Noo Yawk....concrete jungle where dreams are made...

Word. Yo to our transatlantic cousins.....you wrecked our language but your customer service ideals are tip top! As a result i am on my way to the big apple in a few weeks to generally absorb the life and scoff some quality food etc.

i'll be with the GF and will no doubt stay on Manhattan the entire time (4 nights).

Anybody got any tips for fun stuff to do/see? Ive got a full diary already...all the usual tourist stuff that we wanna do....mostly revolving around taking pictures (I loves me camera) of my fave buildings (Chrysler, Rockerfeller, flatIron, Brooklyn bridge etc). Have found some nice places to dine based on recent friends trips too, but always looking for better.

I'm a bit of a Scorcese fan so any sites that offer a nod to locations and such will be cool. Think also: Sopranos, Godfather etc. I did look into trying to book some time at a firing range to have a go at shooting a handgun but it looks like thats impossible as we are not residents.

I am also planning on taking the missus to the Waldorf for brunch or something as it will be her Birthday on the day we come home.

Are the any good bike dealers/shops in NYC? I searched for a KTM dealer but found none close by....

I could be wrong, but there might be a MacDonalds there

If you like Japanese/Korean/US food then Momofuku Ko is amazing, one of best restuarants i've eaten at. review here
http://www.gourmet.com/restaurants/2008 ... momofukuko.

Museum of Modern Art (MOMO) is good too, there was a Tim Burton exhibition on when we where there last year, we spent the whole day there.

Just wandering round the streets looking at all the places you've seen on TV and film is mesmerising and free too!

Be prepared to walk a lot!

Me being from the area, years ago but many times a visit since then ,, always eat my way through the place,,, must see the "natural history museum" if your into such things,,, best burger on earth,, "PJ CLARK'S" I think at 48th and 5th street,, cabby will know fer sur,, things change rapidly there so ask around for good food places,, asian food is tops in my opinon,, can't sell all the jewish population bad eggrolls or they won't come back,,
http://www.glamamom.com/2010/07/best-bu ... ttan.html,, try PJ's
best pizza, wicked good
http://www.firstpizza.com/
good beef
http://www.benandjackssteakhouse.com/mainframe.html

Ah yes, the GF wants to visit MOMA so thats on the list and we do LOVE japanese food so will check out that place Fuel! Thanks fella.

Ive heard little Italy is a bit disappointing but we'll take a look anyway. Deffo on the list of 'must do' is a bagel; smoked salmon n cream cheese of course!



Anyone got anything bike related...even just a good shop?

Take the Staten Island ferry for the best free views of The Statue of Liberty. The Empire State building's a must but get there before the queues otherwise it takes bloody hours. Do a Broadway show, I didn't have time. My suggestion would be this... http://www.wickedthemusical.com/. I've never seen it but have read the book and it's bloody brilliant. Unfortunately http://www.adorama.com/UWGPHDMH.html have stopped doing the $50 voucher off but it's still worth a look buddy (wink wink nudge nudge). Food-wise Chinatown is supposed to be astonishing and you've got to take her for a champers picker-nick in Central park.. Have fun..

Adorama for sure mate!! And B&H. Central park idea rules if weather is good!! You da man with all the smooth moves there Ronin

A small pilgrimage to the park bench that all Woody Allen fans will know is also in order.

Great ideas here guys, gonna be pushed tp do em all in 4 1/2 days

Forgot about shows, we fancyed something a bit diffrent from your typical broadway show so went to Fuerza Bruta instead http://www.fuerzabruta.net/, very interactive and exciting!

Used to go every Christmas back in the 90's. Havent been for a few years now so my info may be a little out of date.

Twin towers have gone for a start so no trip to the roof. Actually the roof was closed more often than not but you could take the express elevator up to the 40 something floor and look out the window. Be glad you didnt have to jump out of it.

Trouble with New York is you walk with deja vue as you have seen everything so often on tv.

Empire State Building isnt that tall. It isnt even as tall as the office blocks surrounding it. Best tip is go up it at night for the city lights. You be Tom Hanks, she be Meg Ryan call it Sleepless in Southend.

FAO Schwartz by Centre Park is the top shop where they filmed BIG. You be Tom Hanks, she be an inflatable sex doll - you will get thrown out.

Got into Radio City Music Hall on year for the X Mas show, lucky as a guy was returning tickets for that night as I walked in. Never managed to get in again, those Rockettes would get it. Never bothered with Letterman, dont bother to watch him here either.

