New York trip help.

[Apollo]

My wife and I live in New Zealand and are travelling to LA and NY. We're going to be in New York in November for a week and we're doing all the usual tourist stuff; harbour cruise, Empire State Building, the met, Central Park, Macy's parade, Broadway show etc but we're looking for some more unusual or out of the way things/bars/places of interest in town. Anyone have any good ideas of 'must see' or 'must do' stuff in the Big A?

Thank you

[KenToad]

Go to the 10th Street Bath.  It's the most impressive place in New York, if you ask me.  It's run by Russians and you will see all sorts of people there, but not too many tourists.  Spend a while in the Russian room and then dip in the ice cold water.  That experience took away all my stress while wandering the big city.

http://www.russianturkishbaths.com/enter.html

check out the video at that address.

[DaveMMR]

Do consider spending some time in Greenwich Village (esp. Houston Street - pronounced House~Ton).  You won't find more unique shops and eateries anywhere else in the city.   

[CheffoJeffo]

I haven't been yet (meant to go on my last trip, but never got to it):

http://www.barcadebrooklyn.com/

[lcddream]

I haven't been yet (meant to go on my last trip, but never got to it):

http://www.barcadebrooklyn.com/

been there they have a ton of arcade machines old school...expect it to get super crowded around 10 pm and on.

a couple of good places to grab some food:

Pauls
On 2nd ave between 7th st and St. Marks(8th st)
Amazing Burger joint!!

Tio Pepe's
4th St just west of 6th Ave
Great Mexican food

Avoid the upper east side or the west village for bar hopping unless you are a frat type of guy

The east village(3rd ave to avenue B between 14th st and houston) has lots of great bars with less people looking to pick up your wife!

LIT a bar on 2nd ave between 5th and 6th streets (there isn't a sign out front) has some great Karaoke sunday nights 11pm until 4am

Crocodile Lounge on 14th st between 1st and 2nd ave has free pizza all the time with each drink, they also have skeeball in the back area, and a buck hunter machine.

Cheap Shots on 1st ave between 8th and 9ths has an air hockey table, and $5 car bombs on friday nights

These are all what alot of people would consider "dive" bars, which means your not gonna get alot of the popular music playing nowadays...more rock and roll style type of places.


Great free (2 drink minimum) jazz music, increasing hard to find the free jazz in nyc, http://www.arthurstavernnyc.com/ very mellow, and great musicians!

I can probably think of more if you need more options...or anything specific.

[ChadTower]

Go to the 10th Street Bath.  It's the most impressive place in New York, if you ask me.  It's run by Russians and you will see all sorts of people there, but not too many tourists.  Spend a while in the Russian room and then dip in the ice cold water.  That experience took away all my stress while wandering the big city.

http://www.russianturkishbaths.com/enter.html

check out the video at that address.

Just don't use the same strategy in San Francisco.

[boykster]

have you actually ever been to SF?  Its not like it's a gay pride parade all day every day you know.....

 

[ChadTower]

He's talking about a bathhouse where one of the main attractions is that you can walk around naked.  Not exactly a downtown street corner.

[Ed_McCarron]

have you actually ever been to SF?  Its not like it's a mandal wearing gay pride parade all day every day you know.....

 

[CCM]

Go to the 10th Street Bath.  It's the most impressive place in New York, if you ask me.  It's run by Russians and you will see all sorts of people there, but not too many tourists.  Spend a while in the Russian room and then dip in the ice cold water.  That experience took away all my stress while wandering the big city.

http://www.russianturkishbaths.com/enter.html

check out the video at that address.

That place looks completely creepy to me....

[Chris G]

Eat lotza pizza!!!

[KenToad]

No, Chad they supply you with some Jedi-style robes and a pair of extremely loose fitting shorts.  The funny thing is that I somehow told my wife and her friend that they wouldn't need to bring their bathing suits.  Boy, were they irritated when we arrived and of course the place had nothing but those silly open robes.  The man at the front desk actually suggested that they wrap their towels around themselves to "hold their boobies in."  That place is pure New York for me, one of those great seemingly shady joints that turns out to be completely cool.  They also have an awesome deck around back, which is shaded and breezy in summer.  You can lie there while you're buzzing from the sauna/ice bath zap and just get a natural high.  I couldn't stop smiling.  Not many places in New York will get you out of the tourist routines better than that, IMO. 

