NYNY
June 2, 2010 7:27 AM Subscribe
What's going on in New York this week/weekend? I'm on my own in Manhattan for a week! Now what should I do with my time? Looking in particular for coffee recs (not Starbucks), non-chain store shopping, little galleries, stuff I can do later at night on my own.
I'm staying in uptown Manhattan near Grand Central but will venture to Brooklyn and beyond. Already on my radar: TONY, free concerts in Central Park, the Met, the MOMA, the Cloisters, the usual stuff.
I'm staying in uptown Manhattan near Grand Central but will venture to Brooklyn and beyond. Already on my radar: TONY, free concerts in Central Park, the Met, the MOMA, the Cloisters, the usual stuff.
Check out The L magazine for downtown news and listings.
If your near Astor Place on a weekday, grab a coffee form the Mud Truck. It is good.
NYC has lots of options for every taste, what kinds of stores are you looking for?
posted by The Whelk at 7:51 AM on June 2, 2010
If your near Astor Place on a weekday, grab a coffee form the Mud Truck. It is good.
NYC has lots of options for every taste, what kinds of stores are you looking for?
posted by The Whelk at 7:51 AM on June 2, 2010
What exact dates are you in NYC?
To respond to some of your categories:
little galleries
Look at the New Yorker's recommendations for Chelsea galleries shortly before you go there. Of course, other neighorhoods may have good galleries too (such as the Lower East Side, which might be under "Downtown"), but Chelsea is the best.
non-chain store shopping
Amazing little bookstore: Three Lives
Walk around the Lower East Side and you're sure to come across some cool clothing stores.
coffee recs (not Starbucks)
Awesome cafe in Greenwich Village: Cafe Reggio (old-world vibe)
Awesome cafe in Brooklyn: Dumbo General Store
free concerts
There are some nice little jazz groups that play for free in Washington Square Park. You're likely to hear some free music any random time you stroll into the park; some of them probably have a regular schedule, but I don't know where to find them.
Bargemusic has great chamber music on a boat in Brooklyn. It's a little hard to find -- you sort of have to just walk onto a boat of your own accord. As you can see, most concerts are $25+, but notice the section on "Free-admission concerts" (one of which is this Saturday at 1 pm).
As for non-free concerts, I would try to see the jazz clarinetist Anat Cohen. One of the most enjoyable jazz shows I've ever seen was her at the Village Vanguard doing a tribute to Benny Goodman, perfectly straddling the 1930s and the 21st century.
posted by Jaltcoh at 7:56 AM on June 2, 2010
To respond to some of your categories:
little galleries
Look at the New Yorker's recommendations for Chelsea galleries shortly before you go there. Of course, other neighorhoods may have good galleries too (such as the Lower East Side, which might be under "Downtown"), but Chelsea is the best.
non-chain store shopping
Amazing little bookstore: Three Lives
Walk around the Lower East Side and you're sure to come across some cool clothing stores.
coffee recs (not Starbucks)
Awesome cafe in Greenwich Village: Cafe Reggio (old-world vibe)
Awesome cafe in Brooklyn: Dumbo General Store
free concerts
There are some nice little jazz groups that play for free in Washington Square Park. You're likely to hear some free music any random time you stroll into the park; some of them probably have a regular schedule, but I don't know where to find them.
Bargemusic has great chamber music on a boat in Brooklyn. It's a little hard to find -- you sort of have to just walk onto a boat of your own accord. As you can see, most concerts are $25+, but notice the section on "Free-admission concerts" (one of which is this Saturday at 1 pm).
As for non-free concerts, I would try to see the jazz clarinetist Anat Cohen. One of the most enjoyable jazz shows I've ever seen was her at the Village Vanguard doing a tribute to Benny Goodman, perfectly straddling the 1930s and the 21st century.
posted by Jaltcoh at 7:56 AM on June 2, 2010
Near Grand Central is generally thought of as midtown not uptown...
Coffee recs: Cafe Grumpy's (There's one in Chelsea, one in Greenpoint, one in Park Slope, maybe more...) is generally acknowledged to be among the first SERIOUS coffee-geek coffee shops in the city. The Roasting Plant (Orchard St. on the Lower East; Greenwich St in the West Village) is pretty cool - they fresh-roast beans for each individual cup of coffee on demand, and you can watch.
Events... check out Upright Citizen's Brigade, good comedy for cheap, also, beer for cheap.
