Things to do in NYC

Jimbo Slice

Jimbo Slice

CAGiversary!
Feedback
29 (100%)
Old
Hey everyone, so here's the deal. I live in Philly, a friend of mine lives in Central PA (near State College) and we're looking to go to NYC. We're trying to find a place that both of us can drive to (that's about equal distance) and then take public transportation into the city. Scranton is an idea, but it looks like they only have a bus, no train.

Anyone have experience with this? A train would be preferable.

Edit: Figured out the logistics, now I just need some "can't miss" things to do. I already am planning on hitting Central Park and the Carnegie Deli... anyone else?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I took an Amtrak train to NYC from DC and it stopped in Phily on the way up to NYC. I'd say your friend needs to drive to Phily.
 
You can also take Septa into Trenton and the Northeast Corridor to NYC. That might expand your options a little as far as meeting place, but taking a non-Amtrak train from Philly to NYC is already going to take a few hours, one way. Might want to have your friend spend the night before, and maybe the night of your trip, in Philly to get the most out of it. Or get a hotel somewhere along the NE Corridor to do it all in one day and drive home. Otherwise you're spending most of the day on or waiting for a train.
 
Just went to New York city for comic con and we took Amtrak from 30th street. Can't really think of any place but Scranton that you could meet someone.
I say you just meet in NYC or he can stay with you overnight.
Remeber to order your tickets on Amtrak early so you can use a 30% off coupon.
And Bolt Bus or Greyhound are alot cheaper the Amtrak and just 30 mins longer.
 
If you've never been before, you should probably check out Times Square and Rockafeller Center. Probably stuff you'll only need to see once. (The Nintendo store is a real letdown though)
 
[quote name='lordwow']If you've never been before, you should probably check out Times Square and Rockafeller Center. Probably stuff you'll only need to see once. (The Nintendo store is a real letdown though)[/quote]

Haha, how is Times Square something you only need to see once? It's pure chaos, no doubt. But some of the best stores are there (Virgin Megastore, Toys R Us, Hard Rock, etc.) I think it's a necessary evil for even most New Yorkers.

As far as touristy things that you will only want to do once, the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building will really suck your day away. Thanks to the terrorists, security at those places is basically airport level. They're still amazing sites to see (and things everybody probably should see), but it takes a lot more time and effort than it used to.

Chinatown is also chaos incarnate. But at least there you can get some cheap deals on really great stuff. 3 for $10 t-shirts, knockoff designer crap, and a lot of the same stuff you just saw in the SoL and ESB gift shops for about a third of the price.

If you're looking for cheap places (and why wouldn't you be? This is CAG after all), you can get into the Museum of Natural History for basically free (technically a donation...at least give them something). Central Park is also a good, cheap way to spend an afternoon...especially if you're up around the museum. John Lennon's apartment and Strawberry Fields is right by there.

Ah, I could go on and on, haha. I love New York. I'm going again in May, and hopefully will be moving there in the next year or two. Anyway, hope that gives you some ideas. You guys should have a great time.

EDIT - Oh, also, as far as getting around the City, not sure how long you're going to be there, but to keep things cheap, I always recommend using the subway. It can be intimidating for first timers, but you're from Philly, so it shouldn't bother you. You can get a one day, unlimited use Metrocard for $7.50. It works for all trains and local bus rides. You both need your own though because the card can only be swiped once every 15 minutes or something, so the "pass it back" method won't work (I learned that the hard way years ago, haha). An unlimited 7 day Metrocard is $25. For comparison, riding the train once, one way costs $2, so the unlimited cards really become a hell of a bargain very fast. You can use www.hopstop.com to plan out which trains to catch and where. It's like Mapquest for public transportation, haha.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
There are more places to visit in NYC then I can possibly list here. You can start out at Central Park and Carnagie Hall, check out SOHO/Chinatown for lunch, then head over to the MET (museum), stop by the Empire State Building and finish up at Time SQ/Broadway (you can hit up some of the midtown bars or head down to the village).
 
My favorite thing to do in NY:
Canal Street; Gray market goods, knock offs and black market stuff. So much fun- haggle, haggle, haggle.
 
When in NYC you gotta hit the village. Whether your gay or straight its a great place to go. They have great stores, food , clubs and bars. Just an all around good time. Way better in the summer when they have street fairs where you can find just about anything for good cheap prices.

Places to hit.
Try Hard Rock Cafe. Good food and always a good time. Also if in summer time then hit a Yankees game. Just don't root for the other team. Check out Virgin Records for tons of music.

