Tag Archives: FeelNYC

FeelNYC reviews the best tequila bars in New York

Everyone has had a bad experience with tequila. Everyone. Here at FeelNYC we know all about those bad experiences and we also know that it can often be attributed to low quality tequila. Thus, we have come up with a review of the top 3 tequila bars in NYC which stock only high quality products, reducing the chances of that all too familiar headache. I said reducing.

Agave

This tequila bar and restaurant in the west village has previously been recognized as the best tequila bar by the New York magazine and the best margarita bar by the Food Network. Stocking over 100 different tequilas, you will be spoiled for choice. Don´t worry though, one of their mixologists will be happy to recommend a tipple tailored to your taste!

140 7th Ave South, New York, NY 212-989-2100 agaveny.com/

Mayahuel

The east village has built a reputation for being the place to go out drinking. Mayahuel contributes to this reputation with its classy interior and equally classy drinks list. Serving a wide selection of both tequila and mescal, this bar is the perfect place to start a night out. We recommend trying the classic margarita made with tequila blanca, Cointreau and lime juice; a proper drink!

 

304 East 6th Street, New York, NY (212) 253-5888 mayahuelny.com/

Gabriela´s Mexican Restaurant and tequila bar

This upper west side Mexican restaurant is famous among locals not only for their delicious Mexican food but their sweet cocktails too. Try one of their classic mango and strawberry margaritas, they go down a treat.

688 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY (212) 961-9600 www.gabrielas.com/

So there you have it, FeelNYC´s review of the best tequila bars in New York. The only problem you might have is the hangover the following morning.

FeelNYC solves your problems with a guide to the best sticky buns in NYC

We´ve done reviews on where to get the best coffee or hot chocolate, but what goes best with a cup of joe? Yes, a sticky bun or a delicious pastry. Here at FeelNYC we have been round the city trying out bakeries in order to come up with the 3 best places to indulge in some Danish goodness!

Pecan sticky buns, The Queens

More widely known in the area for their grilles cheese sandwhiches, The Queens also makes a mean pecan sticky bun, perfect for the morning with a cup of their freshly made coffee!

40-17 Broadway, Queens, NY718-777-0913

Cinnamon rolls, Clementine Bakery

Located between Clinton Hill and Bed-Stuy is the sweetest little vegan shop around. Their cinnamon rolls are to die for! The perfect place for anyone with allergies thanks to their gluten free options.

299 Greene Ave.Brooklyn, NY , 718.483.8788

 

Raisin Swirl, Croissanteria

Located in the east village, Croissanteria has a wide selection of pastries and buns for whatever your mood. Perfect for the morning with an espresso. They also offer lunch time croissants with various fillings.

68 Avenue A New York, NY

With this short guide from FeelNYC you should have no problems finding the perfect snack to go with your morning coffee!

FeelNYC solves all your sight-seeing problems with a guide to the best helicopter tours in NYC.

Walking around New York City, you can´t help feeling utterly overwhelmed by the sheer size of everything, sometimes not being able to full appreciate the beauty of the city. One of the best ways to marvel at the city is from the air. Here at FeelNYC we have come up with a short guide to the best helicopter tours along with a selection of spectacular images captured from the air.

Complete New York Helicopter tour

Embark on the ultimate helicopter tour over the city, viewing the Statue of Liberty, Chrysler Building, Empire State, Central Park, Yankee Stadium and many other famous landmarks in a way that’s impossible from the ground. Start off by flying down the Hudson River toward the harbour and soak in that wonderful magic that the city possesses!

Pier 6 Heliport, New York. $199 pp (infants free)

Big Apple Helicopter tour.

In this slightly shorter tour you will see all of the famous landmarks with equal effect. Starting at the Downtown Heliport your flight will start with a view of the world trade centre, Battery Park, the Empire State etc.

Downtown Heliport, New York. $145pp (infants free)

Private tour: Manhattan heli tour.

Take a private tour in an exclusive craft, flying over Central Park, the Empire State and getting so close to the Statue of Liberty that you can almost touch it. Perfect for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries or just for a special night out this tour allows intimacy and privacy of the highest order.

