Hidden Gems of NYC?
 

Going to NYC 10/19! Can't wait, never been. Looking for hidden gems that I won't find on the typical "must do" lists. We are a well traveled 4-some of two 40 yr old women and our teenage daughters. We love to find the places locals go that aren't "tourist traps" wherever we travel. Hoping for good suggestions for the plays that are great but not necessarily the "popular" plays, restaurants, shops, etc. We are staying for 5 days and our hotel is right on Times Square. One teen is a typical "girly girl" and the other is kind of a "punk" skateboarder type and we are all very open minded to new and unusual things. Tell me something wonderful to do that I won't find in the tourist books!

p.s. I should say that the only real plans we have so far is that we have tix to Spamalot...

For someone who love to find places that aren't "tourist traps", you may be disappointed to find that your hotel may be mired right smack in the middle of tourism hell in NYC.

Go to the village (East or West), the Uppers (East or West Sides), Alphabet city, etc. and you'll see tons of restaurants and shops that locals frequent.

BTW, stay away from Little Italy.

The Forbes Galley, a free museum
featuring the Forbes family collections.

100s of toy boats, 10,000 toy solders and figures, the very first handmade version of Monopoly, 12 Faberge eggs and other Russian royal family items and more. My favorite part was the two rooms of presidential memorabilia rotated from the 4,000 pieces in the Forbes collection. When I visited, it included the note the Truman wrote to the critic who reviewed his daughter's singing, the log book from the Enola Gay, Nixon's pardon and many Lincoln items.

Keith

If you're looking for best play in New York, it's Doubt. But, it's not a hidden gem....The word is out. In fact, it won the Pulitzer Prize and Tony this year!

Take the A-train up to see the Cloisters on a sunny day -- take some time to explore the gorgeous gardens surrounding this lovely museum, which is like a little bit of old France or Italy. Their herb gardens are fascinating, too.

Some restaurants in the theater district that are a bit under the radar are Vynl, a funky diner, the Film Center Cafe (inexpensive brunch) and Jezebel, a Southern soul food place with porch swings inside. These are all along 9th ave. which is a good stretch for less expensive, slightly less touristy, ethnic places.

Take them to Washington Square Park where the NYU students hang out. Otto is an excellent pizza/Italian restaurant right there at 1 Fifth Ave.

There's a flea market on weekends at 39th st b/w 9th & 10th aves.

http://www.hellskitchenfleamarket.com/


As to theater, the 2 things that interest me are the play "Ashley Montana..." at the Flea theater in Tribeca (theflea.org) and the new Wendy Wasserstein play "Third" in previews at the Mitzi Newhouse at Lincoln Center. I haven't read reviews of either but I like the peole involved. Here's a page with some listings of the newer things

http://www.virtualnyc.info/guide/Theatre.htm
or have a look on playbill.com

The skateboarder will love the shop Yellow Rat Bastard.

yellowratbastard.com

My teenage girls enjoy walking down Broadway in Soho for shopping. Their highlights include Bloomingdales and YRB (Yellow Rat B*stard).

Continue south on Broadway and hang a left on Canal St. for some "knock-off" shopping. Don't forget to stop for lunch. Personally, I like the Vietnamese places on Baxter St., just south of Canal.

"Hidden Gems" in NYC (i.e., cool spots not generaly known to tourists):
Parks:
Riverside Park
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Hudson River Park
Shopping (for the girls):
Pearl River Mart
Shops in Nolita/Elizabeth St
Cheap, quick, good eats:
Wo Hop on Mott St in Chinatown
The dumpling shop on Mosco St ($2 buys you 10 dumplings-lunch for 2)
"Curry Hill" buffet-style Indian food (Lexington Ave in high 20s)

Essentially, if you get out of West Midtown, you'll find less tourist traps.

I know it is popular w/ tourists but I love seeing the Blue Man Group. It is totally different and will please both girls, too, and it is in the Village, which is fun. Getting a hamburger at the Corner Bistro or Chumley's is a good taste of New York atmosphere (both in West Village) but both can be crowded.
Shopping on Bleecker Street between 7th Ave and the Meatpacking District is fun, and eating at Pastis or Florent. Go to any Ricky's beauty supply store--there is one on 6th Ave around 11th Street. Lots of girly and punky stuff.
Also, we loved Avenue Q if that is still playing. Didn't think I would like it but it is really funny and edgy.

These are all great tips- my husband is taking my daughter to NYC in July for weekend. She will be 8 then. Assuming Lion King tix can't be found, is Blue Man group good for her? She is part athlete, part girly. Thanks for any help....also need nice clean hotel- perhaps NOT in Times Square- 3 or 4 stars...

jdp864

try the Travel Inn on W 42nd St, it's a small hotel with Double/double room and they have a pool that your DD might enjoy after a hot day sightseeing in Manhattan.

Quiet, clean and only a few blocks from Times Square.

Sorry, just realised I hadn't posted the website.

http://www.thetravelinnhotel.com/index.asp

You all might really enjoy the Off-Broadway musical "Altar Boyz" at Dodger Stages. It is a musical about a Christian boy band, and really captures the 'N Sync/Backstreet Boys spirit. It's a lot of fun, and should be relatively inexpensive. http://www.dodgerstages.com/


jdp, I responded on your other thread, but another suggestion for your daughter and husband is Tarzan, which will be open by then. Tickets go on sale soon (available now with a Visa card).