i%26#39;m travelling to new york in april for a week, can anyone suggest a good budget hotel,for two adults and kids aged 13 %26amp; 10?
Radio City Apartments is a great central location with full kitchen which makes life with a family so much more economical. Just put the name in the search engine and you will see plenty of very positive reports.
My first time in NYC Dec. 27 and I need directions to get to SOHO to shop. I will be staying at the Marriott Courtyard Manhattan/Times Square South on West 40th St. Also, any suggestions on where to eat dinner close to our hotel at night? I will have two 18 year olds that would love to eat dinner somewhere fun. Any suggestions?
SoHo is the area south of Houston Street, north of Canal Street, and on the western side of the island (let%26#39;s be generous and say west of Lafayette Street.)
You can get there from Times Square by taking the N or R downtown to Prince Street, which will put you in Soho. you can also take the #1 downtown to Houston Street, and then walk south (the same direction as the traffic on Varick Street), or the E or C downtown to Canal Street (ride in the back of the train and exit to Canal,) then walk north up , say, Thompson Street, or West Broadway.
BTW, Houston Street is pronounced ';house-ton';, not like the city in Texas.
Here%26#39;s a great interactive map of shopping and dining in Soho.
http://www.artseensoho.com/map.html
Subway directions from your hotel:
Take the R or W train from Times Square/42nd/Broadway downtown to Prince Street.
Or take the E or C train downtown from 42nd and 8th Ave to Spring Street.
Re: dining: what are your and their tastes and your budget? Do you like touristy theme places like Hard Rock Cafe? Or interesting food and trendy nightlife? What about food from different countries?
Here%26#39;s a way to put your hotel (or any destination) at the epicenter of a Citysearch search and find nearby dining and shopping around it:
www.newyork.citysearch.com
First, search for your hotel on the main home page. When you find it, click on the listing. On the left side of the web page, you should see a column that says, ';Find nearby....bars, restaurants, clubs, shopping....';
Click on restaurants, and it uses your location as the center point. Sort the list by distance. You can also refine your search by feature such as ';open late'; or ';good for groups';.
My husband is a cellist. Could you, please give us some advice about the best stores that sell scores and musicals items (classical music). We%26#39;ll be there (18 -28 Dec.) in a hotel at 48 St. Thanks.
I found these listings
Patelson%26#39;s Music
160 W 56th (between 6th %26amp; 7th Aves.)
New York, NY (212) 582-5840
http://www.patelson.com/index1.html#
There%26#39;s also an EAst Village Music store with a website here
http://www.evmnyc.com/
If you are staying on west 48 st, Patelson%26#39;s is much closer.
The legendary Colony Music, in the historic Brill Building, at the corner of Broadway and 49th Street. They also have an ';online'; store at www.colonymusic.com where your husband can search to his heart%26#39;s content.
What a poet nywhiz!
Thanks for the addresses nywhiz and nycamb!
My husband says that he will try to find music that rimes with your advices.
I will be going to NYC the last week of the year. What area should we stay in for the best nightlife, clubbing, etc? I stayed in MTW the first time and found it to be very touristy with limited clubs. Any suggestions?
I don%26#39;t know what MTW is (Mandarin Time Warner?), but you might want to look into the SoHo Grand, TriBeCa Grand, the Hotel on Rivington, and the Gansevoort. All in non-touristy neighborhoods.
In general, the better areas for clubbing are The Meatpacking District, the Lower East Side, Hell%26#39;s Kitchen, West Chelsea, the East Village, and Williamsburg, Brooklyn (and surrounding area).
Here are some great websites for finding nightlife options, comedy shows, live music, strange off-beat performances, etc.:
www.newyork.citysearch.com
www.thelmagazine.com (free magazine in orange street-corner boxes, too.)
www.timeoutny.com (website is annoying. hard copy magazine is better.)
http://nyc.flavorpill.net/index.jsp
newyorkmetro.com/nightlife/鈥?/a>
http://in-nyc.com/
http://www.nyc.com/bars_clubs_music/
West Chelsea:
thevillager.com/villager_136/chelseaclubboom鈥?/a>
鈥itysearch.com/roundup/40017/newyork/west_c鈥?/a>
www.newyorkmetro.com/search/bars_search.htm鈥?/a>
Meatpacking District:
鈥itysearch.com/roundup/40220/newyork/meatpa鈥?/a>
inetours.com/New_York/Pages/Meatpacking.html
Williamsburg:
http://www.billburg.com/
www.freewilliamsburg.com/bars/index.html
http://newyork.citysearch.com/roundup/39745/
Remember - you don%26#39;t need to hang around the area of your hotel, no matter where you stay. Take taxis or the subway (if they are working) anywhere and have a blast!
Have fun!
MTW= Midtown west?
The hottest clubs are now in west 20s I think. For smaller ';lounge'; type of clubs, head for Soho or Chinatown.
Hi
I have heard about a guy who runs cab tours of the city - known as the Gabby Cabby - http://gabby.com/fun/
has anyone used this service/think it%26#39;s worthwhile? It seems a little pricey - but we only have 3 days in NYC - might it be a good way to see a lot?
I appreciate any help!
The Gabby Cabby?Did you hear of him from the Chris Moyles show? He sounded quite good on there - looking at the web tho it seems very very expensive esp if there%26#39;s only two of you and I wonder how much time in the areas you spend cause it seems you do a lot in the 10 to 6 time slot. I%26#39;d be interested to see if anyone on here has actually used him but personally I wouldn%26#39;t pay that much for the tour myself.
The Gabby Cabby?yes I heard about him on Chris Moyles show. It works out about 拢135 each for the two of us with the current exchange rate. First time at New York and have lots we want to get to.
I definately think your 拢270 could be better spent. If you want to see area%26#39;s such as the Bronx, Harlem then I suggest City Walks which are little cards with walks on them - you can get them on Amazon for about 拢8. If you aren%26#39;t bothered about seeing those places then get a good guide book (DK New York - I think that%26#39;s what it%26#39;s called - seems the fav on here but I use the Time Out Guide).
Ok - I%26#39;ve just noticed you%26#39;re only there for 3 days......have you thought about the hop on hop off buses? Gray line http://www.coachusa.com/newyorksightseeing/
This maybe better value for you?
you must be psychic - was just looking at them! They might be all we need - and it looks like you can get three day passes too. will investigate further. Thanks.
My wife is going to attend a class at Redken 5th Ave. We went to Redken last April and took a tour so we are somewhat familiar with the general area. We will be staying at Hotel Roosevelt, and we are wondering how close it is to it.
Redken Gallerie is at 565 Fifth Avenue (between 46 and 47 Streets) and your hotel is on Madison Avenue and 45 Street. So it%26#39;s about a 5 minute walk.
Thanks for the help. My wife and I were wondering because see will be about 32 weeks pregnant. We may have to take a 2 min cab ride every morning. :)
Hey folks,
I%26#39;m coming to NYC from DC in mid-Feb to see a concert at Irving Plaza (near Union Square). Can anyone recommend a cheap, decent place to sleep nearby? Ideally I would like something within walking distance.
I%26#39;m okay with B%26amp;Bs and shared bathrooms.
Would prefer to keep it under $150 for the night. I%26#39;ve already looked into the Union Square Inn, but its reviews are not so good.
Thanks!
Try 2nd Home on 2nd Avenue.
tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60763-d121992-鈥?/a>
Thanks NYCgirl - Looks like a great place, and I was all ready to book with them when I saw they have a two-night minimum. I really want to stay only one night. Any other ideas???
hotel 17 on east 17th street. shared bathrooms but very clean. good rates. we had no problems when we stayed there.
There aren%26#39;t a lot of other choices right nearby. The Chelsea Lodge gets pretty good reviews but it%26#39;s not as close. You could try staying in an apartment near there. Don%26#39;t know your budget but here%26#39;s a place on listed on newyork.craigslist.
newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/vac/117490238.html
Hello:
My wife and I will be staying at the Michelangelo Hotel next week and we are looking for good places to eat in the area. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I understand there are a lot of really good pricy places and we will go to a couple of those, but we are looking for some more casual places to go as well. Thanks!
I work on the next block, and love the lunch selections at Pranzo, on W. 51st St. between 6th-7th Aves. (just around the block from the Michelangelo). The place doesn%26#39;t look like much, but they%26#39;ve got a great selection of sandwiches, hot and cold salad bars, soup, and much more. Also on that block is the British chain Pret A Manger, which has organic salads and sandwiches. On the other side of the street a little ways down is the popular chain restaurant Au Bon Pain, which also has good soups, salads, sandwiches, and very good pastries as well.
You%26#39;re also right near Rockefeller Center. Make your way down to the Concourse Level which has lots of take-out choices, and you%26#39;ll find plenty of free seating just opposite the skating rink.
Have a great trip!
Maria Pia for Italian
www.mariapianyc.com
La Bonne Soupe
http://labonnesoupe.com/about.php
Bluechili for Asian fusion/sushi
www.bluechilinyc.com
Pricey - but Ruth%26#39;s Chris is just next door and is brilliant.
We were there a couple of weeks ago, gawd how we enjoyed the Michelangelo.
Sort of a divey breakfast place is Edison Cafe, in the Edison hotel, near 47th %26amp; broadway. Classic coffee shop diner w/ waffles, omelettes etc. If you like coffee %26amp; pastries (like me!), I%26#39;m a big fan of Au Bon Pain. I just wish I knew how to pronounce it !
