My experience in New York City

• bigkahuna

  I got back from a 4 Day stay in New York City Sunday Night and decided to post about my experience because I know there are a couple people who are going here pretty soon.
  
  Thursday-Arrived at the hotel around 3:00pm. Stayed at The Edison Hotel in Times Square on 47th Street. First thing we did was get a hot dog. It was good, but nothing special. I either didn't get it from a good vendor or I had too high of expectations. We then spent some time in Times Square. We walked to and around part of Central Park, which is being renovated all over the place, so a lot of the area was fenced off. Walked down to Rockafeller Center, NBC Studios, NYC Library, and the Empire State Building before walking back up to the hotel.
  
  Times Square-Kind of busy on a Thursday Night, but not bad at all. I was surprised that the 2011 ball was still in place, so I was happy to get a lot of great pics from there.
  
  Embarrassing Moment of the Day-Walking down the steps at Rockafeller Center and falling...fail
  
  Friday-Woke up early and tried out Times Square again. It was almost deserted at 9:30am, so we were able to walk around freely and get some great pics from the steps on the north end of it. Grabbed some breakfast and headed to Hotel #2, which was the Andaz down on Wall Street. I thought that driving in NYC at 11:00am would be alright, but I was wrong. It took almost 2 hours to drive 3 miles. I think the stores on Canal St. were being rated that day because there were at least 30 NYPD vehicles blocking most of the access and exits to that street.
  Got settled in the Hotel and took the subway up to SoHo to see the D-A-S-H store (Wife loves the Kardashians). Obviously the place was expensive, but they wanted $105 for a t-shirt that said DASH on it. Fuck those bitches. We then took the subway down to Ground Zero. Honestly, it was "neat" to see where the things once stood, but I'd almost say it wasn't worth the time. There is so much construction going on there, all you see is cranes and fences. The land itself is unseeable because they're trying to get the memorial done by 9/11/11. There is a memorial preview building just a block up the street, which had memorabilia and artifacts from the day. That is worth seeing and very moving. We then found a store called Century 21. If you're into shopping, GO THERE. There's a few throughout the entire city. They had higher fashion type stuff there for pretty cheap. If you like the purse designers, shoe designers...check this place out. They did have Nike, Adidas, and stuff like that which was pretty cheap too. It was kind of like an outlet mall but set up like a department store. To cap off the day, we went to Adrienne's on Stone/Pearl down in the Financial District (Recommended by Big Apple Buckeye) for some pretty amazing pizza. This isn't your typical pizza joint, it's pretty swanky.
  
  Notes from Friday-Driving in NYC isn't that bad, you just have to be aggressive. The Subway System is pretty easy to use. All you have to do is pay attention. I went to board the R to go up to SoHo but instead I boarded the R that took us over to Brooklyn. I didn't realize that there are multiple routes for the same number/letter. It wasn't a hard fix though, got off and back on the correct one about 5 mins later. Also, we both felt very safe All day Friday and Saturday.
  
  Embarrassing Moment of the Day-After being is stopped traffic for 30 minutes, I turned down a side street to go around the NYPD. After turning, I sat and waited in line for the light to move. About 5mins goes by, and none of the cars had moved. NYPD standing on the street corner gets my attention and yells over "Are you waiting for those PARKED cars to move?"...fail
  
  Saturday- We were going to go back up to Times Square to stay Saturday because we were going to a Broadway show, but down on Wall Street was 1,000,000x more quiet and peaceful (and our hotel might have been the nicest room I'd ever stayed in as well as the most modern) that we decided to stay down there again and just ride the subway up to Times Square later that day. Went to Battery Park to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. We got there around 10:30am and had to wait in line 2 hours before getting on a fairy to go. While we were waiting, the wife bought some purses from these Africans with briefcases and black trash bags. She low balled them bad on prices, but they were willing to take anything. Statue of Liberty was cool to see, but we didn't even get off the boat because you needed Crown Tickets to even go inside the monument. Ellis Island was probably one of my favorite things on the entire trip. There are exhibits all over the place, and the museum is free. Friday afternoon, I finally got my NY style pizza. At first I was shocked that I was charged $12 for a small pizza. BUT, I got the pizza, and it was the size of a large! I could only imagine how big a NY large and sicilian are. It was amazing though. The only incident where we didn't feel safe was while we were walking back to the hotel with the pizza. We saw a homeless guy dig through the trash, eat some cardboard, and then run toward us while swinging a knotted up sheet. We crossed the street, so nothing happened. It was just creepy.
  Saturday night, we went back up to Times Square to see the Lion King. The show was amazing; I'll just leave it at that. Subway was retardedly crowded on the way back.
  