Downtown Heliport, New York. Prices from $248.75 pp.

There really is no better way to see the city than from the air and thanks to this guide from FeelNYC, you should have no problems finding a tour that suits you!

FeelNYC solves all your Valentines problems with the best gift ideas!

With the imminent arrival of the most romantic day of the year, you´re probably thinking what to buy for that special person in your life. Without a shadow of a doubt, New York is a perfect place to indulge in the finer things in life. However with so much choice, there can be problems trying to decide. Fear not, here at FeelNYC we have collated a brief yet hugely diverse list of the best things to buy, or do on Valentine´s day in the Big Apple.

 

Qui Tequila

Traditionally when you think of valentines gifts, chocolate or flowers come to mind. Why not break the mold with this high end bottle of tequila? Tequila is said to increase endorphin levels, reduce anxiety and keep heart problems at bay (in moderation). This exclusive tequila is only available in NYC and has been enjoyed by the likes of Usher and Alicia Keys. Qui is perfect straight, on the rocks or in a cocktail making it the perfect gift for whoever it may be! Chin chin!

Available from Rosetta Wines.

40 Exchange Place, New York, NY (212) 361-0007

 

Valentine´s cooking classes

Fancy something a little different than going out for a meal? Why not enjoy the fruits of your labour by taking part in this intimate cooking class with renowned chef Bouleyin his Test Kitchen. The exclusive cooking classes will teach you how to make a 6 course mean (yes 6 courses!) using the very best locally sourced ingredients. Not only will you learn how to make some amazing dishes and get to eat what you have made, you will leave with newly acquired culinary skills, ingredients and kitchen confidence!

163 Duane Street, New York, NY (212) 964-2525

 

Massage day at Guerlain Spa.

What better way to spoil your other half than with a day of pampering at a luxury spa. The spa offer couples experiences that comprises an 80 minute side by side massage, a spa treatment in specialist suite with dual rain shower heads and a private steam room. All accompanied by champagne and truffles. Enjoy!

 

301 Park Avenue, New York, NY (212) 355-3000 www.guerlainspas.com/waldorf-astoria/

 

Hand dipped Salt Caramels

Caramel and salt I hear you cry? A rising trend in the world of confectionary, these caramels dipped in sea salt are a best seller for Nunu Chocolates in Brooklyn. Also try the chocolate covered potato chips for even more experimental indulgence.

529 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, NY  718-834-1818

There you have it, FeelNYC´s guide to the best valentine´s gifts in NYC. Thanks to us you should have no problems wowing your other half this year!

 

FeelNYC presents a guide to skateboarding in the big apple.

With New York being recognized as one of the birthplaces of skateboarding, it’s not surprising that there is a large skateboarder community. Although it was street skateboarding that originates in NYC, it is becoming increasingly difficult to take to the streets due to stricter law enforcement and regular busts.

It was the construction of the high rise buildings in the 70´s and 80´s that gave the city such a multi-dimensional skating scene. The large plazas on which the new buildings were built incorporated granite and marble ledges, as well as different sized stair sets that were perfect for the originators of street skating to develop their skills.

The famous Brooklyn banks were a somewhat mecca for skateboarders all over the world, with guys coming from all over the world to get a taste of real street skateboarding. Unfortunately the banks, located on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge were closed in 2010 due to a bridge renovation project. This close caused much controversy and dismay within the skateboarding community who fought for years previous to keep their little bit of New York alive. The banks are now fenced off and what is left is a mere shadow of what was previous.

The thing that was most attractive about the banks was that it wasn´t meant to be a skatepark, thus further nurturing a skateboarders ability to view a piece of architecture and find alternative uses for it. The construction work is scheduled to be completed by 2014 with the view of the banks being brought back to life.

With the banks out of action and the police becoming stricter and stricter, street skateboarders are gradually being forced to use skate parks that are dotted around the city. Granted, skating a park is never the same as skating the streets but when there is no other choice, you have to make do. There are many parks that have been constructed or that are being constructed in the city; below is a brief guide to 3 which we at FeelNYC think are the best.

Flushing meadows-Corona Park.

Our favorite skate park is located in the city´s second biggest park; Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.

