Does Central Park really have a castle? Or is it something that Preston and Child made up to put in their novels? (the ones with FBI Agency Pendergast)
If there is a castle, is it open to the public? Was it originally someone%26#39;s mansion?
Belvedere Castle - a whimsical idea of Vaux and Olmstead - is actually a weather station and observatory:
centralparknyc.org/virtualpark/thegreatlawn/鈥?/a>
The castel is open to the public.
Cool!
Thanks!
Driving and on a budget. My husband and I-senior citizens- have to be in NY City for a luncheon on Nov 14 at a restaurant on 42nd St. near Park Ave. We are driving a distance and my husband really doesn%26#39;t like fancy hotels. I don%26#39;t like the prices either. I keep thinking of what else I could be buying with that money. We have traveled all over the world, so we are not neophytes, but need more comfort than a low down budget place. The first question is the car. Would you recommend having a valet park it or would leaving it on a surface lot or parking garage be advisable? Second, I see reviews for Herald Square. Seems that price is within our budget, but some reviews say bathroom down the hall and others say great bathroom in room. Are they about the same place? Any advice? Also, i have read the q%26amp;a by the lady from England making a last minute trip w/ her daughter. Does she have any feedback
You might want to split these two questions into two posts and title them:
';Parking near 42nd and Park';
';Herald Square Hotel Questions';
That way people who know about parking and Herald Square can help.
See what you get for responses, but if you aren%26#39;t getting what you want split them up.
Good luck.
Parking-
Don%26#39;t pay for valet parking if you want to save $$$. Once you%26#39;ve decided where you%26#39;re going to stay, go to iconparking.com and see what parking lots that company has near your hotel. One of you drop the other at hotel door with bag and then park the car and walk back.
For a hotel, the Herald Square is an ok budget option. Some of their rooms (the cheapest) have shared baths while others (and there are some newly renovated ones with photos on their website) have private baths.
But I think in your position and assuming you%26#39;re staying only 1 or 2 nights, I%26#39;d maybe book something cancellable (like the herald square) and try bidding on Priceline. If you bid a 4* hotel in midtown east, you could very likely get the Grand Hyatt which sounds like the venue for your luncheon or very close. If you don%26#39;t know about Priceline and how to bid, you should anyway. Go to betterbidding.com and/or biddingfortravel.com where they explain it all. I wouldn%26#39;t bid for anything except 4* in NYC.
I don%26#39;t know about the last minute trip you mention, but if you want some other options for a good budget hotel and you%26#39;d like to be nearer your luncheon, have a look at Murray Hill East Suites. The Radio City Suites has a room for 1 night (Nov 13) for $185/night plus tax. Wouldn%26#39;t be too far either.
While your%26#39;e here, take a tour of Grand Central Terminal. It%26#39;s free! Or simpy walk around the place and enjoy!
grandcentralterminal.com/pages/default.aspx
Also be aware that there are no ';surface lots'; anywhere near Grand Central Terminal (i.e., 42nd and Park), and indeed surface lots with self-parking are extremely scarce anywhere in Manhattan altogether.
Oh, and by the way -- most restaurants and hotels here do NOT have valet parking. The assumption in NYC is that you are not going to drive to the restaurant or hotel anyway, and so if you do you it is almost always necessary for you to figure out on your own what you are going to do with your car.
Thank you all. I%26#39;ll look into the bidding thing - have never done that before - are there any cautions about this?
Also will go to iconparking. thanks for the suggestion
Hi
We have a few days in NYC and would like to go see Boston Bruins game at 1:00PM. What is the most cost effective way to get there? Plan to stay overnight as well but don%26#39;t want to get into Boston Downtown.
Our trip is in March 07.
Many thanks in advance
David and Ped
Hi,
Is what you are asking is about going to Boston from New York to catch a Bruins game then come back the same day?
If you%26#39;re asking the most cost effective way from New York to Boston, the answer is one of the Chinatown buses. Google ';Travelpack'; and ';Fung Wah';.
They leave out of, you guessed it, Chinatown and mostly arrive at Boston%26#39;s South Station from which you can grab a cab or the ';T'; to the Garden (or whatever they call it these days).
You%26#39;re going to have to get an early train to make a 1 pm game, and I%26#39;m not sure how you are going to avoid downtown Boston since that%26#39;s where the Garden (or whatever they call it) is. It is also right near North Station but your train will arrive into South Station - not that big a deal but will add travel time to get to the game - hence I reiterate get an early train.
Are you saying after the game you want to stay overnight someplace in the Boston area but NOT in downtown Boston? That would be extremely inconvenient for you. Why don%26#39;t you want to stay in downtown Boston? Cost? Or some other reason?
Are either the Rangers or Devils in NY while you are there? That would certainly be the easiest thing for you to do.
Also, if you stay overnight ';someplace'; in the Boston area will you have an overnight bag? Where will you put it while you are at the game?
I know there is a rather dumpy hotel (unless they have improved) right near the Garden - I know 2 different people who have stayed there and survived (LOL) but it is not the greatest - the Shawmut Hotel - that would be the most logistically convenient place for you to stay for this trip.
Hi Folks
We will be in NYC from 22 - 26 March, unfornately there is no hockey game scheduled over this period and we are willing to travel just to see one. The only game we can see around this area is either New Jersey or Boston as the Rangers aren%26#39;t playing at home :(
Well was thinking if we hire a car, it is convenient but could be costly and the parking at the stadium and parking at the hotel could be tricky so I was thinking if we can stay outside Boston en route to come back to NYC then it could be cheaper than staying in downtown.
Many thanks guys
David and Ped
If there is a game in New Jersey, GO THERE. That is a 20 minute bus ride from the Port Authority that drops you right at the game and picks you up after the game...as opposed to a 4 1/2 hour, maybe more, trip that will be a Heck of a lot more expensive any way you look at it
The Devils are out of town, but the Islanders play the Rangers at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island, easily accessible by the Long Island Rail Road. GO TO THAT GAME. With 4 days in New York, don%26#39;t waste all that time to get to Boston
There%26#39;s also the Philadelphia Flyers.
They are at home on Mar 24, 2007
Not as close as Long Island but much closer than Boston.
comcast-spectacor.com/ParkingAndDirections/p鈥?/a>
You do understand, I hope, that the distance between New York and Boston is roughly the same as that between Middlesbrough and Oxford, or Middlebrough and Aberdeen?
I think i might go to the Long Island game. Must admit I never have heard of them before are they any goods?
Can I get there by the subway?
Hi,
Could anyone tell me how far it is from newark airport to midtown manhatten. many thanks
Newark is one of the 3 airports serving New York. However it is in a different state, but about as far away as JFK. (30 miles?). Cab from newark (EWR) is about $55+tp+rt tolls - about $70 total. Cab from JFK is $45+T+T - about $60.
Train to EWR - about $12 + transport to Penn Station,
Subway to JFK $7
The topic title says it all...took the movie test , along with the regular test, yesterday afternoon along with a 100 or so others and between the two tests, I%26#39;d estimate that 25 to 30 passed. I kinda spaced out after my number was called, but I think only one person passed both.
It was harder than I thought it would be, since some of the questions dealt very specifically with scenes or characters in movies I%26#39;d either forgotten about or never seen. I guessed on a couple, this time I suppose correctly.
Now comes the wait and see, but this felt good. Kinda validates the past movie-related jobs and all the videos and DVD%26#39;s strewn throughout the apartment....
Congrats! What%26#39;s next?
Congratulations!
Woo-Hoo for YOU! The Millionaire crew was in Cleveland a few weeks ago for test-taking and I almost went to it, but I had some jobs that ran long.
