Been to Freeman Alley a couple of times. Yesterday went and to my surprise there were some…read moregraffiti artists painting. One of them named SoHo took a liking to my nephew and helped him paint & helped my niece paint as ℓℓ. The graffiti alley is constantly changing & is the only place in NYC that it's legal to do graffiti. I love going to all graffiti alleys.

Freeman Alley - Graffiti - Freeman Alley is a true paradise for street art lovers. Every inch of…read morethe walls is covered with graffiti and artworks that are constantly changing. The place feels raw, creative, and highly authentic. A short but intense stop where you can feel the pulse of contemporary urban art in its purest form.

Someone in our group was a fan, so this was on our list as a must visit. Nice visit to just stop by…read moreand take a picture. Quiet neighborhood, respectable people taking photos. Although not Central Perk and not set up as Central Perk, the exterior of the restaurant below was shown in the show and you can dine in here.

When in NY, had to pay homage to one of the most comforting shows on television, F*R*I*E*N*D*S…read more Here's my experience. VIBES: Welcome to Greenwich Village it's a historic neighborhood with nice buildings and cafes. The iconic spot is nestled in a lively corner of NYC with lots of foot traffic (tourists and locals alike), so parking isn't ideal -- I'd suggest subway or ride-share. The place has big energy: you feel like you're in an iconic, storied part of the city, which makes it fun and a little nostalgic thinking about all the episodes and references. I took no longer than like 15 minutes. TL; DR OVERALL: 4.5 Stars. If you're looking for a spot that mixes pop-culture nostalgia, solid fare, and a lively NYC neighborhood vibe -- this one's worth a stop. It leans more "moment experience" than "hidden gem," but its fun factor and overall quality make it memorable. I'll definitely keep it on my list for future visits and maybe bring F*R*I*E*N*D*S (ba-dum-tss) looking for an iconic NYC moment. TIPS: * The area is residential and mixed-use: be respectful, keep noise down if visiting early or late, and avoid blocking entrances.

A calming respite in the midst of the hustle and bustle of midtown…read more It's a peaceful glass enclosed spot with plenty of light, nice views. plenty of seating, and nice landscaping. Some small birds in here too. Clean and well maintained. Great spot to escape and take a rest to check your emails, have a coffee, and decompress. No bathroom but there is an Obica Mozzarella eatery kiosk inside here to grab a cold drink, bite, or hot coffee beverage,

Don't go by the closing time as we got there 15 mins before closing and they were locking the doors…read morebefore we got there. Says 10pm close but I would go with at least 20 mins before that. Such a shame as 10 mins would have been all we needed to take photos but were ignored by staff inside. Gutted as close to end of our trip and we have had to cram so much into visit.

Happy Year of the Fire Horse 2026!!…read more Neil Diamond's song, "Coming to America", is playing in my head as I write this review. The year was 1970. I had just turned 2 when we came to the U.S. from Hong Kong on one of the coldest February days. My mom always tells the story of how we landed at JFK with 2 feet of snow up to her knees. My beloved grandfather had settled in America 4 decades earlier before we arrived. Living in the outskirts of Chinatown has helped me not lose sight of where I came from. NYC's Chinatown spans roughly 50 blocks compare to SF's 30 square blocks. The city is one of the most expensive places to live in, but Chinatown offers tons of cheap eats. One can get an authentic delicious meal for under $10. I definitely miss some of the OG places when I was a kid like the old movie theaters and the bahn mi place ($2.50 a sandwich) under the subway tracks on East Broadway but it is cool to see new trendy places popping up. Here is my list of must visits: - Chinatown Ice Cream Factory (Asian-inspired flavors) - Hop Kee Restaurant (Authentic Cantonese food) - Joe's Shanghai (best dumplings) - Mei Lai Wah (best bbq roast pork & pineapple buns) - Peking Duck House (OG) - Spongies Cafe (my new favorite spot) - Xi'an Famous Foods - Wah Fung No. 1 (fresh roast pork and duck meats over rice) - Wo Hop (Authentic Hong Kong Cuisine) And the list goes on... I have visited many Chinatowns around the world, I might be a bit bias but I think we have one of the best one hands down. Come on down and see the best CNY Lion Dances (they train rigorously throughout the year) performed by the New York Chinese Freemasons Athletic Club aka Hung Ching. My BIL has been a part of this club for decades. It was founded in 1956, making it 70 years old this year.

