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What did you do this week (and weekend)?
As part of a weekly series, these topics are a place for users to casually discuss the things they did — or didn't do — during their week. Did you accomplish any goals? Suffer a failure? Do nothing at all? Tell us about it!
Spent the last five days in New York (on Long Island (not Long Island City since apparently that's a thing) specifically, traveling into Manhattan mostly), thank you to everyone that commented with suggestions. Didn't get to do as much as I'd like, but 90% sure this will be a yearly thing so I'll get another chance next year.
Random observations (largely in comparison with DFW):
That's all that pops into my head at the moment.
And you were there in winter. Imagine summer time. It's hot. Humid. Then you go down into the subway. What is toasty warm during winter is unbearably hot in summer time. And you are painfully aware that you are surrounded by thousands of commuters, and all of them with arm pits etc.
Flying in from California, what blew me away was how different the New York sense of humor is. While Californians are politically correct and polite in behavior and humor, New Yorkers are... not?
There is no shortage of things to do at 3am on a Tuesday night.
Wait til you visit Boston (where I lived for several years) or Philly. Their general behavior and sense of humour is even more abrasive than NYers. ;)
Oh, I gots to go to Boston. Felt like Philly was a little more refined than NY. Maybe it was me mostly visiting during winter in the burbs. Maybe it was the lack of car drivers with their elbows permanently attached to the horn.
What are some of the sites you actually visited on your trip to NYC? Which did you enjoy most?
As for official sites: Rockefeller and "the tree", Empire State (and other various buildings), Times Square, plus one of the holiday markets (I don't remember which) during the Thursday tour on the bus the company booked for us. Tried to go to a couple of the larger museums, but that didn't work out time-wise. Did go to the Museum of Sex as it was on our way from one thing to another and found some interesting history, but it was mostly just crowded and full of loud idiots.
Of the official sites I'd say I liked the holiday market the best. Not for the shopping, but for the people watching in the park as it's something I enjoy doing and there was plenty to be had. Watched people play table tennis with strangers, caught 1-2 lines of conversation of passing people and either laughed at the random bits of drama in their lives or made up stories to go along with it in our heads. Did have a nice conversation about roller skating with the employees at one of the shops near Rockefeller/Tree as my wife is an avid roller skater and didn't expect such there.
Aw, it's a shame you didn't manage to get to any of the major museums. They're some of the very best in the world, IMO. The only places I have visited with better ones was Paris, London and Vienna. But as long as you still had a good time, that's ultimately all that really matters. :)
Yeah, they're the plan for another trip. I'm 90% sure this will be a yearly thing and we'll plan better in the future. Ultimately it's a 5 day trip with two days being travel, so really three days of things to do, reduced to two in actuality because one day was planned for us and could have been better spent with some other time management choices made.
re: bad coffee is a general American problem. Apart from the small handful of third-wave coffee shops in hip city neighborhoods or college towns, the US is devoid of good coffee. It's a wasteland of overly sweetened yet watery yet burnt coffee.
I wonder what Americans think. Do they think that this is okay? Do they yearn for something better? Is there a business opportunity in creating a fast coffee business that serves decent coffee at a price point between Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks?
I love ny, would give my left nut to live there, and am glad you had a great time. Some thoughts
A “New York minute “ is the time that elapses between the moment a traffic light turns green and someone honks their horn in nyc.
The biggest compliment i have been paid in the last year was when someone asked me for directions while I was strolling on green ave.
I have never eaten great pizza in manhattan or brooklyn but i have had my mind blown at random family joints on long island. Other than beaches, i cannot think of another reason to be on long island.
Agreed on the coffee, although many restaurants have great beans and decent equipment, however only available with your meal. Surrender to duncan. Otoh, you can get real japanese energy shots if you know where to look. Also good milk tea (but lots o sugar).
Be sure to check out the high line next time.
I had some pizza places saved on Long Island (none in Manhattan interestingly) as possibilities to hit, I consider Italian food and pizza as separate entities.
Oh, I’m so sorry I didn’t warn you about the BBQ - it’s awful in NYC. There’s actually some great places upstate, but I think due to lack of space it just can’t compete in the city. Someone told me Fette Sau is decent, but I haven’t personally been.
Regarding coffee, there are actually good places here, but they’re hard to find. Black Fox on 45th is one of the best places I’ve been for espresso.
No worries about the lack of warning about BBQ. I didn't go with intent of trying any and I didn't order any, but it was thrust upon me, so to speak, and I passed a few places that just smelled awful and artificial.
Adding Black Fox to my list for the next trip, thanks! If anyone else has coffee suggestions, I'm here for them so I have more than one spot to go to, I'm not a coffee snob or anything, life is just too short for Folgers.