NYC is like walking around in a film - everywhere looks familiar. The biggest surprise is that manhatten is so small - you can walk pretty much everywhere (if you like walking)
Statue of liberty is very touristy but worth it for the views of the island on the way back.
Empire State is also very touristy, but again good for the views.
Times Sq is great, particularly if you are drunk, its been raining and snowing hard all day and you end up there at night (well that's how I saw it...)
. . . very encouraging, Paul! I'll have to try Gordon's method--except I don't drink. Do you think I could be just dazed after attending conference sessions about Theatre all day?
Note that my entire "experience" of New York is about four hours at JFK during a flight change, and a nice view of the skyline once when landing at Newark.
My mom was in New York a few weeks ago and has Theatre "experience." What are you doing/seeing? She might have some suggestions.
1. What are the must-sees for NYC in the general area (I'm not much of a tourist-trap guy, BTW)?
Since your staying at the Marquis, check out Bryant Park, the Main Library, and then walk 5th Ave going North until you reach Central Park. If that's not your speed, then maybe hang outside the Ed Sullivan Theatre and try your hand at getting free tix to see Letterman.
2. How do I avoid getting mugged?
Don't stare, Don't point. Don't stop to talk to anyone. Don't put your camera around your neck if your alone. Don't carry large amounts of cash. Don't give money to anybody for anything... Another trick people are now using is to ask you if they can use your cell phone for an emergency, and then they run away with it.
3. How do I look like a New Yorker when I'm from the sticks (country)?
Don't wear bright clothes. Have a MetroPass for the Subway.
4. (Almost forgot!) Where can I get some cool pictures!
Just about anywhere, it's the most photogenic city I know!
Ok, I am in exactly the same boat, visit NY next month, but being an Aussie I'll probably blend in even less.
WRT the mugging issue .... if you don't put your camera around your neck, and I can see it makes sense not to, how would people suggest you carry it? As I'll be buying a new body while there and be eager to get out and play with it, I'd rather not have it taken (obviously).
Best I can think of is either:
a) A crappy old camera bag so it looks as if what is inside it is not worth stealing
b) A camera bag fixed to your belt so it can't be grabbed.
I favour the later I think but welcome comments please.
Also, scare tactics apart ..... is it really that dangerous in Manhattan during the day? I thought, other than obvious traps like Central Park at night, it wasn't meant to be all that bad.
1. What are the must-sees for NYC in the general area (I'm not much of a tourist-trap guy, BTW)?
don't know if these are 'must-sees', but:
----times square is cool at night. you'll know you are approaching it because you see this sudden glow of light out of the darkness. hehe.
----if you are into museums, the guggenheim has really cool architecture, spirals all the way up.
----gotta love central park!
----the lower edge of manhat is cool too. the financial center: you can see the plans for the new WTC. outside you are right by the water, so beautiful view.
----all in all, if you like to walk, I suggest getting off somewhere uptown, like the Met (82nd) and just making your way downtown as far as you can before you are pooped, walking around the broadway/5th ave/madison areas. You'll come across beautiful architecture in churches, etc. etc.
2. How do I avoid getting mugged?
----don't go into dark alleys. hehe
----just be aware of your surroundings and don't have money falling out of your pockets.
----there are a billion tourists walking around carrying cameras, so I wouldn't worry too much about that unless you venture into sketchy territories...none of which are listed above
3. How do I look like a New Yorker when I'm from the sticks (country)?
----shave your head, get some tattoos, and a couple piercings won't hurt. :oP
----don't chew hay, wear cowboy boots, or try to lasso anyone in.
4. (Almost forgot!) Where can I get some cool pictures!
-----you mean take some cool pictures? picture opportunities are everywhere. and since you aren't from the city, you'll likely find a lot of cool/interesting things to take. (i've seen tourist stop and stare at squirrels like they were from some other planet. hehe)
can you say what kind of conference it is and what you'll be doing there?
It's a conference for the Association of Theatre and Higher Education. I wasn't trying to be stingy on the information. Sorry! It'll be a bunch of college professors who work in theatre. Fun huh. I'm in charge of a session on Arts in Education--focusing on theatre, of course. But I will have much of Sunday and Monday morning to browse around town.
David, from my own experience of a first trip to NY, the only advice I could offer is to wander about and keep both your eyes open and your camera handy: pretty much the same as visiting anywhere really!
Two things struck me that I hadn't expected: the smallness of the place, in terms of distance at least (horizontally, obviously), and the ease of getting around the streets and knowing where you are. It's a great town.
Hey, I'll be coming to NYC for a conference at the end of the month (July 30-August 4). I'm staying at the Marriott Marquis, and need some advice:
1. What are the must-sees for NYC in the general area (I'm not much of a tourist-trap guy, BTW)?
2. How do I avoid getting mugged?
3. How do I look like a New Yorker when I'm from the sticks (country)?
4. (Almost forgot!) Where can I get some cool pictures!
