Hey kids, I’m going to Rhinebeck. New York Sheep and Wool! Yep, I’m really, truly going.
So. Excited. That’s all I can say. Not playing Blogger Bingo because I wasn’t on the ball enough to get signed up in time. Didn’t really believe I was going, I think. But if you see me, say hey! I have a new camera and I want to take your picture!
But hey, I’m going to have one free day in the big apple, and while I love New York, have been twice, I’ve always been WITH someone, and this will be my first time alone. What should I see or do? Never been to the Empire State Building, planning on that. What else? What little-known something do you know about? What New York secret do you insist I do/see/touch/taste?
I don’t have any tips, cause the only time I’ve been there, you were there. I just had to comment, because I have a new mac sitting on my lap in bed, and because my weird head won’t let me sleep past 7 any day, even saturday, a day when most normal people are not working 18 hour dispatch shifts, I am up early enough to get the first comment in.
So yeah. Really I have no comment, but I’m first! Hi!
Every time I go to NYC, my first stop is the lower east side. Lots of good food (and rude waiters) – Ratner’s Dairy Restaurant, Katz’s Deli – hole in the wall shops piled ceiling-high with fabrics, trims and notions, and buttons and outdoor shops with barrels of pickles. Central Park is lovely and natural, but looks less natural than Golden Gate Park. My favorite museum is The Museum of Natural History – gotta love the dinosaurs and the Hope Diamond!
Seriously, get a guide book and pick a few places. That’s what I did with SF for my first visit, and I’m still (21 years of living in the Bay Area later) working off the same list!
Every time I go to NYC, my first stop is the lower east side. Lots of good food (and rude waiters) – Ratner’s Dairy Restaurant, Katz’s Deli – hole in the wall shops piled ceiling-high with fabrics, trims and notions, and buttons and outdoor shops with barrels of pickles. Central Park is lovely and natural, but looks less natural than Golden Gate Park. My favorite museum is The Museum of Natural History – gotta love the dinosaurs and the Hope Diamond!
Seriously, get a guide book and pick a few places. That’s what I did with SF for my first visit, and I’m still (21 years of living in the Bay Area later) working off the same list!
If you haven’t ever made a pilgrimage to the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, then I highly recommend it. I went by when I was in NYC about 10 years ago. It was a yuppie-ish bar then, but it was still very moving to stand there and reflect on how far we’ve come (and how far we still have to go.) (I’m a sentimental sap, though. Attended my first Pride parade in 1989 in SF. There was a float with men from the original Stonewall riots, 20 years before. I cried.)
Besides, it sounds like it was recently renovated, so it might be nice to see what they’ve done!
Have fun (and have fun at Rhinebeck too!)
My friends and I always spent a lot of time down around St Mark’s Place, where there are lots of nifty shops and things (although sadly not as many as their were). The Village in general is a good time. Especially if you like peanut butter.
Been to all the museums many times (I grew up about 40 mins outside the City), and I love them all!! I haven’t been to the new MoMA, but their collection is my favorite ever, and of course the Met has EVERYTHING, so you need to plan your attack there because you can’t see it all at ince (I love the musical instruments, and the Egyptian stuff, and of course the moderns). I might have kinda sorta touched the Picasso portrait of Gertrude Stein once. Maybe. I love it so.
I’ve also spent lot of time in the Chinatown/Little Italy area (they run together like in SF), where you are guaranteed some good eats pretty much anywhere.
OH!! AND!! The Strand! You must go there. It is is FAB.
Dammit, now I miss Manhattan.
I recommend “The Modern,” the bar and restaurant next door to MOMA. It may not seem possible that a restaurant affiliated with a museum could be all that, but it is, it is! I had one of the most splendid evenings there about a year ago.
