This post is going to be totally vague, and probably useless, but if would be awesome if someone knows the place I'm talking about.

Best burger/bar experience I have ever had in my life was in New York a couple years ago. I want to say that it's in the Village, but I really don't know, only that it's on that end of the island. It's a small place, and the wait was LONG, but it was ok because the waiting line wrapped around a bar where pitchers flowed. Only other detail I remember is that the register was old-school, and they didn't take plastic. Known for their burgers.

Like I said, vague vague vague, but if someone knows what I might be talking about, it's worth announcing as a damn good place to go. I'm probably describing 100s of bars in the area, though.

Corner Bistro?

that's what i was thinking. the place has changed within the last year. i think they raised their prices. the burgers were never anything special. just big and juicy. prices were reasonable for nyc too. i used to go there a lot a few years ago. i liked the atmosphere, and would go with a few buddies of mine and pound a bunch of brews and have a burger. good times.

Snackalicious fallafall on 8th and 3rd. Freaking amazing.

Take a train ride from Manhattan to Flushing to see a Mets or Jets game, or even some tennis during the US Open.

Take a film class at NYU at least once - or pretend to! It's awesome to walk around Washington Sq. Park and the University, and hang out like a student.

Tavern on the Green on Easter Sunday. It reminds me of the way it must've been like 100 years ago.

used Record and book browsing on the sidewalks of SoHo

Going to a concert at the Met

Go to the NY Public Library and do some serious research into anything! Especially if it entails getting a book that only a Library staff member can bring you. In this day of instant access online, we're missing the tactile experience of actually browsing through old books, looking for what you need. It's awesome.

Music, food, shopping...so much to do...I miss New York.

When was the last time you were here?

hahahahha...yeah, you're right...I forgot the Jets don't play there anymore. I just remember my Dad taking me to Jets games to see Joe Namath when I was little.

except for two business trips about 7 years ago, I haven't been back in over ten years. I used to live off of 22nd near Gramercy Park.

I think it goes without saying but everyone should have a subscription to Time Out New York. Every possible event worth going to is listed in that magazine.

I took a Film Techniques and Tech course at NYU a couple years back out of boredom. Professor was documentary filmmaker from the 60s who was great just to listen to him bitch about random things. Good stuff. Probably not worth the $1000 that I paid but I still enjoyed myself.

Washington Square is fun to watch stupid kids getting get ripped off and/or get busted trying to buy pot.

People actually get busted there trying to buy pot?

They mostly get scammed with oregano or dirt weed but I have seen the occasional undercover bust, although that could very well be a scam in itself.

Either way buying in the park is pretty ******ed.

Damn, that's the one. After I posted I remembered that Bistro was in the title. I can't really vouch for the burgers, given the level of intoxication by the time I actually got one. In my drunk mind, they were fantastic.

I don't read Time Out so I'm not sure exactly what's in there, but I'd be surprised if there was much of note that wasn't posted on Gothamist.

The March of the Elephants is tommorow night, Tuesday March 27th.

Unload Stock Cars: 11:30 PM (Tuesday, March 27)
The Walk Begins: 11:59 PM
Time At Tunnel: Approx 12:20 AM (Wednesday morning)

In Manhattan, the elephants will emerge from the north tube of the Queens Midtown Tunnel and proceed along 34th Street to The Garden.


March of the Elephants 2007

www.overheardinnewyork.com

I'm moving to New York in a few months, and the Wired New York forums (link) have a lot of good information. Especially helpful is a very long sticky thread in the Q&A forum called Moving to New York.

I've lived in NY my entire life, so I probably know a lot less than most of you, cause I just get used to a lot of the same spots. However...

Food:

Upscale-

Telepan (69th bet. Columbus and Amsterdam): Really good, really simplified but fancy cuisine. Very original and my favorite on the upper west side.


Sushi of Gari (78th bet. 1st and York): Looks like a hole in the wall. Not fancy at all, but if you get the Omakese, it costs like 125+ per person. With that said, it's the most amazing sushi I've ever had and I eat tons of sushi. It's difficult to describe the sushi preparation, but it's very original and each piece is an amazing experience.

The Modern (53rd bet 5th and 6th): This restaurant is connected with the MOMA (definitely go to the MOMA as well, my favorite museum in new york). Danny Meyer (a trinity college grad, nice), restaurant. Everything is very original and very modern american. Not huge portions, but delicious.