I tried the sample tests on their website and I could get to the $100,00 level, but then they would throw in a football or math question and that was the end of it for me!
Be sure to keep us updated!
So when you get on the show you have to say ';I%26#39;m JAS044'; so we all know who to root for!
Thanks!! As for what%26#39;s next, I%26#39;ll get a postcard in a couple of weeks telling me whether or not I%26#39;ve been added to the contestant pool and if I am, more waiting to see if I actually get on the show. There%26#39;s no guarantees you%26#39;ll either get in the pool or on the show.
Maybe I%26#39;ll have to do a shout out to ';all my buds at TripAdvisor'; and get booted off for product placement:)
I got the postcard of death yesterday...thank you for your interest but you are NOT in the contestant pool.
I need a hug.
Sorry to hear that Jas.
%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;hug %26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;
:( Sorry to hear
You should be very proud of passing the test. I was smugly sure I%26#39;d ace it, but didn%26#39;t. By the way, you might wait a while and then try again. Many years ago I failed the audition for Pyramid, and tried again the following year. The second time I went, I made a point of being very animated and bubbly, and was chosen. So, hey, you never know.
(O = virtual hug)
Thanks for the hugs. Guess I%26#39;ll have to accentuate the bubbly next time. I probably will try again, but may wait for another theme week (pop culture, movie, music) where my chances of passing the test will be better.
I%26#39;ve been DVRing the show lately because the tapings I sat through in July were supposed to have aired in the past two weeks (they didn%26#39;t) and it%26#39;s a mix of the average and the unique--kinda like the taping I sat through. There was an average housewife, a woman with a unique name (Sweety) and a completely (yet endearingly) geeky math genius who was up to $250,000 when taping ended. If anyone knows how Ogi Ogus made out, please let me know.
For all I know, they throw the names of people who passed into a hat choose things that way, but guess that%26#39;s one of the mysteries of game show life. A friend at work said she wanted to send off a nasty letter to Meredith when I told her I didn%26#39;t get chosen. Wonder if I should let her....:)
we are flying into LaGuardia airport and going to the Hilton Times Square. Was wondering would it be best to just book a town car instead of taking a cab? I have checked out carmel limo and their prices are $28.00 plus tolls. How would this compare to the price of taking a cab?
thanks for any info you can give me.
Taxi price is about the same, $25-30, but since taxis are metered you can pay more if there is a lot of traffic. Car Services may charge extra to meet you inside the terminal.
Taxi may be one or two dollars more but I always take a cab.
If you use Carmel you have to call them after you retrieve your luggage. They say a car will show up in 5 minutes but it can certainly be longer and usually is.
For a taxi join the line in front of the terminal. You will probably be on your way in 5 minutes
It depends on what time you%26#39;re arriving (if in rush hour or a busy day, get a car service with fixed price) and whether you%26#39;re used to NYC cab/drivers. Carmel will likely be a bit nicer than a cab and fixed price, but I agree, the taxi is easier. You should also know that the Airport Express bus to Port Authority leaves every 20 mins. and is $12/person. Port Authority is a half block from your hotel.
www.nyairportservice.com/lga_manhattan.html
thanks for the info - i may just check out the airport bus. It seems like a short walk to the hotel.
thanks again
Hi everyone!! I am traveling to NY with a group of college (fashion majors) students over 21. We will be staying at the Edison Hotel (right by times square?) and will be traveling in mid-May of 07. I would like some help with places to eat (reasonable price), shop!!!, cool bars to check out, and anything else that would be helpful! Is there any shopping or eating by our hotel? I have never been to New York. Thanks in advance!!
The Edison is just down the street from Times Square! There are lots of fast food options, but also some excellent local restaurants that would be great for a large group. The best is Carmine%26#39;s, an enormous southern Italian restaurant that serves ';family style,'; that is, each dish feeds at least four starving adults. So when you look over their menu, the dishes might look expensive, but it%26#39;s really the best value in town. You%26#39;ll definitely need reservations way in advance. I believe they take reservations a month or more ahead. www.carminesnyc.com
Others nearby that would be great for a group are Virgil%26#39;s BBQ and John%26#39;s Pizzeria (located in a beautiful converted church).
You must get yourselves immediatley downtown!! For cool bars and lots of folks in their 20s, Lower East Side around Ludlow and Staunton Streets...just wander and see what you find...there are bars, restaurants of all prices...also Avenues A,B from 9th Street down to Houston Street. is loaded with bars and cheap places to eat.. One type of good cheap food is the NY comida, that is, Spanish-American food like arroz con pollo..you%26#39;ll find places like this on the Lower eastSide and East Village. A great place to eat very well for a resonable price is a Cuban-Chinese restaurant called La Caridad on the Upper West Side. For cheap burgers etc go to the Corner Bistro in the Village, White Horse Tavern in the Village, Fanelli%26#39;s in SoHo. For fashion you should check out NoLiTa (';North of Littel Italy';) around Spring and Elizabeth Streets. There are many small boutiques there run by folks who are doing their own design. For upscale fashion the Meat Packing District (jeffrey and stella McCartney, etc) and SoHo (mainstream stores). You also may want to consider a trip to Smith Street in Brooklyn (which also has bars) or 5th AVenue in Park SLope Brooklyn or Williamsburg in Brooklyn all of which have small store fronts where folks are doing their own thing with design. ..and of course more bars and restaurants. Now that I think of it, a trip to Williamsburg would seem a must do for 20-something fashion folks.
You could also head to Bleecker Street in the west Village, esp on a friday or saturday evening. Take a walk up and down and check out the side streets too. nothing but bars clubs bistros and college kids there.
Say, maybe you should contact this group?
tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k826772-鈥?/a> NYC_for_designers-
;o)
BTW, I%26#39;d suggest getting a guide boook and a map. You don%26#39;t say where you are from, but you can order them online. Most folks here recommend the DK Eyewitness guide, Frommers, Lonely Planet, etc.
Check out the Not for tourists guide. Sign up on their website and print out their maps for free. (Maybe one of you can invest in the buying the book?)
www.notfortourists.com/newyork.aspx
Also, you can get a set of cards with self-guided walking tours of NYC called ';City Walks';.
Here%26#39;s a collection of trip reports from adult friends travelling together, inlcuding ';girly trips'; and ';guy trips';, etc.
Go ahead and steal an itinerary!
tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k473391-鈥?/a> Collection_of_trip_reports_from_friends_travelling_together-
Have fun!
Thank you all so much! It is a little overwhelming!! I hope I have enough time to do it all! I am from North Dakota, but have traveled many places other than NY. I am so excited to go. One more question. Venturing out at night what would be the best way to get back to my hotel? Thanks Again!!
The subway is fine. Safe, cheap and runs 24-7-365. However, you may also consider takeing taxis. With 2-4 people per taxi, it might be economicall worth it.
Read this hilarious trip report from an adult from Omaha, NE who accompanied 16 teenagers on a 5-day trip to NYC. Lots of lessons to be learned!
Day 1:
tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k651849-鈥?/a> - Packing_Light_Doesn_t_Include_A_Steamer_Trunk_Trip-
Day 2:
tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k651850-鈥?/a> How_To_Tell_That_The_Lion_King_Is_A_Musical_Trip-
Day 3 - part A
tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k651856-鈥?/a> - How_Do_You_Get_To_Carnegie_Hall_without_too_much_practice-New_York_City_New_York.html
Day 3 - part B
tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k652766-鈥?/a> - There_s_No_Shopping_On_Harbor_Cruises_Trip_Report_Day_3-
Day 4:
tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k652848-鈥?/a> - Century_21_can_make_you_look_like_a_sherpa_Trip_Report-
We are going to see Hairspray and want to reserve for after theatre dining. What time should we try for?
