What are some really unique things to do when visiting NYC?

Question

I'm visiting with a friend in early May. I'm into photography but she's not. We are both women turning 40 -- but we would love to go out and have fun and do interesting stuff. Anybody got any ideas? I'm looking for something other than the standard touristy stuff (statue of liberty, churches, shows, etc...).

We are staying at the W Hotel in Union Square.

Answer 1

All these folks seem to be reading the same guide book. Spare me. Zzz-zzz.

You say you're looking for a New York adventure outside the standard tourist routes. Staying at the W in Union Square is a great start. Let's do this geographically and move outward from your home base. We'll hit restaurants, museums, photo ops as we come across them....

While Union Square is now a very popular tourist destination, it was until recently a place all New Yorkers avoided btw. Your hotel is a block west of Gramercy Park (only residents have a key) and from 18th Street south to 14th you'll find Irving Place - one of New York's hidden treasures. If you're a literature buff, be sure to stop in at Pete's Tavern at Irving and 18th - a favorite haunt of O. Henry (yes, "The Gift of the Magi").

Not far from your hotel, there are a handful of wonderful restaurants you absolutely must visit. Two blocks up Park Avenue South at 20th Street you'll find Gramercy Tavern - one of the single best restaurants in New York (a Danny Meyer jewel and one of my personal favorites). Futher west on 18th (15 W18th to be exact) you'll find Tarallucci a wonderful Italian wine bar while a bit further west and south on 6th Avenue and 13th Street you'll find Bar 6 a lovely French bistro (you'll never be bored at mealtime in New York). If you're in a mood to walk I stronlgy recommend an afternoon stop at McSorley's the oldest public house in New York, operating continuously since 1854 - men only until 1975 when they finally allowed women to drink in there. (If you want a real taste of old New York I also suggest reading "Up in the Old Hotel" by Joseph Mitchell).

Now, if you're looking for interesting photo ops, you can grab the L train at Union Square and take it to Bedford Street, the first stop in Brooklyn. Williamsburg may now be full of hipster doofuses and yuppies, but it still retains its very gritty and industrial look which you may find interesting, You'll also find Peter Luger's here, New York's oldest and least pretentious steak house (be warned, it ain't cheap and it's cash only, but it's a helluva good time). Further south by taking the B63 (or B61) bus I can't remember exactly which, but you can grab a bus map at any subway station, you'll find DUMBO which used to be very gritty, but is now an up and coming yuppie neighborhood (they all are sadly). The cobblestone streets and industrial buildings will look very familiar and make for some wonderful photos. There are even old rails still embedded in the streets.

A short walk south and you'll find Brooklyn Heights - an oasis of tree-lined brownstones and The Promenade offering the best view of lower Manhattan you'll ever find. And (I'm giving you an insider's secret here) at Henry Street and Middagh Street right by the Brooklyn Bridge, you'll find Noodle Pudding - a little northern Italian place that's a very popular neighborhood favorite. (There's a big window, but no sign).

From here, if you're feeling adventurous, you can ggrab the F train out to Coney Island and photograph to your heart's content. Take the train back into Mahattan and take it all the way to 52d Street. Get off and enjoy Bryant Park, one of the city's magnificent and unsung jewels. The buildings around the park are almost as enticing as the park itself. Not far away you'll find all the usual tourist suspects, but if you're still looking for interesting destinations, venture north to the Bronx where you'll find bother Fordham Road and Fordham University (both great photo ops) as well as the Bronx Zoo and the Botanical Gardens (both good photo ops off the beaten path).

My last bit of advice would be to track down the places Mitchell mentions in "Up in the Old Hotel" and see how things have changed.

Enjoy your trip!

Answer 2

Pick up a NYC newspaper like the NY daily news or go online and you find some obscure thing happening in the city every week. Whether it's a event or a walking tour of some unique places, it's not difficult not to find something new or unique or even offbeat.

Answer 3

They have a nice open market 3-4 times a week right by where you are staying. Hang around the Union Place station and you always see people sitting around. Sometimes there is a street show.

Visit Flower District in the morning on 28th between 6th and 7th.

Hang around Central Park.

Look up events on craigslist.com for stuff to do around the time you're in town. I am sure there will be nice street fairs during May. Yummy street vendor food. Ohhh Mozzarepas are soooooo yummy it's sinful.

Have fun.

Answer 4

If you want to get some good photographs, book a room at the Riverview Hotel and watch the sun go down on the Hudson River. Its more of a hostel, but the location can't be better. It also has some history- in 1912, it housed surviving crew members of The Titanic.

Walk around the corner to Florent and have some delicious French food at 3AM.

Go to Washington Square Park. There are many performers to take pictures of.

Go to South Street Seaport and get some good pictures of the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges.

Then, when you get bored, take the D train to Coney Island.

Answer 5

Walk the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset, ride the subway during rush hour, go to the top of Rockefeller Center for incredible views, walk the streets of Greenwich Village, hang out at Washington Square Park, stay out of Time Square where all the tourists are.

Have a great trip!

Answer 6

shopping in SOHO, Calal Street- Chinatown, Washington Square Park, City Island, Atlantic City

Answer 7

i like to ride the statten island ferry (it's free) and you can see the whole skyline at night. it's beautiful. also, the sex and the city tour is fun (if you like that show). i also enjoy just strolling, and imagining all the great people in history who have lived there before me. make your own historical tour!! go to 5th street and lexington where marylin monroe's white dress blew up in the famous photos, stroll central park. visit the waldorf astoria and try to imagine grace kelly living in the penthouse of one of the towers. go to the dakota where john lennon lived (and died). stroll 5th avenue and shop at tiffany's! take the rockafellar center tour. visit ground zero (every american should). the possiblilities in new york are endless. visit st. patrick's cathedral where so many people were given a funeral including Jackie O and Andy Warhol. Go to CHINA TOWN! and make sure to have dinner in little italy.

Answer 8

You need to do the same thing we did. Take a doubledecker bus tour.

You will get to see alot, and won't be walking too much. You can hop on or hop off anywhere along the tour route, and the tour guide gives you great historical background about the skyscrapers, etc.

http://excitingny.com/ny-doubledeckerbus.shtml

Answer 9

Visit Hudson River Park- this board walk has an amazing view of the river, brooklyn, bridges etc. Although it is a park, it is surprisingly empty of tourists.

Answer 10

Go to see the Guggenhiem (sp) museum, ride the subway, Go to Central Park. Just sight see. There are so many different cultures there. Make sure you bring your walking shoes. Have fun.