Going to New York, need input!

"Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction" (rustholes-are-weight-reduction)
08/09/2017 at 04:22 • Filed to: TRAVELOPNIK, NYC

So I’m visiting the big apple next month, I’m there for a week, and even though I’d prefer going to a more car-friendly place, I’m pretty excited.
Having never been there (or in the US for that matter), gib all input I might need please! First of all, What’s the best way to get from JFK to the city? What’s there to see/do? What to avoid? Where is the best food (important!)? Where can I get parts for my Chevy? Tell me everything!

DISCUSSION (10)

Flavien Vidal > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction
08/09/2017 at 04:33

I went to NYC so many times and yet, I never visited the city... Anyway, you gotta try as many 1$ pizza slices as possible. I love this city for that! Other than that, meh... I don’t know lol... It really never crossed my mind to visit it :)

pip bip - choose Corrour > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction
08/09/2017 at 04:49

safety first - keep left.

DutchieDC2R > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction
08/09/2017 at 07:22

When I visited NYC, the first advice I got from my friend there, was using the AMTRAK (or whatever the line was called then) from Newark airport to the city (you arrive at Penn Station). I dont know if JFK has the same train/subway option into the city, but the key advice here was not to use a cab. I traveled alone and had no problem whatsoever using the NYC subway, although, all the things Ive been reading lately about the MTA...I dont know how reliable using the subway is. Again, I personally had no problem using it, in terms of delays and knowing where to go/get off/get on/switch lines.

I cant help you with the parts for your car, but what I can say is, visit the Classic Car Club in NYC. I hadnt done it when I was there and I still hate myself for it.

Other than that, I think you’ll find plenty of useful info on touristy online.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction
08/09/2017 at 07:33

I’d take a subway cause that beats a cab by miles, but that’s just me.

Becco’s near Times Square is fantastic if you’re looking for a nice dinner. Food Gallery 32 in koreatown is also good. Junior’s in Brooklyn has really good cheesecakes if you’re gonna make a journey.

Depending how much time you have, you can see it all. Of course everyone goes to Times Square and all the known landmarks. Walk along the raised walk way by the Javits Center, that’s always nice. If you’re there for awhile go to Coney Island, go to any of the thousands of bars, the Guggenheim is a personal favorite

Aremmes > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction
08/09/2017 at 07:47

You can take the AirTrain (the airport’s connector to the subway network) and then the E train to get from JFK to Manhattan and wherever else the subways go. Just buy a MetroCard and load it up for however long you’ll stay and ride the subways and buses.

As for car parts, you’ll likely find auto parts stores in Brooklyn and Queens, closer to JFK — Google Maps doesn’t even bother to show me any stores outside of Queens.

facw > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction
08/09/2017 at 08:00

JFK to Manhattan is easy to do by transit. On most days it won’t take you much longer than a cab, but will be vastly cheaper. Take the air train to Jamaica if you are going to midtown or Howard Beach if you are going to the financial district. Once there you can take the subway, which will be easiest, or the LIRR to Penn Station which won’t be much harder, and might be a little faster.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction
08/09/2017 at 09:01

Walking the Highline from Midtown to the Meatpacking district is a great walk, you get nice views of the city.

Restaurants:

The Jazz Standard/Blue Smoke. IMHO the best BBQ in Manhattan and it’s above a Jazz club so you could either eat in the restaurant above or order food and watch a set.

Legend Bar & Restaurant on 7th Ave and 15th has good Chinese outside of Chinatown but yeah Chinatown is best for that.

Republic in Union Square is a great spot for noodle dishes and people watching.

For burgers; Five Guys (for quick and deliciously greasy), Bareburger (there are a few around the city), Bill’s Bar and Burgers in Chelsea. Also Chelsea and the West Village have great restaurant options.

