10 things NOT to do in New York City

I'm so glad someone spoke up against the Empire State Building views, those super lame carriage rides in the park, and the indigestibles at Times Square! About time we get to the truth about the cliches.

And added the overrated Magnolia bakery to the list.. much prefer Buttercup cup cakes .. also love Lord and Taylor its always quiet and peaceful never zoo-like like Macy's.

I especially enjoyed that the first place not to go to was Tavern on the Green. I cannot understand the massive appeal of that place?

The best view of the city I've ever had was from the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center. I was doing a temp job at the time, so I didn't actually get to enjoy an expensive meal there, but I would say that the view is worth whatever they are serving, if/when they finally open their doors back up.

I once was dragged to the Empire State Building and did not enjoy a moment of the experience.... The lines there reminded me of those at Disney World, except there was no culminating ride at the end of the line, just an extremely cold and windy observation deck. I had a better view from my six-story LES walk-up.

Also about the carriage rides, how much more unromantic can you get, having to smell horse halooey the whole time?

Empire State building is really unnecessarily expensive ($30 to wait on line, almost $50 for fast-track) and the view is comparable to many, many other views in the city. I'd add "Go to the Times Square NYE Festivities" and "Take the Circle Line" (Instead: Staten Island Ferry!) to the list.

@ajadedidealist I once attempted the Times Sqaure NYE Festivities as a teenage tourist in the city - I lasted all of ten minutes before getting back on a train to Brooklyn - so I'm willing to back you up 100% on that one. Though I'm pretty sure NYE in Times Square is ONLY for tourists. Who else would torture themselves like that?

What not to do in NYC ---
- don't use the subway in the summer if you can help it
- don't take a bus during rush hour if you're in a rush
- don't stand in the middle of the side walk lolly-gagging when it's crowded..!! :-D

I know, perhaps a bit off topics.. hahaha.. but these are my don't..

I went once, when I had a friend in town. Not to be repeated. I spent this 00:01 New Year's Day in a cab from Newark, picking up my boyfriend who decided 11:35 on NYE was a good time to land...we missed the countdown proper, but remembered by 00:05 or so. Let me tell you another thing NOT to do. Go to Penn Station/NJ Transit on NYE! It was traumatically crowded and full of absolutely plastered teenagers trying to get to the nearby Madison Square Garden. Which brings me to another place not to go. Madison Square Garden...

@Mayeg Call me crazy, but I actually prefer taking the subway in the summer over the winter. (Perhaps this is because I'm from Florida and just assume that sticky sweaty humidity is the natural way of being?) I definitely do a lot more driving/ cab taking during the winter. Though summer is also a great time for walking, which is always preferable over taking the train.

@Mayeg I dont mind using the subway even in the summer like BroadwayBK I am quite used to heat and humidity and besides the subway is the best way to get around in NYC. I do agree about the bus. My regular bus is the M79 but its such a slow poke that I often tend to walk to my destination much faster than the bus.

I agree with all about the bus. If you are in a hurry, don't bother to wait for the bus. With the cut backs in place, it takes longer for buses to show on certain routes.

Don't even BE in New York in the last week of August if you can help it. By then all that street garbage has cooked pretty thoroughly all summer long and the stink is pretty powerful everywhere you go.

Ugh.... the garbage smell. I can practically smell it anytime someone mentions it, it is that strongly imprinted on my olfactory bulb.

Okay guys. Don't smell that stuff when you are walking down the street holding a sandwich or some kind of food. You may end up chucking it, which will add to the smell. Ha ha.

The sickeningly sweet smell of street garbage - what is it in the garbage that gives it that...you know what I mean, precise garbage-y smell. Rotting fruit?

@ajadedidealist you may be right there.. think its the rotting fruit that gives out that putrid smell.

Rotting eggs can be excruciating, so discarded shells must be among the very smelliest.

Pleasant thoughts!

@Everybody: Whatever makes the smell, the bottom line is who can tolerate it. I went through an area last week and the smell was so bad, I held my nose and breathed through my mouth till I got a block or two away.

Okay, let's start on a slightly more cheery topic. What are some GOOD smells in NYC? I love the smell of (fresh!!!) fish at the market on Fulton St, and fresh-baking bread in front of Zabar's...

The smell of freshly ground coffee when you walk past any coffee store even if its a random Starbucks.

Is it just me or is the Air conditioning in the subway in the summer a little severe. I mean, I know it's hot outside but good grief! I always get sick at the beginning of summer because of the drastic climate change on those buggers.


My favorite NY smell is definitely walking past a wood fire pizza place. It's incredible.

I was wandering around the other day and encountered the horrible garbage smell (already! though I'm sure it's bound to only get worse) and even if it was gross, I actually thought to myself, "Finally! Summer is on its way!"

