So my mother and I are taking a daytrip to NYC in a month.  Anyone have tips? Suggestions? Dos or don'ts?  We'd heard of a place called the Hog Pitt which we were thinking of... maybe a swing by the Metropolitan Museum (my FAVORITE painting is part of the permanent collection and I get to see it in PERSON!)... certainly some shopping (our bus drops us off in front of Macy's... )...

So where do we go?  What do we see?  Where do we eat or stop for a drink?  What's the best way to get  around? 

Any help is appreciated!

Post here or feel free to email me 4kestrel {at} gmail {dot} com.

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~Kes


Desperate times call for desperate measures
Open your mind to all life's little pleasures
The hole in this world could be healed if by chance
everyone just stood up, took their pants off and danced

~Bruce Guthro

I was just in NYC in August. That city is just a facinating place. I adore Chinatown!  My sister and I took my neice for her 8th birthday to see the Statue of Liberty. Went to the Natural History Museum, spent a TON of time tooling around Central Park. Food there can be really cheap AND really good. Chinatown is AWESOME! It kicks DC's Chinatown out the door! We ate at some chinese place that had this AWESOME pork chop lunch and I swear, it was like $2.  Also, I recommend Rosa Mexicano if you've got a load of money to spend. Their crab and corn empanadas are to DIE for. We managed to luck out and got a free salsa type concert going on at Lincoln Center one night. We took in Beauty and the Beast on Broadway and ate at some all night pizza place round the corner (not that great). We also lucked out at getting a 3 bedroom apartment for $130 a night! Go Craigslist! I guess the answer to what is there to do,see,eat in NYC would be "What ISN'T there to do?" I hope you have as much fun as we did! I'm definately heading back there in the Spring (barring any unforseen Great Big Sea concert dates of course)

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Phenominal Cosmic Powers!
Itty bitty living space!

I'll send you an email, becasue I realize my post was getting rather lengthy  The two things I will leave here are to travel via subway and foot, if possible, and spend just a few minutes where you get dropped off -- it's congested and a tourist trap of not very good restauarants and iffy shopping.  There are much better places to shop, browse and eat.

I'm editing this -- Since you are going to be there in December, you should check out the Macy's window displays and maybe the tree in Rockefeller Center

Heres hoping you have a great time in NYC. I live on Long Island, about a hour from the city via train. Times Square (42 and Broadway) is a cool place to walk around, a ton of theaters, Madam Troussaus Wax Musuem (Sorry about the spelling, its late..lol) BB Kings blues club, Hard Rock and ESPN Zone, however best eating is off the side streets where you can find better value for your dollar. Check out Virgils for great BBQ. Stay away from Bubba Gumps Scrimp, too expensive and not worth it. A cool thing to do that is cheap is take the #1 subway downtown to South Ferry the last stop and take a free ride on the Staten Island Ferry. The trip is about 20 mins one way and the next ferry can bring you back. Its a good way to catch a rest after a long day of checking out the city and the view is great. Plus a decent view of the Statue of Liberty as well. Have fun!!

John

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"I must have gone through 10 million in my career. Part of the loot went for gambling, part for booze and part for women. The rest I spent foolishly."....George Raft

Heres hoping you have a great time in NYC. I live on Long Island, about a hour from the city via train. Times Square (42 and Broadway) is a cool place to walk around, a ton of theaters, Madam Troussaus Wax Musuem (Sorry about the spelling, its late..lol) BB Kings blues club, Hard Rock and ESPN Zone, however best eating is off the side streets where you can find better value for your dollar. Check out Virgils for great BBQ. Stay away from Bubba Gumps Scrimp, too expensive and not worth it. A cool thing to do that is cheap is take the #1 subway downtown to South Ferry the last stop and take a free ride on the Staten Island Ferry. The trip is about 20 mins one way and the next ferry can bring you back. Its a good way to catch a rest after a long day of checking out the city and the view is great. Plus a decent view of the Statue of Liberty as well. Have fun!!

John

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"I must have gone through 10 million in my career. Part of the loot went for gambling, part for booze and part for women. The rest I spent foolishly."....George Raft

Thanks for the suggestions!  The Staten Island Ferry definately sounds appealing and we had intended to see the windows displays and tree.  We are taking a pass on China Town this trip as both of us could easily spend an entire weekend there. 

And to answer some possibly relevant questions from nova... this will be my first trip there.  My mother has been there but it's been a few years.  We also not going to hit a show this trip.  Since we are travelling as part of a bus group, the logistics of clothing and packages is a bit difficult.

Any more tips? Keep 'em coming!

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~Kes


Desperate times call for desperate measures
Open your mind to all life's little pleasures
The hole in this world could be healed if by chance
everyone just stood up, took their pants off and danced

~Bruce Guthro

Walk or travel by subway, Kes. It's the only way to go. And see if you can't get tix for the Rockettes at Rockefeller Center. That was fun!

Anne

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And when the winds of change begin to blow,
I'll whisper, "You're my lighthouse" in case you didn't know.

Sons of Maxwell

visit my website!:
Anne's Philly Phan Site at http://www.gbsfanatic.com

The best way to get around is by subway. Get a subway pass card with several pre-paid trips on it. It's the thing GBS bought in yesterday's "Courage, Patience & Grit" DVD teaser. You don't have to fight with the machine as they did!  Go down into a station with an attendant and buy the pass from the attendant.

