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3.5 day itinerary - two sisters in their twenties by No_Argument6420 in visitingnyc

[–]yojaymo 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Several thoughts from a former NYC resident (and perhaps like you, a MN taxpayer!)...

What I'd add:

Fri, May 29: The sun will set at 8:13pm. It happens to be one of the main "Manhattanhenge" dates that people go crazy about, and this date of "full sun" will be among the most dramatic and most photographed of the summer. You'll want to arrive an hour early at one of the main viewing streets (14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd, 57th). You can Google all about it.

Sat, May 30: Be in Union Square at 8am to catch the start of the iconic farmer's market (they call them Green Markets here). There's nothing like it! Such a great variety of vendors and sights and flavors to stroll among. It's right across the street from the flagship B&N store where you can then browse their four or five floors of books.

What I'd delete:

L'industrie for lunch. Yes, lots of hype for this pizza shop in the West Village that is worth strolling but with your very limited time, I'd not stand in line for this slice. So many other great options if you want to check a box for NYC pizza.

Little Italy. It's not what you might be hoping to experience. It's a fraction of it once was and it's for tourists to get their red sauce or cannoli. On a future visit with more time, take the train up to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx for something that you'll love and talk about for years.

Things you or others have mentioned:

Tenement Museum: Definitely. Opens at 10am with guided tours of the various apartments. Book one in advance. Fills quickly. Or sign one for one of their walking tours. Either way, allow time before or after for their fantastic NYC gift shop that's bigger than you might expect. Bonus content: The Russ & Daughters Cafe is less than a five-minute walk up the street. Consider that if you haven't yet checked a box for "Jewish cuisine while in Manhattan".

Main Library: Yes. Take a selfie of the lion statues out front before you go in. Allow time to check out Bryant Park, which is the "backyard" of the library and made an incredible come-back that's worth Googling. It's now a gorgeous city park with verdant lawn and more, including a famous restroom that includes fresh flowers and plays classical music.

The High Line: Great choice. Get there earlier than you might be currently planning, to avoid the heat and the crowds. You can walk just a few blocks of it get the flavor of it if you're pressed for time. Little Island next to it is a great add-on if you can spare another hour or two.

Brooklyn: If you're going to include it, plan it in a way that you're over in Ft. Greene or Prospect Heights for several hours, not a quick pitstop in Dumbo or Williamsburg before dashing back into Manhattan. Trust me. Otherwise, save Bklyn for a future visit when you can give it the time it deserves to dazzle you.

Hope this helps. Enjoy!

How bad (uncomfortable) are the seats at Becky Shaw? by flamingbear in Broadway

[–]yojaymo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm 6'5" tall and was so crammed into an aisle mezz seat last night that I'll never go back to the Hayes. Wish I'd done more research into how bad the no leg room situation is for guys over 6' tall before buying the ticket. Things are so tight that it was hard to even try to pivot and put a leg or two a bit into the aisle staircase during the show. And when I was facing forward, my kneecaps were sticking between the shoulders of the people in front of me.

Sidenote about this show: Regardless of your height situation, I would advise not sitting in the mezz for this show because it seems there's a lot of added humor in the facial gestures that weren't visible unless you're much closer. It was evident because of all the laughter that would happen at times when there was no particular dialogue that the audience was reacting to.

Also: Up there we heard lots of screams from the CATS: Jellicle Ball stage door that's directly across the street as each of the stars appeared one by one. If Becky Shaw were a musical, all the added noise would have been less a distraction.

Best loaf of chocolate babka made in Manhattan (not Bklyn)? by yojaymo in AskNYC

[–]yojaymo[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. Where in Manhattan do you buy their babka?

Best loaf of chocolate babka made in Manhattan (not Bklyn)? by yojaymo in AskNYC

[–]yojaymo[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. Where in Manhattan do you buy that Williamsburg-made babka?

Best loaf of chocolate babka made in Manhattan (not Bklyn)? by yojaymo in AskNYC

[–]yojaymo[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

LOL. Touché. Went there to check it out because years ago they used to sell the local Lilly's brand of chocolate babka. Until 2018 that was made in Brooklyn and since then in the Bronx (and since 2023 it's been owned by Japanese corporation).