Dont waste you time with Maceys it may be the worlds largest dept store but it is just a lot of ajoining department store badly knocked into one. Think of a tatty Harrods with mismatched floor levels. Bloomingdales for the essential naff paper bag.

Statue of Liberty is smaller than you would think too. You will see it on the plane landing if you go to JFK. Best tip here is to take the helicopter tour as the ferry / walk up is just a pointless shuffle up a narrow spiral staircase with your head up some other tourist's arse.

I used to stay in the Renaissance on Times Sq. Times Sq is good for photos at night and pretty good to hangout. They used to get aggressive beggars when I went 'HEY MAN GIMME 5 DOLLARS i GOT AIDS MUTHERFUKKA' Their bark was always worse than their bite (except the ones with aids) I think Guilliani got rid of them all too.

There is a revolving reseraunt on Times Sq, cant remember what it is called, expensive though. In 1995 two drinks in the 4*hotel was $15. Drinks in the revolving restaraunt were $15 dollars each In restaraunt dont order a starter and a main. Americans dont get this, they will bring the whole lot out together and there will be buckets full. The starter meals are normal UK sized meals, tha mains are for future Biggest loser contestants.

Dont get a cab, all the drivers are mexican, cuban or puerto rican and speaking english is at best an ambition for the future.

If you have an adventurous girlfriend you can play a game I invented called Subway lottery where you get off at random stops. Exit the station and then try to get back to it alive. Best avoid Washington Square it is da hood

After the first 24 hrs you realise it isnt as dangerous as it seems but the advice a mate gave me was simply 'stay on Manhatten and you will be alright, go to the 5 boroughs, take a gun'

Clothes arent that cheap unless you like supersized Levis and odd checks and plaids. Christmas is fun though, with all the hobos on the street corners dressed as Santa, must go again when kids are older

I took the Mrs to La Nouvelle Justine around 12 years ago, its fantastic - a S&M restaurant located in NY's East Village. Just behave though, as naughty boys get disciplined http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spank ... restaurant

For breakfast, 7a is great http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/3/20378/res ... a-New-York

Nothing more to add really, we did the helicopter round the Statue at night, take in a show, current listings here -
http://www.newyorkcitytheatre.com/index.php

Im going for a friends 40th in the next 2 years and he loves Sopranos etc so hes keen to see Jersey Boys, not sure of the connection myself?

Because of my love of Hip Hop etc i wanted to go ghetto and took a cab round all the ruff areas, just out of interest to see if was just like my favourite old pictures of Grand Master Flash etc, that was pretty cool

Watch out for tramps when waiting to cross the road, my GF lost several pairs of new stockings out of the top of her shopping bag, god knows what he did with them

Just to be different......

I think the hype about the "Big Apple" is a case of the Emperor's New Clothes.

It's just a big, ugly, dirty, very, very, very expensive city full of people who can't speak properly. A load of bollox is what NYC is, and I've been there loads of times. You'll get absolutely knackered walking about the boring grid of streets, the excitement will wear off in three hours and then you'll just feel ripped off by everyone. It's a nightmare of retail hell, posers, wankers and users. God I hate NYC.

But Shade, you'll have a great time. You and the GF will love it. You'll believe the hype because it's a very well thought out con, they've spent decades perfecting the spin, the hype, the myth. It takes a very strong case of will power to see through the facade.

I did the usual when I went out there:

Ice skating in central park was fun.

I paid for most stuff in advance, if you do the Empire State pay extra for the "express pass" otherwise you will be waiting hours.

Take a look online and see if you can get tickets for Ice hockey or basketball, good for a laugh.

And find the address of your hotel so you can get all those GOPRO goodies sent to your room

Gordon Ramsey has a really nice place there but you have to book 3 months to the day, AMAZING food.

Statue of liberty was fun, gave statton island a miss though.

The only place I wanted to go but did not was a sandwich place where they filmed the famous "orgasm" scene from When Harry Met Sally, just never got round to it.

Bit German but best was to get the most of it in a few days is have an itinerary.

What a load of bollox Bic, what a thing to say ffs! You call NY dirty and you live in London?! I can appreciate that after your umpteenth visit you'd be tired of it but way to go to take the sheen off another man's excitement. Ignore it Shade, It's brilliant and I know you share my sense of wonderment and enthusiasm; myself and two other pilots walked around with big grins on our faces and wide excited eyes pointing out bits that we'd seen in movies, sounds we'd heard etc. I fooking loved it, people were friendly and helpful with a great sense of humour and New Yoik was more than I could have hoped for. I hope you and F. have fun..

