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Places to Do, Things to See in NYC
For both locals and out of towners.
15 Places
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Joy’s 4-star review: Walking into Essex St Market is slipping back in time a few decades, back when La Guardia was mayor and the Lower East Side was just dingy, instead of fashionably, glamorously dingy like it is today. For all the NYC history buffs, the Market was originally meant to serve as an indoor clearinghouse for street vendors, so that the valuable sidewalk space could be used for police and fire. Like the surrounding neighborhood and residents, the Market has gone through good times and bad. I for one am just glad that it hasn't been swallowed up or partitioned in order to make room for a Whole Foods. My favorite sections of the market are the tiny, narrow hallways that make up the Essex Farm Grocery. True, a lot of the items are ones that you can find in your local corner bodega but I've also stumbled across rare Chinese crackers that I've only been able to find in the motherland and it's also just a fun shopping experience (as long as no one else is in the aisle with you). My second favorite section is Shopsin's, though I have only eaten there once. And I will say that despite the excellent food, it wasn't the most relaxing eating experience after Kenny directed his son to throw the party next to us out. I aim to try: the brioche at Pain D'Avignon, the spicy tuna donburi at Ni Japanese, and all of the cheeses at both Formaggio Essex and Saxelby Cheesemongers. Oh and the carrot cake at Boubouki. Seriously, too many good things and not enough stomach capacity. Unfortunately, I don't get to come here all that often because I work near Chinatown and I live on the UES, which means my commute bypasses much of the LES. I do think that it's a shame more homegrown, community-style markets don't exist closer to my home. And where did the taco stand go?? -
Joy’s 5-star review: This is one of those places where I'm never inclined to visit on my own but would be more than happy to take a friend or family member who's visiting from out of town. My mom and I came into the city once when I was younger to partake in the famous city culture - well, I just about had enough of culture about twenty minutes into the performance and started whining for food (young me definitely knew what was up). My mom being the public-attention-adverse Asian parent that she was and the concert's guidelines about food being much more lax stuffed us into a coat closet with some street meat until I finally shut up. But anyway, 1) the acoustics here are amazing and 2) the performances are truly spectacular. Having plodded through several years of classical piano training and hating about 99% of it, I wouldn't say I'm the biggest fan of classical music but I do like watching people perform. Especially pianists. Something about beautiful hands. Cough. Ahem. My cousin and I took in a performance of "The Music of the Future," with pieces from Brahms, Chopin, and Bach. The time went by very quickly. We were somewhere on the second tier and had a nice view of the stage. One word about dress: I saw everything from fancy fur stoles to ripped jeans and flip flops, with most of the audience in neat business/professional clothes. I don't believe there's a formal dress code but I recommend a nice outfit so you don't feel uncomfortably casual. Another about applause: generally, you save any applause for the end of a piece, not in an especially thrilling part in the middle. Don't be me and be so enthralled by a portion that you start clapping enthusiastically because you will be shushed. -
Joy’s 5-star review: What is there left to say? Coming here should be on the top of everyone's bucket list (especially New Yorkers) - the Memorial is stunning and peaceful, and the Museum is worth the $24 admission price. A word about the Museum. There are some incredibly painful exhibits, including the voice recordings of the flight passengers, the small keepsakes and momentos of those working in the Towers, and the array of prescription medicine bottles the first responders now have to take for respiratory ailments. You will definitely find yourself choking up. I don't always cry at sad movies, even the ones where the poor dog dies at the end, but I did tear up at two things: 1) the survivors' staircase, 2) the shirt of the one man who survived the February 1993 WTC bombings but not the 9/11 attacks, 3) the panel of 9/12/2011 front pages, and 4) the un-ending wall of Missing flyers. Out of the various sections of the Museum, I found the portion talking about the structural composition and the opening of the Towers to be a nice ease-in for the later, more intense exhibition about September 11. The section about the plot and Al-Qaeda was also informative, but I was reeling and feeling slightly light-headed from seeing all those Missing posters that I quickly walked through it without really taking any of the information in. Just a worthwhile experience. You'll leave here changed, I promise. Don't be scared off the yellow-sign line, it moves quickly. -
