Coming to NYC for college, tell me your favorite spots!

[phantomcrazy14]

Posted: 7/15/13 at 7:51pm

Hello everyone,
If there is already a thread like this I apologize, and please post a link. If not here it goes: I'm an incoming Freshman at Marymount Manhattan for Fall 2013. I really want to take advantage of the city and see as much as I can. My sister lives in the city and I've visited many times to see her and go to shows, so I'm familiar with Midtown, some of Soho and Union Square. But I'm looking for more. Let me know some tourist spots, landmarks, and favorite restaurants, shops, and other spots in the neighborhoods of Manhattan. I love architecture and history if that helps. Thank you very much :)

[ahhrealmonsters]

Posted: 7/15/13 at 11:15pm

As someone who went to college in NYC (NYU), I must advise you that while you should take advantage of the city, remember to go to class and do your schoolwork. I know a couple people from college who spent all their time doing NYC and not school. You or your parents (or someone) is paying a lot of money for you to earn your degree.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 7/16/13 at 12:34am

That's why I don't think NYC is the right place for anyone to go to college. Too many distractions.
With that said, I recommend exploring the East Village/Lower East Side, it has the best restaurants in the city. Azul at 152 Stanton Street is one of my favorites. Also Casimir on Avenue B and E7th. Best food, decent prices. Rustic on Ridge Street between Stanton and Rivington Streest is also very intimate and the food is awesome. And if you like Thai, One More Thai at 6 Clinton Street is my favorite Thai place in town.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/16/13 at 2:54am

And yet, tens of thousands of kids graduate from NY colleges all the time. People that aren't going to put their studies first are going to be in that same boat no matter where they go.

To the op...spend an afternoon in a good bookstore looking through the tourist books about NY and pick out a few. They have them on so many topics...including architecture.

[~tiny~]

Posted: 7/16/13 at 4:03am

the staten island ferry at sunset, that is, go before sunset, come back in AT sunset. Glorious!






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[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 7/16/13 at 8:23am

Favorite restaurant is the Meat Ball Shop.
http://www.themeatballshop.com/
I prefer to order Sliders so you can try different meat/sauce combos. Don't forget to try the "daily ball" which changes everyday. The Risotto is amazing and save room for the home made ice cream! The mint ice cream has real mint leaves in it. OH and the flavored lemonades are great too: rosemary, fennel, etc (that too changes daily)

My favorite guide book is by Eyewitness Travel called "Top Ten".
http://www.amazon.com/books/dp/0756696569
The reason I like it is because unlike other popular guide books which read like a B&W phone book this one includes a brief paragraph along with a small picture. Also included are small easy to identify and follow maps including inside museums so you can find the best items to view quickly! I have used this book when I visited San Francisco, Paris and Cairo (last week actually - not kidding). I have in fact purchased the New York City version just to see how much of NYC I have seen (to compare to far away locations I am purchasing this book to use as a reference) and I am thrilled that I have done quite well with seeing NYC. The link on Amazon gives a great "preview" of the inside content of the book as I described!

Yes - study and do well in school. NYC will still be here after you graduate.



Updated On: 7/16/13 at 08:23 AM

[phantomcrazy14]

Posted: 7/16/13 at 12:01pm

Thanks for all the advice! And don't worry, I understand completely and will be putting all my efforts into studying. I'm a very goal-oriented and studious kid. I don't party though, so that's why I'm looking for cool places to go with someone else who doesn't like to on a weekend. Thanks!

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 7/16/13 at 12:17pm

I don't get why people on here are so quick to think that someone who goes to college in NYC will just shirk their responsibilities and party all night long. The OP asked about landmarks, restaurants and shops and not everyone's favorite club. It sounds like a fair question to me and the first response is "your parents are paying a lot of money so don't screw around."

I agree about the SI ferry. It's a good way to see the city from a different vantage point and it's free. You do have to get off the ferry once you reach SI but don't worry you can get in line to come right back on. Plus there is a bar onboard in case you really are some drunk screw-up and that's really your main goal.

If you like history and architecture you should definitely check out The Cloisters. It's a bit of a schlep but I'm told it's really pretty up there.

I would also not limit yourself to Manhattan. There are plenty of great places in Brooklyn (and sorta Queens).

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/16/13 at 12:19pm

I second the Meatball Shop. Also, I'm a big fan of the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria. :)

[Marianne2]

Posted: 7/16/13 at 12:28pm

I definitely do not recommend this on a regular basis if you don't have a real expendable budget. But, I went to 54 Below for the first time on Sunday and loved it. I know you can get discount tickets to some shows through Goldstar.com. Actually, that is a good site to get discount tickets to different events in the city.

[Kad]

Posted: 7/16/13 at 2:56pm

I went to college in the city (at Marymount, actually) and graduated with honors- as did countless others. NYC is a fantastic place to go to school, full of amazing resources and opportunities totally unknown to other colleges in other places- especially if you're in theatre. You can see Broadway-caliber shows for free at the Delacorte, take advantage of the Lincoln Center's archives, find new works at the Drama Book Shop, and see everything from Tony-winning musicals to avant garde theatre in some basement. The Japan Society regularly hosts theatrical productions from Japan, which you would never be able to see unless you head to that country. The Public, Signature Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, Soho Rep, NYTW.... all indispensable institutions for the advancement of theatre in the nation, and all in Manhattan, and all with affordable tickets and other opportunities .

The city has so many amazing things to offer students of virtually every major that other cities simply cannot. A focused, intelligent student will come out of their NYC college life with a host of experiences.

One of my favorite restaurants is Kashkaval on 56th and 9th. Great wine and tapas bar, with delicious cheese fondue- and very reasonably priced. Wonderful for dates or pre/post-show meals.

[jackieoh]

Posted: 7/16/13 at 10:41pm

I started college in New York and my favorite place to go, especially in the warm evenings of early fall, was the South Street Seaport. It was only a few blocks from my dorm and I love the water. The JKO reservoir in Central Park is also beautiful -- perfect for peaceful jogs.

If you really want to explore new areas of the city, put on headphones, enter the nearest subway station, and get on a train. Try not to pay any active attention to where it's going and just get off at one of the stops and explore the area. I've done this so many times and it's easy enough to get back if you have a smart phone.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/16/13 at 11:29pm

Beg your sister for $20 (or $15 when you get your student id) and take a Big Onion tour. Their tours focus on specific neighborhoods and are very interesting. Most of their tour guides have PhD's.
Bigonion.com

[SNAFU]

Posted: 7/16/13 at 11:53pm

Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge late afternoon, Have an ice cream or some chocolates at Jacques Torres, ride the carousel, then walk back across the bridge at dusk and watch the city light up. Then get some dumplings in China Town.