heartcream
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Joined: 5/9/2007
From: Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop
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Oh Rafters in New York, that will be awesome! Yes, Chelsea rocks! It is like the only part of the city that you can see more than slivers of sky. It used to be all auto repair shops. All the big galleries bought them up refurbished them into wild and gorgeous galleries. The whole Hudson River area is gorgeous. They have been working on the parks and stuff there for years now. Even the architecture across West Side Highway is so fresh and vibrant.
I remember when it was me and crack addicts there. There is a cute hotel on 30th and 8th Av called The Chelsea Star. You must make reservations ahead of time though, cannot just show up. It was an old SRO (single room occupancy) for ages. In fact Madonna lived there when no one knew who she was. By the time I got there in 92, it was full of ho's, crack ho's, and down and outers. I lived a few doors down in a building at the time. A family guy bought it, gutted it and now it is part hostel for young travellers and part regular suites. There is also the Pennsylvania, a good ol hotel been around for ever at 7th and what like 33rd I think. The 30 all the way to the east side have some good basic hotels worth checking out for you to stay in.
I love the river, a good long walk along the river. You can see the heliport, a bit further north some big war boat and all the way down to where the gay men rock out.
They have great clubs, great places to go to dance, you must go! I havent lived there for a while now so could not tell you where to hit the clubs but the Meat Market district (14th St W along to the river has some happening places)
Central Park is a must. Especially the Rambles. It is a part in the Park just north of Strawberry Fields, the dedicated part to John Lennon, right near the Dakota on Central Park West at like, what? 68th St I think. You wouldnt even know you were in the city in the Rambles. At night it is quite the sexcapadial place, mostly gay men (no, I havent partaken myself) Last year when I was there it was all closed off for maintenance. I hope it will be open when I get there this year. It is in the middle of the park. On the east side of it is the boat park, you know where folks drive those radio activated little boats. On the west side is the big fountain, I dont know what it is called but there are also these huge arches you can walk under or a long staircase you can climb.
You can see so many cool 'acts' in the park. Swing dancing, mad drumming circles, black young boys doing all sorts of stuff, drumming on plastic tubs, dancing, singing.
I wouldnt miss the street fairs. They close off huge parts of the Avenues. They set up tables along like 10 blocks and you can buy all sorts of stuff. You can usually bump into them being out and about on a Saturday or Sunday. Avenues run north/south and the streets run East west, only true north is on a diagonal. Down in the Village you can get so lost because the grid is on true north and it is hard to find your way around, even folks who have lived there for years get lost. The numbers start at good ol 5th Av. East of 5th the street number is followed by east and west of 5th av. is the street number is followed by west.
I think the Madison Square Park is lovely with the huge life size metal trees.
Shopping is good so many places. 34th St, 14th St being good bargain places. They have a saying, "She shops at Barney's but buys on 34th St." Har har, that was me. I really love what is called "Pearl River" It is along Canal Street from like 8th Avenue to like Broadway. That is where you get your honey's back home some knock off designer bags and sunglasses. You can buy a bag of cute earrings, same style in different colors for like 3 bucks. Knock off designer sunglasses, five bucks.
The Met museum rocks and especially the Egyptian gallery, they have so much cool spaces created to house these ancient relics. You can pay whatever you want. They dont advertise that but you could hustle up to the window and hand over a single dollar and they will hand you back the little metal clip you put on your clothes or bag to show you paid.
There is great food to eat all over the darn place. Hell's kitchen 9th Av between like 50th down to the 30's is known as Restaurant Row and there are awesome little places to chow down.
I love the East Village, lots of hetero males down there all funked out. St Marks Place which is like 9th Street between 1st Av and 2nd I think, has loads of places to buy yet more sunglasses and cool hats.
Washington Square Park is at the end of 5th Av and is a place I saw Dave Chapelle perform for free in the fountain before he was famous. That was a great show. To see the arches and know all the stuff that has gone on in that Park since the 50's is pretty inspiring.
I agree to not get too involved with Times Square it is FULL of tourists and usually so crowded I cannot wait to get south or north of there. Although if you see a play you like it is worth to pay the money and see one. You can get discounted tickets the day of. Oh and great music, live music all over the place. get the Village Voice on Thursday? I forget now what day it comes out on. It is free, same witht he alternative paper, NYPress, I think it is called. You will see boxes of them around the city or at the corner bodegas selling beer and stuff.
The city is laid out in sections, since there is so much wholesaling going on there. Flowers can be bought wholesale between 7 and 6 Av around 30th down to like 28th St. Fabric and stuff 8th Av 34th St up to like 40-something.
Have a blast Rafters! Take lots of pictures. Best of luck finding that hotel with the bed and all.
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Seriously, don't miss the museums. Amazing. 
. Museum of Natural History (across the park from the MET) The Botanical Gardens is nice. If you can find him, the Soup Natzi - i have heard he has the best soups in the world - i never have gotten around to it yet so i can't say from experience. If you like architecture go see Grand Central Station. You can take tours that will focus on the history of architecture of the city. Paddles is only open on weekends. TES also has events - 
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