I know I’m on a bit of a New York rampage, but I love the city too much to stop talking about it already!
We all have to do the tourist-y things when we travel to new cities. It’s almost a rite of passage. “You haven’t been to New York unless you’ve been to the top of the Empire State Building.” While I would argue that’s not necessarily true, I too have visited the top of the extremely popular tourist destination. Tourist attractions are there for a reason - sure they’re cash cows, but they are neat and most of them are worth seeing.
But what about the REAL parts of cities with strong tourism industries? Where is the REAL New York that the locals frequent and tourists don’t even know about? Well, I may not have hit those places yet, but in my visits I’ve definitely been to a few places that you won’t find in every guide book or on any hotel tour. Here’s my Top 5 “UN-CityPass” places to visit in New York City.
Broadway is great, and in some cases, off-broadway performances can be even better. But it doesn’t get any more grassroots than Amateur Night at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem.
Yes, I know what you’re thinking. Harlem? Isn’t it dangerous? Well, sure, if you go in the middle of the night walk down poorly lit streets. But that’s true of any city. Harlem is a beautiful historic neighbourhood that cannot be missed.
As for the Apollo, Amateur Night has been running almost every Wednesday night since 1934. It is a forum for new talent to showcase their skills in front of an audience that will not take any BS. They’ll rub The Tree of Hope for good luck as they head on stage. The performer will remain on stage if there are enough cheers from the audience, but as soon as those “boos” start resonating, they will be pulled off stage. It’s all up to the audience! Tickets are reasonably priced, too.
Amateur Night at the Apollo has been the kick start for the careers of talent such as Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, and many more.
2) Hell’s Kitchen
Located just west of Times Square between 34th and 58th streets, one would think that Hell’s Kitchen would be a popular tourist destination. Unfortunately, it has remained quite a local centred district, at least until very recently. The city, thinking that perhaps the name was a deterrent, has tried to rebrand the district under the name “Clinton”, but all the locals will tell you that it will always be known as Hell’s Kitchen.
The area is home to some of the best diners and restaurants in the city. In the past I have eaten Thai, Mexican, Spanish, Chinese, Italian, and American cuisine and loved all of them!
With its proximity to Times Square, it is a perfect dinner destination before a Broadway show or just a night out on the town. Some of my Hell’s Kitchen favourites include:
- Sangria 46 - Spanish
- Pam Real Thai - Thai
- Jing - Chinese
3) BROOKLYN
Photo Credit: Philipp Klinger
Again, please put all your preconceived notions of the area aside. If you go to New York and don’t make it into Brooklyn at all, you are seriously missing out. (If you’re feeling really ambitious, go for the Brooklyn for Life foursquare badge)
My favourite tourist-y Brooklyn (or technically, DUMBO - down under the manhattan bridge overpass) experience consists of a few destinations. If you can, try to go in the later hours of the evening.
Consistently rated the number one pizza in New York City (if not by a rating service, definitely by the locals), Grimaldi’s has one of the last remaining coal brick-ovens. Amazing taste and reasonably priced, you can’t miss their unique pies. Walk up to their prep area to check out their ingredients and technique!
If you go during peak times, be prepared to wait in line for a bit. Don’t worry, it’s worth it!
Sure, it’s not gelato, but it’s more about the view than the ice cream with their location. After Grimaldi’s, head towards the water about half a block. It’s basically right under the Brooklyn Bridge on a pier with an absolutely stunning view of the Financial District and up the Hudson River.
Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Overpass
Head back up Old Fulton street towards the entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge and you’ll find a pedestrian staircase. Most people know about the bridge walk, but few actually make it out to the bridge. Trust me, it is absolutely worth it. It provides a stunning view of Manhattan from a very different angle, and if you time if right, you’ll see the sun setting behind the Financial District. The bridge is probably one of the best places to snap landscape shots of the city skyline. Just remember, DO NOT walk in the bike lane. The bikers will literally hit you. Heads up!
This area is unknown to most tourists, and if known, it is avoided as a result of it’s location and reputation. Alphabet city is located on the east side on the “letter” avenues (Avenue A, B, C and D) between Houston and 14th. (PS - Houston pronounced like HOUSE-ten, not like the American city).
It is traditionally very bohemian and is the set for the broadway musical and movie Rent. There are lots of cool shops and cafes, as well as Tompkins Square Park, home of the 1988 riot. It’s a great area to spend an afternoon with a ton of New York history.
5) Harlem Gospel
Photo Credit: HS NYV Tours
And, back to Harlem! I have been to two gospel services in Harlem and have been absolutely blown away both times. The churches in Harlem take Sunday mass very seriously, so plan ahead if you want to attend a service. Call ahead to ensure they welcome visitors, dress up, bring money for the collection, and be prepared to clap your hands! Believe me, it will be everything you imagine a gospel service would be.
If you’re hesitant to attend a service alone, there are a lot of tours that will take you, although they might not be able to get you into some of the more exclusive churches.
My favourite church so far is definitely the Abyssinian Baptist Church on Odell Clark Place.
So that’s the top 5! There are so many it was difficult to nail down just five, but I promise these will enrich your NY experience. There’s so much more than TSQ and the Empire State - this is only the beginning!
My last piece of advice - take a day and just walk. Whether it’s through the Upper East Side (beautiful residences and private schools) or Greenwich Village (awesome shops and cafes), you’ll definitely run into something that you wouldn’t have with a tour guide/book. Have fun!
