New York Archives - Page 138 of 168

We’ve been doing holiday-themed photos all week, but I couldn’t resist doing one more. Not when they look as cool as this shot of Rockefeller Center from Flickr user Bernard-SD. The lighting and perspective on this are just awesome. Does this remind anyone else of a vanishing point drawing? I also like the way this photo further emphasizes the height of the building by sandwiching it between two flagpoles.

Have any great travel photos you’ve taken during your holiday this year? Why not share them with our readers on Gadling? All you have to do is upload them to our Gadling pool on Flickr. We might just use one of yours as our Photo of the Day.

How not to go to New York

by Tom Johansmeyer on Dec 26, 2008

I’m sitting on a bus right now, on my way home to Manhattan. I just spent the last two nights in Reading, PA with my wife’s family. What does this mean? I’m on a bus full of people who are making their annual trek to the “Big Apple.” Right next to me is a family trying to agree on what to do. You can tell it’s going to be a project from the stack of menus (Italian restaurants only) they have printed and are reviewing).

“I have no interest in shopping,” man says to woman, “you know, shopping for dresses and stuff.”

Next comment: “Aw come on … She wants to go ice skating.”

Finally: “I’m not saying I don’t want to spend time with you; I just don’t want to go shopping.”

Then, they give up for a while.

A bit of advice for anyone heading to New York anytime of year. While the city is big and can be intimidating, don’t over-engineer your visit. There is a lot you can discover just by walking around and getting lost (thay’s how I found Gramercy Park). Plan to have fun; don’t plan every movement.

If these people do anything else funny, I’ll let you know

Worst luck ever: couple vacation in New York, London and Mumbai just as terrorists attack

by Karen Walrond on Dec 24, 2008

The Sydney Times Herald is reporting the uncanny story of Mr. and Mrs. James and Jenny Cairns-Lawrence, a young couple from Dudley, United Kingdom, who seem to have a knack for choosing vacation spots where terrorists are about to strike: they have found themselves in New York, London and Mumbai during the exact times that each of the three cities were viciously attacked by terrorists.

Says Mrs. Cairns-Lawrence, “It’s a strange coincidence. The terror attacks just happened when we were in the cities. I shouldn’t be laughing about it, but it is a strange coincidence.”

Dude, remind me to check where these two are the next time I plan an international trip. And as one of my Gadling colleagues said, aren’t people like these usually called “persons of interest”?

Undiscovered New York: 5 reasons to visit the Upper West Side

by Jeremy Kressmann on Dec 24, 2008

Welcome to Gadling’s ongoing series, Undiscovered New York. Ask any New Yorker about their favorite parts of the city to visit, and you’re likely to get some fairly common answers. Anybody under the age of 30 will tell you that the neighborhoods south of 14th Street are the happening place to be. Brooklyn is an increasingly popular answer as well, with “cool” neighborhoods like Williamsburg, Greenpoint and “Brownstone Brooklyn” getting some love as well.

But I’m fairly certain nobody is going to tell you to go to the Upper West Side. You know what? They’re missing out on one of New York City’s best neighborhoods. Call me biased (I lived on the Upper West Side for almost 3 years) but this neighborhood located west of Central Park has a lot to offer, from fantastic parks, quirky attractions, unmatched cultural institutions, a burgeoning food scene and even some great nightlife.

It might be hard to believe, but dear reader, let me share with you 5 reasons why the Upper West Side deserves a few hours of your time during your next visit to New York.

Click below for Undiscovered New York’s top 5 reasons to visit the Upper West Side. I bet you’ll be surprised.
Reason 1: The Food!
If there’s anything you might have learned after reading Undiscovered New York, it’s that we’re pretty big on New York’s food scene. Perhaps then it’s not surprising that the Upper West Side is home to an increasing number of great food spots. First stop is Fairway – what might be one of the best grocery stores in the entire United States. Pretty much any delicacy known to man is available within the narrow aisles of this chaotic, wonderful supermarket. Imported olives from Italy and Spain, Beluga Caviar, bags of Ethiopian Arabica and freshly made New York bagels are just a few of the many delicacies on offer.

