Eating Challenge
 

I know that a lot of you like a challenge...so I am bringing My dad (72 Irish living in London for past 50 years) along with my Mum (70) Sister and Niece (12) to NYC week prior to Christmas

My Dad LOVES history - anything to do with movies - gansters - Kennedys - Music - John Wayne - any places in NYC to eat that have history attached? no fussy eaters in our groud and as for budget Hay we are holidays and their loving son is more interested in making memories... suggestions to must dos! (outside the norm) most welcome! BTW reason for stating ages is that my poor mum finds it a bit hard to get about so no jogging tours of Central Park! :)

I look forward to reading the suggestions!

Rgds from a Stormy London!

John

This sounds like something for chowhound.com's Manhattan message board.

Yes try chowhound for restaurants like Susie suggested. Carnegie Deli comes to mind...Sardi's (is it still there?) You are a good son for bringing your mum & dad with you IMO :-). Also there is a LOT of info here on NYC,,,try a search to see what's happening.

Lot of history here everywhere, of course not in comparison to England, heck we've only been around for a couple hundred years.

I would suggest The TAvern on the corner of 18th and University, as a good eats place. The history part is that it was a favorite place for O'Henry, he sat right in the window overlooking the street and wrote some of his short stories.

Of course the Met Museum, some wonderful exhibits there, and the Museum of Natural History. My favorite musuem in the city is the Cloisters, which is part of the Met and is on the uppest west side of Manhattan, with a beautiful view of the Hudson River, you won't know you are still in the city, and there are some wonderful things to see there.

You might enjoy Tavern on the Green, ok food and beautiful views of the garden and Central Park, certainly worth a visit once. You will have to make reservations in advance there during the holiday season, so you might try making them very soon.

The city will be all decked out, and there could be snow, and probably at least some ice, so bring comfortable shoes with some traction.

Your Dad would feel very at home at Abby Tavern on 3rd Ave and 25th St, the owner is Irish, and they serve all of his favorites there, it would be a taste of home. We have lots of good pubs all over the city.

You might get a Zagat guide to the restaurants in the city, so you won't have to look far where ever you might be for a good restaurant.

Have a great time and enjoy the city.

I was going to start with the same caveat as wantsomesun. Our history can't compare with England or Ireland(and we weren't very good about saving things until recently) but still, some more thoughts.

The Zagat guide mentioned by wantsomesun lists some 30-40 historic restaurants. I agree it would be a worthwhile investment. You can also pay to have a look online. A few highlights, starting in chronological order with One if by Land two if By Sea -1726. It's considered one of the more romantic spots and the building was actually Aaron Burr's (of duel with Alexander Hamilton fame) carriage house. It's pricey and there are always debates about whether it's worth it. I think your folks will love it.

Next is Fraunces Tavern where George Washington said goodbye to his troups. It's all the way downtown and might make a good place for lunch if you're doing sightseeing down there.

The place on 18th st wantsomesun mentioned is Pete's Tavern. The White Horse Tavern circa 1880 is where Dylan Thomas drank.

Skipping a few decades, the 21 Club was a real speakeasy during prohibition and the bar area, where you can also eat, is filled with memorabilia from famous clients including many actors.

For history, if he's interested in the immigration story of the US, you must go to Ellis Island to the immigration museum and see what our ancestors endured to come here. You should also try to get tickets for the Statue of Liberty on their website now. The Tenement museum, also downtown is another important part of the immigration story and different tours can be booked online. The Museum of the City of NY has some good exhibits too. Here's some info about the Irish in NY

http://www.mcny.org/Exhibitions/Irish/irish.htm

Take a walk through Rockefeller Center (or take a tour). One of my favorite stories there is about the mural that Diego Rivera was commissioned to do. (This episode is depicted in the movie Frida) Here's the story and some great photos

http://www.thecityreview.com/rock.html

As to the Kennedys, the legacy of Jacqueline is everywhere. She helped save Grand Central Station when it was to be demolished. While I won't send you jogging, the reservoir in Central Park where she and many others jog is now named for her.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/press/03-52pr.html

As far as movies, there are websites that will tell you where scenes were shot. Here's one such

http://www.easynewyorkcity.com/movielocations.htm

The Plaza Hotel has been featured in many movies from "The Way We Were" to "Home Alone."

You should certainly make a trip to Little Italy.

BTW, there's a nice pub called Kennedy's on west 57th that I like.

For music, you haven't said what sort and there's great music everywhere, especially at Christmas time. If he likes big bands, I will suggest you go to Birdland on a Friday afternoon at 5:30 when Lew Anderson's band plays. He'll be in seventh heaven.

http://www.birdlandjazz.com/main.html

Forgot about Lansky's Lounge on the lower east sidem Meyer Lansky's old speakeasy hang out. I hear the food is not bad and it's like a nightclub.

Too bad Grange Hall closed in the Village..but you can go to the White Horse Tavern, 567 Hudson Street,
PJ Clarks 915 3rd Ave (they have been around for the past 120 something years)
All over the Lower East side and Little Italy.
Don't forget tea or just drinks at the Plaza, wonderful hotel, lots of history plus quite a few films have been made there.
Lincoln Center, see if you can take them on a tour of the Opera House.
Same with Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall.
If anyone feels a bit homesick, go straight to Tea and Sympathy, 108 Greenwich Ave.
Have a wonderful time, you are a Good Son :)

Thanks for all the great suggestions! as for making me blush with the comments on being a good son! they are the best parents a man could have and also great friends!

Thanks again I will report back and let you know how we got on

J

Your Dad especially might enjoy a trip to Ellis Island, where they've done a fabulous job of putting together a museum about emigrants who landed there. Anyone who grew up in Ireland in the 30s would surely have family who had gone to America -- it's really a wonderful and low-key way to spend a half-day.

If a big Kennedy's fan, then definately suggest the bar of the same name on 57th and 9th.

Would also suggest that you go to McSorley's Old Ale House at 15 East 7th.

While the Italian food is just ok, Pete's Tavern on Gramercy and 18th is one of the cities oldest, as some mentioned.

Of course, if you're looking for a well known place in mob lore, then Sparks steakhouse is on the list. Of course, their noteriety occurred on the sidewalk in front.

Everybody has chimed in with great ideas and I just wanted you to know that the Chestnuts roasting on the street corners are a taste of NYC, Macy*s and the Plaza Hotel that Scarlett mentioned. Don't miss a sandwich and a bowl of soup at one of the Jewish deli's...OK maybe a little kishka (better than Hagis)!

The Campbell apartments at Grand Central Station.