The reason we love this park so much is that many of the aspects are replicas of famed spots from the streets including copies of the nine-stair rail from the Banks, the handicap rail from Union Square, the renowned grate and ledge from the Unisphere, and 11 more obstacles beloved by the skating community.

Hudson river park-Pier 62

Our second choice is a park that is somewhat contradictory to the history of the NYC skating scene. A west coast style park with pool style bowls can be found in the Hudson River Park. Built by Californian designers this park gives the east coast skaters a taste of Dogtown!

Open Road Skate park

What was once a contaminated, gnarly park has now been re-surfaced with 7 layers of specifically manufactured acrylic, making it the smoothest surface in the City. Check out Mark Gonzales´ Krooked eyes mural!

Thanks to this short history and guide to skateboarding from FeelNYC, you should have no problems knowing where to go and furthermore, have no excuse not to go and shred in one of the best cities in the world!

FeelNYC´s guide to the best holiday pop up stores in NYC

Christmas is fast approaching and the festive cheer can be felt all round the City, with the lights that line practically every street and the ice rinks full of joyous children it is a quite wonderful time of year. There is however the stressful ordeal of Christmas shopping. With this quick guide to the best holiday pop up stores in the city, you´ll have no problems finding an original and unique gift for that special someone.

The wired store (538 broadway, between Prince and Houston)
For all your technical needs, get yourself down to this high tech pop up that showcases some of the most intelligent and advanced gadgets on the market. The interactive shopping experience offered takes Christmas shopping to another level. The store is open for 11am to 7pm and is closed on Mondays.


Everlane workshop (74 Gansevoort Street)
The sought after e-tailer is bringing their luxurious basics to the meatpacking district this winter. Be sure to take a walk around and browse some of their exquisite silks and cashmeres, perfect for your mother!


Dannijo pop up (27 Prince Street)
The Dannijo bibs are quickly becoming a hot accessory to have and this 600 square foot space that has opened is the perfect, chic environment to browse the collection to find something special. The store is open from 11am-7pm Monday to Saturday.


The Styleliner truck
The chic mobile boutique that is in fact a revamped potato chip truck is the brain child of Joey Wolffer, a budding entrepreneur, designer and now a truck driver too! An eclectic selection one-of-a-kind and limited edition accessories are available within. You can catch the truck in front of Eataly at 5th Avenue and 23rd Street on Wednesday and Thursdays from 11:30am-7:00pm, or head to the Meatpacking District and hop on at Washington Street- Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30am-7:00pm and Sundays from 11:30am-6:00pm.


Dylans Candy bar
The impressive life size gingerbread house and the Christmas tree made of candy are even worth the trip alone. Within there is a vast selection of sweets and treats for your every mood. Even better, to buy for a friend with a serious sweet tooth. Candy heaven is located at 1095 6th Avenue, across from Bryant Park. It is open from 10:00am-9:00pm on weekdays, 10:00am-10:00pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 11:00am-9:00pm on Sundays through January 7th.


Artists and fleas Chelsea Market pop up
The famous Brooklyn market Artists & fleas is now in Chelsea market for the festive season. This means you won’t even have to leave Manhattan to enjoy the 50+ independent Brooklyn based designers. The market is located in Chelsea Market at 88 Tenth Avenue, near 15th Street. Store hours are 10:30AM-7:00pm daily.

With this brief guide to the best holiday pop ups you should receive no complaints regarding your original gifts this year!

FeelNYC solves all your problems with a guide to the New year’s eve ball drop.

With Christmas and the New Year just around the corner, here at FeelNYC we wanted to give you a heads up with a brief guide to what is going to be happening when we welcome the new year.

The most famous and momentous occasion of New Year is the ball drop atop One Times square. The Times Square ball has been lowered 77 feet down a specially designed flag pole at 11.59 on December 31st every year since 1907, (except 1942, 1943 to respect the wartime blackout). The picture below shows the ball in 1978:

historyBall

The ball drop is one of the best known New Year’s celebrations internationally with more than 1 million people attending annually and an estimated 1 billion tuning in to watch it on television. The idea has also inspired other cities to adopt the tradition across the United States with smaller ´drops`.

