GRM NYC suggestions

So my ship is pulled in to Manhattan for a 3 day portcall and I was hoping to get some suggestions for some off the beaten path NYC adventures. I know there is pretty much nothing automotive related going on here (at least I assume) so what do you have?

Central Park is fun when the weather is nice. Museum of Natural History has cool stuff to look at. Protesters on Wall Street might be interesting.

Paging Wally to the white courtesy phone...

There's so many beer bars in NYC it's not even funny. One that has a Troegs sign in the window is a good bet

Bars would be fun but I'm trying to do this on the cheap, it's way too easy to blow a paycheck in this city and the introduction of beer would only enhance that. Protests would be fun it would just be hard to decide between the wall st one or the anti military one a few blocks south of that (me being military I think the latter would be quite comical) I hit central park today and it was definitely pretty. I'm meeting up with some local friends tonight we'll see what they have to offer.

Search the forum, I've suggested stuff in the past and can't remember it all right now.

Car stuff - come downtown and check out the classic car club. If it's nice out, like it's expected to be tomorrow, the doors will be open and they're friendly folk. A lot of the cars will be out for the weekend, but there's always something interesting there. Last time I stopped by their mechanic was wrenching on their E-type...

There's the Ferrari dealer on Park Ave in the 50s.

Beer - The Gingerman is centrally located but can be a very annoying atmosphere. Tons and tons of stuff on tap though. I've heard good things about Rattle and Hum, but never been. Avoid all Heartlands at al costs. In West Village there's The Blind Tiger and Vol De Nuit. Both get very crowded but have great beer. Blind Tiger is more American microbrews, Vol specializes in Belgians.

If you're willing to go out to Brooklyn (and you should) and suffer the f'in hipsters, the Brooklyn Brewery has weekend open houses that are fun, lots of good stuff on tap. Tour is OK. Also nearby are greats like Spuyten Duyvil (belgian), Radegast Beer Hall (never been), Mugs Ale House (not bad), and d.b.a (which was great the one time I went... heard mixed things since).

Off the beaten path stuff that isn't beer and cars - come down to Chinatown on Saturday or Sunday morning and do dim sum for brunch. Golden Unicorn is probably your best bet for a good balance of non-Chinese friendly and authentic. Get there no later than 11am and try as many plates as you can. Bring a bunch of friends. Share a table with a local and strike up a conversation, it'll be great.

If you're at all interested in donuts, try the Donut Plant on the Lower East Side. Get there early and expect a line, but tasty, imaginative donuts.

Walk the High Line. It'll get crowded since it's going to be a nice weekend, so either endure that or go early. Dusk seems to be a popular time to visit.

Are you a runner? If you like running and beer, learn about "hashing" or "the hash house harriers" then meet up with the crowd on Sunday. Check out hash nyc for specifics. I used to be a regular with this group, haven't been in a while.

Try and get lost in Central Park. Stay away from the touristy southern end and go north. It's a great park.

If you're going to the top of a building to see the view, I suggest Rockefeller Plaza over the ESB. Easier lines, great views. Also, you actually get to look at the ESB, which is very interesting. Very nice at night.

Basically - stay off 5th ave, stay outta Times Square, Little Italy, and Herald Square. If you're in the Village, sure you can walk down Bleecker St, but wander off it a lot, the area is awesome and Bleecker is just one dinky little street that runs through it. If you go to SoHo, stay the F off Broadway. It's not SoHo, though Old Navy, Banana Republic, and the likes would like you to think it. Also, stay away from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex, which is nearby.

I travel with my stomach and suggest you do the same. There are a ton of great restaurants in every cuisine and price range here, eat at a different one each meal. I will personally find you and cock-punch you if you eat at McDonalds, Burger King, Ruby Tuesdays, Outback, or any place you could find at home. Don't bother with "NY Pizza", it's just pizza. If you're inebriated, try one of the Papaya dog places: Gray's Papaya, Papaya Dog, Papaya King, etc. Good drunk food, as are the many falafel/shwarma places.

Anything else?

peter wrote: I will personally find you and cock-punch you if you eat at McDonalds, Burger King, Ruby Tuesdays, Outback, or any place you could find at home. Don't bother with "NY Pizza", it's just pizza. If you're inebriated, try one of the Papaya dog places: Gray's Papaya, Papaya Dog, Papaya King, etc. Good drunk food, as are the many falafel/shwarma places. Anything else?

When I win the lottery I'm buying the Olive Garden in Times Square. I'm replacing the entire staff with large goons named Vinny. When you come in looking for Baloney Parm or whatever they have there they break your knee caps, throw you in the trunk of a Caddy and dump you in Staten Island. I cringe every time some asks me for directions there.

Everything else Peter said was spot on. I don't know if you have a curfew or not, they were pretty strict during fleet week but If you do want to check out Times Square go late. It's a bit more manageable and the lights a pretty cool if you've never seen them.

Thanks for all the info guys, I'm trying to keep things pretty low key since I'm starting leave and my wife is driving up here on Monday when the boat heads back out and I want to be able to enjoy it more with her. On the topic of restaurants I personally think the times square red lobster takes the cake, and don't worry I would never eat there. Going new places and trying the local fare is one of my favorite parts of my job, whether it's cartahegna Colombia or new york I have a strict no fast food rule.

On the Lower East Side Sunshine Cinemas is showing the Senna Movie, and at midnight they are showing Tremors. https://tickets.landmarktheatres.com/Ticketing.aspx?TheatreID=256

There are a number of good restaurants and bars in that area as well. When you are going out on monday avoid 5th and 6th aves. The Columbus day parade will have everthing choked off from the 50's into the 80's. It would be a good day to take the wife down town or somewhere on the west side.

it's been 40+ yrs since my port-call at Manhattan ... so there isn't anything I can add other than the pizza there IS different from what you get where ever you call home.... unless you're incredibly lucky... we have slightly better than pizza hut .. but not much

question ... what's your rate and rating..? I managed to make 3rd class GMG, 3 times in 4 yrs

3 times eh? Sounds like there are some good stories there. I'm a third class boatswains mate, hopefully a second class soon as long as the servicewide exam next month goes well.