Most websites say 2 hrs 40 minutes with intermission. So if the play starts at 8:00 you are looking at 11:00 for a theater district restaurant.
Thanks!
...inside of Bergdorf Goodman? I would like to know if they get exclusive items, that other stores don%26#39;t get. I was looking at the Japan online site, for Guerlain. They%26#39;re giving away a nice brush set with the Guerlain logo on each handle, as a GWP. I love Guerlain. It is so luxurious! The new Meteorite pearls and compact are gorgeous. And so are the new color trends palettes, lip color glosses, the loose meteorite powder for fall is so nice too. Love the powder poof on the top of it. Has anyone met Raymond from Guerlain, and had the opportunity for a makeover from him, or learn about fragrance? I%26#39;ve met him. He is lovely. But never got the opportunity for a makeover.
NY Locals, could you please check this out for me?
should I e-mail the hotel in advance and request a good room?
It can%26#39;t hurt - I normally email the hotel a few weeks in advance anyway just to double check my booking and if it%26#39;s a special occasion mention it :)
I would also check their website and see if they have a rewards program that you can join. I do this with most hotel groups I use and you can get some good privileges.
Yes: I requested a room on or above a certain level, and got it. Definitly get the sofitel card as you are entitled to late check out.
Will be in the city Saturday Dec 9. with 2 other couples. They have never been to NYC and of course want to see the high spots. We will be staying at the Novotel and will be visiting Rockerfeller Center, St. Patricks, Top of the Rock (if not too crowded) they want to head to Ground Zero and on Sunday perhaps head up 5th Ave into Central Park. Want to take them to great restaurant for mid afternoon drinks and lunch both days. Someplace to sit and relax for awhile that would be very New York. Any suggestions. I was thinking the Boathouse for possibly Sunday and don%26#39;t know where for Saturday. Also thinking of the Christmas show if I can get tickets.
Last December we visited New York City with my sister and her husband (from Michigan). It was very cold but the city was wonderful. We had a spectacular lunch at Picholine! It was prix fix at $35.00 per person. The food was warm and wonderful. We paired the food with wine and were not disappointed. After dining, we entered Central Park and visited the holiday market at Columbus Circle. The weather was cold, it had just snowed and it felt like the holidays. This would be a perfect choice prior to the Christmas Show. You may need to take a cab to get there from the restaurant but the lunch will be a happy memory. Moms
Eleven Madison Park might be a nice spot. It%26#39;s a little farther downtown, around Madison Avenue and 25th Street. It%26#39;s a beautiful space with high ceilings, lots of light, and huge windows that look out onto Madison Square Park. It has a nice ';Old New York'; feel, like something from the 1930%26#39;s. The food is excellent, they have a nice selection of wines. I%26#39;m not sure what your budget is. It%26#39;s not inexpensive, but an excellent restaurant.
http://www.elevenmadisonpark.com/
The Boathouse in Central Park is an excellent idea, and very ';New York';.
They typically don%26#39;t take reservations for brunch on the weekends, but with a group of six they may.
thinking of going in this sunday and trying our luck to catch a show with our 8-10 yr old girls.. the tkts booth website has hairspray %26amp; the spelling bee plays listed.
- has anyone seen them with 8-10 yr old girls, are they appropriate?
- if they are listed as available shows on website, what is the chance that they will be available for purchase for sunday mat?
- is is strictly 2 for 1, or can you buy an odd number at 50% each?
- if booth opens at 11am, how early do you really need to line up?
thanks to anyone who has some recent relevant experience with this.. I have never bought from this booth before! thanks.
Hairspray is appropriate, but do be prepared for questions about race relations in Baltimore in the 60%26#39;s. My seven year old loved it.
As for Spelling Bee, I would wait until they were a bit older.
Instead of the TKTS booth, I would try Broadwaybox.com and buy the tickets in advance. It will save you time and you know you have the tickets instead of worrying they might not be available.
TKTS is not 2 for 1. You can buy odd numbers of tickets and some of the discounts are only 25%. If the booth opens at 11:00, I would get there at 10:00, though shows send tickets over all day. I have also had good luck, but not with a specific show in mind ,about a half hour before curtain when some box offices send their unsold tickets over to the booth.
I agree with aoi that hairspray%26#39;s a better bet...there%26#39;s some off-color humor besides the racial subtext, but you%26#39;ll all be too caught up in the show%26#39;s energy to care.
Spelling Bee is more mature and some of the humor and wordplay may go straight over their heads. I liked the show a lot but still found it too aware of it%26#39;s own smarts.
Hairspray is almost always at TKTS, Spelling Bee less often and as aoi said, there no limit or restraints on numbers of tickets you can get. You%26#39;d probably end up paying $53-58 (including service charge) at TKTS, depending on whether top ticket is $100 or $110.
thanks so much for the info..
- we are torn between trying to catch a play..
- or maybe skating at wolmans,
- or I just noticed a street fair on 3rd ave..
anyone know anything about that?
Does anyone know of anything going on downtown?
our girls also love to browse and shop...
we have already commited to the AG doll store (of course.. whoever thought of this is pure genius (and evil :)
- and a trip to ellens stardust diner..
Both are good shows. Hairspray is more a typical ';big'; musical with lots of people, dance numbers etc. while Spelling Bee is much smaller, small cast, orchestra etc. It started off Broadway and to me, still feels like an off Broadway show. There is one song in Spelling Bee that mentions a boy%26#39;s erection. It may go over the kids%26#39; heads or they may titter. What about MARY POPPINS which just started in previews? That%26#39;s what I%26#39;d try for.
Tickets will be available, but maybe not the best seats.
You can buy as many seats as you want, but for 3 together, there may be fewer choices. The discount is not exactly 50% but close. Have you tried looking to see if there are any discount code seats available online? Go to broadwaybox.com and follow links.
The booth downtown does NOT sell Sun. matinee tickets on Sun. They sell Sun. matinee on Sat. So your only option on Sun is the one in Times Square.
The street fairs are pretty much all the same. Some food, some shopping etc. What about Altar Boyz? It%26#39;s off Broadway about a boy band. Discounts available on broadwaybox.com and on playbill.com (register for free to see discounts). That will save you having to stand on line. Many of the matinees are at 3 which gives you plenty of time for other things.
To look at other things going on, go to nycvisit.com and look at their calendar of events.
Just a reminder, TKTS Booth is CASH ONLY!
You%26#39;ve gotten great show advice already. I%26#39;ll just add a recommendation that you skip the street fair and go up to Central Park and skate for an hour.
I don%26#39;t think Altar Boyz would be the best choice for an 8 and 10 year-old--fairly sexually suggestive with a gay subtext. 12 and 14, probably--8 and 10, no.
You have already gotten lots of feedback but heres my two cents....
We took my 10 year old daughter to see Hairspray. There were several things that I felt were inappropriate for her age. I covered her eyes once because a couple was very realistically simulating s*x on a bed (but with clothes on). One character calls a condom by the slang name (not sure if I can put the slang on here ). There were a few things like that. Almost all s*x related. Im not uptight but I just wasnt expecting this at the show. If that kind of stuff goes over your kids heads, it might be fine. It IS a great, energetic show with wonderful music just some adult humor.
OF course, there is the racial tension but that wasnt a big deal to my daughter. We actually had to explain that some people used to think it was a big deal that skin was different colors. She didnt understand why it mattered.
