Help me plan my trip to NYC!!

[kitkatrose]

I'm going to be in NYC during the Columbus Day weekend with a couple of friends. I'm staying in the Upper West Side from Oct 7-9. On Sunday, I'll be at the Botanic Garden and on Monday, I'll be at Columbia University to see if I want to spend 5 years in their graduate program, but I don't have anything to do Saturday or Sunday evening. So, does anybody have recommendations on places to visit or eat at while we're there? Oh and we're poor college students so we don't have tons of money.

:hi:

[Lautremont]

1. If you were there a week earlier I'd have a great event for you to do.

It's an event so great that I'm travelling to NYC just for it, and that's a long, expensive trip.

Anyway, sorry that I don't have much for you. Except this: don't bother with the Tiki Room. It's a big disappointment. Good luck!

[kitkatrose]

5. Aww, that's too bad. What's the event?

Thanks for the tip about the Tiki Room, though.

[Lautremont]

17. A friend of mine, Christine, is playing some shows at the Bowery Ballroom.

She's opening for the Mountain Goats. It's not as exciting if it isn't a friend of yours, I admit, but it'll be great nonetheless, and in a part of town near a bar called Chibi's Bar.

Ah, but there's my tip for you! Go to Chibi's Bar. (Mott St. between Prince and Spring.) When I was there, a little pug dog (Chibi himself, I later learned) would periodically emerge from behind a beaded curtain to show off various little outfits he was wearing. Every time he came out, he had on a different outfit. It was highly entertaining, and the place itself was great: very cozy and nicely downmarket.

[azmouse]

2. Find a way to meet Keith Olbermann

and give him a big kiss for me!! :loveya:

[kitkatrose]

8. I'll try to squeeze that in.

;) :hi:

[Scout1071]

3. Visit the International Center for Photography.

One of my all-time favorites. You will not regret it.

[kitkatrose]

6. The site looks really cool.

Do you have any favorite exhibits?

[Scout1071]

10. Well, the permanent collection is outstanding.

The best photographs in the world. You are guaranteed to laugh, cry, and everything in between.

I haven't been there for some time (I don't live in NYC - although that may change!), but the last time I was there I saw a stunning Annie Liebowitz exhibit on women. Very cool.

It's on the least talked about museums when people talk of NYC, but I really think it's one of the best. It's certainly worth at least an hour or two.

[sir_captain]

4. Which graduate program?

Which campus you'll be at makes a difference in terms of recommendations.

There are some fun bars by main campus--the heights is probably my favorite, and is between 111 and 112 on Broadway. There's a cool jazz place at about 105 and broadway as well.

For good food, I highly, highly recommend Flor de Mayo at 101 and Broadway. Get the pollo ala brasa (peruvian roast chicken) and you won't be disappointed, I promise. It's extremely cheap as well.

Up on Amsterdam Avenue in the lower 120s there are lots of new hip restaurants, most of which are priced for students to afford. In particular, you could look out for an italian place called Max SoHa. There's a good new coffee bar right there as well though I don't remember the name.

A little lower on the UWS there's a great vietnamese place (probably the most popular restaurant on the entire UWS) called Saigon Grill at 90th and Amsterdam. And up a few blocks from there at 95th and Amsterdam is a bar called Dive Bar which is a great bar and has great bar food.

Of course, you'll be close to the natural history museum and central park, though I'd suggest heading down into the 80s and going into the park there.

Hope that helps :hi:

[kitkatrose]

7. Wherever the graduate arts and sciences campus is.

Um, the Morningside Heights Campus, I think.

This is freaking fanstatic!:bounce: Thanks for all the cool places to eat. I :loveya: Hispanic food.

[sir_captain]

12. Yeah, that's the one

Are you doing ecology or botany or something like that?

Anyway, that's a really awesome neighborhood (I grew up there)

There's incredible hispanic (mostly dominican) food up at the med school campus in washington heights which you can get to really easily on a free shuttle in about 10 minutes.

Oddly enough, Flor de Mayo is a cuban/chinese restaurant with a peruvian signature dish. In general, I'd stay away from the chinese food there (much better chinese food at ollie's at 116th) but all the cuban food is also terrific.

[kitkatrose]

13. Yeah, ethnobotany, hopefully.

I've heard good things about their collaboration with the NYBG, and my advisor is super hyped I'm considering them. Curious, what made you suggest ecology or botany? Do I radiate eco-nerd even on the internet? :D

[sir_captain]

16. Oh, just cause you mentioned the botanical gardens

I've got a bunch of friends who do botany out at UC-Irvine, though.

[LynneSin]

9. If you want to see a Broadway Musical

There are usually places on Time Square that sell last minute tickets to shows that still have seats open for that performance

or just go to http://www.broadway.com

[kitkatrose]

11. D'oh!

How could I forget about Broadway?? I have been in school wa~ay too long.

[Katina]

14. don't miss MOMA either

in the 50s. If you want to do the real tourist stuff, go to the Empire state building or down to Battery Park & take the ferry to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. You can't go all the way up into the statue anymore, but Ellis Island is absolutely fascinating.

