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New York, New York Monday, November 03, 2008 6:43 PM

In less then two weeks, I'll be boarding an aeroplane and jetting off to New York for five fabulous nights. It's my first time leaving this city for an overnight in over eighteen months. Anyone who knows me knows that is practically a lifetime, because I've never been stuck in Toronto for that long; at least not since I took my first trip (DC & Virginia) at one & a half.

The friend (hi Devon!) I'm staying with is an amazing resource, but I'd still love some suggestions on food and shopping from locals and visitors alike! As for places to visit, I'm planning to drag the friend traveling with me (kicking and screaming, no doubt) to MoMA and the Guggenheim. If there's anyone into photography, I'd love some suggestions on interesting parts of the city for photographing outside the touristy places.

The photos in this entry are from my last visit to the city in February 2005. Hopefully this time won't be as cold!

tags: new york photos travel

Comments (41)

K-Line | 2008-11-03 08:19 PM | Reply

I cannot wait to see the fab photos (and loot) you come back with this time!

Lexie | 2008-11-03 09:41 PM | Reply

be sure to visit Pinkberry! that was one of my favorite parts of nyc ... mmmm frozen yogurt!

a dreamer | 2008-11-03 10:05 PM | Reply

wow. breathtaking. i love your photos to bits!

SRR | 2008-11-03 10:37 PM | Reply

Have fun! Those are gorgeous pics...can't wait to see the second installment.

yulanda replied to K-Line | 2008-11-03 11:07 PM | Reply

I cannot wait to go. Especially since I'm now out of a job... I sit here and twiddle my thumbs these days. Although I do have about a million and one other things I put off during my internship that I need to get back to.

yulanda replied to Lexie | 2008-11-03 11:13 PM | Reply

Ooh, good suggestion! I've heard so much about this Pinkberry.

yulanda replied to a dreamer | 2008-11-03 11:14 PM | Reply

Thank you!

yulanda replied to SRR | 2008-11-03 11:19 PM | Reply

Thank you, hopefully I'll have some time (and it won't be too cold) to work on my photography. I need some new inspiration.

chriskalani | 2008-11-04 12:11 AM | Reply

I need to go to NY soon. NEED to.

Fruchtzwerg | 2008-11-04 01:08 AM | Reply

omg how exciting!!! I cannot wait to see pics of your trip!I wished I could join you.

yulanda replied to chriskalani | 2008-11-04 01:15 AM | Reply

Have you ever been?

yulanda replied to Fruchtzwerg | 2008-11-04 01:16 AM | Reply

Me too, how amazing would that be?!

Amelia | 2008-11-04 01:16 AM | Reply

That first pic is incredible. Have fun in New York. I have no advice, since I've never been :(

yulanda replied to Amelia | 2008-11-04 01:27 AM | Reply

Thanks, hopefully you'll get to go someday!

susie_bubble | 2008-11-04 07:05 AM | Reply

If you look back on my posts about New York, ppl left a TON of suggestions which might be useful!

Kate | 2008-11-04 11:05 AM | Reply

Read this! http://www.theshinysquirrel.com/truant-magazine.html

and go to Dumbo for photos, in Brooklyn. One stop on the F into Brooklyn.

Have fun!!

yulanda replied to susie_bubble | 2008-11-04 11:56 AM | Reply

Thanks, I will have to do that!

yulanda replied to Kate | 2008-11-04 12:18 PM | Reply

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll be sure to look into both of them.

caroline | 2008-11-04 12:28 PM | Reply

when you go to dumbo, you should get some hot chocolate from jacque torres. it's on water street. there's lots of street art and some small galleries there if you get tired of the modern art establishment (P.S. 1 in queens is great too). have fun!

yulanda replied to caroline | 2008-11-04 01:25 PM | Reply

Thanks for the recommendations!

Nøve | 2008-11-04 03:37 PM | Reply

I wanna go to New York too!

Britney | 2008-11-04 04:43 PM | Reply

I've been to New York before. I love it there!

