This one is for you, Keira McPhee!
OK, Keira is going to NYC in the next few days and she sent a request for recommendations of places to go, eat, see, etc. via twitter. Man, what a fun request! I started putting together a google My Maps page of some of my favorite spots with some idiosyncratic recommendations (it is a work in progress, Keira, so be sure to check back often while eating the Apple!). You can view this mini-map-masterpiece here.
Now, I need all you maniacs out there to build upon my very Brooklyn-centric approach to Keira’s request and use the comments (anyone know if they can add to my Google maps?) to offer up some of your own favorite spots in the Greatest City in the World (period). Can you do it? Or are y’all too busy dreaming of that cheap knock-off across the ocean known as Paris. I know you NYC folks are cordial and giving, build upon my near perfect list. 
Oh yeah, be sure to “shoot the freak,” Keira, and enjoy yourself lots. What a great time you will have!
Update: I refer to Dante’s Inferno at Coney Island on the map. Here is a photo of this crazy, crazy funhouse (be sure to check out the original for details and search “dante’s Inferno Coney Island” in flickr for some much wilder shots.
Photo courtesy of J Cody Simms
What a blast writing this post was, the blog still blows Twitter out of the water, despite how much I like that little sounding board!
JG, you are one serious dood.
*Magnolia Bakery – I know this has gotten a lot of notoriety since the SNL skit but, their cupcakes are really great. I don’t even like cupcakes and I thoroughly enjoyed them. The shop is so small you can’t even sit inside but, their is a little park area right across the way to sit enjoy.
*La Giara Restaurant – If you are in the area it is a good restaurant to hit. Italian food and if you go for the early dinner special you get a lot of bang for your buck. The wall that faces the street is made up of a bunch of large doors that are more like large windows. When it is warm they open them up so you can soak up the ambiance of NYC, also outdoor seating.
*TKTS – If you weren’t planning on seeing a broadway show maybe you should. There is a TKTS booth in Times Square (and somewhere else) and you can get greatly discounted tickets to see shows. The most popular and sold out shows aren’t going to be available but, there is usually something good. The TKTS booth ONLY takes cash or travelers checks so be prepared. People tend to line up early to get tickets too.
I can’t keep up with you. You may very well be one of the best social networking Web 2.0 folks out there: blogging, twittering, commenting non-stop. I genuflect in your general direction. Wow!
It’s been a frustrating day on the web; back to the early, unreliable days of high-speed. We’ve had connectivity enough for me to read the post and get out one tiny tweet of gratitude. The rest of the time I’ve been doing some last minute kamikaze gardening (Must get plants in ground NOOOOOOOOW!)and reflecting on the power of the web.
Twitter is a creaky, funny sort of tool but if anyone doubts that it can inspire some amazing stuff, I’d point them here.
Thanks so much.
When I login to google I get this map up right away which is cool but I don’t seem to be able to add to it yet. It comes up as “view only- Public”. Perhaps there’s a setting to make it edit-able?
Does anyone know about this stuff?
I want to add the other suggestions that have come in via Facebook, Twitter and phone. This is going to be my kick in the ass course in google maps too- how cool is that?
Keira – Enjoy your trip to the city and if you somehow end up lost in Jersey I’ll point you back in the right direction
. I’m pretty sure Jim must be making fun of Jersey when I’m not looking.
Yeah, good question. I think this is a limitation to Google’s My Maps right now. I looked into it, at least surfacely, and I don’t think others can edit this map I created. But maybe I can export to you for your google account? I have been updating the recommendations on the blog and from twitter (I’m gonna add Frank’s Restaurant now), but have yet to check Facebook. Does that new-fangled technology guy you shack up with have any ideas?
P.S. -Just updated the Facebook recommendations as well. Ok, but now to do some more research on handing control over to you of the google my map… hmmmm.
Via Facebook messages:
From Shana:
For the love of god, don’t miss this place! (If you’re going to the lower east or west side – there are two)
Hummus Place
http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/hummus-place01/
From Deb:
Another vote for the Lower Eastside Tenement Museum.
From Gabrielle via Jake:
Walk through Soho, hit the Village, stop at cafe’s etc.
Via Twitter:
From Alan:
Central Park. Real NY deli. Chinatown. The Ear bar Canal street (20 yrs ago). Random ride subways. Staten Island Ferry out n bak.
Wooohooo- ’bout to board the tin can. Wish I was tranquilized!
I’ve been taking my usual crappy, quality pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/keiramc/ but you can track my progress throughout this amazing town.
Eva, who Brian and I taught with in Mexico is a Staten Island girl who fled to Brooklyn at first opportunity. She loves Vancouver and comes every summer. Why haven’t we been doing the reverse?! Are we nuts? I could easily spend a month a year here with a quick trip home to Toronto to go the cottage. I’m ready to rearrange my life.
Time for some Coney Island action. I’d wear my black jeans and VU shirt in honour of Lou but it’s damn hot here and I’m trying to NOT look like a total poser.
@Scott -The ongopongo was something I stumbled upon while doing this, it is a cinch which is nice. Although, in the end I was kinda bummed that google doesn’t let you share a map with others for collaborative editing, that kinda stymied some of my aspirations for playing a NYC tour guide on TV:)
Frappr is one we played with for our workshop. On Twitter, Chris suggested http://www.wayfaring.com
Keira
I’m ready to hop on a plane!!!
.”Start spreading the news, I’m leaving today. I want to be part of it- New York New York.