Nah, it's OK. I'm happy to share things I like, I just don't get all of this other stuff or where it comes from. Like, at all.
Anyway, these are the things I think everyone should do in NYC. They're the only things I do. I don't really have any interest in stuff like Broadway shows or whatever…I know nothing about that side of this city. I rarely do anything that costs more than $0. Everything listed here is free except where indicated (and food, obviously).
- Take the F train to York Street in Brooklyn, spend some time exploring DUMBO and the waterfront/
Brooklyn Bridge Park, then walk across the Brooklyn Bridge toward Manhattan and get dinner in Chinatown.
- Take the subway to Coney Island, and do the whole boardwalk. Yes,
even in winter—the amusement park rides will be closed, but it's still worth it.
- Walk the full length of Central Park, making detours to see as much of the reservoir as possible. Hit the west side of the park between 71st & 74th to see
Strawberry Fields and the Dakota across the street.
- Walk the
High Line.
- Visit Walter de Maria's
Earth Room and
Broken Kilometer installations in SoHo.
- Go to
MoMA ($25).
- Since you'll be here during Christmas, devote an hour or two to looking at
shop windows on 5th Avenue. The sidewalks will be mobbed, but it's a must. Then walk over to
Rockefeller Center to see the tree and the ice skaters.
- Go to the
Brooklyn Botanic Garden ($10).
- Take the
Staten Island Ferry round trip. No need to get off in Staten Island, just come back. (Sorry, Staten Island.)
- Go to
Red Hook in Brooklyn. Getting there is a little tricky (you'll need to take a subway to a bus—nothing crazy), but it's a magical place that few tourists (or locals) bother with.
- Go the the
Museum of Natural History ($0-22; pay as you wish).
- Visit
Printed Matter and buy a beautiful, small-edition book.
Unfortunately I don't really know anything about hotels/accommodations since I've never needed to learn, but I'd rather eat glass than stay anywhere near midtown Manhattan/Times Square/touristy areas. If I were visiting NYC, I'd either want to be somewhere in lower Manhattan or in a part of Brooklyn that's near multiple subways. I can't help you out with bars, either, but I'm happy to share some favorite restaurants/food places if you're interested. Coffee shops, too.
I'll add to this list when I inevitably think of obvious stuff I've left out.