[Knocturnal]

I remember seeing this sign in front of some store that said,"Trespassers will be shot, Survivors will be shot again." I thought that was pretty funny.

 

[Sovkiller]

LOL!!!!

That was funny man..!!!!

 

[Davie]

Quote:

Originally posted by wallijonn there's a Church that was converted to a Disco. Limelight?

Closed. Church building for rent.

 

[hempcamp]

Quote:

Originally posted by wallijonn If you're in the Village, and you feel a unshakeable urge to go down a particular street, and there's no one there, don't go. .... If you get hammered (drunk), take a cab home. don't take the subways at 3 in the morning. ....

I go to school in the Village and live in the Financial District (Sept-May). Don't listen to this guy -- it's remarkably safe, particularly because there are always people around -- the Village never sleeps. I mean, be sensible and all: walk towards the curb side of the sidwalk, at a brisk pace, and look like you know where you're going (even if you don't).

Oh, and the main subways are pretty safe at 3am (Manhattan only) if you stay in the marked waiting areas (under the big yellow signs) and travel in the conductor's car.

Honestly, I feel way safer in Manhattan than I ever did when I lived in London, and certainly safer than where I grew up in Baltimore.

As for places to see, why Union Square? Blah. Boring. I walk through it every day. East Village is more fun, lots of great book & record shops, cheaper bars. Why J&R's? It's disorganized, crowded, and maze-like.

Most of my NYC favorites are free things like St Pat's, the Bkln Bridge, SI Ferry if you have time. Chinatown is always good for a cheap bite, particularly the dumpling booths.

My favorite museum is the Neue Galerie, a few streets up from the Met. Small, snazzy museum with lots of great German and Austrian modern art by Klimmt, Klee, etc. And the Austrian cafe there (Sabarsky) is outstanding -- try their pastries.

For nitelife and other entertainment options, pick up a free copy of the Village Voice (printed Wednesday of each week). Listings out the wazoo in there, and plenty of escort ads in the back if you get lonely (just kidding!).

--Chris

 

[gloco]

JandR=has tons of cool AUDIO gear...duh!

Union Square=tons of ELECTRONICS STORES...sheesh.

As for the bridge, beyond me why anyone thinks its beautiful...it's old and ugly.

 

[scrypt]

Hey, respect to Wallijonn for accessing his memories of NYC and trying to be helpful. He hasn't lived in NYC in the post-Guiliani age -- how would he know that NYC had become a safer place?

Also: Don't assume NYC will stay safe if the city loses sufficient amounts of money. Bloomberg's downsizing of the police force is going to have its effect on neighborhoods like mine.

Apartment deregulation will result in the poor being forced to move outside the city eventually, but that change won't affect current PJ denizens for twenty years. It could also result in New York becoming an urban Disneyland -- with workers, tourists and the wealthy being its only occupants -- unless landlords start meeting opposition from elected leaders for a change.

 

[hempcamp]

Quote:

Originally posted by scrypt Apartment deregulation will result in the poor being forced to move outside the city eventually, but that change won't affect current PJ denizens for twenty years. It could also result in New York becoming an urban Disneyland -- with workers, tourists and the wealthy being its only occupants -- unless landlords start meeting opposition from elected leaders for a change.

Heh. Funny you should say that.

It happened to me. When I return next September, I'll be living out in Jersey. I never intended to be a commuter -- "bridge and tunnel folk" -- but it's just no longer affordable for "poor" folk like me. Funny thing is, I can live like a King out in Jersey.

I agree -- even rentals in the Lower East Side (the last real un-gentrified part of Manhattan) are flying high. Manhattan will soon be one big gated community -- middle class need not apply!

--Chris

 

[jaskin]

Hi,

I'm thinking of going over to NY sometime this week for a short visit before I go back. Any idea where's a good hotel to stay? I found a hotel that's here

Is that a good location ?

Thanks
Jason

 

[hempcamp]

Quote:

Originally posted by jaskin I'm thinking of going over to NY sometime this week for a short visit before I go back. Any idea where's a good hotel to stay? I found a hotel that's here

Upper West Side -- posh area. Walking distance to Museum of Natural History, Central Park. Longer walking distance to Museum Mile, Times Square, lots of midtown attractions if you don't mind hiking a bit. If the price is right, I'd say it's a good location.

In general, I recommend the chain hotels like Holiday Inn. No frills, a bit pricey, but you know what you're getting ahead of time (no surprises like you get in some of the independent joints).

--Chris

 

[skippy]

if it were up to me i'd get a hotel in queens or brooklyn and an unlimited metrocard.

