Question for New York yanks . . .

[Faulkner]

I've been chosen to attend a leadership and communications seminar next month and it's in New York City. I've done everything I can to try and get out of going short of resigning, to no avail. I'm pretty widely traveled for a Arkansas country boy from the Ozarks and I've spent time back east, mainly in DC and Boston, but I've never been to New York, and no offense to the locals, I have absolutely no desire to go.

They are flying me in Saturday around noon and the meeting starts Monday morning, so I have half a day Saturday and all day Sunday to look around. I'll be staying at some place on the Avenue of the Americas just south of Central Park. Googled the area and I guess that's on Manhattan.

So, question is, any sights worth seeing in the vacinity. Might like to see ground zero if it's not too far away, maybe the Statue of Liberty. I know Teddy Roosevelt's home, Sagamore Hill, is in New York somewhere and might like to check that out.

I appreciate any tips.

 

[truckemup97]

I'm not a local, but I've been there quite a few times. The subway will take you anywhere. Ground Zero has a tall fence around it, so there's really nothing to see. You'll be near Time Square, which you need to see. You can take in a show while you're there. Discount tickets are available in TS for same day shows if you're not picky about what you want to see. Take a walk through Central Park during the day. Lots of people watching available. Some you may want to see, some you may not. Tiffany's is at Fifth Ave. and 57th St. Take your wife something in a blue box if you want to score big points. (they have some fairly inexpensive stuff available)

Lots of stuff to see, and most of Manhattan is fairly safe. Situational awareness is the key, but you're LE so you likely do that without thinking about it. Have a good time!!

 

[wheelgun28]

I have lived with in 30 miles of NYC my whole life and I really never go into the city...

Anyhow, ground zero just a cab ride away and Statue of Liberty is close to that. I even went to the Statue, once, but not WTC or Ground Zero...

Other things to see, times square and Broadway. Empire State building, Rockefeller plaza and NBC, Grand Central Station, Museum of modern art ( they have a bunch of Colts) Museum of Natural History, Central Park, Lincoln Center.

Other things to see, Police, fire, subway museums, Macys Herald Square, Carnegie Deli .

Circle line trip?

If you like sports, Yankees, Mets, Madison Square garden.

Manhattan is expensive...

Dont bring firearms, pictures of firearms, ok dont even think about them...

Oh, avoid pocket knifes and if you must, no clip on knife and its got to be short 4" max and no auto or fancy open type. At best you will lose it at worse you'll get locked up and visit another island, Rikers Island...<edit> didnt notice the OP was LE I will let others discuss the brotherhood, but the Tin does wonders

The hotel will have maps with things highlighted. Some things are quite walkable, others not. Like Ground Zero would be a hike from Midtown. Subways are by in large safe. Cabs are expensive. Most foot cops are nice.

If you must think about guns, John Jovino Gun shop, and see little Italy and China Town

The Teddy Roosevelt home is on long Island about 45 min to hour out of Midtown. I dont know if mass transit can get you there if not you'd need to rent a car...




http://www.ny.com/museums/all.museums.html

 

[DeadAye]

Well - Being from a small town in TN I wasn't looking forward to a required biz trip to NYC.
I liked it! And I was VERY surprised at how friendly most of the people were.... We were there on September 9, 2001. Went to a friend's daughter's wedding on the 10th and headed home the morning of the 11th. But THAT'S another story all together.

I'd actually like to go back sometime.
I think you might actually enjoy it.

