AliceY

Why am I always finding myself in this neighborhood? I don’t live here anymore! Oh well. This area used to have a gritty old-New York charm which is LONG GONE. It is now polished and expensive like every other part of New York. However, it’s still fun (and convenient) to eat here. There are terrific restaurants on both 9th and 10th Avenues. Every single one of them gets MUCH better after 8pm, when the pre-theater crowd is gone. So, if you just want food, get an 8pm reservation. The service will be lovely. After 10pm, this is a great celeb-watching neighborhood (much better than Soho or other trendy places) because the casts of the Broadway shows empty into the bars with their celebrity friends. The classic places to see a famous person are Joe Allen on Restaurant Row (46th between 8th and 9th) and Angus McIndoe on 44th (Angus was started by the former maitre’ d at Joe Allen), but other places are also fun after the shows. I like Marseilles at the corner of 44th and 9th, because the food is so amazing. Other food highlights: the milkshakes at Island Burger on 9th, the vegetarian plate at Rice and Beans (don’t skip the plantains) also on 9th, and brunch at 44×10 on 10th Avenue. There are three cheap reliable diners on 9th avenue. I’m partial to Galaxy (at 46th), because the smoothies are so good, but other people like Renaissance because they have homemade bread. My mom likes Westway (at 43rd), because it’s cheap and reminds her of the suburbs. It’s big and has lots of booths – like a Denny’s.

There’s not much good shopping in this neighborhood, with ONE big exception: LOVELY Italian homegoods store called DOMUS on 44th between 9th and 10th. Don’t miss it.

The best destination in Rockefeller Center is Christie’s auction house, which frequently has free exhibitions of upcoming art/antique sales. It’s interesting to see what a bohemian glass chandelier or an original Grandma Moses might cost. There’s a new observation deck at the top of 30 Rock, but I haven’t been yet (I bet the lines are pretty bad?) Avoid the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony! It’s horrendous! In fact, if you have any kind of crowd-phobia, stay away for all of November and December (the best time to see it during the Christmas Season is after 9:30pm, when the mob thins and the Saks light show is still running). Don’t bother with the ice rink. Wolman Rink in Central Park is much bigger and more scenic. If you absolutely MUST eat near here, walk up up to 55th St. between 5th and 6th and go to Le Bonne Soupe, which is delicious and reasonable. Yes, there is a new Anthropologie store here, and, because I work one block away, I am very likely to fall victim to its wiles. Do not be deceived. Rockefeller Center IS a mall disguised as a tourist attraction.

I have been going to the Met regularly since I was a child. I DO remember my first visit, because my brother, who was 5, had a wild temper tantrum and insisted we go to the cafeteria first, and it cost a lot, and once we were finished eating, the museum closed, and my poor mother wanted to cry. Now that I’m grown, I understand why. This would be a terrible place to miss. Before you take a kid here, have them read “From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler”, which is about a girl and her brother who run away from home, and camp out in the Met. (My brother loves the Met now) I value this place like a childhood home.

When I was in High School and College, class-trip buses would drop my friends and I off here, and we would wander around until we were hot and exhausted, and then go to a coffee shop on the Upper East Side, and wish that we lived in NYC. My favorite part of the museum in those days was the Chinese Section, which felt mysterious and serene. (It still does – don’t miss it). My favorite picture was the gigantic painting of Saint Joan by Jules Bastien-Lepage, which shows Joan before her military triumphs, listening to voices on a simple farm—it’s the ultimate teenage dreamer portrait.

When I finally moved to NY, I didn’t know many people, and I lived on the Upper East Side, so I spent a lot of afternoons alone here. Since then, I’ve been here with friends, on dates, etc. I’ve learned a few things that I might pass on to others:

1. Choose your exhibits carefully, and go directly to them: when I just let myself get lost in the Met, I always end up in the same galleries (the western paintings, the Greek stuff). The nooks and crannies of this museum must be sought—use the map.

2. The Temple of Dendur room is a great people-watching spot, since the folks in the park on the other side of the window do not realize that they are being watched.

3. Don’t miss the fashion exhibits in the basement! They are always interesting, and, combined with the rooftop bar, they make a great ladies-day-out. It’s hard to find the elevator to this gallery (it’s in the Egyptian wing), but don’t give up.

4. One of the best views in NYC is from the rooftop bar (which can only be reached by the elevator near the photography exhibits/20th Century Wing). There’s a fabulous treetop panorama of Central Park, and lousy over-priced frozen drinks. The “art” on the roof is always of the “Can you believe some guy is getting paid to make this stuff” variety, which is always fun to complain about (especially with a glass of wine in your hand). They also serve ice cream bars! It’s only open in the summer and early Fall (and most spectacular when the leaves start changing on the trees).

5. The cafeteria food is much better than it used to be, and no more expensive than most NYC food. However, the basement cafeteria is not a glamorous or relaxing place to eat. So you’re better off bringing your lunch and eating in the Park. BTW: you have to walk a WAYS to reach a decent affordable restaurant from the Metropolitan. Either bring something, or go when you know you won’t be hungry.

6. Get the recorded art-tours. They make it easier to focus when the exhibit is really crowded.

7. Usually, I have no choice but to come here on weekends, when it is very busy. Arrive early, or late on Saturdays (after 3:30), since it stays open late that day (that’s the night they have wine and classical music and droves of middle aged singles show up looking to score—fun!). If you can go on a weekday morning – do! It’s so beautiful and rare to be here on a quiet day.

8. The Met has a “pay what you can” policy that is not publicized. If you are on your first trip, do not be a jerk: pay the full price. But if you are a penniless student and want to come regularly, there is no shame in paying a dollar for each visit.

