NYC for a day?

I'm looking for something different this trip, so no Brooklyn or Manhattan. Although I gotta get to Times Square for a meeting at 2pm on Monday. I'm flying into JFK at 3pm Sunday. Leaving 8pm Monday night. My ideas:

1) Get a hotel at Rockaway Beach area and spend the night/morning there, since it's close to JFK. I know nothing about this area except some friends go to surf there. A cool place for a walk/run or a rented bike ride? Or am I way off base?

2) Go to Harlem, spend the night there, and do ????????

3) Plan 3 ?????? Any ideas?

I mention this in NYC threads here all the time. No one knows about it (tourists and outside some Wall St people few Manhattan residents too) and it's the best view in NYC especially for sunset. Book a ride out to the Manhattan Yacht Club's floating clubhouse in the middle of New York Harbor the Willy Wall and have a few drinks.

I'd say go to the Met but with only a day it would probably be the only thing you did. LOVE the Met.

Also.. breakfast at Sarabeth's is tres yummy.

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Originally Posted by BmillsSkier

I mention this in NYC threads here all the time. No one knows about it (tourists and outside some Wall St people few Manhattan residents too) and it's the best view in NYC especially for sunset. Book a ride out to the Manhattan Yacht Club's floating clubhouse in the middle of New York Harbor the Willy Wall and have a few drinks.

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That looks sweet but there is no availability Sunday/Monday.

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Originally Posted by KQ

I'd say go to the Met but with only a day it would probably be the only thing you did. LOVE the Met.

Also.. breakfast at Sarabeth's is tres yummy.

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No Manhattan things on this trip, thanks though.

KQ, I get the impression what you suggest is sort of not what he's looking for (please correct me if I'm wrong). I think he wants more off the beaten path things (see below as his #1 idea certainly fits that).

I was going to joke that I can tell you where the good bike paths are...

So your #1 idea is interesting, and I understand there actually are some decent places you could bicycle around out there, but it strikes me as a very strange thing to do in NYC edit: bicycling isn't strange, but spending time in random areas of the Rockaways sort of is, IMO. The Rockaways are definitely their own little world.

You could certainly spend a day/evening in Harlem and find some great stuff. There are places to hear music, there's some good food. You could go up to the Cloisters. If you really want to bicycle you could go towards Columbia (on the West Side) and go all the way up the west side of the island (I think you can actually do a full bike loop these days). Way uptown there's a big restaurant that has turned into quite a scene right on the Hudson--it's kind of Miami Beach meets Manhattan (La Marina), fantastic view down toward the GWB with its own little beach.

I would probably have a look at all the listings for what's going on the night you'll be here and make a choice about where you'll stay based on that. Great thing about NYC is your average night here for music is like the night of the biggest music festival in almost any other city. There are probably 25-50 public music things happening on the average evening.

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Originally Posted by muted

No Manhattan things on this trip, thanks though.

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Assume you mean downtown Manhattan things--you mentioned Harlem.

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Originally Posted by Dexter Rutecki

KQ, I get the impression what you suggest is sort of not what he's looking for (please correct me if I'm wrong). I think he wants more off the beaten path things (see below as his #1 idea certainly fits that).

I was going to joke that I can tell you where the good bike paths are...

So your #1 idea is interesting, and I understand there actually are some decent places you could bicycle around out there, but it strikes me as a very strange thing to do in NYC edit: bicycling isn't strange, but spending time in random areas of the Rockaways sort of is, IMO. The Rockaways are definitely their own little world.

You could certainly spend a day/evening in Harlem and find some great stuff. There are places to hear music, there's some good food. You could go up to the Cloisters. If you really want to bicycle you could go towards Columbia (on the West Side) and go all the way up the west side of the island (I think you can actually do a full bike loop these days). Way uptown there's a big restaurant that has turned into quite a scene right on the Hudson--it's kind of Miami Beach meets Manhattan (La Marina), fantastic view down toward the GWB with its own little beach.

I would probably have a look at all the listings for what's going on the night you'll be here and make a choice about where you'll stay based on that. Great thing about NYC is your average night here for music is like the night of the biggest music festival in almost any other city. There are probably 25-50 public music things happening on the average evening.

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Ha, good bike paths for rollerblading or biking? And yes, I mean no downtown manhattan. I didn't know Harlem is part of Manhattan.

Thanks for the advice. Leaning towards Harlem unless someone thinks the Rockaways are worthy.

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Originally Posted by Dexter Rutecki

KQ, I get the impression what you suggest is sort of not what he's looking for (please correct me if I'm wrong). I think he wants more off the beaten path things (see below as his #1 idea certainly fits that).

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Yeah... didn't sleep at Holiday Inn Express last night. In fact didn't sleep much at all hence the poor reading comprehension. Oh well. Good thing I didn't suggest getting a Black & White cookie at Dean & Deluca. Hmmmm, when I wake up and become more coherent maybe I'll bake some of my own.......

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Originally Posted by muted

Ha, good bike paths for rollerblading or biking? And yes, I mean no downtown manhattan. I didn't know Harlem is part of Manhattan.

Thanks for the advice. Leaning towards Harlem unless someone thinks the Rockaways are worthy.

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Yeah, well, as you could guess, I don't really know from firsthand experience about how the bike paths are, but they always seems to have road bikers going very fast as well as slow bikers, runners, roller bladers...but especially uptown (Harlem) it's pretty big and I think the views are nice, in good weather being on the water is pleasant, etc.

