New York

The Key

Historical

Family Approved

New York / New Jersey Staple

Fun Fact

Reservation Only

Typically Has Lines

This guide will be updated frequently leading up to the family reunion so please make sure to check back closer to the family reunion start date to se everything!

The guide is separated by neighborhood to make it easier for you to plan your stops.

Midtown Manhattan

{Borough: Manhattan - Streets: 34th Street - 59th Street}

The home-neighborhood of Elka, Jason, Kaia, Zion, and Zenith!

Explore Midtown Manhattan

Restaurants & Food Joints

Miss Nellie's

321 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

American Cuisine - Cozy - Brunch to Dinner

$$

{Theatre District}

Family Approved!

Del Frisco's

1221 Ave of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

American Cuisine - Steakhouse - Dinner - Date Night

$$$$

Family Approved!

There's also one in Hoboken.

Very close to the Broadway theaters!

Giulietta NYC

200 Park Ave, New York, NY 10166

Italian - Breakfast to Dinner

$$

Crab House Times Square

218 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018

All You Can Eat Seafood

$$$

Crab House NYC on the East Side of Midtown is cheaper.

Dallas BBQs Times Square

241 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036

American Cuisine - Barbecue Chain Restaurant - Lunch to Dinner

$

Family Approved!

Serendipity 3 Times Square

157 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036

Has American Cuisine but Specializes in Dessert - For Kids

$$

Family Approved!

New York Staple

New York Staple

A block or two away from Port Authority Bus Terminal on 42nd Street. Convenient when taking the bus into NYC.

Izakaya MEW

53 W 35th St, New York, NY 10001

Japanese - Dinner

$$

Le Café Louis Vuitton NYC

6 E 57th St, New York, NY 10022

Cafe - An Experience

$$$

Family Approved!

You need to have a reservation.

It's best to have a reservation.

Los Tacos No. 1

201 W 33rd St, New York, NY 10119

Mexican - Quick Bites - Fast Food

$

Bar Lola

346 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036

Cocktail Bar - Brunch to Dinner

$$$

A block away from Madison Square Garden

New York Staple

Breakfast at Tiffany's

6th Floor, 727 5th Ave, New York, NY 10022

Blue Box Cafe by Daniel Boloud

$$$$

Chez Josephine

414 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036

French staples pair with piano music at this opulent restaurant, a tribute to Josephine Baker.

$$

{Hell's Kitchen}

By reservation only. Typically difficult to get a reservation.

French Cuisine - Tea Time

Sight Seeing

The EDGE

30 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001

Observation Deck with a One-of-a-Kind View of Manhattan

$49 per person

{Hudson Yards}

Rockefeller Center

45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111

Historical Landmark with an Underground Market

Family Approved!

New York Staple

Radio City Music Hall

1260 6th Ave, New York, NY 10020

One of New York's Most Iconic Entertainment Venues

Carnegie Hall

57th Street and, 7th Ave, New York, NY 10019

One of New York's Most Iconic Entertainment Venues

Family Approved!

New York Staple

New York Staple

Family Approved!

Check for concerts, events, and tours or stop by just for a photo-op!

Check for concerts, events, and tours or stop by just for a photo-op!

Columbus Circle

10 Columbus Cir, New York, NY 10019

Historical Landmark - Marks the End of Central Park

Madison Square Garden

4 Pennsylvania Plaza
(7th Avenue between W. 31st and W. 33rd Streets) New York, NY 10001

Historical Landmark - Iconic Entertainment Venue - Highly Recommended to Visit During Our Championship Reign!

Family Approved!

New York Staple

New York Staple

Family Approved!

Across from the Landmark is a Mall with All Kinds of Shops (The Shops at Columbus Circle)

Grand Central Station

89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017

Historical Landmark - One of the First Transportation Terminals

Macy's Herald Square

151 W 34th St., New York, NY 10001

Iconic Flagship Store with Creative Window Displays - Sometimes Holds Events

{Avenue of the Americas}

Family Approved!

New York Staple

New York Staple

Family Approved!

They are shops and restaurants inside as well!

Activities

The Museum of Broadway

145 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036

Museum - Kids Friendly

$45/person

{Theatre District}

Family Approved!

