Another NYC First timer (New York, Union: hotel, home, transfer)

[rp23g7]

Oh No, its another ignorant person from the west coast with questions about New York. Coming from a Seattle and Bay area background so kinda big city savy.

Hi everyone,

My wife and I are taking a vacation to NYC in October. I have read through the forums, but not everything, so some of my questions may be answered without me seeing them.

Everything i know, or knew about New York i learned from movies or hear say, which after reading forums and visitor site i find is completely opposite.

We are staying at the Fairfield Marriott, 330 W 40th st. Pricelined at $101 a night for a week.

I have been virtually touring NYC via Google Earth and Google Street View, kinda getting bearings on whats around, learing a lot. What is the building on the corner of W 33rd and 10th btw?

We are explorers, kinda doing off the beaten path stuff. We were at the Drake hotel in San Francisco once, tried having lunch at the resturant on top, it was closed, so we went down a level to the suites. This was before 9/11.
Went through a door, into a hall, round a corner and there was the buildings airshaft, wow. went down the other hall, around the corner and out the other door, and found myself standing on a little porch outside, looking straight down 50 stories, awsome view.

But, of course i have some questions.

What would be the best time to get a picture of a nearly empty/empty Times Square?

Is it possible to get a picture of the sunrise from the top of the ESB?

In the movie Scent of a Woman, where was the Ferrari test drive filmed at?

In the movie Money Train, Woody gets beat up outside a restaurant, with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background, where is that?

What is the best, least crowded time to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge?

Are the Loop tours really worth it?

On the Intrepid, can you have the run of the ship, or just the hanger and flight deck?

Is it safe for a middle age white boy to walk around in Harlem, I would like to check out the Apollo theater. I am being silly, i saw the picture thread, and its nothing like i imagined.

If we go Subway exploring, how long does it usually take to go from Battery Park city, to the north end of the Island?

We got reservations for the Statue of Liberty Crown the other day, WOO HOO

I have other questions, but i will read more of the forums, thanks everyone.
[RIGHT][/RIGHT]

[tpk-nyc]

What would be the best time to get a picture of a nearly empty/empty Times Square?

Early Sunday morning or late Sunday night. I work in the theater and always find Times Square rather melancholy on Sunday night; all the shows are done for the week and everyone has gone home.

Is it possible to get a picture of the sunrise from the top of the ESB?

No, it doesn't open that early.

What is the best, least crowded time to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge?

This would be a cool thing to do at sunrise.

Are the Loop tours really worth it?

I've never done them myself but my family/friends have enjoyed them.

Is it safe for a middle age white boy to walk around in Harlem, I would like to check out the Apollo theater. I am being silly, i saw the picture thread, and its nothing like i imagined.

Harlem, especially near the Apollo is fine. East Harlem, aka Spanish Harlem is still a little sketchy. I wouldn't walk in the neighborhood alone, particularly at night.

If we go Subway exploring, how long does it usually take to go from Battery Park city, to the north end of the Island?

It depends on if you get an express train and if it's on a weekend. It can take 30 to 45 minutes to get from Inwood to Midtown and probably another 30 from Midtown to Battery Park City. I would budget an hour and a half. Longer if on the weekend as the trains run less frequently. Take the A train, which runs express, but doesn't stop near Battery Park City. You should transfer from the E train or walk to Chambers Street (a pleasant walk).

[danameless]

What would be the best time to get a picture of a nearly empty/empty Times Square?
Best time to catch it empty would be between 2:00am and 5:00am on a weekday. Most people will be out of there by 1:00am and people start going into work around 6:00am.

Is it possible to get a picture of the sunrise from the top of the ESB?
No. You will be able to see the sunset and catch some of the colors, but the city has many buildings and skyscrapers that you probably won't be able to get a completely unobstructed view.

In the movie Scent of a Woman, where was the Ferrari test drive filmed at?
Been a while since I seen the movie. But in Manhattan, you probably wouldn't be able to drive a ferrari very fast with the traffic and potholes.

In the movie Money Train, Woody gets beat up outside a restaurant, with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background, where is that?
I remember the movie, but not the restaurant. If might be on the Brooklyn side since there are a few good restaurants there. If you know the name of the place, I might be able to tell you.

