Insights on New York City travel by Credit Union Conversations host Mark Ritter and guest Azra Samiee reveal authentic experiences beyond typical tourist attractions. In this engaging episode, Mark shares his journey from small-town Pennsylvania to becoming a NYC enthusiast, while Azra, a 13-year Brooklyn resident, offers insider recommendations. Discover Brooklyn neighborhoods and restaurants guide favorites, including Red Hook's legendary burger at Red Hook Tavern and Steve's Key Lime Pie. Learn about convenient transportation options like the East River Ferry and City Bike NYC. From Comedy Shows to Chelsea Market, this conversation covers essential stops while avoiding overcrowded spots like Times Square.

What You Will Learn in This Episode: 

✅ Navigate New York City like a local using Subway Navigation tips and alternative transportation options, including the East River Ferry and City Bike NYC system for exploring multiple boroughs efficiently.

✅ Discover authentic Brooklyn Attractions beyond the typical tourist path, including Dumbo Brooklyn, Red Hook Brooklyn, and Prospect Park, with insider dining recommendations from Thai Restaurants to legendary Pizza places in NYC.

✅ Plan the perfect Manhattan experience with expert guidance on NYC Steakhouses, Comedy Shows in New York, and cultural destinations like the Museum of Natural History and Chelsea Market while strategically avoiding overcrowded areas.

✅ Create memorable experiences combining food, entertainment, and sightseeing, from Broadway shows to waterfront sunsets, using local knowledge to maximize your visit to America's most dynamic city.

Subscribe to Credit Union Conversations for the latest credit union trends and insights on loan volume and business lending! Connect with MBFS to boost your credit union’s growth today.

TIMESTAMPS:  

00:00 Mark’s personal journey discovering New York City as a first-time visitor at age 35

02:21 Discussion of subway navigation techniques and Mark's typical tourist routine visiting Manhattan destinations like Penn Station and Soho shopping areas, plus his love for NYC steakhouses

04:53 Azra recommends exploring Brooklyn attractions as the best way to experience authentic NYC, introducing transportation alternatives like City Bike NYC and the East River Ferry for accessing different boroughs

07:33 Detailed Brooklyn neighborhoods and restaurants guide covering Dumbo, Brooklyn and Red Hook, Brooklyn, featuring Steve's Key Lime Pie shop, Red Hook Tavern's famous burger, and Littlefield Comedy Shows

11:20 Discussion of NYC entertainment venues, including the Comedy Cellar and the Stand for Comedy Shows New York, plus Broadway Shows recommendations and appreciation for Chelsea Market located in the historic Nabisco factory building

12:12 Final restaurant recommendations covering favorite Pizza Places NYC, Thai restaurants like Nourish Thai in Brooklyn, and Azra's role as tourism ambassador, concluding this New York City travel guide episode with holiday visit planning

KEY TAKEAWAYS:  

✅ Brooklyn offers more authentic New York City experiences than typical Manhattan tourist spots, with neighborhoods like Dumbo, Brooklyn and Red Hook providing waterfront views, exceptional dining, and local charm away from crowded areas like Times Square.

✅ Transportation variety enhances your NYC visit. While Subway Navigation using Google Maps works for beginners, the East River Ferry offers scenic routes between boroughs. City Bike NYC provides an adventurous way to explore, though bike riding in the city requires confidence and aggressive navigation.

✅ Comedy shows in New York venues like the Comedy Cellar, the Stand, and Littlefield in South Brooklyn provide excellent entertainment alternatives to Broadway Shows, with shorter time commitments and more flexible scheduling for visitors who prefer not to commit to lengthy performances.

✅ Local food favorites span from NYC Steakhouses like Keen's to corner Pizza Places NYC offering $1.50 slices, Chelsea Market food halls, Steve's Key Lime Pie in Red Hook, and Thai Restaurants like Nourish Thai, proving that authentic dining experiences exist at every price point across all boroughs.