Places to go to:
NY public library and Grand Central Station (also there is a whiskey bar in Grand Central call The Apartment and it’s no denim or sneakers but is pretty neat place as it’s the old station master’s apartment)

The Whitney Museum

American Museum of Natural History

The Guggenheim

The Met

The Intrepid Museum

Now, things to watch out for:

DON’T take a gypsy cab (unmarked cab), yellow (and green) cabs only or take an uber/lyft. Subway though is pretty much the best way to get up or downtown.

Don’t stand in the middle of the sidewalk/doors/street ect... if you’re trying to figure something out. Pretty much if you have to stop in NY take a step to the side and let other people by, nothing is more annoying trying to get to work and a tourist just randomly stops in front of you or having to step into the street because a group is blocking the sidewalk. Locals will thank you.

Finally; Informational video.

jvirgs drives a Subaru > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction
08/09/2017 at 09:19

Find a good slice, and a legit bakery to get you a delicious NY bagel.

notsomethingstructural > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction
08/09/2017 at 09:45

Where are you staying? What do you like to do? Who is going with you? Kids?

For your immediate questions, I plan on cabs to and from the airports. JFK is a flat fee ($45?) to Manhattan add tax and tip you’re under $60 for sure. If you want to take transit, it’s the Air Train north to Jamaica, transfer to the E train into Manhattan, then transfer again to get to the line for your hotel. If you have luggage and a couple people in your party, it’s not worth the hassle in my opinion. A party of 3 would be $27 by transit anyways.

Tips in New York are customary 20%. That covers any sit-down food service, cabs, bars are usually $1 for beer, $2-3 for off-the-menu cocktails (or 20% for either with food.) I figure usually $5 a night for housekeeping, $3 a bag for curbside check-in, $5 for any time you call to get something fixed/dropped off in the room. People literally live on their tips here and I assure you they are not interested in any lecture about what it’s like where you’re from.

For can’t-miss things to do, I would say go to the top of one building. I’d suggest 30 Rock as the lines are usually a little shorter and you get a view of the Empire State and 1WTC which you will not have if you are on top of either of those. The other one is go to the reflecting pools at the old World Trade Center site. I haven’t been to the museum underground but from the people I know who have, it doesn’t sound like something they would recommend on a first visit. The pools are nice though, and they’re free. Off the beaten path, B&H Photo on 9th Ave is as crazy of a retail store as you will ever go to (all of the items are moved around the store by automated conveyor belts), and their prices regularly beat Amazon. They sell all sorts of stuff, not just photo. Also free.

Food will be reliably good almost wherever you go. The best food in Times Square if you don’t want to think about it is probably Carmine’s. Junior’s is a very good but expensive kosher diner with a location in Times Square but the secret is out and the waits are getting longer. Get the cheesecake. If you’re an all-adult party, you can probably get a table at Babbo or Gramercy Tavern on standby if you’re there on a weeknight by 6-6:30. Both are exceptional fine dining but priced accordingly. If you can’t get in, there are mountains of great places to eat in those areas, compared to trying to finagle your way into a table in other spots.

For things to skip, I would skip the 9/11 museum, I would skip spending a lot of time in Central Park, and I would skip the Guggenheim, the Whitney, and I would skip the “go anywhere” museum pass. All the museums included are massive, massive, multi-day affairs to see it all. So just pick one a day and enjoy. I would rank the Natural History Museum as best, Museum of Modern Art as second, and The Met as third. To give you a sense of scale, I’ve always said before I have kids I want to take a week off of work to see all of The Met. It is incomprehensively massive.

And for car parts, if you really need them you are rightly fucked. You would have to go to an outer borough. Most people in Manhattan have their cars serviced because it’s cheaper to pay a mechanic than burn 3-4 hours just to drive out get sway bar bushings come back and do it themselves. A mechanic gets parts dropped off from their supplier so they don’t have that overhead.

Let me know about the questions I had in the beginning and I’ll try to give you some tips. You have kids? You like architecture? Food? Cheap eats or fine dining? Exotic / ethnic foods? Music? You want to go to Brooklyn?

Nibby > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction
08/10/2017 at 14:16

I’m sorry. Welcome to the most overhyped shithole in the country