Triumphrat

ViLe · 09-10-2007, 02:33 PM

Hello folks! The summer is ending, the Triumph ran great, a new floor has been cast to the basement (for a Finnish neccesity, the sauna) and now's the time for a holiday

Me & the wife are visiting Manhattan for a week (2nd attempt, 1st went bad as I was hospitalized a day before departure...) and I was wondering whether there are locals here who might have tips if there are any old bikes (Brits preferred

) related exhibitions, museums etc. to be seen?

Obviously Manhattan might not be the bikers haven, but something worth a days trip could be nice.

Oh, and other visiting tips are warmly welcome too!

Cheers,

Ville

Gdsila · 09-10-2007, 03:47 PM

You might try the Ear Inn on Spring St. (on the west side between Hudson st and Varick st) Tuesday night is European Bike Night
Its mostly newer stuff and a lot of Ducatis but you'll find the odd classic Triumph ,and some old Beemers, some with sidecars. the Food there is supposed to be pretty good also.

quagmire · 09-10-2007, 05:16 PM

What are you looking to do? If you want resturants, what type? If you like steak, Peter Lugar's in Brooklyn is the place to go. If you want Italian, go anywhere in Little Italy.

As for museums,there all great.

You might want to search for a local Brit bike club in NYC and see if they have anything going on.

jonkull · 09-10-2007, 07:52 PM

My advice (as a former New Yorker) is to stay away from Times Square. Unless your idea of travel is shopping at the Gap and eating McDonalds there's nothing there...plus it's all over priced because that's where the tourists go. The 'real' New York is below 34th and above 59th. At least in my opinion. Though the area between 42nd and 49th streets from 9th to 11th ave has really picked up over the last few years. So has the area up near Colombia University.

Just a couple food/drink suggestions...

If you like beer you should check out Gingerman at 11 E 36th St. They have every beer imaginable from all over the world. For really great burgers go to Chumley's. It was a speakeasy during prohibition and has all the original decor. I recommend the Iron Heart Stout.

La Lanterna Cafe at 129 MacDougal St is a cozy little Italian coffe shop complete with fireplaces (not that they'll be on this time of year). Feels like Europe (at least to me).

Meskerem 468 W 47th St has great Ethipoian food...though it's not for weak stomachs.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has everything from ancient Egypt to present day. It's a big museum and can kill a couple hours. It's on the edge of Central Park so you can take a stroll in the park before (or after).

It really depends on what kinds of things you like to do...

quagmire · 09-10-2007, 08:36 PM

Chumley's is a must, I forgot about that place.

ViLe · 09-12-2007, 03:52 AM

Thanks to all for the tips!

The trip will most propably be 50% seeing the "must-see" places and visiting the museums, and 50% walking around the streets and seeing whats up. We're still under 30 so walking is the preferred option of transportation

We're staying in the Hotel Pennsylvania (34th & 7ave. Glenn Miller, anyone? Or more recently Brian Setzer

) so that's somewhat a good place to have as an HQ. As in centrally located. At least I think so

Jonkull & quag: I think that covers the style for food&drink to me... Nothing fancy, just down to earth. And after reading & hearing about Miller Lite, I don't mind a stout

If there are any more "cool-places-not-many-average-tourists-know-to-go-to"- places you know,
the thread is still open, as the plane leaves on next sunday...

Cheers,

Ville

quagmire · 09-12-2007, 10:09 AM

Restaurants are tough in New York. Many of them camo and go. All the "trendy" ones have their moment in the sun. My wife used to live there for a few years, I'll ask her and see what she thinks.

One other place that everyone seems to want to go is the Carneige Deli. Over priced sandwiches if you ask me. My rull of thumb when I worked in Brooklyn was you ate lunch where you see all the fire, police, and garbage trucks. Those guys always knew where the best food was!

jonkull · 09-12-2007, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quagmire

My rull of thumb when I worked in Brooklyn was you ate lunch where you see all the fire, police, and garbage trucks. Those guys always knew where the best food was!

That's what I used to do. When I moved to LA and wanted to see if the Mexican food was really as good as people say I used the same rule and looked for where the construction workers and landscapers were eating. I've found some great stuff that way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ViLe

We're still under 30 so walking is the preferred option of transportation

Walking is the best way to get around. Depending on time of day it can be faster than (as well as significantly cheaper than) a taxi and you get to see things you'd miss on a subway. Subways are a lot safer than they were 10+ years ago so don't be afraid to use them.

SOHO, lower east side/alphabet city, greennwich village (east and west side), chelsea, China Town, Little Italy and Union Square are all decent areas for wandering around. The upper west side from 79th street to 104th all along Broadway is a decent walk with some shopping and restaurants. There's always Riverside Park and Central Park. Williamsburg/Greenpoint in Brooklyn is OK if you're a hipster and feel like leaving Manhattan. Vespas were 'in' in the Williamsburg area back when I lived in Brooklyn...not sure about vintage Brit bikes. I found NYC to be not very motorcycle friendly. Anyway...

McQueen · 09-12-2007, 06:08 PM

Keep the info coming! I'm headed out to NYC the third week of October...

ViLe · 09-13-2007, 09:46 AM

...Triumphrat.net, Your resource to travelling

It's good to have even more people than just me served! And yep, a 7-day metrocard is to be purchased once there.

And thanks again Jonkull, I think you've mentioned all the things we've thought about / read about / discussed about visiting&seeing. Too bad You're not in the city

-Ville