if you are coming to the city for the first time. It comes with maps and space to record your journey. Best of all, it requires no batteries AND it fits in your pocket.
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The phrase “Prix Fixe” scares me. Too French, maybe and it pushes my “too fancy” button.
That’s exactly what restaurants want you to think, sans the “too” part. They want you to think “fancy.” But in fact, it’s really just the sit-down eatery version of the fast-food value meal.
And, it’s all the rage in New York City right now. You’ll see “Prix Fixe” everywhere. And it can be some of your best deals for mid-priced food, ranging from $8 on up to “don’t ask”.
The reason it’s a smart thing for the tourist on a budget is that it sets up before you even get into the joint, what the bill is going to be when you leave – less the cost of beverages, if they aren’t included (and sometimes they are).
The meals are usually pretty tasty and pretty filling for the non-gourmands among us. I say that, because you’ll need to remember that you just ordered the buffet version of the menu. The cooks know the fix is in -- what to prepare in advance -- and will do just that.
Prix Fixeing has another advantage. It is a short cut for wanderer decision-making. The meal and price are always spelled out on a chalkboard outside the restaurant, so you can scan them as you wander past and make you decision without having to scour every menu taped on every window. When one hits your fancy and price point, just mosey in, grab a seat and ask. In short order, your courses will arrive and you’ll be out the door before your feet forget they were made for walking.
So, if you can’t make it to the fringes of the city where prices fall, but don’t want to blow your budget on fuel, look for the prixed fixe. You might find the price is also right.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Bicycles in New York City
If you are a fan of roller coasters, you might want to give New York City on a bicycle a try. Between the automobiles, the potholes, the construction, the pushcarts, the pedestrians, the cab doors, the delivery trucks in the bike lanes, the squeezes you get from buses, the side mirrors, the occasional cobblestone street and the other bicyclists, it never gets old.
And, New York is trying hard to make this a bicycle friendly town. They’ve laid out 70 miles of bike lanes and in Manhattan they’ve created a path that runs from The Battery (that’s all the way downtown) to the northern tip of the island on West Street. Their efforts have earned them a “bicycle friendly community” designation from the League of American Cyclists. And they have many more miles of lanes planned.
The West Street bike path is a good place to cut your teeth if you are a bit nervous about playing Death Race 2008 on the streets. The path is separated from traffic, well marked and there is a beautiful view of the Hudson River. You can also try a run or two around Central Park. The ride is beautiful. But not flat. This is a city of hills, particularly as you head uptown. It is never San Francisco, but if you are a flatlander, you will find your work cut out for you.
The real fun is on the city streets. That’s where the thrill-seeker in you gets a chance to play. And, while it is possible to get hurt, with 100,000 other cyclists on the road, the odds are in your favor if you keep your wits about you … and obey the traffic rules (which everybody should do, but nobody does).
A bicycle also really opens up the city for you. You have speed that almost compares with a cab and mobility that compares with your feet. You can also slow down and take in the sites (with one eye and both ears out for incoming traffic).
Consider Red Hook in Brooklyn. There isn’t an easy subway stop in Red Hook. You have to hike in and hike back out. … Unless you are on a bicycle. Same holds for the edges of Manhattan. The subway system tends to run up the spine of the island except where the Brooklyn and Queens bound trains make their respective escapes.
A lot of Greenwich Village and the Lower East Side, for example, are a bit of a distance from a subway stop. If you plan to really explore those areas and are on a time schedule, a bicycle is the way to go.
Bicycles will also carry you quickly through residential districts that don’t have a whole lot to see.
If you are bicyclist, consider bringing your wheels with you. Bicycle rentals aren’t cheap. You can pay $30-$50 a day.
If you can’t bring your own wheels, it’s still worth the expense. Consider this. If you go to The Top of the Rock or the Empire State Building observation deck ($20 each), the panoramic views may make you say, “Wow.” But a bike ride down Broadway will take your breath away. It’s a New York experience you will never forget.
NOTE: You can pick up a free bicycling maps at the NYC Department of City Planning bookstore at 22 Reade Street, NY, NY, 10007, in bicycle shops, libraries, and schools. This is a good map for cyclists, but it is also a decent map for walkers because unlike the subway map, most of the city streets are marked.
And, New York is trying hard to make this a bicycle friendly town. They’ve laid out 70 miles of bike lanes and in Manhattan they’ve created a path that runs from The Battery (that’s all the way downtown) to the northern tip of the island on West Street. Their efforts have earned them a “bicycle friendly community” designation from the League of American Cyclists. And they have many more miles of lanes planned.
The West Street bike path is a good place to cut your teeth if you are a bit nervous about playing Death Race 2008 on the streets. The path is separated from traffic, well marked and there is a beautiful view of the Hudson River. You can also try a run or two around Central Park. The ride is beautiful. But not flat. This is a city of hills, particularly as you head uptown. It is never San Francisco, but if you are a flatlander, you will find your work cut out for you.
The real fun is on the city streets. That’s where the thrill-seeker in you gets a chance to play. And, while it is possible to get hurt, with 100,000 other cyclists on the road, the odds are in your favor if you keep your wits about you … and obey the traffic rules (which everybody should do, but nobody does).
A bicycle also really opens up the city for you. You have speed that almost compares with a cab and mobility that compares with your feet. You can also slow down and take in the sites (with one eye and both ears out for incoming traffic).
Consider Red Hook in Brooklyn. There isn’t an easy subway stop in Red Hook. You have to hike in and hike back out. … Unless you are on a bicycle. Same holds for the edges of Manhattan. The subway system tends to run up the spine of the island except where the Brooklyn and Queens bound trains make their respective escapes.
A lot of Greenwich Village and the Lower East Side, for example, are a bit of a distance from a subway stop. If you plan to really explore those areas and are on a time schedule, a bicycle is the way to go.
Bicycles will also carry you quickly through residential districts that don’t have a whole lot to see.
If you are bicyclist, consider bringing your wheels with you. Bicycle rentals aren’t cheap. You can pay $30-$50 a day.
If you can’t bring your own wheels, it’s still worth the expense. Consider this. If you go to The Top of the Rock or the Empire State Building observation deck ($20 each), the panoramic views may make you say, “Wow.” But a bike ride down Broadway will take your breath away. It’s a New York experience you will never forget.
NOTE: You can pick up a free bicycling maps at the NYC Department of City Planning bookstore at 22 Reade Street, NY, NY, 10007, in bicycle shops, libraries, and schools. This is a good map for cyclists, but it is also a decent map for walkers because unlike the subway map, most of the city streets are marked.
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