[ChadTower]

No one seems self-conscious, lounging or walking in almost naked bliss, whether their body resembles Jackie Gleason or an Olympic Russian Gymnast, no one seems to care, and the feeling of total freedom from worrying about appearances is the big attraction.

(Shorts must be worn during coed hours.)

It’s standard practice for message therapists to work on the inner thigh, tochis (buttocks), and chest area. If you feel shy about this or anything else, please let the professional know. Some of our clients also prefer to keep their underwear or bathing suit on.

 

[TOK]

Whatever is fun in NY, those pictures look like the opposite of it. 

[JackTucky]

That place looks creepy.  Do they do a nice ball wash there too?

=J

[KenToad]

 

You guys are really hilarious.   I'm not really sure if I want to get a massage from some buff Russian dude, either, but you pay extra for that, anyway, so just open your minds a little concerning the rest.   

I wonder if MameMaster has ever been there or heard of the place?  He lives in Manhattan.

Anyway, for the cheapest and potentially best beer selection in NYC, go to the Brooklyn Brewery and take a tour.  They have a bar there and you can get really tipsy in the afternoon, then spend the rest of the day wandering the nearby punk/artist neighborhood and really interesting Hasidic (sp?) neighborhoods. 

[lcddream]

Yep it's called Williamsburg.

And they are called Hipsters(the pseudo kool kids).

[KenToad]

Yep it's called Williamsburg.

And they are called Hipsters(the pseudo kool kids).

Yeah, exactly, and that's actually a pretty neat place, especially if you're a little tired of the Manhattan hustle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williamsburg%2C_Brooklyn

[lcddream]

Yep it's called Williamsburg.

And they are called Hipsters(the pseudo kool kids).

Yeah, exactly, and that's actually a pretty neat place, especially if you're a little tired of the Manhattan hustle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williamsburg%2C_Brooklyn

I agree, I live right next door in Greenpoint.

If you do make it out to williamsburg at the end of north 8th street, there is a nice little park that just opened with a nice view of lower manhattan. Just make a left onto 8th street right off of Bedford ave when you get off the L train. Go all the way to the end.

[DrumAnBass]

From the Russian Bath web site:
--------------------------------------
"Platza Oak Leaf"

Lie down while in the Russian steam room and a platza specialist will scrub you (actually beat you) with a broom made of fresh oak leaves, sopping with olive oil soap. The oak leaves contain a natural astringent, which will open your pours, remove toxins, and actually take off layers of dead skin. Some described the platza as "Jewish acupuncture".

--------------------------------------
  Good times!!!!

[KenToad]

Yep it's called Williamsburg.

And they are called Hipsters(the pseudo kool kids).

Yeah, exactly, and that's actually a pretty neat place, especially if you're a little tired of the Manhattan hustle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williamsburg%2C_Brooklyn

Look at him all trying to change the subject from that sleazy rub and tug he linked earlier.

**Shudder**

 "rub and tug."   

Did you really think it looked sleazy after watching the video?  Or were you scared away from my link by Chad's pics?  I'm thinking you forgot the smiley or something.

[CCM]

Yep it's called Williamsburg.

And they are called Hipsters(the pseudo kool kids).

Yeah, exactly, and that's actually a pretty neat place, especially if you're a little tired of the Manhattan hustle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williamsburg%2C_Brooklyn

Look at him all trying to change the subject from that sleazy rub and tug he linked earlier.

**Shudder**

 "rub and tug."   

Did you really think it looked sleazy after watching the video?  Or were you scared away from my link by Chad's pics?  I'm thinking you forgot the smiley or something.

I think it looked more sleazy after watching the video.  I'm pretty sure you would catch some kind of virus/illness in that place...

[KenToad]

I think it looked more sleazy after watching the video.  I'm pretty sure you would catch some kind of virus/illness in that place...

AIDS is real, protect yourself.

Better just handle those tugs yourself, eh.