Finally got a chance to sit down and record some of my thoughts from visiting New York for the Pinstripe Bowl. You can catch them here on my blog...
Our Two "Sense"
Our Two "Sense"
Thoughts from New York
- Thread starter cloneteach
- Start date
Just curious where you from? Sounds like your first visit.
To me, the most important observation you made is #3. I think a lot of people have this misconception about a big city, especially one like NYC. There are tons and tons of people who do not make much money (probably the majority), and they have to eat. Every big city has more inexpensive food than expensive, because again..MOST people actually don't make the money. You will always find cheap neighborhood places, that is actually good food. You just have to know where to look.
You hit the nail on the head too with public transportation. If you live in a number of areas, you don't ever need a car. It's a waste of money. When I moved here to Chicago, I sold my car and it's completely fine. New York is the same with an even bigger public transportation system. It's amazing how much money frees up in that case.
#7 - Most aren't actually New Yorkers - they are mostly tourists. Just like the Mag Mile here in Chicago or Hollywood Walk of Fame in LA, most people on there are Tourists..it's the same as in NYC and Times Square.
#10 - I think there's only a few good Chicago style places to be honest (Giordano's is overrated as ****), but I kind of like NY Style better when it's good. Wood-fired Italian style with good crust wins over the two (and all pizzas) though
To each their own though
To me, the most important observation you made is #3. I think a lot of people have this misconception about a big city, especially one like NYC. There are tons and tons of people who do not make much money (probably the majority), and they have to eat. Every big city has more inexpensive food than expensive, because again..MOST people actually don't make the money. You will always find cheap neighborhood places, that is actually good food. You just have to know where to look.
You hit the nail on the head too with public transportation. If you live in a number of areas, you don't ever need a car. It's a waste of money. When I moved here to Chicago, I sold my car and it's completely fine. New York is the same with an even bigger public transportation system. It's amazing how much money frees up in that case.
#7 - Most aren't actually New Yorkers - they are mostly tourists. Just like the Mag Mile here in Chicago or Hollywood Walk of Fame in LA, most people on there are Tourists..it's the same as in NYC and Times Square.
#10 - I think there's only a few good Chicago style places to be honest (Giordano's is overrated as ****), but I kind of like NY Style better when it's good. Wood-fired Italian style with good crust wins over the two (and all pizzas) though
To each their own though
Just curious where you from? Sounds like your first visit.
To me, the most important observation you made is #3. I think a lot of people have this misconception about a big city, especially one like NYC. There are tons and tons of people who do not make much money (probably the majority), and they have to eat. Every big city has more inexpensive food than expensive, because again..MOST people actually don't make the money. You will always find cheap neighborhood places, that is actually good food. You just have to know where to look.
You hit the nail on the head too with public transportation. If you live in a number of areas, you don't ever need a car. It's a waste of money. When I moved here to Chicago, I sold my car and it's completely fine. New York is the same with an even bigger public transportation system. It's amazing how much money frees up in that case.
#7 - Most aren't actually New Yorkers - they are mostly tourists. Just like the Mag Mile here in Chicago or Hollywood Walk of Fame in LA, most people on there are Tourists..it's the same as in NYC and Times Square.
#10 - I think there's only a few good Chicago style places to be honest (Giordano's is overrated as ****), but I kind of like NY Style better when it's good. Wood-fired Italian style with good crust wins over the two (and all pizzas) though
Thanks for the comments! I am from CR, IA. It was my first time to NY and it won't be my last. The only thing I was disappointed with was spending most of my time with other tourists doing touristy?? things. To be honest my favorite "chicago-style" pizza is from Zoeys in Marion, IA so I may be cheating a little bit
Cool. NYC is an awesome place (for the most part). My mom and her side, and half of my dad's side is from there, so maybe I'm a bit biased (hah).
Yeah, a lot of the things that are advertised to do are generally the more touristy ones, for a variety of reasons..some of them have to do with a Tourism Board really hyping certain things/places. Not to say they're bad, but yeah..there will be that. Just like here in Chicago when people say to get Chicago style, it's always the same places, even though some places are better or real good. In a way for the residents it's good. For example, I'm about a block or block and a half from Michigan Avenue, and there's good stuff near me, but tourists haven't figured it out and I"m kind of glad, because it's not PACKED. I'm pretty sure it's the same in NYC in certain places. More good local places, that locals are glad the droves of tourists haven't figured out yet.
Next time you go, try to find some locals who know a lot about all over the city and random suggestions for things to see, or one-of-a-kind shops to visit, restaurants, etc.
