NYC Neighborhoods Questions
June 15, 2015 7:30 PM Subscribe
I've been to NY dozens of times and enjoy exploring neighborhoods like the Village and SoHo where there are lots of shops, coffeeshops, restaurants, etc. I prefer independent shops over the corporate stores you'd find in Midtown. I haven't spent a whole lot of time in NY in the last 10 years so I'm not aware of neighborhoods that may have changed. I'm visiting this weekend please help me decide where to spend my time!
I'm thinking about going out to Williamsburg, Brooklyn but am afraid I'll get out there and it'll be 2 blocks of stores and that's it. (I'm bringing along my wife and 3 month old baby in a stroller, so getting there and back is harder than I'm used to!). Also thinking about NoLita, maybe somewhere on the Upper West Side (near Zabar's?).
Are these neighborhoods interesting enough to explore for a couple hours each? Enough shops, coffeeshops, etc? Or are there other neighborhoods I should check out?
Bonus question: Where's the best Manhattan Chinese restaurant that's not too too authentic? I am used to Americanized Chinese. I hear Szechuan Gourmet on 39th and Wo Hop in Chinatown are good options?
Thanks!
I'm thinking about going out to Williamsburg, Brooklyn but am afraid I'll get out there and it'll be 2 blocks of stores and that's it. (I'm bringing along my wife and 3 month old baby in a stroller, so getting there and back is harder than I'm used to!). Also thinking about NoLita, maybe somewhere on the Upper West Side (near Zabar's?).
Are these neighborhoods interesting enough to explore for a couple hours each? Enough shops, coffeeshops, etc? Or are there other neighborhoods I should check out?
Bonus question: Where's the best Manhattan Chinese restaurant that's not too too authentic? I am used to Americanized Chinese. I hear Szechuan Gourmet on 39th and Wo Hop in Chinatown are good options?
Thanks!
Response by poster: Hi incolorinred... Thanks for the advice. I've explored the East and West Village a handful of times over the years. Do you think it's changed enough in the last 10 years to explore it again?
posted by kdern at 8:10 PM on June 15, 2015
posted by kdern at 8:10 PM on June 15, 2015
Williamsburg is pretty much all coffee shops and stollers at this point. Plenty of shopping and time-killers. Bedford Avenue alone and the blocks off of it recall the malls of my youth.
posted by greta simone at 8:10 PM on June 15, 2015
posted by greta simone at 8:10 PM on June 15, 2015
Response by poster: Greta Simone - is that a vote for going to Williamsburg or to avoid it because it's like a mall? Are the stores corporate or independent?
posted by kdern at 8:27 PM on June 15, 2015
posted by kdern at 8:27 PM on June 15, 2015
The Upper West Side is basically all shops and coffee places.
You might enjoy Brooklyn Heights/DUMBO, which will be less of a hike if you're staying in Manhattan, and has a beautiful waterfront park to stroll in.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 8:41 PM on June 15, 2015
You might enjoy Brooklyn Heights/DUMBO, which will be less of a hike if you're staying in Manhattan, and has a beautiful waterfront park to stroll in.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 8:41 PM on June 15, 2015
Best answer: Almost any place in NYC is worth walking around and don't be too put off by the people complaining about how much cooler it was before.
You could see Williamsburg, walk across the bridge to the LES, Nolita, Chinatown.
Every Chinese restaurant in the city will have a section of the menu dedicated to Americanized options. As for which one has the best Americanized food, I can't help you there, but there are certainly some pricier places that serve that type of food: Shun Lee, Mr. Chows, etc.
I wouldn't recommend Joe's Shanghai unless you like waiting in line. There are plenty of other places in Chinatown to eat soup dumplings and if you just want some Americanized dishes then I definitely wouldn't go out of your way, almost any place will do.
posted by pravit at 9:10 PM on June 15, 2015
You could see Williamsburg, walk across the bridge to the LES, Nolita, Chinatown.
Every Chinese restaurant in the city will have a section of the menu dedicated to Americanized options. As for which one has the best Americanized food, I can't help you there, but there are certainly some pricier places that serve that type of food: Shun Lee, Mr. Chows, etc.
I wouldn't recommend Joe's Shanghai unless you like waiting in line. There are plenty of other places in Chinatown to eat soup dumplings and if you just want some Americanized dishes then I definitely wouldn't go out of your way, almost any place will do.
posted by pravit at 9:10 PM on June 15, 2015
What about the High Line? I love the pictures- haven't seen it in reality!
posted by pippin at 12:09 AM on June 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by pippin at 12:09 AM on June 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
WIlliamsburg is HUGE and full of independent shops and cafes. If you've enjoyed East and West Villages you will enjoy Williamsburg. Go to the Bedford Ave stop and walk in pretty much any direction. No, it's not as cool as it once was, and to those of us who lived there when it was, it seems like it has turned into a mall, but if you've never been and don't have that baggage, you will probably like it. I am only now getting over my baggage and have enjoyed going there a few times in the last year.
If you haven't been to the Upper West Side it is definitely worth exploring, although it skews a bit older and more upscale (even the young people seem older there ;) ). The American Museum of Natural History is worth the trip alone (it's a good place to take small kids, too).
If you like Americanized Chinese you may also like Cuban Chinese, which used to be very common on the UWS. There still are a few left, but I'm afraid I haven't been to any in a while so I don't know about recommendations. To me it has always meant Chow Mein with a side of fried plantains (yum).
posted by maggiemaggie at 4:06 AM on June 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
If you haven't been to the Upper West Side it is definitely worth exploring, although it skews a bit older and more upscale (even the young people seem older there ;) ). The American Museum of Natural History is worth the trip alone (it's a good place to take small kids, too).
If you like Americanized Chinese you may also like Cuban Chinese, which used to be very common on the UWS. There still are a few left, but I'm afraid I haven't been to any in a while so I don't know about recommendations. To me it has always meant Chow Mein with a side of fried plantains (yum).
posted by maggiemaggie at 4:06 AM on June 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
I stayed in Williamsburg this past weekend, go in any direction from Bedford Ave stop, and you'll be happy. Walking from West Village to Chinatown is another amazing thing to do (do this walk every time I go to NYC)
posted by sandmanwv at 5:39 AM on June 16, 2015
posted by sandmanwv at 5:39 AM on June 16, 2015
Yeah, I would say that there is a lot of new stuff from the last 10 years in the Villages collectively to warrant visits. The places that I mentioned are new. Stumptown Coffee on 8th street- new, some of the best in the city. If you want to bounce any ideas off me or want more suggestions- feel free to mefi mail.
posted by incolorinred at 7:18 PM on June 17, 2015
posted by incolorinred at 7:18 PM on June 17, 2015
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Americanized Chinese Restaurant Bonus: I think I would recommend Joe Shanghai for that. It is probably the most popular restaurant in Chinatown because it has all the americanized selections (sesame chicken, General Tso's etc.) on the menu as well as authentic dishes, so it is popular with tourists and locals alike. I have had some delicious meals there.
posted by incolorinred at 8:07 PM on June 15, 2015