Have a great trip.
LarrryD, that%26#39;s ok, since you folks don%26#39;t know how to pronounce Houston Street, either!! {:oP
p.s., it is ';oh bahn pan';.
QB I do too know !
If you%26#39;re in Texas its ';yooston';.
If you%26#39;re in NYC its ';howston';. So there !!
But thanks for the pronounciation of ABP. You have no idea how that has bugged me... So next ?, what does it mean ? Gonna guess here, ';of good somethingorother';.
Best, LD
Actually, it%26#39;s French and I would pronounce it something like ';O bone panne'; skimming over the end of the bone %26amp; panne. It means the place of good bread. ;)
It is french and means Good Bread. All of your pronunciation attempts leave much to be desired. I won%26#39;t even attempt to write it b/c it is difficult to duplicate the french ';twang'; that is required to pronounce it correctly. I%26#39;ll check the place out when I get there though. Thanks!
Hi,
Can anyone tell me good/cheap/not too expensive eateries near 51st and Lexington. Nothing too fancy just steaks, burgers etc. I have looked at menupages which is great but having never been to New York before some advice frim real people would be fab.
Thanks
For decent burgers, etc - Connolley%26#39;s on 47th between 3rd and Lexington has good pub fare that is reasonably priced. Great beer too.
PJ Clarke%26#39;s on 55 st %26amp; 3rd has is a historic saloon. Their downstairs room in very casual and has very good burgers. There%26#39;s a huge bar in front that feels very pubby.
People have said Houston%26#39;s (part of a chain) inside the Citicorp building at 53 st %26amp; 3rd has good food.
www.menupages.com/restaurantDetails.asp鈥?/a>
Wollensky%26#39;s Grill isn%26#39;t cheap, but good value for tasty steak.
Metropolitan Cafe on 1st ave %26amp; 53-54 st. is a bit of a walk from Lex., but a good neighborhood place.
Bill%26#39;s Gay Nineties is not really cheap, but very casual, warm place for good basic food. 54 st b/w Madison %26amp; Park.
If you like mussels, go to Jubilee on 54 b/w 1st %26amp; 2nd.
Thank you, nywhiz for the info re fireworks ~Statue of Liberty and South Street Seaport
Thank you nywhizYou%26#39;re welcome! Hope you%26#39;ll report back after the event.
Any suggestions for the best place to have breakfast near the sofitel hotel?
On the same block as the Sofitel is a coffee shop called the Red Flame. It%26#39;s nothing fancy to be sure but it%26#39;s open early and has good, relatively inexpensive decent food all day. Around the corner on 6th ave. %26amp; 45 st is a serve yourself place with rolls etc. if you don%26#39;t want a full breakfast.
Start spreading the News…..we are back from New York!
Holiday Greetings to all of you, we wanted to share our New York Trip with each of you. It was wonderful, absolutely one of the most fun vacations we’ve ever had. We left Denver Thursday Morning, had a bit of a last minute change of plans/planes, but we arrived safe and sound at 5:30 Thursday. We hailed a cab and got a wonderful cab driver who gave us a tour on the way to the hotel. It took about an hour due to rush hour traffic, but it wasn’t nearly the “white knuckle” cab ride we were anticipating (that was to come later). We arrived at our Hotel the Red Roof Inn, in Mid-town Manhattan about 7pm. GREAT location for us on 32nd and 5th. We had a room on the third floor facing the street and right next to the elevators, which concerned me a bit, as I am a very light sleeper, but the room was very quiet and we had no complaints, in fact, quite the opposite. Out our bedroom window, we could see the Empire State Building all the way to the green top, which was very cool. We immediately took off on foot down 32nd to Broadway, every street vendor we passed, we sampled. The first one had fresh roasted Almonds. As we walked away from the vendor, he called out to us, telling us we over-paid him and handing us back money. What a great start to our trip and it only got better! Our second vendor stop was to sample a hot Pretzel. When they say pretzels (and bagels for that matter) are different in New York, boy are they right. So chewy and full of flavor, nothing like the stale ones we eat here, lol. We made our way to Times Square, the billboards are even bigger than they appear on TV. It wasn’t too crowded and we spent time window shopping and looking at the Christmas window displays at the Department stores. We didn’t do any shopping, neither one of us are the shopping type and personally I avoid department stores at all costs. About then our tummies began to growl and we had spotted an Italian Restaurant while walking up Broadway so we circled back. Oh-my is all I can say, it was probably one of the best dinners I’ve ever had. If you ever get the chance to eat at Angelo’s in Manhattan, don’t pass it up. Matt had penne pasta with sweet sausage and a garlic white wine sauce. The sausage literally got better with every passing second. I had the Gnocchi special and it was the first time I’ve ever had Gnocchi served in a cheesecake type manner, cute in pie slices. It was so light and fluffy it melted in your mouth, it was incredible. It was only after dinner that we Matt reminded me that we had seen Rachel Ray (of Food Network) recommend this very restaurant. So after our refueling stop, we headed to Rockefeller Center. Saw the huge Christmas Tree, skating ring and got some cool photos of the lights. We sampled some roasted chestnuts as well. It wasn’t crowded at all, in fact we went back several times and it was never really crowded even on the weekend. It was fun to spend time around the Center, it was exactly how we’d imagined it. We headed back to the hotel around 1am after stopping at Sweets for a Cannoli and Peanut Butter tart. The next morning, was a bit snowy and cold, well they called it cold (we had just left –20 degrees in Denver, so anything above zero was warm to us). We took off to the Chelsea Market area via cab. Had breakfast there and did a bit of shopping. While it was fun and we are glad we saw it that was the one destination that didn’t knock our socks off. I love food shops and what not and maybe it’s because we’ve both lived in Southern California which has it’s share of gourmet food stores and what not, but it just wasn’t as impressing as we expected. Still we had a great fresh Croissant breakfast and enjoyed our time there. We jumped back in the cab and headed to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. I think it was a good think we were headed to church, as we said Hail Mary’s the entire taxi ride, holy cow, was that an “E” ticket. Our Taxi cab driver was sure he was in the Indy 500! Beautiful is an understatement, we were able to stay and attend Mass there and did some shopping and it was one of the highlights for me. From there we walked to Rockefeller Center and back to Broadway in Times Square, had a great Pizza lunch, I’ve decided that the Mozzarella and fresh Ricotta pizza is my all time favorite flavor. We did some shopping, got some great glass ornaments and headed back to the hotel to get dressed up for the Theatre. That night (Friday) we saw the Rockettes. They were fantastic, with a live Nativity scene at the end complete with Camels, donkeys and sheep. The previous night we had spotted two places that looked interesting, the Top of the Rock observation deck was one, it’s a 70 Story high building with a 3 tiered deck on 65th, at the same time we also spotted a new restaurant it’s on the 65th floor of the same building, with sweeping views. We decided on the restaurant, but they didn’t have any open tables, so instead we went up for drinks only, Matt has his first Martini. We figured when it NYC, you have to have a Martini. His second drink was the house specialty, we asked the bar tender what he suggested and although I don’t remember the name of the drink, it tasted a lot like a Pina Colada. But best of all, he gave Matt the drink for free. I am telling you, the people in New York are so nice and helpful, it’s unreal, even the cab drivers were helpful and courteous. We left there and walked back towards Time’s Square and ended up eating dinner at Maxie’s Restaurant. We had Calamari as an appetizer and Matt ordered Shrimp Parmesan as an entrée and I had a pastrami sandwich (yes I really did eat it too, well okay only 1/3 of it, it was huge!). Both were good, but HUGE servings. We headed back to the hotel, singing. Yes, we really were singing New York New York on the walk to the hotel). Saturday morning (we had done all this in less than 36 hours) we headed to the Empire State Building, we were lucky as it was almost across the street from our hotel. We had no line and almost walked right in. It was a bit of a hazy day, but still the views are unreal from all sides. After that we left for Grand Central Station. Stopped for Breakfast at the Grand Central Café, had great waffles and French Toast and then we strolled through Grand Central Station. What a huge place with fancy shops, oh my. On a spontaneous note we jumped on the subway and headed towards Central park. Well we “thought” we were headed towards Central park, we had the right train number headed the wrong direction. So after an hour detour, we jumped off, got on the right train and landed at 59th in the lower level of Bloomingdales. It was Department store jail, we were stuck in the Armani section of the store and could not find the street, I am not kidding you, we were something like 4 stories below the street, it was awful, lol…..thankfully we made it to fresh air and were able to escape. (have I mentioned that I truly dislike department stores, lol). We then headed to Central Park. Where we made my childhood dream come true we took a carriage ride through Central park in the Winter. It was great! Our driver pointed out all the attractions and steered us to the Boathouse for lunch. We had Crab Cakes and Seafood soup for lunch and then did some photo taking and strolled though the park. It was beautiful, not crowded at all. We hailed a cab and went back to the room to change. Later that night (still Saturday) we headed to Greenwich Village. Originally Planned on dining at Mario Batagoli’s restaurant, but the 2 hour wait was too much, so we ended up snacking on Sushi. We had read about a club called Zinc and as we were walking down the street, Matt happened to catch the people behind us talking about it, so we got directions and after dinner headed there. Saw a really good Brazilian Group (Mariani) and enjoyed a very quaint club. Then around 11:30 we headed to Terra Blues Club and listened to the live Blues of the SaRon Censhaw Blues Band. WOW, is all I can say, they are great, one of the best blue’s bands I’ve ever heard. Matt tracked down the lead singer and had him sign a CD for me. We drug ourselves out of there around 1am and tracked down a local pizza place for a snack. Greenwich has the college town feel, but we both felt very at home and again the people were wonderful. We crawled back to the hotel about 2 am. Sunday morning we rose bright and early to get to the Statue of Liberty before the crowds. Took the Ferry to the Island and spent the morning at the Statue and at Ellis Island. You can’t go to the top of the Statue since 911 however, the tour is still very moving and just being there and learning the history is touching. The view towards the city minus the twin towers is un-nerving at best, the skyline is so changed, it’s spooky. We stopped at Ellis Island on the way back and spent a bit of time there before heading back to the city. After we hit land, we made a stop at Wall Street, course Wall street and the Stock Exchange on Sunday isn’t all that bustling, lol, but it was fun to see it. From there we hailed a taxi through china town and stopped in little Italy. Had a great lunch at Café Sorrento (another Rachel Ray suggestion). I had an exquisite Chicken Sorentina and Matt had Chicken Parmesan. From there we toured Little Italy, ending up at La Bella Ferrara Pastry shop. Let me tell ya, there is a reason the line was literally out the door and down the street, there had to have been over 75 types of goodies and they were all good (we should know we got about a dozen to try). Matt tried Gelato for the first time and we both enjoyed sharing that on the way back. We hailed a cab back to the hotel, changed and went to see the theatre show Rent. Great show and there isn’t a bad seat in the house. After that we wanted to do one last nice dinner and we ended up at St. Andrews, the only Scottish Restaurant in Times Square. We had the Theatre Special, appetizer of fried Oysters, Salads, Matt had the Honey Thistle Chicken and I had the Rib Eye (yes, I actually ordered steak) with Chocolate ice cream and Crème Brulee for dessert. We spent our last few hours walking around the city. We literally walked 10-13 miles each day, but for us it was great, we could stop and eat, shop, gawk, etc., and never met a person who wasn’t helpful or nice. We ended up back at the hotel at about 2am Sunday and crashed, as we had to be up at 5am to head back to the airport L. We were both sad to leave and both of us agree, we could live in Manhattan quite easily. Great “vibe”, tons of things to do and just a great feeling. Needless to say we can’t wait to go back.