We are seeing Mary Poppins next week. I agree with the previous poster that it would be a better choice.
thanks everyone.. its SO great to be able to get so much specific information %26amp; advise so timely!!
anyway, we decided against show this time in (we are currently planning a trip in to see Wicked.. so we will wait for that).
Bettina, thanks for the central park suggestion, but we go to CP everytime we come in with the kids..(my kids are well schooled in strawberry fields.. dad is huge beatles fan!) which is why we are thinking the street fair might be something new and exciting for them..
so we are doing AG store, ellens stardust for lunch, walk back to street fair and then heading downtown to walk the BB.. which I have never done, neither has my brooklyn born%26amp;raised friend (How is that possible??) I have been dying to do this since I started checking into this site and have read all the rave reviews.
Thanks again for all the info.. we will def. put mary poppins on our list.!
-stacy
hi i have been quoted 拢700 each for 5 nights , where can i find a cheaper deal from uk
What does your package include? You%26#39;ll likely get more responses if you posts specifics.
I agree it would help to know what the package is. For a group that large, you should be dealing specially with group sales of whoever is selling the pkg. NOT just an online website.
Should have added for WHEN is this trip? There are theater packages, packages around certain holidays etc.
I have tickets to the Lion King at the Minskoff theater however another document I saw listed it as being at the New Amsterdam. Are they one and the same, two different shows, or what? I%26#39;m confused!
The Lion King played the New Amsterdam since opening in 1997, and recently moved to the Minskoff to make way for Mary Poppins.
Thanks Bettina, I thought maybe I had tickets to a second rate LK show!
We will be in NY this Friday through Monday. Each time we come we like to try a different ethnic restaurant. We have tried Indian, Tai, German, Japanese, Hungarian and of course Italian. We don%26#39;t like really hot, spicy food. When we had Indian and Tai we went with a mild entree. What are some good restaurants where we could try something different? Prefer a moderate price range. We will be staying at the Milford Plaza but are pretty good with the subways so it doesn%26#39;t have to be someplace close to the hotel. Thanks for your help.
How about some soul food - try Sylvia%26#39;s in Harlem @ 318th Lenox Avenue/127th Street.
This place is great, a bit touristy but who cares.
Here%26#39;s a review:
Though it%26#39;s lost few if any acolytes, Sylvia%26#39;s is hardly a Harlem hangout anymore. On any given night, you can find more Columbia students there than you can in study hall, not to mention Asian tourists by the busload. Still, that hasn%26#39;t changed Her Majesty%26#39;s covenant by one black-eyed pea. The hot ribs still fall right off the bone. Pork chops induce finger-licking. And desserts like coconut cake are deliriously good.
It really is good!
Poppa
Thanks, Poppa. That%26#39;s a good possibility. Have a friend who recently moved from Queens to Spanish Harlem. Haven%26#39;t ever explored up in that area but plan to this trip since he now lives up there.
How about Chinese food for brunch. I would recommend Dim Sum a Go Go in Chinatown. Excellent food, moderately price, more modern and nicer than other dim sum restaurants in the area. Safe travels.
Puerto Rican and Cuban food is very good, and it is not really spicy at all (I hate hot chili peppers myself, and these cuisines don%26#39;t use them.) Unfortunately, I cannot give you any places to go, but I am sure there are some here who could make a recommendation, or you could simply (for example) look in the Zagat%26#39;s guide, or do a search for ';best Puerto Rican restaurant New York'; and read the reviews. If you go, try the ';pernil';, which is a very tasty garlic flavored roast pork.
Belgian? (Petite Abeille)
Dominican? (Casa Mon Amour)
Turkish? (Turkish Kitchen)
Cuban? (drawing a blank)
Basque/Tapas? (Euzkadi)
Moroccan? (Mogador)
How about Turkish? There are quite a few good places. I%26#39;ve been to Sip Sak on Second Avenue around 49th Street. The portions are large and can generally be shared, or you can get a few different appetizers to make a meal. I also enjoyed Turkish Cuisine on Ninth Avenue in the low 40s. The cuisine is not spicy, so you shouldn%26#39;t have a problem with that.
There%26#39;s also a place on Ninth Avenue called Afghan Kebab House that I%26#39;ve always enjoyed. Again, not spicy, and very tasty (not just kebabs, either).
You can read about all of these restaurants on www.menupages.com.
Thanks so much for the replys. We were actually thinking of Cuban, Ethopian or Afghan food so thanks for the suggestions. But, we haven%26#39;t made (and won%26#39;t until the time comes) a final decision yet so I appreciate all suggestions.
For Cuban nearish your hotel, Havana Central Times Square. (Do you know about menupages.com? Go there for reviews, menus, addresses, searching etc.) There%26#39;s also Victor%26#39;s Cafe but it%26#39;s too pricey imo.
9th ave. (one avenue west of your hotel) has lots of ethnic options. There%26#39;s an Ethiopian near your hotel called Meskerem (I%26#39;ve not tried it).
menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp鈥?/a>
FYI, Spanish Harlem and Harlem are not the same. One%26#39;s east and one%26#39;s west.
nymag.com/realestate/鈥arlem.htm
For Cuban food try Caridad. It is Cuban/Chinesel but you want the Cuban menu. Strictly locals and it is moderately priced. Located at 78th and Broadway. Take the #1 local from Times Square to 79th Street station on Broadway.
For a truly local flavor try Malecon, Cuban and Puerto Rican dishes - 97th St. and Amsterdam Avenue. Large portions, moderate price. Ambiance - nil. Take #2 or #3 express to 96th Street. You are not likely to find tourists in this restaurant.\
We, too, have Ethiopian and Afghan on our agenda for this trip - if you put Ethiopian in the search box above Queensboulevard gave me some wonderful etiquette/how to eat Ethiopian tips a couple of weeks ago. We%26#39;re going to one of the restaurants waaay up on the UWS so might not be where you will be.
Hi
looking for a good quality, clean, safe hotel in Manhattan for a stay with my two sons, but would really prefer separate beds for us all, guess looking for a double with either a sofa bed or roll away. Anyone got any suggestions, I have been looking at Embassy Suites but wondered if there are any other options out there. Am willing to pay around $400 per night, intending to travel July next year
Thanks for any help
There are lots of hotels that are suite hotels which will have 2 beds plus a sofabed (either in a studio suite--all one room or a one bedroom with separate living/bedroom). The Doubletree Suites in Times Square is more centrally located than the Embassy Suites and may fit your budget in July (it%26#39;s usually a lot more than Embassy suites though). Affinia.com is a group of 7 suite hotels, all good and all midtown (central). But Embassy Suites is nice in the summer near the water, so that%26#39;s a good option too.
Hi everyone,
My boyfriend and I are visiting New York City next week - we can%26#39;t wait. We were there a few years ago and went to Webster Hall - and loved it. I%26#39;ve been researching for good nightlife and places to go and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on a good dance club. We are 26 and 24 and like Top 40 and/or 80%26#39;s and nothing too expensive. It doesn%26#39;t need to be the most popular place or anything - just somewhere were we can drink and dance and not worry about having to get really dressed up. (Well, I don%26#39;t mind but my boyfriend does!) I%26#39;ve read Bleecker Street is a good spot for bars - are there places to dance too? We%26#39;re staying in Times Square so I wasn%26#39;t sure if this was very far from us or not. Any suggestions would be really appreciated!
Thanks,
Chrissy
Try clubplanet.com, and you can also get on guestlists there.
However, most clubs in NYC expect you to dress up.
You can try many bars in the St. Marks section... but there%26#39;s no dancing. Also try 8th Street (by NYU).
We didn%26#39;t get the chance to try too many bars from this site but the ones we did were exactly as they were described!
http://www.murphguide.com/
Have fun, and report back!
