newyorker1001
- Local Expert 351 points
- Reviews 14
- Questions 0
- Answers 0
- Discussions 0
Reviews
Division St
"A LES institution."
Orchard Street is home to the Tenement Museum and lots of cheap stores, but its main claim to fame is the one and only Guss's Pickles. Pickle making used to be a big industry in the area when it had not gentrified and there were still thousands and thousands of Jews living nearby. That aspect of the Lower East Side is gone, but it is not forgotten thanks to Guss's Pickles. I try to go downtown into the LES every year to see Katz's and Yonah's and get a half sour pickle at Guss's. It's especially good in the summer to go for one in the summer - not the usual ice cream, but just as refreshing.
Delancey St
"Music Capital of NYC"
Ok, the title might be a little full of hyperbole, but take my advice and head down to Ludlow anyway if you want to see a music concert. There is not just one but three great venues in the area. Start off by heading to the Living Room, home of the singer-songwriter type who will strum on his or her guitar and sing you a melancholy tune. If that's not your sort of thing, try heading over to Piano's, where many student bands and newly formed bands play their first gigs and establish themselves. If you're still not satisfied, consider heading over to the Cake Shop, where many established bands have played some smaller gigs. After all of that, why not try heading over to the Sombrero restaurant and getting some decent, inexpensive food while you're at it?
Amsterdam Ave
"Great restaurants and relaxed atmosphere."
Speaking as a resident of the Upper West Side, Amsterdam Avenue is a great place to go to eat at a nice restaurant and feel relaxed while doing it. There is a stretch of great breakfast places including Good Enough to Eat, Sarabeth's, Popover Cafe, and Barney Greengrass. If it's lunch you're looking for, consider Fred's, Harriet's Kitchen, or Roppongi. And for a fancier dinner, Celeste, The Neptune Room, or Haru are all good bets. Stop at the New York Public Library along the way if you're eating alone and pick up a good book to read while you sit outside and relax.
Cabrini Blvd
"A nice, habitable street in Upper Manhattan."
Sandwiched between the two massive housing institutions of Castle Village and Hudson View Gardens, Cabrini Boulevard is a quiet, leafy street in Upper Manhattan. There is a ton of affordable housing in the area compared to downtown Manhattan, and it is well worth it to consider living in the area. One thing to take note of is the fact that Castle Village recently had problems with its supporting walls over the West Side Highway. A wall collapsed and this drastically increased the maintenance costs for tenants in the building so that renovation and repairs could begin. On the bright side, this probably won't be an issue in the future.
Peretz Sq
"Best of the LES."
East Houston Street has the best of the Lower East Side going for it. Start off with a potato knish at the famous and delicious landmark of Yonah Schimmel's. Then go to a great arthouse or indie movie at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema, which serves gourmet popcorn and has the most comfortable seats in town. If you have a craving for something heavier, head to Katz's Deli and try to score the table where Harry sat with Sally and Sally had a very good time while eating a pastrami sandwich. They really are almost that good. Head off a little ways to Pianos and listen to some great local bands. Then call it a night - you've done enough!
West 42nd St
"Not what it's made out to be."
Times Square is all around overrated. The true attraction of modern Broadway, the theaters, has been overshadowed by the gaudy and annoying electronic signs on every inch of wall surface in the area. The signs must burn at least as much electricity staying on as the rest of Manhattan. The only businesses that can afford to be in the area, particularly restaurants, are less than average quality as well. The key to having a decent time here is to stop by the recruiting station, snap a few pictures, and go.
Coney Island Ave
"Going down the tube."
Coney Island is not what it once was. Of course, people appreciate it a little too much for a dirty, creepy seediness that it used to have, but it did have its charms. Coney Island is now being gentrified at an astonishing pace, with new condominiums rising all over the place and the amusement parks being buried underneath them. I was disappointed that the go-kart tracks and mini golf courses have now been closed. It's hard enough to find those in a city of so many people already. Hopefully there will be better days ahead, but unless you want to see a neighborhood in flux and trying to figure out what it is, I say steer clear until the decision is finally made.
Water St
"Best View in New York"
Water Street has to be one of the nicest streets in New York. Whenever I visit here, I find myself looking at the real estate around and considering moving to DUMBO. There is a great restaurant sitting at the edge of the river right under the Brooklyn Bridge called the River Cafe. The Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory is right next door and looks over the Fulton Landing which has been featured in many movies. Jacques Torres Chocolate Shop is a great place to head for a rich hot chocolate and then there is the new carousel and St. Ann's Warehouse to tide you over entertainment wise until the summer comes and Brooklyn Bridge Park concerts restart.
West 47 St
"Ladies Shopping Central."
As the other reviewers have pointed out, W 47th Street is the center for diamond shopping in New York City. With over 2500 shops, there is no excuse for paying too much for a diamond here - haggle your way to the cheapest piece of jewelry you've ever bought for your loved one or for yourself! Then skip the hustle and bustle and head to the TKTS booth - there are discount tickets on Broadway shows sold here every day. That's a much better way of relaxing and having a New York kind of night than hanging around Rockefeller Center would be. All in all, 47th Street alone will provide you with enough entertainment for an entire day.
West 125 St
"Center of Harlem"
125th Street is the center of historic Harlem. Get off the subway at 125th Street and head to the Apollo Theatre, home of the popular television show, "Showtime at the Apollo." More recently, the Gorillaz have performed here, and James Brown's viewing was held here, a line of his fans and impersonators and tribute bands snaking down 125th Street for several blocks. Consider taking a historical tour of the area - many Civil Rights leaders made this area their residence, including Langston Hughes.
5th Ave
"A beautiful street that suffers from commercialization."
5th Avenue is really two streets in one. Uptown from 59th street, 5th Avenue is a quiet, wide boulevard with many, many old and stately buildings. They are all constructed in similar elegant styles and can be quite nice to look at as you walk by. The Uptown section of 5th Avenue is also famous for its Museum Mile, containing, among other museums, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Guggenheim Museum, The Museum of the City of New York, and El Museo. It is also the home to many gorgeous brownstones and the consulates of several countries. Go down below 59th street, however, and suffer the commercialization - big F.A.O Schwartz and other flagship shopping stores that are attractive to tourists only. If shopping is your thing, however, you may find it heaven.
East Dr
"One of New York's nicest streets."
One of the other major connections to the central running and biking trail in Central Park, Central Park East Drive has many good things to call its own. Running very close to the reservoir, Central Park East Drive's location makes it very easy for someone to leave the road and sit on a lovely bench overlooking a gorgeous day and the water. Or if you'd prefer, you could head to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and enjoy the beautiful Egyptian sculptures or the medieval suits of armor, which are always exciting to the kids.
Center Dr
"Running and biking road in CP."
Located on the Southern side of Central Park and running between east and west, Center Drive continues along the path started by West Drive to provide space for runners and bikers. Along Center Drive, however, there are several unique attractions. The Wollman Ice Skating Rink owned by Donald Trump of the Apprentice (and a much despised figure in New York) can be easily accessed nearby. 59th Street, which runs close to Center Drive, also has a host of hotels and fancy restaurants, so tourists who come into the city may consider going to Center Drive for a run if they prefer to do so outdoors and not inside their hotel gym.
West Dr
"A perfect place to exercise."
Forging a circuitous route through Central Park along with several other roads, West Drive provides a perfect escape for runners and bikers who want to run on a solid track inside a beautiful area. There are very few days when the Drive won’t have many people exercising on it – rain or shine, night or day, you are likely to encounter another person doing the same thing as you. There are public bathrooms and water fountains nearby if you need, and also many vendors selling water and food if you wear yourself out.