Joy’s 5-star review: I'm going to echo all the other reviews and say to take advantage of the FREE kayaking here before we're smack in the middle of a freezing winter wasteland again. The kayaking here is great for beginners who've never gone white water rafting before - the waters are almost always relatively placid, and you get the option of a double boat if you're a scaredy-cat who wants someone right in the boat with them (aka, me). Plus you can't beat how phenomenal the deal is: you can chip in a donation if you want for a boat, a life vest, sunscreen, hair ties, and a free locker. We went on July 4th, expecting to wait in line for at least a few minutes, but they sent us on our way as soon as we put our things away and didn't give us a time limit. There's also an outdoor shower if you need to rinse the sunscreen and Hudson River grime off your legs, and two changing rooms. Which brings me to: bring a pair of fresh bottoms to change into because your pants will get wet from kayaking. The water is light and muddy, but no foul smell hanging off it. You're kept to a very restricted area but it's nice to just float and listen to the sounds of the city ebbing away. Perfect for a first date or just hanging out with you SO/friend/parent on the water. -
Joy’s 4-star review: This is one of the few places where I can unabashedly make cooing noises at cats in public, I'm bumping it up to a 4. The museum is running an exhibition until the end of January for how cats have conquered the Internet, so one of the features was a running loop of cat videos projected onto a wall. 1. The cat exhibition was strangely curated. If I was running the show, I would eliminate any and all Youtube videos that didn't actually feature cats, such as the bizarre 3-minute song that mixed dubstep, cats, bees, and beef, and show more videos of kittens slurping up milk or rolling around a giant dog. I realize how that makes me sound like something worse than a cat lady - the Internet cat lady - but just know that I've logged several (hundred) hours staring at virtual cats and pawing sadly at the screen. 2. I liked the focus on the various parts of putting together a movie or television show, from script-writing to costuming to special effects and makeup to set design. I don't think I've ever realized the sheer amount of hard work and talent that goes into creating a film, especially all of the behind-the-scenes logistics. You can also create your very own moving image in one of the mini-labs on the second floor. 3. The section on the evolution of film theaters was really cool. I'm a bit sad that I missed out on drive-in theaters and the grand old theaters with balconies. They looked like they had a little more soul and character than the corporate-looking AMCs and Loews of today. 4. However, that row of ... old televisions ... television after rusty television ... my dad would have been a HUGE fan of that. I wanted to go back to the cats. 5. The cafe is wildly overpriced. If you're in dire need of caffeine or food, there's a Panera, Starbucks, and Uno's down the block. You're out of luck if your specific craving is a Pac Man cookie, though. -
Joy’s 5-star review: Excellent play! I am not a theater junkie by any means, but I was blown away by the performances, especially the son's and the father's, as well as the level of detail and thought that went into crafting such an amazing set (two words: escalator scene). I admit that I teared up during more than one scene. The characters feel real, with sharp edges and imperfect thoughts and actions, and the yearning to explain yourself, and to be heard and understood, is almost palpable. I suggest snagging the center mezzanine seats if you can - at some points, the play is acted out from different spots scattered throughout the theater, and you get to take in that much more detail without having to crane your head around too much. Another piece of advice: Try not to spoil yourself as to the plot. I never read the book and eschewed all Internet spoilers, knowing only that the story involved a dog at night. I liked how the mystery of the dog actually sparked its own mystery (ahem, can't give away too much). As other people have mentioned, I am not sure how appropriate this play is for children. At times, the music and special effects reach loud, flashing, heart-jarring levels, in order to convey how confusing and disorienting the world is to the main character, but a child might get freaked out. And, of course, stay after curtain call. Nice flashback to my high school calculus days.