Thanks everyone - I%26#39;ll check out those sites!
For a classic NYC giant dance club experience, go to Crobar!! If you liked Webster Hall, you%26#39;ll probably like crobar. No guarantee of %26#39;80s music, though.
http://crobar.com/
Velvet List is another good website for listings:
http://www.velvetlist.com/
Thanks! Another question - what should my boyfriend wear? I have club clothes since I go dancing alot with friends - I was thinking dress pants and a nice shirt for him. Is that okay? I want to make sure he packs the right stuff.
murphsguide is great, lots of info... check it out.
Im not much into ';clubs';, but I do know that culture club does the ';retro'; thing, playing lots of 80s music, huge dance floor and its fun.
bleeker street is more bars/pubs with live music where you end up dancing.. not necessarily ';club'; atmosphere.. (no dressing up!) but definately fun..
We%26#39;ll definitely have to check out Bleeker Street - sounds like alot of fun. Thanks for your help.
He doesn%26#39;t have to wear real flashy things, but dress shoes is a must - no way will he gain entrance with sneakers. Bouncers are usually more strict on males, as I%26#39;ve gotten into clubs with extremely plain clothes before.
Thanks for your help everyone! We had a great time in NYC - we ended up going to Webster Hall and got in for free by signing up on the guest list at velvetlist.com. We had a blast! You can save alot of money with that site!
We just booked a week stay in New York during Christmas. I am so excited!! I am trying to work out what we will be doing Christmas day. Generally are things open? Are people out and about? What about Christmas dinner? Is there somewhere spetacular I should get reservations for?
I am so excited... I think I said that already :)
CaribJaime, we too have booked for the Christmas week. I hope there is good response to your post. We are looking for a good place to have Christmas dinner and also, for me a good place to watch my Cowboys play ball. Also, to you guys from NYC, Is there an area with Christmas decorations that we could rent a limo and see??
Thanks
Chipper
I would recommend the Dyker Heights area of Brooklyn for over the top, fantastic xmas decorations - hugh homes with unbelievable displays.
鈥bout.com/od/鈥ndex.htm
NYC Girl,
Thanks a lot. If I am staying near Bryant Park, would a limo, taxi, or Subway be the way to view the lights in this neighborhood.
Thanks in advance
Chipper
I have been to New York on Christmas last year and the year before. The first year we went to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular a great thing to do on Christmas Day. the year after we went to our favorite play, Phantom of the Opera.
I really can%26#39;t recommend the restaurants I ate on Christmas Day. The first year I ate at Tavern on the Green. I have been there before and knew what to expect. I did it just for the atmosphere. But $150 a person for very mediocre food may not be worth it to all just for the pretty room. Last years dinner isn%26#39;t even worth mentioning. As time gets closer you can check on opentable.com for restaurants open on Christmas Day.
We had gone to Radio City in the afternoon, then went to Rockefeller Center to see the tree. We had dinner out that night. It was a wonderful Christmas with my daughter.
It was busy near Rockefeller Center. Otherwise, it is not as busy as usual, but people are out and about.
My only chance to see Dyker Heights would be after an evening play , so it would be about 11:30pm. Is that to late to walk around the area?
To CaribJAIME first.....some things are open on Xmas day like some restaurants, all movie theaters, some Broadway shows, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, the ice skating rinks. But the shops and museums are closed. People (esp. tourists) are definitely out and about.
I%26#39;ll give you a link to a long post we did last year about holiday meals. If money is no object, the quintessential place would be the River Cafe (in Brooklyn with outstanding views of the NY skyline and great food).
Rivercafe.com
I don%26#39;t know when they start accepting reservations for Xmas. They book on opentable.com
The Rock Center Cafe and the Sea Grill both look out onto the ice rink at Rockefeller Center but WARNING, they both get really busy and service on Xmas day can be a problem.
tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k312227-鈥?/a>
To Josula, I don%26#39;t think Dyker Heights at 11:30 is a good idea. I would think some of the houses (if not all) turn the lights off at midnight or before.
Thanks ny, Maybe I can work something else out. It sounds like a must see.
Are the %26#39;big brand shops%26#39; open on 25 december?
Also, in NYC: are these big shops generally open on sundays?
Thank you, Bye
also: do the sales start at 26 december?
thank you, Bye
Fred78-- Most stores are closed on the 25th but the sales do start ,in a big way, on the 26th.
We are finally going to tie the knot in our favourite city, next year.
we%26#39;re arriving on 31st October 2007 after sailing over on the QM2, and then staying for 4 nights.
we hope to get married on Friday 2nd November 2007, time and place to be arranged!!
I have been reading all the wedding posts on this forum for a few months now and found them all really useful, so Thank You to everyone who has posted about their wedding experiences in NY!!
No doubt I will be around pestering you all for additional help!
gem x
Another great place for local NYC wedding advice is the NYC local boards on theknot.com. Good luck!
Great choice! Congratulations.
Will you be arriving in time to celebrate the Halloween Parade in the Village? What a first night that%26#39;d be!
ooh a parade!I didn%26#39;t know anything about that - must go and investigate further.....!!!
Many congrats ... and do check things out for Halloween in NYC - it%26#39;s a HUGE event in the West Village!
Congratulations on your forthcoming marriage - you certainly are making your plans well in advance!
You will absolutely adore the QM2 - we did the transatlantic trip to NY earlier this year, arriving in time for Indpendence Day on 4th July. This was my first time on a cruise, but hopefully it won%26#39;t be the last, and the QM2 was fantastic!
Do you know which hotel you will be staying in when you are in NY yet? I have to say, we weren%26#39;t very happy with the one we stayed at.
Jacqui
could you please tell me when you did the crossing i want to go in june i just dont know about the weather in london and in mid atlantic on the qe2 thanx
In answer to your question 2/15/48, we departed Southampton on the QM2 on 27th June this year, arriving in Brooklyn New York on Monday 3rd July. The weather in Southampton was sunny and warm when we left. However, the weather on the crossing was changeable, so I%26#39;m afraid you may have to take clothing to account for all weathers. Most days it was quite chilly out on deck and very windy at times, particularly later in the evening; one night they actually closed off some of the decks, as it was felt to be dangerous to venture on to some of them. However, on one or two of the days, it was really hot and sunny - real sunbathing weather, when it was lovely to lie out on the loungers, although this was on back of the ship, where the sun fell on it best and it was much less breezy. We got up early when we were due to arrive in Brooklyn and went out onto deck at about 4.30 am, when we were surprised to find how warm it was, particularly at that time of the morning - we certainly didn%26#39;t need our coats. I have to say this was one part of the trip that I enjoyed the most - to see New York in darkness, passing under the Brooklyn Bridge and past the Statue of Liberty, with them all lit up, and we were of course accompanied into the docks by the coastguard, both in boats and helicopter - it was a very special experience.
I cannot of course predict the weather you will have when you go next year, although whatever the weather, it it just the right temperature indoors and what it is doing outside does not of course affect you inside!
Anyway, I am sure you will enjoy yourself and I hope this post helps!
Kind regards,
Jacqui
We are going for 4 days/3 nights over Thanksgiving and it will just be my mother-in-law, my daughter (she%26#39;s 7), and myself.
Will it be too cold to walk around Central Park then? I was thinking about taking my mother-in-law to Tavern on the Green for lunch and then a carriage ride, but I don%26#39;t want her to be uncomfortable. She won%26#39;t be able to do a lot of walking so I thought the carriage ride would be nice. She really doesn%26#39;t mind the cold, but I don%26#39;t want it to be unbearable.
