New York, New York...

[Sloan1874]

Brilliant suggestions. Keep 'em coming.

 

[2wheelgrplr]

Another denim option is Brooklyn Denim Co in Williamsburg, good selection of brands. http://brooklyndenimco.com

 

[Doctor Strange]

Actually, the Staten Island Ferry is free, no token required. (And tokens are long gone anyway - you swipe a card for subways and buses now.) Still the world's greatest free boat ride!

 

[Edward]

Not been since 2004, so my knowledge is a bit outdated , and as that was my only trip there to date, I mostly did the obvious tourist stuff. Still, a lot of it is great. The Natural History Museum was fun - I was granted long enough to do the dinosaurs and a quick look through the Native American collection, which really is outstanding. I loved that. Definitely do the Staten Island Ferry - the view of NYC is amazing. The Ellis island immigration museum was well worth a visit, and I believe now you can also get into the museum at the base of Liberty agian (maybe evne the statue itself?) - when I was there it had all been shut up since 9/11, and they wouldn't let you within 100m of it. The Empire State Building is worth it too, though expect the cold to take your head off up at the top at that time of year(!).

If you can, take a wonder past Electric Ladyland, though alas it's not open to the public (unless that's changed). I had a pleasurable half hour wandering in Manny's Music, where Jimi and Johnny Ramone, among others, bought guitars. THe Bowery is not what it was, but you can still go to Joey Ramone Place and shake your fist at the overpriced clothing boutique which soils the memory of CBGBs. Worth catchnig a show on Broadway if anything tickles you (I think Hedwig is still running there at present); best prices from the theatre direct or the ticket booth on Times Square - get in *early* in the morning, though.

Not sure if Schott have a facility in NY you can visit? That would be a cool thing to see reported back on. Lost Worlds are based there too, but if memory serves Stu isn't exactly open to visitors.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Schott does have a NYC store, somewhere downtown (Elizabeth Street, maybe?)

I've been meaning to check it out, but I live far enough out of the city now that it's a production number to visit, and I rarely make the effort.

 

[handymike]

Definitely eat pizza at Grimaldi's under the Brooklyn Bridge (I'd walk across). Then mosey down to the waterfront for another great view of Manhattan...evening with lights.
Peter Luger's Steak House is also a must! Cash Only (at least it used to be). The Egg Shop in SoHo has the best egg sandwhich for breakfast.

 

[Sloan1874]

Great tip on the Brooklyn denim place, 2Wheel, as it's relatively close to where we're staying - the fact that NY has a population twice the size of Scotland is slightly mind-bending, so 'close' is a relative term.
The Staten Island ferry trip is now firmly on our itinerary, but your trip suggestions and food recommendations are all being loaded into my big list of New York things to do.
Out of interest, is there anywhere/anything we should avoid? For whatever reason - tourist traps/dangerous/crap?

 

[Doctor Damage]

...I mostly did the obvious tourist stuff...

On that note, if you go into the Met Museum of Art keep in mind that there is no entrance fee. They have booths where you can pay a fee with signs above which list prices, but there is no fee. They work hard to make it look like you have to pay a fee and the security guards will hassle you if you haven't paid to get a lapel pin, but it's b.s. However, I don't think anybody should be a free rider, so I suggest you go up to a booth and pay some amount, say $10 a head (not the $24 or whatever they 'suggest' on their sign) - they'll glower at you, but they have to accept whatever you offer and give you a pin which will get the security guards off your back. I'm sure this griping probably makes me sound like a d-bag, but I resent organizations who bamboozle people like this and who are not transparent. Either have zero fees / free entry like they do in museums in Londoninium, or charge a fee. Don't make it look like you have to pay a fee when you don't. That's just a scam aimed at tourists who don't know better. It's deceitful and cheap and shameless and gives the Met organization a bad name.

One caveat: I was last there in May 2014 so perhaps this policy has changed. If so, someone please correct me and I will delete this post.