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Joy’s 5-star review: One of my favorite places in the city, hands down. Especially beautiful if you go in the summer right when the sun sets and the light hits the buildings just right. Too bad everyone else feels the same way. If you're my out of town friend, it's pretty much guaranteed I'm dragging you here at some point. You get to walk through much of Chelsea and the Meatpacking District, and you'll see the new Whitney Museum and Chelsea Market. Plus, the trail is only around 3 miles and with tons of other tourists milling about, the pace slows to a snail's crawl and you can really take your time to look around. The best stops along the way: - The passageway underneath The Standard hotel, otherwise known as the hotel with floor to ceiling windows and Le Bain and the Boom Boom Room - Chelsea Market near 15th Street. I've always found the Market to be way too packed and claustrophobic but there's so much GOOD STUFF inside. Everything from Amy's Bread to Doughnuttery to Fat Witch to L'Arte del Gelato to Very Fresh Noodles. - The little lawn with the reclining seats near the People's Pops popsicle vendor. - The open-air hallway full of food stands during the summer. If you have time, I really suggest reading some of the New Yorker pieces on the High Line - how it has failed in its original mission of serving the surrounding community by attracting ridiculously expensive condos/high-rises and hordes of tourists, yet also how it has the distinction of being one of the few parks in the city that has managed to remain crime free. Also, the cinematic masterpiece I Am Legend had bits and pieces filmed here. -
Joy’s 4-star review: Love this place - so not only does the West side of the island have more subway options and a Trader Joe's in the UWS, they have the beautiful waterfront Greenway running along the Hudson River whereas the only running options for the East side is the East River Greenway (the industrial plants are quite scenic). And one of the best parts of the Greenway is Pier 25 with its mini golf course - perfect for a date or for a hangout with friends on a sunny weekend afternoon. This was my first time mini-golfing, so there was a fair amount of whacking and frustrated huffing. The courses get increasingly difficult, especially if you're like me and can't really concentrate with a ton of people watching behind you. Which explains why I had to take almost fifteen swings just to pass one round. At one point, mini golfing turned into field hockeying. I will say, though, that if you go on a weekend, expect to do a little bit of waiting in between each course for the group ahead of you to finish. Sometimes this can result in a large group huddled together in the tiny patches between each green. Definitely don't be that person who shouts to one group to move over because there is really literally no other space to stand - just wait your turn to hit the tiny white ball. My friends and I were scolded by this extremely impatient mom two groups back because we didn't feel like standing on top of each other and I had one foot on the green. Ugh. Otherwise, Pier 25 is a great alternative to the tired New York bottomless brunch scene: in addition to mini golf, there's a roped off area for kayaking (in the summer only) and a skate park. I'd love to come back once it's no longer frigid out. -
Joy’s 5-star review: This is by far my favorite theater in Manhattan, sky-high prices for movies be damned. It's located inside the Conrad Hotel so the lovely lavender-scented aroma suffusing the first floor of the theater is a nice trade-off for how hard it is to find it. If you're coming from Brookfield, look for the little alley that ends with Shake Shack - you should see a sign sticking out from the building that says "Regal." I'm also just a sucker for the amazing, butter-soft, reclining leather seats and the trays that allow you to daintily munch on popcorn instead of cradling the bucket in your lap like a pleb. The theater also allows for reserved seating for the really popular movies. I've never been to a screening that's so popular I had to ask someone to move from my seat but it's a nice perk if you want to guarantee that you can sit together with your friends. I also have to admit that I never buy snacks from the concessions stand, preferring to sneak in my own blend of chips and candy for movies. Unfortunately for me, they definitely check your bags here. I've also been lucky enough to get fun/respectful fellow movie-goers each time I've been here. The Regal in my hometown is a bit of a crapshoot depending on the rating of the movie you go. Anything PG-13 and under elicits the teenage crowd that won't stop talking or laughing loudly or throwing popcorn everywhere. I've never once seethed or tsk-tsked at the Regal Battery Park (yes, I sound like an old lady with a broom but seriously get off my lawn!). Come here but don't tell anyone else! -
