Halloween in New York City
The big to-do in town is the parade in Greenwich Village. The bigger to-do for little ones is trick or treating. Suburban parents who recall trick or treating as a child as setting off alone in their neighborhoods are baffled by the urban adaptation of Halloween.
Trick or treating is done within buildings, to a preset list of apartments, of those residents who sign up before hand.
It makes me sad that my children cannot set off alone. My older child would adore to take off with her friends. But taking the place of the potential threat of razors in apples are some equally hideous fears of safety for children. So perhaps it has evened out – trick or treating in suburban neighborhoods is now the chaperoned and planned outing it is in the city.
Here is a short list of handy resources for Trick or Treaters in New York City.
Dylan’s Candy Bar for fancy candy
1011 3rd Avenue @ 60th Street , (888) 395-2676
Economy Candy – for lots of candy
108 Rivington Street
New York, NY 10002
Phone: (800) 352-4544



Halloween Adventure Shop: for costumes
104 4th Avenue
New York NY 10003
212.673.4546
Halloween Guides
Filed under Children in New York City, Navigating New York | Comment (0)New York’s Best Playgrounds for Children
New York is the greatest place for kids. When my daughters were a little younger I would buckle them into the double stroller, pack up a couple of sippy cups, hard boiled eggs and rice crackers for lunch and go see the sights. We would do the playground hop, stopping at every playground on our way across town. My destination was either City Bakery (for a chocolate cookie) or the Cupcake Cafe across the street in Books of Wonder (for a cupcake). It was a dilemma, cookie or cupcake - which one to consume? I never had to worry about it being fattening because pushing the double stroller was such a work out. I always tried to time my expedition to coincide with the farmers market in Union Square so that I could purchase my groceries and tie them onto the stroller. The only thing I had to be careful of were the moments when my daughters would charge towards the swings, leaving my unbalanced stroller to topple backwards. That could get messy.
One warm spring day I ambitiously walked all the way downtown and took the water taxi across the river from Manhattan to Brooklyn. I got off at Fulton Ferry Landing and bought the girls ice cream at Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory located in a former fireboat house. I waited until we got to Jaques Torres in Dumbo until I fulfilled my sugar craving. There, I devoured some petite chocolate morsels. Then, we went to the playground under the Manhattan Bridge. I rested on the bench and my daughters tried out every slide and swing and made new friends with the other kids playing in the park. I had a great time talking to all the other moms and dads who were there. Parenting in NYC is a joy because there is so much that I can do with the kids that I enjoy as much as they do. Everyone is happy.
Best Playgrounds in NYC
Stuyvesant Town has multiple playgrounds. No cars in the center and a clean public bathroom close by. Whoowee! Look for Stuytown’s famous black squirrels.
Tompkins Square Park can get crowded but definitely the best place to people watch, lots of gorgeous, trendy Europeans. Be careful of broken glass.
Chelsea Waterside Playground is good for a hot day because of the fantastic water play areas. Bring a towel.
Visit Madison Square Park if you want some water play but don’t feel like dealing with the whole water scene in Chelsea. This playground is sweet and fun plus they schedule story telling.
Union Square Park is perfect after the farmer’s market. Stay away from the sand playground because kids want to take their shoes off and believe me - you DON’T want them walking around barefoot in it. Think kitty litter for rats.
The Glass Garden is NYU’s secret immaculate garden playground. It has a garden, green house, and hammocks. An oasis. My FAVORITE playground. Plus they do birthdays.
Teardrop Park between Warren and Murray Streets, east of River Terrace to North End Avenue. This playground is really hard to find but once you do it is worth it. The great slide is fantastic (I always feel compelled to go down it too) and the bluestone wall is fun. It’s near the monument to the Irish Famine which is also a good place to go because it is AMAZING. It is a built hilltop covered with Irish grass, wildflowers, thistle and has a reconstructed cottage from Ireland. Truly a surprising place in the middle of Battery Park.
Ancient Playground uptown I have to mention it because it looks so cool, though, we have never gone to it because I have usually exhausted my children by visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art and by the time we walk by, it is time to go home and sleep.
Pierrepont Playground in Brooklyn Heights. I grew up going to this playground so I have a gazillion wonderful memories here - (remember the seesaw?). It is as popular now as it was when I was a kid. Actually more so, you might have to take a number to get inside on a Saturday.
This article was written for My Urban Sherpa by Victoria Kann, illustrator, educator, co-author of Pinkalicious, and mother of two playground enjoying children.
Filed under Children in New York City, Enjoying New York City, Navigating New York, New York City | Comment (1)New York City Steakhouses
A good steak meal does not come cheap, and not all steakhouses are created equal. New York has an overwhelming number of upscale steakhouses, so here’s some suggestions from our insiders for your next night out so you’ll be sure to have a good experience:
Best Steakhouse in New York (and you’ve heard of it):
Peter Luger Steakhouse, Brooklyn
178 Broadway
Brooklyn, NY
718-387-7400
We know that recommending Peter Luger is about as original as saying “when you’re in Paris, you should really see the Eiffel Tower,” but the fact is that it is simply the best. Despite the proliferation of steakhouses across the city, among New Yorkers who are real steak lovers, it still reigns supreme. The steak itself is usually perfect; they have the best meat available to mankind. There might be an infrequent miss but far less often than at other places. The steaks are usually cooked perfectly, because, for the most part, they just crank out medium-rare porterhouses and the waiters, who really know what they’re doing, make sure you get the right steak. Everything else is simple and delicious and, with an upscale beer hall atmosphere, it’s also a good time. Despite a reputation for gruffness, the owners and staff seem to have mellowed out - the service is actually excellent, the hosts are pleasant and reservations are indeed honored.
