New York City, please

May 22, 2008 11:51 AM

NewYorkCityFilter: I'm headed to New York City this weekend, staying midtown. It's somewhat spur of the minute but I was wondering if any MeFites have suggestions of current things to do, places to eat and drink, etc. I love trying new places, eats, visual, audible, sensual stimulations. Anything discussed on Mefi recently? Thanks.
posted by hangingbyathread to travel & transportation (20 comments total)

I dunno if anyone has mentioned it on mefi, but this should be a really neat thing to visit: A Telescope Stretches from Brooklyn to London.

Check out the cherry blossoms at the brooklyn botanic gardens, too. Supposed to be beautiful.
posted by ahimsa at 12:05 PM on May 22, 2008

previously:

http://ask.metafilter.com/74349/Its-up-to-you
http://ask.metafilter.com/71143/NYC-Virgin
posted by thinkingwoman at 12:06 PM on May 22, 2008

Takashi Murakami at the Brooklyn Museum
P*Ong
Ippudo Ramen
posted by spec80 at 12:06 PM on May 22, 2008

There is plenty to do here in NYC especially if your in midtown. You can go to a Broadway Show (check out Lez Miz(if its still playing) Movin' Out, etc.), go to the Wax Museum, lots or bars and places to eat! Check out the Marriot Marquee's rotating restaurant, its on the top floor of the Marriot in Times Square.

Whatever you decide to do, HAVE FUN!
posted by cmherskovic at 12:10 PM on May 22, 2008

There is a capoeira event saturday at 4PM. If you like electronic music, Metro Area is playing Saturday night.
posted by mkb at 12:27 PM on May 22, 2008

Eat at the Fatty Crab.
posted by prefpara at 12:28 PM on May 22, 2008

TimeOutNewYork.com.
NYTimes.com.
NewYorker.com.
posted by Dizzy at 12:29 PM on May 22, 2008

Men Kui Tei Japanese noodle soup place on 56th just east of 6th. Absolutely awesome. Frequented by Japanese people. I'd recomend the Tonkatsu Ramen myself, but there's much more besides. The dumpling appetisers are also a must.
posted by Nick Verstayne at 12:50 PM on May 22, 2008

NYCnosh.com

(And they're MeFites.)
posted by yellowcandy at 12:53 PM on May 22, 2008

This came up on the blue before and really was quite cool. $20 entry fee to MOMA at 5th Av & 53rd.

Midtown has lots of restaurants and such but most are focused on tourists like yourself, so revel in it but consider places a little on the edge like Eatery, Empanada Mama, and the scrumptious 44 & X (best haute cuisine mac & cheese evar). 9th Ave Pizzeria has what I consider to be a solid pie, but you can get good pizza at many places. Also, there's great sushi to be had at Aioki and Adaro.

Oh, and if you're just cruising 9th Ave and want to drink cheap with a cross-section of the city's population, you can't beat Rudy's. Look for the giant pig out front.

timeout.com (timeoutnewyork.com just goes to the subscription page), as mentioned, had a recent awesome piece on walking tours, one of which covers farmers markets & flea markets from 44th down to 23rd over a few hours - that area is a fun walk in and of itself.

Walk through Times Square but, unless you just want to meet other tourists, don't eat or shop there if you aren't ready for... the same stuff you'd find at any other Toys R Us or Applebees. The area is amazing to look at, though.

Midtown is nice and central, so if you care to take an N/R/Q to the village and hit the classic McSorleys (have a beer and get out - crowded, loud, but a staple), make your way east on 7th bar-to-bar until you get to Bourgeois Pig for awesome beers and wines.
posted by abulafa at 12:57 PM on May 22, 2008

Fleet week!
posted by xsquared-1 at 1:01 PM on May 22, 2008

Seconding the MOMA. We were just there last weekend, and I thought the Olafur Eliasson exhibit (I think it was on the second floor) was really cool. Plus, if the weather's decent, you can't beat a nice leisurely sit-down in the sculpture garden.
posted by AngerBoy at 1:03 PM on May 22, 2008

Have you been to NYC before? Better yet, have you been to Brooklyn? If not, and if the weather is nice (and it is now), I would echo what ahimsa said about the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens (next to the Brooklyn Museum, also a must), followed by a stroll through Prospect Park. Then I would head over to either 5th avenue in Brooklyn to choose one of the very fine restaurants there, depending on yopur budget naturally (I can recommend Al Di La for Northern Italian/Venetian or Blue Ribbon for seafood) or perhaps over to either Cobble Hill (Smith Street) or Fort Greene--where teh restuarant choices are numerous. If you have never strolled the promenade in Brooklyn Heights or walked over the Brooklyn Bridge, those are great things to do. Enjoy your stay!
posted by ornate insect at 2:23 PM on May 22, 2008

The play that won this year's Pulitzer, August: Osage County, is still on Broadway. May be pricey, but it is mindblowing and you may never have another chance to see it onstage.
posted by [NOT HERMITOSIS-IST] at 3:29 PM on May 22, 2008 [1 favorite]

Also on Broadway, Passing Strange has gotten rave reviews and a boatload of Tony nominations and is rarely sold out.

The New York Botanical Garden has an exhibit called Darwin's Garden, which is about his botanical studies and how they contributed to his research.

The cherry blossoms are done blooming at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. The BBG is still a great place to visit, and as ornate insect said, is right next to the Brooklyn Museum. Elsewhere in Brooklyn (Fort Greene) is the new Brooklyn Flea Market from 10-5 on Sunday. Expect to find lots of antiques, collectibles, vintage clothing, new clothing from young designers, crafts, art etc.
posted by plastic_animals at 5:24 PM on May 22, 2008

You can get reduced price tickets for August Osage County before you get NYC by going to playbill.com and signing up for a free membership. (Don't go see Les Miz, it'll be here in 20 years. See something with a little more bite.) It's the 125th bday of the Brooklyn Bridge so downtown (South Street Seaport in Manhattan and Fulton Ferry Park in Bklyn) will be buzzing-- free movies, free concerts and art. Oooh, you're going to have fun.
posted by eve harrington at 6:12 PM on May 22, 2008

The Whitney Biennial is on. For food in mid-town, I'm a fan of Becco.
posted by donovan at 6:24 PM on May 22, 2008

Does anybody else here like Rice to Riches besides me? Rice pudding never tasted so good.
posted by jabberjaw at 6:43 PM on May 22, 2008

Previously.

This weekend in NYC that you might be interested in:
Brooklyn Bridge 125th Anniversary events
Now in NYC (it says February at the top of the page, but it was updated a few days ago)
New restaurant openings
Upcoming.yahoo.com on NYC
Chelsea art galleries: today
Upright Citizens Brigade Theater
Lower East Side self-guided gustatory tour
Time Out New York: What to do today and tomorrow
Oh My Rockness: indie rock concert list
Flavorpill's picks for this week
Free tours and free/cheap admission (to museums)
More tours (not all free)
New York Magazine's Visitors Guide
The Red Hook Ball Fields street vendors are also supposed to be back for the season this weekend, too.
posted by kathryn at 7:22 PM on May 22, 2008

Thanks to all. Exactly what I was looking for. I've been to NYC before and I checked the archives, I just wanted some current events/new spots that are fresh on Mefite's minds. You guys and gals are the best. If your travels bring you to Oakland/San Francisco hit me up and I'll gladly repay the advice.
posted by hangingbyathread at 12:09 AM on May 23, 2008