NYC with a 14 Year Old
Posted by catchatoritori@reddit | GenX | View on Reddit | 33 comments
I'm chaperoning my sons theater group next week in NYC, but my son and I are arriving a few days early, then meeting up with the rest of the group where we have a jam packed few days of Broadway shows and sight seeing. I'm looking forward to the stuff we're doing as a group, pretty touristy, but also things I wouldn't normally do on my own because I like to explore locally.
So, for the first few days we're there I'm looking for things genXers might like to do with their teens, things like the Beastie Boys intersection... We're staying in Chelsea, so thinking of the Little Island, Chelsea Hotel, etc. Happy to leave the area too. Would love suggestions! TIA
PS I'm poking around IG reels and it's a lot of younger people talking about bars, which is great, but I'm looking for recommendations from a different demo 😆
Sensitive_Diamond328@reddit
We live here, but I have a 15 yo son. What is your son interested in? My son absolutely loves the Intrepid, still loves Natural History Museum (even though he pretends he doesn't), walking the Highline or just hanging around in the park, etc. If your son is in to soccer, there's a Classic Football Shirts store on Canal Street that my son and his friends frequent - they have a rotating stock and some really cool hidden gems. Can skip the FIFA popup store at Hudson Yards, my son said it sucked LOL.
catchatoritori@reddit (OP)
Great ideas, he's not really into football/soccer, but I think he'd love the Intrepid. He likes music and plays guitar
Sensitive_Diamond328@reddit
Ha, you're lucky. We have full on World Cup Fever over here ... it's the only topic of conversation. Do you have time to see a concert? Obviously tons of venues here, but Rooftop at Pier 17 at South Street Seaport has a good summer lineup of shows and it's such a cool spot with views and all. For all the Gen Xers, The Breeders are coming, but later in the summer.
bluealien78@reddit
I was about to suggest the Intrepid. Especially since the Concorde clean-up last year. One of my favorite NYC experiences.
FrancinetheP@reddit
A friend took his teen on a graffiti walking tour of Brooklyn; dm me if you can’t find it just by googling. I am headed to the “New York 1776: Occupied City” immersive exhibit at museum of the city of New York next week: https://www.mcny.org/exhibition/occupied-city. Looks good for a 14 yo✔️.
But the malt amazing thing you have the chance to experience is the city going CRAZY about the Knicks being in the playoffs for the first time in 27 years. The entire city will be riveted, whether the watch parties around the Garden are canceled or not. Even if you’re not a basketball fan, it’s going to be an amazing display of humanity.
catchatoritori@reddit (OP)
Sounds fun!
BandicootStunning244@reddit
Its makes me sad that the Beastie Boys are now an intersection that apparently is a tourist destination. That said, defifnately take your son there!
catchatoritori@reddit (OP)
I guess it is kinda sad. Any other suggestions that aren't touristy!? Local record shops etc
79killingtime@reddit
A-1 on east 6th street, great used record shop if you like crate digging
catchatoritori@reddit (OP)
YES TY
BandicootStunning244@reddit
Its just sad that MCA passed. That's all I meant....but such is life.
catchatoritori@reddit (OP)
Agree.
MovieSock@reddit
Your thing about "GenX stuff to do" gives me pause - because you're dragging your kid around with you, and are they gonna be into the same stuff?
But that said, I have a couple of ideas:
* There's a thing called Barcade that's in two locations - one of them is in Chelsea. It's like your old arcade grew up along with you and started serving alcohol. It also has non-alcoholic stuff and food, so your kid will be fine (there's about four or five "mocktails" on the menu along with soda); and there will be a whole lot of coin-operated games (pinball, old-school video games, etc.). Hang out for a couple hours, have a burger, and then have a Donkey Kong tournament or something.
* You gotta do Coney Island. Coney Island is timeless. It'll be easy to get to (ride the F train to the last stop), and then get out and explore the boardwalk. There will be tons of games, rides, food, and people-watching.
catchatoritori@reddit (OP)
Don't worry :) I'm gathering ideas for us to decide on together. He does love arcades and mocktails, so we may need to check that out and I'm thinking we might need to go to Coney Island TY!
britlover23@reddit
domino park and then walk around Williamsburg, walk through the galleries and the high line in west Chelsea, take the subway to Coney Island and let him do some rides and both of you can hang out on the beach. MOMA PSI in Long Island City.
catchatoritori@reddit (OP)
Coney Island does sound fun, and I've never been either. TY
ExtraAd7611@reddit
I recommend checking out some of the boroughs other than Manhattan. Go to an uzbek restaurant in Rego Park and take a walk in Brighton Beach and Coney Island.
catchatoritori@reddit (OP)
Yes, we are down to explore for sure TY
swizzir@reddit
Ghostbusters fire station
catchatoritori@reddit (OP)
OOOOH yes.
Duckshooters@reddit
Stop and get a legit bagel. Look up a few places but Liberty, Brooklyn Bagel Company, or I really like Bagel Pub when I'm in town.
Visit China Town.
As someone stated the Highline is awesome.
Split a sandwich at Katz's Deli.
Get a slice of pizza at Le'Industrie which some will argue is the best slice, keep in mind it's NYC so you are surrounded by good pizza.
Take the tram to Roosevelt Island. Explore Central Park. Visit the Met or the Broadway Museum.
Tour Yankee Stadium.
Walk the Brooklyn Bridge.
Ride the Staten Island Ferry or like someone said go to Coney Island. Long subway ride but it is cool.
Little Island is a neat thing for kids.
One of my favorite museums I have ever been to is the Tenement Museum.
I bring a group of middle schoolers on a trip to NYC each year, I'm guessing you have other standard NYC things on your itinerary like we do each time so I tried to suggest mostly non standard things. We use EF.
catchatoritori@reddit (OP)
Love these ideas thank you! I definitely need a good bagel and a good slice
Advanced_Tax174@reddit
Walk the Highline, go to Chelsea Market and Union Square. Cab or subway over to NYU. So much to do and see.
catchatoritori@reddit (OP)
TY!
Ihaveaboot@reddit
Nope.
Independent-You-5909@reddit
Joe Strummer mural!!!
catchatoritori@reddit (OP)
YES!
daphatty@reddit
The Natural History museum is excellent, although I’d imagine you are headed there as part of your group events.
sungodly@reddit
Took my kids when they were about the same age. They were surprisingly into some of the regular tourist stuff like Times Square and the Empire State Building. But we also took the Staten Island Ferry over and back (free!) and just explored a bit too. Also found the Physical Graffiti building and took photos but if your kid isn't into Zeppelin, maybe skip that one.
hep632@reddit
If you are both adventurous and in moderately good health (and not afraid of heights), the City Climb at The Edge in Hudson yards is pretty unique. Definitely a cool story to tell back home!
Ihaveaboot@reddit
Is this a serious post here? Wow.
catchatoritori@reddit (OP)
Bruh, I just looked at your shit posts, stfu
Ihaveaboot@reddit
Sorry my posts/replies offend you.
"Bruh"