New York: Stanford Young Alumni City Guide - [PDF Document] (2024)

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recreation

dining

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New Y rkSTANFORD YOUNG ALUMNI GUIDE

Ready to enjoy New York?

In-the-know Stanford young alums

have shared the best tips, tricks and

fabulous destinations to help you get

the most out of this vibrant city.

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Contents

DiningYoung alums love to dine at these delicious destinations.

Nightlife According to young alums, these are the best spots to kick up your heels and enjoy an evening with friends.

RecreationThese are the places to go to have fun and hang out (you’ll probably spot a young alum or two!).

HousingBe sure to check out the best young alumni ’hoods in all of New York.

TipsYoung alums give their general advice on things to keep in mind as you explore New York.

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Dining

Don’t miss these young alumni- approved places for the tastiest meals in town.

15 East Amazing sushi. - ANONYMOUS

a casa fox Relatively inexpensive Latin American tapas that are DELICIOUS. You can get a reservation the week of relatively easily and they are on the Lower East Side, which is a great place to then go out. - ANONYMOUS

ABC Kitchen Great place to go to dinner with parents. Excellent value lunch prix fixe, brunch is also excellent; reminds me of California. Great ambiance and creative food. - JIAHUI L., ’10, TIFFANY L., ’10, SANDRA T., ’09

Alice’s Tea Cup Brunch. - ELIZABETH R., ’12

Amelie Wine Bar Makes me miss Napa a little less. Best affordable French restaurant in West Village. - EMMA T., ’10, VAEME A., ’13

Ample Hills Creamery Best vegan ice cream in NYC. - ELIZABETH R., ’12

Barboncino’s Great pizza. - ELIZABETH R., ’12

Beecher’s Comfort food and great co*cktails. - EMMA T., ’10

Handmade Cheese

Blossom Good vegetarian place. - SETH S., ’08

Bogota Latin bistro and the best food and service you’ll ever find. - VAEME A., ’13

Brucie Cool BK spot. - KATIE O., ’08

Cafe Gitane Mediterranean/French food; absolutely delicious. - ELIZABETH R., ’12

Café Habana Great, cheap Cuban food in Nolita—worth it but you will have a long wait. - ELIZABETH R., ’12

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DiningCafe Regular Best coffee shop in BK. - VAEME A., ’13

Candle Cafe Vegan fine dining. - SETH S., ’08

Cent’Anni Vegan homemade pasta. - ELIZABETH R., ’12

Champ’s Vegan comfort food in Brooklyn. - ANONYMOUS

Chavela’s Mexican and vegan. - ELIZABETH R., ’12

Cheryl’s Global Soul Best pancakes. - EMMA T., ’10

Clementine Bakery Great sandwiches and baked goods in Brooklyn. - ANONYMOUS

Comodo Latin fusion. - SANDRA T., ’09

Cookshop Amazing brunch. - ELIZABETH R., ’12

Decibel Cool basem*nt sake bar. - KATIE S., ’07

Dinosaur BBQ Good barbecue. - D’SHAI H., ’14

Doughnut Plant Best gourmet donuts. Get a seasonal yeast-raised and Brooklyn Blackout cake donut. - JIAHUI L., ’10

Eleven Madison Park For a really special occasion. - TIFFANY L., ’10

Famous Fish Market Best fish, shrimp and chips in the world. - D’SHAI H., ’14

Fast and Fresh Deli Cheap Mexican with a hidden gem of a backyard for watching sports when it’s warm. - OLIVER H., ’08

Frankies Spuntino The cavatelli and the meatballs are amazing. - SANDRA T., ’09

Hill Country Chicken For fried chicken and southern fixin’s. - KATIE S., ’07

Hu Kitchen For a fast healthy meal after a workout. - TIFFANY L., ’10

JG Melon Great burger; classic NYC. - KATIE O., ’08

Jin Ramen and Ramen that makes you feel like being back in the Bay Area. BeIppudo Ramen careful though; Ippudo can easily have a 2-hour wait. - LAURA M., ’12

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DiningKatz’s Delicatessen Lives up to the hype. - OLIVER H., ’08

Kunjip Great Korean BBQ in K-Town. - KATIE S., ’07

L’Artusi Amazing Italian. - TIFFANY L., ’10

Lucalli Best pizza. - KATIE O., ’08

Maison Premiere Best quality oyster happy hour and excellent absinthe bar and co*cktail menu. - JIAHUI L., ’10