Getting to “Luger’s†isn’t as bad as you think. It’s just on the other side (from Manhattan) of the Williamsburg Bridge, so it’s a quick taxi ride. There’s also a subway stop (the J train) which is a 5 minute walk to the restaurant if you’re trying to get there during rush hour. To get back to Manhattan, they’ll call you a car which will cost around $20. Luger’s will cost you a bit less than most Manhattan steakhouses, so the extra transportation cost is not a big deal.
A couple of insider’s tips:
They really don’t take credit cards, so bring cash (most visitors are incredulous). However, if you actually show up without the cash and eat your meal, they will indeed accept a credit card - don’t expect to make any friends though.
Peter Luger has an outpost in Great Neck, Long Island (not too far from the city) which has just as good food in a more pleasant setting. If you’re on your way back from the Hamptons or in town for the U.S. Open, it might be worth checking out.
Best Steakhouses You May Not Have Heard of:
Ben and Jack’s
219 E. 44th St.
(bet. 2nd & 3rd Aves.)
Manhattan, NY
212-682-5678
Of all the Peter Luger clones which have popped up in Manhattan over the past several years, this one is the best so far. It’s right near Grand Central and in a very comfortable, though not too glamorous setting. The menu is identical to Peter Luger, the food is nearly as good, the service is fine and the location can’t be beat. Though, it has yet to stand the test of time (opened in 2006), it is currently as good as it gets in Manhattan.
Blair Perrone Steakhouse
885 Second Avenue
(bet. 47th & 48th Sts.)
Manhattan, NY
212-796-8000
Another Peter Luger spin-off, Blair Perrone is probably the nicest and most comfortable steakhouse in Manhattan. They inherited an enormous, beautiful space from the failed Ruth’s Chris East Side along with Ruth’s Chris’ signature 1800° oven which gives them a culinary advantage. The food is all around very good and the place is extremely nice and grand - a bit more women friendly as well. The location is very convenient (48th and 2nd) but just enough out of the fray that it’s typically not a problem getting in. Given the setting and the quality of the food, this place can’t be beat. Let’s just hope they get enough traffic to stay in business.
Strip House
13 E. 12th St.
(bet. 5th Ave. and University Pl.)
Manhattan, NY
212-328-0000
A bit different from the others as it is not a Luger’s clone, the Strip House is the best of the rest. Though not a NY original, the steak and all the food is fantastic including the non-traditional gourmet adaptations of the side dishes. The bordello-themed restaurant is actually very women-friendly and good for a date (it’s a place where a group of women might feel comfortable by themselves). Essentially, it’s a great steakhouse disguised as a nice restaurant. For a true “guys night out” you may want to stick to the other choices. The Greenwich Village location may also be appealing to some.
Wolfgang’s Tribeca
409 Greenwich St.
(bet. Beach and Hubert Sts.)
Manhattan, NY
212-925-0350
If you’re way downtown, this is the place to go. The original Wolfgang’s (at 33rd and Park) was the first Luger’s spin-off/clone. The food there is excellent but the place is so cramped, it’s to be avoided. The newer sister location in Tribeca, however, is spacious and vibrant. With the same excellent food and a trendy atmosphere, this is a very good downtown choice.
Places to Avoid (where you might otherwise be tempted to go):
BLT Prime
If you want to go people watching while in NY, there are plenty of bars and clubs you can go to when your dinner is over. This place is noisy, crowded and terrible. It is run by and frequented by people who wouldn’t know and don’t care what makes a good restaurant let alone a good steakhouse. On top of that, it’s actually more expensive than its competitors (as if that were possible).
Spark’s Steakhouse
“Inedible” is the only word which comes to mind. One of New York’s most celebrated steakhouses (and highly rated by other sources), in front of which mob boss Paul Castellano was assassinated, is actually not very good. Steaks are over salted to cover up substandard meat and the place really caters to its regulars not visitors. Too many choices these days to waste your time and money here.
Del Frisco’s
This may be the noisiest restaurant in New York. Nothing wrong with the food, but you may want to experience Del Frisco’s in another city (especially since it’s not a NY original).
About our Steakhouse Editor:
Jay Weiss is a lifelong New Yorker. He is a management consultant, not a professional food critic. He lives in Manhattan and eats a lot of steak.
Filed under Navigating New York, New York City, Restaurants | Comment (0)Open House New York
The most exciting thing to do this weekend, and for architects, historians, interior designers and many New Yorkers, the most exciting event of the year, is Open House New York.
The 5th Annual weekend opens Saturday,October 6 and runs throughout the day and the next, Sunday October 7th. Reservations are required, tours are free and architect or docent led, and available on a first-come first-served basis.
Choose from a tour of the High Line, many of New York’s great museums and historic buildings, a great selection of architect offices, and private businesses and residences.
Go surf, reserve and see!
Filed under Enjoying New York City, Navigating New York, New York City | Comment (0)
