Things to do in NYC + Rhode Island?
I'll be heading over to the East coast during the month of July - first to NYC for a few days for a family vacation and then 3 weeks in Providence, RI for a summer program. I went to NYC for two days in April, and we didn't really do anything except visit Columbia and walk around Times Square for a bit. I haven't been to Rhode Island at all. Anyone from around those parts who can recommend any good places to visit? Restaurants? Record shops? Bookstores? Thanks for your help :)

Providence I'm sure has some good record stores and is a lot of fun (go to the thing where they light little bonfires on the river and you can ride a boat around). There is a great used bookstore in Kingston (by URI) and Newport is kind of interesting unless you're houseshopping (plus, Tennis Hall of Fame!). Considering Rhode Island is an hour drive top to bottom, it';s easy to get around. I think this is the store: http://abgbooks.com/ I got a 19th century French Bible there for about 5 dollars. Pretty sweet.

Mes, definitely check out The Strand bookstore in NY. That's at 12th St. and Broadway. It is amazing. Not too far from there is Other Music at 4th St. and Lafayette. There are plenty of good restaurants around there as well, Little Italy is fairly close by, as is NYU with a ton of little places to check out, let me know as your trip gets closer and i can give you some more suggestions. That's the SoHo/East Village/Lower East Side area, you'd probably enjoy that a lot more than Times Square.

Lots of good little bistros around Washington Square, as center32 said, and of course the Corner Bistro in the Village, plus lots of little record stores. The Vanguard, White Horse, Minetta Taverns and Blue Note Jazz Club are still there, though the latter is touristy now. If you like Indian, go to Little India on Lex around 26th St. Drinks at any of the fancy hotels around Central Park is a nostalgia trip, oughta do the piano bar at the Plaza once. Newport has lots of fun seafood places and open air bars around the dock, and I can recommend Mamma Louisa's in the old downtown section, and watch out for the sailors! Sounds like a great trip. Have fun!

D'aww thanks guys. You're all a great help :wink: Radio Free Eurasia - Yeah, I'll definitely be checking out the record stores in Providence since I'll be there for 3 weeks. Do you recommend any particular ones? I plan on doing the little boat ride thing as well. Don't know if I'll be able to get around much because I don't have a car, and I don't think I'll be able to just walk off the university's campus hehe. I will check out those bookstores though! (5 dollars?! 8)) center52 - Ooh Italian food! In April, my dad and I ate a small diner in Times Square, and they had the best onion rings I've ever had. *drool* I will try and check out the bookstore and Other Music. Man, there are so many streets there; it's confusing when you've lived in the suburbs your whole life. I'll let you know when July rolls around about things to do in SoHo. I've never been there before. It sounds like exotic and fun! fulltext - Indian food sounds good as well. I'll try and visit all those record stores you recommended. I've always wanted to go to those little record stores in the city. Knowing me, I will probably be coming back with a suitcase full of music! Oh and no bars for me; I'm not even close to 21! :P

Ooops! :oops: Then you can pretend to be Eloise at the Plaza!

Washington Square park is one of my most favorite places on earth to sit and people watch. Grab a coffee and just sit back. Union Square Park on Saturdays has a really awesome green market that is a lot of fun to walk around. The strand and other music are must hits. I also like Generation records on Thompson st and Bleeker Bob's on West 3rd. Try to avoid Times Square because it is nothing but a huge tourist trap cluster fuck. Downtown is much more fun, much more relaxed and a lot better for general walking and meandering. You should check out the museum of Natural History and Metropolitan Museum of Art if you have never been. You can make a nice day of walking through Central Park to either or both of them. The food in NYC is better then any other city anywhere in the world I have ever been to. Unfortunately there is a lot of bad food, too. If you let me know what kind of stuff you are into I could give you some specific recommendations. With the notable exception of BBQ, NY has the best of everything.

I'm leaving in 2 days! Can't wait :D packingpackingpacking.

awesome!!!!