Orlando City once again travels to the Big Apple to face off against NYCFC before the league takes a two-week break for the Copa America tournament. And while you spend your long Memorial Day weekend in the city make sure to check out some of these places:
The Venue
NYCFC currently calls Yankee Stadium home located at the northwest corner of 161st Street and River Avenue in the Bronx. Currently NYCFC shares the stadium with you guessed it, the New York Yankees. And with the unique dimensions of the field, the pitch is 110 yards long by 70 yards wide – the smallest field in all of Major League Soccer. The official supporter group for NYCFC is The Third Rail, a non-profit organization independent of NYCFC.
A warning to the wise: NYCFC is trying to phase out print-at-home tickets. So make sure before arriving your phone is charged and that you’ll be able to pull up your tickets up on your mobile.
On matchday you have multiple modes of transportation to choose from to get to Yankee Stadium outside of grabbing a cab:
Subway: The 4 (East Side) and the D train (Sixth Avenue) make stops at the 161st Street/Yankee Stadium subway stations, located on East 161st Street and River Avenue.
Train: Metro-North offers train service to the Stadium from anywhere in its service territory.
Bus: The Bx6 and Bx13 buses stop at East 161st Street and River Avenue; the Bx1 and Bx2 buses stop at East 161st Street and the Grand Concourse, a short walk from Yankee Stadium; and the BxM4 stops at the Grand Concourse and East 161st Street (northbound) and East 158th Street (southbound).
Things To Do
Riding the Staten Island Ferry
Overpriced “handcrafted” cocktails are cool every once in awhile. But sometimes a bottom shelf vodka-and-cranberry aboard a boat-excuse me, a ferry-is just what the doctor ordered. Enjoy an unmatched glimpse of the city’s skyline and unobstructed views of the Statue of Liberty. Throw in a bag of pretzels and you’ve got yourself the perfect low-key afternoon.
Citi Field
No traveling supporters guide is complete without the mention of a baseball game. Make your way to Citi Field, the other ballpark in the city, to watch the Mets host the Los Angeles Dodgers and cross your fingers and pray to the Gods that you can be witness to a Bartolo Colon homerun.
Chrysler Building
One of the most beautiful buildings in the skyline, William Van Allen’s Chrysler Building is an Art Deco masterpiece. Some go for the sheer fact that it was mentioned in Annie yawn. Walk around the grand lobby, gawk before the building on the sidewalk, but let me leave you with this great story: Walter Chrysler had his office and private residence built on the top three floors, because he wanted to ensure that his toilet was the highest in New York. That way he could “look down upon the city from his porcelain throne and take a dump on Henry Ford and the rest of the world.” Welcome to New York.
Bars and Restaurants
Eataly
A mall dedicated to the cuisine of Italy. Eataly is impressive, overwhelming, decadent, fun and frustrating all at the same time. The sheer number of humans = not good. The sheer number of olive oil bottles = very good. Prepare yourself to strike a balance between these sorts of extremes, and you’ll have a good time. Just don’t get too caught up in one place, or at one stand. There are too many nooks and crannies and restaurants and counters to explore. The rooftop beer garden is also great; just know that you have to make a reservation.
Jeremy’s Ale House
A Downtown staple for almost 40 years, Jeremy’s does its customers right with insanely tasty fried clams, 32oz beers served in Styrofoam cups (for nine bucks!), and bras casually hanging from the ceiling. This a local spot that attracts the NYPD and NYFD alike and if you’re lucky they can recount some stories that you will never forget.
The Pullman Kitchen
There’s a ton of goodness on the menu here, from double-patty burgers to boozy milkshakes, but the grilled sandwiches are where it’s really at. Dive into the Breakfast Burrito, the Slow and Low, or the Chicken and Waffles: regardless of which one you choose, you’ll get a side of waffle fries, a salad, or a bowl of creamy tomato soup. Don’t skip the boozy milkshakes, whatever you do.
