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Congratulations, you're in the Big Apple! Now it's time to get your geek on. With as much as New York City has to offer though, taking things slow will pay off. Therefore, I must lead off with a confession: this post covers just a small slice of the island Manhattan, not an entire swath as the title might suggest.
For starters, this walking day trip covers downtown from its start (around 14th street) and continues further south just past Houston Street, focusing mostly on the East Village and Soho. There are plenty more sights to see further downtown, but those will have to wait for another post. In the meantime, start with this guide to enjoying the geekier side of NYC.
Shopping
There's one thing you won't find a shortage of in New York City: commerce. This particular stretch of town just happens to be flush with geek shops, so there is ample opportunity for geek dads and their little ones alike to spend some cash.
Video Games: 8 Bit And Up [35 Saint Marks Place], VideoGamesNewYork [202 E 6th St.]
For shops that both specialize in selling retro video games, these two stores could not be more different. 8 Bit And Up, located on bustling St. Marks Place, focuses on the gaming community with their multiple play stations set up around the shop. You can even host your next big tournament or party in the store.
VideoGamesNewYork, on the other hand, is a shop that focuses on gaming history. You'll find a deeper selection of rare and import titles here, and the back of the store houses a museum case. Just getting to take a peek at some of the video gaming holy grails contained inside makes the visit worthwhile.
Toys: Toy Tokyo [91 2nd Ave], Kid Robot [126 Prince St.]
Speaking of rare and import merchandise, Toy Tokyo is your go-to source for the latest and greatest in Japanese toys. They also stock a great selection of designer vinyl figures and old school collectibles, so make sure you check out the whole store. If the vinyl toys are your thing, you'll also definitely want to head a few blocks further and check out Kid Robot's store, where you can shop the toy producer's whole product line direct.
Books: Strand Book Store [corner of 12th & Broadway], Forbidden Planet [840 Broadway], St. Marks Comics [11 St. Marks Place]
New or used, take your pick. Forbidden Planet and St. Marks Comics are the best source for comic books in the downtown area, but if you need an actual book, then the Strand is unbeatable. Just promise to set a time limit, or you may find yourself whittling the entire day away as you pore through the Strand's stacks of used reading material.
Gadgets: AC Gears [69 E 8th St.]
Nothing says "geek" like a store where you can browse the latest and greatest in gadgets. AC Gears sells a mix of Asian-imported and locally-designed electronics, meaning that products range from surprisingly useful gadgets to those that are design-first works of art. The biggest challenge in browsing this boutique electronics shop is leaving with a full wallet.
Clothing: Uniqlo [546 Broadway]
Japan's leading clothing chain has come to America, and its only three stores are all located in New York City. The Soho flagship store should be your destination, as it provides the best selection. Take the opportunity to try on a few outfits and you just might walk away with a new Japanese-inspired wardrobe.
Entertainment
You can't just shop your whole day away, though. Focus the meat of your day around taking in some of New York's great museums, plays, or parks.
Museums: Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art [594 Broadway], New Museum [235 Bowery], Children's Museum of the Arts [103 Charleston St.]
There is no shortage of art museums in this stretch of town, so let the age of your geeklings steer your decision. The young ones may get a kick out of seeing art created by fellow children, while older ones will be able to appreciate the more refined exhibits of the MoCCA. The New Museum, on the other hand, focuses on artistic expression that is about more "out there." Let's just say that the last time I walked past this building, I looked in a window and saw a life-size inflatable replica of the brain bug from Starship Troopers. In my imagination, this was part of an exhibit entitled "The Art of the Bachelor Pad."
Live Entertainment: Silence! The Musical [The 9th Space Theater - 150 First Ave.], She Kills Monsters [The Flea Theater - 41 White St]
These shows may be a long ways away from Broadway, but that only speaks to their niche appeal, not a lack of quality. Based on The Silence of the Lambs, you'll want to leave the children behind for Silence! The Musical but trust me, it's a production well worth your time. Alternatively, you can check out She Kills Monsters, a Dungeons & Dragons-inspired comedy that also looks highly entertaining. If you're reading this post long after it originally went up, then both of these shows are likely long gone, but check out the websites of their respective theaters to see what else might be playing.
Outdoor Sights: Washington Square Park
You might recognize Washington Square Park for its iconic arch, or its reputation as the chess capital of NYC. Enjoy the architecture and sit down for a match with a local. Inevitably, you'll notice that most of the buildings surrounding the park are part of the NYU campus. Perhaps the influx of college students to the area helps explain why there are so many great geeky destinations?
Food
If you try to hit every destination listed above, you just may forget to stop and eat. Of course, this would be a crime when you are surrounded by some fantastic eateries. Don't worry, I've got your perfect lunch, dinner and dessert already covered.
Lunch: The Meatball Shop [84 Stanton St.]
Although there is nothing particularly geeky about this establishment, you'll want to eat here simply because it serves outstanding food at a reasonable price. Ordering is a no-fuss process: you'll be handed a dry-erase 1-page menu and can check off your desired combinations of meats and sauces on a handy grid. My recommendation is to try the daily special no matter what it is. The word is out about The Meatball Shop, though, so expect incredibly long lines during dinner hours. Make this a lunch destination.
Dinner: Ninja [25 Hudson St.]
Put your tourist trap blinders on for this one. Ninja falls into the category of overpaying for food in order to experience some corny theatrics, but take it from my experience, this act is worth experiencing at least once. As you may have already guessed from the name, Ninja is a restaurant teeming with hooded assassins. The entire restaurant is designed in the style of a ninja castle from early feudal Japan, which provides plenty of narrow passages for the ninja wait staff to pop in and out of as they carry out your dinner service.
Coffee & Dessert: Mud Coffee [307 E 9th St.], Think Coffee [248 Mercer St., multiple locations]
It's a tough choice between these two establishments, but when "traveling geek needs caffeine badly" is your mantra, either will get the job done. Mud Coffee wins on atmosphere and light eats, while Think Coffee sports a cool wine bar and co-hosts a regular board game night with the NerdNYC group (check the schedule, maybe you can drop in). Both have great coffee, but for the geek-on-the-go, hit up the Mud Truck in Astor Place.
Images in this post used under Creative Common licenses.
