A New Yorker's guide to the Big Apple
John-Andrew Murphy
coordinator, International Studies Resource Center
I liked your piece about New York, but as a New Yorker, I'd like to add a few more suggestions.
For food, you can't miss the deli experience, or eating New York pizza. For delis, the two tops are Katz's on the Lower East Side and the Carnegie in Midtown. The prices will surprise you at first, but these sandwiches will fill you up for an entire day.
As for pizza, New York is a daunting place. This is the birthplace of American pizza, and America's original pizzeria is Lombardi's near Little Italy. The pizza here is phenomenal, and you're highly unlikely to find anything to match it anywhere. It's a local haunt, and is almost always packed. There seem to be a gazillian "Famous Ray's," but the one people in the city think of as the original is on Sixth Avenue at 11th Street. This is gooey, cheesey stuff. If you're in New York, remember that your pizza will not resemble that awful stuff they pass off as pizza over at Bruno's. Thin crust pizza gets folded.
If you want to dance, make sure you dress to impress, and have "the look." Without it, you're not getting past the doorman. It's just that simple. The earlier you go, the better your chances of getting in. For the ultimate in dancing, check out Twilo in Chelsea. The crowd tends to be predominantly gay, and the music is amazing. DJ Junior Vasquez has his permanent residence there. Check with your hotel concierge for passes too, or to get onto guest lists.
Besides dancing, there are a number of great jazz clubs in the Village, too. And in Harlem, there's a jazz club called Wells that features a terrific swing orchestra and serves their special of fried chicken and waffles. This is kind of secret nightspot, but it's a great place to enjoy some serious swing. People from all walks of life head there for a night out, and it's not that expensive. Just keep in mind that New Yorkers dress up when they go out, so bring your best club clothes or the nicest parts of your wardrobe.
Classical music is an integral part of the city, and there are literally hundreds of orchestras, ensembles and simply thousands of musicians just in Manhattan. If you want to experience some of it, you can pay to sit in the very back row at Lincoln Center or check out what's happening at Juilliard, The Manhattan School of Music or The Mannes School of Music. All three have tremendous orchestras (Mannes's is the most underrated, but it's very good).
For the visual arts, Manhattan can't be beaten. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Guggenheim, The Whitney and The Museum of Modern Art are all world class galleries offering student discounts — Notre Dame and Saint Mary's included.
If Broadway is your game, go to TKTS early in the morning and get tickets at reduced rates. You may not get the show of your choice, but it's cheaper than paying full price. David Letterman is free, and his show tapes at five every weekday afternoon. Send a postcard to this show in advance for tickets or talk with your hotel concierge about getting you in.
Off-Broadway plays are usually quite good and less expensive than their counterparts. Here you'll find experimental works, and it's worth it just to go. The Village Voice has comprehensive listings for theatres, clubs, galleries and so forth. Pick one up for free, and write down the things you want to do. You'll be surprised at how much is going on right around the corner from your hotel — and inexpensively.
Shopping is excellent in the city. Many up and coming designers have their own shops in SoHo and Greenwich Village. Look around and you might find some of these. There are also a number of vintage clothing stores that have unique finds. Flea markets are common on weekends, and you can find anything from an antique refrigerator to a rare Miles Davis recording.
Shop around on the Web for hotels. My favorite is The SoHo Grand, but it's pricey. The best bargain for a full-service hotel is the Hotel Beacon on 76th Street and Broadway. Close to Lincoln Center, Central Park, The Museum of Natural History and a short cab ride from Fifth Avenue, the rooms are actually mini-suites.
The best way to see Manhattan is to just explore. Spend time in SoHo and Greenwich Village. The best place to people watch is Washington Square Park. Here you'll find Bohemian society at its best.
Finally, a few words of advice to those of you travelling to New York: Don't look up at the buildings, and dress like you belong (you'll see what I mean once you get there). This isn't a city for everyone, but everyone can have a good time if they take the city on it's own terms.
John-Andrew Murphy
coordinator, International Studies Resource Center
Hesburgh Library
January 18, 2001
All Viewpoint Stories for Friday, January 19, 2001