 

[scrypt]

Depends on the experience you're looking for, Jaskin. Certain hotels retain the seedy elegance of a given area and are cheap but do have luxury elements you might be seeking. There's one around Stanton (LES-Bowery intersection) that I quite like and another on 23rd (on 2nd Avenue). Speedway stayed there while we were working on an album and loved the place.

I'll look up the hotel names if you're interested. Otherwise, I'll assume you've made other arrangements.

The West Side is good for museums, parks and pubs. It's a pretty area, though in some ways it seems to provide an escape from some of New York's most definitive characteristics. If you stay there, do explore the rest of the city.

 

[jaskin]

Hi Scrypt,

If it's not too troublesome I wouldn't mind getting the names of the hotels you recommended. The Hotel I mentioned above costs around US$109 a night which seems very reasonable. I wouldn't really be driving so proximity to the subway line and public transport is a plus.

Thanks
Jason

 

[Davie]

Quote:

Originally posted by jaskin Hi Scrypt, If it's not too troublesome I wouldn't mind getting the names of the hotels you recommended. The Hotel I mentioned above costs around US$109 a night which seems very reasonable. I wouldn't really be driving so proximity to the subway line and public transport is a plus. Thanks Jason

That area is fine, better than fine in fact. It's in the heart of the Upper West Side which is a very nice area, a classic New York City neighborhood though over-gentrified at this point. You will be close to buses, subways, plenty of places to eat (Zabars!), shop, etc. Walking distance to Central Park, Lincoln Center (for performing arts), Iridium (jazz club), the Beacon Theater (concerts). If I may take the liberty of expanding on Scrypt's point, the Upper West Side by NYC standards is kind of a leafy upper-middle-class enclave (though with an interesting cultural and ethnic history which has been much eroded by increasing wealth). In one of the various mental cartographies that defines New York, the Upper West Side is Uptown (bourgeois, conservative) as opposed to Downtown (the Village, Chelsea, Soho -- bohemian, alternative, artistic, etc.). Of course this was a vast oversimplification even when it was more true than it is now ("Downtown" has also been heavily gentrified). But it still holds true that the Upper West Side will give you very much one side of New York life and that you should seek out other experiences. (Btw, just to confuse things there are multiple meanings for these words. Downtown also refers to just the original lower Manhattan business district -- but not Midtown, which is in many ways the city's real "downtown" in the sense of being the location for most of the office jobs. "Uptown" can also mean the working class minority neighborhoods *north* of the Upper West Side, such as Harlem and Washington Heights.)

 

[wallijonn]

jaskin,

$109 a night is a GREAT rate.

you might want to visit the building that John Lennon was shot in front of. and if you and the wife are going, you may want to take a romantic horse drawn carriage ride around lower central park.

Scrypt,

thanks for the kind words. as a commuter all i saw were the 34th street, midtown and wall street crowds. (some at 1 and 2 am). so, yes, my experience is a little skewed. a man who is 6'0" shouldn't have any problems. last time i saw Times Square I was surprised to see so many tall buildings (going from 7th to Broadway, I believe).

if you walk across the broooklyn bridge, on your way back you may want to stop at Southside Seaport. really nice.

Hemp,

that was the original intent of Trump - Manhattan for the rich.

 

[hempcamp]

Quote:

Originally posted by wallijonn if you walk across the broooklyn bridge, on your way back you may want to stop at Southside Seaport. really nice.

Good point. I mean, it's not really any different than your usual suburban shopping mall except for the wonderful (ahem) smell of the East River wafting through the place.

But I do recommend it as a nice place for a cheap lunch --- free and excellent view of the Bkln Bridge while you dine. I especially reccomend the seafood bar in the food court for great fried seafood, presumably fresh from the markets nearby. They use a distinctive batter, and prices aren't bad.

Right across from (and slightly caddy-cornered to) the South Street Seaport is a TKTS booth for cheap Broadway shows (foot of John St). Buy your cheap tickets here instead of the non-TKTS booths because the proceeds go towards supporting the dramatic arts.

From there, it's just a short hike up the hill to J&R's if you are so inclined, and another short hike from there to the WTC site. The Trinity Church near that is also pretty neat, and Alexander Hamilton's grave is in the cemetary to the left of the entrance (as well as some other famous early figures). Wall Street, the famous Bull, and Battery Park all nearby. Oh, and the Customs House on Bowling Green is one of the most outstanding examples of Beaux-Arts architecture I have ever seen.

The Statue of Liberty ain't worth it right now -- you can no longer go up in it because of the terrorists, and you have to wait in line for an hour even on a good day (which translates as a rainy day). Besides, you practically have to strip to naked to get on the boat. To get a good view of the Statue, save your $$ and take the free SI Ferry for about the same time round-trip.

--Chris