Finally got some time to put up a trip report
My wife and I planned this trip only six weeks ago as an early Xmas present to ourselves. Thanks to all the contributors on Trip Adviser for the advice prior to our departure!
Thursday 24th November:
Arrived JFK at just before 23:00 via Virgin Atlantic flight 009 (which was delayed at Heathrow for 1 1/2 hours).
Thankfully immigration was quite empty and got through and onto transfer transport relatively quick. Trip into Manhattan took a little over 30 mins and we were dropped off at our hotel - the Metro on 35th st a little after 00:40.
Friday 25th November:
Room, although small was very clean and very welcome after a long hop across the pond!.
Woke at around 05:00 and got some coffees from the downstairs lobby and took them back up to the room. Ventured out at just before 07:00 to find Macy%26#39;s open and trading - found out afterwards that it was %26#39;black Friday%26#39;, so most shops opened early. Enjoyed a little early morning shopping (who am I kidding, we we%26#39;re like two kids in a candy store) before dropping in at a diner on the corner of the New Yorker for breakfast.
From there we walked up to Times Sq - BOY WAS IT COLD!!! and sent messages home via the webcam by TGI Fridays.
Brief stop for a Starbucks to warm ourselves up and a look around before catching the subway down to Brooklyn. Took a look around Brooklyn Heights before strolling back to the promenade - such great views!. We ate afterwards at Grimaldi%26#39;s (pizza under the bridge)which was one of the best pizza%26#39;s I have ever had - great atmosphere too.
Walked back over the Brooklyn bridge and caught the 4/5/6 subway back up to 33rd st.
Picked up another caffeine refill before collapsing on the bed for a couple of hours sleep.
Woke up around 21:00 and ventured the short distance to O%26#39;Neils pub where we indulged in a T-Bone steak with all the trimmings, a few beers, choc fudge cake then back to the hotel.
To sum up day 1 - Fantastic day but SO COLD!
Saturday 26th November:
Woke early again and headed back out for some breakfast around 07:30. Temperature felt colder than yesterday - wondered what the hell it would be like when the real cold weather sets in!.
Headed down to the WTC site which was a truly moving experience. Then walked down to the Statten Island Ferry and took a ride over and back. From there we walked back up through Wall st and shopped our way up to Canal st, buying lots of t-shirts for the kids at YRB (Yellow Rat B*****d %26gt; great chain of shops).
Caught the subway back up to Grand Central and had a look around the indoor market.
Then left my Wife shopping as she wanted to get %26#39;the little brown bag%26#39; from Bloomingdales and check out the other shops. I headed up to the Bronx to check out Yankee stadium. Having had a great time watching the Giants in San Francisco on our last holiday I have become a bit of a baseball convert %26gt; Not as good as football or my beloved team West Ham United, but hey what could be!.
As I was expecting, the stadium looked great. Area not so great, but not nearly as rough as the guide books lead you to believe. Had a quick beer in one of the bars opposite and after taking some photos of the main entrance, I hopped back on the downtown #4 subway.
Met back up with my Wife and dropped our stuff off at the hotel before showering and heading out for the night. Can%26#39;t remember the name of the restaurant we ate in that night, a few blocks north of Times Sq - but it was good....really good Italian food.
Walked back to our hotel, bar hopping along the way and hit the sack a little after 02:00.
Sunday 27th November:
Had a lie in today! well up by 08:30 which seemed like a lie in. Skipped breakfast as we wanted to try a deli out for lunch. Temperature today was almost tropical compared to the previous two days!.
Caught the B train up to 72nd st and had a look around the Sunday flea market. Found the Columbus Deli and sat outside - yes it was that warm! and shared a huge pizza amd a couple of beers whilst people watching.
Strolled back through Central Park and sat and watched the buskers and the skaters on the rink. Finished up with a little bit more shopping and walked back down to Grand Central where we bought two huge (and I mean HUGE) slices of cheesecake from Juniors %26gt; Saved them for back in the room that night. Best cheesecake I have ever eaten!.
Headed back towards our hotel and strolled around another market at Bryant Sq - also had an ice rink which in the dark looked really spectacular. Enjoyed a coffee and a well earned sit down whilst just soaking up the atmosphere.
We were so tired after another day of long walks, we decided to get a take out and eat in the room that night - Found a great Chinese that was close by and we ate away in the comfort of our room - Sound asleep by 22:30 that night.
Monday 28th November:
Checked out by 9:00am and stored our bags at the hotel as our flight back wasn%26#39;t until 23:00. Walked around the corner to the Empire State Building and took an early trip up. Thankfully there were no queues and the view was just as spectacular as the last time we were here. Once finished, we walked down to the Flatiron building, which sadly was udergoing a little refurbishment so photo%26#39;s were not quite as good as I would have hoped for.
Next took the F train down to Delancy street and walked the short distance to Katz Deli.
This has to be one of the best value for money places in the world!. Ordered a corned beef on rye and a pastrami on rye, loads of pickles, side order of coleslaw and sat down and attempted to clear our plates - not an easy task!. Food was so good I even bought a Katz T-shirt (sad I know).
From there we made our way back to the Tenement museum and booked a tour for later that afternoon. With a couple of hours kill before the tour we walked over to the Village and found the %26#39;Friends house%26#39; %26gt; our children are huge fans so we promised them a photo of it (that%26#39;s our story and we%26#39;re sticking top it!).
Found a little bar in the Village and shared a couple of beers before walking back over to Delancy and the Tenement museum. The tour was excellent and gave a great insight into what living on the LES must have been like back in the last century - worth every cent of the $15.
Finally at around 17:00 we headed back up to the Metro hotel and sat in the very comfortable lobby drinking yet more coffees whilst we waited for our transfer back to JFK.
Can only say what a great place New York still is %26gt; People are very friendly and proud of their city. Subways were quick, clean and the buskers make great entertainment - The metrocard is a steal at $24.
All in all neither of us felt at all uneasy during the whole time there. I%26#39;d go as far as to say that if felt a lot safer at all times of the day and night than London does.
Thank you New York - Can%26#39;t wait to go back!
Trip Report - Nov 24th %26gt; Nov 28th 2005
Sounds like you had a wonderful trip, and you did lots while not going crazy following a strict itinerary!
Trip Report - Nov 24th %26gt; Nov 28th 2005
Your trip sounded excellent JJ.
Never mind your Katz Deli tee-shirt, I%26#39;m the geek that asked for a clean placemat from 2nd Avenue Deli, as a keepsake ..!
Thank you for the wonderful trip report! And thanks for reminding us what a great bargain some our attractions, restaurants and services are. Glad you were able to see and do such a wide variety of experiences.
Thanks for sharing your report sounds as though you had a fab time.I have never heard of Black Friday where shops open early.
The day after Thanksgiving is traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year, thus moving stores from being in the ';red'; (losing money), to being in the black (making money), hence the name.
NYC Thank you for the info on Black Friday.
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