Roxana | 2008-11-04 07:10 PM | Reply

Souen for lunch (and they have fabulous scones)
Clinton Street Bakery for brunch (try their pancakes or french toast, holy cow!)
Magnolia Bakery (have a vanilla cupcake or their banana pudding; their chocolate cupcakes aren't that great)
Balthazar Bakery (have an oat scone, hot chocolate, and chocolate chip cookie. mmmm)
party at the Beatrice Inn
Pastis for dinner (have their butternut squash ravioli or tortellini, I don't remember which one, and their creme brulee)

yulanda replied to Nøve | 2008-11-04 11:48 PM | Reply

Hope you get to go soon!

yulanda replied to Britney | 2008-11-04 11:50 PM | Reply

Who doesn't? :)

yulanda replied to Roxana | 2008-11-04 11:53 PM | Reply

Thank you so much for all the recs!
Unless my friend wants to go, I think I'm going to skip Magnolia this time. I found their cupcakes too sweet for my tooth :\ But I'm definitely going to see if I try the scones from either (or both!) places you suggested...I've never had one before! & butternut squash ravioli! mmm.

melanie | 2008-11-05 05:03 PM | Reply

i second clinton street baking co, but be sure to arrive super early for brunch (before 11am, eep!) and be prepared to wait! however, they have several brunch items on their regular breakfast/lunch menu too.

right down the street is alias, which has an amazing prix-fixe 3-course sunday dinner for $30 (used to be $25, sigh). their brunch is pretty good too.

and i have to vote for red mango over pinkberry - it's also fro-yo, but sweeter and has a creamier texture. pricing is more confusing though.

bars... decibel is a fun (somewhat dingy) basement-level sake bar on 9th street and 2nd ave.

shopping... pixie market and i heart in the LES have a great selection (but sadly a bit out of my price range). lots of other boutiques there too - honey in the rough is very drool-worthy.

museum-wise... if you like photography, i'd recommend going to the ICP on friday evening - it's pay what you want admission! also, the guggenheim just finished its restoration after years, and PS1 is a great spot to visit (especially if you're going to MOMA too)!

hope that helps! feel free to email if you'd like more recs. :)

melanie | 2008-11-05 05:07 PM | Reply

hah, sorry to bombard your comments, but i had to mention ippudo - FANTASTIC ramen, known for their tonkatsu broth. i highly recommend the akamaru modern, and ask for extra fresh garlic - yum! you have to go!! (minca is a great back-up too)

yulanda replied to melanie | 2008-11-05 05:50 PM | Reply

You are amazing. Thanks so much for the detailed recs! Does Ippudo serve udon or is it just ramen? The last time I was in New York, my friend & I were obsessed with Ony (we went three times in a span of six days) but I understand they've since closed. Anyway, I guess I should google all these places. Thanks again!

lynnette | 2008-11-11 07:09 AM | Reply

those are really excellent photos! =) if you've got time you should go to see some broadway musicals too! I went there in May and watched Rent and it was a great experience...
I've added you on my blogroll! Hope we can exchange links. Thanks =)

yulanda replied to lynnette | 2008-11-11 02:32 PM | Reply

Thank you! As for musicals, I don't think we'll have time, but thanks for the suggestion!

Lissa | 2008-11-11 11:54 PM | Reply

Personally, I think that all places in NYC are photogenic. :) I take most of mine on the upper east side out of convenience, and that's probably the least photogenic area of the city. My flickr photos are all geotagged, so if you're interested in seeing where I took my photos, have a look. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lissaphoto/sets/72157603895641327/)

Food:

For bars, I recommend Arlene's Grocery ESPECIALLY if you're here on Monday night when they have live band rock and roll karaoke. If you want something more upscale bar-wise, Uva is a great wine bar, and the Cutting Room is Chris Noth's bar that has live jazz. The Fat Cat has all sort of games (pool, shuffle board, scrabble) and big bands on Sunday nights. Garage also has live jazz and a more upscale atmosphere. Pravda is hands down my favorite bar in the city - in SoHo and it is a russian vodka bar and the food there is delicious as well.

For restaurants, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Isabella's on the UWS for brunch. Be prepared to wait for 45 minutes. Sarabeth's is also an amazing brunch spot and well worth the $$$. Gramercy Tavern (the bar part) has the great food that Gramercy Tavern is known for with a slightly more casual atmosmphere and a lower price.

I'm not so fond of the cupcakes at Magnolia either, but I DO like the ones from Crumbs, which are pretty much all over the city now (I think). And you should definitely get Pinkberry! I like Pinkberry and Red Mango equally. Those are also both all over the city.

I could go on and on and on about food though, so I'll stop. :)

Shopping:
I love shopping at all of the little boutiques in Soho and the LES. Can't afford them, but it's always nice to look. There are tons and tons, so it's best to just wander around. Otherwise, we have all of the chain stores that you can find anywhere else - only BIGGER!

