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.

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.

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.

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.

DUMBO is such a cool neighborhood with a great vibe! The cobblestone streets, views of the bridges,…read moreand waterfront parks make it a fun area to wander around. That said, prepare yourself for the crowd at the iconic Washington Street photo spot-there are so many people packed into that one block all trying to get that classic shot of the Manhattan Bridge framed by the brick buildings! It's definitely worth stopping by to grab your photo and explore the nearby shops and water views, just be prepared to share the space with plenty of fellow tourists!

Scenic views and great architecture. Dumbo has its own website where they post events. There are…read moreall kinds of things going on - movies, happy hours, lectures and workshops. Also the famous annual Dumbo Drop where toy elephants on parachutes fill the sky. Brooklyn Bridge Park offers beautiful views of the skyline and public art displays. There's also Jane's carousel. Carousel hours and ticket prices are posted on their website. Lots to do. Try to go here early before it gets too crowded. Wear comfortable shoes.

We visited the Whispering Gallery at Grand Central Station in the heart of New York City on Friday…read moremorning. The architecture here is absolutely stunning and reflective of our recent past. I can't imagine what it took to build this magnificent masterpiece of historical architecture. It's well worth a visit...

Yeah, it's kind of a goofy audio science phenomenon due to the architecture in Grand Central…read more Located in the lower level near the Oyster Bar you'll locate the whispering gallery, and in fact you might find other people doing the same thing smiling into a corner, whispering, and the other person on the opposite side of the arch can clearly hear you as if you're next to them. That's pretty much it. I tried it with a friend and it works.

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!

If you're in the area it's work stopping by! Interesting little trinkets everywhere. I wouldn't…read moremake a special trip to the neighborhood, but if you're only a street or 2 over you should definitely check it out

Such an unexpected gem that hits you out of nowhere as you walk down Wycoff. Beautiful artwork and…read morenecessary racial justice messages presented. It's worth the walk!

I haven't been back since the pandemic, when I lost my mind over Very Fresh Noodles and because we…read morehad to eat outside, I didn't even get to explore much of anything. I visited right after opening, a little after 10 am (many businesses do not open until 11am, like my beloved Seed+Mill). My first impression was that it reminded me of a food hall similar to what I experienced in various cities in Japan. The variety of foods available is impressive and you really can find it all here, from an Italian grocer to Japanese to the various food stands offering everything from BBQ to the best halvah I've ever had. And there's a Pearl River Mart and other places to find gifts and souvenirs. My favorite of this ilk is Muji Market, which has all the Japanese amazing things! Also of note: very clean bathrooms. It reminds me of the bathrooms at Grand Central, a lot of stalls, sinks in the center, only much, much more pleasant. I'll be back as soon as I can. It's silly that I didn't come here when I actually lived in New York.

Swung by on a Saturday evening at 9pm for about 30 minutes while waiting for a late dinner…read morereservation. The physical location is open to 10pm though most shops and restaurants inside are closed by 8-9pm, only a handful of places like Chote Miya, Miznon, and La Devocione were still open though also wrapping up business for the evening. Wanted to highlight a few more stores here for this review: - Moon Man Foods: a Brooklyn-based company, they have a small stand about a third of the way thru the market (walking east to west), selling southeast Asian kaya jam, which is coconut-based and contain eggs, coconut milk, sugar, starch, and salt. They come in pandan, ube, and Java palm sugar (aka gula melaka) flavors. - Pearl River Mart and Pearl River Mart Foods: back in the day they used to be located in SoHo on Broadway, though rising rents made them relocate, and I'm glad they're still around! They carry all sorts of Asian-inspired decor, serving ware, stationery, and their "Foods" location downstairs is combination of Asian grocery, bubble tea (Milk & Tea), and Korean and Chinese snack/takeout stands (Kimbap Lab and Mao's Bao's). - Muji Market: this is a smaller location that carries a narrower assortment than your average Muji (house wares, basic apparel, accessories, kitchenware, snacks), though they have a full cafe serving coffee and matcha, simple Japanese lunch items like bowls, sandwiches and bento. Cafe prices seem a little higher probably due to the location. - gallery art: there is a small whitewashed hallway gallery of maybe a couple dozen small pieces by local artists, featuring NYC-centric photos, sketches, paintings, multi-media. Found this fun and entertaining!

A total hidden gem tucked away right inside Central Park! Seeing a mini castle surrounded by lush…read moregreenery in the middle of Manhattan is such a cool contrast. It's completely free to check out, which makes it one of the best quick stops in the park. Pro tip for photos: the absolute best spot to take pictures isn't right up next to it, but from across Turtle Pond so you can capture the whole castle reflecting over the water!

I was sorry that it was not open when I visited. This is what I found out about it. Definitely…read moreworthy of a visit. It offers pleasant views from the top. Belvedere Castle is a folly in Central Park in Manhattan, New York City. It contains exhibit rooms, an observation deck, and since 1919 has housed Central Park's official weather station. Belvedere Castle was designed by Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould in 1867. An architectural hybrid of Romanesque and Gothic styles, the design called for a Manhattan schist and granite structure with a corner tower and conical cap, a lookout over parapet walls beneath it. Its name comes from belvedere, which means "beautiful view" in Italian.