Joy’s 5-star review: After walking down the length of Manhattan a few days ago and then sitting on my butt for ten hours straight at work, my back, neck, shoulders, and feet were a mess. If you could take a picture of how my spine felt, it would be a gnarled, sad old tree. Finally, I realized I worked five minutes away from Chinatown and had a plethora of cheap massage places at my fingertips. What a time to be alive. I picked Relax Foot because of the enthusiastic reviews and the $30 price for a 1-hour foot and back massage (say what?!). The fact that they called me five minutes after I messaged them for an appointment time only confirmed the choice. Here's a breakdown of everything that happened: 6:30 pm: I walk in, nervously eyeing the establishment, jittery from the taro bubble tea I had downed a few minutes before. This would turn out to be a rookie mistake. Anyway, Relax has a series of chairs set up in one room and three more beds further inside. I got a bed. Lucky ole me. Some curtains cordon you off from the other customers so if you're not into the meaty, thwacking sounds of your neighbor getting his back rubbed, uh, find a massage place not in this city? 6:35: Soaking my poor, abused toes in some heavenly, herbal water. A lady is working on my back and keeps tsk-ing at the knots riddling my shoulders. She irons some out with her thumbs and elbows. Heavenly. ~6:50: I maneuver myself face-down onto the bed. Uh-oh. I hear the bubble tea sloshing around inside my belly. She starts rubbing down my spinal column. My body keeps swinging between agony at all the liquid trapped inside and blissful relief at how good it feels. At one point, my stomach belches out this massive gurgle. I try to mask it with a prolonged coughing fit. ~7:10: I flip over, thankful that my masseuse's powerful jabs haven't caused projectile vomiting. She starts working on my feet. There's this Chinese reflexology map of the foot that shows how all of the ailments in the body are tied to the feet. I've been told before that my bladder, my pancreas, my lungs, and my heart are all afflicted to some extent. Now, my stomach keeps making these disgusting burping and sloshing sounds. The masseuse gives me a knowing smile as she digs her thumbs into the soles of my feet. I try not to whimper aloud for fear of disturbing my neighbor's serenity. ~7:25: My masseuse is wrapping up. I feel gloriously rubbed down, like a cat shaking out its fur. I feel loosened up and generous towards all on earth, especially the people I'm going to have to fight in order to wedge myself onto the express train. ~7:35 pm: I stagger into the pellucid, balmy air that is a spring night in Chinatown, my eyes bloodshot, as though I've been sobbing whereas in actuality, I've been face-down and dozing off. Because my limbs are so relaxed, I find myself doing a drunken weave down Lafayette. Strangers keep staring at me nervously; tourist families give me a wide berth on the sidewalk. Try not to wear your contacts to a massage. Each and every time, I come out looking like a drowned rat in the eyes. DAMAGE: $30. I left a 33.3% tip. I'll be back (without idiotically consuming a large drink beforehand). -
Joy’s 5-star review: As the city's flagship greenmarket, the Union Square Greenmarket is a riot of color and always a welcome sight for sore eyes after a long brutal winter (seriously, how is that I still find myself wearing a scarf in May?). I come here to fill up on the community that is New York City: sometimes the city makes you feel alone and small. Other times, when you're poring over the same beautiful bushel of pears or you get to talking about the perfect recipe for rhubarb, it's difficult not to feel connected. When my out-of-town friends visit me during the spring and summer, I make it a point to bring them here. Even though it's cabined to two or three blocks, the Greenmarket seems to be a much more potent symbol of all that NYC has to offer, more so than the usual tourist landmarks. Plus, the vendors are SO friendly. I haven't met a single person unwilling to explain their products or to offer tips. Once, as I was debating whether or not to buy artichokes, the vendor gave me her favorite recipe. Here's just a random selection of everything I've ever picked up and loved