If your into to hit the World Trade Center Memorial. Hit the MET or MOMA both great museums.

Definetly hit a Broadway show. If its still running you gotta see Avenue Q. Funny as hell. Imagine Sesame street mixed with South Park. If you wanna hear a sniper listen to the beginning of the cagcast titled Internet is for Porn. Its a great show. Not for kids though.
 
If you go to the Hard Rock Cafe, I'll burn down your house when I visit Feasterville Philly in June. Might as well go to a "Bennigan's."

Do somethin' fun instead. If you're goin' tourist-style, check out the MoMA, I suppose. Fo sho.
 
Other great ideas:
Go to a Duane Reed (don't worry there's nearly one on every corner) then try and get cash-back with your debit card. It's a fun challenge.

Next, go to a Dean and Delucca's. Order a breva and eat a custom yogurt parfait or a bran muffin, then wait 45 minutes. See how far you can walk.

Have dinner at Rue 57. Jackie Mason lives in a building near there (midtown/midtown-west) and is in and out a lot. (I have seen him there every time I have eaten there, seriously- more than three times now) Every time I see him there I say the same thing: "Caddyshack 2 wasn't that bad Mr. Mason . . . Just kidding, yea it was. But, we still love you." He thinks it's funny, I swear. There's a good chance he will stop and talk to you.

Danny Aiello is also in there frequently, but he's a dick.
 
[quote name='mykevermin']If you go to the Hard Rock Cafe, I'll burn down your house when I visit Feasterville Philly in June. Might as well go to a "Bennigan's."

Do somethin' fun instead. If you're goin' tourist-style, check out the MoMA, I suppose. Fo sho.[/QUOTE]

Don't worry myke, I'm not. In terms of food, I am planning on hitting the Carnegie Deli but I have nowhere else picked out yet. I wanna hit something that is decidedly New York City for dinner, but I don't know where yet.

And when you're in Philly, allow me to show you the greatest bar in town (Sugar Mom's at 3rd and Church.) Great, great place.
 
I wish i could remember their names, but i once saw a history channel special that showed a lot of the older pizzerias in the city. They all looked so good, if i'm ever there i'm definitely finding some of them.
 
[quote name='rajchakrabarti']get a gyro from GYROII.... i love that crap.. they got a few.. one i know of is by madison square garden...

also a cool spot a few cags have been too.. (im trying to make it out there)

http://www.barcadebrooklyn.com/

old school arcade games.. .and beer.[/QUOTE]

I would love to hit the Barcade, but I'm going with one of my friends that is a girl, so I dunno how well it would fly. I think I'll hit the nightlife in Greenwich Village.
 
go the Natural History Museum/ Hayden Planeterium, same building. Try to get tickets to a bway show, look online for coupons. Then have dinner at Carmine's.
 
[quote name='Jimbo Slice']I would love to hit the Barcade, but I'm going with one of my friends that is a girl, so I dunno how well it would fly. I think I'll hit the nightlife in Greenwich Village.[/quote]


its kind of a hip spot, all sorts of microbrews and its classic games so its hipster
 
If your an anime fan, go to the bottom of Elizabeth Center in china town. Also if you like little toys like rare jap blind boxes or just old school toys try toy tokyo on 52nd. Truthfully if you are goin there for the first time, do what I do and wear some comfortable shoes and walk from Central Park down to Battery park(following broadway or one of the parallel streets). That will take you from the park through times square, through midtown (go through union square, less touristy than times and great stuff like Virgin), china town, then to wall street (watch for falling stocks) and finally to the park. Its a hike but youll see a lot of the city and will take most of the day. Great thing bout doing that is that if theres anything you want to see, youll probably pass within a few blocks (broadway cuts almost down the middle of the city). Thats what I usually do when I go to the city. Of course NYC cant all be seen in a day but thats a good way to see a large chunk of the city without too much hassle. Plus when you get all the way south to battery park you can take the subway back anywhere you want for 2 bucks.
Also Im from Philly so if you want the cheapest (seein how this is CAG and all) best way to get to NYC take the china town bus. Slightly worse than a crowded greyhound, but for 20 bucks round trip and buses leave every hour, its hard to beat(they have a tendency to smell). Otherwise the train is what everyone else does although I hear it takes longer.
 
[quote name='rajchakrabarti']get a gyro from GYROII.... i love that crap.. they got a few.. one i know of is by madison square garden...

also a cool spot a few cags have been too.. (im trying to make it out there)

http://www.barcadebrooklyn.com/

old school arcade games.. .and beer.[/quote]

barcade is my favorite.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
bread's done
Back
Top