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Background
They don't come any bigger than the Big Apple - king of the hill, top of the heap, New York, New York. No other city is arrogant enough to dub itself Capital of the World and no other city could carry it off. New York is a densely packed mass of humanity - 8 million people in 309 sq miles (800sq km) - and all this living on top of one another makes the New Yorker a special kind of person. Although it's hard to put a finger on what makes New York buzz, it's the city's hyperactive rush that really draws people here. Come take a bite!
In a city that is so much a part of the global subconscious, it's pretty hard to pick a few highlights - wherever you go you'll feel like you've been there before. For iconic value, you can't surpass the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Central Park and Times Square. The Museum of Modern Art has to be one of the world's top museums, and the Guggenheim Museum and American Museum of Natural History aren't far behind. Bookshops, food, theater, shopping, people: it doesn't really matter what you do or where you go in New York because the city itself is an in-your-face, exhilarating experience.
New York is a country in itself, New Yorkers have a strong sense of patriotism towards the city especially after the 9/11. Each neighborhood has its unique identity. While you are in New York, be sure to soak up the various neighborhood and at least pretend you are New Yorker for one day.
Getting Here
New York city is served by 2 major international airports and 1 domestic airport. Newark International Airport (EWR) is about 15 miles outside of NYC, you can take a shuttle bus to the train station and the train will take you right into the city at Penn Station on 34th Street 15 min later. John F Kennedy Airport (JFK) is about the same distance. Train service into the city is not as convenient, but you could take a taxi (Fix price) or supershuttle outside of arrival hall. If you arrivel at the La Guardia Airport (LGA), taxi trip will cost you under $30 to most part of the city and Supershuttle cost about $15. If you have a choice, I would pick EWR not only the fare is less expensive and it is easier to get into the city.
Getting Around
New York City Subway is world famous, it has a very extensive network covering most of Manhattan and nearby city like Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. It opens 24 hours a day 365 day a year. A $4 unlimited ride pass is the best way to explore the city. It is good till 3am the next day and is good on all Subway and MTA City buses. Checkout MTA's website for system map. Of course if you would like to experience the famous NY Taxi, go ahead. Checkout www.nycsubway.org
20 Things to do:
1. Statue of Liberty: the most enduring symbol of New York City. It's a 354-step climb to the statue's crown, the equivalent of climbing a 22-story building, and if you want to tackle it, start early to avoid the crowds - it's hard to contemplate the American dream with your nose to the tail of the person in front.
2. Empire State Building: New York's original skyline symbol, the Empire State Building, is a limestone classic built in just 410 days during the depths of the Depression. Standing 102-stories and 1454ft (436m) above 5th Ave and 34th St, it's on the site of the original Waldorf-Astoria. The famous antenna was originally to be a mooring mast for zeppelins, but the Hindenberg disaster put a stop to that plan. One airship accidentally met up with the building: a B25 crashing into the 79th floor on a foggy day in July 1945, killing 14 people. Taking the ear-popping lift to the 86th or 102nd floor observation desks can entail a bit of waiting around, but it's worth it when you get there.
3. Central Park: A breath of fresh air in the concrete jungle. Tons of activities especially in the summer
4. Time Square: (42nd Street & Broadway) Hard to tell night from day in Time Square that was lit by millions of light bulbs. Visit shops, cinema, theatre in the area.
5. Metropolitan Museum of Art: One of New York's greatest museums as well as one of its most architecturally significant buildings, the Museum of Modern Art, 11 W 53rd St, has a first-rate collection and puts on important retrospectives each year. Known as 'MOMA,' the museum boasts a permanent collection of masterpieces including Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, Van Gogh's Starry Night and Piet Mondrian's Broadway Boogie-Woogie. Claude Monet's Water Lilies rates a whole gallery to itself. MOMA also has an outstanding photography collection and a very cool gift shop.
6. Other Museum: Museum of Modern Art (Temperory moved to Queens, Guggenheim Museum, Whitney Museum of American Art, Museum of Sex and Nature History Museum)
7. SoHo (South of Houston): is the city's leading area for art galleries, clothing stores and boutiques selling oh-so-precious curios.
