My New York Bucket List
The eternal struggle.
About
My personal list of things left to do. A living document.
Revised TODO (June 1, 2019)
The things that matter.
architecture (2): General Electric Building (Midtown), Hearst Tower (Midtown)
art/museums (2): Conjuring Arts (Midtown), Louis Armstrong House (Queens)
do (4): Gospel (Harlem, Sunday morning), The Edge, Top of the Rock*, West 4th basketball
eat/drink (3): Bamonte’s (Williamsburg), Blanca (Roberta’s), Manhattan Yacht Club (Honorable Willy Wall, floating bar)
performance (4): Warsaw (Williamsburg), Harlem Stage, Nutcracker (NYC Ballet), The Kitchen (Chelsea)
nature/outdoors (8): Barretto Point (pool), Bartow-Pell Mansion + Pelham Bay park, Fort Tilden, Hall of Fame for Great Americans, Hunter Island, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Wave Hill, Woodlawn Cemetery
hard shit (15): Explorers Club (wild game dinner), Flatiron (inside), Frick (hidden bowling alley), Gramercy Park (key), J. Ralph studio, Jimmy Fallon, make art (exhibition?), MET Gala, MoMa Garden Party, Moth Ball, Radio City (hidden apartment), Rao’s, tattoo, University Club, Waldorf Astoria
Entertainment (13 remaining)
clubs: 40/40 (+ Barclays), Boom Boom Room, The Box
comedy: Comedy Cellar, Knitting Factory, The Stand, Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB), Warsaw
sport: Barclays Center (Nets), Madison Square Garden (Knicks, Rangers), MCU (Brooklyn Cyclones), MetLife (Giants), Red Bull Arena (NY Red Bull), Yankee Stadium (NY FC)
venues: 92nd Street Y, Angel Orensanz Foundation, Apollo Theatre, Barbès, Baryshnikov Arts Center, Beacon Theatre, Bowery Ballroom, Cake Shop, Capitale, Carnegie Hall, Chamber Music Society (Alice Tully Hall), Dizzy’s Coca-Cola, Grand Prospect Hall, Harlem Stage, Joe’s Pub at The Public Theatre, Kinfolk 90, Kings Theatre, Lincoln Centre (Film Society, Metropolitan Opera), Marie’s Crisis, Music Hall of Williamsburg, Pete’s Candy Store, Radio City Music Hall, Roulette, Rue B, Sid Gold’s Request Room, Smalls Jazz Club, St. Anne’s Warehouse, The Greene Space, The Kitchen, The PIT (People’s Improv Theatre), Town Hall, TRANS-PECOS, Union Hall, United Palace, Village Vanguard (jazz), Webster Hall
Arts (24 remaining)
architecture: Alice Austin House, BLDG 92, Brooklyn Bridge (sunrise), Chrysler Building, General Electric Building, Hearst Tower, Hotel St. George (internal subway entrance), IRT City Hall Station, One Hanson Place (Williamsburg Savings), Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island
galleries: Broken Kilometer, Cheim & Read, Crack is Wack, David Zwirner, Dia:Beacon, Dream House, Earth Room, Gagosian’s, Pierogi, Sean Kelly, Storefront for Art & Architecture, Subway Map Floating on a NYC Sidewalk (110 Greene St)
museums: 9/11 Tribute Center, American Indian, Bartow-Pell Mansion, Bronx, City Reliquary, Cloisters, Conjuring Arts, Drawing Center, Finance (closed), Fire, Folk, Frick Collection, Gangster, Hayden Planetarium, Historical Society, Intrepid Sea & Air, Louis Armstrong House, MAD, MET (rooftop bar), Merchant’s House, Micro (closed), Mmuseumm, Morbid Anatomy (closed), Morgan Library, Moving Image, Museum of the City of New York, Natural History, Noguchi, Public Library, Queens, Tenement, THINK 1994 (closed), Transit, Troll, United Nations, Waterfront Museum, Wave Hill
screen: Alamo Drafthouse, BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) Rose, IFC Centre, Nitehawk Cinema (both), Paris Theatre, Sunshine Landmark Cinema, Syndicated, Videology, Village East Cinema, Williamsburg Cinemas
Nature (21 remaining)
animals: Bronx Zoo, Brooklyn Zoo, Catskill Animal Sanctuary, Central Park Zoo, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
beach: Coney Island (boardwalk), Fort Tilden (Jacob Riis), Jones, Long, Rockaway, South (Staten Island)
caves: Howe Caverns
cemetery: Green-Wood, Woodlawn
islands: City (Bronx), Ellis, Fire, Governors (Hammock Grove), Hunter, Liberty, Roosevelt (tram car)
parks: Battery, Botanical Gardens (Bronx), Brooklyn Botanical (cherry blossoms), Elevated Acre, Hall of Fame for Great Americans, Owl’s Head, Paley, Pelham Bay, Prospect (Ravine/Midwood), Sheep Meadow (Central Park picnic), Socrates Sculpture Park, Van Cortlandt
trails: Bear Mountain, Bronx River Parkway, Hudson River (Manhattan Waterfront) Greenway, Ocean Parkway, Staten Island Greenbelt (mostly foot paths)
