***New York*** (3 Viewers)

[Jayrod]

I've been to the city once for a wedding a couple of years ago. My wife has never been. I researched the hell out of it last time and still have a good idea of where and what to do and even more important, what NOT to do.

However, I didn't do anything to set up accommodations and just stayed in the same hotel as the rest of the family. I believe it was a Marriott down in the financial district, but I'd like something with a little more character and less of a pricetag.

 

[El Floppo]

My mom always stays here: incentra village, which is fantastically located in the West Village, just below the Meat Packing district. Usually affordable (just checked, but July looks like prices start at $269) and most or all units have a small convenience kitchen attached.

I've heard mixed things about the Off Soho Suites... but the rates appear to be more in your price-range. (the main bad I heard was about noise). Great location near soho, nolita, bowery, LES, etc.

 

[fantasycurse42]

Went with David Burke Kitchen... Just got a call from the restaurant:

DBK - "Calling about your reservation tomorrow night"

FC - "Okay, confirming, see you tomorrow night"

DBK - "Ummmm, no sorry Mr. FC, we are going to need to cancel these reservations"

FC - " excuse me?"

DBK - "Due to the storm"

FC -

DBK - "As I was saying, the salt outside destroyed some pipes in front of our building, Con Edison will be doing work tomorrow. I can switch your reservation over to another DBK restaurant for the night."

FC - "Meh"

DBK - "If you need a reservation at another restaurant for the evening, I can make a call and try to help you out, I'm friends with a lot of GMs around the city."

FC - "Okay, I'll call you back"

This guy prob has a headache to deal with contacting a bunch of people today who are pissed like me. I don't think I'm gonna bust his balls trying to get a reservation...

Although, getting a reservation on one day for anything good is a huge PIA

 

[fantasycurse42]

New restaurants, Floppo, anyone heard of these?

Blue Ribbon Brasserie, North End Grill, or Raoul's

 

[Nick Vermeil]

New restaurants, Floppo, anyone heard of these?

Blue Ribbon Brasserie, North End Grill, or Raoul's

Raoul's on Prince? Not even remotely new, but I dig it. The Steak au Poivre is delicious.

 

[Koya]

New restaurants, Floppo, anyone heard of these?

Blue Ribbon Brasserie, North End Grill, or Raoul's

Blue Ribbon is very well known - the Brasserie is the original and has spawned an NYC restaurant empire.

Raoul's is a NY tradition. I've never been but almost went a few weeks back and will likely go next time we stay in the Soho area.

 

[El Floppo]

New restaurants, Floppo, anyone heard of these?

Blue Ribbon Brasserie, North End Grill, or Raoul's

Blue Ribbon is very well known - the Brasserie is the original and has spawned an NYC restaurant empire.

Raoul's is a NY tradition. I've never been but almost went a few weeks back and will likely go next time we stay in the Soho area.

I've lost track of the Blue Ribbons- if it's the original, then it's quite good (and far from new). Do they even take reservations for 2? IIRC, no. but my memory sucks.

Raoul's- yeah, like Koya and Nick say- solid, consistent eats... I've been going there... crap- maybe as long as I've been in NYC? good French bistro... the first one I remember going to in soho.

Pretty sure I read about North End (if it's in Battery Park City), but haven't gone. fwiw- I read very good things.

how about Bowery Meat?

 

[fantasycurse42]

Blue Ribbon takes reservations for two... Giving it a shot. Raoul's shows an opening, but won't let me book it.

Never been to Bowery Meat, heard good things and it is on our hit list, but we wanted to try a meal that wasn't very steakee.

Blue Ribbon also looks like a good place to get drunk

Thanks all for the feedback.

 

[fantasycurse42]

Raoul's just called me... I had a left a message bc Opentable wouldn't let me reserve it. They called and said they had a cancellation that filled (which is why the opening was showing), but they would slightly overbook and allow me a reservation as a courtesy. They were very nice, so I reserved it...

Now I'm booked at both Blue Ribbon and Raoul's. Leaning Raoul's - I'll give a courtesy call tomorrow when I make the decision.

I'm sure you were all waiting anxiously for that update

 

[Nick Vermeil]

Raoul's just called me... I had a left a message bc Opentable wouldn't let me reserve it. They called and said they had a cancellation that filled (which is why the opening was showing), but they would slightly overbook and allow me a reservation as a courtesy. They were very nice, so I reserved it...

Now I'm booked at both Blue Ribbon and Raoul's. Leaning Raoul's - I'll give a courtesy call tomorrow when I make the decision.

I'm sure you were all waiting anxiously for that update

I for one am having leftover shepherd's pie tonight....