There’s something up in the Rhinebeck neck of the woods that I think you would love as much as I do- Eleanor Roosevelt’s hideaway in Hyde Park- Val-Kill. The Vanderbilt Mansion and the big Roosevelt Mansion across town are nice and all, but Val-Kill is THE destination in my opinion. It has a wonderful, cozy atmosphere you can still feel, and there’s a furniture company that Eleanor helped a lesbian couple start up during the Depression. You expect Lorena Hickock to walk in at any moment, AND you can see Eleanor’s knitting!
I live in Poughkeepsie, so I’ve been hearing the ads for the festival on the radio. I hate to grouse, but every year there’s more and more hype about the “Family Festival” with games and fun for all- this year, there’s pumpkin chucking, for crying out loud. Isn’t there enough going on with the wool and sheep? I’m sure it’s helpful for spinners and knitters who are bringing their families along, but it’s getting over the top. Maybe I’m just being a curmudgeon because I remember the days when it was ALL ABOUT THE WOOL. And I’m not that old!
Also, I think I’m just offended by the food waste of pumpkin chucking. They better be composting those pumpkins. There’s been an ongoing battle in Dutchess County about insufficient recycling at the fairgrounds.
I’m excited, nonetheless! It’s always a great time.
Yay for you!
go to rubyfruit:
Map of 531 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014
Friendly, pretty and often great live music.
No NY tips–but I’ll see you at Rhinbeck!
I mean Rhinebeck–not enough coffee yet today!
Definitely go to St. Marks. Must go to the Strand (best bookstore ever, anywhere as far as I can tell). Fish’s Eddy is in-freakin’-credible (they have a website but it doesn’t do it justice) but above and beyond all of that, ABC Carpet and Home. Just stunning. STUNNING I tell you.
xo
Faith
I’ll be taking YOUR picture.
See you at Rhinebeck!
Have fun in NYC and SEE YOU IN RHINEBECK!!! 🙂
You have to buy tickets ahead of time, but the Tenement Museum is fantastic and unlike anything I’ve ever seen before: http://www.tenement.org/
Plus, it’s near Katz’ and Ratners.
Have a great time–wish I were going, too.
Get out! I am so excited that you will be at Rhinebeck. Can’t wait to give you a big ole hug.
When I get back to NY again, the first place (ok, second. Pizza first) I want to go back to is Ellis Island. I am facinated with the museum there.
Dim sum in Chinatown.
Habu Textiles.
Roasted cashews from one of those cart dudes.
Lox and cream cheese on a REAL bagel.
Those are all things I’d do if I were to go to New York City!
umm – have a faboo time, but don’t look for Hope the Diamond til you are at the Smithsonian in DC –
Well, that’s fantastic. Hope to meet you!
Oh, I hope to meet you! If you like a good British tea, be sure to visit Tea and Sympathy–delish! Also, go into the library on 5th Ave. Not only are there good, clean bathrooms there, but often you’ll see a cool exhibit. Bryant park is a lovely spot, too. I also dig the Pierpont Morgan Library Museum.
Lurker here. I’m so jealous of your free day in New York.
If you’re in the Lower East Side, don’t forget to visit Economy Candy for great old-fashioned sweets. And Il Laboritorio di Gelato for ice cream–I’m in love with the honey lavender flavor.
Manhattan is the best place ever for walking, and with only one day that’s what I’d do. A great small area for wandering is the few blocks north and south of Bleecker Street between 6th and 7th Avenues. The Point is there, plus lots of small delis, bread shops, Murray’s Cheese, Italian pastry, record shops, the Unoppressive Non-Imperialist Bargain Bookstore. If you’re hungry for a snack, stop in for a prosciutto roll at Faicco’s or great Neopolitan pizza at No. 28 on Carmine Street. (I’m maybe a little food-oriented.)
I hope you enjoy it!
Eat at Gray’s Papaya on 86th St. (the flagship store) for delicious hot dogs and papaya shakes. Have fun!
