OT- New York City virgin

[prdubya]

...This is also a great time to get an awesome hot dog at Gray's Papaya on the Upper Westside (http://www.yelp.com/biz/grays-papaya-new-york) The stroll from the park to Gray's gives you more of a neighborhood feel for the city, as opposed to the hustle and bustle of Times Square....

This man knows what's up. Gray's Papaya for the $5.95 "recession special"... 2 dogs (I like with sauer kraut) and a papaya drink is the best deal in town.

 

[BlueRidgeMtns]

Sbarro's is the only place to get a real new york slice **

 

[esplanade91]

Dawg living in NYC here... agree on most everything here.

Food:
Pizza - Juliana's in DUMBO is the best in the city; it's at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge and delicious. After eating, walk down to waterfront and you can see awesome views of downtown / Brooklyn Bridge. You can walk back across Brooklyn Bridge or take Subway back to manhattan.
On Manhattan, depends how you want to go... cheap and fast or more sit down.
A few places that haven't been mentioned before for sit down are Motorino in E. Village and Otto in W. Village.
NOTE: agree 100% with the poster who said NYC pizza is cheese or minimal toppings. I grew up in the south, but now nothing appeals to me more than a good slice of cheese with some basil
Burgers - Whitman's in E. village is good, but can be a wait. Have also been to Benson's down south of Houston ("How-ston... don't get me started...) that had delicious, massive burgers.
Italian - Can spread the gamut here, but I like smaller hole in the wall type places.
Patrizia's on 2nd avenue (~26th st) has good stuff and solid pizza, but can be loud.
Mimi's in midtown east is a hidden gem with a piano bar atmosphere

Activities:
Museums - 9/11 museum is somber, but very well done. It's close to One World Trade observatory, and Battery park so you can see the statue of liberty. If you have time and want to get close to the statue of liberty, you can take ferry to staten island for free, or pony up for a tour to go to the actual island. I think at this point, all of the tours to climb to the crown are taken until February.
Just went to the musuem of natural history (or "zoo without the poo" as I call it) with my parents. Interesting, but San Diego Zoo is cooler.
The Met is interesting if you like art and antiquities (recommend the American wing).
The Intrepid Air & Space is interesting with a bunch of military exhibits / old aircraft, including one of the space shuttles (that probably should have gone to Houston, TX rather than NYC, but I digress...)
Entertainment - If you're not offended easily, a comedy show is always enjoyable, although it's generally 18+ (small cover charge and a 2 drink minimum).
There are broadway shows that are funny and not too girly if you're not a theater nerd, although I haven't seen any shows lately so can't recommend any personally... ask at the TKTS booth what's playing and the folks can give you a run down on what each show is.
Sights - Central Park is really neat. I would recommend finding Belvedere Castle, as it is a really neat spot mid-park and has good views. You can work your way south from there and see the Bethesda fountain / Boat house and "the mall" which are the parts you'll recognize from lots of movies/TV shows.
If you're here before 1/6, the Rock Center tree is a must, but it's crowded. Christmas lights on 5th ave are great too.
Times square - see it once, then avoid it.

Transport:
To/From LGA - Might be cheaper to take the Q70 to the subway, but for your sanity, just pony up and take an Uber. If you're staying in Midtown manhattan, an Uber to midtown from LGA is ~$45, well worth the ease to get you into the city.
Around town - Subway is your friend. Generally, "Uptown" is going north, "downtown" is going south. Buy a metrocard, but unless you're here for a full week, probably best to just use "value" rather than "time" option.
Walking - you'll do a lot of it. Remind your wife and daughter as they make shoe choices that comfort far outstrips fashion when walking around a bunch...

You'll have a blast. If I see you around, I'll definitely give you a "Hail State".

Gotta disagree wholeheartedly with Juliana's in DUMBO. Both tourist trap pizza places in DUMBO actually. Those aren't even the only locations. I worked nearby for a sports agency and always got a kick out of people in their fanny packs lining up to eat there when Front Street Pizza is a few blocks away and infinitely better. The pizza in NYC is just good, just don't buy 'dollar slices'. Prince Street, Joe's.... don't wait somewhere in line.

Walk the Brooklyn Bridge, take a left and walk back down to 55 Water Street to the renovated factory that houses the West Elm HQ now. The roof is a public space with premium views of New York from 6 floors up.

The Cannibal near the Empire State building is a butcher shop that doubles as a restaurant. It's burger has won some pretty impressive awards. Their tapas are good too.

Little Frankie's in the East Village/LES is amazing Italian but cash only.

There's a... flea market? but nice... not sure what to appropriately describe it... called Chelsea Market I'm sure your family would enjoy. It has great food.

If you get down closer to Downtown Brooklyn you should visit their museum and garden. It's one of the nicer ones in NYC and next door to the Grand Army Plaza and the entrance to Prospect Park, which was designed by the same person who made Central Park.

If you're willing to wait in line for pizza, the only thing I'd actually recommend waiting in line for in NYC is Sugarfish. Premium sushi that doesn't take reservations or tips, and there's generally a line except between 1-5pm if you do a big breakfast and late lunch. Their 3-course meal is $23 per person inclusive of tax and tip. Hands down the best sushi in America.

The Central Park Zoo is nice and small and cheap. It's next door to the arsenal that housed weapons during the war, and that area is generally the nicest part of Central Park to walk around (pond, horse carriages, Plaza Hotel, etc.). You can actually walk from there to the boat house, i'm not sure about the availability in the winter but they have little jon boats you can rent for $15 for an hour and paddle around. It's nice.