Museum of Modern Art (MoMa)

11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019

Museum and Art Gallery

$30/person - Kids are Free

Family Approved!

New York Staple

New York Staple

The Ideas of Africa Exhibit runs during our Family Reunion!

Madam Tussauds NYC

234 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036

A Collection of Wax Statues of Prominent People

$34+/person

Family Approved!

M&M World (Flagship Store)

1600 Broadway, New York, NY 10019

For Kids and Lovers of Chocolate

Family Approved!

New York Staple

New York Staple

Birdland Jazz Club

315 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

Iconic Jazz Club

$35+/person

Family Approved!

Tea Around Town

Departure Point: 42nd St between 5th & 6th Ave across the street from 11 W 42nd St

High Tea Bus Tour

$79+/person

New York Staple

{Theatre District}

Lucky Cheng's Drag Queen Showplace

570 10th Ave (4th floor) - In Green Room 42 Supper Club FKA Green Fig inside the YOTEL NEW YORK Times Square

Supper & Drag Performance Entertainment - Has Brunch Options as Well.

$29+/person

Family Approved!

The Lego Store

636 5th Ave, New York, NY 10020

Large Lego Store with Amazing Displays - For Kids

New York Staple

Located in Rockefeller Center. There's also one in the Flatiron District (W 23rd Street 5th Ave)

Harlem

{Borough: Manhattan - Streets: 110th Street - 155th Street *Includes both East and West}

Where the New York branch of the family started!

Restaurants & Food Joints

Red Rooster

310 Lenox Ave, New York, NY 10027

Black Owned - Soul Food - Brunch to Dinner

$$

New York Staple

Lucille's

26 Macombs Pl, New York, NY 10039

Jazz Club - Date Night - Brunch to Dinner

$$

Sugar Hill Creamery

184 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10026

Black Owned Ice Cream Shop - A Few Blocks Away from The Studio Museum in Harlem

$$

Dinosaur-Bar-B-Que

700 W 125th St, New York, NY 10027

BBQ Restaurant - Preferred Over Dallas BBQs in Times Square

$$

Family Approved!

Melba's

300 W 114th St, New York, NY 10026

Black Owned Soul Food Restaurant

$$

Lido

2168 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10026

Black Owned Italian Restaurant

$$

New York Staple

Bixi

2164 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10026

Black Owned Asian-Inspired Restaurant

$$

Amy Ruth's Harlem

113 W 116th St, New York, NY 10026

Soul Food - Harlem Chicken & Waffles - Black Founded

$$

New York Staple

Saint Louis Restaurant

381 Lenox Ave New York, NY 10027

Senagalese Restaurant

$$

Harlem Bistro BLVD

2149 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10026

Black Owned Soul Food Restaurant - Brunch to Dinner - Happy Hour

$$$

New York Staple

Sight Seeing

The Apollo Theater

233 W 125th St 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10027

Legendary Theater for Black Art and Entertainment

Langston Hughes' House

20 E 127th St, New York, NY 10035

Historical Landmark

New York Staple

Family Approved!

Historical

Ticketed Events and Tours

Historical

Riverbank State Park

679 Riverside Dr, New York, NY 10031

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

515 Malcolm X Blvd. Manhattan, NY, 10037

Black Research Library with Exhibits

Family Approved!

New York Staple

Historical

A Park by the Hudson River with Lots of Events and Activities

{Sits between Harlem and Washington Heights}

Family Approved!

New York Staple

Activities

The Shabazz Center

3940 Broadway New York, NY 10032

Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz Museum

Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Market

52 W 116th St, New York, NY 10026

A Flea Market with Black Vendors and Black Owned Businesses in Honor of Malcolm X

Family Approved!

New York Staple

Historical

Harlem Summer Nights {Uptown Night Market}

The Old Fairways Parking Lot, 2328 12th Ave, New York, NY 10027

Bill's Place

148 W 133rd St, New York, NY 10030

Bill Saxton's Jazz Club

New York Staple

Historical

Free to visit but RSVP required. RSVP on their website.

Black Food Festival and Night Market

$38/person

Caribbean Cultural Center

120 E 125th St, New York, NY 10035

Cultural Center with Exhibits

Family Approved!

