The New York Minute Show » Video

Under The Manhattan Bridge

Rob Safuto — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 23:34:15 +0000

A spot under the Manhattan Bridge is probably one of the more unlikely places for a relaxing afternoon but please don’t knock it til you try it. For years I have heard about the neighborhood called DUMBO. It’s not a Disney movie. It’s Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. DUMBO is a neighborhood with eclectic shops, some restaurants and bars. At the edge of the neighborhood right on the East River there is a small park that has a childrens playground, and a large patch of grass for relaxing. It’s a great place to spend some time with the kids, the dog or just your thoughts and a camera. You’ve got Lower Manhattan to your west, the Brooklyn Bridge just to your south and the Manhattan Bridge right above your head.

We got their by car taking the Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE) to Tillary Street and then turning down Jay Street. You can also get there by taking the F train to York Street. If you’re feeling so inclined you can also walk over the Brooklyn Bridge to get there.

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Sheepshead Bay

Rob Safuto — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:20:02 +0000

Last weekend when we were down in the city the family and I took a ride to Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn for some fish at Randazzo’s Clam Bar. Sheepshead Bay is a little neighborhood on the south side of Brooklyn, just to the east of Coney Island. When I was a kid we used to go there for dinner and we’d walk along the water at the Sheepshead Bay Pier and watch the fishing boats getting ready to go out for the evening. This time we saw that they have a couple of party boats that go out at night for those who want to have some fun out on the water.

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Weekend In The City With Kids

Rob Safuto — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:03:04 +0000

I recently returned from an extended weekend in New York City with my wife and our two children. It’s the first time we’ve had two little ones (age 1 and 4) with us and I have to say it was quite a challenge. Everything needed to be timed just right and we needed to carry along extra gear to make sure the kids were comfortable and happy throughout the day. We also did a lot less than we could have done without the children since we made time for naps and cut days short when they were tired and hungry. Here is a short synopsis of the trip.

Day 1 – Rockaway Beach

Rockaway Beach is exactly as I remember it from my days as a youth in Queens. There’s not much going on there except the boardwalk, the beach and the ocean. That’s fine with me. You’ll find many more locals than tourists at Rockaway. We went to Beach 108 St. which is usually quieter than 116 St. which is the last subway stop. The area in between 108th and 116th is even quieter since it’s further from the best parking and the subway stops. Lifeguards are on duty from 10AM – 6PM. When we were there two lifeguards (one in the chair and one at the edge of the surf) patrolled each stretch of beach. It’s important to note that the currents at Rockaway can be dangerous so it’s best to supervise kids very closely. Current aside the water was nice. I did some bodysurfing and we played with the kids at the edge of the surf. We drove to the beach and I think that’s the preferred mode of transport with the kids because you can leave and get comfortable much quicker than if you take public transportation.

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Day 1 – Evening
My Mom was kind enough to sit with the kids for the evening so my wife and I could have an adult night out. We walked around the West Village, grabbed a beer at WXOU Radio Bar then dinner at our favorite Brazilian restaurant Casa on Bedford Street. Casa is very small, but has a nice elegant feel to it. We love the food and always have a caipirihna or three. The one thing I noticed when walking around the village is that there are more closed storefronts than usual. Several restaurants that we used to go to are closed. There are still many great places to visit though. It’s also worth noting that Bleecker Street between 10th St. and Hudson St. has gotten much more upscale with several high end clothing and shoe stores. We capped off the evening with a stroll up Bleecker to Rocco’s Pastry Shop. My wife had assorted cookies and I inhaled a fresh cannoli. We also spotted TV actor Nicholas Tuturro in Rocco’s enjoying some sweets with his family.

Day 2 – Top of the Rock / Grand Central Terminal
Top of the Rock is one of those sights I’ve talked alot about but never actually visited. It’s a series of observation decks at 30 Rockefeller Plaza (aka 30 Rock) that was closed for many years and re-opened several years ago. Top of the Rock is notable because you get a great perspective on the Empire State Building and also have a great view of Central Park. You can book times in advance so we did that on the website. Kids under 6 are free so that was very helpful for our budget. Once you’re up at the top there are three different levels and you can enjoy the view from indoors as well as outdoors. The elevator ride up to the 67th floor is pretty unique and the kids loved it. We brought a two-person stroller everywhere and there were elevators that allow you to take the stroller to any level. There are also bathrooms up there so kids potty emergencies aren’t a problem. One interesting note about departing. The elevator down dropped us off below street level so we had to find an elevator (there are more escalators than elevators) to go one level up so we could exit with the stroller.

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We continued on the meet a friend for lunch at Grand Central Terminal. My older daughter loved the giant main hall. The ceiling is worth a look for astronomy buffs (my daughter loves stars) since the constellations are depicted on the ceiling of the terminal. I think that Grand Central is a great stop if you have kids because it’s free, there is plenty of room for strollers, lots of food options and there are bathrooms. The Transit Museum Annex is also worth stopping in on because they have some unique transit oriented souvenirs (like subway map rain boots and umbrellas) plus a few small transit exhibits.