Excellent shopping and delicious Chinese cuisine can be had in Chinatown. Nice souvenirs can be had…read morefor much more affordable price. Located right next to Soho, Chinatown is an excellent place to come if visiting New York. There's another Chinatown in Brooklyn which I heard is even cheaper than this which I find to be kind of ridiculous. Five stars and two thumbs up.

Banksy popped into my radar one day and I bookmarked it. I forgot all about visiting this public…read moreart until today when it showed up nearby in my search. It's unusual so I felt lucky I saw it as I passed by. It's been covered in plexiglass for protection against the weather. It appears people and businesses are rallying to keep it from removal. It fun to photograph public art or as some call his work Graffiti. I'm glad I have the photos in my collection. It's my first Banksy.

Banksy made this public art in 2013 and it's still intact. It's covered by an acrylic shield…read more Pretty hard to find unless you're using a map app or Yelp. Check it out on the UWS and get some cool pictures in front of here. The art doesn't look like it's complex, more of like a commentary that's the more complex thing about this. It somehow has become a thing to check out, because it's one of the few surviving pieces of Banksy public art. Officially it's titled Better Out Than In #20, and was part of a series. These appeared on the UWS in October 2013 and most disappeared soon after that. An acrylic panel protects it from graffiti artists...such as Banksy. So ironic. Zabar's put up the protection and has made the public aware of this. Cool that a great place like that takes an interest in art. They have some of the best bagels so be sure to go get some. As Banksy has gone onto bigger things it's cool that one of his older projects is around. It's at Broadway and 79th on the side of a building. This is a few blocks from Zabar's.

Why would you want to visit or stay in a neighborhood that Patti Smith says feels a living museum?…read more Hugged by Greenwich Village at the north (Houston), Little Italy to the eat (Lafayette), Tribeca and Chinatown to the south (Canal), and Hudson Square to the west (6th Ave), the farmland turned into an affluent enclave, with the highest concentration of cast-iron architecture in the world in the 1800s. As the rich moved north, the district became NYC's premier retail, entertainment, and "hospitality" corridor (1850-1880) to industrial manufacturing center, especially garments and textiles (1880-1960) to target for demolition for a highway project. But then the artists came in, the reports claimed the area was vital, and preservationists protected it, allowing it to become the international center of the avant-garde art world in the 70s and 80s. Today, the neighborhood allegedly functions as a major upscale international shopping district, despite the fake handbags on blankets on the illegal sidewalk sales. I got a good deal on a Kartier watch. So, the vibe is rigid, geometric, heavy iron meets Belgian cobblestones, for a grounded and old feeling in contrast with the soaring ceilings, oversized windows, and wide open floor plans that flood the area with pale, northern light, which gives it the historic but chic museum feel. Plus, there is a lingering cool factor, a quiet swagger, rooted in the creative rebellion. If SoHo were a cocktail mixed from southern California neighborhoods, it would be 40% Los Angeles Arts District (structurally and historically), 34% Abbot Kinney/Venice (hyper-curated indie retail and open-air runway feel); 25% Old Pasadena (living museum feel), 1% Hollywood (the touristy-heavy trashiest parts locals avoid). But, my wife and I love it because of the location and the many shops, restaurants, experiences, and bars within a square mile. Check my reviews on Dominique Ansel, Trader Joe's, Polo Ralph Lauren, Uniqlo Soho, a Target boutique, Lucia Pizza, McDonald's, Aviator Nation, 260 Sample Sale, Softside, $1.50 Pizza, and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Plus, within walking distance: Hamburger America and Emily (Greenwich Village), Prince Street Pizza, Thai Diner, and 7th Street Burger (Nolita), Solita Soho Hotel, Ceres, and L'Industrie Pizzeria (Little Italy), Au Cheval, All Blues, and Best Western Soho Hotel (Chinatown), and the Ghostbusters Fire Station, Roxy Hotel, and Bubby's (Tribeca).