 

[El Floppo]

Raoul's just called me... I had a left a message bc Opentable wouldn't let me reserve it. They called and said they had a cancellation that filled (which is why the opening was showing), but they would slightly overbook and allow me a reservation as a courtesy. They were very nice, so I reserved it...

Now I'm booked at both Blue Ribbon and Raoul's. Leaning Raoul's - I'll give a courtesy call tomorrow when I make the decision.

I'm sure you were all waiting anxiously for that update

I for one am having leftover shepherd's pie tonight....

I'll be ordering from wherever the wife's delicate stomach will allow. We have 8 billion choices that get narrowed down to 2 or 3 as a result ("too spicey", "too smelly", "too greasey", "too much flavor")

oh- fwiw, I prefer the food at Blue Ribbon.

but damn, I had the skate at Raouls a ton back in my pre-married days.

 

[Major]

Hit Raouls over Blue Ribbon. Both are quality but Raouls reses can be difficult to come by. I love Blue Ribbon tho. I dined there often but normally the later side 11pm-3am so no need to book.

 

[El Floppo]

Hit Raouls over Blue Ribbon. Both are quality but Raouls reses can be difficult to come by. I love Blue Ribbon tho. I dined there often but normally the later side 11pm-3am so no need to book.

how's your Rick Owens peeny cape treating you?

 

[fantasycurse42]

Going to Raoul's

I'm sure you were all waiting anxiously for that update

 

[jamny]

I can smell the Williamsburg fire from my house in Queens. Got a little flashback from after 9/11 when I could smell that for weeks.

 

[El Floppo]

I can smell the Williamsburg fire from my house in Queens. Got a little flashback from after 9/11 when I could smell that for weeks.

I had Katzs for lunch yesterday... very well could've been me

 

[jamny]

Heading here for VDay

We went once to his old location and once to this new one. Incredible chef.

Queens is really starting to blow up with some great restaurants.

 

[RUSF18]

I can smell the Williamsburg fire from my house in Queens. Got a little flashback from after 9/11 when I could smell that for weeks.

I had Katzs for lunch yesterday... very well could've been me

Was there for dinner yesterday.

 

[El Floppo]

I can smell the Williamsburg fire from my house in Queens. Got a little flashback from after 9/11 when I could smell that for weeks.

I had Katzs for lunch yesterday... very well could've been me

Was there for dinner yesterday.

gtfo- where's the love? I live katz'sey corner from there. what'd you have? chopped liver, me. I was blowing a mighty wind last night.

 

[RUSF18]

I can smell the Williamsburg fire from my house in Queens. Got a little flashback from after 9/11 when I could smell that for weeks.

I had Katzs for lunch yesterday... very well could've been me

Was there for dinner yesterday.

gtfo- where's the love? I live katz'sey corner from there. what'd you have? chopped liver, me. I was blowing a mighty wind last night.

Standard order...pastrami and round potato knish. It's where my wife wanted to go for her birthday dinner, so we went there with some friends after about 5 hours of drinking.

 

[El Floppo]

I can smell the Williamsburg fire from my house in Queens. Got a little flashback from after 9/11 when I could smell that for weeks.

I had Katzs for lunch yesterday... very well could've been me

Was there for dinner yesterday.

gtfo- where's the love? I live katz'sey corner from there. what'd you have? chopped liver, me. I was blowing a mighty wind last night.

Standard order...pastrami and round potato knish. It's where my wife wanted to go for her birthday dinner, so we went there with some friends after about 5 hours of drinking.

she didn't puke in my doorway, did she?

pretty much every sunday we've got to side-step a nice puddle.

 

[El Floppo]

RIP, TU :( :(

 

[RUSF18]

I can smell the Williamsburg fire from my house in Queens. Got a little flashback from after 9/11 when I could smell that for weeks.

I had Katzs for lunch yesterday... very well could've been me

Was there for dinner yesterday.

gtfo- where's the love? I live katz'sey corner from there. what'd you have? chopped liver, me. I was blowing a mighty wind last night.

Standard order...pastrami and round potato knish. It's where my wife wanted to go for her birthday dinner, so we went there with some friends after about 5 hours of drinking.

she didn't puke in my doorway, did she?

pretty much every sunday we've got to side-step a nice puddle.

Ha nah...she doesn't drink much thanks to the migraine meds she needs to take. Plus you know a woman who will choose Katz's when given the option to go anywhere is too good to do something like that.

The buddy of mine who was so ####faced he took 20 mins to walk back from the bathroom however...

 

[RUSF18]

RIP, TU :( :(

Didn't have the pleasure to know him, but RIP. Just awful.