If you visit the Met -- great choice! -- but you will need the better part of a day to see much there.

I highly recommend the Guggenheim Museum <http://www.guggenheim.org/> on Fifth Avenue. It is an amazing building designed by iconic architect Frank Lloyd Wright. They always have visiting exhibits, so you'll have to check the web site to see what's there now. Their permanent collection is stellar, including amazing Picasso pieces. The building is designed as a downward spiral. Once inside you make your way to the top, then you begin to view the exhibits as you walk downward. It's a very cool NYC 'must' do in my books. It can be done in a couple hours or less if you are pressed for time.

Or, visit the Empire State Building! Go to the top (by elevator of course) a la "Sleepless in Seattle" and look out over the city.

Whatever you decide, you must pass through Times Square on foot to feel the bright-lights-big-city insanity and take the obligatory tourist pics. This is a must. It doesn't take long.

I recommend walking around and seeing cool bits of the city: Central Park, Rockefeller Centre, Lincoln Centre, Columbus Circle, etc. A day just isn't enough! But, it's a start.

Wear the most comfortable shoes you own! Everything is concrete.

As for eats - what type of food do you like? I hear Lombardi's Pizza is good.

ETA - I'm at a phat 500 posts. Wasn't I at 300-and-something the other day? Do I get a 500 club pin? 

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Free Cruise Clocks

Thanks!  Keep the tips coming!!!

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~Kes


Desperate times call for desperate measures
Open your mind to all life's little pleasures
The hole in this world could be healed if by chance
everyone just stood up, took their pants off and danced

~Bruce Guthro

Dear Kestrel and family,

Hope you have a wonderful time here in the big city.  NYC is a lot of things to a lot of people.  Times Square is fun but it is nice to get out of that area and see some of the "locals".  As for pizza, not to dis the b'ys, but stay away from Lombardi's...it used to be wonderful now it's completely hit or miss. Here are my suggestions for places to eat:

Good thin crust pizza - Una Pizza Napolateno (East 12th st between 1st and 2nd - it's only open Thursday- Sat from 5pm until the dough runs out or Sunday noon until the dough runs out) It's unbelievably good.  Also L'asso on Mott St (at Kenmare) is a really good alternative...thin crust that you order by the inch instead of a round pie and they have yummy salads to go with it. The original John's on Bleecker is still a good option.

Good deli (corned beef/pastrami/brisket/pickles to die for)  Ben's on 38th St (between 7th and 8th)

Amazing breakfast - Balthazar (Spring St).  They make a brioche french toast to die for...expensive though.

Times Square - Ollie's for decent Chinese and really good dumplings (44th just off of 7th) or Virgil's for decent barbecue. 

Hot dogs - any of the Gray's Papaya's are yummy and cheap!

Ice cream - Mary's Dairy (there's one on lower 1st avenue and one on West 4th St.)

In the neighborhood of the Met there's an italian place called Serafina's on 79th and Madison that I like...good pasta and pizza but a little pricey. There are other locations around the city as well

 Best bagels and chicken salad in the city...Tal bagels on 54th and 2nd. 

Near Bloomingdale's there's a little french place that I like called "Mon Petit Cafe" just up Lexington from Bloomies.

 You can check out menus and locations at  http://www.menupages.com    great website.

Feel free to email me if you have any questions about specific neighborhoods and enjoy New York!!

Jean-Marie

 

 

Cool places to shop (or window shop because it's expensive) Little Italy and the Lower East Side

Kes, if there is any way possible, get to the Christmas Show at Radio City Music Hall -- and watch the skaters nearby in front of the NBC Studio.

Go to Macy's -- buy someone something wonderful and have it shipped home.

Any meal at Carnegie Deli on 8th Avenue is a great meal

In the Theatre District eat at Frankie & Johnny's -- also on 8th Avenue

Ride the Red Trolley

Ride in a carriage at Central Park

Go to FAO Schwartz at Central Park

Have a drink at the Oak Bar at the Plaza -- also at Central Park

Go bargain hunting in the basement at Filene's 

Carol

 

 

 

 

 

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I'D RATHER REGRET THE THINGS I'VE DONE THAN THE THINGS I DIDN'T DO!

I think I have enough food suggestions to eat for 17 days! *LOL*  But keep 'em coming! You never know what we'll feel like that day!

We are considering a stop by radio City Music Hall and swinging by the skaters.  I think I'll be taking printouts with me and we may very well end up deciding that day.  We're such a fickle pair. :o)

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~Kes


Desperate times call for desperate measures
Open your mind to all life's little pleasures
The hole in this world could be healed if by chance
everyone just stood up, took their pants off and danced

~Bruce Guthro

If you're going to be in the Radio City/Rockefeller center area take the backstage tour.  It's really interesting, lasts about an hour and you get to meet/have a picture taken with a Rockette.  My niece loved it and I thought it was kinda cool too.

JM

I too recommend the subway for getting around. Don' t forget to check out Central Park. You know they have a zoo in the park. If I remember correctly, they have some puffins there.

So Kestrel --  how was the trip to NYC?  Tell us what you did?  I hope you had a splendid time!!