Maya Taqueria Out of this world vegan burritos. - ELIZABETH R., ’12

Mezzaluna Great Italian. - KATIE O., ’08

Mission Cantina Amazing (nontraditional) tacos. - KATIE S., ’07

Momof*cku Ssäm Bar Slow-cooked pork shoulder for 10. - JIAHUI L., ’10

Murray’s Cheese house. This place has every cheese you can dream of. - ANONYMOUS

Nyonya Malaysian food. - KATIE S., ’07

Peace Food Cafe This place has a wonderful atmosphere and incredibly healthy food which I love! Try one of their tempeh sandwiches and definitely the chickpea French fries—amazing. Large vegan menu near Union Square. - BAILEY F., ’13

Saigon Shack Cheap, fast, good Vietnamese in Greenwich Village. - SANDRA T., ’09

Sakamai Good restaurant tucked away from the chaos of LES. - ANONYMOUS

Shanghai Cafe Cheap, quick, tasty Shanghainese food. - OLIVER H., ’08

The Smoke Joint Good BBQ. - OLIVER H., ’08

The Spotted Pig Best burger (Pat LaFrieda blend + gorgonzola + toasted brioche) with rosemary shoestring fries. - JIAHUI L., ’10

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DiningSushi Ann Amazing sushi for a business lunch in midtown. - ANONYMOUS

Sweet Green Delicious salads. - KATIE O., ’08

Sylvia’s Good soul food. - D’SHAI H., ’14

Taim The best falafel in the city. - SANDRA T., ’09

Tacombi Fonda Nolita Super fun tacos... they have a taco truck inside the restaurant! - ELIZABETH R., ’12

Taqueria Diana Makes me miss the Mission a little less. - EMMA T., ’10

The Little Prince Great dinner or brunch spot, super charming. - ELIZABETH R., ’12

Two Boots NYC pizza institution with a great vegan slice. - ANONYMOUS

Victory Garden 2-for-1 Froyo on Friday evenings. - EMMA T., ’10

Vinnie’s Large variety of vegan pizzas in Williamsburg. - ANONYMOUS

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Nightlife

These are the hot spots young alums love to hit up to have a good time and make great memories.

Angel’s Share Japanese-themed speakeasy with unique drinks (some come with a hint of soy sauce). - KENNAN M., ’14

Habana Outpost Good outdoor area in BK. - KATIE O., ’08

Joe’s Crab Shack $2 Tuesdays. - D’SHAI H., ’14

Maison Premiere Best quality oyster HH. - JIAHUI L., ’10

Pony Bar 4:20 to 5:20 pm daily for $5; 20 rotating craft brews on tap; delicious fried oyster and bacon sandwich. - JIAHUI L., ’10

Speakeasy PDT Enter through the back door of a phone booth in a hot dog store. - KENNAN M., ’14

Toloache $7 margaritas, always room to sit, and I have never been without getting at least one free drink. - EMMA T., ’10

Tooker Alley Speakeasy co*cktails. - EMMA T., ’10

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Recreation

Whether it’s hiking, live music or a new adventure, young alums recommend these interesting events and locales.

Prospect Park. Farmers market; fun runs. - EMMA T., ’10

If you get a day off from work/school, do lunch prix fixes at fancy restaurants; these are an excellent deal!! Favorites have been Nougatine, Del Posto, ABC kitchen. - JIAHUI L., ’10

The Moth StorySlam. - JIAHUI L., ’10

Lower East Side. Economy Candy; The Pickle Guy. - KATIE O., ’08

If you register for a NYC Municipal ID you can get a free yearlong membership to over thirty museums and cultural institutions as well as discounts on movie tickets and other benefits. Many of NY’s cultural institutions have youth programs with discounted tickets including Lincoln Center (LincTix) and the Roundabout Theater Company (HipTix). Lots of other venues will offer same-day “rush” tickets for a discount. - SETH S., ’08

Central Park picnic on Sheep Meadow. - KATIE O., ’08

Museums will often have free days (e.g. MoMA’s free Fridays), though these days can be very crowded. - SETH S., ’08

Try some of the less famous museums, like the Museum of the Moving Image or the Brooklyn Museum. And to continue the art party, galleries are always free and even tend to serve free wine on the nights of openings. - EMILY M., ’13

Many free museums most days of the week. - JIAHUI L., ’10

In warmer months, visit Governor’s Island. Parks all around the city have great free programming year-round, but especially in the summer. - ANONYMOUS

