TLDR: Trinity Church at 75 Broadway has been standing at the head of Wall Street since 1846. Alexander Hamilton is buried in the churchyard. So is Robert Fulton, the steamboat inventor. The church is free, open daily, and takes about 15 minutes to see. It survived 9/11 untouched and served as a relief station for … Read more
Author Archives: Josh
The Chrysler Building: NYC’s Most Beautiful Skyscraper
TLDR: The Chrysler Building at 405 Lexington Avenue is an Art Deco masterpiece completed in 1930. The lobby is open to the public for free during business hours. You can’t go above the lobby, but the red marble walls, ceiling murals, and stainless steel details are worth a quick stop. From the Wales Hotel, take … Read more
Chinatown and Little Italy: A Food Walk Through Lower Manhattan
TLDR: Chinatown is one of the best food neighborhoods in New York. Nom Wah Tea Parlor has been serving dim sum since 1920. Joe’s Shanghai does the city’s best soup dumplings. Xi’an Famous Foods has hand-pulled noodles for under $12. Little Italy is mostly tourist restaurants now, but Di Palo’s deli and Ferrara Bakery are … Read more
Hudson Yards, The Vessel, and Edge: NYC’s Newest Neighborhood
TLDR: Hudson Yards is Manhattan’s newest development on the far west side. The Vessel is a honeycomb staircase sculpture with free timed tickets. Edge is an outdoor observation deck on the 100th floor with a glass floor section ($43 adults). Mercado Little Spain is a Jose Andres food hall worth the trip on its own. … Read more
Greenwich Village: Food, Jazz, Comedy, and Washington Square Park
TLDR: Greenwich Village is where you go for the best pizza in New York (Joe’s Pizza, $3.50 a slice), jazz clubs that have been running since the 1930s, and a comedy club where famous comedians show up unannounced to test new material. Washington Square Park is free and always entertaining. From the Wales Hotel, take … Read more
SoHo Shopping and Cast-Iron Architecture: A Walking Guide
TLDR: SoHo has the best cast-iron architecture in the world and some of the best shopping in New York. Skip Broadway (it’s all chain stores). The real boutiques are on the side streets: Mercer, Greene, and Wooster. Greene Street between Canal and Houston has the finest block of cast-iron facades anywhere. From the Wales Hotel, … Read more
DUMBO Brooklyn: Bridge Views, Pizza, and the Waterfront
TLDR: DUMBO is where you go for the famous Manhattan Bridge photo, the best pizza in New York (Juliana’s, not Grimaldi’s), and 85 acres of waterfront park with skyline views. Combine it with a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge for a full half-day trip. From the Wales Hotel, take the 4/5 to Borough Hall and … Read more
American Museum of Natural History: The Complete Visitor’s Guide
TLDR: The American Museum of Natural History is one of the largest museums in the world, with a 94-foot blue whale, the famous T-Rex skeleton, and the Hayden Planetarium all under one roof. NY, NJ, and CT residents pay what they wish at the counter (even $1 works). Regular admission is $28 for adults. Budget … Read more
Broadway and the Theater District: How to Get Tickets Without Overpaying
TLDR: You should never pay full price for Broadway tickets. The TKTS booth sells same-day tickets at up to 50% off. Digital lotteries can get you orchestra seats for $10 to $40. Rush tickets are available at the box office each morning. And the TodayTix app offers advance discounts on dozens of shows. From the … Read more
Grand Central Terminal: More Than a Train Station
TLDR: Grand Central Terminal is one of the most beautiful buildings in New York and it’s completely free to walk through. The zodiac ceiling, the Whispering Gallery, the Grand Central Oyster Bar, and the building’s Beaux-Arts architecture make it worth a dedicated visit. It’s also the most convenient subway hub from the Upper East Side. … Read more