Marisa's Nyc Guide
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MARISA’S NYC GUIDE With help from Oli, Jen (JA) & Dan (DP)! TRAVELING / TRANSPORT Take a taxi from the airport – it’s a flat $45 + tolls and well worth avoiding the hassle of public transportation. Buy a map, get your bearings and you’ll find life so much easier. If you’re ambitious, buy a map before you leave home, do research ahead of time and plan ahead. You can put little dots on all the places you want to go and then you’ll realize what neighborhood most of the stuff is in that you want to check out. Subway map: http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/maps/subwaymap.pdf Getting around: It’s really easy to take the subway (although there are regular problems!), but realize that most of the stops are really close together, so a lot of times you can walk. Taxis are super cheap, so if its not traffic time, just take a taxi. For the most part, “Streets” run North/South and “Avenues” run East/West. So when you’re walking from 8th Street to 9th Street you’re walking North. When you’re walking from 6th Avenue to 7th Avenue you’re walking West. Things to remember: 6th Avenue is also Avenue of the Americas Houston Street (pronounced HOWston) runs N/S and is the divider between the neighborhoods East Village and Soho. Broadway / 6th Ave / Ave of the Americas is a good marker dividing East & West. Downtown (depending on who you ask!) is below 14th Street, although most people say below 23rd Street, some say 34th Street …. Uptown would definitely be above 42nd Street… The whole city is on a grid system, but it gets a bit tricky in the different neighborhoods (Soho / Greenwich Village), so use your map. You can also ask people – everyone is really friendly! Major Junctions: 14th Street/Union Square: The 4,5,6, L, N, R, Q all stop here. Can catch the L train (grey) here to Brooklyn (it’s only 3 stops to Bedford Ave) or to Northern most part of the East Village (2nd Ave) Broadway/Lafayette: N,R, 4, 5, 6, F This let’s you out right in the middle of the massive Broadway shopping district and is a good spot to get off - it’s btw Union Square and the thick of Soho. 2nd Ave/Houston or Delancey: F This is the stop to get off for the LES 42nd Street /Union Square 1,9, N, R, Q, 7 Most locals avoid this at all costs… but if you must…. All the big multimedia billboards, lots of tall buildings, hustle and bustle, all the bigger versions of the stores downtown. You can walk to Rockefeller Center. Its cool to walk around and take in the vibe, eat a street hot dog maybe jump in a pedi-cab, but you won’t really hang around long. Car Services: In NYC there are several car services… Just call, tell them where you are and where you need to go and confirm a price before you get into the car. Here are 3 good ones: Delancey – 212-228-3301 (Jose car 131 has a pimping SUV – great for the airport if you’re in Manhattan) 212-666-6666 – Not sure of the name, but this is the easiest to remember Northside in Williamsburg – 718-387-2222 Eating: For reliable restaurant reviews: http://www.nymag.com, http://www.nytimes.com/pages/dining/ Information and menus for almost every single NYC restaurant (great resource when you want food delivered!): http://www.menupages.com For all of the classic NYC restaurants / bars. This is from the Soho / Tribeca Grand website written by our friend Jaclyn. http://www.grandlifenyc.com/dining_favorite.php Shopping: http://www.nymag.com NEIGHBORHOODS The main ‘downtown neighborhoods’ are where I know best. You can easily walk around these three main hoods. We’ve included some other areas below that border these three – and have been becoming more popular, more gentrified and very nice in recent years. SOHO means south of Houston (pronounced Howwwston – not like the city in Dallas) – Soho is massive – its sort of wedged between Houston, the West Village and the Lower East Side – all of the massive chain stores are here and Broadway is the main artery with all of the high street shops (H&M, Old Navy, Banana Republic, The Gap…) NOLITA is called Nolita because its North of Little Italy (which is shrinking). It kind of borders Chinatown / Lower East Side close to Soho. THE LOWER EAST SIDE runs along the East River (south of Houston) and West to Allen Street (which is technically Ave A in the East Village) EAST VILLAGE sort of starts East of Broadway around East 4th Street and goes all the way to the East River… Its wedged between Greenwich Vilalge and Union Square… *Definitely get a map – and hopefully it will all make