Any must-dos in Central Park for us three ladies? :O)
We were in NYC the weekend before Thanksgiving last year and did the carrige ride in the park and the weather was perfect. We actually had to buy a bag to carry around the scarves and sweaters we had put on that morning when we left our hotel we were so hot.
By the way, we also did Tavern on the Green and it wasn%26#39;t that great. It%26#39;s worth having a look but I certainly wouldn%26#39;t go back. Next time we%26#39;re going to eat at the Boathouse, it looks much better and gets pretty good reviews. Check out both places web sites.
http://67.59.176.121/tg1003/newsite/index.asp?headinfo=home
thecentralparkboathouse.com/sections/home.htm
We can get zapped with a premature cold front, but usually the weather around Thanksgiving is only mildly cold.
Thanks for the replies.
Definitely going to plan on going and to check out the Boathouse instead of Tavern on the the Green.
My mother-in-law is treating us to this trip so I wanted to do something special for her while we are there.
Have fun - I%26#39;m jealous. Also, what a generous mother-in-law!
I would also strongly suggest the Boathouse rather than Tavern on the Green. There are plenty of other choices too, if you want some. Tavern on the Green is cosidered very mediocre and overpriced with poor service. Imo, it%26#39;s at it%26#39;s very worst on holidays.
Cafe Des Artistes is another nice restaurant not IN the park but not far from Tavern on the Green. Here%26#39;s their Thanksgiving menu which sounds great.
cafenyc.com/cafedesartistes/鈥oliday.pdf
Add my vote for The Boathouse over TOTG.
As for the weather, you%26#39;ll have to wait and see, but certainly The Boathouse is easily accessible from Fifth Avenue even if it is too cold to do much walking.
Thanks everyone...
And thanks for the Thanksgiving menu nywhiz - it sounds wonderful and we were still looking for a place to have Thanksgiving dinner.
I%26#39;m so glad you all gave me the heads up on TOTG - we will definitely choose another option. Thanks - glad we didn%26#39;t go and get disappointed. :O)
It%26#39;s such a shame about TOTG b/c it%26#39;s SUCH a pretty spot, especially during the holidays. But they just don%26#39;t give a darn. I went there one year for Thanksgiving and we waited for HOURS for our table (I learned it%26#39;s always better to book earlier on T%26#39;day) and then endless waits for cold, tasteless food. Maybe try it for lunch on another day just to see the place.
We just ate at the Boathouse in May, several suggested over TOTG and they were right, much better food. But the white Christmas lights at TOTG would be spectacular this time of year....maybe good for dessert or drinks some other time! I also agree with Cafe des Artistes- very memorable but small so get your reservations! We had Thanksgiving in 2003 at ';One if by Land TIBS'; and it was very ';homey'; for a holiday meal- 212-228-0822 at 17 Barrow St. (7th Ave. S %26amp; W 4th St.)....Enjoy! Patty
We just ate at the Boathouse in May, several suggested over TOTG and they were right, much better food. But the white Christmas lights at TOTG would be spectacular this time of year....maybe good for dessert or drinks some other time! I also agree with Cafe des Artistes- very memorable but small so get your reservations! We had Thanksgiving in 2003 at ';One if by Land TIBS'; and it was very ';homey'; for a holiday meal- 212-228-0822 at 17 Barrow St. (7th Ave. S %26amp; W 4th St.)....Enjoy! Patty
Hi Guys
We are staying near 80th street and Riverside Drive in Manhattan. What transport would you recommend to use from Newark Airport.
We arrive in Newark on a Friday afternoon.We are looking for something to do in that evening.Dont want much maybe just dinner and drinks as we maybe a bit jet lagged after the flight.any recommeds?
Thanks
Car service (call when you clear customs/immigration) Carmel%26#39;s number is 1-800-922-7635 - and the call is free from any pay phone. (about $45_tip+tolls for a total of about $60
Taxi - FROM THE TAXI DISPATCHER (About $55+tip+tolls for a total of about $70)
Train to Penn Station then Taxi to your hotel ($12 per person+taxi fo about $10)
Thanks for that.
Can anybody recommed a place for food and drinks in that area.
Thanks
Try www.nyairportservices.com
I am $68 return for my daughter and I from JFK - Manhattan (return)
There are literally dozens of great restaurants and places for drinks within just a few easy blocks of your hotel - just walk east on 80th Street two to four blocks to Broadway, Amsterdam or Columbus Avenues. There are many restaurants on each Avenue, as well as all the streets between - all kinds and prices - you%26#39;ll be sure to find something that you will love. A couple recommendations of places that I particularly enjoyed:
Sarabeth%26#39;s - Amsterdam between 80th %26amp; 81st
Popover Cafe - Amsterdam %26amp; 86th
Cafe Lalo - 83rd between Broadway %26amp; Amsterdam
Here%26#39;s a block by block map of the great area where you%26#39;ll be staying - click and see all the choices you have, I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ll find many great places....
http://www.nysite.com/mergeo2.htm
Next summer myself and my husband are hoping to go to NYC and bring my step-daughter (12) and my nephew (14). At the moment I%26#39;ve gotten a quote from Expedia.co.uk but was wondering how/where all you Irish / UK travellers booked your trip to NYC? I can%26#39;t decide whether to book it all with Expedia or book flights and hotels separately....so far there%26#39;s very little difference in the prices.....between 拢2500-3500 for 4 of us for flights and 5ngts in a suite taking all of us (2* upwards). Is this about average for July?
Personally I prefer to book flights and acc seperately. Mainly because often travel agents don%26#39;t offer the hotels I like plus I like to deal with the hotel direct for my own peace of mind.
I can%26#39;t comment on the price as I%26#39;ve never travelled in July and I always stay in budget accomodation. What hotel is Expedia quoting you for? For budget but clean central acc try Radio City Apartments www.radiocityapartments.com
last time i booked flights via travel agents and hotel via expedia, this time ive booked it all thru expedia.. me and a friend staying in a dorm with flights taxes etc 拢407 dec 7-12th .. the price u got sounds pretty good for the whole family :o)
I have always booked everything seperately. 1st time I flew with Aer Lingus but last time I found Continental cheaper. When booking a hotel I always go for cheap and cheerful. Once it is clean and location is OK I dont mind because all you will do is sleep there.
You will find flights are expensive in July. Hope you have a wonderful trip.
Hi ,i too cannot comment on the price you%26#39;ve got, as we%26#39;re going in march and got our tickets through delta-all five of us at 160.20 each!Accomadation we%26#39;ve booked radio city apartments.We%26#39;re going for 10 days and the whole trip excluding spends will just be over 拢2,000 purely because of the cheap air fare.For July(which is when we were going to originally the flights alone were coming out as more than that.If there is not much in it, i would book seperately as usually, there is a lot more choice in rooms within the hotels that travel companies don%26#39;t offer.For example, many companies just offer standard rooms,whereas the hotel website will probably have suites which could work out cheaper.Your best bet, is to look at the hotels expedia offer than check out the hotels websites and see what they have availible and take it from there.
Thanks for all your replies. I%26#39;ve looked at Continentals website and they%26#39;re quoting around 拢2000 for flights direct from Dublin which is the same as Expedia and not a bad price really.
I%26#39;m having some trouble finding hotels with the correct bed configuration (3 beds min). The only workable hotel that Expedia has for us is the Salisbury Hotel (2*) and they%26#39;re quoting 拢2700 for flights and hotels
Doing it separately.....Hotel Conxions have 1 hotel that will work - $1600 for 1-bed suite at Kimberly Hotel but I%26#39;ve not used Hotel Conxions before....anyone got any experience? I%26#39;m trawling through the other websites at the moment!