My answer to your question is as follows
1
Barrymore's On 46th St. on matinee days you'd be surprised who stops by
the west village Hoping night life even midweek
"Don't tell mama" also on 46th between 8th and 9th my favorite caberet/piano bar I met Barbara Cook there once.
Check out "Rhapsody in Seth" a must hang for any theater nerd
2
don't look like you have money leave all jewelry in the hotel safe
3
Keep your eyes level and be aware
don't look up all the time this screams tourist
don't smile at strangers (this one's the toughest for me)
4
TKS in the middle of Broadway great half priced Broadway tickets and a great place to take pictures especially at the George M Cohan statue
Rockefeller Plaza
FAO shwartz
the subway
Stage door at almost any Broadway play after the show actors are more likely to hang out and sign playbills and pose for pictures. Some times fandom is more fun to watch than the actors/celebraties. the emotions are more raw.
The stairway at the Ansonia hotel. I've seen it a whole bunch of times in stock shots and you can play with the light ...
that's all I can think of right now
if you don't already lurk this site you might find it interesting
geez - i'm really surprised at the fear-mongering in this thread. the "dangerousness" of NYC is massively exaggerated.
I mean, duh, you don't want to go walking in bad parts of town or dark alleyways late at night - but that's true in nearly any large city :). But walking around in the normal 'good stuff to see' areas, during normally active times - not a problem!
I live in DC and we go up to NYC all the time, and have never had any issues. As far as looking like a tourist, you're going to be blown away by how many obvious tourists there are already - HUGE HORDES, especially in Midtown (ie around Times Square and theater district). I would just recommend, if you really care, don't wear big white running shoes and a fanny pack, and an I heart NY T-shirt, and a head visor. LOL.
Re: photographic opps - depends on what you're after. Street and candid photography, pretty much anywhere is action packed. But it's probably alot more exciting from Midtown south. The upper west and east sides are more residential, overall. For great live music, the lower east side has a lot of good bars and clubs, as does the Village.
Really, just walking around in and of itself, is rewarding. And cheap!
As far as smallness goes - I'm surprised to hear people say that. I've been to alot of cities, and I've never encountered any other city that has the urban density of New York sustained for as large of an area. And that includes Paris and London. The only thing that's come close, in my own experience, is Cairo, and that doesn't have the sheer quantity of "blow your mind huge" buildings.
I'm not sure if you are interested in this sort of thing or not but the USS Intrepid was a fun excursion for me the last time I was in NYC. I don't remember what it cost to get in, but I'm thinking it was cheap relative to a lot of other attractions in the city.
As mentioned earlier in this thread, there is a lot of activity right in the vicinity of your hotel on Times Square. There will be a lot of street performers and such in that area. IMO, the hotel you are staying in is probably one of the best places to stay in NYC because of the location.
I hope you have a great trip and I'm ready to see your photos :)
I too am surprised at the way NYC is being viewed.
I grew up in Queens(one of the boroughs next to Manhattan). I have been traveling into the city for as long as I can remember. My parents worked in the city. I went to F.I.T in the city. I worked for a year in the city. I used to take my daughter in for modeling when she was a baby-on the subway! A couple years back I took my son in weekly for auditions. Everywhere we would go, we walked. Not once have I had anything happen to me in all these years. Nor do I know of anyone else who has had a problem.
Yes you should always be aware of your surroundings. You shouldn't carry something important in a backpack on your back though subways. I would always make sure I left very expensive jewelry and such at home.
Don't be afraid of NY.......
I think we are all just giving NYC a hard time, and describing it the way we usually see it on TV. I think many people from the western states find the East Coast a lot smaller than it seems from reading (history) books; I had the same reaction in Boston.
The most generally accepted technique for avoiding muggings/hassles is to try and walk purposefully; like you know where you're going, what you're doing, and like you have a right to go there.
a) A crappy old camera bag so it looks as if what is inside it is not worth stealing
b) A camera bag fixed to your belt so it can't be grabbed.
I favour the later I think but welcome comments please.
Also, scare tactics apart ..... is it really that dangerous in Manhattan during the day? I thought, other than obvious traps like Central Park at night, it wasn't meant to be all that bad.
A beat up old bag is great - certainly worth having. Until you take the camera out, then it is pretty obvious.
Manhattan seemed pretty much like any big city - not very threatening but plenty of places you could walk into trouble if you went looking for it. I was more concerned in New Orleans, where people kept coming up to you. Though I lived in Glasgow in Scotland for 6 years, which seems to have one of the worst reputations for violence and never had any trouble - saw plenty of it, but it is easily avoided.
I walked about a lot at night, on the main avenues and didn't have problems. Seemed to be less homeless there than most big cities - I think they got thrown off the island from what I heard.
I think you just have to be sensible, be aware of your surroundings and trust your instincts. I had a great time there.
Hey, dont forget Chinatown, Washington Square Park, BatteryPark. Hey Terry Gee I'm the Chef at FIT! And most of all Dont be scsrted, be confident and have a good time!
