast options - I think they're one of the few that open early
Fried Dumplings http://frieddumplingnyc.com/ ($1 for 5 potstickers, $1 for hot and sour soup) - limited seating
Tasty Dumplings http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/tasty-dumpling/ More options - limited seating
Fong Inn Too http://www.yelp.com/biz/fong-inn-too-new-york - go for the sweet tofu dessert soup (or however they translate it) and fried radish cakes and cheap soybean juice - no seating

ETA:

Of all the bakeries, go for Fay Da http://fayda.com/, http://www.yelp.com/biz/fay-da-bakery-new-york for overall selection. If you crave the flaky custard tarts, try for Lung Moon Bakery http://www.yelp.com/biz/lung-moon-bakery-ny-new-york.

Ten Ren Tea http://www.yelp.com/biz/lung-moon-bakery-ny-new-york is always reliable.

[BigB08822]

While in Chinatown we ate at a little place called The Best New York Noodle or something like that. It was very delicious and by far the cheapest meal we had in NYC.

[Marge_Simpson]

Canal Street is a madhouse on weekends: you have been warned!
If you are crafty, check out Pearl Paint, on Canal, near Broadway:
http://www.pearlpaint.com/

For souveniers, Asian snacks, silk fabric, decorating supplies, and cute/cheap stuff, check out Pearl River (no connection to Pearl Paint) on Broadway:
http://www.pearlriver.com/v2/index.html

Don't forget to check out the Big Onion's schedule, to see which walking tours will be on while you're here. The multi-ethnic eating tour, Chinatown, and Immigrant NYC tours are terrific and mainly take place in Chinatown and the Lower East Side.
http://www.bigonion.com/

The Museum of Chinese in America also runs walking tours, info here:
http://www.mocanyc.org/visit/tours/walking_tours

I like the restaurant Quartino, which is a short walk from your hotel:
http://www.quartino.com/

If you like rice pudding, be sure to visit Rice to Riches, also a short walk from your hotel:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/rice-to-riches-new-york

[Marge_Simpson]

While in Chinatown we ate at a little place called The Best New York Noodle or something like that. It was very delicious and by far the cheapest meal we had in NYC.

I think this may have been the place:


http://greatnynoodletown.com/

There are FREE tours of Grand Central and the nearby area every Friday afternoon:
http://www.grandcentralpartnership.o...gs-to-do/tours

I've never done this tour myself, but I've done other tours with Justin Ferate, who gives this tour. He's VERY knowledgable and enthusiastic about NYC. He doesn't have any public tours scheduled right now, but it's worth checking his website to see if he's got anything on:
http://www.justinsnewyork.com/index.html

There are FREE tours of Union Square every Saturday afternoon:
http://unionsquarenyc.org/park/walking-tour/255

Ice Theatre of NY is giving a free performance at Rockefeller Center next week:
http://www.icetheatre.org/calendar1.html