NYC Suggestions - Six Week Trip…?
Aug 31st, 2015, 04:57 AM
#41
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If you go to Red Hook see if BWAC is exhibiting. It is the largest art coop in Brooklyn. We used to be members and the art is displayed in a Civil War Era warehouse with spectacular views of the harbor including the Statue of Liberty. There are also hip but good restaurants on Von Brunt Street.
http://bwac.org/
http://bwac.org/
Aug 31st, 2015, 04:58 PM
#44
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Not sure of your exact dates but one thing we always do at the holidays is the Nutcracker at Lincoln Center. If you are interested in dance at all I definitely reco.
For trees the best are:
Rock Center - the biggest and best
Met - Neapolitan tree and creche that are gorgeous
Mus Nat;l Hist - usually has an all origami tree
If you check the online New York Magazine it will list a bunch of other trees and special holiday events.
Do NOT go to the lighting of the Rock Center tree - it's just TOO mobbed. Same with blowing up balloons for the T'day parade at the park next to Museum Nat'l Hist.
For trees the best are:
Rock Center - the biggest and best
Met - Neapolitan tree and creche that are gorgeous
Mus Nat;l Hist - usually has an all origami tree
If you check the online New York Magazine it will list a bunch of other trees and special holiday events.
Do NOT go to the lighting of the Rock Center tree - it's just TOO mobbed. Same with blowing up balloons for the T'day parade at the park next to Museum Nat'l Hist.
Aug 31st, 2015, 05:15 PM
#45
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Thanks for the suggestions nytraveler, I appreciate anything that doesn't involve enormous crowds, I'm with you on NOT going to the "must do" seasonal events.
I'm more of a modern dance than a ballet person and don't think I could take the Nutcracker seriously again after seeing Mark Morris' "Hard Nut" which I loved year!
You can guarantee I will never be at anything resembling a parade! My Father-in-law lived at 70th and West End for many years and I was often there for Thanksgiving and no one ever suggested going to the T'day parade. I'm not sure I was even aware of it as I don't watch much regular tv, until one year, quite by accident (I think we were coming back from eating somewhere) I happen to see the huge balloons laid out on the ground. It was fun for five minutes but believe me this was as close as I will ever get to the main event. To be honest I'm not a fan of the whole go look at the Christmas windows either, I'm starting to sound like a grinch aren't I?
But I do love a Christmas Tree particularly late at night so thanks for your suggestions.
We always have a big Christmas meal and make a big fuss in my family and it's very unusual for us not to be together for the holidays. This year I'll be with my husband's family so we may fulfill a different tradition by eating Chinese food and going to a movie!
I'm more of a modern dance than a ballet person and don't think I could take the Nutcracker seriously again after seeing Mark Morris' "Hard Nut" which I loved year!
You can guarantee I will never be at anything resembling a parade! My Father-in-law lived at 70th and West End for many years and I was often there for Thanksgiving and no one ever suggested going to the T'day parade. I'm not sure I was even aware of it as I don't watch much regular tv, until one year, quite by accident (I think we were coming back from eating somewhere) I happen to see the huge balloons laid out on the ground. It was fun for five minutes but believe me this was as close as I will ever get to the main event. To be honest I'm not a fan of the whole go look at the Christmas windows either, I'm starting to sound like a grinch aren't I?
But I do love a Christmas Tree particularly late at night so thanks for your suggestions.
We always have a big Christmas meal and make a big fuss in my family and it's very unusual for us not to be together for the holidays. This year I'll be with my husband's family so we may fulfill a different tradition by eating Chinese food and going to a movie!
Aug 31st, 2015, 08:16 PM
#46
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Besides Chinese food on Christmas Day are many other Asian restaurants plus Jewish delis and places that serve Halal meat. One Christmas we went to an Ethiopian restaurant.
There is a place called Rolf's which hangs epileptic inducing Christmas lights every year. The food is among the most disgusting in NYC. If someone wants to see the lights either look through the window or just buy a drink.
There is a place called Rolf's which hangs epileptic inducing Christmas lights every year. The food is among the most disgusting in NYC. If someone wants to see the lights either look through the window or just buy a drink.
Aug 31st, 2015, 08:55 PM
#47
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Rolfs sounds unforgettable, rather like the Cuban Chinese place that is indescribably greasy and awful but that my sister-in-law loves. Lets just say one visit was enough, I now know to say I'm otherwise engaged!
