New York City

[rics]

sis haven't heard of it.
marami kasi tour operators here, some are actually run by chinese booking offices, reason why chinese ang tour guide. but a lot of people who join tours, just like some that i know, take it for the convenience.

2 weeks ago, may kasabay kami tourist bus, mostly pinoys, papunta NYC but stopped at Niagara, then Buffalo before proceeding with the tour.

[kristala]

ah ok...sige try na lang namin ng dad ko and hope for the best ^_^ thanks!

[aquacharly]

You might wanna drop by:
The Bryant park

I love Bryant Park!  On the days I wake up early, I grab my Kindle, get Starbucks & just sit there (drives hubby crazy).  It's not a "destination" for tourists; but more like a serendipitous find along the way where one can take a simple break.  We stumbled across this on the way to Parsons, The New School. 

[mooncake and leaves]

rics and junetwentythree: thanks! yaaaay! i'm so excited.

rics, the sabrett hotdog, it's everywhere?

june, i checked the website. thanks! mukhang yummy nga. kita tayo!!!!

how about cheesecake, pizza and cheesesteak? for the last one, kelangan ba dumiretso ng philly? thanks ulit. sorry daming tanong.

[artegirl]

^other famous must try in NYC
Katz Deli - this is where the famous scene in Where Harry Met Sally was shot.  great pastrami and corned beef

Balthazar - French brasserie.  try it out for Sunday brunch so you get to feel how important Sunday brunch is to New Yorkers.  you need to reserve in advance

Shake Shack - for fast food burger, fries, milkshake

Lombardi's pizza - we were not able to try this out, but I just read in the Everything Pizza book that this is where NY pizza originated, so it's your most authentic NY pizza.  high ratings from critics din

Eataly - it's an Italian food emporium.  there are many restaurants, deli, grocery, market.  1 night we were shared a table with an Italian family.  And they were very impressed with the food! 

Gray's Papaya hotdog

[rics]

sabrett is practically everywhere on the streets of manhattan. on a busy weekday, makikita mo (cute) yuppies eating this.

for cheesecake, there's the famous cheesecake factory, but i like juniors the best.

[mooncake and leaves]

^ parang mas naexcite ako dun sa cute yuppies! nyaha. thanks ulit. i'll try juniors then

^^ wow thanks! the eataly seems promising. anong masarap dun? we might pass on the brunch, if we have to reserve.

thanks ulit sa tips!

[mama squeak!]

My friends have recommended Eataly to me too! It will definitely be in my to-do list too. I think sister and me will just be walking instead of taking the metro with all the eating we are planning to do. 

[junetwentythree]

Balthazar is okay. I think you'll have a hell of a time getting in for a Sunday brunch though. Again another wait. You can try reserving as I think they take up to a month in advance. It is right smack in Soho so it's popular with the tourists (as it is also featured in SATC). I would recommend The Cornelia Street Cafe in Greenwich Village for brunch instead. Also a wait, but gives more the local feel.

I disagree that Lombardi's is the most authentic NY pizza but on the account that again it's the most touristy pizza joint in NYC, then okay It's probably not feasible for you, but little known Totonno's Pizza in Coney Island is actually the real deal Complete with the NYC kind of service

For desserts in general, Veniero's is your best bet. Also curious is the fact that Veselka is right around a corner or so from Veneiro's. Veselka is this 24hour Ukrainian joint (while it's not really authentic, it might be fun ) that was featured in that one scene in the movie Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist.

I'm not too sure about cheesesteaks but I heard 99 Miles to Philly is decent. But then again that means you're 99 miles from Philly so maybe that's where it's best to get it

[mooncake and leaves]

^ I think we'll be skipping brunch options talaga. Thanks though. Sayang, feeling ko kasi packed din itinerary namin and we'll be going from one place to another so our meals will be a bit hurried. Next time siguro, 'pag ako lang nyaha. How far is Coney Island?  Baka yun maisali namin.
 

[rics]

^maybe and hour more or less from manhattan. meron bus/subway that goes there.

[aquacharly]

JUNETWENTYTHREE. is Balthazar better than Norma's?  Thanks. 

[artegirl]

I disagree that Lombardi's is the most authentic NY pizza but on the account that again it's the most touristy pizza joint in NYC, then okay It's probably not feasible for you, but little known Totonno's Pizza in Coney Island is actually the real deal Complete with the NYC kind of service

I think the reason why Lombardi's is the most touristy pizza joint in NYC is due to its history.  Most of the famous pizza families (i.e. John Sasso of John's Pizza, Antonio Pero of Totono's, Patsy Lancieri of Patsy's East Harlem, etc) of NY worked for Gennaro Lombardi of Lombardi's about a century ago before venturing on their own.

[junetwentythree]

^ Oh I have a lot of respect for Lombardis as it is the oldest pizza establishment in NYC. But I don't feel it's really representative of the NY style pizza anymore over the years. I also generally don't really like recommending touristy food joints to visitors because NY is known for their food, and for one to go to a place filled with tourists, then one doesn't really get the authentic food experience.

@aquacharly: I've never been to Norma's. So I'm not sure. Yelp maybe?

[marienmarien]

Maasarap talaga cheesecakes ng Junior"s.

[rics]

^nagutom tuloy ako bigla!
this is one thing i like to bring back here, pero laging nauubos a day or two before we leave.

[sakura_bloom]

I want to come back to New york just for the food tuloy!

[rhovinc]

you will stop at the border before coming to canada, then board the bus again and the last stop will be at the geyhound bus station in downtown toronto.

mind if i ask where in ontario will you go?

hi sis rics, my sister lives in  Willowdale, Ontario.. kaso, I have sad news, my canada visa application was denied, they sent me a letter informing that i dont submitted enough financial documents to support my stay in canada and reason to return to the philippines.  Thanks for your post, i will still try next year and be sure to complete all the financial docs i have..

but still, i can visit other parts of the state  =)

[mama squeak!]

Just got back from a week long stay in NYC. Super fun! Sister and I ended up staying at the Theater District. Our hotel was just two blocks away from Times Square so it wasn't magulo but safe enough to walk around even very late at night. Grabe city that never sleeps talaga! Traffic pa rin around the Times Square area even at 1AM. LOL! 

We took the subway all the time. Nakakalito at first but after the second, third rides okay na. We got the 7 day unlimited Metro Pass so swipe lang ng swipe. Very convenient and fast pa! Di nga lang scenic compared to taking the bus. We got to see most of the must-sees.

So much things to do and see but so little time. We'll definitely be back! 

[toodee]

^ hi sis, where did you stay sa theatre district? looking for a hotel kasi for december