The ball drop is one of the most spectacular visual displays of the year and no expense is spared on lighting, fireworks and music. Be warned though that once inside it will be very difficult to get out due to the vast amounts of people there.

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As well as the famous ball drop there are also many large extravagant parties being held all over the city which we will cover closer to the time

You won´t be able to complain that there is nothing to do for sure, the only problem will be deciding what do do!

Happy Holidays from FeelNYC!

FeelNYC´s guide to the High Line

Whether in New York this winter or during the summer this relatively known garden space is definitely something to see. You of course already recognize Central Park, Union Square and New York´s other conventional parks..  This former railway line in the West Side of Manhattan is an exciting project with more than just plants on offer.

The High Line runs through the Meatpacking District, West Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen. These districts of West Manhattan were once primarily industrial, and were served by a railway through the road. Constructed in 1930, this railway line gained the undesirable nickname of “death avenue” after a number of problems between road traffic and rail traffic. The government even attempted hiring cowboys to ride at the front of the train with red flags to warn oncoming traffic. Obviously this didn’t work; the railway line was finally elevated.

After the line ceased to be used in 1980, much debate was given to the destruction of the line. It was only at the turn of the millennium that “Friends of the High Line” started campaigning for the line to be kept open as a public space. Architects from every corner of the globe sent designs for the space, all wanting the privilege of designing this space.

As it stands, the park is 1.6km long and runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues. There are numerous stairways leading to the park, which is open daily from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m.

The line is divided into different sectors, for example the Wildflower Field, where you can find plants that used to grow on the railway line, as well as Washington Grasslands and the Sundeck Water Feature. The main idea behind the park is sustainability; all plants are fertilised with natural matter. The park was designed in a way that there would be plants in bloom all year round!

No matter what timed of year you find yourself in NYC this year, check out the High Line

FeelNYC solves all your problems with a guide to the world famous Macy´s Thanksgiving parade.

With thanksgiving fast approaching, here at FeelNYC we have put together a guide of what to expect on the 22nd November.

The Macy´s parade is a monumental occasion in the New York calendar that sees more than 3 million people lining the Manhattan streets over the 6 mile path that the 10,000 participants will take. The parade has been going on for decades; the picture below shows the parade in 1930!

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the festive period and the atmosphere certainly reflects this. Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade NYC is the biggest parade in America; it comes with a lot of expectations. Known for the famous giant floats, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade also features musical performances from Broadway shows, some of today’s most popular musicians, and the Radio City Rockettes, who have been a parade cornerstone for years. With 15 balloons, 12 marching bands, 27 floats, numerous musical performances, and countless celebrity appearances.

The parade starts at 9am, with people congregating as early as 6am to get a good viewpoint. We wouldn’t suggest that early (that’s just horribly early), but do get down early to be in with a chance to see the floats up close.

With all your children´s favorite cartoon characters floating through the streets you´ll have no complaints!

FeelNYC solves all your financial problems with a review of the best FREE things to see and do in NYC

With the financial problems being experienced by much of the world and the main attractions in NYC being expensive to say the least, we at FeelNYC provide you with a review of the best free things to do in the big apple.

Probably one of the most famous things to do in New York is to visit Central Park. Like most parks it is free to enter however most parks aren´t Central Park. The park is full of free events, street performers, human statues and pretty much anything else you can think of. There is also an “imagine” mosaic  where John Lenon was killed in 1980 which is worth visiting.

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After walking round the park, quench your thirst with a visit to Brooklyn breweries with free tours that run on the hour from 1-5 on Saturdays and 1-4 on Sundays. The brewery can be found at 79 N 11th St, Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

If seeing some of New York´s finest art is on your wish list, try visiting the Chelsea galleries; the most concentrated group of art galleries in the city found  in the 20s Streets between 10th and 11th Avenues. For an even better experience, try going on a Thursday when they have wine and cheese openings.

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If animals is more your thing why not visit the Bronx zoo on a Wednesday. They offer a “pay what you wish” policy. Obviously they expect a small donation but this seems a small price to pay to visit the country´s biggest and oldest zoo.

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The only complaint you might have is that your kids won´t want to leave!