National Jazz Museum in Harlem

58 W 129th St Ground Floor, 2203, New York, NY 10027

Museum

Admission is Donation-Based with a Recommendation of $10

New York Staple

The Village

{Borough: Manhattan - Streets: 14th Street - Houston Street *Includes both East and West}

Restaurants & Food Joints

Miss Lilly's

109 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009

Black Owned - Cocktails & Jamaican Cuisine - Cozy - Brunch to Dinner - Happy Hour

$$

{East Village}

Family Approved!

L'Industrie Pizzeria

104 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014

Pizzeria

$$

{West Village}

Recent New York Staple

New York Staple

Individual slices range from $4.25 - $7.50

Usually Has Lines But Moves Pretty Fast

Ramen by Ra

70 E 1st St, New York, NY 10003

Black Owned Ramen Spot

$$

Mamoun's Falafel

119 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

New York’s Oldest Falafel Shop

$

Family Approved!

Recent New York Staple

New York Staple

{East Village}

Usually Has Lines But Moves Pretty Fast

{West Village}

Pasta de Pasta

165 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003

Quick, Italian Cheese Wheel Pasta

$$

Randy's Donuts

185 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012

Los Angeles' Iconic Donut Spot Came to NYC!

$

{East Village}

{West Village}

Cha Cha Tang NYC

257 6th Ave, New York, NY 10014

Authentic Cantonese Cuisine

$$

Benji's Buns

122 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014

Cinnamon Bun Shop

$

{West Village}

{West Village}

Sight Seeing

The Stonewall Inn

53 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014

Gay bar & National Historic Landmark, site of the 1969 riots that launched the queer rights movement.

{West Village}

Washington Square Park

5 Ave, Waverly Pl., W. 4 St. and Macdougal St.

Historical Monument & Park with an arch gifted by the French - Events Frequently Happen Here

Family Approved!

New York Staple

New York Staple

Historical

Historical

Jefferson Market Garden & Library

10 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10011

Public Library with a Garden

{Greenwich Village}

Christopher Park

38-64 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014

National park across from the storied Stonewall Inn featuring the Gay Liberation Monument.

{West Village}

New York Staple

Activities

Strand Bookstore

828 Broadway, New York, NY 10003

Landmark Book Store

{Greenwich Village}

Historical

Blue Note Jazz Club

131 W 3rd St, New York, NY 10012

Legendary Jazz Club - Ticketed Events

$30+/person

Family Approved!

New York Staple

New York Staple

IFC Center

323 6th Ave, New York, NY 10014

Art House Movie Theatre

$20/person

Marie's Crisis Cafe

59 Grove St, New York, NY 10014

Broadway Showtunes "Sing-along" Piano Bar

2 Drink Minimum Per Person

{Greenwich Village}

{West Village}

(Le) Poisson Rouge

158 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012

An eclectic multimedia art gallery dedicated to the fusion of theater, dance, fine art, film and music, making it a state-of-the-art performance venue with great entertainment.

$27+/person

Terra Blues

149 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012

Blues Music Club

$20-$50/person

{Greenwich Village}

{Greenwich Village}

Lower Manhattan

{Borough: Manhattan - Streets: 34th Street - Wall Street *Includes Noho, Soho, Financial District, and so on}

Explore Lower Manhattan

Restaurants & Food Joints

Avra

398 9th Ave, New York, NY 10001

Greek Cuisine - Brunch on Saturday and Sunday

$$

Godunk Thai Street Food

332 Bowery, New York, NY 10012

Thai Street Food with a Cinema Themed Ambience

$$

{Bowery}

Tipsy Scoop

217 E 26th St, New York, NY 10010

Boozy Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt

$$

Prince Street Pizza

27 Prince St, New York, NY 10012

Iconic Pizzeria

$

New York Staple

{Nolita}

{Lower East Side}

Sight Seeing

Union Square - 14th Street

Broadway 14th St New York, NY 10003

14th Street Train Station that can lead to Union Square Park, Union Square Farmer's Market, and multiple other shops and experiences.

The Highline

Entry Point: W 30th Street & 10 Ave

Built on a once-abandoned elevated rail line, the green space offers unparalleled views of Manhattan’s far west side. With places to sit and people-watch, patches of grass, seasonal blooms and fascinating architectural features throughout, it’s a great place to relax, and makes for an envy-inducing photo backdrop.