  Notes from Saturday- Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island was cool, but you've gotta get there HELLA EARLY. If you board after 2pm, you have to choose which one you want to get off and see because there's not enough time for both. IMO, unless you want to pay extra money to go to the top of the Statue, don't bother getting off there because you just walk around the lawn or into a souvenir shop. The ferry ride was only $13/person. Times Square on a Saturday night is frustratingly hectic. If/when you go up there lock arms or something. OR just go in the early part of the day.
  
  Embarrassing Moment of the Day-Having to stand on the Subway Saturday night and falling into people whenever it would stop/go.
  
  Sunday-On the way home wanted to go to Carlo's Bakery in Hoboken, NJ (Home of Cake Boss). There was a 2hr wait to just go inside the bakery, and this was around 10:00am. So, we took a pic from the car and drove home lol.
  
  Overall it was a great trip. There is so much to see though, you really need to have a schedule planned out. We didn't even go to Brooklyn, Queens, or the Bronx, and probably only say 1/2 of Manhattan. The subway is safe and easy to navigate, especially with this website.
  
  http://tripplanner.mta.info/_start.aspx
  I just typed in some addresses, and it told me where the nearest station was and what train to board....It's like mapquest for the subway, and it's part of the MTA website. I suggest using it. People talk about how expensive the city is, but it's only expensive if you want it to be. Our most expensive meal was $60 and that's because it was room service.
  
  My Advice
  -Plan ahead as far as sight seeing and activities go
  -Park your car ASAP and take the subway or walk vs. anything else
  -Driving isn't bad, but you have to be aggressive
  -If you need to get gas, get it before you get to the city, I never say a gas station
  -Newark New Jersey and Jersey City are disgusting dumps, so avoid them. Jersey before that is alright.
  -If you're going to go to Times Square, do it earlier in the day and save yourself from the mob it becomes later.
  -Eat a decent breakfast-We ate around 9am every morning and typically didn't eat again until 9pm that night for dinner. We just went, and everything was so fast paced, we felt like we didn't have time for a snack or lunch during the day.
  -If you want to stay in Manhattan, stay somewhere in the Financial District. It's usually cheaper and much less hectic than Midtown. The hotel we stayed in Thursday Night in Times Square was $280 w/parking. However, the hotel we stayed at on Wall Street was $205 (after taxes) and $255/night with parking included. The other Times Square hotel we were going to stay at Saturday Night was $305 w/parking.
  
  Sorry this is so long, but I thought it might help better prepare someone else in the coming weeks.
• martyirish

  

  Glad you had a great time. We stayed at the edison the last time we were there. Awesome hotel, just found it odd no ice machines.
  If there is a next time for you. the pizza I recommend is Gramaldi's in Brooklyn. It's on Fulton Ave under the brooklyn bridge. Cooked in a coal oven. Then get brooklyn ice cream on the pier then walk across the bridge into manhatten to work it off. Thanks for sharing, now I want to go back.
• Heretic

  

  I was hoping it'd be the same as Homer Simpson's.
• Automatik

  

  Sounds like you got covered a lot of ground in those 4 days. I bet your legs were killin you after that haha.
  
  I recently just found out what the hell Dash is. I had a group of female friends in town visiting and they were raving about it. We head to Soho and the line was about 100 deep and lots of security. I'm guessing they were filming? Chicks were literally going crazy in the line...they looked as if they were creaming their pants when it was getting close to them being able to walk in.
  