 

[Major]

RIP, TU :( :(

Didn't have the pleasure to know him, but RIP. Just awful.

Really sad. I enjoyed his posts and if I still lived in NYC would likely have met. TU's passing really hits home as we're roughly the same age and I realize I have to start taking better care of myself.

 

[RC94]

RIP TU. I wish I had gotten to know him better and meet in person. I enjoyed his posts. He will be greatly missed.

Koya - You are in my thoughts too. We are here for you if you ever need anything. I tried to send you a PM, but your inbox is understandably full.

 

[fantasycurse42]

Sad, 37 is too young... Koya, hope you're holding up okay, really sucks to get this kinda news at any time, but especially before a long flight, so sorry!

 

[Redwes25]

Holy ####, That is shocking and sad news. RIP TU

 

[Koya]

Thanks for the well wishes. To be honest, it's hit me like a sack of bricks, and the reality has not even come close to setting in. I don't know how I will spend random saturday nights chillin' at my pad until one of us passed out... only to then wake up to watch a full slate of football and then drive him to the train on Mon AM. Guy was a quintessential NYer. In all the best ways.

Maybe the least hip, and most cool, person I've ever known.

We need to get together, have a bash in honor of our fallen brother. As I mentioned in the other thread, one of Sean's loves (and mine) was our annual charity bar crawl. It sorta went belly up a couple years ago. But I'd be happy to organize something with some proceeds to charity.

In the meantime, I'd be down to get drinks with any of you who had met - or wanted to have met - TU. #### goes too fast and good people are lost all too soon.

 

[Koya]

PS - PMs cleared. Was a bunch of WIS baseball trade ####.

 

[ScottNorwood]

Thanks for the well wishes. To be honest, it's hit me like a sack of bricks, and the reality has not even come close to setting in. I don't know how I will spend random saturday nights chillin' at my pad until one of us passed out... only to then wake up to watch a full slate of football and then drive him to the train on Mon AM. Guy was a quintessential NYer. In all the best ways.

Maybe the least hip, and most cool, person I've ever known.

We need to get together, have a bash in honor of our fallen brother. As I mentioned in the other thread, one of Sean's loves (and mine) was our annual charity bar crawl. It sorta went belly up a couple years ago. But I'd be happy to organize something with some proceeds to charity.

In the meantime, I'd be down to get drinks with any of you who had met - or wanted to have met - TU. #### goes too fast and good people are lost all too soon.

I actually came here to post the exact same thing. I rarely go out for drinks these days but count me in for this.

 

[El Floppo]

Thanks for the well wishes. To be honest, it's hit me like a sack of bricks, and the reality has not even come close to setting in. I don't know how I will spend random saturday nights chillin' at my pad until one of us passed out... only to then wake up to watch a full slate of football and then drive him to the train on Mon AM. Guy was a quintessential NYer. In all the best ways.

Maybe the least hip, and most cool, person I've ever known.

We need to get together, have a bash in honor of our fallen brother. As I mentioned in the other thread, one of Sean's loves (and mine) was our annual charity bar crawl. It sorta went belly up a couple years ago. But I'd be happy to organize something with some proceeds to charity.

In the meantime, I'd be down to get drinks with any of you who had met - or wanted to have met - TU. #### goes too fast and good people are lost all too soon.

I actually came here to post the exact same thing. I rarely go out for drinks these days but count me in for this.

yep

 

[Koya]

Thanks for the well wishes. To be honest, it's hit me like a sack of bricks, and the reality has not even come close to setting in. I don't know how I will spend random saturday nights chillin' at my pad until one of us passed out... only to then wake up to watch a full slate of football and then drive him to the train on Mon AM. Guy was a quintessential NYer. In all the best ways.

Maybe the least hip, and most cool, person I've ever known.

We need to get together, have a bash in honor of our fallen brother. As I mentioned in the other thread, one of Sean's loves (and mine) was our annual charity bar crawl. It sorta went belly up a couple years ago. But I'd be happy to organize something with some proceeds to charity.

In the meantime, I'd be down to get drinks with any of you who had met - or wanted to have met - TU. #### goes too fast and good people are lost all too soon.

I actually came here to post the exact same thing. I rarely go out for drinks these days but count me in for this.

yep

I gotta clear my head and get through the upcoming days. But for real, let's set a date, maybe early March, and do TU right. I'll try to get some of our friends - the one's Sean's known for years - to join.

 

[Gawain]

Damn, I've done more lurking than posting over the past 12 years, but it was easy to tell TU was good people.

Stay strong, Koya. If you ever need anything on the South Shore, drinks are on me. If there's something with a charity component, please let me know.

