New York

when you're not eating
High Line - former railroad converted into a park. if it's beautiful out, it might be quite crowded. head to the 30s (streets) for fewer people
Chelsea Market - former Nabisco factory. lots of awesome shops within - Fat Witch, Lobster place (cheap and fresh sushi)
Staten Island Ferry - many think this is a better way to see the statue of liberty
Broadway Shows - Go to TKTS to get cheaper tickets. Booths in Times Sq, Brooklyn, and South Street Seaport. Wicked is my favorite. Phantom is a good classic. I still want to see Avenue Q. Do lottery too!
Nitehawk Cinema - awesome old school venue, book in adv.
Walking the Brooklyn Bridge - lots of tourists but beautiful!
Rent-a-Bike around Central Park / Prospect Park
5 Boro Bike Tour - bike around the 5 boros! needs advance lottery-ing
MoMA / Guggenheim / DUMBO Art District 
Colbert Report - get tickets, wait in line
Sleep No More - performance art

worth the hype foods

Ippudo - golden standard of ramen. shiromaru, miso ramen are standouts. add pork belly
Halal Cart - 53rd and 6th. Combo lamb and chix platter will feed u for days or make you very full. there are a couple of locations. Look for the yellow sign with "the halal guys"
Pok Pok NY - tasty Thai from celeb chef from Portland. Mile End - bk original is cozier. awesome pastrami.
Taim - Best falafel in nyc
Shake Shack - despite the name, go with the shackburger. the shroomburger is also melty fried goodness
Peter Luger - old school steakhouse. porterhouse and burger. cash only or their Peter Luger card. yes, they are snotty.

more noms
The Spotted Pig - another amazing burger
Xe May Sandwich Shop - great banh mi sandwiches. good price, tiny shop.
Takashi - meat lover heaven, beef belly (must have), niku-uni (beef and sea urchin)
Niu Noodle - surprisingly good noodles

oldies but goodies
Congee Village (Chinatown)
Shanghai Cafe (Chinatown)
Saigon Grill (Greenwich village) - duck banh mi, grilled pork vermicelli
Prosperity Dumplings - 5 for 1 dumplings. definitely does not break the bank.
Takahachi (TriBeCa) - reliably good sushi
Yokocho (E. Village)
Joe's Shanghai (Chinatown)
Aburiya Kinnosuke
Taqueria (J City and LES)
Pocha 32 (KTown) - Watermelon Soju and budaejigae (sans cheese) ftw
Kunjip (KTown)
Woorijip (Ktown) - super cheap on the go Korean

snacksies
Otafuku (E. Village) - japanese okonomiyaki and takoyaki
Baohaus (Union Sq) - taiwanese steamed buns, favorites are the chairman bao and the birdhaus

worth the trek
Little Lamb Hot Pot (Flushing)Chinese style hot pot
Main Street Imperial (Flushing) mm Taiwanese food!
White Bear (Flushing) - yes it's ghetto looking but red oil wontons...SO good!
Warehouse Cafe (JCity)
Sri Ganesh's Dosas (JCity)
SriPraPhai (Woodside) - best thai in nyc imho

get your drink on
Cienfuego (Alphabet City) - hidden behind a kitchen, very cool, has some fun sangrias
Pegu Club (SoHo) - good for groups, solid drinks (earl grey)
B Flat (TriBeCa) - another great bar. japanese, very low key. solid drinks.
Silver Lining (FiDi) - awesome Sasha Petraske creation (famous bartender in nyc). downstairs cool vibe with live jazz on most nights. (not sure if affected by Sandy)
PDT (E. Village) - enter through a phone booth inside a hot dog shop, awesome chang dog, amazing bacon infused bourbon
Little Branch - another Sasha Petraske. small, low key bar in W village. hot buttered rum is quite tasty on cold days..just don't think too much about the butter :)
Pravda (SoHo) - cool cavernous bar with good vodka.

yes, it'll be 2 hours to wait for brunch
Jane (Soho) - amazing french toast
Moto (Bk) - really yum brunch but it's out in brooklyn
Ronnybrook Milk Bar (in Chelsea Market) - cute option in chelsea market. also they have fresh milk and tasty milkshakes
Clinton Street Baking Co - amazing blueberry pancakes. generally a horrific wait unless you go early.

need more energy?
9th Street Espresso (in Chelsea Market)
Stumptown (Chelsea) - ACE hotel lobby is a plus
Gorilla Coffee (Park Slope, Bk)

there's always room for more...

Lady M (UES) - mango and green tea thousand layer crepes...mmm!
Amorino Gelato  - pretty rose shaped gelato and very tasty
Cha-An (E. Village) - teahouse and desserts
Doughnut Plant (Chelsea, LES) - even if you don't like doughnuts...
Kyotofu (Hell's Kitchen) - everything is made of tofu!
The Chocolate Room

if you're stuck in TSq...
Tony DiNapoli (Times Sq) - pretty decent italian option!

bubble bobble
Chatime (Chinatown, various locations)
T Magic (Greenwich Village)
ComeBuy (Chelsea)
Saint Alp's Teahouse (E. Village)

dim sum
Golden Unicorn (Chinatown) - tasty dim sum in ctown
Dim Sum Go Go (Chinatown) - duck dumplings...
Nom Wah Tea Parlor (Chinatown) - good tea, diner digs

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