So if you started around Columbia (which I guess is also worth just wandering around--gates open right onto Broadway so you can just walk in) I think it would be cool to bike up the West Side bike path past the GWB (you could bike back and forth to NJ on the bridge if you want to book a few extra miles), stop at La Marina, and then continue to the Cloisters (small outpost of the Met in a rebuilt castle that has medieval art, armor, etc.). If you really want to do a lot of biking then go across the GWB and bike on the Palisades in NJ (I think you can start right off of the bridge). People love those bike paths, AFAIK.

If you like jazz I just had a look at what's going on at Smalls, and they have three separate shows Sunday. I know the middle one is good, and maybe that would appeal to you.

Rockaways are mostly slums. Seriously, be careful.

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Originally Posted by Benny Profane

Rockaways are mostly slums. Seriously, be careful.

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Um, yeah. Best to avoid.

Benny's funny...somehow unless you're in a very narrow range of income level (say the 20-23% range), anyone below is scum and anyone above deserves to be put in prison for stealing from the people.

That said,
Its not hard, not far to reach,
you can hitch a ride to Rockaway Beach

I mean, it depends where you're talking about. There are crappy areas there, and there are regular ('regular') residential neighborhoods. I think one in particular is populated mostly by cops/EMS types. Those aren't anything close to slums. There are definitely big parts of Brooklyn that are at least as sketchy as the bad part of the Rockaways.

Maybe Benny's living in the past. This thing makes that area seem more like Williamsburg (shudder).

https://www.thrillist.com/entertainm...oad-trip-ideas

I was thinking of The Rockaways for some nice mellow beach time, actually more like a beach cruise on a bike. Not looking to wander neighboorhoods. But it seems to be crowded there? Either way, I'm gonna go to harlem.

Dex, thanks for the reccos. There are no Citibikes way up there, which is a bummer. I'm looking for a long cruise, but not a real road bike ride. Not sure if I want to deal with a local rental, it could be quick and easy to rent or a big pain.

Smalls looks good, but I am going to save that for my next trip there at the end of the month. Looking to walk to some music in Harlems, maybe Shrines, I dunno. And restaurants like Red Roosters. Maybe I'll jet to midtown Monday morning if there is not a bunch to do In Harlem or I can't get a bike.

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Originally Posted by muted

I'm looking for something different this trip, so no Brooklyn or Manhattan. Although I gotta get to Times Square for a meeting at 2pm on Monday. I'm flying into JFK at 3pm Sunday. Leaving 8pm Monday night. My ideas:

1) Get a hotel at Rockaway Beach area and spend the night/morning there, since it's close to JFK. I know nothing about this area except some friends go to surf there. A cool place for a walk/run or a rented bike ride? Or am I way off base?

2) Go to Harlem, spend the night there, and do ????????

3) Plan 3 ?????? Any ideas?

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1) Rockaway is shady. I went there to surf, but couldn't wait to get out.

2) Some area in Harlem is real nice. I highly recommend Red Rooster. If you like jazz, there's Minton's in Harlem.

3) Like beer? How about a tour to Brooklyn Brewery and check out surrounding area? Brooklyn Bowl always has pretty good music and food's good, too.

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Originally Posted by muted

No Manhattan things on this trip, thanks though.

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Originally Posted by muted

2) Go to Harlem, spend the night there, and do ????????

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uhhh...

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Originally Posted by Danno

uhhh...

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Ya, I already clarified i am ignorant earlier in the thread, thanks.

Since Dexter mentioned The Cloisters, here are some shots.

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Originally Posted by nutmegchoi

1) Rockaway is shady. I went there to surf, but couldn't wait to get out.

2) Some area in Harlem is real nice. I highly recommend Red Rooster. If you like jazz, there's Minton's in Harlem.

3) Like beer? How about a tour to Brooklyn Brewery and check out surrounding area? Brooklyn Bowl always has pretty good music and food's good, too.

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Thanks I'll check out Mintons schedule. I love beer, but I won't be in Brooklyn this trip, thanks.

Random, but Lisa Loeb is performing at Brooklyn Bowl.
Now I'm thinking about going. lol

http://www.brooklynbowl.com/event/12...loeb-brooklyn/

Looks like it's a sing-a-long with kids. I could be the old creepy guy singing as loud as he can, smiling at all the moms....

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Originally Posted by muted

Looks like it's a sing-a-long with kids. I could be the old creepy guy singing as loud as he can, smiling at all the moms....

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Did you just call yourself creepy old man? lol

Brooklyn Bowl can be everybody.
I'm not one of those sing-a-long kid, either.

I saw Lauryn Hill there couple years ago.
Which she showed up... 3 hours late. :nonono2:

If I were flying into JFK sunday night and had a monday mid-day meeting in Times Square, I'd definitely stay in the city. Trying to commute from JFK-land to midtown on a Monday AM (even late AM) is an asinine way to spend your time. Go get a hotel on lower CPW or the west 60's/70's and spend your evening and morning relaxing rather than fighting with the other several hundred thousand people headed into town during commuter hours. You don't want to deal with them, and they don't want to deal with you either.

Midtown tunnel during rush hours no bueno.
Let alone $8 one way toll without EZpass.