Okay, a few of you asked for some tips and suggestions from our trip. So here goes:
1.Hotel, if you don’t mind walking a few miles each day, we were very pleased with the Red Roof Inn on 32nd. Quiet, very larger room including desk, chair, king sized beds, full bathroom, gym, restaurant and bar for a very reasonable price. One note, the concierge isn’t all the helpful and it’s in the middle of mostly Korean restaurants. But literally one block away starts a wide variety of restaurants, not to mention that you are across from the Empire State Building.
2.Food, snack, snack, snack, most things are Mammoth (or should I say New York sized) and could be shared, we enjoyed sampling lots of foods, so stuck to smaller more frequent meals. Don’t be shy about asking for house specialties, we did that and not only got great meals, but free drinks as well. We found that most New Yorkers really want to share their city and food with you and are very willing to share. Value wise, we didn’t spend even half as much money on food as we anticipated, granted there are pricey places, but we didn’t encounter any break the bank at $100 a plate restaurants (although I am sure they are out there). And be sure to go to Angelo’s!
3.Rainbow room, skip the deck, prepare to pay $20 a drink, but go! It’s classy, swank, yet has very generous bartenders. The view and ambiance is nothing but first class, do be sure to dress up, coats are required.
4.Taxis add up, so bring comfy shoes or boots, like I did. If you pace yourself and don’t mind walking, you’ll save tons of money. And from our location we could hit Rockefeller Center, Times Square, St. Patrick’s, Central Park South, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden and Grand Central Station without needing a cab. It’s really something to consider, as I don’t think you can even go 3 blocks in a cab without it being $10 or more.
5.Ask for suggestions, be it for food, locations, shopping, tickets, etc., we never encountered anyone who didn’t want to help and nothing beats a native for advice.
Enjoy, Jen
Jen - you did loads and it all sounds fab (well apart from the stuck Armani bit lol!) :)
Can I suggest you copy and paste this trip report into the New York City Forum as that%26#39;s where most people go to have a look at these :)
Louise
Jen, although I live in NJ now I grew up in a borough of NYC called Queens and as a kid always found the city exciting. I couldn%26#39;t wait to get my first job there and until about 5 yrs ago had worked in Manhattan since I was 16. I spent close to 20+ yrs going to NYC eveyday, and then looked forward to spending weekends partying in the city. Your description of a short vacation in the city was fabulous and so true. I am amazed at how many people I meet in my NJ neighborhood which is about 30 miles SW of the city who have never been there. I always tell them you don%26#39;t know what you are missing. I remember my first time walking thru Times Sq as a kid, and those billboards even back then in the 60%26#39;s were incredible. Today, whenever I%26#39;m in the city I still make a point to walk thru that area. Your description of the Cathedral, and the Rainbow room in Rockerfeller Ctr was on the mark. Glad you enjoyed your visit and cab rides. Next time take the Lex Ave #4, or 5 subway train downtown from Grand Central to City Hall for a real ride of a lifetime. Local paper once described the ride as similiar to bull riding. Or ride the #7 train from Grand Central, elevated out toward Flushing Shea Stadium and back. The Staten Island ferry is a great r/t ride for less then a $1. Walking thru the upper east side area (61st-72st east of 5th ave) of brownstones and townhouse gives a glimpse of some spectacular homes/decorating, and galleries. Further up along 2nd or 3rd ave are the singles bar scenes popular from the show S_x in the City. In the East Village Thompson/McDougal St area is always alive in the evening and allows for bar/club (jazz/rock) hopping door to door. Next time try the off-off Bdwy shows, much cheaper, closer seats, and can be very enjoyable. West Village more serene. Great walking park from Southern tip north along west side along Hudson river. I%26#39;ve made sure my kids get into the city every yr to enjoy what it has to offer. Your post brought back some great memories from the past 40yrs
Thanks again for all of your help/suggestions. We had a great time! Sunday, we took the train in from Westport and arrived at GCS around 3PM. We caught a cab to the Park South (28th %26amp; Park).
The Park South Hotel: The front desk staff was pleasant. We got a free upgrade to what would be considered an average-sized room in other cities. It was clean, nicely decorated, and comfortable. The beds were really hard, but not terrible. We rested for a while, then changed to head out for a very early dinner...
Chef 28 was a quick walk from the hotel. The value, service and food were all excellent. The dumplings, in particular, were outstanding. We enjoyed the meal, instead of rushing, and had time to spare to catch a cab to the New Amsterdam.
What a gorgeous theater! The seats were pretty uncomfortable for my husband and myself, but the show was amazing. My daughter, almost 6, was enthralled.
Monday morning, we woke around 7:30, got dressed, and walked over to Penelope. The service was great (no one else was there at 8), the coffee was terrible, and the food was pretty good. The menu was very limited. I didn%26#39;t want to pay $8 for an adult sized breakfast for my daughter, but we weren%26#39;t given any other options. The atmosphere was nice, very soothing.
Later while hubby was off to work, my daughter and I took a cab up to central park zoo. We spent about 1.5 hours visiting the animals, then had lunch at the Leaping Frog cafe. Not a great value, but convenient.
After admiring the horses waiting curbside with their cozy-looking carriages, we walked over to FAO. We walked around and looked at everything. It was extremely crowded, but fun. Oddly enough, as soon as my daughter had chosen a toy, she wanted out of there.
We walked down 5th and checked out some of the stores/windows there. We continued down to Rockefeller and watched the skaters for a while. We went down to the concourse and has some cocoa and a snack before catching a cab back to the hotel and taking a nap.
That night we met friends at Cowgirl. This place was pretty cool. Great decor, decent service, and the food was good. Hubby had ribs, I had fried chicken, daughter had mac and cheese. The ';baked potato'; dessert was so realistic, daughter refused to eat it until someone else had a taste.
We caught a cab back to the hotel and hit the hay.
Tuesday morning, we tried the hotel%26#39;s free continental breakfast. While I would get sick of it after a couple days, it was great! Lots of fresh, tasty bagels and pastries. Coffee was excellent. Free doesn%26#39;t hurt, either.
Daughter and I headed back up to the room to watch a movie and chill out until check-out. I checked my bags at the front desk, and we headed over to the ESB. We ate lunch at the Heartland Brewery, just because it%26#39;s there. The food was poor. The service was marginal.
After a long wait, we caught a cab down to the theater (Loews Kips%26#39; Bay). The customer service there was awful. Cashier barely looked at me and didn%26#39;t let me know where the theater was until I asked (twice). The concessions guy was asleep and slow to wake. We saw The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe (which was great!)
We walked back to the hotel to meet hubby and a friend at The Black Duck, the hotel restaurant. The service was wonderful, the food was very good, and the value was good. We shared fried oysters, a hamburger with fingerling potatoes, a shrimp and pasta dish, and the chicken tortilla soup.
After the meal, we picked up our bags and took a cab to Grand Central and headed back to CT.
Overall, it was a great trip. I think I did more walking that I should have, but it%26#39;s hard being back in NYC and ';taking it easy';.
My husband, who is a native of Los Angeles and not a fan of New York to say the least, finally had a chance to experience the city on his own. I think just the experience of walking around and feeling the rhythm of the city really changed the way he feels. He is looking forward to our next trip.
