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Many of you are people local to the NYC metro region. Many of you are not. Of the latter, there's a decent subset that I've invited to the region at some point while imposing on you and seeing your area (probably during the Year of the Efriend). When I've gone to places, there was usually a clear agenda. I must see this spy themed bar, I must visit these gardens, I must try this local food, I must meet this person. But when it comes to my area, not to sound like an arrogant prick, it's hard to distill it to a simple list.
Just as I'm fascinated by how others perceive my accent, let alone the accent of Americans in general, I'm curious to learn about what people want to see.
So here's the question to the locals: If you had someone from decently far-off visiting you for a weekend or week, what would you show them? What are the staples of life around here that you really want the world to sample?
And for those distant, what do you think you want to see? I don't care how corny and touristy it sounds. Imagine that you've got a place to crash in Hoboken for a week. What's on your list, in as specific or as broad terms as you see fit?
Earlier this week I bought my first laptop since 1996. It's a five pound magnesium alloy beauty, which means mobile homework and WoW. Good times.
Just as I'm fascinated by how others perceive my accent, let alone the accent of Americans in general, I'm curious to learn about what people want to see.
So here's the question to the locals: If you had someone from decently far-off visiting you for a weekend or week, what would you show them? What are the staples of life around here that you really want the world to sample?
And for those distant, what do you think you want to see? I don't care how corny and touristy it sounds. Imagine that you've got a place to crash in Hoboken for a week. What's on your list, in as specific or as broad terms as you see fit?
Earlier this week I bought my first laptop since 1996. It's a five pound magnesium alloy beauty, which means mobile homework and WoW. Good times.
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Go there.
Now.
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In the past, when I've had friends in high places, I've taken them on tours of prominent record companies or major television networks. That's always fun. Really, what Manhattan proper has to offer is great and wonderful no matter what it is you like.
Really, what's great about New York is that you don't have to have anything in particular in mind at all. You can just walk around and have a blast.
Don't even get me started on the greater metro area.
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Hey, did you ever make out with anybody over there? Please, be frank.
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Well, actually, you can use a number of exits for the GSP. 125, 127, 129, 130, and 131 all work. For that matter, 10 and 12 also work to shave off some time during traffic from the NJT.
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There's tons to see there. You've got the old clay pits, the library, the microbrewery, the mall, little India, incredible diners, many former girlfriends, and more!
Why, I could spend a week showing people Woodbridge alone.
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No, I have not made out with anyone at that location as of this writing. Why, you interested?
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The best I've heard so far is saying fuck a lot, also known as the Sopranos accent. My roomie, who is professionally and personally heavily versed in linguistics and has a father who speaks twenty-seven languages, claims that we have fairly harsh consonants compared to most of the US.
You tell me.
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but ALL of the times i've seen you i've been suffering from my surroundings
booz, work, or some combination of the two *grin*
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It's not that bad though...if we can only get these damn hurricanes to stop hitting us it would be fine! :)
BTW (not related to this thread)...glad to see somebody else in the family see the light about econ. It's nice to know I not the only "dismal" one around here. :) Seriously, let me know if I can help you out with your studies (abyssean@lsu.edu).
Take care...Rich (and Rach)
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At least take them to the Palisades!
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New Jersey color
There's also various historical sites (Morristown, Edison Museum for instance) that are important.
Obviously NYC, but there's good stuff in Jersey worth seeing.
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I love the Edison radio tower in Edison, NJ that no one goes to. It's just this giant monument with a little museum, and doesn't make it on many maps I've seen. One of
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My List
Places to go: DBA (bar in East Village), Belgian Beer Bar; Joe's Pizza (off 6th); Wild Ginger (amazing Thai food in the village); Ibby's Falafel; Hard Grove Cafe; rooftop champagne at the Met at sundown; walk around midtown; go hang out on the Frying Pan; Katz's deli; Statue of Liberty and Liberty State Park
Not only is this my list, this is what I'll try to hit up when I'm back for Halloween.
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Why not log in, sir?
Also, I think I have to take any far-off guests to McSorley's. That's a great bar to get trashed at with friends.
So, what days will you be around?
