Manhattan: best places

[pastwatcher]

I know Manhattan+Queens is a notionally HUGE concept and trying to do this will break your head. But I'm soliciting suggestions anyway: what are some places that I should experience with a friend? Usually when I'm in NYC I do different things every 3-4 hours; this time, I'm spending a whole Friday with one friend most of you don't know (Lily, from Uchoir) to have either adventures or quiet comfort.

If you want to consider this a meme: name your /absolute favorite/ places in New York City (ahem, Manhattan for me) in the categories "go every time", "area to frequently explore", and "everyone must go here sometime". Thanks lowellboyslash for the sexy description; I am looking forward to my own visit. I think autumn suits New York, because the brusque cold rush of wind, and the brilliant interest of different falling leaves, are like the purposeful no-nonsense people with so many things to be and to do.

Places I try to go every time:
Central Park, any part (going! There will be leaves!)
Alice's Tea Cup

Areas I frequent:
Union Square
Columbus Circle

Others must go at least once:
The Strand
The public library with the lions
The Natural History museum
A real Broadway show, such as "In the Heights"

Also I want apple cider...gaah I want unpasteurized apple cider that is NOT too sweet. You can get it anywhere in the mid-Atlantic and New England, but not here.

Comments

[undomielregina]

The apple cider issue, and the fact that you'll be here on a Friday mean I think you should go to the Union Square Greenmarket.

I love the Met. Like, lots. And right now there's a huge exhibit of Yuan Dynasty art where most of the pieces are on loan from China that I would say is a must see.

Also, the King Tut exhibit in Times Square is worth going to since it'll be at least another 30 years before anything like it leaves Egypt. The audio tour is really well done too, and certainly worth the money.

[pastwatcher]

Nice! Thank you.

[michiexile]

Unless too many in the crowd are vegetarians, there are few things in this world as amazing as Pastrami on Rye from Katz' delicatessen at 1st/Houston.

[inteluser.livejournal.com]

Next to Normal is currently the show to see.

[gaudior.livejournal.com]

All my "go every time"s are in Brooklyn, I'm afraid, it being my ancestral home. But:

"area to frequently explore": If you have a good stretch of time, it's fun to start walking Broadway way down at the tip of the island and see how far you get. I tended to get distracted and stop sometime around Central Park, but you go through all sorts of interesting places on the way.

"everyone must go here sometime": The Cloisters (http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/the_cloisters)! All the way up at the top of Manhattan, but totally worth the trip, especially in the fall-- cuz it's not just the art (they have the unicorn tapestries!), it's the walk to the art through a park overlooking the river and the great huge boulders and trees, and it's lovely.

[lux-alexander.livejournal.com]

Surely one of the stalls in the union square farmers market has the not too sweet cider?

[silkspinner.livejournal.com]

We'll get you cider at the Farmer's Market when you get here tomorrow! (Er, do I know what time you're getting in?)

[sandmantv.livejournal.com]

For reals on the cider issue. We're finding the same issue up in Seattle. Why did no one tell us about this???

[novalis.livejournal.com]

Visit once: the Cathedral of St. John The Divine, 14th St / 8th Ave station (for the Tom Otterness sculptures), seconding the Cloisters.

Eat frequently: Ippudo ramen (warning, long wait), Grand Sichuan (not the chain one -- the one at Canal and Chrystie)

[tiamat360.livejournal.com]

Ippudo ramen

Ooo, is that the itty bitty ramen place with the amazing curry? If so, seconding this recommendation!

occultatio and I always try to make it to Rice and Riches.

[novalis.livejournal.com]

I would not describe Ippudo as small.

[tiamat360.livejournal.com]

Ah, no, I'm thinking of Menkui Tei. Amazing curry, and good ramen. (http://www.yelp.com/biz/menkui-tei-new-york-2) ()

[pastwatcher]

My flight gets in about 8:30 PM Thursday. According to it, I can get to your place (from JFK, via light rail, E, 1) about 10:30. If you get cider before then, I'll bring mulling spices! But really, I usually get Ziegler's or something from the grocery store.

[pastwatcher]

Ooh, the Cloisters. That is a place I must go, I think.

[novalis.livejournal.com]

Also, if you have free time this weekend, let me know. I'm free all weekend.

[autumnblackbird.livejournal.com]

I second both of these! Also, when you're at Katz's, make sure to have an egg cream. They are sooooooo good!

[pastwatcher]

Neat! I may well have time on Saturday afternoon or evening. It appears that I have a 617 number for you; is that right? (You ought to have my 609 one, I hope.)

[autumnblackbird.livejournal.com]

The Frick Collection!!!!!!!! How could I have forgotten the Frick Collection?! It displays Henry Clay Frick's art collection in his mansion, which is really neat because not only are the paintings absolutely amazing, they also display some of them in furnished rooms, so you get a sense of what it would have been like to actually *live* with these paintings in your home. Definitely worth at least one visit. The audio guide (free with admission) is really good. I like to come back, because I'm in love with the paintings and find the place really calming.

Also, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, especially the 19th-century European galleries.

[novalis.livejournal.com]

Yes, my number is the same. Due to a phone issue, tho, I seem to not have yours.

[pastwatcher]

Cool. I've emailed you.