Fave NY neighborhood
 

Well, our family of four is booked for New York in mid June. Thank you to those who made suggestions on accommodations while traveling with teens. We are staying at Hotel Beacon. I think it'll work out great..
My question now is what's your favorite New York neighborhood and why? What's your favorite thing to do there? With so much to see and do, I always love to hear other's favorite spots. It inspires me to try some thing new, something that I might not think of.

Also , has anyone done any tours in Harlem?
Favorite place for tea?
Favorite show?

Big thanks to all.

My favorite is the upper west side - that's because we live there - or why we live there. Favorite spots are Nat'l Hist Museum, NY Historical Society, Zabars and of course Central Park. But Riverside Park is also lovely in the spring and can be cooling in the summer with breezes off the river.

But there are bunch of neighborhoods to enjoy - to me the residential areas (like west village, museum mile of the upper east side, and parts of SoHo are the most enjoyable to just enjoy/explore).

Since we both work in midtown we tend to avoid that area except for specific trips for shopping or to a show - but I know a lot of tourists like to explore that for a more big city feel different fro most US cities (masses of street life versus the end of the world emptiness you get in many cities).

Nytraveler- I believe that is where we are staying and I liked that hotel for all of those very same reasons, very close to AMNH, Central Park, Metropolitan Museum. We also plan to see The King And I which is quite close as well, no?

I hopped on someone else's post about discount show tickets., but I'll ask again here. Can anyone explain RUSH tickets and how that works?

Yes, King and I is at Lincoln Center (Vivian Beaumont theater) which is about 12 blocks south down broadway. Can't help with rush ticket info since I don't know how it works at that theater. Suggest you call them for info.

As for the upper west side another benefit is that the avenues are lines with inexpensive/moderate restaurants of every possible ethnicity. If you tell us what cuisines you like and budget we can make recos.

For living: UWS
For visiting: Midtown

I'd like to live in the Village, specifically on 10th or 11th Streets between University Place and Sixth Avenue. They're attractive, quiet, un-touristed, yet near to the East and West Villages and Union Square. Maybe I'll get lucky this summer -- we're thinking of changing apartments. Midtown has been very convenient, but I've grown weary of the constant construction and the monstrous scale of many of the buildings.

Upper west is nice, upper east very elegant.

Fra those are some of the nicest streets in all of the City.

If were to live anywhere I would like some places buried in the West Village such as on Horatio, Commerce, where it is quiet but convenient for other things to do.

For activities, I have no real favorite neighborhood as each its charms and drawbacks.

I have always loved the West Village, washington Square, charm, history.
I enjoy West Chelsea and the area around Union Square too.

I can't remember where I read it, but professional movers were asked the difference between UWS and UES.

The response:

Upper West Side more books than clothes.

Upper East Side more clothes than books.

Thin

<< Metropolitan Museum>>

Easy way to tell everyone you're from out of town is to refer to it as such. In NYC, it's The Met. And it's not on the UWS - it's on the UES.

I tend to like whatever neighborhood is having a street fair.

Thanks BigRuss- I'll try to remember to use the Met. :) Although I am certain there is absolutely no possibility I could ever be mistaken for a cosmopolitan New Yorker, raised in SoCal and now a fixture of the broiling **** we call Phoenix. Speaking of street fairs, are those summer events?

We have every intention of spending time in Greenwich this trip. Last time NY was short and sweet enroute to Ireland. I would also like to check out Brooklyn and maybe Harlem. Feel free to offer suggestions or to discourage either if you don't feel there is something distinct and interesting in either of those. I have gotten some of my best suggestions/ guidance from Fodorites.

Am I mistaken or is there an old school diner with excellent malts and shakes on Lexington and? I thought I had an old post with assorted dining suggestions from a couple of years ago ,but can't seem to find it.

Nytraveler - are there a couple of food places you particularly like especially breakfast since we'll always be in that area at that time of day?
We're pretty open to different kinds of food.
We like Thai, Chinese, Italian, Indian,French, you name it.

