Hey guys,

I'm heading to NYC for 8 nights with a group of seven people -- a real mix; a few of us are from Canada, some from Australia; some of us have been to NYC a few times, others will be there for the first time. I'm hoping to get some insider suggestions on how to fill our days. Not interested in the touristy things; we just want to hang out and live like New Yorkers for a week...New Yorkers with lots of free time.

We've subletted an apartment on Central Park North West. Any gems in the area? Good places to grab breakfast in the morning? A place to grab a drink at the end of the day? Favorite coffee joints?

Also, I've never explored Harlem. What would be some top places to visit? I'd love to catch a gospel choir; is it appropriate to attend church to do so? If so, any suggestions?

Brooklyn. Again, never been. Will definitely make a day of it. Same question as before -- what are some must-catch, but less-known gems?

As for shopping, it'd be fun to explore indi-type clothing boutiques (but affordable! we're all poor!); mostly men's stuff. Also, I love discount/bargain/used booked stores -- what are some of the best in the Manhattan?

I realize this is a loaded post! Any suggestions at all are really appreciated. We'd like to really get the flavor of NYC as a local knows it, not as a tourist.

Oh! One last thing: gay clubs. What are some of the hottest hot spots at the moment? We want (for one night, just for fun!) the NYC gay-scene at its best.

Thanks so much,

Ian

Forgot to mention when we'll be in the city! February 14th - 22nd. If any major events come to mind, let us know! (of course we'll be checking the local mags for event listings when we get there, too.)

I can help you with Brooklyn shopping...the main neighborhoods with good shopping for indi clothing are Williamsburg, Carrol Gardens, Fort Greene, and Park Slope. This website is fabulous for locating stores, restaurants, and bars to visit while you're in Brooklyn. I'm pretty familiar with Carrol Gardens/Cobble Hill, so if you have specific questions I can try to answer. For shopping in Manhattan, your best bet for indi clothing is the area in Alphabet City. Cruise up and down 13-2 streets between Aves B and 2nd Ave.

Your holy grail of nightlife information is www.sheckys.com. You can do an advance search for gay/lesbian friendly and sheckys picks, and this should provide you with a list of great bars.

A good way to explore Harlem, if it lines up with your visit, is to do a bigonion.com walking tour. For $20, an expert guide will accompany you all around the historic and notable parts of Brooklyn.

Take a look at these sites, and let me know if you have questions!

Central Park NW is the areas of Columbia University - lots of college hangouts once you get into the 110 to 120 St area. Don;t miss the Cathedral of St John the Divine, which is fantastic. If you want to see a unique museum go to the Clositers - a midievel Museum on the heights above the Hudson in northern Manhattan.

As for neighborhoods, the upper west side is mid/upscale residential and VERY diverse - with tons of good inexpensive and moderate restaurants. Unfortunately in Feb you're much more likely to be dodging piles of snow than sitting in the may hundred of outdoor cafes people watching.

For nightlife go to the web site of Time OUt New York. It will list everything you want - by category - with dates of specific activities. Also check out the web site of New York Magazine. Hundreds of activities are listed searchable by date and category.

Most of the trendy/popular clubs are downtown - you'll find mostly college hangouts nearest you.

If you're apartment is Central Park North West, I am assuming you are probably near the Columbia University area. I don't get up there often (even though I live on the UWS), so I don't have specific suggestions for you. I know there is a place in the area that does an 'opera brunch'...brunch with live opera singers and there's supposed to be a good morroccan restaurant with live jazz.

Dinasaur Barbeque is on W.145th street and is supposed to be really good.

Also up in the Hamilton Heights (West 140's to 150's)area, look up the Aaron Burr house. It's this fabulous federalist house in the middle of a neighborhood on the cusp of being gentrified. And very near by, there is one block of very old row houses with a cobblestone street (it's to the east of the house) that is extremely unique to NYC. I recommend visiting during the day, as the area can be a tad unsafe at night.

The motherload of used bookstores is the Strand. One on Broadway near 18th street and another one in the Seaport. There should be more in the Columbia U area, though I think they are becoming a dying breed here.


And in terms of the gay clubs- are you looking for full on clubs or bars where you can carry on a conversation? Don't know the hottest spots at the moment, but Therapy (52nd, 53rd??) in Hell's Kitchen is a fun scene, especially if you like theater people. There are a few other clubby bars in Hell's Kitchen. One is on W 51st street between 9th and 10th ave and the other is on W 47th street also between 9 & 10 aves, can't remember the names of either right now.

Strand Bookstore is on Broadway at 12th St, two blocks below Union Square.

I agree with the Dinosaur BBQ. I live in Michigan and if I thought their Fried Green Tomatoes would make it in the mail I would make my NY friends send them to me. I don't even like tomatoes and I was blown away.

Oh yes - and for some cheap pizza that is decent try Kornets. Can't remember exactly where it is...110th and Broadway I believe. It's a great late night, post bar stop.

You should definitely explore the downtown area as well. There's interesting little boutiqies, shops, bars, restaurants, etc in the various neighborhoods particularly east village, lower east side, and nolita.

If the weather is good, walk across the Brooklyn bridge.

ALso, buy a weekly metro card. It will be well worth it. You can pick up a subway map for free at tourist kiosks, or in a subway station booth.

Gay clubs

Cock -

Splash NY -

Heaven -

Pyramid on Friday night

g Lounge

I'd definitely head downtown and to the East Village.

Just walk. It is such an amazing city to walk through. Great little neighborhoods and shops just around every corner.

Wear comfortable shoes. You'll wear them out.

A word of warning...there are hundreds and hundreds of apartment scams on the internet. Very very few apartments would house a group of 7. To avoid arriving to find you have no place to stay (with money already paid I assume) you might want to tell us from whom you rented and/or the address.

Central Park NW can mean anywhere from the UWS (west 70's-90's) or higher up. Menupages.com is a good website to search by area, by cuisine. Diners and coffee shops are good for breakfast places.

In Harlem, "top places" could mean something like the Morris Jumel mansion http://www.theinsider.com/nyc/museums/1morris.htm and Striver's Row or the Lenox Lounge for some jazz. Some of the gospel churches welcome outsiders and some don't. The Brooklyn Tabernacle choir (obv. in Brooklyn not Harlem) is very welcoming. http://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/si...=choir_history

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the Cloisters, the Bronx Zoo and the NY Botanic Gardens are all nearish the area where you'll be.

http://fodors.com/world/north%20amer...ity_56783.html

For info on what may be happening during your visit, you might check Time Out NY when you arrive. Websites for gay info

http://www.gonycmagazine.com/
www.hx.com
http://nextmagazine.net/

Just one more vote for the Strand as the best used bookstore.

Just wanted to add one little tidbit that I remember from my last visit. If you're near St. John the Divine (which WAS awesome!), then you will be near the playground where "West Side Story" was filmed. Surely some local here will be able to tell you where- or the internet. That would be a fun place to have a group photo, no?