My friend Chris made a surprise visit to New York City this past week. He’s from Kentucky, where he says that all the KFC’s have an all-you-can-eat deal for just $5.99. This was his first time in NYC, but only stayed for two days so I had to cut the fluff when showing him around. This is where we ended up going:

Day 1.

“Spanish Restaurant”
Woke up around noon, took the subway from East Village (where I live) to the East Broadway F subway train stop. We ate at a place called Spanish Restaurant on the corner of Madison and Rutgers, not necessarily because it is a well known place (it’s not) or that it is particularly good (it’s decent) but because it’s close to Kiyoki’s place (our friend’s girlfriend). Lots of food for cheap.

World Trade Center
Walked south from the restaurant about 20 minutes, through chinatown and downtown. Every tourist has to see this, so we did.

Barney’s Warehouse Sale
My friend Kenneth Berger told us about this one. Took the C subway train uptown to 18th street, then walked south to 17th Street (255 West 17th Street). It happens two times a year, late February to early march and again late August. Super long lines, but discounts up to 80%. We didn’t buy anything.

Thai Son
We went back to my place to rest for a bit, then ventured back to Chinatown to taste my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in NYC (we are Pho connoisseurs). 89 Baxter Street, NYC.

Times Square
Best at night to see the lights. From Chinatown, we took the W subway train to the 42 Street stop. Before you leave, don’t forget to purchase a Nuts for Nuts bag of roasted peanuts from the street vendor, 2 whole bucks.

Rockafeller Center
A quick walk east from Times Square and you are in the heart of midtown (around 48th Street and 6th Avenue). We stopped by the Time & Life Building, where I use to work, saw Radio City Music Hall, then walked a bit more east to see the ice-skating rink, take pictures of the flags, and soak in the art deco.

St. Patricks Cathedral
A bit more east to 5th avenue (and 49th Street), and we were at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Across from it is the famous Atlas statue of Rockefeller Center.

Trump Tower
Walking up 5th (around 56th Street) to see where all the apprentices get fired.

Grand Central Station
Then we took the long walk from Trump Tower to Grand Central Station (42 Street) along Park Ave (just two block east of 5th Ave. - Madison and then Park). Saw the Lever building and snapped a few photos of the Chrystler Building along the way. Check out the ceiling of constellations in Grand Central (note that they are all backwards - a mistake).

Day 2.

Grimaldi’s Pizzeria
Woke up around noon again. Took the F subway train to York Street (Brooklyn), then walked under the Manhattan Bridge to Grimaldi’s (under the Brooklyn Bridge). In my opinion, they have the best pizza in NYC. We ordered sausage and pepperoni.

Wall Street
After lunch, took the A subway train back into Manhattan, Broadway/Nassau Stop. Walked east to Wall Street. Saw the NY Stock Exchange, George Washington Statue, and took pictures in front of the bull.

Battery Park
From Wall Street, walk south on Broadway till you hit the park. The south tip of Manhattan provides an excellent view of the Statue of Liberty.

Balthazar Boulangerie
From Battery Park, we took the 4 subway train (transfer to the 6 local at Canal Street) uptown to Soho (Spring Street subway stop). Close to the subway stop, recognizable by the red awnings, Balthazar has a great Boulangerie next door. We ordered a few lattes to go.

Kid Robot
On Prince street (one block north of Spring); contains an excellent collection of urban vinyl figurines for sale.

Apple Store
How could we miss this?

Empire State Building
Walked east on Prince Street until we found the N-R subway stop (Prince and Broadway). Took the N subway train to 34th Street. The Empire State Building is right there. If you don’t see it, ask someone (amazingly, it’s harder to find the closer you are to it). Costs $16 per adult to get to the observation deck. They say that if you throw a penny off and it hits someone below, it will kill them. Imagine the damage a camera could do.

Sylvia’s
We ended the day right with a soul food dinner at Sylvia’s in Harlem. Take the 2/3 subway train to the 125th Street stop, then walk a bit north to 126th Street; you can’t miss the flashing lights. I had ham with macaroni and cheese and string beans. Yum.

Soon, you will be able to remix this itinerary and more.

(Photo by Joe from Joe’s NYC)