ABOUT THE GUESTS:

Azra Samiee - LinkedIn

RESOURCES MENTIONED: 

Mark Ritter - Website

Mark Ritter - LinkedIn

SEO KEYWORDS: 

Credit Union Conversations, Mark Ritter, MBFS, Credit Unions, QSO, Subway Navigation, Dumbo Brooklyn, Red Hook Brooklyn, Prospect Park, Thai Restaurants, Pizza Places NYC, Manhattan, NYC Steakhouses, Comedy Shows New York, Museum Of Natural History, Broadway Shows

[00:00:32] And I actually had a few previous guests in the room and they said, wow, when that dropped, I had people calling me who I haven't talked to in years. So thank you for listening. Thank you for engaging with our hosts today. We're gonna have a little fun because it's my show and I like to have a little fun every now and then.

[00:01:28] Never was there. It was just some scary place that I've heard about that like, people don't actually go there, do they? You know, it was just unthinkable. So I first had to go there on a business meeting and it was like, wow, this is really overwhelming. And then my wife, uh, started insisting we go and take the kids and have fun.

[00:02:08] Azra Samiee: Well, you're right, I am officially a New Yorker 'cause I've lived here for over, over 13 Wow. 13 years. So you're officially, it's a, a long time.

[00:02:21] Mark Ritter: There you go. You're living there. You're working there. So I want to, let's talk about my background. So basically when I say I go to New York City, I am sure you'll cringe at this, but that involves me going, taking the subway to Penn Station.

[00:02:57] Azra Samiee: What's your favorite subway line?

[00:03:07] I open Google Maps, I hit where I wanna go, and I hit the train and it tells me where to go. That's my, I cannot do it naturally. Inorganically like you. So, and then usually we go to soho, where the kids bleed me for all my money shopping. Very rarely do we leave Manhattan, so I am screwing it up royally.

[00:03:41] Mark Ritter: mostly day trips. Okay. Every once in a while I'll stay overnight, but usually I'm an early morning crack of dawn. Okay. And then in and out, and then now me personally. I love New York City steakhouses. Mm-hmm. I could eat at [00:04:00] Keen's Steakhouse every day, and I've done a variety of steakhouses, and my entertainment is usually comedy shows.

[00:04:30] Azra Samiee: And, and you will go to a, or an early evening

[00:04:34] Usually I usually don't break 10 o'clock at night, uh, for going out on the town. So what am I screwing up? What's the best way to experience New York City for, to get the true essence of the city?

[00:05:02] Mark Ritter: You know I Have you been to Brooklyn once again?

[00:05:14] Azra Samiee: Okay.

[00:05:21] Azra Samiee: I mean, honestly, your day in New York sounds lovely. It doesn't sound oversaturated with tourist attractions. It sounds.

[00:05:34] Mark Ritter: Brooklyn. What, what are your highlights of Brooklyn favorite things to do?

[00:06:00] Have you been on Ferry? Okay,

[00:06:10] Azra Samiee: Well, city bikes are, they have docks all across all the boroughs and you can access them through a membership where a day pass. So. You can pay a fee for a day and you have access to riding them all across the city for, um, a period of time.

[00:06:34] Mark Ritter: what I want. Yes.

[00:06:48] So you can bike from Penn Station down to soho and, and then you could even cross the bridge and end up in Brooklyn at, at the Barclay Center to watch one of your sporting events. But I guess my [00:07:00] recommendation to you, I, I think, I think

[00:07:07] Azra Samiee: You know, I would say bike riding in New York City is a polarizing experience. You either are in it or you're out. There's no you, there's no. There's no gray area. If you're hesitant, you shouldn't ride the bike. Is, is really what it comes down to.

[00:07:25] Azra Samiee: Well, the other option is the East River ferry. So tell me

[00:07:33] Azra Samiee: The, the East river ferry takes. You can pick you up in Jersey and lower Manhattan and it can take you to Brooklyn and I would. Um, it's about, I think it's between four and $6. It runs all day into the evening.

