Chicago/ New york city 4th of july week

[Guest]

Hey all you crazy kids,

I'm venturing out to the east and need some experienced advice. I will be in downtown Chicago from july 4th - 8th then New york City from the 8th-11th or 12th.

I've been to Chicago once and never to New York! I need some insider knowledge. Of course I will do a few toursty things but I dont want to be too stuck in the tourist trap of these places. Any advice? things to do, see, or eat. Nightlife that will impress. i want it all, whats your favorite? those things they don't put in the "things to see and do in the city" blogs.

[Guest]

thanks! we are off to a good start. anyone else?

[kp3205]

Raised on LI...a few touristy things the wife and I have done as she was born and raised in FL, when we visit the family that she's enjoyed and chose on her own when researching for our trips. My belief is been there done that, just keep my mouth shut and do it because she wants to.

Touristy:

The Circle Line around NYC. 3 hour tour that will give you crazy photo opps. Goes by the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Yankee Stadium and you literally go around all of Manhattan island and get a history lesson and go under all of the bridges.

Any major play on Broadway. Matinees are cheaper and seats in the upper level center are always our choice.

Top of the Empire State Building and rent the headpiece to get the audio tour at each of the points while walking around the top. Gives you the history of how NYC was made. Bring camera.

Ground Zero Memorial. If it is still open, the church right across where they still have the cards that were put up after the attack, beds the volunteers used, etc from that horrific day. Be prepared it will hit you emotionally.

St. Patrick's Cathedral. I just love the architecture of the building and I'm Catholic so...

Gray line double decker NYC tour. They do a ton of different ones and you can jump on and off for 48 hours. You can combine this with the Circle line and knock 2 things out in 1 day if you want. Bring camera.

We did the TMZ Tour which was fun and different. The host for the tour was the Australian correspondent that they get on the show occassionally fo updates. Was different but fun honestly with the stories they told.

Rockefeller Plaza. Can see NBC where the Today show is done, ice skating rink and location of where the tree goes up for Christmas every year. Bring camera.

Times Square...just do it and bring camera.

Central Park. Real relaxing. we walk around while we hit that part of the city. Never did the horse drawn carriage thing personally.

Clubs/bars I have done and introduced the wife to that she approves and we usually go with 6-10 peeps to each one:

For NYC you have Pacha which is very famous in Ibiza. Very solid dj's there and 3 floors. Wife is not a big club fan...one and done for her but she gets why I like it so to me that is approved...lol.

Rooftop bar called 230 Fifth (230 Fifth Ave.). Do it at night and have an insane view of the Empire state Building lit up for great photo opps. Wife loved, last MDW 2013.

The Brass Monkey rooftop bar is great also. 100 or so different beers to choose from, nice view of the city. Wife loved MDW 2013.

2 great little bars we go everytime to are Lansdowne in Hell's Kitchen (4 times)...bartender and our server from our Feb. 2014 visit were the twins from the Discover card commercial that my wife recognized...awesome sauce was their saying.

Rudy's is the 2nd one in Hell's Kitchen (3 times). Serve hot dogs for free all night in the bar which is their staple. Hole in the wall dive bar that plays music off a jukebox. Cash only for drinks and pitchers but cheap as hell vs usual NYC locations/clubs.

Went to The Play Wright Celtic Pub on 8th Ave and 45th also on this trip (1st time). Small bar, had a dj that plays mashups and current dance music. Friend of mine brought us there while visiting on a Saturday night.

Hope this helps.

[Brooklyn Marc]

Good list by Kp3205. Can't go wrong with any of the things he mentioned. A few added tips as I live here full time.

The Ground Zero Memorial is now located beside the newly built One World Trade Center building, i walk past it every day on the way to my office and occasionally dip in, as it is that impressive and has that much of an impact.

Alot of tourists tend to head to the empire state building for the view of the city, as someone who has a ton of friends that visit from Europe and are here for the first time i take them to Rockefeller Center, they have an observation deck called "Top Of The Rock" with amazing views and way less of a wait time. Insider tip.

