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ATM New York quick trip

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got a mate going over in 3 weeks I think for a week.
Staying uptown in Manhattan. Bass player .likes his music,books .Goes for quirky stuff, more obscure things.
I suggested Blue Note, Rockefeller Museum, Lincoln centre but all a bit obvious.
Any suggestions?
Thanks.

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Comments

  3. I asked for info back at the old place. All gone now of course but we did the Highline walk on disused elevated train tracks.
    http://www.thehighline.org/
    Gives you a different view of the city and your friend should have better weather than we did. You can still find 2nd hand records in/around Greenwich Village. Bleecker St Records seem to be on the up after their move to 188 West 4th Street, New York, NY 10014. They even have a 2nd cat. I had the family with me so I had to do more family friendly stuff but I plan on going back again.

    • I think, judging from all the plaudits the Highline gets all over the place, we must be the only couple to be underwhelmed by it. I can kind of see the attraction but I think we may have made the mistake of going there on our first morning of our last visit. It seems like part of the attraction is an oasis quality but, when you first get to New York, you want to just get stuck into the noise and traffic and bustle of the city. I think we might have appreciated it a whole lot more a few days later.

  4. Definitely walk the Highline, the most northern bit had just opened when I was there in September. An amazing piece of urban reclamation, unique as far as I know.

    There’s a book called “Secret New York – an Unusual Guide” , that’s well worth a look at, I constructed a day of “things you’d miss if you didn’t know they were there” around midtown from it, it was absolutely fascinating.

    Take a guided walk if he has time. We used http://www.freetoursbyfoot.com and they were great. $20 tip is encouraged, but well worth it, walks are taken by locals.

    I don’t know if he’s a nature botherer, but I went on 2 birdwatching walks in Central Park last year with “Birding Bob” (or rather Deb, his other half) but they were similarly brilliant.

  5. A bleeding obvious one from me, but worth going to, is Grand Central Station plus the big 2nd hand bookstore – Strand. I also love the main New York Public Library. It’s a beautiful old building.

  6. MoMA is a must – has some weird and wonderful opening hours so worth checking in advance.

    Another vote for the Highline – I went in February at the height of the record breaking snow and freezing temperatures (ice breakers in New York harbour and Hudson) and the Highline was still open (but the stalls weren’t) – Great views.

  7. Was there 2 weeks ago and went to Blue Note. It was fab and so was the food – in fact one of the better meals I had while I was there.
    Second Grand Central Station and the Highline. Add in a walk across Brooklyn Bridge from the Brooklyn side.

    Also Chelsea Market – great little cafes, food shops and quirky stores. Worth a couple of hours there.

  8. The last good music store left is J&R Records, down by the city hall. A slightly confusing warren of shopfronts along Park Row – not entirely dissimilar to the old Foyle’s – but very strong in Latin, jazz, and a few other less mainstream genres.

    • Re: “Staten Island Ferry – and Manny’s Guitars of course.”

      Very appropriate, as we’ve been thinking about Joni Mitchell today:

      “I went to Staten Island, Sharon
      To buy myself a mandolin
      And I saw the long white dress of love
      On a storefront mannequin
      Big boat chuggin’ back with a belly full of cars
      All for something lacy
      Some girl’s going to see that dress
      And crave that day like crazy”

  10. Central Park, Bronx Zoo, Staten Island Ferry, go to Coney Island. Eat a good steak, do lots of walking.

    Avoid Times Sq area and record stores in Greenwich Village are ridiculously expensive.

  13. Do the Circle Line. Boat trip round the Island, with witty commentary and gives an even better view (and photo opp) of the Statue of Liberty than the Staten Island Ferry. Visited NYC many many times and the Circle Line is a must do every time. That and wandering round on foot.

  15. thanks everyone -will pass them onto my friend.

    Highline sounds popular.

    Caught the Statten island ferry when I was there great.

    Blue Note seems the most reliable and the Village Vanguard- 2 old war horses. Even if you dont know the artist you’d reckon they have their chops sorted to get a gig there.

    I see the Pixies are at Beacon Theatre which would be a great gig.

    • The Beacon is a great venue. Saw Diana Krall there. Great concert. Cool bar next door. Met a lady up from Austin. Looked like Rayna James. That accent. She liked mine.

      The Upper West Side. Hang out in Central Park. Deli at Zabar’s. Burgers at Harriet’s. Jean-George (card melting expensive, tongue bending tasty).

      Have supper at The Smith. Look for old books at Westsider. I love New York. I love the Village and downtown. But the Upper West. Old school. The best.

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