I grew up in Westchester and spent a lot of time in NYC as a kid/teenager. I consider it my home in a lot of ways, so for my husband to finally ';get it'; gave me great joy. I think my daughter gets it, too. Seeing a spunky 6 year old trying to hail a cab for her tired mommy is a thing of beauty.
I%26#39;d love to have seen that baked potato dessert too. Seems like you and your daughter had a good time together just enjoying the city, a good way to do it.
Nice report :) I%26#39;m assuming the baked potato desert looks like a potato? But what is it really?
Terrific! Thanks for the report and great restaurant reviews. I think you should enter them in menupages or citysearch. Very useful.
www.menupages.com
www.newyork.citysearch.com
Glad you had the ';baked potato dessert';. That keeps me going back to Cowgirl.
It is an oval mound of vanilla ice cream coated in brown cocoa powder, topped with a dollop of whipped cream ';sour cream'; and yellow icing ';butter';. It is split open a little lengthwise, and served in aluminum foil.
The image of your girl hailing a cab for you is adorable!
Okay here are my plans for this weekend. I know I crammed a lot in, but had to. Any input appreciated.
Friday evening: Arrive at Penn Station, should I take a taxi or subway to my hotel (the Roger Smith)? Would like to check out Rockefeller Center, Times Square and Xmas store front windows. Which should I hit first? Walk or taxi? Safe area for 2 women to walk to Rockafellar Center (said to be 8 block from hotel)?
Saturday: Meet at Times Sqaure for NYC Party Shuttle Tour. Done at 2pm. Nothing planned until 9pm dinner at Balthazar. Any suggestions?
Sunday: Checkout Chinatown and Century 21. Any other suggestions?
Saturday, if the weather is good I would recommend a visit to Central Park.
In terms of other suggestions, what are you interested in? Museums? More shopping?
Oh, I am up for anything. I want the true NYC experience. I am interested in more of the attractions (sights, sounds, etc.), my travel partner probably more the shopping :)
The tour ends at Times Square, so we will just start from there.
What does the weather forecast for this weekend look like?
How long does it normally take to walk 8 blocks? Is it considered safe from the Roger Smith?
It takes about 10 minutes to walk 8 blocks and it is safe anywhere that you mentioned.
The weather for this weekend looks pretty good. Friday will be wet and cold. If you can get a cab at Penn Station, take it. If you can%26#39;t find one (it can be tougher in bad weather), you can take the 1 train from Penn Station one block north to Times Square, take the S train (shuttle) to Grand Central. Your hotel is a few blocks from Grand Central.
Before you leave, check www.weather.com for the latest weather report.
Other ideas, if you can pry your friend away from the shops: on Sunday you%26#39;ll be downtown. You could walk across the Brooklyn Bridge (or take the train over, explore, and walk back). Do a search on these boards for people%26#39;s expereince with that--it%26#39;s a lot of fun. Or, from Chinatown you can wander up to SoHo for some good shopping, snacking, and people-watching.
Thanks for all the help... if it is raining Friday night you have any indoor suggestions?
Your hotel appears to be on Lexington %26amp; 47 st. Depends on what time you arrive at Penn STation. It may be hard to find a taxi. You could take the E train uptown and get out at Lexington %26amp; 51 st and then walk a few short blocks. Times Square %26amp; Rockefeller Center are both on the way from Penn STation to your hotel. Assuming you%26#39;ve got luggage, get to the hotel, drop luggage and then decide. Grand Central Station is near your hotel and has a big Xmas market. I wouldn%26#39;t bother with Times Square on Fri since you%26#39;ll be there on Sat. for the tour. It%26#39;s out of your way. Just concentrate on Rock. Ctr and the windows on Fifth ave.
What about a show? Maybe a matinee on Sunday? I don%26#39;t think you%26#39;ll get to do everything you plan on Fri. so Sat. after the tour, you can explore Times Square. If you don%26#39;t go to a show on Sunday, check out Soho, not far from Chinatown.
The problem with getting a taxi is that you need to head uptown and east, and unless you use the Eighth Avenue taxi stand, the cab will be heading downtown or west when you come out of Penn Station. If it is nasty weather, take a cab -- but if it is fine, go to the Eighth Avenue side of the building and take the uptown-and Queens E train (on the local platform against the wall) to Lexington, and then walk down Lexington Avenue from 53rd Street to 48th Street where the hotel is.
All of midtown Manhattan is a safe area for a woman to walk -- New York has considerably less crime per capita than Oklahoma City does, so statistically you will be much safer while you are here than you are at home.
Regarding giving distances in ';blocks'; - street blocks (e.g., 47th to 48th Streets) are about one-third the distance of avenue blocks (e.g., Fifth to Sixth), so sacying something is ';eight blocks'; can mean a distance of less than half a mile, to a mile and a quarter, depending upon which blocks you mean.
The Roger Smith is on the east side of Lexington Avenue. To get to Rockefeller Center from the hotel, go to the corner of 48th and Lexington and cross the street. One relatively short avenue block will take you to Park Avenue (look left as you cross for the fine view of the Helmsley building, with the Met Life building behind it; Grand Central is on the other side of the Met Life building.) One more block will take you to Madison Avenue, which you also cross. On more block takes you to Fifth Avenue - turn right. One block north brings you to 49th Street, and Sak%26#39;s Fifth Avenue. On the block north of Sak%26#39;s is St. Pat%26#39;s, and across the Avenue from Sak%26#39;s and the cathedral is Rockefeller Center.
To get to Times Square from your hotel, walk south on Lexington to Grand Central Terminal. In Grand Central, follow the signs to the subway, where you can take either the #7 train two stops to Times Square, or the S shuttle train one stop to Times Square.
Of course, if the Transit workers go on strike Friday morning, all subway directions should be disregarded!
Thank you, Thank you,Thank you! I would be lost with out you guys!
It is amazing what you can cram in!!! We went for three days and did it the following way - extremely tiring but well worth it!!
It was late when we arrived so we dumped our bags on day one at the hotel and went straight up the Empire State Building. We had a meal and some drinks at a nice Steak Place. Day two we renewed our wedding vows on the Staten Island ferry, saw the Statue of Liberty, went to Ground Zero and the Business District. Took a subway back to 34th Street, did Macy%26#39;s and other shops. We then walked to Times Square, had an evening meal in %26#39;The View%26#39; restuarant which slowly rotates as you eat and is on the 48th floor. Day three we walked to Central Park and had a buggy ride (it was snowy and gorgeous!) We walked to the United Nations, to Grand Central Station and down fifth avenue. We went to Radio City and the Rockefeller Centre and ice-skated. Did some shopping, ate in various cafes, went to see a movie etc. That night we flew home. Wow amazing!!!
It is amazing what you can cram in!!! We went for three days and did it the following way - extremely tiring but well worth it!!
It was late when we arrived so we dumped our bags on day one at the hotel and went straight up the Empire State Building. We had a meal and some drinks at a nice Steak Place. Day two we renewed our wedding vows on the Staten Island ferry, saw the Statue of Liberty, went to Ground Zero and the Business District. Took a subway back to 34th Street, did Macy%26#39;s and other shops. We then walked to Times Square, had an evening meal in %26#39;The View%26#39; restuarant which slowly rotates as you eat and is on the 48th floor. Day three we walked to Central Park and had a buggy ride (it was snowy and gorgeous!) We walked to the United Nations, to Grand Central Station and down fifth avenue. We went to Radio City and the Rockefeller Centre and ice-skated. Did some shopping, ate in various cafes, went to see a movie etc. That night we flew home. Wow amazing!!!
considering getting a car from Tel-Aviv limo service, are they reputable or will they rip us off when we get to the hotel (using it to get from Newark to 7th ave manhattan)? If a get tickets to TOTR online, do you have to wait in line to go up there or can we go on up? if there is a line about how long will we have to wait? prettiest time to go- sunset or nightime? If i order tickets for the Statue of Liberty online, is there a long line to board the boat? If so about how long? Best time to go for the shortest wait? How long does the trip take including the ride to and from on the boat and the tour of the Statue? Do you have to go to Ellis Island or can you just go to Liberty Island? Would it be possible to see Liberty, Ground Zero, Wall Street, China Town in a day without being down there until dusk? oh, we will be in NY Dec. 19th (arrive approx to Manhattan @ 11:30a.m., and leave Dec. 22). I am having a hard time planning an itenerary, because i don%26#39;t know how long it will take to get around and what we can walk to or not, any help is appreciated! How do I need to plan to get to Battery Park from the hotel on 7th Ave, subway or cab? if subway which one and where do we get on? what can we walk to in the area of ground zero, china town, wall street, battery park? I read somewhere that you need to ride in the car with the person that drives the train (sorry i can%26#39;t remember what they are called...lol), because it is safer, true or not? Also read that you don%26#39;t need to make eye contact with people, why? got this info from one of the ny sites here under a heading of saftey. I need to reserve a car today, so am anxious to find out about Tel aviv, don%26#39;t want to use them if alot of people have had trouble. thanks alot
help with general questionsTel-Aviv get good ratings on here as to carmel
From what I understand TOTR isn%26#39;t overly busy so I would imagine the queues if any are minor
Go at sunset stay til dark - only takes half an hour and you%26#39;ll want to be up there longer than that
Can%26#39;t help with Statue of Liberty questions
Yes possible to see all before dusk (although it%26#39;s perfectly safe to be there after dark)
To get to South Ferry you need to be in the first 5 carriages of the subway train - this is nothing to do with safety it%26#39;s just the station isn%26#39;t long enough to take the whole train.
