NYC for one night - What to do and how to do it?

under $20? good luck with that lol. i guess ground zero is your best bet

 

Under $20?
There is a HotDog stand on the corner of Broadway and Liberty that isnt too bad!

 

PJ Clarkes, a New York institution. it's been around since 1870 and all original. Check out their website. They have been voted best burger in NYC a few times, and a burger fries and a beer should come in right about 20 bucks.

 

Cheap Food
Burger - Shake Shack in Madison Sq Park, sit outside, have a beer but you will wait online.
Chinatown
San Gennaro Festival is on till the 25th - lots of cheap food.

I live here in NYC so I drive everywhere but if you are coming from out of town you have to have a parking plan about where you are going to stash the car and that could be hard to figure out. A lot/garage will be about $30 a day, could be more or less depending how far or close you are to other tourists. Plus if you want to drink...

 

Personally I would take the train into the city just to not have to deal w/ tolls/traffic/parking. The metro north new haven line takes you right to grand central.

 

Well again I live here so I have no problems driving in London, Milan Paris etc. Here is a site that lays out all the street parking rules on this page and all the garage rates on another http://primospot.com/spots/search

If you go to chinatown go to Joes Shanghai and get soup dumplings. The place is no secret and there are a couple of pretenders (one even on e same block!) but this original one on pell street is it. There are two types of dumplings both excellent, watch how people near you eat them so you don't burn the hell out of your tongue making the taste of any food moot. if you're out late go to NY Noodle town, it's open til 4am, get ginger scallion lo mein. Both these restaurants do one thing great and everything else ok. By the way there is no good Italian food in Little Italy.

If you drive in, no turn on red!

 

True New Yorker will always know the best cheap eat spots and here are some of my favorite:

- Katz Deli: THE BEST PASTRAMI SANDWICH in the world. The Sandwich alone will cost you almost $15...but it's a MUST experience. Be sure to tip the guys behind the counter when he's making your sandwich. If you like meat, don't bother with anything else - just order Pastrami on Rye with mustard on one side.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/katzs-delicatessen-new-york

- Hallal Food (Cart Food): corner of 53rd St and 6th Ave. Only that stand is legendary:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/53rd-and-6th-halal-cart-new-york#query:cheap%20eat

- NY Noodle Town (Chinese): best roasted duck noodle:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/great-ny-noodle-town-new-york

- Taqueria (Mexican)
http://www.yelp.com/biz/taqueria-lower-east-side-new-york#query:cheap%20eat

- Otafuku (Japanese)
http://www.yelp.com/biz/otafuku-new-york#query:best%20cheap%20eat

- Bleecker Stree Pizza (Pizza)
http://www.yelp.com/biz/bleecker-street-pizza-new-york#query:best%20cheap%20eat

IMO, KATZ Deli is a MUST.

 

I'd say you have to get a hot dog and a slice.

For dogs:
Fancy / non-traditional: Crif Dogs - my favorite in the East Village http://www.yelp.com/biz/crif-dogs-new-york
Traditional - Sabrett's dog from any cart vendor out of the boiling water
Classic - Gray's Papaya http://www.yelp.com/biz/grays-papaya-new-york-4

Pizza:
Any mom and pop type place.
Coal Oven pizza - super thin, super good. http://www.yelp.com/biz/lombardis-pizza-new-york

Have fun,
Adam

 

I agree with Lombardis pizza. It was one of the first pizza places in NYC from many many years ago.

 

I live two blocks from Lombardis for the last 35 years. It opened in the 1980's. According to their myth there was a pizza parlor on that block in the early 20th century but that oven they use is actually from a bakery. Good pizza but very very touristy at this point.

 

Shake Shack or Corner Bistro for great burgers under $20

 

Are all 3 of your co workers joining you in the city? If so cheaper to drive. If solo take the train.

Have fun!

 

Shake Shack is a possibility but so are a lot of the others. Don't drink any booze and <$20 is a possibility. I'm not a fan of street meat but many are.

Take the train, hands down. It's 50 minutes to GCT on the express from Stamford, a few minutes longer on the frequent locals and you don't have to worry about traffic, tolls, parking.

The 4 or 5 subway downtown from GCT will take you in less than 15 minutes to the Wall St. station that is 2 blocks from Ground Zero.

EDIT: Next week the UN General Convention will still be in town and helping to clog up the roads, particularly in midtown. Less impact on traffic downtown except for possible temporary blockages for motorcades.

 

As a newcomer you absolutely do not want to take a car into the city.
Stamford is a major station for Metro-North. Grab an express train and between 45-55 minutes depending on departure time you are in Grand Central with access to the entire subway system.. I ride the rails every day as a bona fide commuter to nyc from Westchester, NY.
Maybe you will get lucky and land on one of the few new Kawasaki M80 trains..

 

one more perk of taking the train to gc. the ferrari showroom is just ~ 10 blocks north @ 55th + park

 

You should also stop by here for a quick drink.

http://www.mcsorleysnewyork.com/home.html

-O

 

One evening is far too short to enjoy many of the things to do in NYC. You had better plan on an all-nighter! Remember, New York is the city that never sleeps! Take a 6 a.m. train back to Stamford with a nap along the way, stop by the hotel for a quick shower and you're good to go for another workday.

 

Where are the pickles?!! Get some half sour pickles!!!And try a Cel-Rey Tonic!!!!

 

Glad you enjoyed the joint Was the $15 well spent?