NYC now has a public bike sharing plan. You will notice rows of blue bikes with "citigroup" logos on them all over the city, you can rent them using a credit card for a few hours and return them to any place in the city with a rack and an empty slot. When the weather is nice as it tends to be in July, i take friends on a ride across the Brooklyn or Williamsburg Bridge, very good picture taking of the Manhattan skyline and alot easier than walking around the city. There are bike lanes literally all over the city now so you can ride with out fearing for your life.

Head over to Brooklyn, its 10 minutes away from Manhattan, Williamsburg has tons of bars and restaurants within walking distance and lots of interesting places in a neighborhood thats centered around partying pretty much. Lots of nightlife. Where i live in Brooklyn Heights has a view of the Manhattan skyline that is well known and used for post cards, and great restaurants, though not a ton of night life.

If your doing a Broadway show which is always a cool thing, and again with friends i have seen a ton... any guide book will mention the discount booth called TKTS. They have tickets for evening shows of popular plays. HOWEVER don't go to the one located in Times Square the line and the wait can be hours. Instead head down to the financial district TKTS booth show up around 10am and you will have your pick of any show you want and will be able to be one of the first people in line and save 100's off regular price.

Clubs: The meat packing district (yeah i know the name is... interesting but look it up in a guidebook) has some of the trendiest spots right now, there is also a Tao and a Lavo in NYC both are a good time and i concur with the mention of Pascha.

I would also recommend several rooftop bars. 230 Fifth is a great one that gets packed, Roosevelt hotel has a nice one, and the Whythe Hotel in Williamsburg is the current spot in Brooklyn.

Restaurant wise, waaayy too many too list, so i don't even know where to begin, you could go ultra fancy or find a mom and pop hole in the wall that is amazing all depends on taste.

Have a blast.

[chrisbru]

For Chicago nightlife check out Smart Bar, Spybar, Castle, Cuvee

[SelfMade]

kp3205 dropped some good intel but the OPs post is WAAAAY to general for the world's cultural, culinary and financial capital. You need to break it down and really prioritize what you want to do. Start with telling us where you're staying.

[Brooklyn Marc]

kp3205 dropped some good intel but the OPs post is WAAAAY to general for the world's cultural, culinary and financial capital. You need to break it down and really prioritize what you want to do. Start with telling us where you're staying.

Surely a man such as yourself has some recommendations? With their never having been perhaps general is what they are lookingfor to get something of a start SelfMade.

[SelfMade]

I would just hit up Jean Georges or Le Bernadine while getting cocktails at Little Branch or Eleven Madison Park in the evening. Maybe a cigar at Club Manucado.

But these are my flavours which I'm the first to admit are very peculiar. I'd have to know what OP likes to give any help.

[Brooklyn Marc]

There you go! All excellent recommendations. Both restaurant choices are excellent and Eleven Madison Parks way of presenting their menu (with the symbols as the base of the course and main ingredient) takes a certain level of trust from the diner so I rarely recommend that to undventurous folks even though I have never had unremarkable meal there. Good environment for a cocktail though even with out eating.

Wouldn't say your tastes are "peculiar" at all, you spend on things that are worth it, nothing wrong with that.

[ratchelor]

Good suggestions but no offense kp3205 nightlife recs are very dated and Brooklyn Marc is probably biased towards Brooklyn, but if you are in Manhattan for just a few days, stick to Manhattan is my advice.

If it's nice out take a walk through central park or on the west side highway during the day, both will be a great experience.

For dinner if you want something sceney I would do Buddakan or Barbounia. You can PM me with food preferences and I can be more helpful.

Nightlife you should club / bar hop in meat packing. 1Oak, Tao downtown, Dream Hotel / PHD rooftop are pretty good right now.

Hope this helps, feel free to PM me with preferences and I can give more customized advice.

[Brooklyn Marc]

Good suggestions but no offense kp3205 nightlife recs are very dated and Brooklyn Marc is probably biased towards Brooklyn, but if you are in Manhattan for just a few days, stick to Manhattan is my advice.

If it's nice out take a walk through central park or on the west side highway during the day, both will be a great experience.

For dinner if you want something sceney I would do Buddakan or Barbounia. You can PM me with food preferences and I can be more helpful.