Family Approved!

New York Staple

New York Staple

Family Approved!

African Burial Ground Monument

290 Broadway, New York, NY 10007

Historical Landmark

{Tribeca}

Flatiron Building

175 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010

Iconic Building and Historical Landmark

{Flatiron District}

Family Approved!

New York Staple

New York Staple

Historical

Historical

Chelsea Piers

23rd St. & Hudson River Park, New York, NY 10011

Sports Complex on a Pier on the Hudson River

{Chelsea}

South Street Seaport

19 Fulton St, New York, NY 10038, USA

A Neighborhood Along the Southern Tip of Manhattan with Great Shops and Events During the Summer.

Family Approved!

New York Staple

New York Staple

Family Approved!

Activities

Duane Park Supper Club

308 Bowery, New York, NY 10012

Burlesque Supper Club + Live Performance & Dinner

$145/person (food + entertainment) // Ages 21+

{Bowery}

Family Approved!

Chelsea Market

75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011

A Marketplace & Food Hall with Events

Historical

New York Staple

New York Staple

{Meatpacking District}

The Skyscraper Museum

39 Battery Pl, New York, NY 10280

Museum of the history of the city's skyscrapers and architecture.

Free Admission

The Whitney Museum

99 Gansevoort St, New York, NY 10014

An Iconic Art Museum at the End of the Highline

$30/person {Free for ages 25 and under, just need ID of some sort}

Family Approved!

New York Staple

{Financial District}

{Meatpacking District}

Museum of Ice Cream

558 Broadway, New York, NY 10012

Interactive Exhibits Museum - Kids Friendly

$39-$48/person

Color Factory

251 Spring St, New York, NY 10013

Interactive Exhibits Museum - Kids Friendly

$49/person

{SoHo}

{SoHo}

Upper Manhattan

{Borough: Manhattan - Streets: 59th Street - 110th Street *Includes Upper West Side & Upper East Side}

The home-neighborhood of your cousins Denise, Yvette, Mignon, Ra, and Tehja!

Explore Upper Manhattan

Restaurants & Food Joints

Jacob's Pickles

680 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10025

American Cuisine - Cozy - Brunch to Dinner

$$

{Upper West Side}

Family Approved!

Maison Pickle

2315 Broadway, New York, NY 10024

French-American Cuisine - Dinner - Date Night

$$

Recent New York Staple

{Upper West Side}

Pio Pio 6

702 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025

Peruvian Cuisine Restaurant

$$

Family Approved!

Peacefood

460 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

Vegan Restaurant

$$

Family Approved!

{Upper West Side}

{Upper West Side}

Glace New York

1266 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10128

Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt

$$

Carmine's

2450 Broadway, New York, NY 10024

Family Style Italian Food

$$

Family Approved!

New York Staple

{Upper West Side}

{Upper East Side}

Piccola Cucina Uptown

106 E 60th St, New York, NY 10022

Italian Restaurant

$$$

Magnolia Bakery

200 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

American Bakery with a World Renowned Banana Pudding

$$

Family Approved!

New York Staple

{Upper West Side - but has multiple locations}

{Upper East Side}

Sight Seeing

Central Park - Seneca Village

Central Park, Central Prk W, New York, NY 10024

{Upper West Side}

West Side Community Garden

123 W 89th St, New York, NY 10024

Community Garden

{Upper West Side}

Family Approved!

Historical

Family Member Anna Grayson helped to start this garden!

Historical Landmark - A Historically Black and Irish Neighborhood in the 1800s

The Metropolitan Museum of Art {The Met}

1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028

Iconic History and Art Museum

{Upper East Side}

5th Avenue

Start at E 86th St & 5th Avenue and Walk Downtown - Or Start After Your Visit at the Met

One of the Most Iconic Streets/Avenues in NYC with Designer Shops and Flagship Stores to Revel at Their Displays

{Upper East Side}

Family Approved!

New York Staple

New York Staple

Family Approved!

