NYC hidden gems?

[luvmyfam444]

I live in Manhattan and run every day in Central Park as well as walk/ subway all around the city. While I have noticed an increase in the homeless population, I have not encountered any dangerous situations. Perhaps it is a matter of perspective. As a seasoned New Yorker, I am comfortable with a lot of chaos around me,and can see how someone not familiar with New York could find it a bit "scary"

We were there in March 2019 & hardly thought twice about our safety - we saw plenty of police.

 

[luvmyfam444]

I live in Manhattan and run every day in Central Park as well as walk/ subway all around the city. While I have noticed an increase in the homeless population, I have not encountered any dangerous situations. Perhaps it is a matter of perspective. As a seasoned New Yorker, I am comfortable with a lot of chaos around me,and can see how someone not familiar with New York could find it a bit "scary"

any restaurant suggestions that are open? we found a great one in China town last time but we've gotta see if we can find it again.

 

[giantsmets]

Catch a show at Elsewhere.

 

[jillinastoria]

Another New Yorker here — I’m on the subway and in Central Park all the time and have had no issues!

And this is my fave for Chinese!

https://yelp.to/77MumL4Mykb

 

[snappy]

I would do quite a bit a planning before you go.. Checking and rechecking what is opened, day and times... and restaurants around your hotel status...

We have had several friends that have been to NYC recently, and have been very disappointed, as well safety is a huge issue right now.
They each had some really good reason wishing that they would have spent their time elsewhere... and all of them said its not safe!

One you must show your vaccination card to eat in doors if not you must do take out. So if you have little kids you might want to rethink this for sure.

Limited restaurant are opened, and some with very short hours. Alot of place's are shuttered up and out of business.

Homeless, and groups of teens, and young adults or gangs robbing and mugging in the Park and the Subways - not safe.... and after what happened in Philadelphia on the subway with that poor woman being raped and no one helped her... I most definitely would not think of using the subway...

My friends went to college in NYC and love to visit there, and go 3 or 4 times a year... and when they said for the first time ever they felt unsafe... Then I tend to believe and listen to them... They were accosted in the park while just sitting on a bench drinking coffee by a group of young people screaming and threatening them. He said luckily a bodega owner let them in and locked the door, and said he would call the cops if they wanted them to, but there just aren't enough of them around due to cut backs, and defunding of the departments.. As well when they were leaving early am the doormen at the hotel made them stay inside until a their car pulled up, he said it wasn't safe...

Another friend of DH's took his boys to NYC for a guys trip, and he said trying to find them something to eat was very very hard. Alot of the deli's, diner's and bagel places are gone, even finding a dirty water dog on the street was hard. He told DH he wished he would have waited, he said that walking a short distant in the park on the way to the MET, was just scary, and that most everything has limited hours and/or days... he said that he made sure that they were back in the hotel room each day before it got dark...

Wishing you safe travels...

This is happening In New Orleans too. We are not going there these days.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Asked a NYC question but no one answered so I’m piggybacking on this thread.

planning my trip and noticing so many museums still have short hours. Any talk of more fully reopenings around the city as tourism picks up?

 

[giantsmets]

Asked a NYC question but no one answered so I’m piggybacking on this thread.

planning my trip and noticing so many museums still have short hours. Any talk of more fully reopenings around the city as tourism picks up?

Not as far as I’ve seen, but there are plenty of activities to do after museums close, if any of that is of interest.

 

[rlk]

Asked a NYC question but no one answered so I’m piggybacking on this thread.

planning my trip and noticing so many museums still have short hours. Any talk of more fully reopenings around the city as tourism picks up?

Hope this is helpful:
https://newyorkmuseumsopennow.com

 

[CdnCarrie]

Hope this is helpful:
https://newyorkmuseumsopennow.com

That link is awesome. Thanks.

 

[Carol_]

Panna II
Not for the claustrophobic, but fun.