Are you talking Euro or Pound Stg.
Have you tried going to the hotel%26#39;s direct - www.nycsalisbury.com
I also think the 2-bed apartment at Radio City Apartments would be suitable for you - It had one double and one twin room and also a sofa bed in the front room......
Pound Stg for the Expedia ones.
RCA is charging $255 a night before tax in July
Salisbury Hotel website says they%26#39;ve nothing available at that time. Radio City Apartments are doable....they%26#39;re quoting $1500 for 5ngts for 2-bed apartment. Will have to check out the reviews on TA. Which would you pick?
Hi,
We have been reading this site for a couple of weeks for hints and tips on new york city as we are going for six nites from 29th December till 4th January.
we had orginally planned to go to times square for the new year celebrations but have read some on here saying that the central park celebrations are better, so the question is for those in the know is, Which is better? Times square or Central park?
We are a young scottish couple so we like a wee drink to celebrate new years eve lol but we have heard there is no alcohol allowed at the times square celebrations, is alcohol allowed in Central Park?
Any other suggestions for New year in New york welcome!!!
Times Square is NOT the place to be. You%26#39;re corralled into pens starting before noon, and must stand there until after midnight, with no alcohol, no backpacks, and -- worst of all -- no bathrooms!
Come to Central Park. Yes, it%26#39;s true that alcohol isn%26#39;t allowed. But you might sneak a bottle of champers in.
thanks for your quick reply, we are really starting to sway towards central park now, have you any other suggestions for a good new years eve in the big apple?
I%26#39;m not into clubbing or anything. Just an old homebody. For me, a quiet dinner and a new year%26#39;s toast in the park is about all I can handle. But there are certainly lots of places to celebrate in New York. I%26#39;d suggest posting back in early December and ask about new year%26#39;s eve partying.
Going to the park will not take up the whole evening. The park has fireworks at midnight (and a run you can watch or participate in). Sounds like you might prefer going to a club or restaurant and maybe checking out the fireworks at midnight:?
thanks again guys!!
Yeah nywhizz thats prob what well do, a club then the fireworks, then back to a club lol,
but well check back in december as u say bettina
If I were not on duty, and being paid time-and-a-half on overtime in order to keep cold, liquorless, bathroom-less people standing in the same cattle pen for hours on end, I would rather have needles shoved under my fingernails than spend New Years Eve in Times Square.
I hope that answers your question.
Arriving at JFK at 14.30 Friday, to save money i thought it might be worth taking the NY Airport Service Bus, as the terminal doesn%26#39;t seem far from hotel, but is it a long walk with a suitcase? or should i choose airlink instead (for me and my brother age 29 and 33)
First, it%26#39;s not the terminal but Grand Central (terminal) Locals call it Grand Central. If you just say the terminal, no one will know what you%26#39;re talking about. ;)
Your hotel is not far from the Grand Central stop of the Airport express bus. For a few dollars more, they will give you a lift to your hotel if you don%26#39;t want to walk it.
Even cheaper, is the AirTrain to the subway ($7/person) If you want to do that, take the AirTrain at JFK to the E train. Take the E train to Manhattan and get out at Lexington %26amp; 51 st. You could change there for the 6 train (downtown) to Grand Central, or just hop in a taxi to your hotel for prob. another $5.
Gosh, I%26#39;m sorry I reread your post and misunderstood you. What I said about Grand Central is true, but it%26#39;s just a train station. But if you meant the bus terminal, there%26#39;s not really a bus ';terminal'; at/near Grand Central for this bus. The bus stops at 125 Park Ave. between 41-42 st. My directions are still ok.
Ok, thank you for the info. I looked up and had misread too, as i thought there was a bust terminal by grand central, so at least that has cleared it up for me!
I just wondered how long the walk would be from the bus stop to the NY Helmsley hotel?
Depends on how much luggage you have and whether you have wheels on it. Under normal conditions, I estimate it would take you 5-10 minutes with a suitcase with wheels. You just turn right at the corner of 42nd and Park and walk east on 42nd Street until you reach the NY Helmsley, which is on 42nd between 2nd and 3rd.
I have a chance to buy rt tickets from Portland to ISP for $99 each way. I%26#39;m thinking about booking for February in hopes of seeing snow. How far is this airport and what are the transportation options from that airport to Manhattan? I can get Radio City Apts for $115 a night! Sounds like I can%26#39;t pass it up.
The airport is about sixty miles east of Manhattan, and transportation is not convenient. A taxi will cost about $100 to the city -- the alternative is to take a cab to Ronkonkoma train station and then the long train ride in.
Thanks GWB. I haven%26#39;t booked it. Sounds like too much trouble for the savings that would just be spent on transportation. I appreciate your help. Sounded good, though.
It%26#39;s not ideal but at those prices, it%26#39;s not so terrible as long as you arrive at ISP at a decent hour . You take a shuttle or taxi to the train station and then a Long Island Railroad commuter train to Penn station. Here%26#39;s a link to the train schedule. The train trip takes about an hour but you will have to change trains.
www.mta.nyc.ny.us/lirr/html/ttn/ronkonko.htm
Occasionally you will be able to find someone else onboard who may want to share the cost of a car service/taxi.
They try to catch you with the $99 each way, but I found Delta fares of $234 to LGA. I think the extra $34 per person would be money well spent.
I agree, $34 for the convenience of LGA is terrific !
Judy, since there is no guarantee of seeing snow when you come to New York, why not just drive up to Mt. Hood any time you want and see snow? I%26#39;m not being facetious - that way you can enjoy as much or as little as you want, and come to New York when the weather is comfortable for all the walking you will be doing.
I%26#39;m sorry, Warmwinds. I didn%26#39;t see until now that anyone else had responded. That is a good question. Mt Hood is beautiful, but it%26#39;s a two hour drive up a mountain to get there from here. If I had a four wheel drive I might try it. As it is you can%26#39;t even get there most of the time without chains. Also, we have snow so rarely here that nobody knows how to drive in it. Therefore there are accidents everywhere. It%26#39;s just not worth the trouble getting there, not to mention the expense. If I were a skiier I would probably figure out an easier way, but if you don%26#39;t ski there isn%26#39;t anything else to do up there.
Does that make sense?
Judy, I completely agree with you that I hate to drive in the snow - it%26#39;s pretty to look at, and if you%26#39;re a kid fun to play in, but I hate slip-sliding around and all the negatives of driving, shoveling, the cold, etc. But since you wanted to see snow, I just felt you were GUARANTEED snow if you went up to Mt. Hood, whereas if you planned a trip to New York looking for it it may or may not be there.
We are from British Columbia Canada and I am giving my husband a Christmas gift this year - A trip to New York . We arrive Christmas Eve and Leave New Years Day. He is retiring from our city Fire Department in January after 30 years of service and I know he will be grateful to pay his respects to his comrades of NYC while still on duty. We are staying at the Novotel (hope it is clean and friendly).
Question: How can I arrange for him to visit a few firehalls, exchange some shirts (we did this in Europe) and is Ground Zero a place where we can pay our respects. Any information or help would be greatly appreciated.
I can%26#39;t tell you anything about visiting firehouses, but you can pay your respects at Ground Zero. I wanted to let you know I have stayed at Novotel several times. It is in a convenient location and a very nice hotel.