Don%26#39;t make eye contact - well I%26#39;ve never heard that before and I%26#39;ve survived :)
New York is one of the safest cities these days in the US - you sound very stressed about things - take a deep breath, everything will be fine and you%26#39;ll be perfectly safe :)
Have a great trip
help with general questionsSorry I don%26#39;t have answers but similar concerns. I booked Carmel to take us from LaGuardia to Times Square. Are they ok? Also is there any news on the impending strike? We will be arriving next Monday and that could really jack with our trip. Thanks!
take the subway to battery park - the 1 or 9 - it%26#39;s cheaper than a taxi :)
Don%26#39;t know where you are staying on 7th but there are subway stops all down it 53rd, 42nd, 34th, 23rd etc
Carmel are fine too - if you do a search in the top right box for carmel or tel-aviv you will get all previous posts about them - they are recommended by the NY experts on here.
Don%26#39;t know anything about the strike - sorry.
I%26#39;m a native, and I make eye contact all the time. Don%26#39;t believe the rumors, you%26#39;ll find us pretty friendly.
I went to the Top of the Rock last night, it was fantastic. Three levels -- one indoors, the next outside with glass or plexi wind screens (but enough room between them to take unobstructed photos), and the top which is completely exposed. The views are gorgeous, the people are very friendly (much different from the Empire State Bldg.), and the wait is minimal. They%26#39;ll take your photo and offer to sell it to you later, but you can refuse if you like (I did).
It%26#39;s very cold up there!
Do a search for the buy one-get one free coupon on this forum.
Both Carmel and Tel-Aviv are fine. You have a price from JFK when you booked add on $4.50 bridge toll and about a $6.50 tip and that%26#39;s what you should pay.
Hi, wow lots of questions!
I have read of many people using Tel Aviv and other services--notmany problems. We used Carmel on the way back to airport and had a very nice new sedan. Much nicer than the ratty taxi we had on the way into Manhattan. I don%26#39;t think you%26#39;ll have a problem.
You do have to reserve online for SOL/Ellis to make sure you get on. The best thing to do is go at the earliest time(8 or 9 or something like that). We did that and had a very short wait. You can just go to Ellis--don%26#39;t have to get off at SOL--or vice versa. The ferry will stop at both but you can get off where you please. Ellis is the more interesting though. If you just want to see the Statue, I%26#39;d ride the Staten Island Ferry which is free instead of paying for the official ferry ticket.
When we we went we took the first ferry to SOL and then also got off to see Ellis. Then wlaked to WTC site, visited St.Paul%26#39;s Chapel(must do after WTC!), walked through Chinatown, and then had lunch at lobardi%26#39;s in little Italy(GREAT pizza!!!. Did all this by 2:30 pm. So yes, you could do all you mentioned before dusk. Best way we found was to walk around in lower Manhattan. We took subway from Upper Westside to Battery Park(1 or 9 train) and thne walked after that. You will be tired afterwards.
Subways were very safe--no need to ride with conductor. We never did. Even late at night. I have only heard to avoid the homeless who come through begging. We thought some of them were a bit aggressive in manner but none were threatening or seemed truly dangerous. Just would avoid engaging them. Other than that, I looked at lots of people and smiled. Most were friendly in return!
Hope all this helps!
Tessie
FYI - there is no more 9 train, so don%26#39;t bother looking for one. It%26#39;s only the 1 train now - making all stops. If you take the 1 down to South Ferry, please be in the first 5 cars (in front of the conductor). There are red signs posted overhead at most of the major stations telling you which way to go so you%26#39;ll be in the first 5 cars. If you%26#39;re in the back of the train, you%26#39;ll get stuck looping around %26amp; having to go back to Chambers to wait for another 1 train going to South Ferry.
The subway is safe, fast, inexpensive, and reasonably easy to use (do it once and you will have the hang of it...)
Most trains in Manhattan travel north/south along a particular avenue, and this is what the colors on the map mean: for example, trains with a blue symbol travel, when in Manhattan, along Eighth Avenue. (By the way, don%26#39;t call the trains by the colors, because once they leave the middle of Manhattan they go all over the place -- unlike other cities, there is not just one ';red line'; or one ';blue line';. Trains have letter or number names, such as A, R, or 4)
There are subway stations along all lines at the major cross streets, such as 42nd, 34th, or 14th. You therefore need to know not just the name of the street you want, but also the avenue -- if you just say you are going to take the train to ';42nd Street';, you are talking about FIVE different subway stops, located at Eighth, Seventh/Broadway/Times Square, Sixth, Fifth, and Park Avenues, and all on different lines.
If I remember correctly, you said you were staying at the Sheraton. The closest subway stops to that hotel are at 50th Street/Broadway, where you can catch the #1 train, and at 49th Street or 57th Street and Seventh Avenue, where you can catch the N,R, Q, and W trains. If you are going to Battery Park, you should take the #1 downtown to South Ferry, and ride in the front half of the train (South Ferry is a oddly short station). You may also take the R or the W (NOT the N or the Q) downtown to Whitehall Street.
The R, N, Q, and W all go to Canal Street, which is the station for Chinatown.
The R and W go to Cortland Street, and the 1 goes to Chambers, all of which are near the World Trade Center.
The R, W, and 1 go to Rector Street, which is near Wall Street.
There is no need to ride with the conductor (in the center car - you will see him poke his head out the window at the station to close the doors) for safety, but if it makes you feel more secure you can.
If you ride in the first car, you will not be able to talk to the motorman, but on certain lines you can look out the front window and see what he sees -- which the kids will find fun.
You will probably want to get unlimited use MetroCards from the vending machines in the station, near the change booth. You then swipe these magnetic cards in the turnstile to enter -- all children taller than the turnstile need to pay separate fares.
Here is the Transit Authority%26#39;s page that tells you all you need to know about riding the subway:
http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/subway/
LOL..a lot of questions for 1 post! Have you been using the search forum above to read previously posted comments on most of these questions%26gt;? Also, read other peoples trip reposts for help with itinerary. Don%26#39;t get too stressed about it all. Make up a list of the things you want to see, group them by location, and go from there. Things don%26#39;t need to be so precise. If you would just do some reading up on NYC either on the internet or from some good books, I think you%26#39;d feel more comfortable.
I plan to see %26#39;Monty Python%26#39;s Spamalot%26#39; and I was wondering if anyone could tell me what people usually wear ... sport coat, suit or casual sweater? Also, any suggetions for dining near the Shubert?
Casual is fine, a sweater and slacks (don%26#39;t wear anything too heavy, it can get warm in the theatre...be able to remove layers).
What type of food do you like? Lots of places to eat around the area.
Thank you so much! As for dining, we enjoy italian in a more casual environment ...
Try Trattoria Trecolori, always recommended here and gets good reviews. 133 W 45th Street between 6th %26amp; 7th Avenues.
Johns Pizza, on W 44th Street between Broadway %26amp; 8th is another casual place, with excellent pizza and other entrees in a converted church.
Check prices, menus, hours etc. on www.menupages.com
Osteria al Doge, 44th St bet 6th and 7th
Sport coat or nice sweater with dressy pants (jeans or otherwise). Suits are ok too. Skip the puffy parka, backpack, bucket of candy, and the big white sports shoes.
I notice you are from L.A. Nothing personal, but all my friends and relatives in L.A. tend to underdress (even the former NYers succumb to the casual norms.) For example, they usually come to NYC weddings in khakis, fancy guayaba shirts and sandals- both men and women. Therefore, I would kick it up a notch, since you%26#39;re on a more casual scale overall than us. If you think you are being formal (for example, you%26#39;re wearing socks), it%26#39;s just right for NYC.
Too confuse you even more, see this post for a whole debate on the subject.
tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k354144-鈥?/a>
Have fun! ;o)
Also check out Maria Pia restaurant, by friends were there yesterday and loved it, reasonable, good food %26amp; food service.
Check it on www.menupages.com
I was in the city yesterday. The attire at the theater was whatever kept you warm.
Suits, sport coats not really - mainly sweaters and casual attire. Wear what%26#39;s comfortable, don%26#39;t worry the fashion police aren%26#39;t giving out tickets, ha ha.
Have fun.
BTW we saw Sweet Charity - fun show with one of the best orchestras I%26#39;ve heard on Broadway. Plus Christina Applegate gives an excellent performance.
Poppa
Thank you all ... the feedback is appreciated, understood and entertaining ... I promise to dress up rather than down. :)
Have finally decided to see in the New Year by going to the fireworks at Central Park. Where is the best place to view them, is there anything else going on in the park at the same time and what time should we get there?
Also can someone suggest a good resturant near central park to have dinner first?
Thank you
I had a tough time getting dinner reservations in the area! Either the seating schedule wasn%26#39;t great -- the choices were to eat very early or too late to enjoy dinner and get out in time to see the fireworks. Or the places were priced out of my range.
I was lucky enough to get a table at Carmine%26#39;s. I%26#39;m holding a standby reservation at Scaletta. I%26#39;ve never eaten there but the reviews and menu look pretty good, and it%26#39;s only $65 per person. You might want to try there. Another option is the Boathouse Restaurant right in the park. The food is o.k. (not Great), but the service is good and the view of the fireworks is outstanding.