Trivia night at any local pub; Rooftop films in the summer; Free events in Central Park. - KATIE S., ’07

Tenement Museum is on the pricier side but worth it. - JIAHUI L., ’10

TodayTix app for Broadway and Off-Broadway tickets. - EMILY M., ’13, BAILEY F., ’13

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RecreationGet an IDNYC card that comes with a full-year membership to 33 cultural institutions around this city as well as gym perks. - VAEME A., ’13

Check out the NY edition of racked.com for sample sales going on in the area. - TIFFANY L., ’10

Craigslist is not a bad option for furniture; a lot of people move in and out of New York so quickly that a lot of stuff on there is pretty new. - TIFFANY L., ’10

People’s Improv. - ANONYMOUS

Lots of great yoga studios (Yoga to the People; Good Yoga). - ANONYMOUS

Shakespeare in the Park. - ANONYMOUS

There are multiple boathouses where you can go kayaking for free on NYC’s Hudson. For more information go to downtownboathouse.org. - ELIZABETH R., ’12

During the summer there are free movie screenings all over the city (Central Park, South Street Seaport, etc.). Just look online and then take a blanket and a picnic! - ELIZABETH R., ’12

Celebrate Brooklyn! is Prospect Park’s free summer concert series. So much fun to attend with friends and a blanket. - ELIZABETH R., ’12

You can get into most museums for a discounted price or even for free with your student or work IDs. - SANDRA T., ’09

While this is certainly not on the cheap, I would certainly look into getting a house in the Hamptons over the summer for either a weekend or a month. Houses book up quickly, so it is best to book in December/January. I saved up for months, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made since moving here. - ELIZABETH R., ’12

The Infatuation. - SANDRA T., ’09

A really amazing neighborhood to explore is Red Hook, Brooklyn. It’s off the beaten path but they have an incredible view of Downtown Manhattan/Statue of Liberty. The Ice House has one of the best outdoor patios/bar spaces in the city; it’s HUGE. Steve’s Key Lime Pies are the best I’ve ever had. Grab one (or a couple) and eat them in the park by Valentino Pier. Get cheap but high-quality lobster rolls at Red Hook Lobster Pound, good seafood, drinks and an incredible view at Brooklyn Crab Shack and delicious Texas-style BBQ at Hometown. Worth the trek for a fabulous (and affordable) day. - ANONYMOUS

Listings Project e-newsletter for cool apartments. - VAEME A., ’13

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RecreationVisit the Cloisters or the Hudson River Valley spring–fall on days with nice weather. - SANDRA T., ’09

UrbanDaddy. - SANDRA T., ’09

Long Beach and Jones Beach are both accessible by public transit and don’t take that long to get to. - OLIVER H., ’08

Time Out is pretty comprehensive but also has lots of events you probably are not interested in. Magazine and website. - VAEME A., ’13, JIAHUI L., ’10

NYTimes. - JIAHUI L., ’10, SANDRA T., ’09

Well and Good NYC. - BAILEY F., ’13

New Yorker Magazine (especially its weekly Goings On About Town). - SANDRA T., ’09

The Skint email newsletter, and cultural institution email newsletters (e.g. sign up for BAM’s newsletter). - SETH S., ’08, KENNAN M., ’14

ABC 7’s Community Calendar. - BAILEY F., ’13

UpOut Insiders club for more exciting, weird, and niche events/deals. - VAEME A., ’13

NY Eater Heatmap. - SANDRA T., ’09

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Housing

Moving to New York? These neighborhoods are young alumni favorites.

Astoria/Long Island City. Fun neighborhoods with cheaper rent, but the secret may already be out. - JIAHUI L., ’10

Brooklyn. Gets cheaper the further out you get, but expect to pay a lot in Williamsburg, Park Slope, Prospect Heights. Favorite neighborhoods are Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Clinton Hill, Boerum Hill, Gowanus, Greenpoint. - JIAHUI L., ’10, VAEME A., ’13

Brooklyn Heights/Cobble Hill is scenic and beautiful. On the quieter side. - KATIE O., ’08, KATIE S., ’07

Cobble Hill. Lots of amenities; places to eat/hang out; decent access to the rest of the city by public transit. On the quieter side. - KATIE O., ’08, OLIVER H., ’08

East Village. Lots of action and places; very social for young professional crowd. - KENNAN M., ’14

