Erika & Neal
Things To Do
Pier 11 / Wall St. Ferry
A fun way to get to the ceremony is to take the ferry from Pier 11 in Manhattan to Dumbo - it's one stop and just 5-10 minutes, but with gorgeous views. They have a full to-go bar where you buy your ferry tickets at Pier 11, so you can make it a party! There are ferries on Saturday at 4:24pm and 4:47pm.
Katz's Delicatessen
Neal's happy place! Gigantic pastrami sandwiches, plus lots of other classic Jewish deli foods, and so much more). It's hectic, bustling, and busy, and hasn't really changed since WWII.
Taverna Kyclades
Erika's happy place! The best Greek food in the city. You'll get a loaf of freshly baked bread when you sit - make sure to order the tzatziki to sop it up. Other favorites of ours are the grilled octopus, lemon potatoes, and the Kyclades house salad. If it's a nice day, sit outside in the sunshine and get a carafe of the house white, too. (They just moved locations which is a bummer since the previous location was old and charming, but the new spot is pretty sleek.)
Emily: West Village
Erika’s favorite pizza in the city and Neal’s favorite burger! Emily and Emmy Squared are two restaurants owned by the same people and with very similar menus (same great pizza!). There are multiple locations around the city, so you can find the one most convenient to you. The Emmy Burger, Neal’s favorite, is on the permanent menu at Emily but only makes appearances on Emmy Squared’s specials menu. People also love the Le Big Matt burger.
Levain Bakery - NoHo
Best cookies ever! They are gigantic and best when you can snag some freshly out of their oven. They're known for their chocolate chip walnut, but our favorite is the chocolate peanut butter. (Levain has a few locations around the city.)
Hometown Bar-B-Que
Neal's favorite BBQ in New York! On top of the classics, be sure to order the thick slab pastrami bacon. (Pro tip: the line might be long, but they let you order drinks from the bar to drink while you stand in the line - so you won't be bored.) This is in the middle of nowhere, so if you do make it out there, some other fun things to do in the area: Red Hook Lobster Pound, Red Hook Winery, breweries/distilleries (there are a few), Sunny's Bar, and Defonte's Sandwich Shop.
Ippudo NY
The best ramen in the city! Get the Karaka Spicy ramen and make sure to add a soft-boiled egg. The shishito peppers are also amazing. There are a couple locations in the city.
Los Tacos No. 1
The best tacos in the city! It's a stand within Chelsea Market, and often has long lines with not many tables, but is completely worth it. Pro tip: there's a wine shop nearby in Chelsea Market and they let you buy wine and uncork it there, and then you can drink while you wait in line. While you're in Chelsea Market, there are lots of other fun shops and good food.
Joe’s Pizza
A New York favorite slice joint! Pick up a slice or two of some great, classic New York pizza. There are a few locations around the city.
Spunto NYC Thin Crust Pizza
If you're in town long enough and are looking for a fantastic happy hour deal (Mondays all night, Tuesdays-Sundays 3:30-6:30pm), at Spunto they offer great pours of buy one get one free wine and beer, or you can get a free pizza with the purchase of a bottle of wine or pitcher of beer. This is a super thin crust pizza spot and they have sandwiches as well. Erika loves getting a custom pizza with prosciutto and arugula, but their Shroomtown and Parma are also fantastic options - actually, they all are!
L'Industrie Pizzeria
If you're in Brooklyn, this is great pizza.
Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company
Erika's favorite bagel spot (there are a few locations around the city, FYI). Giant bagels and you can't go wrong with either a bagel and cream cheese or a full-on breakfast sandwich.
Pick a Bagel on 23rd
Neal's favorite bagel spot (there are a few locations).
Ess-a-Bagel
Another favorite New York bagel spot!
The High Line
The city converted an old unused aboveground train line into a gorgeous walkway along the west side of the city. There are some restaurants and bars along the path, and lots of greenery and beautiful views. You can get on or off every few blocks, or walk as long as you like.
The Museum of Modern Art
The first museum Neal went to in the city.
American Museum of Natural History
Erika's favorite museum!
The Baylander
A floating bar! Eat and drink right on a ship which served in the Vietnam War all while overlooking fantastic views on the water.
Grand Banks
Eat and drink on a docked boat on the Hudson River! Fantastic scenery and good seafood - though definitely overpriced and crowded, as a warning.
Comedy Cellar
Neal's favorite comedy spot! You never know if a famous comedian might drop in. Grab dinner beforehand at Olive Tree Cafe right over it.
The Stand NYC
Another good comedy spot.
Pier 17
This is a really cool venue to see a concert, right on the water and overlooking the city. They have a summer concert series, so if you have a free evening, it would be a fun thing to do: https://www.pier17ny.com/concerts/?cat=Concerts.
Drunk Shakespeare
This had the potential to be a really horrible tourist trap, but was surprisingly funny! The actors do improv Shakespeare with help from the audience, and one of the players has to take shots throughout and steadily gets more and more tipsy while reciting Shakespeare.
West Village
Erika's favorite neighborhood in the city, and an amazing place to just roam. It's a beautiful part of town with lots of brick and cobblestone and meandering streets - Erika loves to just walk around the streets with no destination in mind. There are also walking tours and food tours if you prefer to have a guided plan.