What is the best, least crowded time to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge?
What is the fascination with tourists and walking over bridges?! just kidding! It doesn't really get too crowded if your going to walk it, so I would say anytime is good. If your going to walk over to Brooklyn, make sure you stop by Grimaldi's Pizza. It's arguably, one of the best pizza places in NYC, but prepare to wait on line for a table.

Are the Loop tours really worth it?
They are good for you to see the whole city in a few hours and then you can decide where you want to concentrate your time on.

On the Intrepid, can you have the run of the ship, or just the hanger and flight deck?
Never been there, I'll leave it to someone else to answer.

Is it safe for a middle age white boy to walk around in Harlem, I would like to check out the Apollo theater. I am being silly, i saw the picture thread, and its nothing like i imagined. Sure, it's actually a great area to spend the day and walk around. Again, there is a great place called Sylvia's on the West Side (I Believe) that has great fried chicken!

If we go Subway exploring, how long does it usually take to go from Battery Park city, to the north end of the Island?
Um, any reason you want to ride the subway from end-to-end? There really isn't much to see in the subway tunnels. And if you do this during the day, you might hit rush-hour and squeeze into a subway car. But I'd guess if you take an express train, no more than an hour - but I can honestly say I've never done it before.

We got reservations for the Statue of Liberty Crown the other day, WOO HOO
Nice! The ferry ride is actually really nice and you can get some nice shots of the city skyline!

[bmwguydc]

I can point you in the right direction on a couple of your questions. Hope this helps to plan your visit.

Originally Posted by rp23g7

What is the building on the corner of W 33rd and 10th btw?

That's an office building, with the slanted walls, and is home to the Daily News, WNET (PBS station), and I think the AP. It was built in the early 1970s and used to have an ice skating rink on the roof, but that's gone since there's an ice rink at Chelsea Piers.

Is it possible to get a picture of the sunrise from the top of the ESB?

Alas, no, since the observation deck does not open until 9:30, IIRC.

In the movie Scent of a Woman, where was the Ferrari test drive filmed at?

DUMBO, Brooklyn -- right across the Brooklyn Bridge from Lower Manhattan and easily accessible via walking, just take the stairs instead of the ramp on the Brooklyn side and head toward the water. I'd have to review the film to give you a better bearing on the particular streets involved.

[rp23g7]

Thanks for the info everyone. I am learning so much reading other posts.

I would have to watch Money Train again to see what the place was called.

I have heard about Sylvia's and we were also planning to go there.

May have to go see the sunset from ESB since it doesnt open that early.

Has anyone been to the Chrysler Building? Is there a observation floor in it? I Googled pictures of the lobby and that place looks incredible.

Reading other posts it seems a lot of (Manhatanites, Manhateners, New Yorkers? What are you called when you live in the city?) Do a lot of cross town walking, not just from their apt to subway, work and back.

I googled a route to see some of the New York street scene, and came up with this, let me know if i missed anything.

Leave hotel on W 40th, walk past big parking lot looking place across the street. Down to 5th ave.

Walk down 5th to 34th to the Empire State Building, then down to the Chrysler Building.

Walk back up 34th to 8th, down past Madison Square Garden.

Down 8th to 24th and go down to the Hotel Chelsea.

Down 24th to Broadway and go past the Theodore Rossevelt birthplace.

Down broadway to Union Square.

Then somehow make it down to the Woolworth building and end up at the WTC site.

Subway or walk back. How does that sound?

Kinda funny seeing all the "is it a safe area?" posts. I never really understood that either. You actually need to go looking for trouble in Seattle and even then you dont find it. One of the "worst" area in Seattle is the Central District, or at least it has a bad rep, 23rd and Jackson is a notorious, i thought" area. I had to go pick up a bed frame from there recently. I was amazed, what was the big deal.

Everything i knew aboout NYC, before now, i learned from the movies and old pictures, which i am finding completly opposite.

So, I will let you guys tell me, what are the best tourist things to do really? Not really interested in the tourist fluff

We are doing the SoL, ESB, maybe Coney Island, Which museum is the most worthwhile?