I assume you went to Century 21 last time you were here, right?

yulanda replied to Lissa | 2008-11-12 12:59 AM | Reply

Ahh, thank you!! I've been hoping you'd give me recommendations! Hey, last time you gave me a rec for Dip, would you still suggest that place? I tried to go there, but it was closed, so to this date, I still haven't had fondue.

& yes, I went to Century 21 the last time I was there. Plan to go back as the friend coming with me wants to see the WTC site.

I will go through your flickr. I had taken a brief look earlier, but I hadn't realized the locations where on it. Thanks again!

Lissa | 2008-11-12 12:32 PM | Reply

Dip is great and I do still recommend it. I also like Kashkeval (http://www.kashkavalfoods.com/) for fondue. It looks like a store, but there it is SUPER yummy in the back.

For specific photo taking spots, I always love SoHo and the Lower East Side. Both neighborhoods have a lot of character and lack a lot of the modern buildings that dominate the landscape in Times Square and parts of Lower Manhattan.

Also good for photo taking is Governor's Island - especially if the day is nice. You can get good views of Lower Manhattan skyline and the actual parks on the island are a historic monument and very pretty - both the grounds and the architecture. The ferry is free and leaves every hour.

Since you want to do the Guggenheim, you'll be on the upper east side. In this neighborhood, my favorite place for a casual lunch is Genesis bar on 2nd Ave at 89th street. It's a bar but the food is really good. Nothing super special, but delicious and reasonably priced. There is a Sarabeth's on Madison Avenue if you want to go more upscale. Candle 79 is also good - it's a vegan place in this neighborhood. My favorite sushi place in the city is Haru and there is one on 3rd ave at 78th street. That one also has a saki bar attached for more casual night dining and for lunches. Vespa is good for italian - though I think the restaurant might have closed and now they only have the wine bar. I'll have to check. I saw a white piece of paper taped to the front door when I walked past the other day.

For shopping, I really really like this little boutique on 86th street at 3rd ave (I think). I'll have to check on the address for you on my way to the subway. :) I got the best purse there the other day and they have really great clothes and accessories. If you want to look at designer stuff, also in this neighborhood is Designer Re-Sale, a "thrift" store where all the clothes are high end and like new. It's on 81st between 1st and 2nd ave.

Also, if you are going to the MoMA, you should at least get drinks in the MoMA bar. It's fantastic.

Lissa | 2008-11-12 12:34 PM | Reply

Ooh, and if you want a true NYC dive bar and you end up going to Kashkaval, get a beer at Rudy's down the street. It's on 9th, has a giant pig outside, and has free popcorn and hot dogs.

Lissa | 2008-11-12 02:34 PM | Reply

Shatzi is the name of the boutique on 86th st. Also good, non-generic shopping at Precision, Scoop NYC and Cantaloupe - all on 3rd Ave on the UES. And if you like papers and notecards and things, Kate's Paperie is great.

I could go on and on and on. :)

yulanda replied to Lissa | 2008-11-12 05:38 PM | Reply

You are amazing! Thank you so much! All those restaurant suggestions make me wish I was staying for more then five nights. I love to eat :)

melanie | 2008-11-13 01:50 PM | Reply

oops, a bit late, but ippudo serves only ramen, as well as small fancy-ish plates. it can get a bit pricey though, and the ramen is all you really need to fill up on!

and since i'm back, might as well throw in some more suggestions!

- bon-chon in koreatown: awesome garlicky and spicy fried chicken and beer in a bar/lounge setting

- cafe orlin: my favorite neighborhood restaurant, on st. marks. there's always a line for brunch, but you can get seated fairly quickly if you show up around 12. dinner is casual but consistently good.

- young designer's market (aka the market nyc): takes place every weekend in the gym of a church on mulberry btw houston and prince. lots of jewelry, accessories, new & vintage clothing. wow, i used to go so much, and i almost forgot about it! edge noho is similar and close by too.

have fun!!

yulanda replied to melanie | 2008-11-13 03:43 PM | Reply

Thanks for all the recs! I'll add those to my list. I went to Young Designer's Market last time I was there!

Kim | 2008-11-18 02:19 PM | Reply

Gosh, I miss New York! I went last spring and it was wonderful. There is a place in SoHo called the Hampton Chutney Co. and they have the most authentic chai I've ever tasted at a restaurant. If you've got a sweet tooth like I do, you'll want to stop by Economy Candy near Williamsburg, too. Hope you have a great trip!

yulanda replied to Kim | 2008-11-22 08:30 PM | Reply

Thanks! I'll have to file these away for next time!