Harlem. Rich in culture, history, events, social activism, and happy hours. Up and coming and much more reasonable than the rest of the city while only a 20-minute train ride from Midtown! It’s gentrifying so it is super swanky but it’s still very cheap. Living in Manhattan makes it faster to get everywhere (as opposed to Brooklyn. Wait until the L train randomly stops running and your 30-minute commute home becomes a 2-hour commute home...). - LAURA M., ’12, BAILEY F., ’13, D’SHAI H., ’14

Lower East Side. Wide variety of food at wide variety of price points. Many places to go out. The hip place in Manhattan. - KATIE S., ’07

Murray Hills. Most recent grads move here. It’s close to work, relatively big, affordable apartments for Manhattan, etc. - ANONYMOUS

Try to live near one of NYC’s larger parks if you can (Central Park, Prospect Park). UES can have cheap rent and the northern part of Central Park in Harlem can be a great place to live. - SETH S., ’08

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HousingProspect Heights, Brooklyn! Great balance of price and amenities like trendy restaurants and Prospect Park. - EMMA T., ’10, OLIVER H., ’08

Village/East or West Village. Super fun, but you pay much more for what you get in West Village. - JIAHUI L., ’10

Union Square and Flatiron because there are so many subways that converge there; there are lots of restaurants in the neighborhood, and there are a ton of options for exercising (gyms, classes like SoulCycle, FlyWheel, Exhale, etc.). - TIFFANY L., ’10

Upper West Side/Columbus Circle area is amazing because of the presence of the arts, great restaurants and vibrant feeling. Quieter. - KATIE O., ’08, BAILEY F., ’13

Upper East Side/East Harlem. Cheaper rent because there’s not much happening in these areas. - JIAHUI L., ’10

Williamsburg. For a hipster vibe. - ANONYMOUS

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Keep these young alumni words of wisdom in mind as you get to know New York.

Apartment searching in NYC is a nightmare; you have to visit a lot of awful apartments before you find a great one. Prepare yourself. - ELIZABETH R., ’12

Try to live near one of NYC’s larger parks if you can (Central Park or Prospect Park). UES can have cheap rent and the northern part of Central Park in Harlem can be a great place to live. - SETH S., ’08

Think of living near a subway station. Prices are more expensive on the West Side and become less expensive as you head north. Financial District is reasonably priced as demand to live there is low (not really an exciting area to hang out on weekends relative to other areas but located near many subway stations). - KENNAN M., ’14

Get a real coat and your social life will magically improve. - EMMA T., ’10

Try to make reservations for brunch to avoid waiting in ridiculous lines. - JIAHUI L., ’10

If you take the subway to a different part of the city but only for a short time, you can often take the express bus back using a free transfer (e.g. take the 6 downtown, take the M15-SBS back uptown). - JIAHUI L., ’10

CITIBIKE! - SETH S., ’08

Walk everywhere. You’ll get to know the city best this way. - SETH S., ’08

Dress up for open houses (for both renting and buying). - JIAHUI L., ’10

For runners, the New York Road Runner’s Club on 89th between 5th and Madison has cubbies where you can stash your stuff for free while you go for a run in Central Park and bathrooms to change in (but no showers). - SETH S., ’08

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TipsA monthly Metro card is probably worth it. Be ready to spend a large chunk of your income on rent. Know your rights as a tenant; landlords will often try to take advantage. Try to get an apartment near a train line that’s convenient for your job. Invest in proper cold-weather attire. - ANONYMOUS

WFUV (on 90.7 FM and at wfuv.org). Incoming New Yorkers should be sure to listen to this commercial-free and great music station. - SETH S., ’08

Always be prepared for commute delays with some form of entertainment or work to avoid feeling like you’re wasting your life away on the subway. - BAILEY F., ’13

Join a Stanford Alumni interest group; there are lots and it’s always fun to reconnect with others in the city! - BAILEY F., ’13

Reach out to an alum and plan something together. - VAEME A., ’13

The subway system is amazing! - D’SHAI H., ’14, OLIVER H., ’08

Don’t take cabs during the day. - SANDRA T., ’09

Always Uber if you’re going to Newark Airport. - SANDRA T., ’09

Don’t be afraid of the boroughs outside of Manhattan (and Brooklyn). - OLIVER H., ’08

Stanford Alumni AssociationFrances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center326 Galvez StreetStanford, CA 94305-6105

alumni.stanford.edu/goto/youngalumni