This must’ve been before I was born (more than a half century ago), because neither has been good in my lifetime. They’re fine for a drink and the possibility of seeing some actors, but the food is subpar.
Well, yes, but wouldn’t you want to at least try to find a good one?
Do you mean Boqueria?
None of this is valid any more. If it ever was.
ETA: Though it is nice for you to re-live your memories of previous trips, when you recommend spots based on “some place on 2nd Ave” or an “Argentine place with chimichurri”, it is not helpful. Do you remember names of these special spots? And do you know if they are still open?
Sardi’s and Joe Allen are horrible.
My mother and I were there after some show, and she got an autograph from Farley Granger (this was at least 30 years ago). So that’s what it’s good for - celebrity sightings with your mom. Just like Bar Centrale is good for celebrity sightings with your friend Rachel, who gets very excited when she sees Diane Paulus over there in the corner.
I don’t even know who those names are! But you nailed it! I have a group of older theater friends who go there when visiting NYC specifically to see as many shows as possible in a three-day period. Other than them, I do not know a single person who goes there.
I started this thread because my “first” venture back into the city for a weekend went much better than expected and I wanted to try and encourage others to “get out” and experience some things that they might have stopped during the pandemic.
I have to say though, that after reading many of these “good intentioned” posts, I do want to remind everyone that NYC is far from a safe place these days. I have a hard time seeing advice being given to you encouraging you to take the subway - or other “underground” - activities when there are daily news reports of violent attacks against people in the subways.
I have been back to NYC since my first visit and superficially it “appears” to be “back” but the sad reality is crime is still skyrocketing and I would be VERY cautious before taking my family around Manhattan unwittingly unaware as to your surroundings.
Please enjoy but also please use common sense, I hate to see you venturing off looking for places that are either not there or in neighborhoods are area’s that might have changed since someone’s last visit.
Please be careful.
ETA
My apologies to you and the NYC people whom I seemed to have offended by my “friendly” warning of paying attention in the city. Initially I thought this was all a part of my weekend in the city thread, but it’s not, you started your own thread. lol As such, you can take the comments and advice as you like, I’m not trying to rain on your parade or weekend in the city. lol
I just really didn’t want you going on a wild goose chase all around based on some stale dated leads you were receiving on my thread. All good, enjoy and I will mind my own business.
With friends like you, NYC doesn’t need enemies.
Wear your mask and be cognizant of your surroundings as in any large city. NYC is fine. I live here and am out and about every day.
ET: And yes, don’t wander about looking for some random place a stranger on the internet casually recommended based on a trip 30 years ago.
Thanks for the reminder. My original intent was to get a feel of how things were going as NYC opened up.
Interesting your mention of subways. I grew up on NYC subways , but it’s no longer activities of daily living for me. I think it helps to be experienced and vigilant. Even in San Francisco mass transit you have to know the “rules”.
I’m sure I’ve changed more than the subway, but I’m thinking it’s both. Our last subway excursion was pre-Covid, but I remember thinking how can people be in the subway, put in earplugs, and seemingly block out what is going on around them?
I take the subway every couple of days. It is cleaner than it’s ever been, and while it of course isn’t risk-free (neither is driving in NJ, I remind you), it’s also not the bloodbath the right-wing media would have you believe. I haven’t seen a single incident of violence, nor even a threat of same.
If you lived here in the 80’s (which is when I moved to Manhattan), you would remember that it was quite dangerous to venture east of Avenue C. Now I live there, and it’s gotten so gentrified I probably couldn’t afford to move to a nearby apartment.
I think this is the main point. As my grandmother always said “BE ON THE ALERT!” Crime could happen anywhere. Be aware of your surroundings and don’t act like a dummy!
As I’ve said before, we lived there 60’s-80’s.
@small_h Looking up "East of Avenue C ". I don’t know the reference.
My daughter often calls as she is on her way home, at what seems to me late at night. I’m thinking why are you on the phone? Be vigilant! Pay attention!
Different times.
All of this has always been true about NYC - it is not new.
Coming home after a year of covid exile, looking at my town with “outside” eyes, I noticed the streets are a bit emptier, the homeless are a bit more aggressive than they used to be - that said, the homeless in San Francisco and San Diego and Houston and several other cities I’ve frequented over the years have been much more aggressive, so it’s all relative.
@shrinkrap lived here before Rudy “cleaned up” Times Square - and she grew up in Queens long before anyone went there because “the food is good now.”
And aside from any of that, as a tourist in another town, one is / should always be aware and alert. Don’t walk down dark alleys. Don’t wave your wallet or valuables around. Hang on to your purse / wallet. Be aware of your surroundings and those around you. These are obvious travel rules - for anywhere.
But a “warning” like this in a thread started by someone who is happily planning a trip already (and is a New Yorker) is misplaced, I’m sorry.
which is why I added:
ETA
My apologies to you and the NYC people whom I seemed to have offended by my “friendly” warning of paying attention in the city. Initially I thought this was all a part of my weekend in the city thread, but it’s not, you started your own thread. lol As such, you can take the comments and advice as you like, I’m not trying to rain on your parade or weekend in the city. lol
I just really didn’t want you going on a wild goose chase all around based on some stale dated leads you were receiving on my thread. All good, enjoy and I will mind my own business.
I mistakenly thought this was the thread I started (which “inspired” this thread) so I realized I overstepped a bit, thinking this was my thread and not wanting to see someone traverse the city based on some very outdated information.
Mea culpa for my sins to you and all.
Har har. It’s all good.
Avenues run north/south. D is the east-most avenue.
@shrinkrap based on your other comments I’ll venture this - cabs, Lyft, and Uber are aplenty if you don’t want to get on the subway. Windows open.
And your locations (hotel and daughter’s apartment) are great for a walking distance radius of great food too.
Yes but it seems it’s not just about where it is. I want to understand why one seems more safe than the other.
When I lived in the Bronx, I was selling my “pimped” Kharmen Gia, and a gentleman expressed his assumptions about where I was selling the car, without understanding who I was.
Because it’s decades later, and everything got fancier. Upthread I noted that when I moved to Manhattan, the area where I now live would have been too dangerous for me to even visit alone after dark.
I’ll tag onto this, ignoring the safety stuff for now -for that many people, Uber/Lyft is probably the same cost as a subway ride now.
Thank you. The agenda I added was based on a walking tour. When I was a kid, once you finally got to Manhattan, it was all about walking. If we can’t walk , it’s probably not going to happen.
In retrospect, I have to say historically, getting a cab has been infuriating for us. App based rides have changed that.
Still, I’m old school. Maybe daughter has a different experience and a different plan.