urban: Creative Little Garden, Red Hook Piers (Statue of Liberty), Tudor City Greens
views: One Word Trade Center Observatory, Top of the Rock
Visit (16 remaining)
food: 21 Club* (closed), Arthur Avenue Market, Brighton Bazaar, Dylan’s Candy Bar, Ninth Ave International Foods, Sahadi’s
records: Academy, Black Gold, Co-Op 87, The Thing, Turntable Lab
shop: Barneys, Bloomindale’s, Brooklyn Flea, Chinatown Fair Family Fun Center (arcade), Dover St Market (designer fashion), Dube Juggling, Flight 23, Heatonist (hot sauce), Obscura Antiques, Macy’s, Modern Pinball NYC, Pearl Paint (art supplies), Pencil Enterprise, Pleasure Chest (adult), Rubber Stamp Shop, Tender Buttons (closed), The Uncommons (tabletop games), WORD
wellness: Barretto Point (pool), Greenwich Hotel Spa (250-year old Japanese farmhouse), Juvenex Spa (Japanese, open 2am), Lasker Rink, Manhattan Plaza Health Club, Prospect Park Tennis Centre, Renew Body Wellness (cheap massage), Russian & Turkish Baths, Sky Rink, Spa Castle**, Wall St Bath & Spa
Bars (28 remaining)
beer: Berg’n, Brooklyn Brewery, Bronx Brewery, Floyd, McSorley’s (last place to allow women into a bar!), Mission Dilores, Other Half, Shoolbred’s, Sixpoint Brewery, Sunny’s, Torst (Evil Twin)
cocktails: Beautique (millionaires), Bemelmans Bar, Brandy Library, Brooklyn Barge, Cabin Down Below (speakeasy, exclusive), Club 21 (original speakeasy, jacket), Dear Irving, Death & Co., Dutch Kills, Kingside, Mace, Night of Joy, Old Town Bar, One Last Shag, Raines Law Room, St. Mazie, The Beagle, The Dead Rabbit Grocery & Grog, Weather Up
dive: Daddy’s, Holland Bar
games: Brooklyn Bowl, Bushwick Country Club (mini-golf), Frames Bowling, Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club, The Gutter
hotels: Andaz 5th Ave, Ballroom (The Jane), Est. 1986 (Hotel Stanford), Fourty Four (Royalton), Library (NoMad), Rose Bar (Gramercy Hotel), Upstairs (Kimberly)
rooftop: Empire Hotel, Gallow Green, Ink48 Press Lounge, La Birreria, Pod 39, Z NYC
wine: Black Mountain, City Winery
Eat (58 remaining)
american: 2nd Ave Deli, Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Bubby’s (midnight brunch), Ducks Eatery, Eleven Madison, Freemans, Grand Central Oyster Bar, Gramercy Tavern, Harry & Ida’s Meat & Supply Co., Homestead, Mile End, Peaches Hot House, PYT NYC (October pop-up, doughnut burger), The Clocktower (burger), The Spotted Pig (burger, Sunday brunch or after midnight), ZZ’s Clam Bar
asian: Beyond Sushi, Brick Lane Curry (all you can eat), Chinatown East (all you can eat), Dieci (Nagasaki pop-up 11–3pm), Ippudo (pork buns), Joe’s Shanghai, Minca, Sushi Nakazawa (21-course), The Bao, Tianjin Dumpling House, Takashi (midnight ramen), Totto Ramen (chicken broth), Xi’an Famous Foods (original)
bagels: Barney Greengrass, ESS-A-Bagel, Terrace, Tim Ho Wan, Tompkins Square Bagels (Birthday cake)
bakery: City Bakery (hot chocolate), Dough, Glaser (black/white cookie), La Guli, La Nueva, Mah-Ze-Dahr (Nov), Monteleone, Peter Pan, Poseidon, SCRATCHbread
cheese: Beecher’s, The Egg Shop
chocolate: Black Tap (milkshakes), Bond Street Chocolate, Eileen’s Special Cheesecake, Mast Brothers Chocolate, Nunu
coffee: Brooklyn Roasting Company, DTUT, GOSSIP Coffee, Ninth St Espresso
ice-cream: Alchemy, Ample Hills
italian: Bamonte’s, Dominick’s**, Ferdinando’s Focacceria, Frankies (457) Spuntino**, Lupa Osteria Romana, Sam’s Place, Supper
latino: B’klyn Burro, Coppelia (24/7), Empanada Mama (24/7), La Esquina
meat: Daisy Maes, Delmonico’s, Empire Biscuit (24/7), Fette Sau, Jacob’s Pickles, Mable’s Smokehouse, Peter Luger Steakhouse (44-ounce), Texas de Brazil (all you can eat)
pizza: Emily (Margot’s Pizza pop-up inside), Emmett’s (deep dish), Juliana’s, Lucali, Marta, Patsy’s (Harlem), Roberta’s, Sal & Carmine
pub: Black Swan (mac n’ cheese), Donovan’s Pub
sweets: Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain, Peanut Butter & Co
trucks: Cinnamon Snail, Shorty’s On Wheels, Smorgasburg, Snow Day, The Halal Guys
vegetarian: Bunna Cafe (Ethiopian), Champs Diner (vegan), Dirt Candy, Rockin’ Raw
Do (53 remaining)
burlesque: Bathtub Gin, Red Room, Slipper Room
clubs: Racquet and Tennis, Players Club, School of the Visual Arts, University
dance: Babel NYC, Boiler Room, CityFox, Daybreaker, Electric Room, Levon’s Midnight Ramble, Robot Heart (halloween)
dine: Diner en Blanc (thunderstorm!)
