So much great and helpful info here, I have come back to ask for advice on plotting a walking tour that we plan for our one day/night in Manhattan. We are avid distance walkers and look forward to this pleasant challenge.
We will arrive early AM this Friday at Battery Park. Plan on loading up on Dim Sum in Chinatown (suggestions?) and then off for a marathon foot tour of NYC. From Chinatown to Central Park
Would love to get a good feel for the uniqueness and energy of the city. Love ethnic enclaves, vintage off-beat shops and all things exclusive to NYC. Allowing plenty of stops to browse and nosh.
I know this is a broad question but what route do you suggest: EAST
LES, East Village, Union Square, Gramercy, Flatiron
Or WEST
Tribeca, Soho, West Village, Chelsea
We are somewhat familiar with Times Sq, so we wont linger there long. Probably want to pass through the NBC area on the way to the park. Will explore the park for a short while and explore either the upper east or west sides (which do you prefer?) and then take the subway back to our hotel near the WTC. A short rest, a long shower and back out the door for dinner and dancing / music. (thanks for the previous info on night spots - earlier post)
I am so psyched for this trip!!!
Help with our loooong NYC walking tour
bestofcitysearch.com/2004/鈥?/a>
Help with our loooong NYC walking tour
This is a hard choice. I would recommend the ';west'; route and also the Upper West Side.
Than you for your input. I am sure both have their own charms and fans.
Since you qualify this as a hard choice, it sounds as I could not go wrong with either one. Any others wish to weigh in?
Yes, their are plenty things to see on the LES, E. Vil. Union SQ, Gramercy and Flatiron but the west route is a bit more interesting. IMO, unless you are shopping or visiting museums, the UWS is much more interesting the the UES.
e. vill. must be away for the weekend or she would tell you why you should start there.
Yes. E.Vill was very helpful during an earlier inquiry. I certainly know which route she would choose. Funny, I didn%26#39;t get the screen name connection until a few days later.
Here%26#39;s a summary tackling lower Manhattan, with options for either Chinatown to Soho or Chinatown to LES.
(NOTE: if you%26#39;re going ot the Lower East Side on Friday, you better get there kinda early, since many of the older Jewish stores will close early. (Check ahead for their hours.)
Yonah Schimmel%26#39;s Knishes
Economy Candy
Orchard Street Corsets (and other stuff on Orchard Street)
Russ and Daughters Appetizers
Kossar%26#39;s Bialy%26#39;s
Check out http://www.lowereastsideny.com/ for a list of stores, phone numbers, etc.)
Having said that, starting from the Battery, I%26#39;d go up Broadway. When you get to Liberty Street, make a left. Make a right onto Church St. You%26#39;ll be right in front of WTC/Ground Zero and Century 21.
Continue up Church St. to Chambers Street. You will pass the big post office (go inside to see great recovery job after 9/11. This building was basically a chemical cesspool.) On Chambers are some stores and small eateries - nothing too memorable, but gives you a good feel of the area.
You can zig zag west (to your left) for Tribeca. Go left on Chambers to Greenwich Street and go north to around Reade or Franklin. You%26#39;ll pass Bazzini%26#39;s - a great gourmet food store that had the wherewithal to turn itself from a mom%26amp;pop wholesale candy and nut shop into a yuppie food haven!
Make two rights and go back to Chambers Street, and then a left onto Chambers, and head to Centre Street. You%26#39;ll be headed straight to the massive Municipal Building (get a marriage license here!) Make a left onto Centre. Walk through the municipal court area (you%26#39;ll see the ';Night Court'; building to your right) and it will turn into Lafayette Street.
Continue north and this will take you to Chinatown. You can zig-zag around until you get to Canal St. Go right on Canal. I%26#39;d walk east to somewhere like Elizabeth St. and take a left (north) to Grand St. Take Grand west (left) back to say, Lafayette and go back south (left) to Canal.
I know you wanted to go from Chinatown to the LES, but this is a good escape out of Chinatown, into Soho: Go west (right) on Canal and make a right (north) on Broadway. I%26#39;d then take a left on any street (maybe Grand again) and go to West Broadway. Make a right onto West Broadway and now you%26#39;re in the heart of Soho.
Click on this interactive map to see what%26#39;s on each street in Soho.
http://www.artseensoho.com/arrival.html
If you want to got from Chinatown into the LES, continue north on Elizabeth St. Start meandering east (to your right.) You can make a right onto Hester, Grand or Delancey. When you get to around Christie or Orchard Street, you can zig zag around (go south on one, and then north on another).
The LES is bordered by Hester St. on the south, Bowery on the west, Houston St. at the north, and it goes all the way under the Williamsburg Bridge to the east.
Again, check out http://www.lowereastsideny.com/ for info.
Queens,
As always, terific info -
Really good tip about the early LES closings on Friday. Would have never thought of that on my own.
Your%26#39;e quite welcome! Let%26#39;s take advantage of my insomnia, shall we? You know, you could also do a big, giant loop, viz:
If you want to end up in a more gay area at night, I would go from Chinatown, to the LES, up to the East Village, then either (a) north to Gramercy/Flatiron area and west to Chelsea, and south to W. Village, or
(b) west across central Greenwich Village (3rd or 8th Streeet) to the West Village, ending up in either the West Village or north in Chelsea for dinner.
If you%26#39;re not gay, or you want to end up in a more grunge/goth/art/student area, I%26#39;d do the reverse: go from Chinatown to Soho, up through central Village, west on West 3rd or West 8th to West Village, north to Chelsea, east to Flatiron/Gramercy, south to Union Square and East Village.
If you want to eat in a slightly more posh, over-30, all-grown-up Gen-X, got-money-to-spend-area, try to end up in the Flatiron/Gramercy area for dinner. Nice places to eat on Park Ave. from around 16th to 20th. Also, B%26#39;way around 19th and 20th sts.
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