franthomas.com

I’ve been asked by a couple of people recently what’s great in NYC after living there to go to school and spending enough time back at home to distil my experiences. I might just have a few off-beat ideas for great things to do in Gotham which don’t involve following the crowds…

It’s a top ten, but with more than a fair dash of treats for film lovers – all personally experienced through adventures making shorts in this, my favourite city;

• [ 10 ]  Century 21 – the big downtown designer discount store, perhaps a little too well known now but still good for earning brownie points.
• [ 09 ]  Staten Island Ferry – some of the best things truly are free, wrap up warm, head down after dusk and ride the ferry there and back again for some of the best views of the NYC skyline.
• [ 08 ]  Nathan’s Hot Dogs– the store in Coney island where this chain started is worth a visit no matter what the time of year (there’s something about out of season seaside towns). Make it there in July and catch the infamous international hot dog eating contest on the 4th.
• [ 07 ]  Accomplice New York – surprising, entertaining and at times ground breaking street theatre woven into a tour of lower Manhattan you won’t forget. Don’t ask questions, just book.
• [ 06 ]  Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory – walk over the bridge and down to Fulton Ferry Landing (1 Old Fulton St.) to pick up some fantastic ice cream. Visit on a warm summer Saturday afternoon and survey the queue of bridal parties waiting patiently for wedding pictures set against a backdrop of the sparkling east river and skyline.

Perhaps only a little left field so far but keep reading past the jump for my top five, awesomeness guaranteed!

Read More →