do: art exhibition (mine), brunch (mimosas, Harlem), camping (rooftop LIC), Chelsea Hotel (post renovation), Coney Island Cyclone, dating (celebrity, model), DJ, fashion show (backstage), Gagopa Karaoke, helicopter (Blade to the airport), Hamilton, House of Yes (hot tub), Hudson River (sail, jet ski to Statue of Liberty), modeling (hair), pay for bottle service (Back Room farewell), ride all NYC subway lines (Rockaway S, Midtown S, Staten Island SIR), sit courtside (NBA, get on court), Sketchbook Project (contribute), street chess (West 4th), tattoo (We Are Happy to Serve You; 11:11; Indistinguishable From Magic; No Angels Above, No Demons Below), sex party, Then She Fell, walk (entire Broadway), ride (around Manhattan, entire Broadway), volunteer (Museums)
festivals: HK Dragon Boat Festival, Manhattanhenge, Mermaid Parade, NYSE (Opening Bell*), Thanksgiving Parade, Tribeca Film, Village Halloween Parade, Christmas (Dyker Heights, Rockefeller tree, Bryant Park Winter Village, ice-skating, Rolf’s, Gramercy Park (caroling), Washington Square tree, MET tree, Fifth Ave windows)
fitness: Century Bike Ride (30th Anniversary), Empire State Building Run Up, Five Boro Bike Tour, New York Croquet Club, NYC Marathon (half), street downball/basketball (West 4th)
get: Gramercy Park key
parties: Chaplin Award Gala, Dances of Vice, Facebook, Google, Manhattan Cocktail Classic, MET Gala, MoMa Garden Party, Moth Ball, NoMad Masquerade, Twitter
stay: Kate’s Lazy Meadow (Catskill mountains), Mohonk Mountain, Soho House (Ludlow, Meatpacking), Waldorf Astoria (closed)
tours: Federal Reserve gold vault, J. Ralph studio, Radio City hidden apartment, Frick bowling alley
watch: Broadway (Book of Mormon), Rockettes Christmas Spectacular (Radio City), Gospel (Harlem), Jay-Z (Barclays), Bill Murray, Jerry Seinfeld, Susanne Bartsch, Larry David, Jimmy Fallon, Kanye, Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Lower Manhattan Night Court (real courtrooms), Muggle Quidditch (Central Park), Naked Show (naked comedy, naked audience), Nutcracker (NYC Ballet), Shakespeare in the Park, Secret Cinema, SNL (Owen Wilson), StorySLAM, TED Talk, Vintage Subway Trains (Christmas)
Out of Town
hiking: Appalachian, Arden Point, Bear Mountain, Blue Mountain Reservation, Breakneck Ridge, Camp Smith, Franny Reese, Kittatinny Ridge (wolf sanctuary), Long Path, Long Island (Great Neck, Lindenhurst, Montauk — Gurney’s, surfing, Hamptons — Coopers beach)
places: Baltimore, Berkshires (Canyon Ranch, MASS MoCA), Beacon (DIA: Beacon), Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Hudson, Maine, Miami, Montreal, Ontario (Niagara Falls), Nantucket, New Hampshire, New Paltz (Mohonk Mountain House, Huguenot St), Philadelphia, Rhode Island (Newport), Toronto (Nuit Blanche i.e. White Night), Vermont, Washington D.C.
venues: Richard B Fisher Centre, The Capital Theatre
live: LES, East Village, Williamsburg, Gowanus, Greenpoint, Bushwick, West Village/Chelsea, Harlem, Bronx*, Staten Island, Queens (LIC), Chinatown, Midtown (Flatiron), Roosevelt Island, UES, UWS
** = During Covid-19
Resources
- apps: Infatuation (high-end food/drink), See Saw (art), Swarm/Foursquare, Thrillist, Yelp
- newsletters: Nonsense NYC (nerd stuff), The Skint (cheap/free)
- sites: Facebook, Gothamist, Resident Advisor (music), StubHub/SeatGeek (sports and music events), The Moth (stories), Timeout, WikiTravel
