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Growing up on the Upper West (Upper Diane Wiest) Side of Manhattan, our apartment was close to Times Square. “How amazing,” I thought, “that this small area so close to where I live is also a place tourists come from all over the world to visit.” Times Square is where Broadway is and it’s a good snapshot of mainstream culture at any given moment. As a boy, I felt lucky to be able to walk through the square and enjoy the unique sights and sounds as part of my “ordinary day.” Later in life, it came as a surprise when I discovered people hating on Times Square. They felt that to identify as a “real New Yorker” was to despise Times Square. I believe being a “real New Yorker” is to adore Times Square. I suggest going alone. Sit on one of the new chairs. Gaze at the screens. Take a photo. Walk up the TKTS steps. Read. Write. Watch people. Like I always say, “If NYC were a face, Times Square is the lips, and we are frenching.”
May 31, 2022
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It is essential to remind yourself that Manhattan is a big city, with much more to offer than just the charades of downtown. Take the subway to the Upper West Side and walk through the park on 81st street. Go to the Met (you can skip the entire ticket line by entering through the student entrance to the left of the main stairs). Have dinner at my favorite restaurant “Celeste” on 84th and Amsterdam, or have lunch at “ Via Quadronno” on 73rd between Madison and 5th. When you head back downtown or to Brooklyn at the end of the evening, you’ll feel like you traveled far and went on vacation. Feeling like a tourist in your own city is a gift and a thrill!
Sep 29, 2022
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Most New Yorkers loathe midtown, but I’m not one of them. Name another neighborhood where you can find the city’s most iconic institutions (Keens, Grand Central Oyster Bar, NYPL), specialty material stores (B&H Fabric, Toho, Jamali), great baked goods (Culture, Rose Bakery, Cafe D’Avignon) Japanese grocery stores (Dainobu, Katagiri), all your doctor’s offices, restaurants that stand up to their hype (Sugarfish, Lodi) and your corporate basics (Uniqlo, Muji)? Excuse me…I’m waiting. What I love most about midtown is that it’s an area for getting shit done. No lollygaggers allowed!
Feb 15, 2024
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i do think anyone visiting NYC for the first time should go to times square and a musical, empire state building etc just for the novelty of it, and here are some other things that may be fun! (also search “new york”/“nyc” on pi.fyi, i did it for “london” and found a lot of cool stuff!)
- definitely go to moma or the met! also the guggenheim has an amazing jenny holzer exhibit on until sept 29. skip amnh!
- NYPL Polonsky Exhibition - everything from the original winnie the pooh to a beautiful mini leaf-shaped Quran! (you could get coffee, go to the whitney then walk the high line and take the subway to the NYPL main branch for the exhibit!)
- staten island ferry in the afternoon - to see the statue of liberty! however, do NOT go during rush hour (6-9:30AM and 3-8PM) it sucks for locals when tourists add to the crowd during that time and the boats will be crowded enough with commuters that the experience sucks for you also lol
- picnic in central park! you could do lunch, or broad nosh bagels is like a block away from the 59th st station, sometimes if i’m around in the morning, i get breakfast from there and eat it in the park. at least have a bagel at some point
- cool bookstores: the strand, p&t knitwear, housing works (soho)
enjoy your visit!! :)
Sep 11, 2024
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Dear Haters, keep sucking, I’m about to cum(plete this list). Being a lover is powerful. Being a lover is productive. Being a hater is cucked and pathetic.
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