  I dropped them off and went on my own for a bit. I love Soho...so much cool shit there.
• BigAppleBuckeye

  

  martyirish;739219 wrote:If there is a next time for you. the pizza I recommend is Gramaldi's in Brooklyn. It's on Fulton Ave under the brooklyn bridge. Cooked in a coal oven. Then get brooklyn ice cream on the pier then walk across the bridge into manhatten to work it off.

  
  And then you can visit me, as I live one block from there! Grimaldi's rules, but the line is always comprised of 75-100 tourists, so I never have the patience to go there anymore (we hit Sam's up the block in Cobble Hill).
• jordo212000

  

  New York is awesome. I'll never forget when I went there as a kid. As soon as we went under the "Welcome to NYC" sign, my dad got cussed at by another car. We went through a light that had just changed to red and some guy yelled "Hey! You F'ing idiot!!" Haha. That's when I knew we were in New York.
  
  I'll tell you this, I would never want to drive in NYC. The cabbies drive me absolutely crazy. Everybody is in such a hurry and if your car doesn't move as soon as the light changes, people start yelling at you.
• Automatik

  

  I had my car here for 2 weeks. It was a major pain in the ass...never again!
• Laley23

  

  Mmmmmmmm, Grimaldis, mmmmmmmmmmm.
  
  So damn good. Best pizza Ive ever had. First tried it about 10 years now on a high-school field trip (from Toledo to NYC for a week) and then have had it every time back (4 times since).
• thavoice

  Automatik;739233 wrote:Sounds like you got covered a lot of ground in those 4 days. I bet your legs were killin you after that haha.
  
  I recently just found out what the hell Dash is. I had a group of female friends in town visiting and they were raving about it. We head to Soho and the line was about 100 deep and lots of security. I'm guessing they were filming? Chicks were literally going crazy in the line...they looked as if they were creaming their pants when it was getting close to them being able to walk in.
  
  I dropped them off and went on my own for a bit. I love Soho...so much cool shit there.

  
  What is Dash?
• bases_loaded

  

  GF bought a $10 bottle of DASH water in south beach. Stupid fake celebrities
• martyirish

  

  Best time I go to Gramaldi's is around 3:30. Right before they re-energize the oven.
  No line. Plus if there is a line I order it to-go and eat it on the pier.
  Bigapple buckeye, next time I go I will IM you before hand.
  Would like to meet
  
  Oh yea.
  I am going to have my wife give you some info on how to save a lot of money in NYC.
  For example we signed up to get e-mails from Edison hotel.
  We got our room there for $129 a night and that included breakfast in the diner right next to it
• Drums of War

  BigAppleBuckeye;739251 wrote:And then you can visit me, as I live one block from there! Grimaldi's rules, but the line is always comprised of 75-100 tourists, so I never have the patience to go there anymore (we hit Sam's up the block in Cobble Hill).

  The line was too long for us last fall, so we settled for a nice sit down pizza place at the end of the block toward the river. It was a little pricey, but the it was very good. Also had the ice cream at the docks there. It was VERY good.
• Fab4Runner

  

  Never been to NYC but I had Grimaldi's in Tucson and it was the best pizza I've ever eaten.
  
  I wouldn't mind going to New York but it's not something I ever see myself planning or spending the money on.
• Automatik

  

  Fab4Runner;739391 wrote:Never been to NYC but I had Grimaldi's in Tucson and it was the best pizza I've ever eaten.
  
  I wouldn't mind going to New York but it's not something I ever see myself or spending the money on.

  
  Its definitely a place I would recommend seeing at least once. Its not for everyone....but its damn cool.....unbelievably massive with infinite things to do.
• JerseyBuck

  

  As someone who was born in Jersey City, I take no offense to your comment haha
  
  NYC is a great place, always something to do or something new to discover. I've been living here the last two years and love it, although I will be looking to move back to Ohio in a few years.
• Fab4Runner

  

  Automatik;739395 wrote:Its definitely a place I would recommend seeing at least once. Its not for everyone....but its damn cool.....unbelievably massive with infinite things to do.

