Thanks, Camelot. That’s a much more useful response. Which doesn’t really matter in this case since I already bought the tickets… but at least you’re not just nay saying with no reason.
E3
I can’t help you with the deli question, but this articlemight be helpful for checking out pizza places.
I disagree with them about the pizza at Giovanni’s, though. Oh, it’s great–that’s not what I’m disagreeing about. It’s just that I think the pizza you get from the front of the place–the pizza that was made before you came in and that gets reheated in the brick oven–is actually better than the fresh stuff. The flavors have more time to blend, or something.
THERE IS NO VIBE and the pastrami sucks. So do the pickles.
Maybe once upon a time Katz’s was something special, but now it’s just a horrid hole in the wall. If you really want to sit somewhere and go “this was in a movie” there are 8 million other places in New York you could go. Times Square. Rockefeller Square. Central Park. Try the gondola that goes from Second Ave to Roosevelt Island (if it’s running). It was saved by Spiderman!
Heck, watch some Law & Order and write down all the addresses – then do your own “murder re-enactment” tour!
But don’t go to Katz. Really.
Scribble, my boy and I didn’t make it out there. They have a couple of locations and all were closed except Hyde Park and we didn’t have the time to commute since we both had buses to catch back to our home cities. We went for Murray/Curry Hill?? on Lexington and tried out Indowok. It wasn’t overtly offensive (except for the Gobi Manchurian, which I’d give a pass) but I wouldn’t give it a repeat either. Google Tangra Masala and you’ll come up with THE most beautiful pictures.
Or, do like me and order Sanjeev Kapoor’s “Best of Chinese Cooking” (aka, Chinese cooking Indianified :)). I’m getting it off Scamazon because this stuff is oh so tasty and I want to try a hand at it myself.
Another good pizza article: pizzalink
I’m kind of a pizzaholic, so I’m still working my way around. I love my local hole in the wall, but it’s way out in Brooklyn and best when you can take it back to your own place.
As for papaya dogs, there are some called “Gray’s Papaya” and some called “Papaya King.” Same stuff, really. Both really cheap and fairly good. Nathan’s hot dogs are better, though…
Oh, and I’ve heard that the “famous” delis around town are capitalizing on their reputations with the tourists by selling pastrami sandwiches for, like, $12-14 each. Yow! So take that as you will…there are plenty of ways to get a good sandwich for less.
I’m going to go middle ground on the Katz’s/Carnegie/Stage deli issue – these are considered very touristy places, and as a New Yorker, I wouldn’t suggest anyone eat at any of them. First, I think they are overpriced and overcrowded, and second, I think the food is okay but nothing worth making a special trip for. If I had a visitor who really wanted to go for the sole purpose of being able to say “Yep, I ate at Katz’s” I would go cheerfully – just as long as it was clear that the point was to eat at a famous place.
I like the pastrami at Zabar’s Cafe, part of the grocery store in the Upper West Side, and that’s even kind of famous if fame is what you’re going for. I also like Eisenberg’s, although I think I always get the tuna salad when I am there (it’s very delish) but I have heard the pastrami is also good. To me, Eisenberg’s feels much more like a real New York sandwich joint.
Just remember this: no matter how sincere the guy seems, none of the bridges are actually for sale. Trust me on this.
And beware of the C.H.U.Ds.
Well, when I went to NYC in 1991 with my family, I was 13 years old. We ate at a few of the touristy delis (I definitely remember the Stage Deli and Lindy’s), but everyone always says that of all the touristy delis, Katz’s is the best. I love delis, and it’s almost impossible to eat NY-style deli food in Central Florida. I feel like a pilgrimage to Katz’s is definitely in order, even though I appreciate the warnings.
What about Barney Greenglass: The Sturgeon King? Worth a trip? I watched Anthony Bourdain gush over it on his old show A Cook’s Tour, and Bourdain is one of my quintessential New Yawkers (along with my father and Marty Scorsese).
Nah, go to Russ & Daughter’s. Its just as famous and on the same block as Katz’s. Plus there’s a whole Calvin Trillin novel (Tepper Isn’t Going Out) about a particularly good parking spot right in front of it. 
I love their rugelach, and I’m not a huge fan of rugelach to begin with (I guess I have expensive taste in rugelach) and they also have an awesome butter crunch candy that will take all your teeth out (in a good way). I would mention that Russ and Daughters’ specialty is fish, so folks who are not so big on fish might not find it as delightful.
I think Barney Greenglass is the best of the landmark delis, so that’s a good idea. Check their hours before you plan a trip, as far as I know they still close fairly early in the city that allegedly never sleeps.
I saw it recently because Bebe Neuwirth was doing a brief stint as Roxie Hart. It is one of my favorite musicals. I love the songs and its cynicism.
She was great, the rest of the show not so much. The production seemed run-down, the costumes had seen better days and there was a distinct lack of energy about the whole thing.
I’ve seen 3 other musicals recently. All are recent productions and the enthusiasm of the performers made all the difference. I didn’t care for 2 of them but I would rather see them again than I would Chicago.
Btw, I just saw Frost/Nixon a couple of weeks ago. If you really want to see something great on Broadway, I would try and get tickets for it.