Start Spreading the News, etc.
Posted on January 2, 2007 Posted by John Scalzi 28 Comments
Those of you getting used to the whole “look, Scalzi’s updating 48,000 a day” thing, prepare for disappointment; tomorrow through Sunday I’m traveling and will update somewhat less frequently, and then once I get back I have to, you know, start making money again. So things will probably get back to their normal “update a couple of times a day” thing. Bear in mind every time I say something like that I end up ignoring it, but even so. This time it may stick.
Where am I traveling? To New York City, because, after all, who doesn’t like New York in January? I’m there to do some business, and also, maybe, see people. I say “maybe” because, like the unorganized schmuck I am, I’ve told basically no one I’m coming. So, uh: Hello, New York friends and colleagues. I’m coming to town. It’d be nice to see some of you. If you’d like to try to coordinate something, send me an e-mail and I’ll try to get my crap together. Otherwise, well, I understand New York might have a museum or two I can check out, and a few things that will stay open after 8pm.
You could visit the Cloisters. If you’ve never been there before it’s waaay uptown. Up above 190th on the West Side at Fort Tryon Park.
It’s very cool.
You can take the A train to 190th St then catch the M4 bus
Or just take the M4 from Madison Ave right to Fort Tryon Park. I like this route since you travel through West Harlem and get to see it.
Oh yeah, the Cloisters! Do that.
All my favorite restaurants are gone! All my friends are boring with family!
Is Athena going with? Or is it a solo mission? Because either way, Dylan’s Candy Shop will make you happy. Or sick, however you want to play it.
Oh god, Dylan’s Candy Shop rocks.
Also, the Elizabethtown Ice Cream Factory in Chinatown.
And I’d kill for more soup dumplings from Shanghai Joe’s.
Don’t it though? I went ape shit on black licorice there? Just went nuts.
Also, if with Athena and she’s into this kind of thing, American Girl Place.
Cloisters is a good suggestion. And while you’re uptown, go to Riverside Church (120th St. @ Riverside Drive). The two coolest things to see there are:
1. Look up at the ceiling in the area with the payphones. There’s a bunch of gargoyles that look like various farm animals talking on phones.
2. If you call them in advance and claim to be an author doing research (you ARE an author), you might be able to arrange a tour of their attics. These are just jammed with old WPA art that they own, but have nowhere to display. (or at least the stuff was there a few years ago)
I’m so with you, Chang, although for me, it’s the ice cream and chocolate that they have there. And for the best cheap Chinese food: Wo-Hop’s (but you have to go to the basement level one; the upstairs level isn’t as good).
I’ll also add that Wo-Hop’s has roast duck lo mein, which is just such an incredibly yummy dish… I’ve never seen it served anywhere else. =)
If you’re doing the Cloisters, might I suggest a native guide to the marvels of (way)Uptown NYC?
I happen to live 2 subway stops away. drop me a line at joshathome@gmail.com
also, I’m sure local skifferati might be enticed into seeing you. The KGB reading group meets at a nice Chinese palce in the East Vilalge. It’d be apropriate for a meeting.
So how long does it take you to get to NYC from Ohio? Flying? Taking the train? I am stuck in Oklahoma so no trains for me. I miss trains.
I’m flying. It takes a couple of hours.
It should only take an hr and a half to get from Ohio to NYC…my fiance is from Cleveland and she makes me unfortunately go to Ohio every once in a while to visit her family (no offense its just that Ohio is boring and I’ve already been to the Rocken Roll Hall of Fame, and the Brown’s suck).
You should visit Brooklyn and not just Manhattan. People forget that the city is not just Manhattan but comprised of the 5 boroughs, although I’m sure most new yorkers don’t really count Staten Island.
If you like ice cream the Brooklyn Ice Factory is a great place to go. It has the added feature of being under the Brooklyn Bridge (well next to under)and gives you a great sky line view of lower Manhattan. Plus theres a great restaurant on the water thats 20 feet away from there.
Or you could go to the Coney Island Acquarium, or downtown Brooklyn, near the court offices there are plenty of great restaurants on Montesqou. Just stay away from the Jay street borough hall strip mall after dark if you want to live.
I live in Brooklyn, and the day-job thing is in Manhattan (a block from Macy’s / Herald Square, 6 blocks from Times Square), so if you’re looking for a native guide or dinner companion, I’m available.
“…who doesn’t like New York in January? ”
It is 50+ degrees and sunny.
Malachy’s at the corner of Columbus and 72nd has the best hotwings in Manhattan. (The Irish, of course, are known for their hotwings.)
For years, I lived across from the Dakota, and we’d get banged up at Malachy’s, then walk up to the Dakota and take Polaroids of Japanese tourists posing with the doormen at the ‘John Lennon gate.’
We’d then return to Malachy’s and spend our yen on Guinness and wings. Repeat.
Good times.
BTW, for a great no-hassle Italian meal, try Pomodoro’s at 70th and Columbus. The foood is great and it’s the joint where they used to ‘go to break up’ on Seinfeld. There are several great theaters nearby and the best Barnes and Noble in the Universe is right there at Lincoln Center.
Scalzi: In what part of town are you staying?
OMFG!!!
Go to Brooklyn and to Peter Luger’s Steakhouse! I completely forgot about it until now. It will not disappoint. Be prepared to spend big bucks, and love every second of it.
First part of my stay — no clue (I have to look at where my Hotel is); second part — Jersey City.
BTW, for a great no-hassle Italian meal, try Pomodoro’s at 70th and Columbus.
Or Ray’s Pizza in Times Square (they serve way more than pizza. Just push through to the back where the tables are). Good inexpensive Italian food (take it from a Sicilian)
7th Ave close to W 49th St
All the Ray’s taste the same…I second Peter Luger’s I love it have gone multiple times…but u need to bring cash as they don’t take credit cards except for their own special store credit card. Angelo Maxies is also a good stake house.
Not to be a snob about it, but when arguing the merits of different steak houses, there’s Peter Lugar’s and then all the rest are open for comparison. Their names should not be uttered in the same paragraph.
HAHAHAAH…SNOB!
Sam, “the Brown’s suck”
You know, them’s fighin’ words where you’re visiting family. No need to go trashin’ someone’s hometown. “Cause they may return the favor.
I know what you mean…but the Brown’s do suck, its not like I’m making a fact up.
Well, yeah, but we don’t like other people sayin’ it is all I’m saying. You might find yourself bowling with bumpers when you don’t have any kids on the lane when you’re in town (we can be sneaky that way).
(Just as one of those useless factoids, when the NFL let football leave C-Level-Land their ratings dropped, big time, double digits. They’ve never recovered. *That’s* what football means in Ohio.)
Steve Buchheit: You might find yourself bowling with bumpers when you don’t have any kids on the lane when you’re in town (we can be sneaky that way).
Funny…I will say one thing though it is a nice Stadium!
Sam, well I wasn’t all that serious about being upset, I just had to speak up for the locals. :)
We have nice stadiums, that much is true.
Steakhouses? Peter Lugers? But you could go to L’ecole for pretty much the same price! You can get steak anywhere. Even good steak.
For the real deal in Italian, let us take you to Arthur Avenue, in The Bronx.