 

[mjkacmom]

My son and his girlfriend did this on Saturday night https://www.pixarputt.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuIrhydHl8wIVGpXICh2YzAx5EAAYASAAEgIqb_D_BwE

 

[Skippy918]

I was really hesitant to galavant around the city over the summer with the kids so we limited our destinations and only visited the Statue of Liberty and Ellis island with my parents. I feel like cause I’ve been away from the city so long, I lost my city legs. I used to have no problems hopping on the subway and venturing into Manhattan with friends while in high school and college.

 

[AppleDumpling]

I’ve heard good things about the immersive VanGogh exhibit.

Also, if you’re down in the Battery Park/South Ferry area, you can check out the sea glass carousel. It’s beautiful, especially after dark.

 

[jlmarr]

If you're into Ghostbusters there are film locations all over the Manhattan.

Ditto You've Got Mail - Cafe Lalo, Zabar's, Gray's Papaya, Verdi Square

 

[MillauFr]

We have had several friends that have been to NYC recently, and have been very disappointed, as well safety is a huge issue right now.
They each had some really good reason wishing that they would have spent their time elsewhere... and all of them said its not safe!

One you must show your vaccination card to eat in doors if not you must do take out. So if you have little kids you might want to rethink this for sure.

Limited restaurant are opened, and some with very short hours. Alot of place's are shuttered up and out of business.

Homeless, and groups of teens, and young adults or gangs robbing and mugging in the Park and the Subways - not safe.... and after what happened in Philadelphia on the subway with that poor woman being raped and no one helped her... I most definitely would not think of using the subway...

This advice is completely false. I am in NYC currently and have been here for a week. I have seen very few homeless and have seen no dangerous situations. It is completely safe. I have seen no gangs roaming around on the subway and I have probably taken 40 subway trips since I have been here. You are more likely to see a confrontation at Disneyworld between a cast member and a guest refusing to wear a mask.

The vast majority of restaurants are open. The advice that children will not be allowed to dine inside restaurants is also wrong.

 

[kimmar067]

Check out Rice to Riches, if you visit lower Manhattan, near Little Italy. You can grab a slice of pizza at Lombardi's, at the corner of Spring and Mott Sts. and Rice to Riches is diagonally across the street, featuring a wide assortment of rice puddings.

 

[LovesTimone]

This advice is completely false. I am in NYC currently and have been here for a week. I have seen very few homeless and have seen no dangerous situations. It is completely safe. I have seen no gangs roaming around on the subway and I have probably taken 40 subway trips since I have been here. You are more likely to see a confrontation at Disneyworld between a cast member and a guest refusing to wear a mask.

The vast majority of restaurants are open. The advice that children will not be allowed to dine inside restaurants is also wrong.

That's so great that your trip has been perfect.... Yet everyone has a different experience, and a different point of view. The thoughts I shared are from what my friends experienced...how they perceived their personal experience while in the big apple.... Which doesn't make it a false statement as its what they experienced... the point here is to share different points of view... its up to everyone to make their own decision.

I love NYC, we have been several times, and would love to go back...

As far as the kids being allowed to eat, my DH co-worker that took his boys to NYC, they were turned away at several restaurants because his boys were not old enough to receive the vaccine yet...He had his vaccine card and were told, NO vaccine card... you can not eat inside, you are welcomed to take out. Maybe the rules are starting to lighten up somewhat, since they were there a few weeks ago.

 

[JordanClark9]

If you're a fan of Bagels/Salmon/Cream Cheese then I'd highly recommend Russ & Daughters on E Houston St for breakfast to go.

You can also book for breakfast at Tiffany's. The food was really good and it's something different. Really nice place.

230 Fifth Rooftop Bar is a good place for drinks under the Empire State Building and they have domes with heaters in the winter.

 

[PezRuth]

If you have time, the Cloisters.

 

[MillauFr]

If you have time, the Cloisters.

Yes the Cloisters was great. The subway stop at 190th St. is under construction, Only the entrance at the bottom of the hill on Bennett Ave is open. Make sure you get off at Dyckman St. instead or take the bus.