 

[james56]

Well being from Long Island, and when I was a kid I worked as a Messinger in Manhattan for 4 summers a few thing's I learned was walk with confidence not like a tourist, keep your wallet in your front pocket, dont be looking straight up at all the sky scrappers, look at them on an angle as your walking along. Streets go east to west and Avenues North to South. Keep alert be in condition yellow @ all times.
You wont be far from the Metro. Museum of Art. It has some of the best exhibits of any Museum in the world and it really takes some time to see it all, like days to really soak it in. The Main Library isn't far from there either. Buy a Hot Dog and sit and watch all the people running every which way. It was one of my favorite things to due. Believe it or not NY City is very safe today compared to back when I was working there.
Have fun, its what you make of it. Also somewhere somewhere in midtown theres a fireing range and A big Berettas Store you might want to check out,its on 718 Madison Ave..
Be safe and have fun
James

 

[David LaPell]

Beware the hookers, window washers, homeless people, and when you step into a crosswalk, let someone else go first so they can get whacked before you because no one down there cares if you're walking. Run across those like Jesse Owens. Guard your billfold with your life, and yes, they will know you are from out of town. However, the pizza is good, better than anywhere else.

 

[wheelgun28]

Beware the hookers, window washers, homeless people,

My guess is you havent been in the city in a while

Rudy cleaned all that up and its not in plain sight anymore.

When I was a kid if NYC was burning buildings,hookers, porn, drugs, bums and crime at least that was the mental image. Ever see the movie Fort Apache The Bronx, well thats kinda what we thought it was and it may have well been.

Its taken decades for that stigma to wear off maybe even more so for us folks that were close but but not actually in it. We just got the evening news casts on TV.

It is very very different today, still has crime but not like it was. Stay away from drugs and public housing areas and you'll be ok.

 

[rcnixon]

First off, if you ask for "The Avenue of The Americas", no one will know what you are talking about or they will ignore the reference. It's Sixth Avenue, always has been, always will be. The City (note the definite article and the caps) does have the greatest pizza in the world but I've been away for too long to make a recommendation. The Asian food is excellent and the Italian food is world class. I'd try for a different cuisine each evening. Ask one of the locals on the hotel staff for places to eat. As for Saturday afternoon and Sunday, the American Museum of Natural History is on Central Park West at 79th street. Go to a coupon site like Groupon or LivingSocial to see if there are deals available as the admission is almost twenty dollars. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is right across Central Park (don't walk through after dark) on Fifth Avenue at 80th street (actually 1000 Park Avenue). The Met has one of the largest firearms collections in the world. The City is positively littered with museums. You can also see what's playing in Lincoln Center Sunday Evening; if you have an ear for classical music, there might be something there for you. Cirque de Soliel may be playing; it is a European circus and very different from American circus' but still entertaining. It won't be cheap but then, nothing in the City is.

I'm a former Jersey boy and I grew up about a 40 minute bus ride from midtown and my better half is a third or fourth generation Manhattan native. We are pretty familiar with the big town.

Russ

 

[David LaPell]

My guess is you havent been in the city in a while

Rudy cleaned all that up and its not in plain sight anymore.

When I was a kid if NYC was burning buildings,hookers, porn, drugs, bums and crime at least that was the mental image. Ever see the movie Fort Apache The Bronx, well thats kinda what we thought it was and it may have well been.

Its taken decades for that stigma to wear off maybe even more so for us folks that were close but but not actually in it. We just got the evening news casts on TV.

It is very very different today, still has crime but not like it was. Stay away from drugs and public housing areas and you'll be ok.

The last time I was in NYC had to be about 1992, back when I used to ride with either my father or one of his drivers down in two or three times a week into Manhatten (although I have been to all the boroughs including Stockdale, Scarsdale, and Harlem). We used to go in about 3 am and wait until about 7am to get unloaded and get out of town. I just remember the things I saw back in those days I will never forget. I grew up in a town of maybe a couple thousand people tops and here I was in NYC where it never seemed to end, and all manner of depravity reigned. I still have no desire to ever go back down there again, and I can see why my Grandfather moved out in the late 1930's. Personally I wouldn't go down there unless I could carry concealed, and since NYS pistol permits outside of the city aren't valid, I won't ever be going back there ever again unless I absolutely had to.

 

[LennyLames]

You might be pleasantly surprised. I used to work in the Wall St. area many, many years ago. While I wouldn't want to live in NYC anymore, I think it's a great place to visit.