 

[Sloan1874]

Not been since 2004, so my knowledge is a bit outdated , and as that was my only trip there to date, I mostly did the obvious tourist stuff. Still, a lot of it is great. The Natural History Museum was fun - I was granted long enough to do the dinosaurs and a quick look through the Native American collection, which really is outstanding. I loved that. Definitely do the Staten Island Ferry - the view of NYC is amazing. The Ellis island immigration museum was well worth a visit, and I believe now you can also get into the museum at the base of Liberty agian (maybe evne the statue itself?) - when I was there it had all been shut up since 9/11, and they wouldn't let you within 100m of it. The Empire State Building is worth it too, though expect the cold to take your head off up at the top at that time of year(!).

If you can, take a wonder past Electric Ladyland, though alas it's not open to the public (unless that's changed). I had a pleasurable half hour wandering in Manny's Music, where Jimi and Johnny Ramone, among others, bought guitars. THe Bowery is not what it was, but you can still go to Joey Ramone Place and shake your fist at the overpriced clothing boutique which soils the memory of CBGBs. Worth catchnig a show on Broadway if anything tickles you (I think Hedwig is still running there at present); best prices from the theatre direct or the ticket booth on Times Square - get in *early* in the morning, though.

Not sure if Schott have a facility in NY you can visit? That would be a cool thing to see reported back on. Lost Worlds are based there too, but if memory serves Stu isn't exactly open to visitors.

Excellent recommendations. I feel that a visit to Stu's would be absolutely necessary. It'd be a larf just to troll him in person - perhaps arrive wearing a borrowed Lost World jacket twinned with a miniskirt and heels, just to see his expression...

 

[Edward]

Great tip on the Brooklyn denim place, 2Wheel, as it's relatively close to where we're staying - the fact that NY has a population twice the size of Scotland is slightly mind-bending, so 'close' is a relative term.

Ha, yeah.... I've always been amused that London has a population bigger than the entire island of Ireland. Jings, thinking about it, there are probably more people living on the estate I'm in now than in the entire village in which I grew up (3,500 souls, as of the last census...).

The Staten Island ferry trip is now firmly on our itinerary, but your trip suggestions and food recommendations are all being loaded into my big list of New York things to do.
Out of interest, is there anywhere/anything we should avoid? For whatever reason - tourist traps/dangerous/crap?

Mainly I'd avoid diners in TimesSquare itself, we found them very expensive. There was, in 2004, a lovely little deli just right around the corner from planet Hollywood on the Square - the deli was just off it - that did lovely stuff. Great soup for a couple of dollars, if I recall correctly, which was very welcome in mid February! The Hard Rock Cafe was nice if you like those, and they have some cool Ramones bits, though it's the same as you get anywhere else foodwise. Right opposite it is a place called the Brooklyn Diner, which I liked - 'Americana' to the max. I had a cheesecake that was a foot deep - had to skip the main course to be able to get through it.

I was very underwhelmed by the John Lennon mosaic in Central Park, however, from it there's a cracking view not only of the Dakota building (where the child of Satan may or may not have been conceived ), but also that building that was in the original Ghostbusters. A friend did go to the library they filmed in in 84 - apparently the room was on the top floor, not the basement it's presented as in-film when they see the first ghost. You can also see the fire-house, it's stil lthere (and a working firehouse, I think?).

On that note, if you go into the Met Museum of Art keep in mind that there is no entrance fee. They have booths where you can pay a fee with signs above which list prices, but there is no fee. They work hard to make it look like you have to pay a fee and the security guards will hassle you if you haven't paid to get a lapel pin, but it's b.s. However, I don't think anybody should be a free rider, so I suggest you go up to a booth and pay some amount, say $10 a head (not the $24 or whatever they 'suggest' on their sign) - they'll glower at you, but they have to accept whatever you offer and give you a pin which will get the security guards off your back. I'm sure this griping probably makes me sound like a d-bag, but I resent organizations who bamboozle people like this and who are not transparent. Either have zero fees / free entry like they do in museums in Londoninium, or charge a fee. Don't make it look like you have to pay a fee when you don't. That's just a scam aimed at tourists who don't know better. It's deceitful and cheap and shameless and gives the Met organization a bad name.

One caveat: I was last there in May 2014 so perhaps this policy has changed. If so, someone please correct me and I will delete this post.

