Hello! Do you have any NYC recommendations for visitors? I'm going in mid-May, and I've seen most of the main/touristy attractions on previous trips. I like art and food and taking walks, and I'm looking for some fun, less-obvious things to see and do. Do you have any favorites or suggestions? Thanks!
Sure! I’m not an expert but I’ve lived here for a lil over 2 years so I know a few things.
Have you only explored Manhattan? If so, visit Brooklyn! i’m biased because I live here but also because I do most of my social stuff here as well. Check out the Brooklyn museum, see if BAM is showing anything interesting. There are some fun, cheap gigs at Baby’s All Right in Williamsburg and if you’re into smaller, DIY stuff there’s a place called Silent Barn in Bushwick. There’s some great Caribbean food in Crown Heights, too. You can find a lot of stuff on Nostrand Ave (really great juice at a place called Punchline) though on of my fave places is The Islands on Washington Blvd (really close to the BK museum).
Ummmmmmm...Fort Greene is fun to walk around? I love Prospect Park; nice alternative if you’re in brooklyn or you’ve already been to prospect park. The Brooklyn Heights promenade is a great place to walk around too; you get a great view of lower manhattan and the skyine in general. Walk over one of the bridges, too! I just walked over the Williamsburg bridge for the first time with my BF last week. Haven’t done Brooklyn or Manhattan bridge yet.
If you’re there in late may, go to Governors Island. It’ll be open by then.
When I’m in the city to hang out I’m usually in in the East Village or Lower East Side. If you want super cheap food to grab and go around there, Prosperity Dumplings is the shit. You get like 4 or 5 dumplings for $1. I also like the Taco Morelos truck off Ave A. I’ve yet to find Mexican food here that really blows me away but they’re p. good if you want a burrito. Another cheap option if you like falafel is Mamouns.
I also like this rice pudding placed called Rice To Riches. It’s not cheap but it’s soooo good.
Also, I don’t go to Queens a lot but I’d suggest getting some Asian food in Flushing and maybe some Greek food in Astoria. I haven’t been to Staten Island or the Bronx yet so I can’t really rec anything there. But my roommate took her students on a hip hop tour up in the Brox recently? Guess there’s that!
Ummmmm other food stuff...Robertas is good but I haven’t been there in ages so if you like fancy pizza that’s an option. For fancy pizza I usually go to this place in Crown Heights on Franklin Ave called Barboncino. IDK I’ll eat any pizza TBH so I don’t have the best recs. OH, but there IS Artichoke Pizza which is a must go place IMO.
If you like donuts, go to Dough. Just do it. It’s the fucking best donuts in the city as far as I’m concerned. Scratchbread is good too. No seats in there though so go on a nice day if you’re in Bed Stuy and find a place to sit with your food.
Mayfield in crown heights has a really good burger???
If you like shopping, there are obviously lots of options but for thrift I’d suggest going to one of the L Train vintage locations. I really love No Relation in the city and Urban Jungle in Bushwick. There’s another in Gowanus that’s good too. Beacons Closet is another good option, but I have less luck there. For some pricier vintage options there’s 10 ft Single in Williamsburg which is AMAZING and a little place called Collections in Bushwick.
SORRY I WISH I HAD MORE RECS. MESSAGE ME AGAIN IF YOU WANT MORE SPECIFICS AND I WILL REPLY SOONER, I PROMISE!