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A baseball game at Shea or Yankee stadium, the NY subway, Central Park, Met and MOMA, Chinatown (with a stop to 'Wo Hop' on Mott St, my fave dumplings evar!), hot dogs from Gray's Papaya, some random off-Broadway wierd show...
Jersey: a Jersey mall on a Saturday afternoon, the SHORE, and Harolds, that place with the giant amounts of food.
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But that's my problem with trying to show people NYC. There's just too much. Everyone's got their own opinion of the best dumplings, the best sushi, the best show, the best bar... and it's hard to get a good sampling of it all. One night
Hell, even showing people the shore leads to another debate. Point Pleasant, LBI, Seaside Heights, Sandy Hook, or where?
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Grassroots, Korova Milk Bar, and Rififi dancing.
Rasoi for Indian food.
really, whatever they want. I'm a good host, but a horrible tour guide.
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Also, I would love to do that half-priced karaoke you posted about that I never responded to like a jerkface. I miss karaoke.
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because I know he'll appreciate it, unlike some other jerks.
I'm kind of busy from here on out till November, but we'll hang!
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HOLD UP A SECOND
Yeah, he does love a good `stache. You should come over sometime and watch me play WoW while he watches America's Next Top Model or someshit.
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friends' wedding, camping trips, parties, etc., etc.
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We should hang out sometime, besides when Uldum is down.
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I think I covered most things I'd want to see, in the 25 years I lived in the area, except of course ground zero, and on the horrible footage I can superimpose brunch at Windows on the World.
My dad, the Oklahoma farmboy, told me more than once that when someone bragged to him about the advantages of living in the NY area, specificly Broadway shows, he would ask whether they actually went to said shows. I never rebutted him in person but, (A), there is freedom in the potential to act, and (B), I did see Broadway shows, operas, the cloisters, shows at the met, St. John's Cathedral, shopping, and saw some of the not so fun stuff too. Now when either of us sees footage of the NY area, we shudder, and BC has a fear that if he ever returned to NJ he would die there.
The accent thing is interesting though.
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Honestly, I fit into his accusation. I really don't take advantage of the city, despite being a half hour and a buck-fifty away from midtown. While paying all this insane rent to live near it, I only visit once a month or so.
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Daily trips through the epicenter must have been excessively depressing.
I'm afraid that stage show tickets cost quite a bit more than that buck-fifty, even with twofers, and often (my experience) are not more impressive than a good high school production, let alone TV.
Still, the experience of having my knees in the conductor's back at Fosse's "Dancin'", and hearing 50 massed male voices singing Wagner, are treasures to remember.
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Ground Zero is great only in what the whole thing meant to you - it's really just a large hole (people hate me for calling it that, but it's true - it's a hole with a fence around it). I think you can accurately mourn for the whole thing without having seen the hole. It's become somewhat of a mythic national animal to most of the country - something that exists as a symbol for the thousand and one things they love about their lives in the US. Standing at the hole then, it becomes like Mecca. It's less about the place and more about the faith and the religion that brought you there to worship.
Having been to WTC before 9/11 is more than enough - you know how big it is and was - and you know what dirt looks like in the NY/NJ area. Seeing the hole just kind of leaves an empty feeling to a place that should have memories of lunches and friends and summer internships (at least, for me - but I'm sure you can fill in brunch, etc.) - but all that gets mixed into what created the hole (and what removed to make it a hole), and placing a significance on this empty space becomes a somewhat tedious task for those were familiar with its other life. And familiar with those affected in the transition.
Sometimes, I kind of wish I hadn't been too emotional (and, in turn, too scared of being caught being emotional) about this whole thing and had gone to see it when there was still a pile of something to see. I think that would have meant more to me. But I've seen holes before. So I'm still waiting to make my peace.
If you're here again, and they haven't filled it in, and you need to do it, it's worth seeing. Otherwise, you'll end up standing there and feeling guilty about thinking to yourself:
"Wow. Now that's one big hole."
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- jersey pizza
- any good view of the skyline. you can't get that in NYC.
- a huge mall.
- central park
- the village
-- Gray's Papaya.