A little further north is the secret weapon of 96th Street – Super Tacos “Sobre Ruedas,” a tiny taco truck serving up cheap, authentic Mexican food to locals. For five bucks you can grab a goat tongue taco and a spicy chorizo along with a bottle of Mexican soda. The Upper West Side is also home to an increasingly great selection of new restaurants – try Kefi for some of the city’s best Greek food, Dovetail for some delicious New American cuisine and Barney Greengrass for top-notch smoke fish. Your last stop should be Grom for New York’s most authentic (and delicious) Italian gelato.

Reason 2: The Architecture
New York’s West Village might get all the tourists, but to really get a feel for some beautiful architecture one need only take a stroll on the Upper West Side, which is loaded with historic architectural gems. One of the neighborhood’s most famous structures is The Ansonia, a beautiful Beaux-Arts style former hotel at 73rd and Broadway. The building’s glitzy history includes stays by residents including Babe Ruth, the 1919 Black Sox and a former swinger’s club. Another famous Upper West Side building is The Dakota at 72nd Street and Central Park West, infamous as the residence of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Beyond these two structures is an entire neighborhood of beautiful late-19th Century and early 20th-Century brownstones and apartments. Just pick a street and start walking.

Reason 3: The Culture
The Upper East Side might get all the visitors because of The Met, The Guggenheim and The Whitney, but the Upper West Side’s cultural amenities would put most large cities to shame. First there’s the American Museum of Natural History, home to all manner of dinosaur bones, insect specimens and a full size blue whale. But in addition to the Natural History museum, there’s a huge range of cultural options on New York’s Upper West Side. There’s also Lincoln Center, the beating cultural heart of New York and home to the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Ballet and New York Philharmonic, among others. Retro music fans can stop by the Beacon Theatre to see acts like Hall & Oates and B.B. King.

Reason 4: The Parks
Who’s buried in Grant’s Tomb? Why don’t you find out for yourself by visiting the real thing? The final resting place of U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant can be found nestled on the Upper West Side’s Riverside Park. That’s not the only notable sight in this beautiful waterfront park which runs the length of the neighborhood. You’ll find joggers, sailboats and some awesome views of the George Washington Bridge. In the warmer months there’s the Boat Basin Cafe, a wonderful spot to enjoy a drink or a burger and take in the fabulous view. Just south of the Cafe is a collection of derelict piers and dock machinery which makes for a cool backdrop for photos.

Reason 5: The Nightlife
If you want to go out in New York City, you should probably head downtown, right? Wrong. The Upper West Side has a surprisingly diverse nightlife scene. Jazz fans will want to stop by Cleopatra’s Needle, a swinging Jazz joint packed with fans and some of the city’s best musicians pret
ty much every night of the week. There’s not even a cover charge – just buy a drink or two and settle in for some awesome live music. There’s also a number of great spots to grab a drink, including wine bars like Vintage, which features a huge selection of locally produced wines from Upstate New York and and Long Island. There’s also plenty of watering holes up near Columbia University. It’s no all-night party scene but it will certainly hold your attention for a fun night out.

Is NYC’s subway about to get more expensive?

by Jeffrey White on Dec 22, 2008

I was in New York recently, where there is talk that the MTA is considering raising the city’s subway fare from $2.00 to $2.50 per ride.

Why? The New York Times recently reported that the state of New York is trying to work out a bailout of the MTA, which is saddled with a $1.2 billion deficit. Failing to do that, the MTA says it plans to raise fares and toll revenue in 2009 some 23 percent to close that budget gap, along with making what the Times describes as “deep cuts in service.”

That means a jump in single-ride fares, and the cost of a 30-day MetroCard could increase to $104 by late next spring.

Obviously tourists are more inclined to be impacted by the simple single fare increase, even though $2.50 still seems like a pretty good deal for such a massive subway network. Sure, New York’s subway system is rundown, dirty and generally disgusting, but it does get you to pretty much anywhere you want to go in one of the world’s largest city.

I think of Berlin, where I live: Also a big city, with an amazingly extensive and efficient subway system. But single-ride fares there are nearly $3.00. Then again, I’d happily pay that in New York if they’d clean the subway up and figure out some way to let passengers known when they can expect the next train.