[00:08:05] Mark Ritter: know, I know. That stands for down under the, is it the Brooklyn Down Under something?

[00:08:12] Azra Samiee: Manhattan Bridge Overpass.

[00:08:16] Azra Samiee: And so from there you can walk around that area, which has great restaurants, um, great view of the, the Bridges, some good ice cream shops. Yeah. It's just a beautiful neighborhood. And if you're really. Feeling adventurous. You can take the ferry to my favorite part of Brooklyn, which is called Red Hook.

[00:08:53] You, you actually are so. So you take, you can go grab Steve's key lime pie. You can [00:09:00] sit on the pier and watch the sunset, and then you should head over to the Red Hook tavern. They have, I know you're a, a fan of steaks, but they have the best burger, okay. In all of the larger New York City area. Um. And that's, yeah, that's, that's something that I like to do.

[00:09:29] Mark Ritter: well. So. Do you where now, okay, you're in Brooklyn. How far do you adventure out other areas, other boroughs? Are you a Manhattan, Brooklyn person?

[00:09:52] Azra Samiee: Not gonna, not gonna say that.

[00:09:55] Azra Samiee: I will tell you is, I mean, are you, I, I am a, a [00:10:00] fan of. Green space. So I, and I live very close to Prospect Park in Brooklyn. I'm a big fan of Central Park, which I'm sure you've been to.

[00:10:34] Mark Ritter: I've done, I have done the Natural History Museum. The what's, what's the big art museum? Which one is it? The MoMA? Yeah, the I, I have not done the MoMA. I have done the, whatever the other one is. Okay. So the MO I have, I have to go to the MoMA. And then what else as far as tourist type. Museums attractions where people won't make fun of me.

[00:11:08] Azra Samiee: I would encourage you, I mean, there's having, there's in, in addition to, um. I mean, there's the Comedy Cellar, which is a great place to see fabulous comedy.

[00:11:43] Have you been I love Chelsea Market. Yeah. Love Chelsea

[00:11:47] Azra Samiee: Yeah, Chelsea Market is in the old Nabisco factory and it is a con is, has been converted essentially a food hall and it's lot. It's, I, I dunno if it's a mile, [00:12:00] but it's lined up with food stalls, restaurants, and just. An assortment of activity.

[00:12:12] Mark Ritter: ever. All right. This is your last weekend on earth, and you've been given a free pass to eat at your favorite New York City spots. One last time. Where are you going for the weekend? Gimme your highlights. Gimme your must. Go to, these are one of my favorite places in New York City.

[00:12:46] Azra Samiee: I mean, I would definitely

[00:12:54] Azra Samiee: I am a big fan of, I like Polly [00:13:00] G's.

[00:13:19] Mark Ritter: you, you really can't go wrong.

[00:13:27] Azra Samiee: There is a delicious Thai restaurant in Brooklyn called Nourish Thai that I'm a huge fan of. Um. And I also love, wow, there's so many. You know what? I gotta, you

[00:13:48] Mostly I don't

[00:13:56] Mark Ritter: yes. Thank you for le [00:14:00] indulging me with my, uh, stupid questions for 15 minutes. I appreciate it. It was a pleasure. And, and you can be the, uh, director of tourism now at Inclusive. People will randomly call you and be like, I heard you're on the pod.

[00:14:19] Azra Samiee: I, I will happily be the ambassador of Brooklyn

[00:14:23] Azra Samiee: a a, um. Tour guide in in the city as

[00:14:41] So yes, when I come, it's a big deal to me. So when's your next trip? I don't know. We were thinking about going before Christmas. I love all the Christmas lights and the decoration, so, yeah. So yeah, there, there's great, it's, it's great to see all the lights during the time of year. [00:15:00] Alright, Azure, well thanks for spending some time with me.

[00:15:24] This is Mark Ritter, your host of Credit Union Conversations, and we will talk to you very soon.