I sympathise. I do try and donate to the museums here when I visit because it helps keep it available 'for free' to those who coulsn't otherwise afford it. Either that or I buy some bits in the shop. Some are better at it than others - the Science Museum, if you go in the main door instead of via the Natural History Museum, you go through the same gated entrance way as you used to in the days of buying tickets. Feels a bit like they're daring you to have the front to go in without the suggest donation. Relatively low - £5 per adult - though for low-income families that would soon mount up if they're embarassed to be seen gonig in without paying it.

Excellent recommendations. I feel that a visit to Stu's would be absolutely necessary. It'd be a larf just to troll him in person - perhaps arrive wearing a borrowed Lost World jacket twinned with a miniskirt and heels, just to see his expression...

Take a photo of Tim Curry in his FranknFurter leather and ask if he can make you something like that - "but nice and light, you know? not that awful heavy stuff." His head would explode, I'm sure. Bear in mind that a former poster here once enquired about a lighter hide for Summer wear, only to receive a reply stating "Perhaps you're just ot manly enough to wear one of our jackets." Seriously, though, while Stu refuses any customer visits (I'm sure I've rad it several places on his site), if he was approached to do an interview, I wonder if it would be different. It would be fascinating to see what the actual operation behind the image was like.

 

[hatsRme]

Don't miss the B&H Photo & Video store; it's beyond amazing. There may be some other things to see in the City, as well. The book "NYC in an Afternoon" doesn't exist, so make your list. You WILL have fun!!!!

 

[tropicalbob]

Actually, the Staten Island Ferry is free, no token required. (And tokens are long gone anyway - you swipe a card for subways and buses now.) Still the world's greatest free boat ride!

Been a while.

 

[Doctor Damage]

I realize this is an outerwear forum, but these shoes are nice to look at and fondle in their Manhattan store: http://barkerblack.com/. Not cheap though, and not everyone will want a skull and crossbones motif on their footwear.

 

[Fanch]

Until Edward mentioned it, I didn't think of your contacting Stu in advance for a possible interview that would include being mentioned in a favorable way here. I can't imagine him turning down that kind of exposure, particularly since you could tell him that you had also interviewed Ken Calder. Put the proper spin on your request. A huge plus for all concerned would be including your "better half" as one of the interviewers. BTW my favorite museum there was the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

 

[Sloan1874]

I can't imagine my other half tholing a day of our holiday interviewing an eccentric jacket maker. As it is, our trip will coincide with the presidential election, so there's a good chance I'm going to be reporting back to the Beeb in some respect on that.

 

[Fanch]

Good point(s). This election year is unlike, perhaps, any other in US history.

 

[handymike]

If you can read, hear, or think there's really only 1 choice

 

[Sloan1874]

Aaaanyway, getting back to the subject in hand - anyone know Bushwick well? That's where we're staying

 

[Fanch]

 

[MikeKardec]

Over eat at Keens Steak House the last vestige of Manhattan's original theater district. Their pipe collection is INSANE ... you'll know what I mean if you go there -- http://www.keens.com/

If you are further uptown Il Vagabondo is a descent Italian restaurant with a bocce ball court inside -- http://www.ilvagabondo.com/history

If you are WAY uptown Rao's ("Rayo's") is VERY interesting. The tables are "owned" by various people, celebrities, politicians, gangsters but sometimes if you go late and hang out at the bar they can find you a table if an "owner" decides they are not coming in for the evening. http://raosrestaurants.com/our_story.html

For a quick bite in mid town head to Burger Joint. This is an absolute DIVE housed anonymously behind a curtain in the lobby of the Le Parker Meridian Hotel. Odd, but no sense that they are faking the dive part. -- http://www.parkermeridien.com/eat/burger-joint/

For what they call a cookie but I call a heavy muffin check out the Levain Bakery. These are absolutely NUTZ! -- http://www.levainbakery.com/ Thanks to my crazy ex girlfriend for that one, she'd starve and run herself half to death for a week just to go to Levains and pig out.

The weather won't be a problem for a Glaswegian. It should be beautiful. If you ever have a shot at going upstate in the fall, take it. There is no place more beautiful than upstate when the weather is right.