 

[Sammy3469]

Yeah, let me know what's up. I must have gone to 6-10 Yankees games, a couple of Knicks games, and some ither games with him over the years. I'd get the tickets from work and he'd get the beers . Shared an uber team for awhile. Hadn't seen him since Sammyinho was born 3 years ago. Crap.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

Jesus. RIP TU. What a loss. My condolences Koya to you and all Sean's friends and family.

 

[jamny]

Just did a search and read through this thread for TU's posts. Really get a sense of the guy reading through the posts. I wish I would have gotten to know him more here or even took the time to meet him. He really did take advantage of all this city has to offer, much more than I ever have. RIP bro.

Happy New Year all! Woke up with a split elbow, ripped pants and I slept in a massage chair last night! 2013 in your face!

Did you have sex with the chair?

Duh!

 

[kutta]

So, I'm getting serious about a trip to NYC this Summer in July for me and the Mrs. I'm thinking fly into LaGuardia and stay 4 nights.

For the moment, accommodations is where I could use some direction. I'm looking to stay below $150/night. The place just needs to be decent and have good access to Manhattan. I've done a little online sleuthing, but thought I'd try the FFA brain trust for some advice.

TIA, Will answer yours.

Check Priceline. I almost always us Priceline for NY and sometimes you can get some really good deals. If you stick with 4 star and above hotels almost anywhere Manhatten you will be good.

 

[kutta]

Thanks for the well wishes. To be honest, it's hit me like a sack of bricks, and the reality has not even come close to setting in. I don't know how I will spend random saturday nights chillin' at my pad until one of us passed out... only to then wake up to watch a full slate of football and then drive him to the train on Mon AM. Guy was a quintessential NYer. In all the best ways.

Maybe the least hip, and most cool, person I've ever known.

We need to get together, have a bash in honor of our fallen brother. As I mentioned in the other thread, one of Sean's loves (and mine) was our annual charity bar crawl. It sorta went belly up a couple years ago. But I'd be happy to organize something with some proceeds to charity.

In the meantime, I'd be down to get drinks with any of you who had met - or wanted to have met - TU. #### goes too fast and good people are lost all too soon.

I actually came here to post the exact same thing. I rarely go out for drinks these days but count me in for this.

yep

I gotta clear my head and get through the upcoming days. But for real, let's set a date, maybe early March, and do TU right. I'll try to get some of our friends - the one's Sean's known for years - to join.

I have another trip to NY coming up for work soon. I'm going to try to schedule it so I can partake. Would be awesome to meet some of you guys.

 

[El Floppo]

I haven't had time to see or read DiBlasio's state of the city address concerning housing... anybody?

seems to me a major issue for the city moving forward- as a family guy just mebbe cracking middle class, I won't be able to afford to live here if we lose our (not rent-stabilized) rental apartment and are forced into more market rates. sorry, borough-guys, by "here", I mean Manhattan with no offense intended to the other spots.

but I'm torn- I also believe in a fair and free market. not sure what new developments being forced into offering "affordable" housing will ultimately mean. also doesn't seem like my broke middlish-class ### is broke enough to count for affordable.

 

[Sammy3469]

I haven't had time to see or read DiBlasio's state of the city address concerning housing... anybody?

seems to me a major issue for the city moving forward- as a family guy just mebbe cracking middle class, I won't be able to afford to live here if we lose our (not rent-stabilized) rental apartment and are forced into more market rates. sorry, borough-guys, by "here", I mean Manhattan with no offense intended to the other spots.

but I'm torn- I also believe in a fair and free market. not sure what new developments being forced into offering "affordable" housing will ultimately mean. also doesn't seem like my broke middlish-class ### is broke enough to count for affordable.

Sounds like a whole lotta nothing in the short term besides some imporved ferry service along the East River (which admittedly sounds pretty damn cool for some of those Queens/Brooklyn nabs that are tough to get to.

He talked about forcing every new rezoning approval to include "affordable" housing, I'm just not sure what that actually entails.

 

[El Floppo]

I haven't had time to see or read DiBlasio's state of the city address concerning housing... anybody?

seems to me a major issue for the city moving forward- as a family guy just mebbe cracking middle class, I won't be able to afford to live here if we lose our (not rent-stabilized) rental apartment and are forced into more market rates. sorry, borough-guys, by "here", I mean Manhattan with no offense intended to the other spots.

but I'm torn- I also believe in a fair and free market. not sure what new developments being forced into offering "affordable" housing will ultimately mean. also doesn't seem like my broke middlish-class ### is broke enough to count for affordable.