Aug 31st, 2015, 10:28 PM
#49
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Oops! Meant to post a link for the High Line. Here it is:
http://www.thehighline.org/visit
http://www.thehighline.org/visit
Aug 31st, 2015, 11:17 PM
#50
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Thank for the link kja - I was curious to see they have tours through September.
I'm a fan of the High Line myself, though I like it best off season. I'm also looking forward to being fairly close to Los Tacos No. 1 in the Chelsea Market.
I'm a fan of the High Line myself, though I like it best off season. I'm also looking forward to being fairly close to Los Tacos No. 1 in the Chelsea Market.
Sep 1st, 2015, 12:01 AM
#51
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Here is my review, from Rolf's from a few years ago. (I know that Cubano-Chino joint, I go there when I need alimentary canal greased.)
________________
There is a German restaurant in NYC called Rolf's. Although I do not always agree with Zagat's, but I do in this instance where it regularly gets a 14 or so rating for food. This is probably too generous. Probably the lowest score for a non-chain restaurant in the book.
It is well-known for its epileptic fit inducing Christmas lights. They are everywhere, because they had to cover the interior design which had not changed since Eva Braun visited. We had a friend who wanted to go there for Christmas, so we agreed since we only heard rumors of its slop.
I had the duck, which died the previous Christmas and was cooked at Easter and served on the anniversary of its demise. At the time I had all my teeth and I put them good use. It could have a cherry sauce or maybe it was orange. It any event I had seen the sauce before in that movie Alien where the creature pops out of someone's stomach and it is covered in either cherry or range slime.
My wife had the pork, or at least that was intention. It was of things you got in Bulgaria before the fall of the Soviet Empire, no matter what you ordered. It could have been pork or maybe it was sock puppet dressed in a white sauce of unknown origin.
Now there are two Indian restaurants in the neighborhood which have millions of little red lights all year round. Unlike Rolf's the ones at the Indian restaurants hang low, which is fortunate since hanging oneself in lights and little tinsel would have an attractive alternative at Rolf's.
________________
There is a German restaurant in NYC called Rolf's. Although I do not always agree with Zagat's, but I do in this instance where it regularly gets a 14 or so rating for food. This is probably too generous. Probably the lowest score for a non-chain restaurant in the book.
It is well-known for its epileptic fit inducing Christmas lights. They are everywhere, because they had to cover the interior design which had not changed since Eva Braun visited. We had a friend who wanted to go there for Christmas, so we agreed since we only heard rumors of its slop.
I had the duck, which died the previous Christmas and was cooked at Easter and served on the anniversary of its demise. At the time I had all my teeth and I put them good use. It could have a cherry sauce or maybe it was orange. It any event I had seen the sauce before in that movie Alien where the creature pops out of someone's stomach and it is covered in either cherry or range slime.
My wife had the pork, or at least that was intention. It was of things you got in Bulgaria before the fall of the Soviet Empire, no matter what you ordered. It could have been pork or maybe it was sock puppet dressed in a white sauce of unknown origin.
Now there are two Indian restaurants in the neighborhood which have millions of little red lights all year round. Unlike Rolf's the ones at the Indian restaurants hang low, which is fortunate since hanging oneself in lights and little tinsel would have an attractive alternative at Rolf's.
Sep 1st, 2015, 04:17 AM
#52
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The Soviet food comment is interesting. On my first visit to St Pet we ventured to a restaurant reco'd by the hotel. Interestingly it was reached by walking though a storefront selling used - yes used - tires.
When we got inside they did have a menu in English - but the listings were fairly cryptic. The choices were fish, chicken or meat. I tried to determine what the "meat" was but the response was "what difference does it make". I settled for the chicken - which was so dried out it that it must have been reheated (or held in an oven) several times. (My companion had "fish" which involved a lot of bones.) Accompanying were mushrooms (not familiar with them and didn't eat since it appears the locals gathered them in the woods) and canned peas. We were there for 5 days and no matter where we ate there were canned peas for both lunch and dinner.
Seems like Rolf;s may have bee taking lessons from these people.
(By our second trip to St Pet's the food was much better - but also much more expensive for those places with edible food.)
When we got inside they did have a menu in English - but the listings were fairly cryptic. The choices were fish, chicken or meat. I tried to determine what the "meat" was but the response was "what difference does it make". I settled for the chicken - which was so dried out it that it must have been reheated (or held in an oven) several times. (My companion had "fish" which involved a lot of bones.) Accompanying were mushrooms (not familiar with them and didn't eat since it appears the locals gathered them in the woods) and canned peas. We were there for 5 days and no matter where we ate there were canned peas for both lunch and dinner.