sense! SOHO Once the center of ‘downtown’ hedonism and art and culture… Now a great place for shopping! All the major designer shops are around here (Chanel, Prada, Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, APC) – a lot of the same ones as 5th Avenue really, but less of a headache to walk around on a crowded day… It’s a pleasant area to stroll, but pretty touristy and you won’t find lots of bargains, but hitting the sales are always good … Lots of independent designers set up little tables all around here selling jewellery, hats, t-shirts… If you’re after cheap accessories, head to Chinatown – even though a lot of these guys claim to be selling hand-made stuff, you’ll see a lot of the same in other stalls or for cheaper in Chinatown. There are a few good restaurants in Soho, but they tend to be harder to find. Not that many bars in Soho either really, but it sure would be a nice place to live. Look up when you walk around – there are some amazing loft apartments! SOHO GRAND 310 West Broadway btw Grand & Canal – Lovely hotel with a great outdoor seating area in the Summer called The Yard – even if you’re staying in the hotel, I would suggest booking way ahead of time – it gets super super crowded. Nice cocktail bar next to Lobby on first floor. Use the concierge to make reservations for you if you’re staying here. RESTAURANTS Omen – 113 Thompson Street btw Prince & Spring, 212-925-8923. OMG! The best Japanese restaurant in NYC – amazing quality sashimi and beef and an amazing Saki list. Ask the waiters for some authentic suggestions. Very cozy and casual, and pricey. They only take cash and American Express, so come with a wad. Hundred Acres - 38 MacDougal St btw Houston & Prince, 212-475-7500 Food changes daily, sourced from neighboring Greenmarket. Nice and fresh and yummy. I’ve never been here, but it looks delicious and comes recommended (DP). Fried Green tomatoes, beet salads, burgers and pancakes! Count me in. http://hundredacresnyc.com Ruben’s Empanadas – 505 Broome Street @ Watts Street, 212-334-3351. I used to always get empanadas delivered for my ’SUP parties. If you’re in the hood, swing by for a quick snack. Get a few of the minis for a little taster – great vegetarian / vegan options! Lupes – 110 6th Ave @ Watts Street, 212-966-1326- According to a friend - Best Mexican in Soho. All the Mexican classics – burritos, tacos , quesadillas, guac, salsa fresca. http://www.lupeskitchen.com/ Vesuvio Bakery – 160 Prince Street btw Thompson & West Broadway – walking distance from the Soho Grand. They make amazing bread and do a decent breakfast – but its not healthy at all. Yummy toad in a hole with cheese and proscuitto and great omelettes. Balthazar – 80 Spring Street btw Broadway & Lafayette - 212-965-1785 – Very hectic bakery and bistro. Nice food (yummy egg dishes and oysters), excellent service. One in the chain of restauranteur Keith McNally (see Pastis, Schiller’s Liquor Bar, Pravda, Lucky Strike, etc). Book ahead if you can, its usually busy. http://www.balthazarny.com/ SHOPS Barney’s Co-Op – 116 Wooster @ Prince – only women’s clothing at this one… Really nice to not have to go uptown, but still doesn’t have the selection of the uptown shop… AMAZING selection of jeans, although they run out of popular sizes pretty quickly… http://www.barneyscoop.com Antropologie – 275 West Broadway btw Spring & Broome – total “shabby chic” vibe going on – owned by Urban Outfitters – its like the more sophisticated older sister. Really nice stuff, but not that original and a bit overpriced. Style is a bit hipper than J Crew. They have these in malls all over America now… Apple Store – 103 Prince Street @ Greene – from here – you’ll be in the heart of Soho. There’s a bathroom upstairs in the theatre as well… which is clean and kind of hidden. Might be a little awkward if there’s a lecture going on. APC - 131 Mercer @ Prince – Love, love, love this place. Preppie utilitarian style… The prices are a lot lower than in the UK. Really lovely basics and key pieces. Operations – 60 Mercer Street – Another very utilitarian, almost military style brand. Mostly guys clothes… NYC brand started by 3 dudes. Clothes are all really well made – mostly jackets and shirts. There’s a nice big cat who is always in there too sleeping… Olive & Bette’s - 158 Spring Street btw West Broadway & Thompson – cute, more casual designer clothes. Always the latest denim and simple tshirt brands. http://www.oliveandbettes.com/ Marc Jacobs – 163 Mercer Street @ Houston - There is no Marc by Marc in here – it’s the catwalk stuff.