Anything near Times Square

[cgallery]

Spending about a week in Times Square. Anything worthwhile (woodworking-wise) I should see? I kinda doubt it, but you never know, I could be ten minutes away from the largest wood jointer in the world.

Thanks,
Phil

[Bruce Cohen]

Phil,

I live in NY, now in a suburb of Manhattan, but for 15 years, I lived in Manhattan.

Now Times Square is, let's say 42nd St., Garrett Wade (check out their web site www.garrettwade.com). They're located about 50 blocks south of you, they're right on the border of Greenwich Village and SoHo, on 6th Avenue (the street signs say Avenue of the Americas) but only tourists call it that.

Garrett Wade is on the second floor of a building that houses printers and light manufacturing. Not a terribly impressive place and its small.

But, and I stress BUT, just about all of them are better woodworkers than both of us. And they're really friendly. As most of the stores' business is web based now, they are almost never crowded. One or two people at the most. And just about all of them are excellent woodworkers too.

I've gone in to get one or two things and ended up spending a few hours "really" learning about a question I asked, not just a "quick" answer.

Its sort of having 10 Loring's or Lee's in a tool store.

It's the only place of (woodworking) interest (other than museums or some of the galleries that have some woodworking on exibit) in the city.

It's about a $4.00 cab ride to there or you can always live dangerously and take the subway.


Anyway, If you want to spend some money on stuff you don't see the BORG or Lowes or HF, you'll get it there.

Best of luck

Bruce

[LCHIEN]

...

Its sort of having 10 Loring's or Lee's in a tool store.
...

That's a scary thought.

Sounds like a neat place to visit.

[cgallery]

Garrett Wade is on the second floor of a building that houses printers and light manufacturing. Not a terribly impressive place and its small.

Oh, I didn't know they were so close. I have an Inca jointer/planer and an Inca bandsaw. I know they don't sell Inca any more, but I would agree that this is a must-visit. Thanks Bruce!

[Bruce Cohen]

Phil,

They usually carry some parts (whatever's left) for Inca machinery. Another reason to visit.

And Loring, you'll love the briliant repartee with the staff and customers. It's the eay all tool stores should be, not like the BORG, which is one step above talking to the brain dead.

Bruce

If you're going to be in Manhattan for more than a day or two, PM me, I'm only 45 minutes from midtown, maybe we can get together for a drink (coffee or beer). Although it's going have to be in the evening, I "sort of work" during the day.

[farkel]

You should call Garret Wade -- I think they may have closed their NYC showroom. There are some good furniture displays in some museums, like the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Also there are some good furniture stores like Stickley and Thomas Moser, all in Manhattan not too far from Times Square.

[just4funsies]

...not like the BORG, which is one step above talking to the brain dead.

BORG people are NOT brain dead. Those who are brain dead do not answer questions, whereas BORG people answer them WRONG...

[Bruce Cohen]

Yeah, but they do it on purpose. I know, I used to work there (the shame, the horror).

Bruce

[jziegler]

Taking the subway is living dangerously? News to me, took it every day for about a year and a half when I worked in midtown.

Admittedly I wasn't doing any wood working when I worked up there, but I don't know of anything woodworking related in the midtown area. But have fun, lots to see around there.

Jim

[jarhead]

Tools for working wood

Phil,
You can visit Tools for Working Wood showroom - they are located at 27 West 20th St. Suite 507. It's a small showroom, but worth a visit.

[newood2]

Phil,

you can always live dangerously and take the subway.

Bruce

Another jab at the Big Apple.
I took the Subway for 32 years working in Manhattan without a drama.
But there's a lot of drama in your reply.

Howie

[ScottGolden]

There is a a series of stores in the city. At least there were a few back when I was living there (4+ yers ago).

They are called an An American craftsman. Every thing there is pricy but they have some really cool stuff. There is one at 7th and 52cnd and another down in the village. They had a carved office chair and desk the I have added to my I need one of those befor I die list.

http://www.anamericancraftsman.com/

It is owned by a guy named Richard Rothbard. His site is

http://www.boxology.com/

I also have biught stuff from the guys at tools for woodworking and they are an excellent company to buy from. I got a marples rosewood marking gauge and a marples morticing gauges. They were decently priced and they shipped it really quickly. They also a a very good tutorial on sharpening on thier site.


http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/

One more thing, Sadly the subways are just too darn safe. They have been for years, it just takes all the fun out of them, but Rudy did good by the city. Even if the cabbies and sidewalk vendors hated him when he was the Mayor.

I don't know when you were last in NYC and near times square but it is really changed from the dangerous, dirty and violent place it was in the 70s.

[Bruce Cohen]

Howie,

I wasn't serious about riding the subways, I did so for 40 years, and only had to beat up 5 guys in all that time Just kiding?

What's really dangerious are the bike messengers on the streets, now that's frightening. Actually, its worse than the streets of Saigon, the only thing missing are the little kids tossing grenades into your jeep.

Bruce

[jziegler]

Bruce,

You say the bike messengers are bad, but what about the Chinese food delivery guys? They're just as bad.

And as for safety in the big apple, I'll definately take the subway over a cab. I think that most of those cabbies should have never been given their drivers licenses... Best thing to do is close your eyes and pray in a cab.

Jim

[WayneJ]

You might luck out and catch the "Cash Cab " and wind up on the T.V. show.
wayne