New York City Hobby Shops

[iBorg]

I'm going to be in New York City (Times Square) in a week. I've looked at previous posts concerning NYC hobby shops but those posts are about three years ago. A lot has changed in our hobby in that time. Those of you familiar with NYC, are there any shops you'd recommend. I'd love to have visited Polk's but I'm a couple of years too late.

 

Thanks!

Mike

[SfanGoch]

Take it from a city rat, NYC is a dead zone when it comes to hobby shops. The only hobby shop in Manhattan is Jan's Hobby Shop, on Lexington Ave. between E. 93rd and E. 94th Streets. You don't want to go there. You will pay anywhere from 35-100% over list price on kits there. You'd be better off getting ripped off at a streetside Three Card Monte game. You're already going to get fleeced in the world's biggest tourist trap, Time Square. I'm not being a smart aleck, just giving you the skinny on what to expect. If you're bringing kids, keep away from the dirtbags dressed as superheroes and Sesame Street characters. They'll harass you for money to take a picture with your children and they will pick a fight. If you want to have a good time, don't spend it in the Times Square area. It's nothing but a giant shopping mall and Disney advertisement. Take the subway to Greenwich Village, Chinatown or Little italy. The sights are more interesting and the food is better.

[iBorg]

Joe, I feared a response like yours. I was in Chicago about seven years ago and thought I'd find some interesting shops there. All I found were shops that were not easy to get to. I did manage to get to Tom Thumb Hobbies in Chicago and found the prices higher than my LHS and the selection of domestic kits lacking but a better import selection. I did buy a scriber. After spending an hour and a half to get there, I had to buy something. I've read about Jan's. I think I'd rather go to a museum. 

I am curious about why my family wants to go to Times Square, but I'll be taking my camera and seeing the sights. I hope we make the Statue of Liberty and a few other sights.

[SfanGoch]

I'll wager that your wife did an online recon of Midtown and mapped out the locations of Lord & Taylor, Bloomingdale's, Salvatore Ferragamo and Cartier. 

If you do take the Statue of Liberty tour, avoid the skels who will surround you and offer to sell you tickets. These greaseballs are peddling counterfeit tickets and are in no way associated with any tour office. Check out Statue Cruises for tour options and ticket prices. Since you'll be in Manhattan, choose "Departure from New York". after the tour, you could walk over to the South Street Seaport, on Fulton and Water Streets or walk to Chinatown and Little Italy for some great food. If you like Italian, let me recommend Grotta Azzurra, located at the intersection of Mulberry and Broome Streets. If you will be staying in or near Time Square, you can take the 1 Train from Time Square to South Ferry in order to get to the pier. You'll be in Battery Park once you exit the subway station. If you have the time, visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Museum of Natural History, by Central Park, and the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum at Pier 86, W. 46th St. and 12th Ave. It's a short walk from Times Square. PM me if you have any questions about some other places and things to do.