New York NYC Trip @ end of Jan, where to go/ what to see?

[Disaster_Area]

So I'm heading to NYC at the end of Jan for a work conference and managed to finagle a few days for myself after the conference to wander around.

I'm looking to do some street photography and just generally see the city, as it's my first trip there. Any suggestions? I'll be staying at the Newyorker Hotel and I'm already planning to hit MOMA and the Guggenheim, B&H is also on the list.

 

[stitchohana]

time sq
Rockefeller building
wall st

i prefer to walk than taking subway, as i'm able to explore around more by walking.

 

[Pablito]

Depends on your interests but it sounds like you like art. Don't miss the Met Museum, the Frick Collection.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Late January you may see some snow. Could be really bad but probably not.

Figure out what you like about cities and go shoot there. You won't have tons of tourists to wade through so you could see some of the more visible tourist places in relative peace. If those sights don't really interest you, just walk around, I say.

I love walking across the bridges and getting to see the "less touristy" parts of NYC.

Hit the parks. Central Park, Madison Square Park, Union Square, Washington Square. Walk down Lafayette or Bowery and wander around Chinatown then down to Battery Park. You could see the WTC site on the way. You could catch the Staten Island Ferry for free and get a great view of the Statue of Liberty. If you want a NYC skyline shot, shooting from Hoboken at sunset is awesome as is shooting from Long Island City during the early morning. Straight east from where you'll be is the Chrysler Building and the UN along the East river. Oh, you have to get to Grand Central Station for a few shots. With the holiday season over you'll not be fighting for a position to stand and shoot a few frames.

You could head uptown from your hotel and stay on the west side and in about 12 blocks is Lincoln Center. A great place to photograph concert-goers. Close to where you'll be is the Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum. 50 blocks farther uptown is Columbia University.

If you like food, go eat! There is a place in the East Village that serves the best porchetta and Italian pork sandwiches ever. I think it's called Porchetta actually. Chinatown has some great food to be found. Then there's always the best pizza in the world (or second best to Philly, depending upon one's city of preference and possibly team allegiance.) Great food from around the world there, just try to find places to eat off the beaten path a bit and kind of away from Times Square and MSG.

Getting around is a snap but there is such an immense public transit system that it can seem daunting. Find a copy of The Map, published by the MTA, if any are still around. There's also the NYC MTA and PATH aps with updates available for iPhone and Android.

East and Wast Village are always great to just wander. Chelsea Market up in the Meatpacking district. The HighLine park along 10th Ave.

That's mostly just Manhattan stuff there. It's gonna be cold but the City is definitely worth a few days' wandering during that time of year. The RFF folks who live in NYC will probably definitely come up with some great suggestions.

With enough luck, I'll be back in the city about the same time.

Have fun!

Phil Forrest

 

[raphaelaaron]

East and Wast Village are always great to just wander. Chelsea Market up in the Meatpacking district. The HighLine park along 10th Ave.

+1

i frequent those areas when i get free time from school. great areas to wander in.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

+1

i frequent those areas when i get free time from school. great areas to wander in.

Where do you go to school? Just curious. I'm applying to CUNY, among a few others in the region, for grad school.

Phil Forrest

 

[swoop]

Take the 7 train to Flushing, Queens.

Walk the shore path at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Take the Staten Island Ferry there and back.

Get lost in the North Woods of Central Park.

Take the train to Queens Plaza and then walk back on the 59th St Bridge.

Grab a wide shot of the Rose Reading Room at the Library.

Visit the Leica Gallery. (My college professor currently has a show up there)

Get yelled at by a guard at the Morgan Library then have a burger at the cafe.

Drop off a roll of film at Duggal. Develop only, cut & sleeve.

Buy something, anything, at B&H.

Sit by the pond at Central Park South and wonder where the ducks go.

Buy a photography book at Strand. Get inspired, and photograph strangers in Union Square.

 

[sniki]

...and also go for a stroll along High Line Park

Take the 7 train to Flushing, Queens.

Walk the shore path at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Take the Staten Island Ferry there and back.

Get lost in the North Woods of Central Park.

Take the train to Queens Plaza and then walk back on the 59th St Bridge.

Grab a wide shot of the Rose Reading Room at the Library.

Visit the Leica Gallery. (My college professor currently has a show up there)

Get yelled at by a guard at the Morgan Library then have a burger at the cafe.

Drop off a roll of film at Duggal. Develop only, cut & sleeve.

Buy something, anything, at B&H.

Sit by the pond at Central Park South and wonder where the ducks go.

Buy a photography book at Strand. Get inspired, and photograph strangers in Union Square.

 

[jsrockit]

time sq
Rockefeller building
wall st

i prefer to walk than taking subway, as i'm able to explore around more by walking.

I'm sorry to disagree, but you may be better off avoiding these places just as much.

 

[dshfoto]

Camera stores to check out for Gear:

Photo Village at Broadway & 26th Street
http://photovillage.com/home.php

Kurland Photo
670 Broadway #501
New York, NY, 10012
(Next to Leica Gallery)
http://www.kurlandphoto.com/

 

[Calzone]

I tend to just wander around. NYC is a shooter's paradise.

Cal

 

[Disaster_Area]

Thanks for all the advice... I'm going to try and stay away from the more touristy places and just explore... here's what's on my list so far:

- Hell's Kitchen Fleamarket
- Sal's Pizza
- Ben's Pizza + The Comedy Cellar (for the Louise CK fan in me)
- West 25th Market
- Upright Citizens Brigade
- MOMA, Guggenheim, Leica Gallery
- Staten Island Ferry
- walk the Brooklyn Bridge
- Central Park wandering
- China Town wandering
- Broadway Wandering (may try for rush tickets to The Book of Mormon)
- Strand Bookstore
- hit B&H at some point

 

[Calzone]

If in your wanderings you get to be near Lexington and East 100th buy a slice of carrot cake from Lloyd's Carrot Cake. It's a tiny storefront across from the bus depot. All they sell is Carrot Cake and it is simply the best.

Also nearby is Joyburger which I rate as the best burger in Madhattan. Not expensive and the french fries taste like potatoe chips. Burgers are custom made and the selection of toppings and sauces is vast. Their wings are also great.

Central Park's Conservatory Gardens are not that far away.

Cal