Put on my walking shoes and off I am to SoHo. Shopping at unique boutiques. Feasting my eyes with…read morestimulating street art and art galleries. Savoring at enchanting coffee shops and iconic restaurants. I love it here! CHEERS!

Can still take them on Sundays this December. Schedules and route on the NY Transit museum website…read more Regular train fare. When we first happened to see the holiday train a few years back, we got on one car, the oldest car which was cool already, but we didn't get to see the other subway cars. This past Sunday, we decided to take the F train from Queens to meet the Holiday Nostalgia train on the F platform at 2nd Ave-Houston St (first stop from downtown). Got there before 2pm. and the train was parked. This was good bec we were able to walk from the last subway car, through a few cars, until we had to stop bec got crowded. The subway cars have different designs so nice to check a few out. Some people were dressed up - some in military attire and in trench coats in the car we were in; didn't know until later that they were there to perform an old military song "Over There". Other passengers as well, and were ok to be photographed. We only took it the Rockefeller area which was our destination for that day but at least we had an interesting ride.

Old subway cars. Some having wicker seats, some without AC, but the SOUND of those grinding motors…read moreaccelerating brings back memories! Old advertising is fun to see again! ... note the position of the conductor standing between these cars!!

The only place in borough you can get the big salad. waitresses, you can't look them in the eye…read more Don't get them angry or you'll be banned. Gonna need a water over here

This is the best food in new york, you must eat here all the time, every day for breakfast I try to…read moreget in right when they open. This place is jam packed during the day so mornings and evenings are the best. You can always get a great cup of coffee and a good slice of pie. always order more because it's really inexpensive and make sure to always order your toast dry to cut down on the doctor visits! I miss Seinfeld and I am going to miss this place if I ever have to move away from here, it would break my heart. The owner is super nice and will always give you a good topic of conversation so hop in your car and go grab breakfast or some pie at the best Diner in New York, Ever...

I love some history. Doyers Street is a 200-foot-long street in the Chinatown neighbourhood of…read moreManhattan in New York City. It might be short but it is packed with history! Read below for some information I found out about it. Despite its colourful (and not so nice history), today it was peaceful and calm. Doyers Street follows the old route of a stream. From 1893 to 1911, 5-7 Doyers Street was the site of the first Chinese-language theater in New York City. The theater was converted into a rescue mission for the homeless. In 1903, the theater was the site of a fundraiser by the Chinese community for Jewish victims of a massacre in Kishinev. Nom Wah Tea Parlor, which opened in 1920, is the oldest continuously running restaurant in Chinatown. The restaurant first opened at 15 Doyers Street and moved to 13 Doyers in 1968. Lei received the James Beard Foundation Award for Best New Restaurant in 2026, the year after it opened on Doyers Street. The street is named after Hendrik Doyers, an 18th-century Dutch immigrant who bought the property facing the Bowery in 1791. He operated a distillery at 6 Doyers Street and the Plough and Harrow tavern near the corner with Bowery. Early in the century, the bend in the street became known as the "Bloody Angle" or "Murder Alley" because of numerous killings among the Tong Gangs of Chinatown that lasted into the 1930s. Hatchets were frequently used, giving rise to the expression "hatchet man." In 1994, law enforcement officials said that more people had died violently at the "Bloody Angle" than at any other intersection in the United States. One shooting at the Chinese Theater in 1905 claimed the lives of three people, when members of the Hip Sing Tong fired on members of the On Leong Tong. The shooting took place at a time when the theater was packed with 400 people. In one 1909 incident, two members of the On Leong Tong were shot, one fatally, by members of the rival Four Brothers' Society, or See Sing Tong. The shooting came after three members of the Hip Sing Tong were executed in Boston for the murder of a member of the On Leong Tong.

An old stretch of history in Chinatown. Manhattan's oldest Chinese restaurant, Nom Wah Tea Parlor…read moreis located here along with other restaurants, some bars, and businesses. This street was infamous as "The Bloody Angle" in the early 20th century as there was a lot of gang violence along this 200 foot street. It's more of a pedestrian street now and it has some outside seating during summer for the eateries. The street itself is colorful and painted in murals.