Woohoo!

I am still super excited about going!

New York is GREAT, don't listen to Bic

In his defence though. I see exactly where Bic s coming from.

Did anyone see the Empire State or the Staue of Liberty and think they were grander than you imagined from the t.v?

Bollox, America is the film media and they do a bang up publicity job on themselves. I have been many times east and west coast and it is never what they portray in the movies.

It always seems smaller somehow, and tackier. And I include LA, Las Vegas, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Florida Keys, Grand Canyon and Disneyland in that.

For a first holiday it is amazing, after a dozen holidays you will still find things to enjoy but FFS dont tell me you fall for the bullshit they spin.

It's shit better off going to Shoreditch instead!



I rather liked going up the Statue of Liberty... It is smaller than you expect but interesting to see her from the inside!
BTW it takes longer than you think to walk from the south of Manhattan to Central Park.

It's really the bowel of the universe,, all you guy's from across the way would do better seeing "rural" america,, upstate NY for instance , woods ,, scenic veiw's,, swoopy roads, down to earth people,, not a bunch of cattle smooshed into a bus or subway,, and then there's RAT's believe it or not Portland Maine has some of the best 5 star resturants in the NE right now, simply super,,, I hate big cities,, everyone trying to rip you off and traffic that is going nowhere , pollution, trash, air you can see,, and the big thing in NY hotels right now is BED BUG'S, fookin everywhere, disgusting little bastards, biting every visitors ass, all just looking for a warm crack to reside in, and start bitin and suckin blood,, gross it's an absolute invasion,,,plague,what have you,,,,,, bring a bottle of something that contains DEET

*sigh*

As i mentioned earlier, ive seen a few thousand miles of US countryside already and would happily see more! Ive driven from Toronto to Seattle and from LA to Buffalo on a Greyhound with some great stuff in between. The US has almost every variety of terrain within its boundaries and I'd love to do some of it on 2 wheels too.

Im not worried about negative comments on here....there would prolly be similar ones if someone was coming to London. There may be bettere things to go see in the US than NYC but thats where we are going. I cant visit everywhere in one trip can I??

So getting back on thread.....if anyone has some recommendations of nice cafes, cinemas to see (a professional and personal interest) and specific shops to find (spesh bike related) I'd love to hear it.

I did find a DUCATI CAFE link online....looks nice but not sure I'd get as much out of it as others would.

I'm entiltled to my opinion! I'm not trying to convince anyone else to change their own views. But I think the discussion needs the other point of view.

I'm a pretty positive person mainly and see the good in most things. Can see it in NY if I'm actually there, I have had a lot of friends there and had good times too - but that's the people, not the place. But generally I don't like it. I don't like London either for all the same reasons. And before anyone has a go - I'm moving out as soon as it's practically possible. I'm not a city person, never have been even though I've lived in them for most of my life.

Might I suggest you stay here

http://www.carterhotel.com/


.

Whatever anyone says, as a Londoner I think NYC is probably the most exciting city in the world.

I used to go every July for two weeks on easy business, and spent ages hanging around the Meatpacking District (around the Gansvoort, 13th & 9th) and wandering around the West Village and then into Soho. The people are funky, the girls are pretty, it's like a movie cliche on every street corner, and it's nice to be somewhere that actually lives up to the hype. (...unlike LA,or London for that matter).

Have breakfast at the River Cafe "down under the Manhatten Bridge Overpass" (DUMBO for short) if you wanna impress the missus, for amazing food, old school service and greeat views.

Go shopping in the big department stors, make sure you check China Town, Little Italy, Soho and Nolita. Go to small cafes and weird shops, breakfast is alway,s the best meal of the day. I thought the East Village was less good than the West (less walkable), ...Ground Zero is kind of interesing as is the rest of "downtown". Times Square is a bit shyte to be honest. You can ignore 42nd Street, etc, but Central Park is beautiful for when you head uptwon. The Empire State (midtown, not downtown) is cool but the Chrysler building is cooler, gatecrash a few hotel bars for evening drinks, try to get invited up the roof of Soho House (you'll need to meet a member), use the Subway and cabs, forget buses - or walk when you're between the Village and Soho/Nolita/Chinatown.

e.g. Hang Out on the corner of 13th & 9th in the meatpacking District then walk through the Village down Bleeker Street into Soho. Then shop, nibble and coffee around Broadway, Mercer, Wooster and Greene Street Between Prince Street and Broome in Soho, before heading over Broadway into Nolita or toward downtown into Chinatown. ...or maybe do that backwarsd and Finish around 13th & Ninth for drinks and food in the early evening. I think there's some kinda biker bar up in the area as loadsa Harleys seemed to cruise in the area. It's also where all the late night bars and clubs are.