Seems like Rolf;s may have bee taking lessons from these people.
(By our second trip to St Pet's the food was much better - but also much more expensive for those places with edible food.)
Sep 1st, 2015, 07:38 AM
#54
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nytraveler… you made me laugh. When we went to Leningrad in '83 we ate at a rest. recommended by hotel (another story.) When we got home my husband would answer friends who inquired about the food: " You know how they kill their chickens? They starve them to death."
2001 in St. Petersburg was a different story.
2001 in St. Petersburg was a different story.
Sep 1st, 2015, 08:33 AM
#55
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sf7307 The tacos make a great stop before or after the nearby High Line. They are simple, good tacos, I love the pork ones. There's often a line. They got a lot of publicity a few years ago mainly because there was a shortage of excellent Mexican food in NYC but that's changing from what I hear but I'm no expert. Just an NYT reader lol!
IMDonehere - absolutely hysterical, now I'll have to go past and shamelessly peer in Rolf's window. I went on a school trip to Russia in 1984. I don't know what they were thinking but we went in February which didn't make for optimal conditions. The Russian winter conquered Napoleon, but somehow it seemed a great idea for English schoolgirls
Anyway, the food was ghastly. I love my food and I hardly ate anything for ten days. There was a pink slimy thing with an oddly starchy texture they called smocked salmon and I ate it daily. Everything else was the same, no matter what it was called . They were right when they told nytraveler "what difference does it make?' When I got home and I'd clearly lots weight my family asked about the food. It was indescribable I said, if only I'd had your description of Rolfs, it would have worked perfectly!
nytraveler, I love the detail of walking through the used tire shop!
OK it was a school trip so you know the food was bad
IMDonehere - absolutely hysterical, now I'll have to go past and shamelessly peer in Rolf's window. I went on a school trip to Russia in 1984. I don't know what they were thinking but we went in February which didn't make for optimal conditions. The Russian winter conquered Napoleon, but somehow it seemed a great idea for English schoolgirls
Anyway, the food was ghastly. I love my food and I hardly ate anything for ten days. There was a pink slimy thing with an oddly starchy texture they called smocked salmon and I ate it daily. Everything else was the same, no matter what it was called . They were right when they told nytraveler "what difference does it make?' When I got home and I'd clearly lots weight my family asked about the food. It was indescribable I said, if only I'd had your description of Rolfs, it would have worked perfectly!
nytraveler, I love the detail of walking through the used tire shop!
OK it was a school trip so you know the food was bad
Sep 1st, 2015, 09:19 AM
#56
Been to Los Tacos in Chelsea Market -- is the one mentioned the same or different?
I loved the "new" Whitney and I never cared for the old one. We were just at the Museum of Moving Image -- who even knew there was a studio in Queens? We saw an excellent exhibit on Mad Men that can be appreciated whether one watched the show or not, but I think it is closing shortly.
I loved the "new" Whitney and I never cared for the old one. We were just at the Museum of Moving Image -- who even knew there was a studio in Queens? We saw an excellent exhibit on Mad Men that can be appreciated whether one watched the show or not, but I think it is closing shortly.
Sep 1st, 2015, 01:24 PM
#59
Also meant to mention the 2 galleries/museums.
First the Neue Gallery where we have recently seen 2 exhibitions and both were excellent. The bldg is quite nice also.
This winter we went to the Jewish Museum for the first time. We saw a good exhibit on Helena Rubinstein & her art. I knew nothing about her & the rest of the museum was worth a visit.
First the Neue Gallery where we have recently seen 2 exhibitions and both were excellent. The bldg is quite nice also.
This winter we went to the Jewish Museum for the first time. We saw a good exhibit on Helena Rubinstein & her art. I knew nothing about her & the rest of the museum was worth a visit.
Sep 1st, 2015, 02:05 PM
#60
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Glad you're still enjoying the blog Yestravel, I really appreciate the encouragement! Particularly as my enthusiasm for London is beginning to lag.
I haven't been at the Neue for a while, I think we saw a wonderful Schiele exhibit there. I'm hoping to see the Helen Mirren movie (about the Klimit) before we head back. The Jewish Museum is a good suggestion, I'll check what they have on in November, I've never been there.
I haven't been at the Neue for a while, I think we saw a wonderful Schiele exhibit there. I'm hoping to see the Helen Mirren movie (about the Klimit) before we head back. The Jewish Museum is a good suggestion, I'll check what they have on in November, I've never been there.
