5 Days at W77th and Broadway - Recommendations? (Roosevelt, Essex: condos, hotel)

[zdg]

We've got 5 days staying at a hotel around W 77th Street and Broadway.

We can't stand tours or doing touristy crap. I'm personally allergic to it.

We'd like to eat and we'd like to be. I don't care as much about the seeing thing.

We have a 6 year old child with us, so most of the real foodie joints are probably out of the question, but we're up for anything else. Love deli and food from most 3rd world cultures.

Where do you recommend we eat around there? What should we try?

Where should we go to hang out and just "be" in NYC? I don't care about the statue or the skyscrapers. We live in a massive city; I know what that stuff looks like. If you were a local and had a week off of work in that part of the UWS with a wife and 6 yr old, what would you be doing?

Any recommendations or help are very much appreciated.

[rlrl]

the Manhattan Diner on the NE corner of B'way and 77th street has great decor and a slamming Chicken Romano Dish

[nyctc7]

Gray's Papaya on 72nd and B'way for the hotdogs
Riverside Park
Museum of Natural History/Planetarium

[Henna]

Ice skating in Central Park or Bryant Park; Babar early drawings and watercolors exhibit at NY Public Library right next to Bryant Park.

Or take one day (non-rush-hour) to take an above-ground subway like the 7 train to Flushing, or the Staten Island Ferry or the Roosevelt Island tram. Since these are all regular parts of the MTA they are part of the real NY.

I'm not sure I understand your definition of "touristy crap". I live here yet I sometimes enjoy going and seeing examples of interesting architecture and unusual museums. Also I think things like riding the Staten Island ferry are fun. Just went to Governor's Island (now closed for the season) for the first time this year.

Just because something appears in a tourist guide to NYC does not mean it is just for tourists. We like to see things too.

Does your child not eat ethnic foods? What do you mean by foodie joints? Do you mean the expensive places with well-known chefs? Regarding the ethnic places, it's not unusual to see a single child out with a set of parents in the restaurants where I live, but then, I live in Queens.

What did you have in mind to do for the week? Just trying to get a sense of your direction.

One site you might check out for non-touristy things-- but still things to see-- is Forgotten NY

[zdg]

Originally Posted by Henna

I'm not sure I understand your definition of "touristy crap".

Just because something appears in a tourist guide to NYC does not mean it is just for tourists. We like to see things too.

Right, I know what you mean. I'm talking about crap like Times Square. The very idea of Times Square puts me to sleep.

Does your child not eat ethnic foods? What do you mean by foodie joints? Do you mean the expensive places with well-known chefs? Regarding the ethnic places, it's not unusual to see a single child out with a set of parents in the restaurants where I live, but then, I live in Queens.

Sorry about that, I should have been clearer. "Very yes" on the ethinic foods. That's EXACTLY what we want. When I said foodie joints, you were dead on, I meant the chef driven places where my wife and I would love to go, but isn't really appropriate with a 6 year old.

What did you have in mind to do for the week? Just trying to get a sense of your direction.

Yeah, that's what we're trying to figure out I guess. The idea is....we're leaning heavily at moving there and want to spend a week as if we were living there, not vacationing there. We intentionally stayed at this hotel because it's right around where we're looking at condos. It's more about getting a feel for the neighborhood than coming back to Houston and telling people "hey, we saw that there Empire State Buildin'."

One site you might check out for non-touristy things-- but still things to see-- is Forgotten NY

Excellent. I will do that.

[R32]

Why do you have to stay on the uws?

[bmwguydc]

You might try Becco for dinner if you like Italian food. It's one of Lidia Bastianich's restaurants, but it's more casual than Felidia, and is situated on W46th between 8th and 9th in the Theatre District. It's appropriate for children, provided they like Italian food, and it's more distinctive than chain places.

On Broadway at 51st, you will find Ellen's Stardust Diner, which offers a nostalgic 1950s diner mixed with singing wait staff. It's a fun place to visit, and could keep a child entertained, and might be a good place for breakfast. The food is decent, but it's the show that sells the place, hence the recommendation for a diner breakfast.

If you're in Lower Manhattan, check out Economy Candy on Rivington between Ludlow and Essex, east of Allen and north of Delancey. It's a candy store that's been in operation since 1937, I believe, and has a lot of hard to find candy in its packed-to-the-walls store. Not too far away, on Houston you will find Katz's Deli which has excellent traditional deli sandwiches. Also in Lower Manhattan, on Allen Street, just below Delancey, you have Pala Pizza, which is one of the best pizza places in the city, and it's a notch above a slice shop, yet still a casual place. They have everything from traditional pizza to more ersatz creations with soy cheese or cheeseless.

Also on Rivington for a snack, you will find Moby's Teany tea house, which has tea and snacks. And, on Orchard between Broome and Delancey, you will find il laboratorio del gelato which has some of the best sorbet and ice cream.

Here are some websites for more information:

http://www.becco-nyc.com/

http://www.ellensstardustdiner.com/

http://www.economycandy.com/

http://www.katzdeli.com/

http://www.pala-ny.com/

http://www.laboratoriodelgelato.com/

https://www.teany.com/