Not as pricey:

Yuka (bet 80th and 81st and 2nd): I actually thought a while before talking about this place. 18 dollar all you can eat sushi and it's very good quality. 10 years ago when I first when to this place, it was 18 dollars.

Papaya King/Grey's Papaya (a few locations): Best Hot Dogs ever.

Heidleberg (bet 85th and 86th and 2nd): The place has good German food, from what I remember. It is a very classic German restauarant, leiderhosen and all. However, the reason I go is for Das Boot, the glass boot of beer.

Maybe I'll go into other stuff to do another time, but if you watch the TV show 24, on Monday night's go to:

Professor Thoms (bet 13th and 14th and 2nd). Pretty cool bar where they show 24 and whenever Bauer kills someone, they give out free shots. They have all these other scenarios they create each week where if it happens, you get free sake bombs.

Let's hear your personal favorite bars and restaurants now.



New York City's oldest bar, located near NYU and Cooper Union.

http://www.mcsorleysnewyork.com/home.html

Evan claims to have eaten nearly 50 pieces of sushi there.

As long as you count one piece of a roll as equivalent to a piece of nigiri, this is definitely true.

I have retired from my days of competitive sushi eating, but 50 pieces seems difficult, but feasible.

Oh yeah, that reminds me: Zum Schneider on 7th and Ave C has great German bar food and beer.

WTF. No way a roll counts. He claimed this feat as a response to this.

Didn't see if all these have been mentioned already: These were around last I checked.

Sandobe- Not very fashionable for some reason, but I think it's good Sushi, not expensive and different from your average Sushi place On the LES.

Veniero's- Old style Italian dessert place- good stuff, lots of choice, normally crowded. For some reason I got into heated flavored milk to go along with my desserts here.

Korova (??) Milk Bar- I think it's just in Alphabet City, but might still be on the LES, it's modeled after the bar in A Clockwork Orange. Lots of milk and alcohol drinks- be very careful for GI disaster.

Doc Holiday's- Trashy bikerish bar across from Thompson Square Park in LES- has PBR in cans and waitressed who dance on the bar to Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire.

2nd Ave Deli- Was my favorite deli by far. Heard it closed a while ago, RIP.

Typhoon Lounge- Good Japanese place, nice space,e not expnsive around St. Marks, which is near....

The Japanese place with soft core Japanese nudes on the wall, really cheap beer, and kinda strange/authentic Japanese food. It's on St. Mark's as well- anyone know the name?

Since I'm on a St. Mark's kick- the St. Mark's Bookstore is a fantastic place for browsing great, diverse new books- which leads me to:

The Strand- near 13th and Broadway(?) near Union Square. More used books than you possibly know what to do with. It's fun just browsing here, and if you like bookstores at all, you could probably spend days in here..

B&H Photo/Video- the place to go fo consumer and pro cameras/video/audio. If you're thinking about buying something, you can try it out here. Huge, huge mail order place, you can avoid the high NY sales tax by mail ordering.

International Center of Photography- Normally have excellent photo exhibits.

Leica Gallery- Specializes in artists who use Leicas, normally reportage, photojournalism. I would stop in all the time when I was in the neighborhood, near NYU undergrad

Man... maybe I should move back..

SOB's has great international live music. If you get a chance to see one of their bloco afro bands, it's a must-see.

I'll also put in another vote for the Village Vanguard for great jazz, and a vote against the Iridium or the Blue Note.

And though you'll contend with lots of loud bridge & tunnelers (although this can be part of the entertainment), Macdougal street is unparalleled in its cheap, greasy late-night food selections. PressToast and Kati Roll, among many many others.

Riding the SI ferry can be a ton of fun.

As a playwriting student, i also have to suggest bypassing Broadway and seeing something original at an off-Broadway theater. There is theater beyond Disney.

As others have said, the most fun thing in New York is not knowing what you're going to do, anyway. As long as you avoid the black hole of Times Square, you'll find something fun in a few minutes of aimless walking.

The Big Apple BBQ is going on this weekend at Washington Square Park. Big Apple BBQ

If you like BBQ, its a must, basically all these great BBQ joints through the country send people up with their smokers and cook a TON of different BBQ. If you go, make sure to buy Bubba's Fast Pass.