@JenMac: I went into a Duane Reade on Monday and it was cold. I mean it felt like winter practically. I asked one of the employees why the temps were so low. She just shrugged her shoulders.

My favorite smell is going by a bakery shop. Ummm ... makes you want to stop in and buy the stuff.

@BroadwayBK Me too! Now that everything has thawed, the weird random smells are coming back. But I also walked past a cupcake store in the Village and couldn't believe how fabulous the smell was, even late in the evening.

My nose has come back to life this month, too. I'm particularly in love with produce stands nowadays.

So what would be the ten things to DO in New York City?

I'd say one thing to definitely do is picnic in Central Park. It's trite, I know, but it's pretty amazing.

I'd say go to Tast-i-Delight and have a cup of yogurt.

I like how this forum topic got completely turned around.

@BroadwayBK: Yeah, from what not to do to what is good to do. Ironic isn't it.

Oh, I love Tasti-d-Lite! It's amazing! One of the things I miss most when I'm abroad...

Things you need to do in the city? Shop for books at the Strand. Take a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge...or the Williamsburg Bridge. And visit Brooklyn - it's a happening borough.

@Monumental also make sure that you have a NYC bagel for the city's bagels are reputed to be the 'best' in the world.something about the NYC water that makes them so special..

@BroadwayBK: I like your thoughts when you said you didn't like it when a bunch of people walked side-by-side so no one could pass. I had that experience myself recently. I actually had to walk in the street. I turned to look and they were so involved in talking amongst themselves that they ignored me.

Yes, shopping at the Strand is a must. There are a ton of tourists looking at all the window shops during Christmas (Barneys, Neimans, Macys) but it's pretty cool and there's nothing like it anywhere else. Dining at La Esquina is pretty unique too. I had been hearing about the cool restaurant underneath the taco stand for years before I moved here.

@hhusted and BroadwayBk must admit that's another thing that gets my goat in this city.

Eat a distinctive NYC food, like a big fluffy lox bagel, or a knish, or a pastrami sandwich, or soup dumplings...

@Uptowngirl: Sometimes I feel like going through them instead of around, and when confronted, I would tell them to stop hogging the sidewalk.

@hhusted more power to you then!

@AJ - I'm coming out with a friend in June.. THIS particular list actually does help a TON.. I admit, I was considering the Empire State Building tourist trap.. but the Top of the Rock actually sounds better.. AND, allows for the bonus picture taking WITH the ESB in the picture... The only thing I would have liked more would have been the WTC observation deck. *sigh* R.I.P.

I'm surprised they didn't mention visiting the statue of liberty. Maybe it's not the worst thing you can do, but it's probably the most touristy thing. Most of the people in my art class were from NY (my college was about 15 minutes away from the city, located in New Jersey). I remember my teacher once asked "how many people have been to the statue of liberty?" and no one raised their hands. It seems like it's something that mostly only foreigners are interested in when they visit NY. My teacher laughed and said that she went once, but only to bring her foreign friend there who had begged her to go.

Anyway, "a morning walk through central park" is a great suggestion for something to actually do when you go to NY. One of my favorite experiences in NY was walking through central park to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art early in the morning. I would recommend that to anyone taking a trip.

@elysium Oh, yeah. I very specifically make it a point to talk visiting friends out of the silliness of going to Ellis Island. Waste of time & money, and the Staten Island ferry is so much nicer and it's free.

On the TO DO list: take a boat boat trip around Manhattan and the surrounding waterways. Touristy? Yes. But also very very awesome!

@Elysium: Perhaps the reason not too many people go there is because it was mainly a place were foreigners came in and had to register to live in this country. Now that Ellis Island has been closed for some time, it is mainly a tourist attraction. I think those who come here from overseas might be interested in the place, perhaps their ancestors came here once, otherwise, there really is nothing to the place. I went there about 10 years ago and found it boring.

They just had an earphone thing and talked about the history of the place. There was nothing else about it.

DBlack: I agree. A trip around Manhattan is well worth it. You get to see so much.

@DBlack I love the waterway trips but more than the Circle Line its 'the Beast'( the speed boat ride) which is great fun especially when you have visitors with kids .. it always seems to impress them... though I think its pricey..when i last went its was around $18 a pop but I am sure its become more expensive now..

Just take the Staten Island ferry! It's free - and you get such a great view of the Statue of Liberty!

Whoops, looks like uraniumfish got there first. I'll also add that there's a diner right by the ferry on Staten Island that serves amazing red velvet cake - it's right near the big municipal house-thing!

@ajadedidealist methinks you are quite the desert-a-holic ! what with your carrot cake and now red velvet cravings. If you like red velvet cakes you should even try the ones baked by the brooklyn based cake man raven- http://www.yelp.com/biz/cake-man-raven-brooklyn .. truly scrumptious can vouch for them.. hmmm my mouth is watering just thinking about it.

