Visting from UK - advice on stoop sales and fun please!

shandy · February 2007

Hello everyone

Sorry if this isn't the right board area or if you don't really do this kind of thing but planning a holiday from London and came across this board and you seem a friendly lot!

Visiting NY last w/e April (Fri-Sun) and first w/e May (Fri-Mon) to bookend a trip to Charlotte to see a mate. Will be alone in NY (been in Manhatten once before with friends) and, although I'm staying in Manhatten, I don't want to spend all my time there.

Planning on a day in Brooklyn on Sat 28th April and again on Sun 6th May, just to mooch about really. Heard about stoop sales and while we don't have that in the UK, we do have car boot sales and I LOVE them but I need a steer on where best to go in Brooklyn where I can root around other people's cast offs while I'm wandering!

Also, the Cherry Blossom Festival at the Botanical Garden - is it worth a visit? And Coney Island for an afternoon giggle? What do you reckon?

And, any good recommendations for good, reasonably priced (under $15) food in a nice place and any live music that would be welcoming to someone (female) pottering about on their own. I'm pretty streetwise and travel in SE Asia and Europe a lot - happy to walk and wander but don't want to get lost in any unwise areas.

Hope you don't mind me hijacking your community board but would rather ask the locals and don't know anybody in Brooklyn to ask.

Cheers guys - I'm asking a lot I know so any pointers appreciated loads
Shandy
x

remybklyn · February 2007

Definitely bookmark this messageboard, as well as this website:

http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/visit/first_saturdays.php

Since you'll be visiting the Botanical Gardens, make sure you check out the Brooklyn Museum, too. Your trip is timed perfectly, because the first Saturday of every month, the museum hosts some cool, special events. The link above only shows the upcoming March event, but they will update accordingly the closer it gets to the next event.

As for stoop sales, you'll want to check out the different blocks and buildings in ProHo and Park Slope anyway, so you will likely stumble on quite a few during your journey. Check street lampposts for flyers that people put up advertising a sale. The sales usually start no earlier than 9am, and rarely go past 5 or 6pm. Enjoy your stay!

shandy · February 2007

Subject: remybklyn - Cheers!

I was planning to visit the museum but didn't know about the special days so thanks for the link and help with the other stuff.

Can't wait for my holiday - sooo excited!
Shandy
x

MOD · February 2007

If you're in to vintage and antique stuff, check out the outdoor antique fair on 7th ave and 2nd St (??) every Sat and Sun. Starts in the mid-morning and ends around 5 or so. Park slope area.
Also, 7th ave and 5th ave have excellent food options. Check out www.menutopia.com and see all the menus and locations around the area.

There's more than a few 'favorite restaurant' posts in the archives here, do a search. You'll find many of the same names mentioned over and over. Franny's, Al Di La, Stone Park cafe, The Farm.... too many options really.

I like Coney Island. If you haven't been there before, definitely go. Get a huge beer in a big-gulp cup and some hot dogs and enjoy the rides.

smokin joe · February 2007

Subject: Re: Visting from UK - advice on stoop sales and fun please!

Shandy wrote: the Cherry Blossom Festival at the Botanical Garden - is it worth a visit?

definitely. spectacular.

closer to time, check their web site:

http://www.bbg.org/

which will show how many trees are in bloom.

quijibo · February 2007

botanical gardens and coney island are both good bets
best to check in again when your trip draws near for best bets

you should acquaint yourself with the subway system and plan accordingly
--as it's very easy to waste time on the trains during the weekends as the schedules change radically for maintenance

guvna · February 2007

and if you get homesick and peckish, try the chip shop for some familiar grub http://www.chipshopnyc.com/

dw438 · February 2007

Coney Island should be great if the weather is good the first weekend in May. Best way to get there is via subway, and the best ride is the "Q" train, from the 7th Avenue and Flatbush Avenue stop. Or the "B" train, which ends in Brighton Beach - something completely different than the Brighton on your island. (More like a Moscow suburb!) Then you can walk down the boardwalk along the ocean to Coney Island proper.
Take the trip if only for the hot dogs @ Nathan's.

caseopele · February 2007

There's also a section on craigslist for garage and moving sales. That's handy because you can plan which ones you want to go to. http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/gms/

shandy · February 2007

Subject: Cheers everyone!

All,

Thanks so much for the replies and advice. Re: the transport, hey, I live in central London where you're lucky if you can get 2 stops without maintenanced/weather/fight -induced delays, being kicked off with no explanation, unexpected re-routes, bodies on the line, etc!! Always good to be prepared tho...and I always carry trainers with me so I can walk if all else fails!

Keep the ideas coming if you stumble by this post. Love to see some live music, comedy or theatre while I'm there too so any recommendations appreciated.

Oh, and if last weekend April or first weekend May you happen to spot a girl with her shoes in her hand looking up at the street signs, it'll be me so say hi!

Thanks again
Sx

alafairnadia · February 2007

definitely stop at the brooklyn museum - a feminist art center including several permanent installations is opening on march 23rd. unlike the UK, it'll cost you $ to get in, but it's relatively cheap. $8/person.

and, thankfully, the subway has plastic seats, not upholstered seats. those suckers make me squeamish. *shudder*

bigguy · February 2007

Well if you're around in the evening, we can arrange a local bar crawl. Hopefully finishing up at Albaz for a burger of course.

shandy · February 2007

Subject: seats and pub crawls!

alafairnadia: Good steer - thanks. And, I know, the fabric seats on public transport are disgusting! When you think about what gets absorbed there...urrgh - and it gets hidden in the pattern - gives me the shivers just thinking about it! That is one of a long list of reasons I walk or cycle everywhere in London.

BigGuy: a pub crawl? Please have one so I can gatecrash! Sat 28 I am spending day in Brooklyn but then (for the cheesiness!) in the evening I have a ticket to go on a boat round the Hudson with a Pearl Jam tribute band but Sat 5th May I will be back and if there's fun stuff going on, count me in.

Have a good week all
Sx

bigguy · February 2007

OK, we'll tentatively plan a pub crawl on May 5.

carnivore · February 2007

Shandy-
I know the boat tour sounds cheesy, but it's actually really fun. I've lived in New York my whole life (except for college). When I started medical school, they had one of those boat tours as part of our orientation since most of the students weren't from the city. I was extremely skeptical, but wound up really enjoying it.

laura · February 2007

Carnivore wrote: I know the boat tour sounds cheesy, but it's actually really fun.

Seconding that - I've done the Circle Line twice and it was quite fun.

shandy · February 2007

Subject: Eddie and beer

Laura & Carnivore: Excellent - glad I made a good choice. To be honest it's the idea of a Pearl Jam tribute band that makes me giggle. And the 3 hour river trip for $20 seemed a bargain. Not sure how much of the tribute band I'll see, I'll be on deck puffing away to make up for all the cigs I haven't been allowed to smoke so far! (in training for our smoking ban in July!).

BigGuy: If there is a pub crawl on 5th May I will be there and might even bring some pressies from London to say thanks to everyone!

Sx

Visting from UK - advice on stoop sales and fun please!

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