  Yeah I would love to go once. My mom and I have actually talked about going for a long weekend sometime...I would love to go with her.
• Glory Days

  

  Heretic;739225 wrote:I was hoping it'd be the same as Homer Simpson's.

  
  haha thats what i was hoping my first trip would be like. i stayed away from the crab juice though.
  

  jordo212000;739259 wrote:New York is awesome. I'll never forget when I went there as a kid. As soon as we went under the "Welcome to NYC" sign, my dad got cussed at by another car. We went through a light that had just changed to red and some guy yelled "Hey! You F'ing idiot!!" Haha. That's when I knew we were in New York.
  
  I'll tell you this, I would never want to drive in NYC. The cabbies drive me absolutely crazy. Everybody is in such a hurry and if your car doesn't move as soon as the light changes, people start yelling at you.

  
  i drove through manhatten on a friday night at like midnight so i know what you mean. basically i learned you just start honking your horn whether you need to or not. it becomes second nature, like using a turn signal there.
• Laley23

  

  Everyone should go to NYC. It is just enormous. Like 5 times the size of Chicago, or so it seems.
• bigkahuna

  Going on a budget, I'll tell you that it wasn't that expensive.
  
  Edison Hotel Times Square- $269/night for standard King Bed and valet parking
  Andaz Hotel on Wall Street- $204/night for standard King Bed free mini bar(snacks, water, pop alcohol was extra)-VERY MODERN HOTEL with button operated shades, big flat screen HD tv...craziest/nicest bathroom I'd ever seen.
  Parking for 2 nights at The Andaz- $110
  
  Food
  2 Hot Dogs-$5
  Dinner at Edison Cafe $30 (Burgers and pop)
  Breakfast same Cafe $30
  Fancy Pizza Dinner and Drinks $45
  Breakfast at Andaz Restaurant $35-40
  NY Style Pizza and bread $20
  Room Service at Andaz (2 burgers) $50
  
  Souvenirs and Regular shopping ~$300
  
  Tickets to Broadway Show (Dead Center 10 rows back)~$270
  
  Tickets for Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island $26
  
  Gas from Toledo-NYC-and back $150 and we drove a Fusion
  
  Tolls roundtrip $30
  
  Subway for entire weekend <$20. I'm not sure of the exact amount, but I put $20 on my Metro Card and had some left over
  
  I bought the Broadway tickets back in January and booked/put aside money for the hotels back in February. It's all about budgeting.
  
  We spent ~$2000
• bigkahuna

  thavoice;739281 wrote:What is Dash?

  
  D-A-S-H is the boutique/clothing store that is ran by The Kardashian sisters (Kim,Kourtney,Khloe)
• dwccrew

  

  bigkahuna;739653 wrote:D-A-S-H is the boutique/clothing store that is ran by The Kardashian sisters (Kim,Kourtney,Khloe)

  
  Honestly, anyone that would get excited over going into that store needs their head examine. Glad to hear you avoided it.
• bigkahuna

  Oh, but we didn't avoid it. The wife loves the Kardashians, so we HAD to check out the store. It just pissed me off.
  
  I'll be honest, it was cool to see/be at something that's on television, but w/e.
• sleeper

  

  bigkahuna;739702 wrote: The wife loves the Kardashians

  
  I'd find a new wife.
• friendfromlowry

  Heretic;739225 wrote:I was hoping it'd be the same as Homer Simpson's.

  
  This made me lol. "Mountain dew or crab juice?"..."Ewwww yuck!! I'll take a crab juice!"
  
  I've ALWAYS wanted to go to New York, but I hate crowds and people and long waits.
• dwccrew

  

  bigkahuna;739702 wrote:Oh, but we didn't avoid it. The wife loves the Kardashians, so we HAD to check out the store. It just pissed me off.
  
  I'll be honest, it was cool to see/be at something that's on television, but w/e.

  
  Well this makes sense. All women need their head examined.