Anyway, you can really eat anywhere and just leave time to scoot up to the park. Enter on either side, Central Park West or 5th Ave., at 72nd Street. In the center you%26#39;ll find the stairs leading down to Bethesda Terrace, which is the best and closest place to see the fireworks.
For restaurants, take a look at both www.menupages.com and www.opentable.com.
Good luck to you, I might see you at the fireworks!
for you tripadvisor folks, thanks so much for your nyc advice.
our trip has come and gone :-( ... I wish we could have stayed. here%26#39;s some our experiences...
as soon as checked into our wonderful hotel (The Library Hotel on Madison) we got a call from the Big Apple Greeters --%26amp;gt; due to an office emergency they wouldn%26#39;t be able to meet with us. that was ok.
we definitely recommend the Library Hotel. The staff was wonderful. They were a great help with restaurant other trip suggestions. there was free food 24/7. and wine in the early evenings. it was great.
We saw all the touristy stuff... Grand Central, ESB, Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Rockefellar Center, Central Park and the holiday lights of Saks, Cartier, and Macy%26#39;s.
Definetely recommend two great restaurants:
Cabana on 3rd Ave between 60 and 61 (I think). OH MY GOODNESS -- the best latin food I%26#39;ve ever had! And the desserts were to die for! YUMMY! Gotta go to Cabana. I heard there was a larger restaurant at Seaport... missed it.
Also, recommend John%26#39;s Pizzeria in Times Square. The place itself is pretty neat. Our waiter was really nice. And the pizza was delicious.
We also saw a show: Jersey Boys. It was amazing! I just can%26#39;t say enough great things about this show. If you like the music of the Four Seasons... please, go see this AWESOME show! :-)
The Xmas Rockettes show was a bit blah. I think the best part was the end when they were doing the religous segment. I would have rather seen Jersey Boys again.
That was our nyc honeymoon. It was our first time in NY and we loved it. We loved it so much, that we really want to move there!
:-)
First of all, congratulations on your marriage and the best of luck!
Secondly, glad you enjoyed the city. It seems like you had a great time. I will second your review of Jersey Boys, just great.
Congratulations! Thanks for the trip report. Interesting that you found the Rockettes show ';blah';. Was it too childish?
Thanks!!!! We really really enjoyed our NYC honeymoon.
About the Rockettes Xmas Spectacular...
Yeah, I do think it was too childish. The show didn%26#39;t really keep my attention. Sorry to say, but we were glad when it was over...We did it b/c we figured it was a holiday must do. We%26#39;re glad we didn%26#39;t pay full price for those tix.
I%26#39;m so glad you loved Jersey Boys, it%26#39;s gotten rave reviews. I just saw it last week and was amazed by it. My friend is related to the real Bob Gaudio so it was very interesting for me to see this show.
I%26#39;m leaving this week to NYC and taking 3 nephews(ages 7, 13 and 16) and my grandson(6). Can anyone recommend a few restaurants around time square and rockefeller center which will interest them?
Ellen%26#39;s Stardust Diner with singing waiters and waitresses is always fun! Additionally, I thought the food was a great mix of American cuisine that was very tasty. Ellen%26#39;s is on 51st and Broadway.
I also recommend The Jekyll %26amp; Hyde club on 6th Ave between W. 57th and W. 58th St. Jekyll and Hyde has a monster movie theme and the food was pretty good.
Although I liked the atmosphere of Mars2112, I can%26#39;t say the food was very good, maybe we did not chose well. We got a lunch special that was very reasonable ($8). Mars 2112 is right across from Ellen%26#39;s on Broadway and 51st.
I would consider going to Madame Tussaud%26#39;s Wax Museum. I think your boys would really like it.
Around Times Square:
Mars 2112 - food ok, the kids love it - 51st %26amp; Broadway
Ellens Stardust Diner - singing waiters/ok food/fun - 50th %26amp; Broadway
Johns Pizza - great choice,can%26#39;t go wrong here - W. 44th Street between Broadway %26amp; 8th Avenues.
Virgils BBQ - good food %26amp; atmosphere - W 44 St between 6th %26amp; Broadway.
Carmines - family style, many love the food, I think it is just ok, but the kids will love it. W 44th Street between 7th %26amp; 8th Avenues.
These are not far from Rockefeller Center, would advise eating at these places than near Rock, less choice and more expensive.
Check menupages, price %26amp; locations:
www.menupages.com
If they are interested in sports, then try ESPN Zone, at 42nd St and Broadway
Two Boots! Located in the Rockefeller Center plaza.
www.twoboots.com/frames/TwoBootsMain.html
If they like pizza and po%26#39;boys, they will love Two Boots. Cuisine from the ';two boots'; - Italy and Louisiana.
Just dont forget the cold with the smaller kids.
Good point, waterford. Wrap %26#39;em up tight, tia!
Do you know when winter sales start?Is it right after Christmas day?
Thank you!
Winter SalesThere are many sales on now, but the main ones do start after Christmas Day, when the stores are a zoo!!
Happy Shopping.
Winter SalesThanks for your help.
Then I will be in the right place at the right time.
Great!
Staying at the Avalon, e32st, 3-8 January, I was wondering if anyone could recommend a bar/bars nearby, I%26#39;m thinking of first evening when I might not feel like roaming toofar. I%26#39;ve looked at midtown bars on here and know it isn%26#39;t the best area perhaps, I used to like the authentic seeming bars on 2/3rd avenue near Murray Hill when I stayed at the dorals, something un-touristy, a proper bar, or is this the impossible dream in that area?
That neighborhood used to have nothing in the immediate area. HOwever a place called PS 160 recently opened on Park b/t 30th and 31st which is pretty good and gets a nice crowd. A couple blocks down on 28th b/t Park and Madison is another popular bar called Red Sky.
I%26#39;d check out both or either.
Three days to go. Its my third trip (first for the teenagers) and I feel ok about restaurant and bar tipping (though I%26#39;m still interested in comparisons). Its the hire cars that have a fixed price from JFK of $40 + toll + tip. What should that be and is 10 - 15% a good guide for taxi tipping? Any other tipping tips?
Thanks,
Ken
10%-15% is good for taxis. If you%26#39;re feeling really generous and have an exceptional driver, maybe 20%. For restaurants, 15%-20% for a tip is proper. However, if you have really bad service, you shouldn%26#39;t feel obliged to tip that much--on the other hand, for great service, always 20%. When you get the check at the restaurant, look closely--some places add in the gratuity. For the hotel maid, leave $2-$3 dollars a day, and please leave something everyday. Sometimes people leave the tip at the end of the stay. When you do that, the maid who cleaned your room throughout your stay may not be the one who cleans it on the last day. Leave the maid%26#39;s tip either in the bathroom by the sink or some people leave it on a bed pillow. Enjoy your stay!
1. The flat rate from JFK airport to Manhattan in a LICENSED NYC yellow taxi cab is $45 + tip + tolls, if any. Get in the taxi stand line (queue) and wait for the dispatcher to assign you a cab. Let the dispatcher know if you have any special needs (large group, disability, lots of luggage, etc.) and hopefully they will try to accomodate.
All official NYC taxi are yellow, have the same license nuber on the roof light and license plate, and have a ';medallion'; (saucer-sized metal plaque) welded to the roof of their car hood. They are all metered, and you should ask for a receipt when you pay, just in case you need to track down that lost cello you left in the back seat! ;o)
2. Private livery cabs (';for-hire'; cars), limo companies, other car services, etc. charge their own rates. Check their websites for rates or call them (e.g.: www.crownlimo.com, www.carmellimo.com, etc.) to arrange for a pick-up. Or you can use the courtesy phones at the luggage carousels. If you use a car service, print out your confirmation so that the driver can%26#39;t change your fare on the fly.
3. Tipping. Usually 15 - 20% of cost of any service before any other add-ons (tax, tolls, etc.)
Search this forum for words like ';tipping'; or ';how much to tip'; or ';tipping etiquette';, and you%26#39;ll find previous discussions such as this heated debate!
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4. Never take a ride from anyone in the airport terminal/luggage carousel area who offers their taxi.
Many thanks - never would have thought about the maid. Can%26#39;t wait to look up the heated debate
Ken, the taxi from JFK is $45 plus $4.50 toll (unless you go over the 59 Street bridge which is unlikely)which comes to $49.50 and I would give the driver $57. Ken
An artist I know is having an exhibit at a New York gallery from now through January 3. I thought I would pass this info on because at this time of year weather can be iffy and it is always nice to have a few free, indoor things to do.
The artist is Judy Henderson, and she makes ceramic pieces that are really fun and whimsical. I like her work so much I commissioned her to make a special piece for my daughter, which I am giving her as a Christmas present. (A ceramic pig decorated to look like it is wearing the same dress my daughter wore to the prom...the pig even has a wrist corsage like my daughter wore...too funny.)
The tile of the exhibit is %26#39;Homage%26#39; and Judy pays tribute with one-of-a kind ceramic pieces to famous artists like Calder, Chagall, Dali, Picasso, Matisse, Miro, Haring, Warhol, Kahlo, and many more.
At the LTMH Gallery at 22 East 72nd Street.
Thanks, Voy, I%26#39;ll have to keep that in mind if I%26#39;m in that area.
Thanks for the heads up Voy. For visitors, that location is very near the Frick Museum, a fantastic small gem.
Ok,lets see... I really like the idea of the grayline double decker bus but I am coming in January and Im from CA and terribly concerned with the weather conditions. It%26#39;s going to be too cold to sit up top, isnt it? Im kind of going back and forth on it...