Is a cruise around the island, more interesting than the tour bus through the island?
[RIGHT] [/RIGHT]

[UpstaterInBklyn]

Has anyone been to the Chrysler Building? Is there a observation floor in it? I Googled pictures of the lobby and that place looks incredible.
The Chrysler Building does not have a public observation deck. Yes, the lobby is incredible. I've been there several times for appointments. You can enter the lobby and probably take a few quick shots, but try to be discreet because the security guys will ask you to leave if you hang around too long. You may get asked to leave right away, but generally I think they cut a little slack if someone wants to take a few quick pics and doesn't get in the way of the people doing business there.
Speaking of incredible lobbies, check out the Woolworth Building ("The Cathedral of Commerce"). The same rules apply - try to be discreet.

Is a cruise around the island, more interesting than the tour bus through the island?
You'll see more of the city on the bus tour. As someone else suggested, this is a good way to see various parts of the city in a few hours, so you can make plans for further exploration on foot later. Perhaps try to do this on your first day. The cruise is a nice way to see skyline vistas, but you won't get a feel for the city.
My advice regarding the ESB, try Top of the Rock instead. I think the views are better because they are not obstructed by a fence and there is just more room to move around. At Top of the Rock, you are on the roof of the building, not on an observation floor. The lines move faster too. Also, you can see the ESB from Top of the Rock!

We are doing the SoL, ESB, maybe Coney Island, Which museum is the most worthwhile?
Some advice: For the SoL, get to Battery Park as early as possible for shorter lines. I've heard the lines are much shorter in New Jersey at Liberty Park. As for Coney Island - probably not worth your time. The subway ride will take almost an hour, Astroland is just about gone and the whole area is basically run down and dirty.
Museums: There are so many to choose from - it depends on your personal preferences. The two biggest "must see" places are probably the Met Museum and the Museum of Natural History. At both of them, you'll need a full day to truly explore and study the exhibits.

On the Intrepid, can you have the run of the ship, or just the hanger and flight deck?
I was there a few weeks ago. The hangar is set up as a museum showcasing the history of the ship and some aspects of naval and air warfare during WWII and Vietnam. There are a few multimedia exhibits and an area with interactive stuff for kids. On the flight deck, there is a collection of older military aircraft. You can also explore a few more areas of the ship, like the bridge and navigation areas, the gun turrets, and you can see crew quarters and the galley. If you are into military stuff, it's pretty interesting. There is also a Concorde jet parked on the pier that you can walk through.

[K.O.N.Y]

Lol coney island, in its current stage, is definantly one of those rare "this is it?" moments in new york. But im curious, are there more?

[rp23g7]

Originally Posted by UpstaterInBklyn

Has anyone been to the Chrysler Building? Is there a observation floor in it? I Googled pictures of the lobby and that place looks incredible.
The Chrysler Building does not have a public observation deck. Yes, the lobby is incredible. I've been there several times for appointments. You can enter the lobby and probably take a few quick shots, but try to be discreet because the security guys will ask you to leave if you hang around too long. You may get asked to leave right away, but generally I think they cut a little slack if someone wants to take a few quick pics and doesn't get in the way of the people doing business there.
Speaking of incredible lobbies, check out the Woolworth Building ("The Cathedral of Commerce"). The same rules apply - try to be discreet.

On the Intrepid, can you have the run of the ship, or just the hanger and flight deck?
I was there a few weeks ago. The hangar is set up as a museum showcasing the history of the ship and some aspects of naval and air warfare during WWII and Vietnam. There are a few multimedia exhibits and an area with interactive stuff for kids. On the flight deck, there is a collection of older military aircraft. You can also explore a few more areas of the ship, like the bridge and navigation areas, the gun turrets, and you can see crew quarters and the galley. If you are into military stuff, it's pretty interesting. There is also a Concorde jet parked on the pier that you can walk through.

Wow, I checked out those interior lobby pictures of the Woolworth building, that place is beautiful too.

We will probably check out both the ESB and Top of the Rock, and go check out the Met.

In Seattle, they have Seafair every year, ending a month of water related festivities with the Unlimited Hydroplane race on Lake Washington.

The Navy usually brings a few ships, Frigates, Coast Guard ships, a Assault ship, and before 9/11 a Aircraft Carrier. They allowed you on the flight and hangar deck, but since it was a active ship, nowhere else of course.

