I recently sent this email to my friend Lindsay. Her family is planning a trip to NYC and DC this summer and wanted my thoughts on the two cities. I sent her this gargantuan message and thought it a waste to not share:
"Two of my favorite places in the whole world....gear up for the longest email of your life!
NYC:
really study a map before you start planning. The city is divided by a e-w street called houston (house-ton, say it right!!). north of houston the streets are numbered. they go from 1st street al the way north to the 300's in the bronx. streets number up from south to north. avenues line e-w, there are eleven. seriously, look at the map.
When you get there, have everyone get an unlimited subway pass. it's totally worth it. the subway isnt the easiest to use but there are lots of helpers around and people are generally nice about it. remember, it's really easy to go uptown/downtown in NYC, kind of a pain to go east and west. you could seriously get a million places by taking the 1 train up and down on the west side and the 6 up and down on the east. cabs expensive and not necessarily faster.
where to eat:
magnolia bakery. there's one in greenwich village and one on the upper west side. the best cupcakes ever. the red velvet is my favorite.
joshua tree- on 46th between 8th and 9th. this area is the theatre district, with b'way and what not. this area of streets between 8th-9th and 40-60th streets is considered Restaurant Row. tons of places to eat, you can't go wrong. they are all amazing. there are a few thai places that i wanted to move into.
if you REALLY want to feel like new yorkers, i loved burger joint, this little hole in the wall tucked in the lobby of le parker meridien hotel on 56th between 10th and west end (11th) avenue. all there is is a neon hamburger sign at the door. the best milkshakes in town.
mulberry street- this is little italy. it's tucked by chinatown technically the soho area. anywhere there is legit italian food. you may be made an offer....an offer you can't refuse. serious. they're old school.
YOU MUST lunch at westville in greenwich village. if aaron is there, tell him i sent you. he won't know who i am, he might remember if you tell him i named him simon and we are going to write a musical based on his life. the food there is amazing. it's a tiny, unimpressive place, but you know it's good when there are people waiting outside to eat. the wait is never long, and that area is fun to explore while you are waiting for a table. my apt was just blocks from there. it's on w 10th between 4th ave and bleecker. just steps off of the christopher/sheridan stop on the 1,2, or 3 trains. oh, i highly recommend the baked mac n cheese.
on the upper east side, frrrrooozen hot chocolates at serendipity's! i think it's on 62nd between second and lex. anyone will know where it is.
H&H bagels: they are everywhere, and the best in the city. get it double toasted. mmmmmm
gray's papaya hot dogs: ideal late night i-need-energy-to-get-back-to-
TO DO:
top of the empire state building. splurge on the audio tour. totally worth it, otherwise you really have no idea what you are looking at and that city really is too spectacular to not know!
central park: rent bikes at the swim bike run store on 58th and 7th ave. it's like 30 bucks a person for an hour and a full tour of Central Park. it's the best way to see the whole park. rent your bikes for an extra hour and ride around yourselves after the tour is over. that place is magical and they do a good job of telling you all about it. DO NOT get on a damn horse drawn carriage. forty bucks and it's over in 20 minutes. they literally only take you through a tiny corner of the park. seriously, BIKE.
ferry boat ride through NY harbor. notice i didnt say the statue of liberty ferry. you can't even go up and so don't waste your time doing the one where you get off on the island. just do the one that takes you all over the harbor. you'll have better views anyway and then you get to see more of the city. take the 1 train downtown to south ferry stop, it's the end of the line. you'll also get to see battery park this way, and ground zero. all three in one:)
half off ticket office: this opens daily at three. dont worry, there is always a horrendous line but it moves really quickly!! it's in times square, under the red steps. everyone knows where it is. go with a few shows in mind that you would like to see. they have the available ones posted. it's so much worth it to do it this way...otherwise tickets cost 120-150 a piece. ouch. usually good seats, i dont know how that works but i have seen 5 or 6 shows this way and always had awesome seats. I recommend wicked, chicago, south pacific, mama mia, and any of the disney ones. any b'way show is guaranteed amazing. mary poppins was magical. they now take credit cards, which has changed, they used to only take cash.
walk through soho: the lofts there are so beautiful, i could get lost there. you could easily walk through soho, washington square park, and greenwich village in a morning. so much to do and look at. wonderful. NYU campus surrounds washington square park.
RULES ABOUT NYC:
these are mine but i think you should adopt them as well.
-no eating at chain restaurants. seriously, why would you?!
-do not look any street vendor in the eye.....act like a new yorker and ignore them. they'll leave you alone.
-don't waste your money shopping. bergdorf's might be a novelty, but anything you would buy there you can get online. spend your money on experiences instead of that stupid handbag!
-learn to use the subway.
-eat pizza.
-avoid all retail/restaurants close to times square. all goods are horrible overpriced and the food is always awful. if you are hungry, walk the three blocks to restaurant row.
-don't tell the cabbie what to do. he knows where to go, they get cranky if you get bossy.
-keep your bag zipped
-carry your whole day with you. you dont want to waste time schlepping back to the hotel for stupid stuff.
-walking shoes! can't say it enough, you will walk miles and miles because it literally is sometimes the fastest way to move in that city.
BELIEVE IN THE MAGIC. it's real. i know it.
OK soooo DC!
the metro system in DC is way easier than NYC. it takes you everywhere you could want to go and the trains are clean and really comfy. it'll drop you off right in the middle of the Mall, literally on the grass on front of the washington monument. it takes your breath away.
other than the obvious monuments/museums (my favorite of these being the holocaust museum!), i would highly recommend a night tour of old town alexandria. this is where sheriann lives. take the king street stop and walk towards water. this is where the real history happened. colonial pubs, george washington's townhouse, cobblestone streets! a sight to behold. seriously, do the night tour, it's amazing and will resonate with you so much better than the sticky museums.
well......i think that's the highlights. let me know if you have any other questions. I AM SO EXCITED AND JEALOUS. these places are just wonderful.
Happy Planning!!
Love Love Love Mingni"
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