Danylo wrote: Sun Mar 08, 2026 8:47 am

Danylo wrote: Tue Dec 30, 2025 2:51 pm I have vacation to burn before a deadline so I'm planning some trips in the next five months, San Francisco April 3rd-8th, Charlotte TBD, and Philadelphia TBD. I'm looking for general suggestions for all 3, but any specifics for SF on those dates would be great. I'm going to get tickets for Mary Halvorson on April 3rd and Girls Rituals on April 6th. If anybody wants to meet up while I'm there, I'd love that, we can get a drink someplace, or meet before/at one of the shows.

Specifically, I like tiki bars, good food, modern art, good music, record shops, honestly anything interesting I'd at least consider. Most of my trip is still open except for those shows. I've been before so, some of the big sights I don't need to do again necessarily.

I'll update with dates for Charlotte and Philly when I have them. I'm just waiting on locals to let me know when is the best time to visit for them.

Philly not til July so I'll revisit that later, Charlotte is cancelled for now-- still throwing it out there if anybody wants to grab a drink or say hi in SF while I'm there, or has fun suggestions for April 3rd-8th

Got a few places for you in SF. Taqueria El Buen Sabor, La Taqueria (get the carnitas burrito "el dorado" style), Chuys, Yamo Burmese, Pollo Campero (amazing Mexican fried chicken), Hons Wun Tun House, Dumpling House (on Gough street), Breadbelly cafe, Swan Oyster, Al's Super Cafe... Some bars: Latin American Club, Vesuvio's, Lone Palm, Make Out Room, Knock Out, Li Po Lounge. Check out Sutro Baths. de Young and Legion of Honor (museums). If you cross the bridge to Marin and are in San Rafael get a #20 at MIchael's Sourdough and/or a Bistec plate or sandwich at Sol Food. If you want any more recommendations lmk.

Copenhagen. Going with fam for five days at the end of the month.

Hit me.

Gramsci wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2026 6:26 am Copenhagen. Going with fam for five days at the end of the month.

Hit me.

How old are the kids? are you renting a car?

Headed to NYC next week with the fam - our girls are 13 and 16, love musicals, theater, etc. They have tickets with my wife to see at least 2, maybe 3 while we're there and I'm on my own for that time. I really like theater, I just fucking hate musicals, the rest of them adores them tho.

We're there Tues - Sun.

I have *been* to NYC twice, but both were literally in and out for work, barely 24 hours between flights, so I saw next to nothing, it's like I actually haven't been there.

I'll be hitting museums as that's what I like - the fam does too but I can wander around a good museum all day, they don't have that patience.

Records stores, cool places to see when with the fam, cool places to see while they're off musicaling....let me know. xoxo.

zorg wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2026 7:58 am

Gramsci wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2026 6:26 am Copenhagen. Going with fam for five days at the end of the month.

Hit me.

How old are the kids? are you renting a car?

Hey.
Early teens. No car.

If Queens isn't too far afield for your New York trip, taking the 7 train to the New York Hall of Science might hit the sweet spot of museumy organization and interactive exhibits that the kids may enjoy. I am biased as one of the consultants, but the CityWorks exhibit is especially fun.

Some excellent Dominican food is within a 15-minute walk of the Hall, and elsewhere in Queens you can get terrific Indian and Chinese food.

Still in Queens, the Museum of the Moving Image could be a good visit.

If the weather's nice, taking the 2 or 3 to Grand Army Plaza and visiting Brooklyn's Prospect Park involves plenty of family-friendly activities. If you are solo, the Brooklyn Museum is well worth your time and the stretch along Eastern Parkway between it and Grand Army Plaza is a pleasant walk.

If you are closer to Harlem, the National Jazz Museum is small but interesting and is close to famed restaurants Sylvia's and Red Rooster. Up Malcolm X Boulevard a bit is the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, though the main centennial exhibition looks to be closed for maintenance next week.

Two very different record stores worth your time: Record Grouch in Greenpoint has a good variety of genres on vinyl. If Caribbean music is more your thing, Charlie's on Fulton in Bed-Stuy (take the A or C to Franklin) is delightful. You're a walk from plenty of good Caribbean and African food, as well as my favorite deli (David's Brisket House).

Frankie99 wrote: Headed to NYC next week with the fam - our girls are 13 and 16, love musicals, theater, etc. They have tickets with my wife to see at least 2, maybe 3 while we're there and I'm on my own for that time. I really like theater, I just fucking hate musicals, the rest of them adores them tho.

We're there Tues - Sun.

I have *been* to NYC twice, but both were literally in and out for work, barely 24 hours between flights, so I saw next to nothing, it's like I actually haven't been there.

I'll be hitting museums as that's what I like - the fam does too but I can wander around a good museum all day, they don't have that patience.

Records stores, cool places to see when with the fam, cool places to see while they're off musicaling....let me know. xoxo.

I've got nothing on theater. And you're not looking for restaurants, wine, or bars. But I can certainly give you some record stores.