Funny about the pizza
Thanks for the comments! I am from CR, IA. It was my first time to NY and it won't be my last. The only thing I was disappointed with was spending most of my time with other tourists doing touristy?? things. To be honest my favoriteJust curious where you from? Sounds like your first visit.To me, the most important observation you made is #3. I think a lot of people have this misconception about a big city, especially one like NYC. There are tons and tons of people who do not make much money (probably the majority), and they have to eat. Every big city has more inexpensive food than expensive, because again..MOST people actually don't make the money. You will always find cheap neighborhood places, that is actually good food. You just have to know where to look.You hit the nail on the head too with public transportation. If you live in a number of areas, you don't ever need a car. It's a waste of money. When I moved here to Chicago, I sold my car and it's completely fine. New York is the same with an even bigger public transportation system. It's amazing how much money frees up in that case.#7 - Most aren't actually New Yorkers - they are mostly tourists. Just like the Mag Mile here in Chicago or Hollywood Walk of Fame in LA, most people on there are Tourists..it's the same as in NYC and Times Square.#10 - I think there's only a few good Chicago style places to be honest (Giordano's is overrated as ****), but I kind of like NY Style better when it's good. Wood-fired Italian style with good crust wins over the two (and all pizzas) though
zoeys is great pizza!
Glad to hear your perspectives. I think New York was so much better than most people were expecting. Especially with the weather, it turned into a fantastic opportunity.
P.S. The Pep Rally and Spirit Walk were also extremely cool.
We were kind of in the same situation that that you were in.....none of us had been to New York before. My 63 year old Dad said that if he had visited when he was young, he could have seen himself moving there.
We did the tourist stuff too and that was fun, but it was kind of sad knowing just how much we had missed in our 4 days.
We did the tourist stuff too and that was fun, but it was kind of sad knowing just how much we had missed in our 4 days.
Next time get away from the tourist areas. We took a Saturday morning walk down the High Line Park in September and it dumped us off in Chelsea, had lunch, then walked back toward midtown. It was nice to get off the main path and into different areas of the Manhattan. Places like Times Square, Rock Center, etc. were much busier during the bowl trip than they were in the fall. We couldn't get through Rock Center this trip, but had no problem in Sept. I'd bet there we 10x more people in December.
I always vowed never to go to Gotham, but will probably put it into the vacation rotation every year or two. I really want to go to the US Open sometime and actually catch a Yankees game.
I always vowed never to go to Gotham, but will probably put it into the vacation rotation every year or two. I really want to go to the US Open sometime and actually catch a Yankees game.
We hung around Times Square, but then about 9pm, we got on a train and went down to 34th Street (Herald Square, Macy's, Empire State Building) and found all sorts of New Yorkers outside having a great time. It felt much more like an authentic local New Year's Eve experience.
My uncle and I went to a concert at MSG while we were out there. After the show we went wandering for food and mistakenly and unknowingly ended up in Times Square. We didnt know we were there because there was no one there. It was between 12 and 1 am but there was literally no one there. It was really strange.
Also, my brothers girlfriend is from the Chicago area and she refused to eat Zoey's because she thinks Chicago pizza is the best "Chicago-style" pizza and she didnt want Zoeys to ruin that notion. Zoey's is top of my list as far as any Pizza I've ever had. Pagliai's is a close second and Pasquale's frozen pizza in 3rd.
Also, my brothers girlfriend is from the Chicago area and she refused to eat Zoey's because she thinks Chicago pizza is the best "Chicago-style" pizza and she didnt want Zoeys to ruin that notion. Zoey's is top of my list as far as any Pizza I've ever had. Pagliai's is a close second and Pasquale's frozen pizza in 3rd.
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I love visiting NYC. Greatest city in the US.
I had friends who lived in Brooklyn and I would go to NYC a couple times a year to visit. We didn't make a lot of money at the time (still don't actually) but we always found something to do. The art museums are really cool.
Williamsburg, by the Bedford stop (I think is the stop) is a really neat area. Lots of people way cooler than me. The Brooklyn Brewery is right there, a bunch of restaurants and live music venues.
John's pizza on Bleecker street is the best pizza in NYC. Overall, I think Chicago has better food though.
I had friends who lived in Brooklyn and I would go to NYC a couple times a year to visit. We didn't make a lot of money at the time (still don't actually) but we always found something to do. The art museums are really cool.
Williamsburg, by the Bedford stop (I think is the stop) is a really neat area. Lots of people way cooler than me. The Brooklyn Brewery is right there, a bunch of restaurants and live music venues.
John's pizza on Bleecker street is the best pizza in NYC. Overall, I think Chicago has better food though.