Yay for Rhinebeck! Hope to see you there! I don’t have any suggestions for New York, though, since I tend to avoid going in the city whenever possible…. It’s got nice museums, though.
there is a fabulous new pastry shop on Union Square—the almond croissants are the best I have had. And I like to hang out in the park at Union Square and watch all the dogs! more tips to come—have just finished an action packed w/e at knit-one-one and really can’t think too straight!
I loved taking the audio tour of Ellis Island. Very interesting.
PS:
I work across the street from MOMA and have free membership (I can get you in there free with my ID).
Moira
I’m staying up the road from you in Saugerties. Can’t wait to see you and have a drink and hugs and all that.
Have fun in NYC. This is my third trip to Rhinebeck but I’ve never been to the big apple.
Enjoy NYC. I love it.
See you at Rhinebeck!
I can’t wait to see you! I’ll be sure to say hi, it’s been ages! =)
Hi Rachael, welcome to NYC! OK, for dim sum, our favorite restaurant in Chinatown is called “The Nice Restaurant” (no joke) and is at 35 East Broadway. Habu Textiles and School Products are fun. If you can and have time, go over to where I grew up, Brooklyn Heights, and go to the Promenade, which is the walk that has the famous view of lower Manhattan. There’s a Polish restaurant in the Heights called “Teresa’s” that is really good. I wish you had more time here. I hope I see you at Rhinebeck!
Squee! I hope I see you there!
In New York: The Frick Collection. They have three Vermeers. Three out of thirty known Vermeers. And the mansion was built to house the art.
In Rhinebeck: Please meet Vicki Knitorious and give her a squeeze for me.
Hahaha… Hey, that’s ME! I’m going to have a squeeze ready for you and another to send right back to Celia! Can’t wait to meet you, Rachael. Can’t WAIT!
Pout pout wish I were there on both counts! Take the Staten Island Ferry–cheap, good view. Visit central park, but check out a map first to see the interesting bits (and check for repeated references to the “bridal path”–they need a copyeditor). See if you can get discount tix to Avenue Q; the downtown TKTS is generally less crowded and also near the ferry slip.
If you are knitting anything with buttons, you must go to The Tender Button which has the most amazing selection ever. It’s just north of Bloomingdales off of Lexington Ave.
I’ll be at Rhinebeck too with my blogging sister! I can’t wait!
Just a few tips, all food-related. If you like spicy food (and I do mean *spicy*), check out Chinese Mirch. It’s on Lexington and 29th (or thereabouts) and serves the Indian interpretation of Chinese food. Not far from there, a little further down Lex, is Saravana Bhavan Dosa Hut, which serves really good South Indian food. And if you are in the mood for something sweet, I highly recommend the Buttercup bake Shop, on 2nd Ave. somewhere near 52nd (especially their red velvet cupcakes). Wish I could be there too!!
depends on weather and what you want 🙂
but email cause if you want I should be here and can at least try to point you from there 🙂
bises!
so exciting! if you make it to the empire state building, let me know! my office is just a few blocks away and i’d love to say hello to my fave knit blogger!
Rachel, Glad you’re going to make it to Rhinebeck. Hope to see you there.
For me NYC is all about museums and food (ok, and maybe a yarn shop or two.) My favorites are the Cooper Hewitt, the Metropolitan and the Gugenheim. But it really depends on what’s showing. Check their websites for current shows. If you love thin crust pizza be sure to check out John’s (several locations around the city). Zabar’s at Broadway and 80th is great for treats, or at least a pastry and tea — though the hot chocolate is quite divine. And while you’re in the neighborhood check out Knitty City on 79th bet Broadway and Amsterdam. Whatever you choose, have fun. – Sarah
totally second Habu Textiles…it’s an experience!
Also, if you like Belgian beer, Vol de Nuit is fun ( http://www.voldenuitbar.com/main1.html )
Have FUN!!!
totally second Habu Textiles…it’s an experience!
Also, if you like Belgian beer, Vol de Nuit is fun ( http://www.voldenuitbar.com/main1.html )
Have FUN!!!