Speaking of "The Met", you might want to visit Greenwich Village, which is one of Manhattan's great neighborhoods, but not Greenwich, which is a tony Connecticut suburb.

If you are on the UWS, you can walk across Central Park (at the Beresford on Central Park West) and come out at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The Metropolitan Opera is also referred to as The Met, so I don't agree with Big Russ.

As for the malts, maybe you are thinking of Serendipity near Bloomingdales?

Does anyone here remember Rumplemeyer's near the Plaza Hotel?

I tend to like whatever neighborhood is having a street fair.

Apparently you are intrigued by tube socks, overpriced kennel corn, and rusty dental instruments.
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You do have to add either Museum or Opera after the word Met, unless it is clear in the context of the discussion music or art.

Then, of course, is Mr. Met. (Mr. Met is the mascot of the NY Mets who has an over sized baseball head.)

Pepper… I think he's thinking of the old soda fountain on 84th…83rd.. and Lex. Can't remember the name. It's an interesting throw back but not worth a special trip…. IMHO.

Pepper… I think he's thinking of the old soda fountain on 84th…83rd.. and Lex. Can't remember the name. It's an interesting throw back but not worth a special trip…. IMHO.

Lexington Ave. Candy Shop

Sf7307- Thanks for keeping me in line. I'd hate to end up in the wrong state. :)

At the rate I'm going, I'm going to end up taking Mr. Met or a coloratura soprano to Connecticut for a really terrible shake.

Favorite place for tea (or breakfast)? Alice's Tea Cup at 73rd and Columbus, just a couple of blocks from your hotel.

Also, really, really good cookies at Levain Bakery at 74th and Amsterdam. Yum!

Yes, remember Rumplmeyer's - in the St. Moritz. Paris branch is now Angelina's.

Spelled Rumplemayer's.

Thank you. Is Rumplemayers someplace from a bygone era that I will regret never having the opportunity to try?

I used this outfit to take friends to Harlem:
http://www.freetoursbyfoot.com/new-york-tours/

also used them for Greenwich village.

Just tip the guide $5 at the end.

I did not even know Rumplmeyer's still existed. I just checked Zagat's and it is not even listed. I was taken there as a kid, just after the Civil War. And if it is the same place I hope there is a hole a chair for that well-placed stick.

If you want to go a throwback place, try Lexington Avenue Candy Shop which is old-fashioned coffee shop which is like a urban diner, not a Starbucks.

Go to Veniero's which was founded in 1894 and makes excellent inexpensive Italian pastries. Far superior to Ferrara's.

Yes, Rumplemeyer's is gone. Visit Angelina's in Paris. My wedding cake was from there. Yum. Never got to Luchow's. Any good, IMD ?

Luchow's was not good IMHO. My parents and aunts and uncles went there on dates because it was well-known. There are other reasons besides high rentals why places go out of business.

If you like genuine old-timey experiences, not manufactured:

Veniero's

Lexington Avenue Candy Shop (food's not great but acceptable)

Luger's

Katz's-I think the quality had gone down a bit with the all publicity they have gotten. It is also a zoo at meal times. They are going to open their first branch in Brooklyn at a fancy food court I think it opens this year.

Nom Wah-Dim Sum on Doyers Street, claims to be first Dim Sum in NY. It was the first place we ever had Dim Sum in the late 1970's. A nephew who was a banker or lawyer has taken the place over and wisely decided to leave the old flooring and ceiling. No carts, you order off the menu.

Keens-a fun chop house with clay pipes as decorations.

Others will have their favorites.

Thanks, IMD. Got to Keens but not to Katz's. Surely won't go to any branch in Brooklyn.

IMDonehere- Thank you for the suggestions. I kind of love throwbacks and real experiences. Last time we were in NY, we tried Lexingtom Candy Shop and it was actually fun. Although I agree, the food wasn't outstanding. My kids had their first ever malt.
I will definitely check out those suggestions especially interested in Venieros and the dim sum place. Thanks for the recommendations.

