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What's a weekend worth in NYC?

13:10 / 30.05.03

Been rackin' my brain on finding the right things to do in NYC when I take a trip up that way mid-summer for an extended weekend. I've gone there a few times but it was always a location specific thing. Y'know, go to this club for the late night thing or battle wits with the wallstreet christian cult (that's another story entirely). But now that I wanna snoop around and I'd like to know where you NY 'lithers like to go... something interesting and maybe couple oriented. As far as start points, I know about the MOMA and Guggenheim (may like to visit one) as well as a little of the club scene in them parts.

Also thinking of getting acquainted with the area better since it may be getting close to the time to depart the city of brotherly love and adjust the surroundings and attitudes a bit.

So...um...where would (do) you go?

Matthew Fluxington

13:46 / 30.05.03

The UCB Theatre is always reliable for a good, cheap, funny night out.

13:50 / 30.05.03

Odd that you should mention that. I was just there last night. Some fucking idiot kept yelling out "Pearl Jam" as a topic for the Improv group to...improvise...around. What a douche.

Matthew Fluxington

15:41 / 30.05.03

What a fucking asshole.

16:00 / 30.05.03

I think the best thing about NYC isn't the permanent attractions like the MoMA or Guggenheim or whatever (you should definitely go to the Met, too), but the one-off events/shows/celebrations that only happen here. I would suggest getting a "Time Out" or Voice or whatever the week you're coming, and pick out some street festivals, galleries, talks, etc. that are happening that week. There's always lots of free, interesting stuff happening that I don't take enough advantage of because I live in my own fantasy world.

Matthew Fluxington

16:19 / 30.05.03

Todd's absolutely right - I think going to museums and institutions is probably a bad way to experience a city, you're not really interacting and immersing yourself in the living culture of the city. Like Todd says, just check out the Village Voice when you come in, and there will be tons of events of all kinds listed for you. There's always a million things happening.

16:30 / 30.05.03

What's a weekend worth in NYC?

Life is cheap in the big city, but time? That's a different story, and one that rarely has a happy ending.

17:10 / 30.05.03

Have definitely been to the Met a few times in the past. Just never had a chance to run by the modern art museums. I would like to catch a performance piece or walk around some galleries probably moreso that the immovable institutions. Heard from a friend that there was a cool performance where people suspend above you while they do their thing while you get messy. Looking for stuff like that.

Do agree with just getting street level and putting things together from there. I just don't really have the layout down in the city and would like to locate myself somewhere near I'd want to go. I'm aware of the public trans as well, so it'll probably be easy to go from here to there. Kind of like to have a plan when I do things, so winging it, though most likely fun, will work around the one or two places I want to go.

This is just a beginning to the experience too, as I'd like to do this more than every once in a while. As I said in the abstract, I would like to get up there to scope it out and think about a future move. I know some design people and companies there, so I would have the job thing covered.

17:12 / 30.05.03

Oh... I hear you on the "Upright Brigade". Sounds like a great deal of fun. Will also check out the Voice for happenings.

grant... you're completely right. Fighting the good fight...

17:16 / 30.05.03

It seems like there's a rough character or a sob sister on every corner, hoping to bend your ear. "Can you spare a minute, mister?" "Hey buddy, can we talk for minute?"
And there's one thing they've all got in common.

Hard times.

17:29 / 30.05.03

Though not quite the same thing entirely, I've gotten used to the people on the streets back here in Philly. Got some good perspective when the floor fell out about 2 years ago and found myself precariously close to the edge when pick-up work was just about covering the bills and that's it. You do get that look of understanding when you're living day-to-day, and you couldn't spare a quarter to help out.

So now that there's some possibility again, I'm looking to get myself positioned by taking some risks and putting in more time. That's kind of what's behind the small tour I'd like to go on. Will see what happens...

06:53 / 31.05.03

Weds Night - Downstairs at Flow. New Rock Party. Don't know the name of it, it's supposed to be, and I quote, 'A Freakshow' - Strippers, Midgets, Naked chicks on beds of nails with men breaking cinderblocks on their stomachs. That sort of thing. haven't been yet. Flow is on Varick and VanDam.

Thurs Night - Three of Cups, 5th St, Ave A. Dudethatrocks.com sponsors a rock night, with Eric13 from the Sex Slaves and Tor from Joker Five Speed DJing. It's a bar, so there's no dancing, but the people are cool, and the music's fun.

Friday Night - ?

Saturday Night - 'tiswas. 80s and britpop night at Don Hill's, Hudson and Greenwich St. This is really fun, my favorite "dance club" in New York. Amazing music - I get annoyed at the DJs because even though I want to go smoke a cigarette outside, everytime I make it halfway to the door, my favorite song comes on. No matter how many times I try, they manage to find a song that I cannot resist going back to the dancefloor for. And they spin until 4.

Black Betty's in Williamsburg (On Bedford and Roebling, I think) is also fun. Whenever I've been there, they've had good music and everyone danced, but this was a while ago.

Luxx or Northsix, in Williamsburg, has a Berliniamsburg night that's supposed to be like 'tiswas. Don't know the details.

The Continental on 3rd Ave and 8th St has live shows all the time, some of them are pretty good.

Er. Yeah, that's everything I can think of. Other than that, just call people you know who are cool, and ask them what the cool kids are doing and if you can tag along. Generally they know where the fun stuff is. I only know about the weekly things.

08:17 / 02.06.03

Coney Island.

Lenox Lounge.

Jim Hanley's Universe.

Natural History Museum.

Empire State Building.

Toys In Babeland.

Walking, walking, walking.

Matthew Fluxington

13:46 / 02.06.03

Iconoplast, are you wearing a trucker hat?

Just wondering.

17:04 / 02.06.03

No, but I've got this totally deck cowboy hat on...

17:06 / 02.06.03

Okay, does anyone in NYC who hasn’t read an article about “The Hipster Handbook” actually use the term “deck”? In other words, is there anyone who uses it unironically?

07:31 / 03.06.03

That's the first time I've used it. I got an email from a band once swearing that they were deck, but I think they wre being ironic.

I've never heard it used, and don't remember what the opposite 'bad' term was, either.

Still, though. It's fun to say. I'm going to try to use it more often.