Sounds like a whole lotta nothing in the short term besides some imporved ferry service along the East River (which admittedly sounds pretty damn cool for some of those Queens/Brooklyn nabs that are tough to get to.

He talked about forcing every new rezoning approval to include "affordable" housing, I'm just not sure what that actually entails.

under Bloomberg, it meant "affordable housing" or "community space". All the new over-sized buildings in the LES have the latter, which means #### all for the neighborhood.

I wouldn't mind getting in on some Mitchell-Lama action. we applied to the handful of mid-income units in the new project in LIC- along with over a 100k other people.

 

[Koya]

Just did a search and read through this thread for TU's posts. Really get a sense of the guy reading through the posts. I wish I would have gotten to know him more here or even took the time to meet him. He really did take advantage of all this city has to offer, much more than I ever have. RIP bro.

Happy New Year all! Woke up with a split elbow, ripped pants and I slept in a massage chair last night! 2013 in your face!

Did you have sex with the chair?

Duh!

I'm lucky enough to (vaguely) remember that night. I slept on a floor. Not even a carpeted one.

 

[Gawain]

I hate rent stabilized/controlled with a passion.

It encourages absentee landlords and discourages repair and renovation (with the caveat of renovation to move an apartment out of the stabilized zone).

It encourages graft and largesse, as people make payments to supers and brokers for inside edges.

It artificially raises other rents because the pool of entry level apartments is lessened.

 

[El Floppo]

Just looked for some TU... he was my arch-enemy on this point, but dammit- from what I'm reading about him, this point seems to sum him up pretty well.

Because 20-something guys need another excuse to roam around in packs drunk yelling "WOOO" and 20-something girls need another excuse to dress like sluts, I give you this year's jump-the-shark version of SantaCon.

Never understood this....take the worst of St Pattys, NYE, throw in some Xmas cheer and you have Santacon #fail

20 something people like to go out and drink and have fun...seems pretty harmless...

What I saw were groups of nicely inebriated folks who were having a blast, in great spirits and looking to cause no trouble. It might have been silly, but fun as #### and infectiously fun, silly. I'll take that any day.

Agreed 100% Nice holiday celebration...sort of a mix of St Pattys and Halloween And it seems to get bigger every year

Last sentence there is a big reason for my "jump the shark" comment. It was a fun, goofy thing. Now its San Gennarro.

Meh, I have a hard time criticizing people for having a good time, regardless of how big or co-opted the celebration has become...Especially these days

 

[Koya]

Just looked for some TU... he was my arch-enemy on this point, but dammit- from what I'm reading about him, this point seems to sum him up pretty well.

Because 20-something guys need another excuse to roam around in packs drunk yelling "WOOO" and 20-something girls need another excuse to dress like sluts, I give you this year's jump-the-shark version of SantaCon.

Never understood this....take the worst of St Pattys, NYE, throw in some Xmas cheer and you have Santacon #fail

20 something people like to go out and drink and have fun...seems pretty harmless...

What I saw were groups of nicely inebriated folks who were having a blast, in great spirits and looking to cause no trouble. It might have been silly, but fun as #### and infectiously fun, silly. I'll take that any day.

Agreed 100% Nice holiday celebration...sort of a mix of St Pattys and Halloween And it seems to get bigger every year

Last sentence there is a big reason for my "jump the shark" comment. It was a fun, goofy thing. Now its San Gennarro.

Meh, I have a hard time criticizing people for having a good time, regardless of how big or co-opted the celebration has become...Especially these days

It is with joy and pain I read these posts. I remember the very experience Sean describes here. I believe we were drinking (un costumed) on east 53rd

 

[Gawain]

Scary news on the Metro North.

Trying to beat a train with your car is one of the dumber things people do.

Shame that five other people died because of it.

 

[El Floppo]

Scary news on the Metro North.

Trying to beat a train with your car is one of the dumber things people do.

Shame that five other people died because of it.

News was unclear about whether she was trying to beat the train or just caught in traffic. Made it seem like it was the latter.

But just terrible, either way.

 

[Gawain]

Scary news on the Metro North.

Trying to beat a train with your car is one of the dumber things people do.

Shame that five other people died because of it.

News was unclear about whether she was trying to beat the train or just caught in traffic. Made it seem like it was the latter.

But just terrible, either way.

ABC made it sound like she was beating the gate.

Post makes it sound like she was just stopped on the tracks.

Either way, scary as heck as someone who takes the LIRR.

Wonder if there will be another push for elevated platforms and crossings.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

One friend of mine who lives in pleasantville was on the train behind. Have not heard from another friend who lives in Valhalla.