If the weather's nice, the beer gardens in Astoria are pretty cool. The old one is in a heavily Greek neighborhood; the new one is right near the Museum of the Moving Image, also worth a visit if you're in that neck of the woods.
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 8:00 AM on June 2, 2010
Coffee recs: Cafe Grumpy's (There's one in Chelsea, one in Greenpoint, one in Park Slope, maybe more...) is generally acknowledged to be among the first SERIOUS coffee-geek coffee shops in the city. The Roasting Plant (Orchard St. on the Lower East; Greenwich St in the West Village) is pretty cool - they fresh-roast beans for each individual cup of coffee on demand, and you can watch.
Events... check out Upright Citizen's Brigade, good comedy for cheap, also, beer for cheap.
If the weather's nice, the beer gardens in Astoria are pretty cool. The old one is in a heavily Greek neighborhood; the new one is right near the Museum of the Moving Image, also worth a visit if you're in that neck of the woods.
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 8:00 AM on June 2, 2010
Note about the UCBT - the lines are crazy long on the weekend. Try to go to a mid-week show.
posted by The Whelk at 8:01 AM on June 2, 2010
posted by The Whelk at 8:01 AM on June 2, 2010
I use the Douglas Kelly Show List to find out about gallery openings. It also lists free film screenings and other art related events.
posted by abirae at 8:15 AM on June 2, 2010
posted by abirae at 8:15 AM on June 2, 2010
I just want to recommend getting to the Met early in the day. We were there for four hours on Sunday and still didn't get to see everything.
posted by something something at 8:15 AM on June 2, 2010
posted by something something at 8:15 AM on June 2, 2010
check out http://www.brooklynvegan.com/ daily for a list of shows that night.
posted by alkupe at 8:23 AM on June 2, 2010
posted by alkupe at 8:23 AM on June 2, 2010
Cafe Grumpy would be a bit of trip (oh on preview it's already recommended) but really good, and great ambience. Whilst there (in Chelsea), walk west and stroll the High Line, which is pretty unique.
posted by Danf at 8:35 AM on June 2, 2010
posted by Danf at 8:35 AM on June 2, 2010
Cafe Grumpy would be a bit of trip
Um, it's in Chelsea... I think we can assume the OP is open to traveling throughout Manhattan.
posted by Jaltcoh at 8:53 AM on June 2, 2010
Um, it's in Chelsea... I think we can assume the OP is open to traveling throughout Manhattan.
posted by Jaltcoh at 8:53 AM on June 2, 2010
Don't know if this is your bag, but in terms of 'events,' the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, will be held this weekend, a short trip from Manhattan on the LIRR. General admission tickets available at the door.
posted by jrb223 at 9:00 AM on June 2, 2010
posted by jrb223 at 9:00 AM on June 2, 2010
Um, it's in Chelsea... I think we can assume the OP is open to traveling throughout Manhattan.
Yes but to get there from Midtown, without coffee first might be a challenge for some (including me).
posted by Danf at 9:02 AM on June 2, 2010
Yes but to get there from Midtown, without coffee first might be a challenge for some (including me).
posted by Danf at 9:02 AM on June 2, 2010
My favorite coffee was at Empire Coffee, 40th and 9th.
posted by lauranesson at 10:08 AM on June 2, 2010
posted by lauranesson at 10:08 AM on June 2, 2010
Since you don't mind hopping on the L, Come out and Play is happening this weekend in Brooklyn. People design games to happen in public space. They always have a bunch of people show up and it's an entertaining way to spend a few hours.
posted by tehdiplomat at 10:29 AM on June 2, 2010
posted by tehdiplomat at 10:29 AM on June 2, 2010
The basics of visiting NYC by me
The basics of visiting NYC on Newyorkology: how to not stick out and look like a tourist
Free events in NYC on Brooklynvegan: shows are in green. For good live music listings that include paid shows, see Oh My Rockness.
Ongoing events calendars that I like include The Skint and Newyorkology. I also subscribe to Gothamist.com's GothamList as well as Tasting Table, Urban Daddy, Thrillist, and Flavorpill NYC (they all have Twitter account as well). For example, this weekend there's the Renegade Craft Fair, the new Hester St Fair, the Red Hook Ballfield vendors just came back, and Japan Day is in Central Park on June 6.