9. There are really good sales in the gift shop right after a famous exhibit closes—I got a lovely scarf after the Byzantium show ended.

10. Don’t try to see the MET and the Guggenheim all in one day. It’s too exhausting. The Met is best combined with the Park outside. Go to the Met in the morning, the park in the afternoon, and then catch a cab to another neighborhood for dinner.

This is a sacred place. My imagination was shaped by the images I saw here. Some of my best dreams and goals were formed while I wandered the halls. I hope to take children here when I am old. I am incredibly grateful for this place!

When I was traveling in Europe in college on Spring Break, I didn’t want to go home. I was at the train station in Geneva, waiting for a train back to my normal life, and I noticed that the train leaving right after mine was headed to Barcelona. I had a huge reckless urge to take the Barcelona train instead. I wonder what would have happened?

I used to live 2 blocks away from Times Square, and I moved away partly because I was so sick of slogging through all the tourists. This place is not really pleasant in any way, but it is spectactular, so here’s how to appreciate it:

1. Go early on Sunday morning, when it’s relatively quiet. Especially the night after a big party (new years day), it has a cavernous creepy grandeur to it.

2. NEVER go between 7 and 8 pm (before the Broadway shows) or between 10 and 11:30 pm (after the Broadway shows), or you will be crushed.

3. Instead of going on foot, drive through in a covertible (I’ve never done this, but it would work).

4. Don’t eat within a block of this place under any circumstances. DEFINITELY do not eat from a cart.

5. Don’t ask for directions to Ground Zero. News Flash: you’re nowhere near Ground Zero! And you’re an idiot!

Please enjoy! I’m so glad I won’t be there with you.

I really enjoyed this tour, mostly because I was asked out by a really handsome charming Dutch Travel Writer. We were both traveling by ourselves, and met up later in San Francisco. He was so good looking that the schoolkids on the tour wanted his autograph. His English was a little rough, and we spent most of the date talking about a cat he once lost (I think?).

The actual tour was pretty good too. Here’s the problem: Mr. Hearst could afford whatever he wanted, and his taste wasn’t bad, but he didn’t have the humanity to make his home inviting. When I walked through the rooms, I could tell that he admired the Alhambra, and other wonderful places, because he imitated them slavishly. However, there’s something aquisitive and obsessive about this place that makes it creepy—despite it’s opulence.

The night before the tour, I stayed in a Best Western in the town that was a bargain. The mini-bar wine was only $3.00! And the crab cakes from room service were awesome. I ate them while sitting by the beach in front of a bonfire and reading the book “Kissing in Manhattan”, which was the PERFECT travel book (sexy and not too heavy). So cozy. A delightful evening alone.

I took the bridge over from Queens (easy to do), and rode my bike around the entire perimeter of the Island. At the Southern tip there is a lighthouse and a lovely casual park, where people bring barbecues. There were lots of families and kids, and old guys fishing. It’s hard to believe that Roosevelt Island is so close to Manhattan. It has a lovely peace to it. When I was a kid, my cousins lived here, and we roamed around unsupervised, as though we were in a small town. The playgrounds are great, and weird. They don’t just have swing sets, they have abstract art for climbing. There used to be a really scary abandoned Mental Hospital almost underneath the Queens Borough Bridge, and our cousins told my brother and I ghost stories about it. It has been torn down to build condos since (of course), but there is still a strange collection of dilapidated octagonal connected buildings that seem to have some medical purpose. When I pedaled by last week, the patients were all sitting out by the water on benches underneath the cherry trees, which were in full bloom and stunning. Maybe this is where people go when Manhattan drives them crazy?

I had a cold, but my friend, J., and I had already planned to visit my cousin, T., in New Orleans for Jazz Fest and I was driving, so there was no backing out. THANK GOD, I didn’t back out. We drove 7 hours from Houston, and pulled in at Midnight on Friday, thinking we’d just go to bed, but when we walked in the door at T’s house, everybody was like “JUST IN TIME!” and we were dragged out dancing at a place called Brazil. The band was incredible and we danced for hours, and when we wanted to go home at 4am, people asked “Is something wrong? Why so soon?” I should have stayed out, because T’s house was like a train station there were so many people arriving and departing. I was on the lumpiest futon ever, and I never fell asleep until 8am when everyone else finally passed out. The next day at noon, we got up and ate something amazing (there was no bad food anywhere) and then finally went to the festival, which was incredible. We fell asleep again at six, and then woke up at midnight and did it all over again. My body clock was more adjustable back then. Everything I ate was incredible, I NEVER paid for my own drink, and I lost 4 pounds just dancing. My cousin and I did a jig in the street and people clapped. We had brunch at a place called Dante’s and a complete stranger paid the dixieland band to serenade us. T and J may or may not have made out. And my cold? WAS TERRIBLE! My nose never stopped running, and when I got back to Houston I was sick for days. It was worth it. Please, GOD, return this town to all its former glory.

Only go here once. Or maybe, just NEVER go here during Hip Hop Weekend. How did I DO that? The whole town was crowded to the breaking point with women in spandex unitards. Everything and everyone was very expensive and loud. Maybe that’s your thing? Anyway, I retreated to the hotel, and wished for the balcony I had the FIRST time I came here.

The first time was great, because I was on the company dime, and it was FREE, and it was winter and I went swimming. Also, I love Cuban food. Mmmmmm….fried plantains…

If you want to study Shakespearean performance, or see a Shakespearean production, or just meet a bunch of loons who can all speak in iambic pentameter, this is the place for you! Also, there’s a lovely walk behind the theater. This place was founded by a former RSC actress named Tina Packer, who is one of the most inspiring fun people I have ever met.