8. Lincoln Square: Catch the New York City Ballet and of course, The Metropolitan Opera
9. House of Prayers: St. Patrick Cathedral, Riverside Church and St. John the Devine
10. Chelsea, TriBeca and Christopher Street are very gay friendly with many great restaurant and shops
11. East Village/ NYU: Like most college town, filled with great, afffordable eats, bars and funky shops
12. Lower Manhattan/Financial District: is never the same after 9/11. Still thousands of tourist stop by site where the World Trade Centre once stood. No doubt, it will one day become the main attraction again when the new buidling occupy the space.
13. Chinatown/Little Italy/ NoLiTa: You will find cheap/great eats of Chinese and Italian in this area. NoLiTa is the area to the North of LIttle Italy with great boutiques and galleries. You can continue to walk north to SoHo
14. Shopping: Macy's, Barney's, Bloomingdale, SoHo (High End Boutique and galleries), 5th Avenue, Garmet District (Affordable jeweries, fashion and perfume)
15. Ellis Island
16. The Cloister
17. Catch a Broadway show from the red hot La Boheim, to the flamboyance Hair Spray, take your pick.
18. Eat well. No other city offer as muny varieties and quality as the big appple (see restaurant below for my pick)
19. New York Public Library and JP Morgan Library
20. Brooklyn Bridge
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| Brooklyn Bridge |
Places to Eat
Midtown:
Carnegie Deli:Pastrami Sandwich, Chop liver, Matzo ball and Cheesecake.
854 Seventh Ave. (at 55th Street) New York City, 10019
Market Cafe: Great food, great price, great service. Best value in New York City.
496 9th Ave (@ 38th Street), New York, NY 10018
Downtown China town:
Any Chinese Restaurant in Chinatown. Any bakery in little Italy
Sullivan Street Bakery: Best bread in the city
73 Sullivan St. (@ Broome)
Blue Ribbon: Best late night dining. Creative menu Fondue, Beef Marrow, grilled sardine. Be there either early or late, 30min wait is a norn during regular dining hour.
97 Sullivan Street 1-212-274-0404
TriBeCa
Nobu: One of the best Japanese Restaurant outside of Japan
105 Hudson Street, New York NY 10013 1-212-219-0500
These are a few of my favourite, New York city offer a very exciting dining scene, it can be intimitating is you do not know the city well enough, checkout www.newyork.citysearch.com or www.nymetro.com for more info on dining in NYC.
Places to Party
Like San Francisco, New York City offers a variety of bars for everyone. Here are some of my favourites
Midtown:
1. The Web (58th & Madison): For Asian boys and their admirers. Best of Friday night after 11pm with drag show at 2am. Cover $8
2. Stella's (47th & 8 Ave): If you are a fan of Man of color, go-go boys take it off for you (except for Wed night). If someone strike up a conversation and you are interested in taking a step further, make sure u ask them if they cost $$
3. Posh (51th & 9 Ave): Neighborhood bar in Hell's Kitchen
Chelsea:
1. G (19th & 7 Ave) They are all dressed up.
2. XL (16th & 9 ave) Good drinks and cool bathroom
3. Barracuda (22nd & 8 ave) Retro glam where Chelsea boy hangs out, a diverse crowd
East Village:
1. The Cock (12th & A): Dark and sleaz
2. The Hole (2nd & 2nd Ave): Darker and sleazer
3. Urge Lounge (Next tp the Hole): Nice, warm atmostphere with private room. what's that for....?
West Village:
1. Stonewall (Christopher St @ Sheridan Sq): An institution, occasion porn-star show
2. Monster (80 Grove @ Sheridan Sq): Friendly Piano bar with separate dance floor downstair. Free Hors d' oeuvres on Sat evening
Dance Club:
SBNY (www.splashbar.com) (17th St & 6 Ave) The dance floor and boys are equally hot.
For best tips on party scene in New York, checkout the most popular gay weekly publication www.hx.com
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| St. Patrick Cathedral with Atlas in the fore ground |
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