My plan B is to simply get a 7day metro card and map out all the things I want to see, and wing it without a tour guide. This will take plenty of research as we are first timers but Im up to it. Does anyone know of a good map online that has the attractions mapped out on it? What do you think of this idea?
I don%26#39;t know of any map that will do that, but why not try a different type of tour?
Check this website, has lots of options. The NY Party Shuttle has been highly recommended, and then you can revisit any places that interest you. I do think it will be too cold to sit on top of the buses. I did it, I know, and I live here!
http://www.nyctourist.com/sightsee_menu.htm
Thanks NYCgirl. If you were cold, I will DEFINTELY be freezing!!!
I took a look at the Party Shuttle but Im starting to think that I could save the $60 each for something else and maybe just explore the city on our own. So I think Im gonna go with the metro pass and a mapped out itinerary. What Im looking for is a map that has the attractions on it too but I cant find one :(
Try this site, they offer an itinerary service for just $25.00, and they have great ideas, also.
www.bigapplevisitorscenter.com
We went in Nov. to NYC for the first time.We just winged it the whole trip.We had a great time.We used every option:shuttles,buses,subway to travel all over the city.We walked a lot to explore more places.Before we went read 2 or 3 NYC books on New York.Also sent away for free NYC visitors guide.It%26#39;s a lot easier to get around then it seems.We crammed a lot in just 4 days-Brooklyn Bridge,Times Square,Wall St.,Diamond and Theater districts,Central Park,Ellis Island,Top of The Rock,Statue of Library,etc.Since your from the OC-if you have questions or want tips just ask.I%26#39;ll do my best to answer.
The bus tour is alwasy a great idea, you wont have to sit on top you can sit on the bottom inside. Sightseeing bus is the best in my opinion. I always send my clients and friends to Angel Tours New York, I cant find the site right now but they are good, they give a private tour service and a group service. The subway is real easy to get around, it is a good way to see the city.
I say go for Plan B and wing it!
My all-time favorite map is the Not For Tourist guide. (I just ordred one for L.A.) All their maps are printable on-line, but I highly recommend investing in one. It is a ';little black book'; that fits in a jacket pocket, and is very well-organized. Very cool looking, very low ';goofy-tourist'; factor.
http://www.notfortourists.com/newyork.aspx
Here%26#39;s a good website about using the subway to tour around:
www.mta.info/metrocard/tourism/index.html
Re: handling the cold weather:
The key is wearing layers. Cotton and thin things first, then wooly sweaters, then a coat. The sweaters don%26#39;t have to be thick. The secret is more layers to trap body heat, not thicker layers.
Heat escapes one%26#39;s body through the extremties first. Therefore, make sure ears, hands, nose and feet are warm. Wear a hat that covers your ears (not a baseball cap), golves, a scarf and decent socks and shoes, and you%26#39;ll stay warmer a lot longer. Also, wearing thin long underwear bottoms or stockings/tights/nylons under your pants will help.
If you think you%26#39;re wearing too many layers, and you get a little warm indoors, you can always remove some layers in a restroom and shove them in a bag/knapsack.
By the way, alcohol lowers core body temperature, and at the same time it suppresses your brain%26#39;s ability to notice you%26#39;re getting colder. You might feel warmer right after a glass of wine, but you%26#39;ll be colder later on. Take it easy on those hot toddys on cold nights.
For general weather information, see this website. It lists weather in degrees F or C.
www.wunderground.com
Wow! Really great ideas from all...
queensboulevard: Thanks for the all the info on layering! Being from Southern CA, we are so excited that there is a ';real'; winter in NY but are terrified of our comfort level in the cold. AT LEAST, now we will know how to dress and what to pack!!! THANK YOU!
NYCGIRL: Great site, exactly what i was looking for! thank you :)
TRENT: ABSOLUTELY ANY info/tips/advice you can give would be sooo appreciated! Any favorites?
Your plan is great, the 7 day metrocard will get you around easily. Remember most sites are in Manhattan (NEW YORK, NY means Manhattan) and the island is only 6 miles wide and 12 miles long. Check the websites of the sites you want to see and get a subway map (free at any subway station and ont the mta%26#39;s website: www.mta.info) and ask the people at your hotel for directions if needed. With just a bit of planing you can see a lot.
Al
From Trent: Relax getting around is easier then it seems.You%26#39;ll get the hang of it real quick.New Yorkers aren%26#39;t overtly friendly or chatty like here.But there really nice and very helpful.They go out of their way to help tourists. Tips:do your homework-it makes things a lot easier.Go to your local library and get a couple of NYC guide books.I got 3 and 2 were for 2006.If your library doesn%26#39;t have current ones have them transferred from another-cost 25 cents per book.If your a member of AAA go to there office and get a free NY info book.Also go to-nycvisit.com-to order The Official NYC Guide,mailed right to your house.Upon arriving in NYC go to there visitor information center at 810 Seventh Ave.at53rd. Street,just north of Times Square. You%26#39;ll get maps,tips,coupons and suggestions.We got 2 for 1 Top of The Rock coupons we used. If you get the chance go to Grand Central Station-watch the people scurry to the trains-watching at ground level is surreal.The building is marvelous-go to The Gourmet Food Market there. Walking it is neat and reminds me of markets in Europe. Stroll Times Square you can just fill the energy and excitement.It a cross between London and Las Vegas.Walking around places is very neat.Example take subway to Brooklyn then walk back to Manhatten on The Brooklyn Bridge. The view is really awesome and lives up to the hype.Stroll through the Trump Tower,go to Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty well worth it.We stumbled onto a street fair on Madison St. during the weekend-it went for blocks and blocks-near Grand Central Station.It%26#39;s like swap at the Costa Mesa fair grounds.You%26#39;ll see more if your not afraid to walk some.I could go on but I%26#39;ll let you digest the offered stuff.I hope this helps you and comes in handy.If you still want more let me know.Have a great time and enjoy the trip.
THANKS TRENT! Did you leave from John Wayne or LAX? What was that experience like????
Also, just bought the not for tourist guide that was mentioned and I LOVE IT!!!!
Thanks again for all the help everyone. Im sure I%26#39;ll have more questions later but for now I have a lot of reading and planning to do!!!
we are coming to NYC over new year and would really like to go to a traditional american diner for pancake/waffle type food.
We are staying at the Grand hyatt.
Thanks
Breakfast dinertripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k371414-鈥?/a>
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Has anyone seen Sweet Charity? If so, what do you think of it? We%26#39;ll be in NYC for 5 days during Christmas, and would love to see the show with Christina Applegate. Thanks.
I was pleasantly surprised, I enjoyed it. Was better than I had anticipated.
She is leaving the show shortly, so now would be the time to see her.
We saw this show when we were in NYC in November and thought it was fabulous. Christina did a great job and the dancers were fabulous. I would highly recommend it.
show is closing Dec 31
catch it if you want to see her
she is very charming in the show
Are you sure that it is closing? I thought that she was leaving, but that the show is continuing.
I saw Sweet Charity last Friday. It was a wonderful show and Christina Applegate was way better than expected. She in no way resembles the Kelly Bundy of the past. She carried the show well and could sing and dance like I couldn%26#39;t believe. I would highly recommend the show, it was a great way to spend the evening!
Playbill.com does report that the show is closing Dec 31/05.
Thanks for the info, you are correct.
i got two extra tickets for the show email me at rickilakefan@yahoo.com
it does close dec. 31
We saw it a couple of months ago. It was cute, nice, pleasant. Not an extravagant wow sort of musical. We enjoyed it. Wayne Knight was in it at the time and lots of people wanted his autograph afterwards at the stage door...and one elderly man passing by just went up to him and said ';I just want to shake Newman%26#39;s hand';. We discovered - at least they said so at the time - that Christina does not come out between shows, fyi. If the weather is not so hot, it may be a good opportunity to get more autographs and unposed photos if you like that stuff. You might also see if they are still selling those black t-shirts that say across the front ';Big Spender';. They are kind of fun to give to any %26#39;big spenders%26#39; in your life, flashy relatives, etc. who might have no connection to the musical whatsoever, they%26#39;re just....conspicuous consumers.
Saw her in pre-Broadway production in Chicago -- the chorus was excellent --- I%26#39;ve heard she%26#39;s improved quite a bit -- saw Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Avenue Q in November both were better than SC!
Is anyone able to tell me the best place to view the Central Park NYE fireworks? Is there a recommended time to get there for a good view?
Thanks!
I like the view from Bethesda Terrace, right next to Rose Hill, where the fireworks are detonated. You%26#39;ll find the steps leading down to the terrace mid-park along the 72nd St. road. So you can enter the park either from Central Park West or Fifth Ave.
See you there!
Thanks Bettina, hope you enjoed your trip to the UK!
I think someone wanted me to try out all my new winter ';duds'; before our trip. I actually needed to bundle up this morning to go to work. It made me realize I need better socks!
I can%26#39;t wait for my trip. Thanks to all who post here. I think my sister and I have had just as much fun planning our trip as we%26#39;ll have being there.
I saw the ice in Georgia on CNN earlier and immediately called my sister who is travelling south, fortunately she made it to Florida today. We have lots of snow up here so know what cold is all about. Enjoy your trip to New York.
The most exciting thing it the cab ride from the airport to your hotel! These guys could drive in nascar. They will take your breathe away several times during the ride.
