New York, New York is the city so nice they named it twice. Your visit can either be a trip to remember or a nightmare to forget. Because if you throw yourself into seeing “all†of New York without some parameters, the city will consume you. People move against traffic as if they are cars. But New Yorkers know that New York is to be savored.
Why not experience the city like a New Yorker: neighborhood walks, interaction with those who are a tad different — just getting outside one’s box. Over the next month I hope to help you do just that on your next visit.
How you ask? By operating a bit off the grid. These destinations will bring you in contact with the city’s dwellers in different neighborhoods at a price point that will make your pockets smile.
Our focus this week is the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood abutting theTheater District and Times Square. Most visitors want to enjoy a true Broadway production while in town. So your journey should begin before you leave home.
Take a membership to Theatermania before coming to New York. The $99 membership will allow you to buy $4.50 tickets for current Broadway shows (and elsewhere in the US). This way you are assured of seeing professional quality theater during your visit. Indeed you may not know exactly what production you are going to see perhaps until the week before you arrive. But you are guaranteed to see Broadway professionals at work.
With a matinee on our schedule today, let’s begin the morning with a quick continental breakfast at Brasilina Cafe located at 836 Ninth Avenue. While I wouldn’t recommend this restaurant for best value or as an option for best Brazilian food, the coffee and freshly baked authentic pastries are supreme and hard to beat.
After this shot of joe in a modern environment that feels like Sao Paulo, we head up Ninth Avenue, known for its plethora of international and moderately priced food establishments. Most of the restaurants are less than 1000 square feet in size; but you will find everything from Thai to Greek, Italian, pizza, steak and falafel.
There’s a Greenmarket Farmer’s Markets just about every day of the week. Not surprisingly it’s Wednesday and we find cheeses , crumpets and a selection of New York state apples to rival Whole Food’s at a market on the corner of 57th & Ninth. If we hadn’t already eaten our continental breakfast, we could stop here. There’s a beautiful little park tucked in on the corner of 56th where we can sit and people-watch. Here is the complete Greenmarket Schedule for this 2012. But we have things to do so we push on.
Next stop, the Hearst Building at 300 West 57th Street. Although this is a private building and tours are not allowed, do stop in to see a security guard. Yes, a security guard. They are the most knowledgeable about the architecture of this beautiful building: and they will give unofficial tours to a small group of five or less. From the lobby you can enjoy the much talked about 3 story waterfall and glass escalators. This is the first green building in New York state.
We proceed to Columbus Circle. On the most westerly boundary of Central Park we enter the Time Warner Center. Dizzy’s club Coca Cola, the Allen Room where Anderson Cooper records his program and several other performing arts centers that are part of Lincoln Center are located within this vast complex. There is a great selection of high end shopping and eating on several floors.
For the best in whole food dining at a price that will prompt you to spring for lunch, you’ll find Whole Foods. Choose from sushi, Italian, Indian, Soul, Vegan, Vegetarian. Eat as much or as little as you like. Weigh and pay. Sit down European style at a table with someone you do not know.
You’ll probably not have time for this final destination since matinees generally begin at 2 pm. But for a true New York experience, take a tour of Lincoln Center and attend the free performances listed Lincoln Center Visitor Guide for casual conversations with docents about performers to free performances on Thursday by the NY Philharmonic Orchestra. Here’s the schedule for the Philharmonic’s NY Philharmonic evening concerts in Central Parkin Central Park. You can’t beat these suggestions for low cost high value.
For the best in whole food dining at a price that will prompt you to spring for lunch, you’ll find Whole Foods. Choose from sushi, Italian, Indian, Soul, Vegan, Vegetarian. Eat as much or as little as you like. Weigh and pay. Sit down European style at a table with someone you do not know.
You’ll probably not have time for this final destination since matinees generally begin at 2 pm. But for a true New York experience, take a tour of Lincoln Center and attend the free performances listed Lincoln Center Visitor Guide for casual conversations with docents about performers to free performances on Thursday by the NY Philharmonic Orchestra. Here’s the schedule for the Philharmonic’s NY Philharmonic evening concerts in Central Parkin Central Park. You can’t beat these suggestions for low cost high value.
The key however to enjoying this city is
1. Comfortable shoes. You have got to be able to walk the streets.
2. Minimal hanging attachments from your body like cameras
3. Eat where the locals
3. Keep an open mind.
In subsequent weeks, we’ll explore Chelsea, Soho & Tribeca, Harlem, and a section or two of Brooklyn. These are my suggestions but if you are interested in another, leave me a comment and I will definitely consider.
Originally guest posted at TravelforBoomers.com
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