Rhea58- What was the group size for the tours and could you hear the guide? Since this is a pay what you like tour, how was the tour overall?

I also saw a website called Heritage Harlem with tours given by residents of Harlem. Anyone heard anything about these?

I think we'll probably explore Greenwich Village on our own with just some restaurant suggestions and a list of highlights in hand.

Thanks again all.

Veniero's is a zoo on weekends.

BTW, on the same block as Veniero's is Russo's who makes their own pasta and mozzarella, if you have a refrigerator in your hotel and want to take some home.

For another real old timey place try Raffetto's. For some varieties of pasta, they will cut it your choice on a machine that was obsolete 50 years ago. They also have dry pasta. Ask which needs refrigeration. Could be the best store made pasta in Manhattan.

http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2013/...lage-soho.html
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Moishe's on 2nd Ave is an old style kosher bakery. Try the rugelach, Jewish style corn bread (very different than American southern), Russian coffee cake, and if you have a big group, the potatonik which is only available on Thursdays and Fridays. Remember it is kosher so it closes two hours before sunset on Fridays and all day Saturday. (And ask if the bread is fresh.)

Economy Candy-none of that Dylan's cutsie BS
http://www.economycandy.com/

Yonnah Schimmel's
http://nymag.com/listings/stores/yon...mmel-knishery/

And Russ and Daughters
http://www.russanddaughters.com/

Moishe's has terrific bagels. I just bought a dozen to taken to Baton Rouge for my family. They love them.
My favorite neighborhood in Manhattan is the Village-West & East but my favorite neighborhood in Queens is Astoria and in Brooklyn, Clinton Hill.

Moishe does not make his own bagels. I think he gets them from Kossar's.

IMDonehere

Do you have a rec for poppyseed hamantashen? They're my favorite and I will be in NY next month. We always stop at Russ and Daughters.

Moishe's usually has poppyseed hamantashen all year round. And he usually has two sizes regular and small. He also has a poppyseed cake which is guaranteed to make you fail any drug test. He is about 10 minute walk from Russ and Daughters.

Moishe is on Second Ave and 7th Street.

I often go to Bensonhurst in Brooklyn, 86st. from 18-24ave you can find anything you want. Chinese buffets, lots of sushi places, clothing stores, and Lenny's Pizzeria where John Travolta stopped by to get a slice in 'Saturday Night Fever'(yes, he was really walking in Bay Ridge).

Oh, and stop by Di Fara, voted #1 Pizzeria in NYC.
http://www.difara.com/

Cjar, I think you will be very happy staying at The Beacon. I always recommend it. You might have a suite with a kitchen? There's a fabulous market & deli directly across the street where you can buy anything you'd like to stock your fridge. Coffee is provided by the maids each day, and they will give you extras if you request.

"Does anyone here remember Rumplemeyer's near the Plaza Hotel?"
Yes! The first time I visited NYC was in 1980. I was on business, and my travel partner said we had to go there for breakfast. Which we did. At that time, the hotel where we stayed was the St Moritz. Is that now The Ritz?

Looking forward to all of that yummy food and some wonderful days spent with family exploring a one of a kind city.

Pomah - Do you prefer Di Fara to Grimaldis and Julianna's?
Also if Brooklyn's your area, what about taking the East River Ferry from Dumbo area to 34th st midtown? I've read this is a great way to get a different view of the city. I also need to look at the website and see how late the ferry runs.

Tabernash - I appreciate the vote of confidence for The Beacon. We do have a one bedroom with kitchen. Unfortunately the 2 bedroom must have been booked already. It didn't show as available for our dates.

And speaking of the Plaza, how is it for afternoon tea for a mother daughter day or is The Lowell better?

Cjar, you might need to call the hotel for the 2bdrm/2bath suite, in case you're interested.

"Pomah - Do you prefer Di Fara to Grimaldis and Julianna's?"

I prefer my local places to any tourist traps, just go to say u went, not because they are really better.