from the Greenmarket: - Really good sourdough bread that I squirrel away for the sole purpose of consuming by itself because it's too good to be wasted on sandwiches - Gluten free, vegan carrot cake. It came in the form of a hubcap-sized cookie. - Produce in general. I bit into a cherry tomato that I bought here once and sighed. It was actually a tomato instead of a red piece of plastic masquerading as a tomato. There's also every version of a green leafy vegetable imaginable, from kale to chard to spinach to arugula. In terms of prices, I've found that the produce in particular is more expensive than Whole Foods, Fairway, or Trader Joe's. Which is really the only downside. Samples on early Saturday mornings! Also, if you love celebrity chefs as much as I do, I've glimpsed Mario Batali and Giada de Laurentiis at the market. -
Joy’s 4-star review: Okay, I didn't know that Summer Hathaway's song from that School of Rock bit (please, someone tell me they're also a diehard School of Rock quoter), "Memory, all alone in the moonlight" was from Cats. My mom only got the tickets for Cats because she knows how much of a crazy cat lady I am and would jump at the chance to see a whole theater production dedicated to cats. Here is what I loved: 1. The rendition of Memory, during both Acts. I still can't hear that song without picturing Miranda Cosgrove belting out the lyrics to an unimpressed Jack Black but it was a beautiful song to be sung live. 2. Some of the actors really went Method when depicting felines. I saw nuzzling, actual paw licking, and scratching the ears and face. Thankfully no actual sniffing or grooming. Moving on. Everyone on stage was so incredibly talented, it really made me wish that I could dance or sing like that. 3. There was a ton of audience interaction. I have to admit, I'm not a super theater fan (as demonstrated by the fact that I'll rarely sign up for tickets of my own initiative but I would never turn down the chance to go with a friend) but I really enjoy it when the actors break the fourth wall and involve the audience in the musical. So for Cats, you had the actors dancing in the aisles and high-fiving kids and you even get to take pictures with one of the cast members during intermission (yes, they allow people to go onto the stage to look around at the set). Here are some less enthused notes: 1. The seats are ridiculously cramped and narrow. They were clearly built for much slimmer butts. I will say I'm relatively normal sized and even I had to shift around some. But this goes more to the actual theater, not the production. 2. The story was a little hard to follow if you come in completely unfamiliar. Being a naturally curious person, I read a short summary right beforehand and it helped me immensely. My mother and the couple next to us, however, were utterly lost. I won't put any spoilers here but just know that the actual plot-line is quite simple. 3. Some of my fellow theater-goers were just downright disrespectful. The family behind us wouldn't stop cursing loudly even though there were children everywhere. They made loud, jeering comments at various points during the play. They didn't know (or didn't care) how long intermission lasted because they came in well after the second Act started and loudly scrambled over to their seats. Left with trash strewn all around their area. Ugh. The theater isn't your private zoo. -
Joy’s 3-star review: I feel like Eataly is one of those places that you muster up the courage to do (like taking the plunge before waiting in line for the Empire State Building or the ferry to the Statue of Liberty) but then once you do, you shake yourself off and wonder what the whole point of the excursion was. Sure, Mario Batali is a genius. Sure, there's just so much beautiful Italian goods to gaze upon in awe, specifically, the handmade pasta (I am partial to the tagliatelle and the classic spaghetti). But there are so many damn people that I swear, it requires gymnastic contortions to be able to reach over and get that handmade pasta. Plus, I really loathe the tables and seats scattered throughout the store. I'm not referring to the individual restaurants but to the tables that are just haphazardly integrated into random nooks and crannies of the grocery area. How is it enjoyable at all to be eating and wining while people are doing their shopping around you? It's also crazy loud so good luck having any kind of conversation. I've witnessed at least one scene in which a distracted shopper almost plowed head-on into someone's dish. Don't even get me started on the standing-room only counters where you