Nightlife you should club / bar hop in meat packing. 1Oak, Tao downtown, Dream Hotel / PHD rooftop are pretty good right now.

Hope this helps, feel free to PM me with preferences and I can give more customized advice.

I mentioned Brooklyn stuff for the touristy things, I agree as the views of manhattan are great however, I think if you read through my recommendations I mentioned meat packing for clubbing and both Tao and lavo as well as several rooftops in manhattan. I lived in soho before buying in Brooklyn so of course I recognize the difference in scenes. And would highly recommend if there is a fixed amount of time that you stick to the city. As far as buddakan... It's a scene but as many restaurants as there now are in the meat packing a little dated no? STK, Scarpetta, or the the like might be a bit more current? concur with Barbonia and Gaslight pub in the Meat packing is a nice option for after dinner with out the club vibe.

Agree with the dream hotel and the Grace hotel with the pool is also a good look depending on the night. Anyway good post ratchelator, just giving them options off the beaten path as he did say he would do touristy things as well.

[ratchelor]

All good suggestions by Brooklyn Marc, forgot about STK, that would be a perfect scene and location for dinner.

Check out Stanton Social too, good scene and good before going out, small portions and made to share between friends

[Brooklyn Marc]

Also a good suggestion you know your restaurants ratchelor.

[Guest]

You guys are Amazing! I didnt get an email about replies until tonight and I come back to two pages of suggestions!!

So lets see if i can get some questions answered.

So SelfMade asked me to be more specific. tastes, location, ambitions.

I would categorize myself as a foodie. I love fine dining, and not so much you need a suit jacket fine dining. Just totally thought out and meticulous fine dining. one of my favorite restaurants out here is called posh and you just tell them things you don't like and they make you a 3,4, or 5 course meal of what ever they have that day. Of course NY dining is going to be at a higher price point then AZ but I'm sure we will do at least one fine dining experience and the rest maybe some up and coming spots.

One question. some of the places you were suggesting Tao, Lavo, STK, are they the same concept as their vegas counter parts?

We are staying in Time square ( i know.. gah!!) but my friend works for a hotel and surprisingly we got a screaming deal on a room there. So we will most likely be staying around Manhattan but if something really grabs our attention we may venture else where.

I would pass on the cigars since neither of us smoke but roof top bars sound picturesque plus I can always use a well made drink!
I was also suggested by someone to visit the beer gardens around the city? worth my time?

We did decide to go see the memorial site of the world trade center. Am I mistaken that the new tower is called the freedom tower?

Thank you Brooklyn Marc for the suggestion for TKTS! that sounds like the route to go. We were thinking of seeing "Of Mice and Men" my friend has a thing for Franco =p

As for nightlife I will definitely have to do a little research on the Meat packing District. What are the norms for admission at the clubs? could it be compared to Vegas? should I find a host or are the waits not too brutal. Is there typically cover for admission for females?

Also what about little things. The coffee shop that changed your life. The best breakfast you've ever had. That one place that you always happen to see something crazy going on.

Once again you guys never disappoint. I will try not to rely so heavily on my email reminders and check back frequently =)

[SelfMade]

MPD is tourist central with regard to night clubs. When I go there it feels like I meet more fellow Europeans than locals.

What is it you want with the clubs? Party, meet up with friends or find nightly company? I wouldn't bother with the Beer gardens personally but if you absolutely want that option there's one at The Standard hotel and a club at the top of the hotel - The Boom Boom Room. It was super hot about a year ago but the door should be reasonable now.

If you want great fine dining on a (NYC) mid-range then I'd recommend Commerce or in particular Babbo. Lure Fishbar as a great fusion of restaurant and club while not being as formulaic as Tao/Lavo/STK for example. Make sure you make reservations though. One of my personal watering holes, The Mermaid Oyster Bar in SoHo (close to Comedy cellar and famed Minetta Tavern) has $1 oyster happy hour every night, great small plates and superb logistics to hordes of bars around SoHo and Houston St.

If you are going to see a Broadway show then Oceana has a great Pre-theatre menu and is steps away from all the theatres.


I have a bunch of in-depth recommendations for the city on Yelp if you really want to do some heavy research.
http://wickedworldwide.yelp.com/