One more thing, if you are going to the Botanical Gardens in the Bronx, you should also go to the Bronx Zoo. It's right there as well and it is really well done.

[kitkatrose]

20. It's more of a business trip than a touristy thing,

at least for me, so I'll pass a lot of these on to my friends. Thanks. :hi:

[mdmc]

15. Beets on Seventh in Park Slope Brooklyn

(cheap and).. the best Jerry; The BEST!" ! Worthy of checking out!

Have fun!

[kitkatrose]

23. This may be a dumb question, but what is Beets?

Is it a restaurant, a club? :shrug:

[mdmc]

31. asian fusion food

the best! (and under 15 bucks per entree)////

[KurtNYC]

18. A couple more suggestions

Get an unlimited MetroCard ($7/day) for at least one of the days you will be here. You can hop on and off of subways and buses all day long. Saves your legs and you won't have to worry about paying again if you get on the wrong train or miss your stop, etc.

On October 9th, if you have any inclination whatsoever, join us at Strawberry Fields for an all-day and most of the night sing-along tribute to John Lennon. It's his birthday! Take the 1/2/3 to 72nd or the B or C to 72nd and walk about 50 yards into Central Park -- you will find 100+ people at the Imagine Circle singing our little Beatle-lovin' lungs out. There will be musicians also -- guitars, electric bass, drums and sometimes a guy with sound effects (for "Yellow Submarine", "Day in the Life" etc).

If you are a Food Network fan or just a foodie, check out Chelsea Market(A/C/E train to 14th then walk one block over to 9th Ave). This neighborhood is also heavily featured is "Sex and the City":
http://www.chelseamarket.com/enter/themarket.html

On Saturday or Sunday, go to Washington Square Park which is always buzzing with activity and bands then stop in for gelato, pasta or a glass of wine at Mario Batali's gourmet-on-the-cheap Otto (in the 1 Fifth Avenue building, just north of the park):
http://www.ottopizzeria.com/menu.html

If you go to the Met Museum (great collection of Impressionist artist on the middle of the 2nd floor), either pick up a button off the ground, ask someone departing for theirs or simply go to the admission booths and tell them you are a student and only want to pay $5. Admission is technically free but they suggest a whopping $20 these days. You can pay whatever you like (including Zero).

The lower end of Central Park is especially neat. You can peek at the sea lions of the zoo free then walk down the swanky part of Fifth Avenue (59th to 42nd). You will see the Plaza Hotel (featured in the opening of "Friends"), Tiffany's (they don't serve breakfast btw ;-) ), St Patrick's, Rockefeller Center, and the Public Library (take your picture with the lions).

As for Columbia...
Check out this outrageous list of people who have graduated from Columbia University (and their descriptions are on target too; see Dick Morris for example).
http://www.nndb.com/edu/477/000068273/

[Scout1071]

19. Damn. Nice recommendations.

If I get the gig in NYC that I just applied for, I'm keeping your PM handy!

And happy birthday to John. I'm looking at a framed print of him in my living room as i type. I so wish he were alive today.

[kitkatrose]

22. Wow, I'm going to have to come back when I have more time.

That list is AWESOME!!! Maybe grad school at Columbia will happen. :)

[KurtNYC]

28. I came to the City for a 3 day visit in September of 1992

immediately thought "I have to find a way to live here for a while and see this City more completely" then moved here for good on Columbus Day weekend 1992. I didn't think it was going to be "forever" at the time but it sure feels that way now. Be warned: If you like people, art, food, music, architecture, fashion, parks, money and generally making the most of each day and feeling 105% alive -- this city will hook you!

[zonkers]

21. Please go to the Frick Museum (link to virtual tour). It is wonderful...

and not far from you.

link. http://www.frick.org/virtual/index.htm

It used to be the personal residence of Frick, the Indusrialist and it houses his art in a beautiful restored turn of the century mansion right in the middle of the city, right off Central Park. It is just gorgeous.

[kitkatrose]

24. Oooh, pretty...

Now I'm gonna have to save some more money to go back and I haven't even left yet! Thanks! This thread was one of the better ideas I've had. :)

[zonkers]

26. If you go early on a Sunday, sometimes hardly anyone is there and it is

just lovely. You are so close to the art and all the furniture and details of the place are just beyond description. Truly a treasure.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

25. go to "The Frying Pan" Saturday night.. youll have fun.

[kitkatrose]

27. Cool,

is it a club or something?

[SlavesandBulldozers]

29. yeah. on a boat. it's awesome.

AWESOME

[wain]

30. If in Times Square wave to us from TGI Friday at 47th & B-way

There's a web cam outside of the 47th Digital store next to TGI Friday. Originally used for people meeting through a dating service so that friends could verify the meeting. Interesting site to people watch. The link is for a streaming web cam complete with street sounds. Cam4 is the TGI friday web cam.

http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/timessquare/index.php?cam=streaming

Hope you enjoy the city!
:)