may leisurely sip on a glass of pinot while someone inches away stares gap-mouthed at the gigantic jars of Nutella. Anyway, Eataly is a purveyor of a vast quantity of fancy cheeses, meats, bread, pasta, and, oh my God, so much chocolate. If I ever went to Italy, I'd get fat from the sheer amount of sweets and gelato and pastries I'd be blithely stuffing into my gullet. I'm not fancy or in-the-know or picky enough to go out of my way to get that extra fancy EVOO or buffalo mozz but I do know my Baci Perugina and Ferrero. And let's not forget Loacker Quadratini wafers, which I can pick up in just about any self-respecting bodega in NYC (oh, what a world to live in) but somehow taste better plucked from a gleaming shelf in Eataly. -
Joy’s 5-star review: Ahhhh, this place might be my favorite spot in the whole city - secluded, green, rushing water, and space to sit down, talk, read, or just reflect quietly. My only gripe is that the seats, made out of some kind of hard wire, were incredibly uncomfortable, but I get that maybe they don't want to invest in too plush seating in case they get stolen or carried off. The best part of the park is without a doubt the waterfall which plucks you out of the crowded, stuffy, claustrophobic concrete jungle and leaves you feeling rejuvenated or serene. That waterfall is seriously like a cool, refreshing transfusion of good vibes. Like a really invigorating yoga session. Or sliding into clean sheets after having not slept for two days straight. I felt so content walking out of the park. There's a small nook inside the park that sells salads, sandwiches, coffee, and drinks but something even better would be to grab a bagel from Ess-A-Bagel a block over and bring it to the park with a good book. There's also several chairs, tables, and benches scattered about - on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, the seating filled up quickly and people do tend to linger for obvious reasons. It seems like Manhattan's best kept secret is definitely getting out but I would love to come here again and again. -
Joy’s 3-star review: 230 Fifth was a rite of passage for me when I first moved here. Go to 230 Fifth, they said. You'll have a great view, they said. You'll also pay an arm and a leg for a drink but then you'll get used to paying ridiculous amounts for watered down drinks, they said. And so I went. Keep in mind I visited after a jaunt through Ktown and its various soju stops. ENTRANCE: Easy enough to get into if you're a reasonably smartly-dressed lady. I've seen girls get in without any trouble. None of that silly business of having to wear $500 heels (cough Le Bain cough Boom Boom Room cough). The doormen are also friendly enough, especially if you go earlier in the evening (cough Circle cough, need a cough drop now). Men, try to go with at least one of your lady friends. VIEW: Pretty neat views of the Empire State Building, depending on where exactly you stand for the photograph. I've always had a distinct recollection of a ficus plant blocking the ESB and having to do some strategic maneuvering to snare a decent shot. CROWD: European tourists, yuppies who live or work nearby, young post-college crowd. There's a dance floor inside but most of the time, people congregate outside. Like most New York places, this isn't somewhere to go to actively meet people if you're flying solo. Crowds tend to cluster. DRINKS: Really, really weak, and I say this as someone who started with a pretty high tolerance, only to feel it inching down over the years. Also, overpriced but that goes with the territory. I will say that the bartenders here take the cake for the most sloppy in drinking. I understand that their first priority is to meet the needs of the crowd but I've also come once when it was relatively quiet and the bartender spilled most of the gin not into the glass and pretended he and I both didn't just notice the total fail. FOOD: Lol. Eat somewhere else. PROS: (A) It's never gotten so busy that I haven't been able to snag a seat or a booth. (B) Pretty relaxing door policy if you're the type of person who mentally hyperventilates about getting in (I am that person). (C) Igloos and red snuggies during winter. CONS: (A) A lot of cigarette smoke. People don't really think twice about lighting up. I'm so used to the whole no-smoking law in New York that it caught me off guard to constantly come across wafts of smoke. I read somewhere that there's a designated section for smokers but I didn't see any signs posted. (B) Super-weak dranks. BOTTOM LINE: Go to Skylark instead.
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