You can also head up Broadway from Union Square, for a bigger city vibe than Soho, etc, and the further up you go, the posher it gets. Broadway is a good street to reference the rest of new york city from, as it cuts diagonally across the huge wide grid from South East to North West, as is W Houston, which divides the large gridded streets of midtown upwards from the more London-like random streets of the Village and Soho below.

I did one find an amazing antiques market in Midtwon west, which was outdoor and huge, where there was some amazing Asian stuff that you'd never find in Europe. I came back with Chinese swords. LOL.

Try also drinking at the roof of the Thompson Hotel (Soho, near Prince Street), which they say is a members club, but you can usually blag your way in if you're a Brit. Regarding boat trips, it's a great city to see from the rive, so def incorporate that into your trip.

If you want to shoot, come to Texas sometime, most places will let you have at it. Plus there is BBQ everywhere and proper Mexican food. I have never been to NYC, someday I may go, but it currently isn't in the plan.

Damn there is some negative vibes here regarding NYC. NY is not dirtier than other big cities out there, I live here and love it.

I would not recommend spending too much time in line for the Empire State building and all that. Go bar hopping in the east village area, walk in central park. If you (or most likely your girlfriend) want to go shopping take the bus from Penn Station to Woodbury Common. http://www.premiumoutlets.com/woodburycommon/ its a huge factory outlet area for brands like North Face, Oakley ,NIKE it's huge and each brand has its own store, not the flee marked feeling. Since the dollar is so weak and it's about half off it's basically free for Europeans.

If you guys wanna see the United Nations while you are here, just PM me and I'll show you guys around.

Enjoy

Amateur night at the Apollo is fun. The Bronx Zoo is cool, and have a steak at Bobby Vans on Broad Street. Nothing says NYC like a fat juicy steak, baked potato, and a Vodka Martini!

Whatever else you do and it's your first time in NY, take the boat trip around Manhattan island first.

Since this thread has been re-animated I will say this.. Allow a person to make up their own mind; if they ask for directions of joyous places whilst looking to avoid areas of conflict..give them this and no more, let them come to their own conclusions...

Well, as a follow up....we had a great time! Our hotel bumped us at the lastmonute due to building works which although initially seemed a disaster, ended up being a blessing. We got pushed to a much nicer place which was perfect for us! The ACE hotel on W39th and Broadway. We hit all the major attractions without even planning it or trying. Just walkinng around and taking pictures (one of my fave things to do) we stumbled upon all the great places we wanted to see.

Rockefella, Empire State, Chrysler, Flat Iron, Central park, Statton Island Ferry, cafes, restaurants.....all great.

Highlights were; Chrysler building, Rockefellar at night, pizza in the most amazing place near Soho which was like a scene from Sopranos or something, seeing Taxi Driver on a brand new 35mm print in an arthouse cinema near Soho and seeing David Byrne in the foyer (legend!), walking over Manhattan bridge from the Dumbo district.

Treated myself to a new lens as soon as we got there which i used for most of the trip....it was so perfect for all the architectural vistas i love to snap......and i also grabbed a GoProHD too

We lucked out with the weather too, i even got a little bit tanned!

Next time i go it will be more chilled out, less sight seeing and more relaxing and soaking up the atmos.

PS. Here are a few shots i took out there. I managed over 1850 images in 4 days so i had to edit them severely!

Nice pics!

Very nice pictures indeed.

Are you sure your going make with all that roadrash....Just kidding...I've been there too..

If you want to see an amazing show go watch the Lion King on Broadway...This show will give you chills...
As far as a ktm dealer there IS or WAS Corsa Motorsports on the Ave of Americas..I"m not sure if they are still open.
Enjoy yourself whatever you choose to do, and remember to root for the Yankees

Just remember while you there....There's nothing you can't do now yr in NY !!!!!!