Entertainment & Music I'm off to San Fran, Vegas and NYC - things to do?

I think it's a tad cheaper in NY
With tourist visa (need to show your passport), most stores (including Macy) give you a further 10% discount

 

Here's my proforma list of "Things to do in NY"

Getting around – the subway is your friend - get a 7 day pass (I think it’s about $30pw and lets you onto any bus and any subway – it’s fantastic value, also don’t worry about what people say about security in New York, it’s totally fine any time of the day or night).

Another suggestion, particularly to do the first day are these bus tours – this version is a little expensive- http://www.newyorksightseeing.com/page.php?id=116 but you can pick one of the single tours that you particularly want to do which is cheaper but they are a great way to ‘see the city then come back to particular areas you liked – though you can get on and off as much as you like but you’ll often see two or three things you want to do so you have to make a mental note to come back. I know they seem a little lame but they actually aren’t as bad as you might think, besides you can use it for bar hoping in different parts of town.

Also if the weather is good plan one afternoon to do the circle line tour around manhattan http://www.circleline42.com/site/default.aspx (takes 3 hours so good thing to do in the afternoon after you’ve been running around all morning). You can can give the statue of liberty a miss – you’ll see it from the circle line tour and it’s not that big a deal…OR catch the free Staten Island Ferry from Battery point....people go out there and then come straight back (they make you get off the boat) this is why they are building a version of the London Eye over there to hopefully actually capture tourist dollars.

Highline is a must, but you know about that already (my advice is go in the morning starting uptown and end up downtown in the West village for lunch).

Mt wife also suggested the 9/11 museum dowtown….but I’ve always refused to go for political reasons.

If you are into architecture you should check out the Oculus ….but its just for the cool architecture eg there is nothing special there. - https://www.theverge.com/2016/3/6/11168484/inside-the-oculus-new-yorks-insane-looking-4-billion-train-station

This is a website that has some of the quirkier things that you wont come across in the regular websites. http://gridskipper.com/tag-search.php?tag=new-york/ and http://nycgo.com/

Most of the time when Jodie and I go out it is in the West Village or the East Village.

Dinner/restaurants you should check out www.Yelp.com but be warned if you don’t go upmarket a lot of new york restaurants are just average – let me know some of the places you are planning on going to and I’ll make some suggestions.

My current favourites are
Nougatine, Beauty and Essex, ABC Cocina, Raines Law Room at the William (cocktail bar), Cafe China (no reservations though), L’Artusi, Cafe Mogador (fav casual east village), Angels Share (bar), Smoke (Jazz bar), City Winery (music), Sushi of Gari 46 (better places for upmarket sushi in NYC but cheap and good value), Rosa Mexicano (our go to place when going to Lincoln center- its anglo white Mexican though), Eataly is worth a visit as well-its like an upmarket food court you can graze your way around.

Upmarket - http://www.yelp.com/biz/momofuku-ko-new-york - but you better book ahead.

Over the top old NY style - http://www.yelp.com/biz/per-se-new-york lol bring your credit card.

My favourite of all time is Degaustation - https://www.yelp.com/biz/degustation-new-york order the chefs 7 course tasting menu with wine paring and plan on doing nothing else for evening but chatting with friends etc. Its a great night. menu

One of the main things I love about living in NY is the depth of off off broadway shows, though a lot of people want to just see the regular Broadway style shows. http://www.theatermania.com/broadway/discount-tickets/ is on ok place to start looking and depending on how into theatre you are I have other sites to recommend. You can also search for your musicals there.

Also if you go to TimeSquare (I think its 2pm or 3pm) they sell the HalfTix for the big broadway shows (look for the seating stadium….its under there – you’ll know it when you see it).

If you are into dance then check out http://www.joyce.org for modern. You can often get last minute tickets to the www.ABT.org at the Lincoln Center.


I highly highly recommend Fuerzabruta http://theater2.nytimes.com/2007/10/25/theater/reviews/25fuer.html (especially the late performance on Saturday night, it’s half performance - half rave event. Wear sensible shoes and something comfortable you don’t mind getting wet in). - 101 East 15th Street (Between Union Square East and Irving Place)

My favorite place in NY for jazz is http://www.smokejazz.com/ if you are going uptown.

http://www.bluesmoke.com is a place downtown but it’s more ‘glossy’ and less fun – but either is good as it’s so hard to find good jazz/blues in Sydney.

If you are looking for camera equipment shopping http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ is the place I recommend, they are Jewish though so closed on Friday afternoons.

Coffee in NY sucks. The only place I recommend is http://www.yelp.com/biz/corner-shop-cafe-new-york , it’s actually not a bad place to drop in for lunch if you are in the area and need to chill for an hour or two. Also check out Blue Bottle Coffee they have a few on the west side and one near 40th).

Moma is free on Friday afternoons as well so make the effort to go there while in town. But it’s worth the cost of admission normal days as well. There are about 4 or 5 other major art galleries worth seeing…… not sure how much time you are going to have and most of these are well known so you probably have them on your schedule. Also the restaurant in the Neue Gallery is worth visiting....especially if visiting in winter just for their awesome hot chocolate.

One museum that’s not as well known that I really like is http://www.frick.org/ its an old money house now converted into a museum, it’s a real eye opener about how money can be spent if you have it.


Well that’s about it, feel free to email me if you have any questions.

Cheers,
Dean

 

I was able to see Hamilton it was incredible! There is a cancellation line you can wait in out the front if you get there an hour or two before the show. It's luck of the draw if you make it inside but for $200 each which ended up being $1200 each tickets it was worth the wait! There's a takeaway pizza place across the road so grab a few slices and try your luck. Midweek is apparently more likely than fri/sat to get in.

 

Oh what????! Alright challenge accepted!

My hotel is literally down the road so I will be able to do a few waitouts and try my luck.