Hey folks, the wife and I are planning a trip the second week of December to NY city. This will be our first time in the Big Apple. 

We are planning well in advance so we can ask other more knowledgeable people what to do and where to go while there. We are planning on being there a full week, 7 days.

Looking for tips on any shows, sites, food, night life, museums, parks, etc., etc., we can do while there.

Thanks in advance.   

That's holiday time, a lot of the Rockefeller Center stuff will be up if you like that sort of thing.

The best place to find restaurants is Zagats and pick up a copy of Time Out New York to see what is very hot.. where are you staying, that's kind of relative too.  if you're at one of the Times Sq hotels, there is a huge concentration of restaurants aroudn there. Restaurant row is there too, off the Square, most of it is very threatre related though, i.e. serving hours and menu  styles.  nyc has some of the freshest fish, so you get really good sushi almost everywhere...

if you like music, see what is showing..  some of the NY venues are classic.. plus you have the worlds premiere opera and symphony, right next to each other.

Brooklyn has some classic old restaurants too, not as many, and in Dumbo you have an arts community building up...

lots of stuff...  plus all the urine, filth and disease you can inhale!

What he said ^ 

also if you have the time there are helicopter tours around Manhattan which are a lot of fun. 

Personally I think everyone should experience the speakeasy life of NYC. PM me and I'll hit you up with some pretty awesome hidden gems.

Circle line - ferry around the island.

Peter Luger's ... unless you're a vegetarian.  Bring cash!

Adam

Luger's is nice but, I prefer Wolfgang's

http://wolfgangssteakhouse.com/

or Grimaldi's Pizza under the Brooklyn Bridge, http://www.grimaldis.com/2/Index.htm

Quote from: Pakhan on June 19, 2009, 09:33:05 AM
Luger's is nice but, I prefer Wolfgang's

http://wolfgangssteakhouse.com/

I am a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge fan of Del Frisco's ... mmm

Adam

Quote from: DrDesmosedici on June 19, 2009, 09:08:08 AM
Peter Luger's ... unless you're a vegetarian.  Bring cash!

Adam

Gallaghers..  Luger's is ok, I like watching my meat age (no stupid jokes pls)

Quote from: Fat Freddy's Cat on June 19, 2009, 11:22:53 AM
Gallaghers..  Luger's is ok, I like watching my meat age (no stupid jokes pls)

Ruh roh, is this turning into a steakhouse thread? 

I recommended it because it's a unique experience, not necessarily the quality of the steaks (I've had better.)

Adam

A few others:

Intrepid sea, air, & space museum
Wall Street area, rub the bull statue's balls for luck (everyone else has)
Empire State Building observation deck
Brooklyn aquarium
Cupcake Cafe for the most decadent buttery frosted cupcakes anywhere


If I think of more I'll post again 

Quote from: DrDesmosedici on June 19, 2009, 11:33:11 AM
Ruh roh, is this turning into a steakhouse thread? 

I recommended it because it's a unique experience, not necessarily the quality of the steaks (I've had better.)

Adam

if you want a unique experience, go to Alphabet City with a "HOMOSEXUALITY IS AN ABOMINATION" t shirt on.  If you want good food and a great steak, go to Gallaghers.

Quote from: Fat Freddy's Cat on June 19, 2009, 01:23:43 PM
if you want a unique experience, go to Alphabet City with a "HOMOSEXUALITY IS AN ABOMINATION" t shirt on.  If you want good food and a great steak, go to Gallaghers.

Oh boy, here we go.

It's not like I recommended Tavern on the Green 

Adam

Independent Reviews:

Luger's: http://tinyurl.com/ldqzsw
Gallagher's: http://tinyurl.com/mk6r6p

Bronx Zoo
Statue of LIberty
Coney Island
Ranger Game

just a few I can think of

THere is also the open top Bus tour but in December that might be a little cold

Quote from: DrDesmosedici on June 19, 2009, 01:27:44 PM
Oh boy, here we go.

It's not like I recommended Tavern on the Green 

I know.. I just like being the irate Supreme Leader around here..

Quote

Luger's: http://tinyurl.com/ldqzsw
Gallagher's: http://tinyurl.com/mk6r6p

meh..  i am not impressed by reviews by the hoi polloi.  zagat's reviewers are far more reliable and gallaghers gets better reviews there.  EXCEPT for the service, but I don't care about that. 

Luger's  :  for tourists (or Smith & WOllensky's)
Gallaghers:  for people who want a good steak and don't care if their waiter is a slow, old, crotchety man.

I would put Benny Benson's on the same level as Gallaghers too.

FYI I am not saying that Luger's steaks are SHIT, I am saying they generally aren't as consistently good as Gallaghers.  They both use the same meat, but they age it differently and obviously have different cooking staff.

Gallaghers is more man-oriented, I think.  Too bad they banned smoking in NY.  It was a great place to have a cigar after dinner.