It amazes me when friends of mine go to NYC for a short vacation then come back rambling about how they'd like to move there. I set them straight by telling them that if they live there, they won't be able to stand the traffic and the crowds indefinitely. Besides, once they start paying the high the income taxes (Federal + State + City), sales tax, and the other costs of living are, they won't be able to afford or enjoy the Broadway shows and restaurants that they experienced during their vacation. There have been too many movies where some character working as a waitress goes home to her nice one bedroom Manhattan apartment. In short, great place to visit, particularly on an expense account, but not an ideal place to live.

Whenever I go there, I just take the opportunity to explore museums, restaurants (I always find the type of cuisine that I'm looking for, and hole-in-the-wall types such as in the basement of a building can be amazing), and Broadway shows (I go for the discounted tickets). Restaurant choices are quite extensive in Little Italy and Chinatown, and they're adjacent to each other.

I'm more of a food person than a sightseeing person, but a guided tour can be a good way to get to know the city. There are bus tours as well as boat tours. If you want the cheapest boat tour minus the "guided" part, take the Staten Island Ferry round trip. You'll get to see NY harbor, including the Statue of Liberty.

Don't bother renting a car. It's more of an inconvenience: slower and more expensive (Parking? Yikes!) than taking public transportation. Car rental rates are also much higher in the NY metro airports. In fact, when I fly in, I take public conveyances from the airport. If I fly into La Guardia, I take the Q33 bus 74th St. in Queens to the #7 train, above ground at this point, into Times Square. If I fly into Newark (in New Joizey), I take the AirTrain to Penn Station in midtown Manhattan. I don't use JFK for domestic flights. If you don't feel adventurous, there are numerous limousine services that take you from the airport to the hotel.

 

[MTS Cop]

Sagamore Hill is in the town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County. You would need a car to get there. The Teddy Roosevelt birthplace is on E20 St near Gramercy Park and would be much easier to get to. The American Museum of Natural History is also heavily TR favored and definately worth a visit. It's on Central Park West and W79 St. I also recommend the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 5 Ave and E77 St.

Times Square I don't get. I worked it exclusively for the first seven months after the academy, still get flown there on occasion. There is nothing to do there. Nothing. It's a bunch of billboards and stores you can find in any mall in America. And as much as the city would love everyone to think it's a tourist oasis there is still a whole bunch of seediness right under the surface. I never recommend it to anyone.

The Empire State Building observation deck is cool. Even better on a clear day, visibility is something like 80 miles.

Ground Zero is pretty much a waste of time. It's a construction site. You could check up on the progress of 1 WTC though (it's getting up there).

The Wall St area is worth a visit. Federal Hall and Fraunces Tavern are there for some Revolutionary War history. The New York City Police Museum is nearby too. And they have guns!!! And Battery Park is nice. Good views of the harbor and Statue of Liberty. Don't bother taking the boat to Liberty Island.

If you should need some directions or guidance while out and about don't be shy to ask the cops. Especially if you ID yourself you should get some top notch help. Manhattan is usually full of cops from all over the city doing various details. The guys with collar brass ranging from 1 through 17 or if it says Midtown are the locals. Some guy from Staten Island doing a detail is probably as lost as you.

Hope this helps.

 

[Onomea]

I lived in NYC, except for two years in Japan, from 1972 to 1986. It was pretty rough back then. My second son went there for college from about 2003 to 2007. At the time I looked up safety statistics and was suprised to see that among US cities it is actually pretty safe. Last month was there for the first time in 25 years or so, a night and two days, and I really thought it looked and felt a whole lot nicer, cleaner, safer than it did when I lived there.

 

[Faulkner]

Hey, thanks guys! Lots of good info, I appreciate it.

 

[ladder13]

Faulkner, ignore all the hysterics here, NYC is not as bad as some say. Heck I feel more comfortable down there than in some of the toothless areas of NY state. Lived in the City and surrounding areas all my life. Like any big city, yes like even in the gunhappy deep south, be careful at night. Stay with the crowds and well lit areas.
Enjoy your stay, the sights and sounds are unmatched anywhere in the world.

