Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So I'll be going to New York for awhile after I'm done over here in Germany, and I had a few questions, if there are any NY natives here.

Are there any decent game shops in NY City? Specifically around Manhattan.
Are there any decent punk clothing stores?
What should I see while I'm there (besides the obvious: Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Central Park, etc.)?
Where should I stay away from (white inner-city Canadian talkin' here)?

Thanks!

Get yourself a copy of New York Vertical

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/3823854739/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

The USS Intrepid was closed when I was there and that was the big 'miss out' for me.

The Metropolitan museum of Art is fantastic and we spent 4 hours there and rushed through it way too quickly. The armour/weapons sections shows exactly how WHFB empire knights look like they do.

Go to Little Italy (It is sadly reduced to 2 streets now) and eat there, we went to one with a back courtyard and it was one of the best meals of the trip.

The M&Ms store in Times Square gives away M&Ms as long as you don't go bananas (we were getting 200g selections of different types every day, and that was our dessert each night).

At the very end of Broadway near battery park is the statue of the bull, get a photo standing in front of it, it will look great.

Chinatown is great for fakes to give to relatives as gifts (especially handbags)

If you're staying on Manhattan Island, go 2-3 avenues east or west of 6th/7th avenue (down the middle) as this is where people live and the restuarants are much cheaper there, as are the convenience stores.

Midtown Comics is on times square (south west end) and is the best comic store I've ever been to, and it is where I bought this beauty...


We walked/ subwayed pretty much everywhere south of 85th street during the day (Excepting the Lower East side but we went near there) . Everyone we met was courteous and helpful and made it a great time.
During the evening (Dark to midnight) we kept between 40th street and 59th street (southern end of Central park) in the tourist zone and never had a problem.

Ah, fresh meat

Waaagh_Gonads has a lot of good tips.

Re: Game Shops - there are really only 2 game shops. There's the GW in Greenwich Village on 8th St. and Broadway (roughly) and the Compleat Strategist on 33rd St. and 5th Ave. If you're interested in comics, there's Midtown Comics near the famous Times Sq. that Waaagh suggested as well as Jim Hanley's Universe on 33rd St and 5th Ave right across the street from the Empire State Building.

RE: Punk clothing - St. Mark's has a lot of punk-wear available. (East 8th Street, between 3rd and 2nd Avenues).

RE: Things to see -

I think they've re-opened the Statue of Liberty to tourists - but if you want to go up, make sure to reserve a ticket in advance. You can just pick it up near the ferry to Liberty Island.
Little Italy and Chinatown are good places for food and Chinatown is great for random cheap crap.
St. Mark's in the Lower East Side is also a great place for random food and drinks.
The various museums around Manhattan are quite great, though a bit on the pricey side for admission (I think).
See if you can catch a show somewhere in the city - afterall, theatre is a huge part of the city.
While it's a bit out of the way, I recommend a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge - it really is a nice walk, and gives you a beautiful view of the city. Plus, if you walk over to Brooklyn, you can stop by Grimaldi's Pizza - easily one of the best and most renowned of the NYC pizzerias (a bit pricey, but very very worthwhile).
Arthur Avenue is another great Italian neighborhood to visit, if you're interested in fine Italian fare and hand-rolled cigars.
If you don't mind the long-ish ride, Coney Island is definitely worth checking out (and ride the Cyclone if you're into roller-coasters). Eat at the famous Nathan's Hot Dog!
Lots of other things/places, depending on what you're into.

Re: where to stay away from -
Basically, avoid the bigger parks at night (noted exceptions are the Madison Square Park and Union Square Park). Probably want to avoid most of Manhattan above 120th Street (to be fair, it's not that bad, but there's also not much to see there, unless you're keen on going to the Apollo Theater in Harlem). During the day, it's not too bad anywhere in the city, really, so long as you don't walk alone into some strange, quiet back alleys. At night, I'd stick to more touristy areas.

Wear good shoes. You'll be walking A LOT.

Thanks for the tips guys! Keep 'em comin' if anyone has any more.

I'm not sure where it is or how to get there, it's somewhere in the manhattanish area, but the last time I was there my bro in law took me to a place called Katz's Deli and they had the absolute best pastrami sandwiches I ever had. I know it's "just pastrami" but this place was frakkin good. They're like 8" tall, 2 little slices of bread and like 2 pounds of meat. And if you tip the guy $1 while he's making your sandwich he'll give ya extra meat to eat while ya wait They also had good hot dogs too.

Mmmm. Katz's Deli. Pricey, but damn tasty.

It's on East Houston (pronounced 'how-ston') Street in the Lower East Side.

Go to the Strand on 12th and Broadway. It's the best bookstore in New York.

Awesome, thanks. I usually don't go for the tourist-y, preferring instead to try my hardest to blend in, but it's not every day a West-Coaster goes to New York unless he's part of some large company with write-offs and corporate offices, and I'm defs not...

Oh, if you wanna avoid touristy, avoid Times Square. No one who actually lives in New York goes there

Hahaha, thanks Jin. I think I'll still go there to see if there are any nurses to kiss...

Second everything said so far!

Strategist is diagonally south east from the Empire State Building 33rd between 5th ave and Madison. Jim Handleys is just south. You should be able to find both easily.

Forbidden Planet and the Strand are on the same block, Broadway between 12th and 13th.

Great city, I miss it so... ONE MORE WEEK!