Day 3 – Staten Island Ferry / Battery Park
My daughter was excited to get a look at the Statue of Liberty up close so we headed to Lower Manhattan for our final outing of the trip. We decided to skip going directly to the statue in order to avoid long lines. Going right to the Statue of Liberty and seeing her from very close up is well worth the wait. But we also knew that the kids might not hold up well on a hot day in a large crowd of people. It was a good choice because when we got down in that area the line to get on the ferry to the statue was very long. Instead we hopped on the Staten Island Ferry for free and caught a glimpse from the harbor. When we got to Staten Island instead of rushing to get the ferry to come back (which departs almost the same time as you arrive) we stayed an extra 30 minutes and enjoyed the view of Manhattan in the distance. There’s a nice outdoor deck area where you can grab a bench and admire the harbor. It’s important to note that when getting on the ferry you want to make a beeline to the side of the ferry that faces the statue if you want to get the best view. There is an upper level where you can go up to as well but that wasn’t an option for us since it wasn’t stroller accessible.

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With the time we saved not waiting to get on the ferry to the Statue of Liberty we strolled around Battery Park and Wagner Park which is just to the west of Battery Park and hugs New York Harbor and the Hudson River. We were treated to an impromptu modern dance performance which we stumbled upon while walking along. Here’s something else that’s important to know. There are public bathrooms in Battery Park that had very long lines. If you walk further west to the outdoor restaurant called Gigino you will find bathrooms there that get less traffic and may be a bit cleaner. Plus there’s a great patch of grass there where you can admire the harbor view.

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Getting Around With Kids
Having a car was very helpful for us during our trips since we were staying outside of Manhattan. If you’re in Manhattan and traveling with kids then the subway is the best mode of transport for long distances. A sturdy stroller is invaluable if your children are very young. I saw lots of people with flimsy travel strollers. I think the streets are a little too rough and the pace a little too fast to bring a cheap stroller. We have a travel stroller that we’ve gone to other cities with but those are places where there is less walking, the streets are better paved and the pace is slower. So I say bring the full on stroller for the kids if at all possible. If you are driving in then prepare to pay for parking. If you can find an easy parking spot on the street then go for it. But rather than driving in circles for hours it’s best to bite the bullet and spring for a parking garage. This can cost anywhere from $20 to $50 per day. Most places have early bird specials on weekdays where you get a much reduced rate if you arrive before 10AM. You can use http://nyc.bestparking.com/ to research locations of lots and find lots that have special deals going.

New Stadium For The Mets

Rob Safuto — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:36:21 +0000

I recently had the opportunity to spend an evening at Citi Field, the new home of the New York Mets. I created a series of 13 videos to chronicle my visit. One is embedded below. You can head over to YouTube to view the entire playlist if you like.

Citi Field

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East End Beaches

Rob Safuto — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 01:23:42 +0000

Most people probably don’t come to New York for the beaches. They should though! There are some fantastic beaches and other sights on the east end of Long Island that are worth visiting. I prefer to go in the shoulder seasons of late spring or early fall since the east end gets crowded and expensive in the summer months. I recommend Sea Crest on the Ocean as an excellent place to stay if you do decide to spend a couple of days out east.

Amagansett Beach

Montauk Lighthouse

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Columbus Circle On A Summer Day

Rob Safuto — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:33:52 +0000

This is a view of Columbus Circle at the southwest corner of Central Park on a summer day.

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Buon Italia At Chelsea Market

Rob Safuto — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 21:04:37 +0000

A walk through Buon Italia with Chef Mark. Buon Italia is an Italian food store located in Chelsea Market.

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Sammy’s Romanian Steak House

Rob Safuto — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 18:42:58 +0000

Sammy’s is on the Lower East Side at 157 Chrystie Street New York, NY 10002.

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Crazy Pizza Guys

Rob Safuto — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:26:48 +0000

Back by popular demand. This is the tale of an unassuming gentleman who just wants one slice of pizza. Unfortunately a pair of crazy pizza guys have other ideas.

Video – George Washington Bridge

Rob Safuto — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 01:57:58 +0000

This is a video of the George Washington Bridge. It was taken from inside an Amtrak train heading south. The combo of the bridge, the sun and the Hudson River makes for a really nice setting I think.

Around The Corner With Ralph Lauren

Rob Safuto — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:24:15 +0000

Ralph Lauren is producing a video series called Around The Corner which aims to provide some insider info on various destinations. The video embedded below shows a young lady stopping by a vegan bakery, a barber shop and a Mexican Cuban restaurant. These spots were all new to me so it’s worth taking a look.

In other news. I will be out and about in the city this weekend with video camera in hand. I hope to capture a couple of short videos to share with you here really soon.

Video – Central Park Carousel

Rob Safuto — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:54:43 +0000

On a warm summer day last August the family went to Central Park and our daughter got to experience the lovely and classic Central Park Carousel. The carousel in Central Park is a real fun experience for both kids and adults.

Ramble Through New York City

Rob Safuto — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:58:27 +0000

Fellow New York City podcaster Frank Nora has started a series of videos that he calls InRamble. Frank gives some nice, short glimpses of the city in his videos. In the clip below he gives you a view of Times Square.

In another recent episode Frank gives you a glimpse of his ride on a subway train.

Trata Estiatorio Restaurant Review

Rob Safuto — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 06:43:41 +0000

Another video blogger that I follow has posted a review of a Manhattan restaurant called Trata Estiatorio. Trata Estiatorio is a seafood restaurant on the Upper East Side. Looks like a good place to get a bite to eat.

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