Good thing you got a test run, though you can always pick up a few things while you%26#39;re in New York. It%26#39;s a good excuse, anyway.
By the way, the best way to have the cab driver slow down is to tell them you%26#39;re feeling nauseous. They really don%26#39;t like the idea of having to clean up after that.
Yikes! Do you all think there%26#39;s really a chance that there might be a transit authority strike? Someone at work just mentioned it to me. I guess it wouldn%26#39;t be that bad. As long as I can get to our hotel (the lucerne) I know I can easily spend the whole weekend exploring the upper west side, but I sure would be dissapointed!!
I don%26#39;t think it%26#39;s going to happen but what do I know? ;)
Can%26#39;t miss the Cowboy game. Looking for a sports bar with multiple games on multiple TV%26#39;s. This getting engaged in NYC idea will not interrupt the football season..:)
Does that ESPN Zone monstrosity in Times Square actually show games?
Where can I watch football this Sunday/Grand Hyatt areaYou could try McFaddens Irish bar and restaurant on the corner of 2nd Avenue and 42nd Street, about a 10 minute walk from the Grand Hyatt.
They have multiple screens and I remember them showing different sporting events on different screens when I was there in November.
Where can I watch football this Sunday/Grand Hyatt areaAs mentioned - McFaddens will show the game and is the closest bar to the Grand Hyatt. it may not be too crowded since it is an after work place.
ESPN Zone has a ton of TVs and shopws all games, but may be very busy.
Connolley%26#39;s on 47th between Lex and 3rd. They have TVs and show games.
Joshua Tree is on 3rd Ave between 34th and 35th and is a sports bar.
Thanks Mick67 and hrhweezie. I%26#39;ll check them out.
Hoping to get a BAG for our trip over Xmas and although I know it%26#39;s a free service I just wondered if people who have had the benefit of a BAG in the past have offered some form of payment/tip at the end of the experience. Appreciate your advice as I don%26#39;t want to embarass or be embarrassed.
No payment. The offer of a drink, cup of coffee or if you want, even an invitation to join you for a meal.
Personally, prefer that the person would make a donation to the organization, if they so choose, as opposed to a payment or tip (which we are NOT allowed to accept, by the way). A cup of coffee or hot chocolate would be nice, though!!! LOL!!!
Thanks for the info on this. Hoping to be lucky and get a greeter.
In your opinion,Is better to go there at day or night? what about the views in differents hours?
We went 9am on a Sunday morning and the view of Central Park was terrific. There was still some color to the leaves and I remember thinking, it would not look nearly as nice once the leaves were gone.
We wanted to go back at night but never did. I can only imagine how spectacular that would be. So may I suggest, do both ! Or, go near dusk and stay through dark !
Have fun.
Go about 30 minutes before the sun sets. You get to see day, as the light changes ans night.
We went at night and it was fantastic.But I did wonder what the day view would be like.The dusk idea is very good-getting best of both day and night.
We just read your GREAT advice. Thanks LarryD, nyc10025 and Trent. Promises that we%26#39;ll remember you at sunset in Top of The Rock.
On my recent trip i went up early morning and at night both amazing fantastic views.
I%26#39;m with nyc10025 on this one. What we did was to go up about an hour before the sun sets. That way you get to see the city during daylight. As there is no time limit to how long you spend up there, you can then watch the lights come on across the city and see the transformation from day to night and get the best of both worlds.
We were there last Thursday at night and it was beautiful. Our plan (and reserved time) had been to be there for the sunset, but 10 inches of snow in KCMO and a malfunctioning jet engine got us into NYC 4 hours late. We couldn%26#39;t make it until after dark, but enjoyed the experience anyway. Be sure to go up the extra set of stairs to the tip-top! No wind breaks up there so you can really get that top of the world feel.
My sister and I are coming in next week with our 11 %26amp; 12 year old girls. 11 year old wants to see B%26amp;B, the 12 year old thinks it is too ';babyish.'; Any thoughts or recommendations on what may be a better choice?
Forgot to add--we are already seeing the Christmas Spectacularm also.
I saw Beauty %26amp; the Beast at 23 years old. I love it! My boyfriend who had never seen the movie as a child enjoyed the play. It is so magical!
The 12 year old will probably be mesmerized while watching the show, and then STILL complain later that it was too babyish for her. (I have an older sister...I know.)
Beauty is a very sweet, colorful Disney production which my kids liked. However they loved Wicked, which is the back story of the Wizard of Oz. When we walked out at the end of Beauty we talked about how pretty everything looked. At the end of Wicked we discussed the nature of good vs. evil and how history is written by the ';winner';.
Enjoy your trip!
I think QB is absolutely right. She%26#39;ll love it.
I saw it at 30 and loved it. The costumes, songs, etc are amazing at any age.
She is just trying to pretend to be more ';mature'; than the 11 y.o. cousin. It goes with the turf. She will love B %26amp; B and, deep down, will be so glad that she saw it. Of course, she won%26#39;t admit that to you!!!!
It is a wonderful show and I would recommend wholeheartedly.
what website or agency can you get the best tickets for Beauty and the Beast in Broadway? I see tickets can run up to $120/person. Is there a better way (price wise) to obtained tickets? Thank you
Depending on when you%26#39;re going, playbill.com (register for free) has some discount options with link for purchase at ticketmaster. This is for Jan 2- Feb 28.
Thanks for the insight. I am making an effort to plan early...we will be in NYC in June 2006 (late). Can you tell me what is best process to obtain tickets? thank you.
they are not selling tickets for the show yet for late June 2006
if you are willing to pay full price than buy it when the tickets become available
there are often discount codes for the show
www.broadwaybox.com
again you%26#39;ll have to wait until the tickets are on sale
or there is always the TKTS line
We are staying in Jersey City on Tonnelle, what is the best (fastest %26amp; cheapest) way to get to Manhatten (Time Square area) We are a group of 6, traveling with a vehicle.
Jersey City to Manhatten
are you staying at the Ramada Limited?
if so, walk 2.5 blocks over to the Journal Square PATH station
$1.50
or you can drive to Manhattan and park your car (www.iconparking.com)
Jersey City to ManhattenIMO, the PATH train would much faster and less complicated than driving into Manhattan. It costs $1.50/each way for the train. You can use the PATH train to get you to 33rd St. and 6th Ave. (Avenue of the Americas) and from there, it is a doable walk to Times Square. Just note that you will have to transfer from one PATH train to another to get to 33rd St. but that is pretty painless.
The horrors of driving into Manhattan are well overrated. We do it all the time. You can often find street parking esepcially at night. Also, if you do plan to hop around town a bit, you%26#39;ll be saving on two cab fares each time.
Thanks to everyone for the help getting to Manhattan from Jersey City (N. Bergen). We opted to cross via the Lincoln Tunnel and use the ICON parking lot system. We paid only $21 for Friday pkg and only $13 for Sat., and this was for a full day!
Thanks again everyone.
don%26#39;t forget that there is also $6 fee to take any of the tunnels
driving is fine if you have several people and also because walking from the PATH station to the Ramada Limited where you stayed can be a little intimidating especially late at night
for someone staying next to the PATH station such as at the Hyatt there is really no reason to drive into Manhattan
Glad to hear of another happy driver George :)
Before you leave on 19th, just wanted to say that I hope you have a wonderful trip in New York. Not quite the same as London %26amp; Paris but a great break anyway.
Enjoy the whole experience and rug up against the cold.
lol
Helen
Thank you so much Helen, if we could only have a bit of your nice sunshine and heat it would be even better, but we expect it to be cold and snowy here this time of year. I just hope the roads are nice and clear and nothing happens to mar the road trip.
Going to son%26#39;s graduation in February -- looking for a clean hotel on the upper west side -- reading TA reviews doesn%26#39;t appear to be any favorable locations --- anyone personnally recomend hotel? Thanks!
The Beacon and the Newton get pretty good reviews, as does the Lucerne. Did none of them appeal to you?
There aren%26#39;t many places really close to Columbia if that%26#39;s where you%26#39;re going. The closest would be the Newton and it%26#39;s fine but I think a budget option. A bit further south are the Lucerne, the Excelsior, the Beacon, the Milburne. They%26#39;re all fine. I think the Lucerne is probably the nicest.
Also check On the Avenue
All the hotels already mentioned are good and if the graduation is at Columbia, you can get from any of the hotels to the university by subway or taxi in 5 to 10 minutes.
Rocknie:
Like nyc10025, I live in the neighborhood (10024) and have been to multiple Columbia commencements.
Best options have already been named, if staying on the West Side is your preference.....and it should be.
Right answers are Lucerne, On The Avenue, Beacon, and Empire.
Reserve now.....smart action.
Joe in NYC
We just got home after staying at the Lucerne for 3 nights. Really liked the location. The hotel is nice, clean, has a great and helpful staff, and an awesome concierge. I%26#39;d really recommend staying there. And it is less than a block from the subway.
I had a very good experience at The Lucerene. Plus I thoroughly enjoyed the neighborhood. Would recommend.
I stayed at the Beacon a few years ago and thought it was a great hotel with clean, spacious rooms and a good location.
It seems to me that most UWS hotel actually get decent ratings. Even the occasionally budget Milburn has its fans...
For a really special stay, investigate Inn New York City. Very small, very discrete, and a perfectly favorable location.
We stayed at the Lucerne and were very impressed! Would highly recommend it. It was also very very close to sub station--2 or 3 minute walk.
Tessie