Historical

$30/Adult {Kids 12 & under are free}

Museum of Natural History

200 Central Prk W, New York, NY 10024

World-Famous Museum - The Museum the Movie 'Night at the Museum' was Filmed In

Lincoln Center

Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023

Historical Landmark for the Arts - Jazz at Lincoln Center - The Met Opera - American Ballet Theatre & More

{Upper West Side}

Family Approved!

New York Staple

New York Staple

Family Approved!

Historical

{Upper West Side}

$37/Adult -- $22/Kids

Family Member Mignon Grayson and her father Milton Grayson Jr. have both performed here!

You Can Lounge Around the Plaza Without Needing a Ticket - Free Events Happen Here As Well

Activities

Ashford & Simpson's Sugar Bar

254 W 72nd St, New York, NY 10023

Black-Owned Cocktail Bar with Live Entertainment

{Upper West Side}

Grand Bazaar NYC Flea Market

100 W 77th St, New York, NY 10024

A Fun Artisan Flea Market - Every Sunday from 10am - 5pm

Family Approved!

$$

{Upper West Side}

The Met - Costume Art Exhibit

1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028

The exhibit that the Met Gala theme was inspired by. Each Met Gala funds the Costume Institute at the Met to continue their research and studies.

{Upper East Side}

Museum of the City of New York

1220 5th Ave, New York, NY 10029

Museum About the History of New York City

{Upper East Side}

Family Approved!

New York Staple

Family Approved!

Historical

Honorable Mentions

{Other sites to check out that are in other boroughs}

Explore the Other Boroughs

Restaurants & Food Joints

Cafe Rue Dix

21 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

American Cuisine - Cozy - Brunch to Dinner

$$

TikTok Review

{Brooklyn}

Family Approved!

Peaches Kitchen & Bar

21 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

Soul Food

$$$

TikTok Review

{Brooklyn}

Family Approved!

Taqueria Ramirez

94 Franklin St, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Mexican Food

$

Saint Michel: Cafe and Art

462 Irving Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237

Black-Owned Coffeehouse offering a wide selection of teas plus pastries, desserts, and merchandise with a fashion and art media library.

$

New York Staple

{Brooklyn}

{Brooklyn}

Typically has lines. No Dine-In.

Sight Seeing

{Untitled}

21 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

American Cuisine

$$

TikTok Review

{Theatre District}

{Untitled}

21 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

Historical Landmark with Underground Market

$$

TikTok Review

{Theatre District}

Family Approved!

New York Staple

New York Staple

Activities

The Little Bookshop

145 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036

Museum - Kids Friendly

TikTok Review

{Brooklyn}

Family Approved!

The Ripped Bodice

21 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

American Cuisine

TikTok Review

Family Approved!

New York Staple

New York Staple

{Brooklyn}

Madina Industrial Corporations

21 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

Mix Your Own Frangrances

TikTok Review

Welancora Gallery

21 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

Black Owned Art Gallery

TikTok Review

{Brooklyn}

Family Approved!

New York Staple

New York Staple

Family Approved!

Historical

{Brooklyn}

Museum of Contemporary African Disaporan Art

21 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

Mix Your Own Frangrances

TikTok Review

Luna Park at Coney Island

21 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

Black Owned Art Gallery

TikTok Review

{Brooklyn}

Family Approved!

New York Staple

New York Staple

Family Approved!

Historical

{Brooklyn}

Museum of the Moving Image

21 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

Mix Your Own Frangrances

TikTok Review

The New York Transit Museum

21 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

Black Owned Art Gallery

TikTok Review

{Brooklyn}

Family Approved!

New York Staple

New York Staple

Family Approved!

Historical

{Queens}

Da Spot NYC

21 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

Black Woman Owned Boutique

TikTok Review

The Hip Hop Museum

21 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

Museum

TikTok Review

{The Bronx}

Family Approved!

New York Staple

New York Staple

Family Approved!

Historical

{Brooklyn}

Iris Van Herpen Exhibit at The Brooklyn Museum

21 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

Black Woman Owned Boutique

TikTok Review

The Bronx Zoo

21 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

Museum

TikTok Review

{The Bronx}

Family Approved!

New York Staple

New York Staple

Family Approved!

Historical

{Brooklyn}

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Ayers Douglass McLain Family Reunion NY/NJ 2026