Bottom line. Plenty to do and see. Very expensive. Be prepared for almost knocking out a $100 bill for breakfast at Juniors. Get same thing at Starkville Cafe except cheesecake.

Going to NYC and eating at Junior's would be like me going to NOLA and eating at Margaritaville (or worse, me going to NYC and eating at Bubba Gump or Hard Rock Cafe). It's overpriced because it's for tourists who hang out in Times Square, and the food is basically the quality of the pre-made stuff you'd buy in the back of Kroger. Find a nondescript diner and it's 1/2 the cost. In fact, outside of my rent, I don't think NYC is drastically more expensive than Dallas or Nashville if you avoid tourist traps or hotel restaurants.




You'll have fun, you'll probably go the wrong way on the subway at least once, someone will probably tell you to GTF out of the way, but it'll be awesome and I hope you enjoy it. Just know that your favorite parts will probably be things you stumble upon and didn't plan for. That's primarily the case.

 

[steen]

After almost 20 years in NYC...
I can say that food choices are going to be subjective... but the best Ive found are:
Take the L to the first stop in Williamsburg.
Pizza and authentic Italian...Acqua Santa in Williamsburg on N.7th and Driggs. Ask for Mariano. It may be the best margarita pizza I've ever had.
And conveniently around the corner on N. 6th is Two Boots. A cajun take on pizza. Spicy. Worth stopping and trying for sure.
I agree that cheese is the way forward at both.
Take the N or R to 30th ave stop in Astoria
Burger Club in Astoria on 30th Ave.... 5 stars. Get the braised short rib fries... you are welcome. Ask for Zeke.
Another choice for great burgers around the same area is Sweet Afton. Same stop but on 34th street. Great whisky selection as well. Well priced.
Reservation dinners? If you can manage a trip to Peter Luger... do it. Best in NYC. Also in Williamsburg @ 178 Broadway.
A close second is Quality Meats and Keens... both in the city. Both pricey but worth it. So worth it.
Minetta Tavern on Macdougal and Minetta. Also pricey and worth the res.
Many of the touristy things have been mentioned so Ive tried to give you a leg up in quality and experience. Katz's Deli is fine but its not incredibly special. Anyone can stack meat on a sandwich to the moon and charge you for it. You won't be blown away.
Choose wisely and know there will be lines for most anything you want to do. (Top of the Rock, Empire, WTC)
From Rockefeller center over to Madison and up to Central Park is worth keeping your head on a swivel as many from NBC and also surrounding record labels such as Sony and many of its affiliate labels are all in that area. Unfortunately so are a lot of the high priced stores... Prada, Coach, Barney's etc... as you get closer to 59th.
As mentioned previously regarding clothing and especially shoes... function over fashion.
Trying to go too hard in the paint the first day will result in a painful trip. Be relaxed that first day and adjust and then get ready to go hard the second day there.

From LGA... don't mess with Uber unless you are familiar with where to meet them for pickup. If the line is not crazy walk out of baggage claim and to the right if you are flying Delta...there is the cab stand. They will put you in one and you can flat rate it to midtown. Should be about 45 bucks as well.

Best of luck and have fun. Be aware. And if you see an empty car on the subway when the rest of them are full...there is a reason. And the reason smells awful.

 

[esplanade91]

Peter Luger is the best and most famous steak house in New York in my favorite neighborhood. Could make a day of Williamsburg, to be honest, but carry cash.

 

[prdubya]

...This is also a great time to get an awesome hot dog at Gray's Papaya on the Upper Westside (http://www.yelp.com/biz/grays-papaya-new-york)

Papaya Dog and Papaya King are similar, but Gray's is best.

 

[Coors Dog]

Download a subway app now and get familiar with it compared to where you are staying. Have your wife do the same so she can tell you that you are going the wrong way before you do. Buy a 7 day subway pass. Will take you anywhere you need to go

dont go to the Statue of Liberty. It’s too crowded and takes too long. Take the free Staten Island ferry, it goes right by it and is an amazing view

Take the subway to brooklyn and see the brownstones
. They have some really good food and while in that wall bars as well

and remember that that you can stay for 3 weeks and probably not do everything you will wanna do

 

[msudawg12]

If you like Italian food, spend a lunch at Eataly. That place is like heaven to me.

Eataly.....

Went the last time I was in Chicago. Ended up there 4 times in a single trip. once for breakfast, once for lunch and twice for just afternoon apps and wines. That was a damn brilliant idea of Mario

 

[Allday.sixpack]

Thank you all. Can't wait!

 

[LiveOakDawg]

My wife and I spent our honeymoon in NYC and these were my favorite parts:

• Philippe - Restaurant near 5th Avenue. Great food at a fair price. We stumbled in there after an afternoon on 5th and it was heaven. We got the fried rice and lettuce wraps and ate on the cheap and had leftovers.
• Joe's - Stopped in here for a slice of pizza randomly. Great choice! Just remember, there is a spot at the counter to order pizza and a spot at the counter to order pasta. They get angry when you forget that.
• 9/11 Memorial - As everyone has said it's incredibly moving. Take your time in there. My wife's dad is a firefighter so we spent a few hours in there and soaked it up. Worth every penny.
• Broadway - Go see at least one show on Broadway. My wife and I saw Lion King and Wicked and both were incredible. Get the signature drink for the shows. It's a bit more expensive but usually worth it.
• Central Park - Go walk through it and find the Balto statue. My wife and I stumbled upon it when walking to the Museum of Natural History and I soaked up the moment.
• Serendipity - Touristy stop for frozen hot chocolate. It's worth the stop and each one is big enough to split.

Have fun! My wife and I are headed back for our anniversary this year so I'm excited to see all the rec's on this thread!