But at the Naval Shipyard in Bremerton they have the Turner Joy, a Vietnam era Destroyer, you can have the run of the ship, pretty cool if your into big mechanical things.

They Concorde is pretty neat too. My father and i, worked at Boeing, him for 35 yrs, i also worked at McDonnell Douglas on the C-17, my father works at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, so we have been around aircraft all our life.

I was suprised at how small the Concorde was inside. In 1989 some one was sponsering a flight to nowhere for charity, I went down to Boeing Field and watched it land, and the next day to watch it take off, the thing was deafening.

That was a little off topic.

[citykid212]

Originally Posted by rp23g7

Thanks for the info everyone. I am learning so much reading other posts.

Reading other posts it seems a lot of (Manhatanites, Manhateners, New Yorkers? What are you called when you live in the city?) Do a lot of cross town walking, not just from their apt to subway, work and back.

New Yorkers haha yeah we do a lot of walking

I googled a route to see some of the New York street scene, and came up with this, let me know if i missed anything.

Leave hotel on W 40th, walk past big parking lot looking place across the street. Down to 5th ave.

Walk down 5th to 34th to the Empire State Building, then down to the Chrysler Building.

Walk back up 34th to 8th, down past Madison Square Garden.

Down 8th to 24th and go down to the Hotel Chelsea.

Down 24th to Broadway and go past the Theodore Rossevelt birthplace.

Down broadway to Union Square.

Then somehow make it down to the Woolworth building and end up at the WTC site.

Subway or walk back. How does that sound?

That Sounds crazy man.. I don't know how in shape you are but I'm 18 in great shape and I don't think I could walk back.. You will have to take the train.. If you want to land up on the east side you will have to Walk 1 block east to the Chambers street station take the 6
If you want to be on the west side (Back at the hotel?) walk 1 block west take the 1,2, or the 3. Think the 1's express hmm.. But either way they both stop at 34th and 7th Ave. Which is Penn Station.


Everything i knew aboout NYC, before now, i learned from the movies and old pictures, which i am finding completly opposite.

Haha yeah that happens, actually if you saw Taking of Pelham 123 the new one, the police do fly down the street like that.. don't get excited though.. There isn't $10 million in the back!! Haha. It's most likely a surge drill they do from 59th street to 34th with about 20-30+ cars.. Testing the response time to a major disaster

So, I will let you guys tell me, what are the best tourist things to do really? Not really interested in the tourist fluff

In all honesty bro, stay out of Times Square.. My reason being is EVERYONE visits there and claims that they saw the entire city which most know is BS. Anyway, definitely come to the Upper East and West Sides.. Preferably the Upper East because of "Museum Mile" I'm not a museum goer myself but the architecture on these buildings is magnificent. Not only are there museums.. visit Central Park specifically the beautiful view of the city's skyline from the Great Lawn. And the police that belong to the CPP (Central Park Precinct) are awesome. Find an Auxiliary officer named Wanita! She's great loves talking to tourists. She helped me when i lost my phone.. (Sadly I've lived on the Upper East Side my whole life!)

Also have to visit St. Marks place. It's a long side street. Take the 6 train down to Astor Place and walk two blocks east and your at one of the most hipster neighborhoods in the world! Great food, people, and record stores. Try to go to Two Bros. Pizza if their open.. Only 1 dollar a slice. 2.75 for 2 Slices and a Can of Soda!
Gotta go to a Yankee game!!!!

We are doing the SoL, ESB, maybe Coney Island, Which museum is the most worthwhile?
I say the Metropolitan for sure.. It costs a penny to get in but it's nice to pay a little it is a big place.. keeps overhead costs low That one and the Natural History Museum located on 81st and Central Park West

Is a cruise around the island, more interesting than the tour bus through the island?

I have no idea about the tour buses except for the fact that the fuel they let off is disgusting when I ride my bike throughout the city!
The Circle Line is an awesome tour around the city. I've gone on it many times from when i was a little kid to now. (Was an awesome way to learn about my city and the neighboring islands )
Not only that but the Circle Line crew and boats helped rescue those people when the Plane Crashed in the Hudson River! Some of the first responders. God Bless them! Hope this helps

Enjoy Your Stay!
Be Safe

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[K.O.N.Y]

Well since the weather is starting to break. U might want to try orchard beach and city island. Best seafood in the city