ciaony

Solid recommendations here.
SoHo resident. NYC born and raised.

IMDonehere

Jing Fong has dim sum daily. It is a zoo on weekends and best to avoid then. It is also a wedding palace with almost 800 seats. Do not forget to go the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory for dessert.

The original Junior's is in Brooklyn and predates the one in TS, by about 45 years.

The best knishes in Manhattan are at Zabar's.

IMDonehere

Veselka can be inconsistent. There was a period, when we would not go, but it is on the upswing again. For years it was neighborhood hangout and the regulars had their likenesses painted on the walls. They had a curious backroom that only held 4,5 people, but was razed when they renovated. And it was cheap, even for the times. Today they still have many items that made them famous, but they also got a little frau frau. It is a zoo on weekends.

girlonthego

Love hearing the recommendations for good knishes! My mom has been dying for a good knish so we may have to go up to NYC and make a trip of it.

I agree Juniors is a great cheesecake, but they also make fabulous huge sandwiches. Enjoyed lunch there last fall before a matinee.

I don't care for Times Sq except to see the shows.

I love the neighborhoods in the city. I like dining at the little place on the side street that the locals dine in, not the famous places. I find the famous places are usually over priced and the food mediocre. Give me a restaurant with 10 tables tucked in a side street and you will get great food.

Favorite hotel to stay is the Hotel Elysee. Have enjoyed staying there the last few years. It is reasonably priced for NY standards, is small, includes breakfast and a glass of wine or two before dinner. Accommodations are decent. Hotel has a lot of history. Monkey bar next door makes a nice cocktail. Has a couple of good restaurants right on the block and is close enough to everything in midtown, but removed enough as well.

Favorite things to do: see a show, shop, have cocktails in nice fancy places, go to Central Park in the summer and Rockefeller Center in the winter, say a prayer at St Patricks Cathedral, eat a slice of good pizza, have a good deli sandwich, have decent Italian food, listen to music in a club, the list is endless really. Always so much to do and see in NYC!

tuscanlifeedit

I go first for the ballet and second to see my brother.

Restaurant: Russ and Daughters. I can't miss this on any trip to NYC.
Store: Kee's Chocolates and The Strand.
Place: we were married at the Duck Pond in Central Park, so we always stop there. Lincoln Center of course.

Nice thread.

annhig

just checking in to pick up some tips for my first ever visit to NYC in September, so thanks all for your contributions, and to Starrs for starting the thread.

It might have been made for me!

starrs

It was!

Not really, but glad you may find it helpful!

Re tuscan's suggestion of Russ & Daughters - I love it too, especially the dried apricots dipped in chocolate.
Love Economy candy.
Loved seeing the Pickle Guys' store.
I love the movie, Crossing Delancy, and enjoyed exploring that area of the city. A local Fodorite took me on a great tour a few years back. A wonderful day!

I like attending Middle Collegiate Church and was there for their jazz concert on New Years Eve last year -
https://www.middlechurch.org/

On the UWS, there's an upcoming event at St. Paul and St. Andrew -
"In commemoration of World Pride 2019 and Stonewall 50, the Out of Darkness Coalition will display eight AIDS Memorial Quilts at St. Paul & St. Andrew from Sunday, June 23 through Sunday, June 30."
https://stpaulandstandrew.org/event/...ay/2019-06-24/

5alive

Great thread.

I don't go to New York all the time (I wish I did) but the Met and Central Park are both a must. I gotta say, we loved economy candy. And I found Delancey Street. But not all the haunts in the movie. Jealous.

​​Really nice that the AIDS quilts are being displayed. I wondered what became of them all. I went to an event where they were putting together the squares of an AIDS quilt, a long time ago.

Vttraveler

annhig--there are lots of places in NYC I really like and would recommend for a first-time visit but as I said very few places I would go every time I am in the city. I could send you an email.

Bitter

I'm not particularly experienced, as January was my first trip there in decades.

I would like to have Prince Street Pizza again.

I didn't really shop.

The Met.

gardendiva

On the UWS, there's an upcoming event at St. Paul and St. Andrew -
"In commemoration of World Pride 2019 and Stonewall 50, the Out of Darkness Coalition will display eight AIDS Memorial Quilts at St. Paul & St. Andrew from Sunday, June 23 through Sunday, June 30."
https://stpaulandstandrew.org/event/...ay/2019-06-24/

Wow, what an experience. I was one of the organizers of our local AIDS Walk. Every year The Names Project would bring several quilts to display. Every year it was such a moving part of out day.

annhig

annhig--there are lots of places in NYC I really like and would recommend for a first-time visit but as I said very few places I would go every time I am in the city. I could send you an email.>>

Thanks VT, I should love to read your thoughts.

Starrs - thanks for your ideas too. Keep them coming!

annhig

Thans, Fanila!

starrs

annhig, I'm glad it's been helpful. I'll add more of my favorites later.

annhig

thanks, Starrs. Not too much mind, as my brain will overload!

Cringo

Restaurant = Victor's Cafe
Location = Metropolitan Museum of Art

annhig

Thank you Cringo. What do you like about Victor's, and what especially at the Met?

millie2112

I have been to NYC 3 times.. It is about as far from Melbourne Australia as you can get, so it is a bit of a trek for me.
My son has been living in NYC for 18 months now, so about to do NYC for the 4th time at the end of the year.
this thread has been good because I am not really a fan of NYC. I really wanted to be, but on my last visit I found it to be looking a bit tired. Or maybe it was the weather because we really only had one sunny day in the 8 days we were there. It was always overcast.

However, having said that, the things most enjoyable about NYC are:
Central Park. always beautiful and I love the squirrels.
The Met. Will always spend a day there.

Veselka. We went there on a cold October night last year and it was packed full of people. Food was OK. (I would not rush back). There were huge lines outside waiting for tables. I wondered why it was so busy and on the way home i found out. Sitting on Qantas flight NYC to LA I watched Oceans 13 with Sandra Bullock. There was a scene where she was sitting in Veselka eating with Cate Blanchett. So now the long lines make sense.