FiDi Neighborhood Guide: Restaurants, Bars & Things to Do 🗽

Oh hi,

Can you believe it’s already February..?! Another week, another digital trip into all things NYC.

In this week’s newsletter:

• Financial District (FiDi) Neighborhood Guide

• Early Results of Congestion Pricing in Manhattan 🚗

• Events We Love This Week: February 5 - 12

• A Tourist(y) Spot We Highly Recommend

• NYC History: Feb 11, 1975 - A 3-Ton Robbery 🪙

• This Week’s You’ll Have to Check It Out

And away.. we.. go.. 👇

Note: As always, this email was written by an actual human who lives in NYC, not artificial intelligence. 🥸

Financial District Guide: Food, Drinks & Activities

The Financial District, commonly called FiDi, is one of Manhattan’s top neighborhoods, especially for history and unique things to see!

Encompassing the southern tip of Manhattan, the now-Financial District was the first area of Manahatta Island settled by Europeans (the Lenape tribe had long inhabited it before that.. ya know, colonialism 😵‍💫).

Fast forward multiple centuries and this area is home to historical buildings, the bustling heart of the US financial system, and some of the best restaurants and bars in the city.

Our newest podcast episode dives deep into all things FiDi. It’s a lengthier episode, but we cover numerous places you won’t want to miss!

Listen now. 👇

Early Results of Congestion Pricing in Manhattan

Congestion pricing, the first of its kind in the United States, has been met with backlash, praise, and plenty of controversy.

We love it as Manhattan residents who don’t own cars and take Citi Bikes to 90%+ of our destinations..

But what does the data say?

The blue line shows average commute times before congestion pricing, and the red line shows average commute times after congestion pricing for the Holland Tunnel on Thursdays (we picked a random day).

Faster commute times are a key point of the plan. ✅

Bus and subway ridership has increased since congestion pricing was enacted.

Increased public transit ridership is a key point of this plan. ✅

So the data says, yes, it’s working. See the MTA’s full report here.

America needs fewer cars on the road and more public transportation; this is a massive step in the right direction.

Events We Love This Week (February 5 - 12, 2025)

In the city this week? Here are some fun events we’re keeping an eye on.

Bombolone Fest - February 8

What’s a ‘bombolone,’ you may be wondering (besides something that Tony Soprano would absolutely devour)..

Bombolone is an Italian doughnut typically filled with a sweet filling like custard, chocolate, jam, marmalade, etc.

So, it’s a fancy donut fest! 🍩

Get the info and tickets here.

Super Bowl 🏈

Going out for the Super Bowl in NYC can be quite a memorable experience. Many bars boast special offers on food and drinks, and some even host football-inspired games and giveaways.

Whether you’re watching for the commercials, Taylor Swift spottings, or the actual football game, we’ve got a list of over 40 bars with great sports viewing experiences!

Check out the list here.

Pro Tip: Call ahead and get a reservation if you can!

Cupid’s Undie Run 💘

If partying, then running around the streets of New York in your underwear, then partying some more is appealing to you, sign up for Cupid’s Undie Run! 🏃‍➡️

This is-this-just-an-excuse-for-people-to-take-their-clothes-off? event actually has a worthwhile beneficiary - Raising money for the Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF), a 4-star-rated charity and a leader in NF research.

Since Cupid’s started in 2010, these runs have helped CTF achieve incredible milestones, including the first FDA-approved drug for NF and another treatment submitted to the FDA this year.

Get more info here.

A Tourist(y) Spot We Highly Recommend - 9/11 Memorial Museum

The 9/11 Museum should be near the top of your must-visits in New York City.

This memorial and museum provides excellent detail of September 11, 2001 events. It’s carefully laid out, respectful, and powerful in ways that are challenging to put into words.

If that day impacted your life, we recommend visiting the museum during your next NYC trip! Even if you don’t go into the museum, the Memorial Pools are free to view (pictured above), located outside the museum and right near the current One World Trade Center.

Get tickets & more info for the 9/11 Memorial Museum here.

February 1975 - $120,000 Robbery Of.. Coins

Bank heists in movies & TV almost always revolve around overflowing bags filled with crisp $100 bills. But, sometime between February 7-9, 1975, some thieves gave all that spare change some screentime.

Without using force, the thieves entered the Department of Finance’s office in Lower Manhattan during the weekend (presumably since it’s a government building and would be empty) and proceeded to burn their way through the top of a walk-in safe..

Yep, they burned their way in! 🔥

They then sent 3-tons of nickels, dimes, and quarters down chutes from the second floor to the garage and into their getaway vehicles.

Remember, this was when all parking meters were paid with coins, not a fancy app or credit card!

All in all, they got away with roughly $120,000 in coins.

You know what they say.. “Your life does not get better by chance. It gets better by change.” 🤑

We couldn’t find much information about whether the thieves were caught.. So where in the world did they spend or deposit all those coins?! Seems challenging!

Reply to this email if you know more about this story; we’d love to hear it. 👍

This Week’s You’ll Have to Check It Out - Peculier Pub

Few spots boast a beer list as extensive as Peculier Pub. They offer cans from over 20 countries!

But the best part of Peculier Pub (besides the cozy vibes and friendly staff)?

They have a wall of fame!

To get on the wall of fame, you must fill out a few “exploration” cards worth of different beers. You start with Card 1, and it’ll have prompts like “European,” “New York,” or “Bartender’s Choice.”

Get a beer that meets the specific criteria, and you’ll get a signature marking off that square. Fill out Card 1, and you’ll get a free draft beer + you move on to the next card.

Fill out all the exploration cards, and you’ll get a shirt and your name on a plaque on the wall of fame! 🏆

We’re only a few beers away.. 👀

Peculier Pub is located near NYU on Bleecker Street. Check it out here!

Have a great week,

Ashley & Devin from Better Together Here 🍻

PS- What does our name, Better Together Here, mean? It’s a nod to our belief that the best memories & experiences happen off our screens and with the people we love. No matter where you are, whether in NYC or across the globe, take time to build memories with the people who matter most in your life. ✌️