@Ajadedidealist: Are you a sugar addict or just love sweets. :) :)

@Uraniumfish Ellis Island is different from Liberty Island where the Statue of Liberty sits. Ellis Island is where immigrants had to go historically before they could enter the US; it's a landmark in its own right. It's a pretty common mistake to make, though.

@NeverSleeps You're right. I knew that, but it was an instance of just typing faster than my brain could think...

I've never been to Ellis Island OR Liberty Island. I am pretty curious about the former, though. Has anyone ever been to Ellis?

@Uraniumfish I thought so; I never really doubted you.

One of the biggest mistakes tourists make is going to see a long-running broadway show. They're better off seeing something off broadway or a student show. Atlantic and Midtown always have something good running, and so do the students at CU!

@bellacaroline Ha! Amen! I'm so glad to have found someone who agrees with me on this. I was starting to think I'm the only one who finds Broadway shows the lamest thing in the world...

@Uraniumfish I have a cousin who comes into NYC periodically from Boston. A few days before she arrives she always calls to get recommendations for happening bars and restaurants and Broadway shows.The former I can help her with but the later.. I usually dont have a clue because I have yet to see a show on Broadway in NY.. have seen some off Broadway at the Public theater and elswhere but not one of those mega shows like Lion King, Wicked et al..seems like I am not missing a thing..

@Uraniumfish Besides my teenage love affair with Rent, you probably won't catch me dead or alive at a Broadway show. Um...unless it's In the Heights. Sorry, can't help it I guess. But you will definitely never catch me at Westside Story or that horrifying Green Day musical production!!!!

There is no smoking in the subway stations or trains.

@alifkhan and restaurants and bars.of course..

Haha my boyfriend and I just wandered through the Empire State Building lobby, but didn't bother to pay to go up top...we can get views almost as nice from plenty of other buildings!

@Ajadedidealist: You are here in America? How long will you be here? As for places not to go to, I don't think Times Square is. Too many people around. Yuck.

The pedicab people might seem nice to try as an idea, but it's freaky as a reality. Do you really want this poor, sweating person slaving right in front of you, just to shuttle you around? I would have a lot of trouble enjoying my ride.

I completely agree on the Broadway show front. I went to A Behanding in Spokane a few months ago and I was really unimpressed. The acting was really terrible. And, man, I hate musicals. The Public Theatre is great and the BAM has good theatre, but Broadway is so overrated.

@DBlack I always feel sorry for those guys - and I don't really understand the appeal of taking the ride, either. But at least ...they stay fit?

Aren't Broadway musicals considered annoying by most people, really?

And..are pedicabs those guys on bikes that drive you around? Maybe it is somehow easier than it looks? I know biking on a cruiser is a lot easier than on a road bike. Maybe the bike they use is somehow easier on the thighs.

Maybe they should stop calling theater at the Public "off-Broadway" as though that's any kind of standard by which shows should be judged?

I think I know a few people who would actually enjoy the job of biking people around the city... just having a love of biking and people will do it I think. Not that I would want to do it myself. Or that I will be taking a ride on one of those things any time soon.

I love Broadway musicals, @BroadwayBK. From Phantom and cheesy classics like Les Mis to Sondheim musicals like A Little Night Music to fun new romps like Curtains! I don't like the "extravaganzas" - Shrek, Legally Blonde, film adaptations and Blockbusters, and I don't love Mamma Mia, but I do enjoy a lot of old fashioned Cole Porter/George Gershwin types!

@DBlack apparently pedi-cabs are being promoted as an eco-friendly mode of transportation...read somewhere some time ago , the city was hoping to sell space on the pedi-cabs to advertisers to generate revenue.

I think I would take a pedi-cab ride before I would get in a horse carriage. The smell of a sweaty dude has to be slightly better than that of a poopy horse.

@Neversleeps well said...

@Uptowngirl: The disadvantage to riding in the pedi-cabs is they only go as fast as the bike rider can peddle. So if you have to be somewhere in a hurry, don't ride on one.

@Everybody: As for Broadway and musicals - I do not like them much. I am more of a movie guy. My girlfriend has been asking me to take her to a musical, but I change the subject when she does. The last Broadway play I went to was "42nd St."

@hhusted.. I am not planning on riding on one anytime soon they remind me too much of those old time rickshaws which used to ply on roads in various parts of Asia when the rickshaw driver used to actually pull the people along ..he didnt have a bike like contraption but used his own strength and his own two feet...absolutely brutal

@Uptowngirl: Wow, that must have been a feat. What if the guy weighed over 600 pounds. He probably couldn't even move it then.