Word: Antonio Licon

New York City is actually made up of many little villages. Let me show you around one of my favourite neighbourhoods, the distinctive Hell’s Kitchen in Manhattan.

GETTING THERE
Both Kennedy and JFK airports are easy to get to from Hong Kong, and flights for early January are as low as HK$9,500. Unfortunately, this great city has not quite caught up to Hong Kong when it comes to transport from the airports. I prefer to go to JFK which has ‘AirTrain’ service for US$5 and connects with the E train, which will take you right to Hell’s Kitchen.

If you are in NYC for more than 3 days, you should think about getting a weekly MetroCard (US$27) which will give you unlimited access to the Subway. The pay as you go fare is US$2.50, so if you don’t think you will be on the Subway much a US$20 pre pay card gives you US$23, and you can use it for up to 3 people per trip and also on the AirTrain.

Ok Carrie (reference to our beloved SATC), if you MUST take a taxi, expect to pay a flat US$45 to Manhattan plus tolls – tipping is customary for good service (15 – 20%).

SLEEP
Chelsea Star
300 West 30th Street (Chelsea)
www.starhotelny.com
Price: From US$30
Buzz: Cheap and cheerful, good user rating, free wi-fi and close to Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen

Holiday Inn Midtown / 57th St.
440 West 57th Street
www.ichotelsgroup.com
Price: From US$150
Buzz: Near Hell’s Kitchen and Central Park, free wi-fi, pool and fitness center. Great value!

Chelsea Pines (Gay Bed and Breakfast)
317 West 14th St.
www.chelseapinesinn.com
Price: From US$179
Buzz: Big with the gays, close to Chelsea, free wi-fi, charming B+B atmosphere.

EAT
Vynl
Address: 754 9th Ave. @ 51st St.
www.vynl-nyc.com
Price: Appetizer US$5-10 , Mains US$8-20
Buzz: Modern Thai / American fare, great people watching music themed décor, open late, won’t break the bank.

Ariba Ariba
Address: 762 9th Avenue @ 51st St.
www.arribarriba.com
Price: Appetizer US$8-11 , Mains US$13-20
Buzz: Good Mexican food, great music, hot waitstaff, killer margaritas (go on, get the big one), generous portions.

Eatery
Address: 798 9th Ave @ 53rd St.
www.eaterynyc.com
Price: Appetizer US$6-9 , Mains US$13-20
Buzz: Trendy crowd, good food, good value.

SEE
Broadway
Get thee to a musical! Splurge! See Wicked! If you are on a more modest budget, hit the TKTS booth where you will find up to 50% discounts. A little bird told me the South Street Seaport booth has shorter lines, and you can get matinee tickets the day before.
www.tdf.org

Columbus Circle
This prime piece of property on the SW corner of Central Park is basically a shopping mall filled with luxury brand stores ala Hong Kong, fancy restaurants, and a Borders book store (I once stumbled in on a performance by James Blunt here). It’s worth a visit to see the architecture and people watch.

MOMA
11 West 53rd St. US$20
The Museum of Modern Art. Just go.
www.moma.org

NIGHTLIFE
In general it’s safe to say that most places will be busy/jam-packed Thu-Sat from around 9pm. A lot of people will go out for a drink or two before seeing a show on Broadway, so there will be an early crowd. Similarly, people will filter in to the bars once the shows get out. Be sure to bring your passport for ID. You WILL be carded, and an HKID will unlikely get you past the door-bitch.

Therapy
Address: 348 West 52nd St, Btwn 8th and 9th
www.therapy-nyc.com
Price: Entrance is free, drinks are moderately priced.
Buzz: Hipsters and twinks. Therapy is one of the reasons Hell’s Kitchen is often called ‘Helsea’. A little bit of Chelsea trendiness, attitude and glamour. Awesome DJ, no dancefloor.

Posh
Address: 405 West 51st St. @ 9th
www.poshbarnyc.com
Price: Entrance is free, drinks are cheap.
Buzz: The name is a misnomer. This place is more like a gay “Cheers”, and is cheap and friendly, but certainly not “posh”. A good place to meet locals, and they have a small, well used dance floor.

Barrage
Address: 401 W 47th St. @ 9th
Price: Entrance is free, drinks are moderately priced..
Buzz: Two words: Frozen cosmos. Also known as “Crystal Gayle”, these cosmos are like no other, and on Mondays they are only $3 at happy hour. This bar is popular with the theatre going crowd, as well as with creative types. Nice mixed atmosphere, rarely too crowded, good music, no dancefloor.

Ritz
Address: 369 W 46th St. Btwn 8th and 9th
Price: Entrance is free, drinks are moderately priced.
Buzz: Ritz is a popular two level lounge with a small dance area on the first floor. It’s sure to be busy on the weekends, especially after the shows are out. Long and narrow, it can get tough to make your way through the hotties. For Martini/Cosmo drinkers, a word of advice: get it on the rocks, you and others will wind up wearing less of it.

Vlada
Address: 331 W 51st St. Btwn 8th and 9th
Website: www.vladabar.com
Price: Entrance is free, drinks are cheap.
Buzz: When you think vodka, do you think horseradish? Apple-cinnamon? Garlic? Bacon? For the adventurous there are more than 15 flavours of infused vodka. A trendy local crowd comes here, and like Ritz it’s long and narrow space that gets packed after shows and on weekends. No dancefloor.

EXTRA CREDIT
Here are a few of my favourite spots outside Hells Kitchen:

Gym Bar
Address: 167 8th Ave Btwn 18th St. and 19th St.
www.gymsportsbar.com
Buzz: Sports bar, low attitude, buff bartenders, beer.

Splash aka SBNY
Address: 50 W 17 St. Btwn 5th and 6th
www.splashbar.com
Buzz: Here’s your boom-boom-pow. 10,000 sq ft club 2000 sq ft of which is dance floor with hi-tech light and sound. The stage has a working shower. Hot, wet, messy fun. Busy nearly any night.