Best indie shops in NYC. My favorites include In God We Trust, Mxyplyzyk, the MoMA Design Store, Muji, Kiosk, Giant Robot, Flight 001, Marchand de Legumes, Maxilla and Mandible, the shop at the MTA's museum, Kinokuniya (for stationary, paper goods), Opening Ceremony and No. 8a in the Ace Hotel, and the jewelry vendors at the Brooklyn Flea.
What to eat in New York City that you can't easily find elsewhere? Part 1 and Part 2
How can I channel my inner Ferris Bueller and have one great day, except in New York?
Best coffee in NYC depends on whether you want hot coffee, cold-brewed iced coffee, or espresso. New York's Best Coffee is a good starting point. If I were doing a coffee tour of NYC, I would get a cortado from Abraco, an iced coffee from Blue Bottle, a hot coffee from 9th Street Espresso, a mocha from Stumptown, and an affogato from the Van Leeuwen Ice Cream and Espresso Truck. The Joe in Grand Central and Stumptown are probably geographically closest to you; there is also a new spot called Luna on the Upper East Side, but that part of town doesn't have the concentration of artisanal coffee as other neighborhoods.
posted by kathryn at 10:53 AM on June 2, 2010 [1 favorite]
The basics of visiting NYC on Newyorkology: how to not stick out and look like a tourist
Free events in NYC on Brooklynvegan: shows are in green. For good live music listings that include paid shows, see Oh My Rockness.
Ongoing events calendars that I like include The Skint and Newyorkology. I also subscribe to Gothamist.com's GothamList as well as Tasting Table, Urban Daddy, Thrillist, and Flavorpill NYC (they all have Twitter account as well). For example, this weekend there's the Renegade Craft Fair, the new Hester St Fair, the Red Hook Ballfield vendors just came back, and Japan Day is in Central Park on June 6.
Best indie shops in NYC. My favorites include In God We Trust, Mxyplyzyk, the MoMA Design Store, Muji, Kiosk, Giant Robot, Flight 001, Marchand de Legumes, Maxilla and Mandible, the shop at the MTA's museum, Kinokuniya (for stationary, paper goods), Opening Ceremony and No. 8a in the Ace Hotel, and the jewelry vendors at the Brooklyn Flea.
What to eat in New York City that you can't easily find elsewhere? Part 1 and Part 2
How can I channel my inner Ferris Bueller and have one great day, except in New York?
Best coffee in NYC depends on whether you want hot coffee, cold-brewed iced coffee, or espresso. New York's Best Coffee is a good starting point. If I were doing a coffee tour of NYC, I would get a cortado from Abraco, an iced coffee from Blue Bottle, a hot coffee from 9th Street Espresso, a mocha from Stumptown, and an affogato from the Van Leeuwen Ice Cream and Espresso Truck. The Joe in Grand Central and Stumptown are probably geographically closest to you; there is also a new spot called Luna on the Upper East Side, but that part of town doesn't have the concentration of artisanal coffee as other neighborhoods.
posted by kathryn at 10:53 AM on June 2, 2010 [1 favorite]
I really don't know why people are saying it's hard to get to Chelsea or that you should take a cab. You just need to walk a few blocks to a subway station and then take a very short subway ride. (I don't know the exact route since I don't know exactly where your hotel is.)
posted by Jaltcoh at 12:07 PM on June 2, 2010
posted by Jaltcoh at 12:07 PM on June 2, 2010
Bushwick Open Studios is on this weekend in Brooklyn, right off the L. Bushwick is the area of NY for working artists, and this is the weekend everyone opens up their studios to the public. There will be performances, free food and drinks, etc. You can choose one loft building and roam around, or choose a street with lots of things going on, etc.
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 1:35 PM on June 2, 2010
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 1:35 PM on June 2, 2010
Response by poster: These are all great... if anyone's still reading I forgot to mention yoga as one of my interests (much more likely to be sipping coffee and/or beer though on vacation). Have duly noted that Grand Central is mid- not uptown. Oh, and getting around Manhattan is no problem (I really don't consider Chelsea from Grand Central a too-long walk, though of course the subway is faster).
And awesome coffee suggestions!
posted by scribbler at 10:26 PM on June 2, 2010
And awesome coffee suggestions!
posted by scribbler at 10:26 PM on June 2, 2010
Just chiming in to second Abraço! The cortado is indeed delicious. (I've never tried their pastries, but they also look good.)
posted by en forme de poire at 8:07 AM on June 4, 2010
posted by en forme de poire at 8:07 AM on June 4, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by mkb at 7:33 AM on June 2, 2010