In Manhattan: Ergot (wonderful boutique spot in the East Village w/very cool new and used stuff); Paradise of Replica (a similar deal but in Chinatown, and cozy apartmentlike vibes more like the kind of place you'd find in Tokyo); Stranded (the East Village label shop for Superior Viaduct w/many used rarities as well, albeit priced as such); A1 (mostly hip-hop and DJ stuff but cool, hidden bargains on punk and rock); Academy Annex (East Village; lots of used vinyl); Academy (mother store to the Annex; located in Chelsea, mostly used jazz and classical); Generation (a classic for new and used punk and metal); Catalyst (inside the Essex Street Retail market, an interesting food hall on the Lower East Side); Rough Trade (new vinyl in midtown, kinda boring); Downtown Music Gallery (longrunning weirdo space devoted to jazz and the avant-garde, in a Chinatown/LES basement).

In Brooklyn: Record Grouch (hip, well-considered mix of new and used w/a lot of obscure indie, punk, and experimental stuff); Academy Annex (similar to the East Village location, but bigger); Captured Tracks (good selection of used and collectible stuff). Probably many more, but I don't frequent any of them, so...

Happy hunting, as they say.

Frankie99 wrote: Headed to NYC next week with the fam -

Lots of good tips in this thread!

If you're killing time while the ladies enjoy their musical matinee, I recommend Margon right off Times Square for a cuban sandwich.
Jimmy's Corner is the only tolerable bar in the Times Square vicinity, and it's not long for this world, apparently.

If you're an audio/music nerd there's two shows at the Cooper-Hewitt, one is a hi-fi listening room and the other is music graphics/design objects etc.

For museum wandering you can't go wrong at The Met. I love a good Met wander.
If there's a line outside you can enter through the parking lot.

I always recommend the ferry on the east river if weather is nice, you can go between Williamsburg, Dumbo, Greenpoint, Manhattan, Brooklyn Bridge Park, LIC, all kinds of stuff. It's a cheap ride that doesn't last too long and you can go under the bridges and see the skyline, harbor, etc. Go upstairs and sit outside. You could even take the ferry to Upper East Side where all the (old) museums are. Staten Island Ferry is also a cheap sightseeing ride, takes a bit longer.

+ I think you'll be there for most of Bill Orcutt's extravaganza at Roulette in Brooklyn if you're into that kind of thing. Have fun!

Teacher's Pet wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2026 10:47 am

Frankie99 wrote: Headed to NYC next week with the fam -

Lots of good tips in this thread!

If you're killing time while the ladies enjoy their musical matinee, I recommend Margon right off Times Square for a cuban sandwich.
Jimmy's Corner is the only tolerable bar in the Times Square vicinity, and it's not long for this world, apparently....

I always recommend the ferry on the east river if weather is nice, you can go between Williamsburg, Dumbo, Greenpoint, Manhattan, Brooklyn Bridge Park, LIC, all kinds of stuff. It's a cheap ride that doesn't last too long and you can go under the bridges and see the skyline, harbor, etc. Go upstairs and sit outside. You could even take the ferry to Upper East Side where all the (old) museums are. Staten Island Ferry is also a cheap sightseeing ride, takes a bit longer.

Seconding Margon and Jimmy's! At Margon, the oxtails w/rice and beans also rule. And the pernil, when it's not too dry. The whole joint is lunch-only, I will add. (Castillo De Jagua II offers a similarly great Latino lunchcounter timewarp experience further downtown.)

Jimmy's was an after-work fave when I used to go into offices up there. And yes, on the endangered-species list.

The ferry is charming. You can take a really scenic ride out to the Rockaways, if you wanna see seriously urban beachfront (unless you walk to Breezy Point, which feels like a quaint, weird, albeit extremely white and Republican, small town on the water).

Less of a commitment, the trip from Wall Street to Astoria, Queens, is also really pleasant on a sunny day. Astoria is full of superb Middle Eastern, Balkan, North African, and Greek food.

Gramsci wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2026 9:09 am

zorg wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2026 7:58 am

Gramsci wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2026 6:26 am Copenhagen. Going with fam for five days at the end of the month.

Hit me.

How old are the kids? are you renting a car?

Hey.
Early teens. No car.

If you've brought appropriate (layers + raincoat) clothing definitely rent bikes it will get you around town easiest, and let you explore. CPH is small enough that you can circumvent it in a day. Otherwise the Metro (underground) now gets you almost everywhere very easily (including the airport).
A lot of the fun is just in getting coffee/drink/pastry and wandering about in neighborhoods and green spaces. I might also add that you can get to Sweden in 30 minutes and if you have 5 days, a trip to Malmo is a fun excursion. If there is a particular interest (record store, shows, football, coffee, restauranting, beer, skateboarding, etc...) you are trying to include, do ask, otherwise the below are blanket recommendations.
Danish Food-
Splurge: Aamans for smorrebrod
Budget: DOP Danish hotdog
Culture-
SMK
Glyptoteket
Louisiana (worth the trip, but will eat up a whole day)
Touristy shit -
Rundetarn/Nordhavn/Stroget (these are all located together)
Christiania
Tivoli