Playing Tour-Guide in New York City

As a person with family and friends all over the world, I get visitors all the time, especially from spring through the summer. As soon as April comes around, my apartment is like a hotel, with a constant stream of visitors, only I don't get paid for my services. But it is fun when people come from out of town because you are forced to do touristy things that you would never think of doing when you are on your own. I remember the time when I used to come to New York on vacation and take the tour buses from Port Authority but now I take my visitors to the spots where the locals go and do so on the cheap. One of the best ways to get around town is to take the local buses and when I have time I take the #2 buses from Harlem down Fifth Avenue past Museum Row to Rockefeller Center for shopping or lunch. You see an interesting transition from Harlem to the wealth and luxurt of the Upper East Side. Perhaps the biggest bargain known to New Yorkers in the Staten Island Ferry which is free, and from the west side of the boat you get a perfect view of the Statue of Liberty. Compare that to the Circle Line sightseeing cruises http://www.circleline42.com and http://www.circleline42.com which start at about $15. The Staten Island ferry even has a bar on board so what more can you ask for?

For the first time visitor to New York, nothing beats the excitement of seeing Times Square for the first time. In order to get fantastic views and avoid the crowds, I take visitors to Bubba Gumps restaurant, www.bubbagump.com, which is across the street from ABC television studios with its giant screens and next to the MTV studios. It is a fun dining experience but it tends to be crowded. On the north side of Times Square, the front upstairs section of the Olive Garden restaurant, www.olivegarden.com, also provides great views of the square and if you are lucky enough to get reservations, it is a smart option for viewing the ball fall on New Year's Eve. Generally there is too long a wait at Olive Garden and it is pricey.

The Village is a perennial favorite for visitors and New Yorkers alike especially the clubs and restaurants near NYU around MacDougal and Bleecker Street. My favorite hang-outs are Café Wha? http://www.cafewha.com for live music, The Comedy Cellar http://www.comedycellar.com, Groove Lounge and The Fat Black Pussycat http://thefatblackpussycat.com. Everything I am down in The Village I am reminded of what I love about New York, it reminds me of my student days again. The area near the Christopher Street subway station is also fun and gay-friendly, I love eating in the neighborhood restaurants like Caliente and Dragonfly. I also love going down to The South Street Seaport, http://www.southstreetseaport.com/html, for a meal or shopping as it provides great views of the New York Harbor area. There is so much to see in New York but these are just a few of my favorite haunts.