 

[cmort666]

I've been to NYC a grand total of once.

Go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They have an EXCELLENT arms and armor collection, VASTLY better than the one at the Chicago Art Institute. Their Egyptian collection is also wonderful.

 

[cmort666]

I lived in NYC, except for two years in Japan, from 1972 to 1986. It was pretty rough back then. My second son went there for college from about 2003 to 2007. At the time I looked up safety statistics and was suprised to see that among US cities it is actually pretty safe. Last month was there for the first time in 25 years or so, a night and two days, and I really thought it looked and felt a whole lot nicer, cleaner, safer than it did when I lived there.

I recall reading a while ago that there have been some serious shenanigans with the crime statistics, just as there have been in Chicago.

I wouldn't believe them.

 

[CelticSire]

Sunday morning, go find a bagel shop with sidewalk tables, get one or two of your favorites, a cup of coffee, and the New York Times. Sit, eat, read, people watch.

 

[yourang?]

dont know if you drink or not, but the place to go when in nyc
(manhattan, especially) is mcsorley's

it is just south of astor place...you can find it by going to
their website

McSorley's Old Ale House

it is well worth the trip....

if you dont want to go out in the night time, the place is
open during the day

great place

only sells beer.....ale, actually....light and dark
no whiskey or hard liquor

no juke box, no tv, no radio
tons of ancient stuff on the walls and ceiling

never used to admit women until the passage of the equal rights amendment, but they do know

pot belly stove, sawdust on floor

not much for eats, that i remember, but they do have a kitchen
(great cheese plate...with killer mustard)

good story: i took some friends from upstate that had never been to
nyc down for a day trip and mcsorley's was one of the places we visited

it was time for the bathroom so i took the ladies to the bathroom
and explained it was one bathroom for every one and i would stand guard
so they could take care of business....(when it is busy, some brave ladies
just wade right in with no sentry)

anyway, a waiter comes up to me, and with a heavy brogue, asks me:
"and how long has it been that you havent been to mcsorley's?"
i was kinda surprised that he some how noticed that and told him it
had been about 15 years.....i said: "how'd you know?"
he said: "uh...we have a women's room now!" laughing

great place....part of nyc history...no trip complete without a visit

 

[John Eilertson]

I am Oregon born and raised, but have always been a Yankee fan. My kid sister lives in Pawtucket now, so in 2004 I flew over to visit her and her famiy. We had a great time, however, my ulterior motive was to see a Yankee game. I had bought tickets for me, her and her husband to see NY/Boston on July 1. (They are each massive Bosox fans.) We saw a fantastic game (won by NY, 5-4 in 13 innings) and spent that day and the day before exploring the city. Visited Grand Central, Central Park, the studio where Letterman films, 30 Rock, Times Square, The Garden, MOMA, Yankee Stadium (the older, better one) plus a few personal items-areas of interest. We did this largely on foot, tho' the Subway and cabs helped occasionally. In was raised in Portland, OR, so I know what a big type city looks like, but Holy Cow--was THIS ever different?! Seemingly millions of pedestrians on the sidewalks, taxis everywhere, not as many 'weirdos' as I'd expected, but no shortage of cops visible. It was warm, but not unpleasant, and we stopped once for ice creams. They'd each spent a lot of time in that town, but I was a novice to the Big Apple. Fortunately for us I had a fair amount of money with me, cuz things there don't go cheap. So, for anyone new to the experience, I say...go for it! It's the biggest city in this country, and is worth at least one visit.

 

[G-Mac]

You might want to check out the Dinosaur Barbecue. The Dinosaur won #1 Barbecue in the U.S.A. on "Good Morning America". It's at 700 W. 125th St at 12th in Harlem.

P.S. - Before all you Southern boys start making excuses for having second-rate barbecue...I realize that this honor doesn't mean anything since it was given by a "Yankee" TV show.