When you are at the WTC site make sure you go to St. Paul%26#39;s Chapel which is nearby and was used by the rescuers and other workers at the site. It also has some memorials inside and is of interest in itself since it is one of the oldest churches in NYC. You can visit any firehouse by just going there. The garage doors are always open and the fire fighters are always willing to talk to any visitor as long as they do not have a call and particularly to another fire fighter. There is also a Fire Fighters Museum which is not far from the WTC site. See Link:
www.theinsider.com/nyc/museums/1nycfire.htm
Would like some advice please regarding tickets to this sold out show. Coming over from Ireland and want to treat my husband for his birthday. As our trip is only for a few nights I don%26#39;t think a last minute purchase will work for us (hubby not into queuing) Have been on a number of sites selling tickets anything from $250 to $500+ Some have restricted views and others are at the back row x Mezz. Has anyone been to this show or been to this theatre that could give me some idea on best seats without costing the earth.
Thanks in advance
Laura
Last minute purchase for jersey boys won%26#39;t happen, try something else like Drowsy Chaperone, everyone seems to like it a lot.
I went directly to the theater in October looking for matinee tickets for this winter (Jan, Feb or March) to see Jersey Boys. Could not get matinee tickets until July. People were in line for last minute seats for that days perfermance. There may have been 6 available and there were standing room tickets available for that day also. The box office opens at 12 on (I think) and people were in line by about 10:30
Another thought-----the hotel concerige (spelling?) told me that he can get tickets but they will cost $300 each!!! ouch!!!
Just checked with Applause Broadway and they seem to have tickets for face value. Now I%26#39;m worried as noone else seems to have them. Does anyone know if these are reliable.
Guess this is URGENT as would need to book them straight away.
Thanks
I wouldn%26#39;t pay $300 for Anything! I%26#39;d suggest taking your chances at the box office for cancellations or SRO. Here%26#39;s the deal on SRO:
playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/82428.html
While the article says they sell SRO tickets two hours prior, I%26#39;m sure there%26#39;s a line of people waiting there long before then. You might just stop by the box office and ask them what time people generally get there.
Unfortunately, this is a very popular play so any good tickets are going to cost you. We bought premium tickets four months in advance (for the first time in our lives!) for this play and were in row J right in the center--great seats! Another poster recently said that they sat in row X and said that they had an obstructed view. It seems that the balcony overhang blocks the view of the upper level of the stage. The set is such that there is a catwalk above the stage and some of the action occurs there. Some time ago another poster managed to get same day tickets to this play. She bought 2 tickets that were in different parts of the theater and for the third ticket, they bought from a scalper outside the theater. You could try this but there is no guarantee that you will find tickets or that a scalper is selling you legitimate tickets.
www.applause-tickets.com is very reliable. A broker but doesn%26#39;t charge the earth. See what they can do. If those ';face value'; tickets were from them, buy them!
Thanks everyone. Just got tickets for MEZZ Row L for the 31st Oct for $300 for the two. Very happy indeed, as you say NYWhiz Applause Tickets didn%26#39;t overcharge plus they don%26#39;t hike it up on the service charge either.
Only problem now is I hope the flight won%26#39;t be delayed as we only get in at 13.00 and the show is at 19.00
What a way to start our New York trip:-)
Laura
Laura, I%26#39;m glad you were able to get tickets! This play is well worth the money! Enjoy your stay.
I agree, glad you got the tickets for a fabulous show- it is worth every cent.
Enjoy your trip and we look forward to hearing about it when you return home.
We%26#39;ll do tour of SoL and Ellis Island in the morning and should be back in Battery Park by lunch. Would like to have lunch somewhere there with a good vendor being a possibility. (I know the hazards :) but I%26#39;d like my kids to have the experience!) Thanks!
If you want to have the experience, head up Broadway to Liberty Street, where that little park is -- every kind of food vendor imaginable is there at lunch time.
So after looking over our jam-packed itinerary we decided to extend our stay by one more day (and with it only $20 to change both plane tickets, who could blame us?).
Our itinerary already includes all of the follow (Circle Line 3 hour tour, Empire State Building, Genki Sushi, Serendipity, Teany, Greene Street Area Shooping, Daily Chow, Chinatown Shopping, John%26#39;s of Bleecker Street, Polka Dot Bakery, Les Mis, Avenue Q, Mary Poppins, taping of Conan O%26#39;Brian, Gray%26#39;s Papaya, Fifth Aveneu Shopping, Tea Box Cafe, Rockefeller Center, %26amp; The Met)
I would like a chance to roam around Central Park, but beyond that we don%26#39;t have any expectations, and are very open to suggestions!
If you had one more day in New York City, what would you do?
Congratulations, that%26#39;s a good move to add a day. What about spending the day exploring another borough, maybe Brooklyn or Queens? Central Park is always an excellent choice.
I would grab a drink @ the Boathouse in Central Park and if it%26#39;s not too cold then take a rowboat out for an hour or so. The Central Park Zoo is beautiful this time of year too. I would also check out the MOMA, the Guggenheim, or the Musuem of Natural History depending on where your interests lie. You may want to think about going to the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island too!
Brooklyn Heights and the promenade, and the Brooklyn Bridge
or
Long Island City or Astoria, and a visti to the Panorama at the Queens Museum
or
The Cloisters, Harlem, Columbia U. and the Upper West Side
Doublechecking some of your other posts, it appears you%26#39;re coming mid December at holiday time. What about ice skating? In the park?
It also appears you enjoy Asian things so I%26#39;d say what about the Society?
www.asiasociety.org/about/newbuilding.html
It%26#39;s on the upper east side, not far from the park.
Oh my word! How much do I love the idea of visiting the Asia Society?! That is fabulous!
Can one really row around central Park in Winter, is so, that would be lovely!
Thank you all for the kind words and advice!
Walk the Brooklyn Bridge.
Walk the Brooklyn Bridge.
Wow...you are amazingly full of energy...I would go the Metropolitan Museum of Art--make sure to go to the Egyptian part...you could spend a whole day!
A group of 20-something%26#39;s and I will be visiting NYC between Christmas and New Year%26#39;s. It is my first trip to NY, and I couldn%26#39;t be more excited about going. I know we will be visiting the traditional tourist stops, but we are also going to immerse ourselves in the NY holiday experience. What are some little-known suggestions of things to do while visiting during this time? We are going to be there for 4 full days and want to do as much as possible!
Most, if not all, of the Christmas-related activities I can think of are obvious and 100% tourist. Maybe the only exception is the Union Square holiday market thing, but it%26#39;s mostly junk being sold.
Head downtown to the Winter Garden (in the World Financial Center) to check out their tree and have a drink or a snack or go down to the Seaport. Walk behind the seaport to the cobblestone streets and you will feel like you are in a movie. There are tiny little restaurants and bars all decorated and none of them are truly mobbed with tourists. For a birds-eye view of the Rock Center Tree, head up to the fifth floor of Saks Fith Ave (right across the street) and go to SNAKS. They have a great view of everything and it is quiet and elegant. If you want to go ice skating, skip the Rock Center Rink and head over to Bryant Park. If you%26#39;re a sushi or celeb fan, make resevations @ Koi for dinner in the Bryant Park Hotel (make them now!)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art decorates its tree in the Medieval Sculpture hall with an amazing collection of 18th C. Neapolitan creche figures -- this is the only time of year to see them.
Try to avoid Times Square on New Year%26#39;s Eve!!!!!!!!!
We go every Christnmas for two weeks. We stay on the Upper East or West Side and head down into the heart of Manhattan through Central Park. The Park walk is beautiful. We do it every morning and night. The City welcomes guests in the morning, and glows,strutting its sutff, at night. New York knows how to do Christmas. Not sure where you are staying, but get to know your neighborhood if you can. The true beauty of New York is in interaction with the people. We like to find neighborhood restaurants with good food for lunch and dinner. Talk with the staff. We have made many friends and always look forward to seeing them again, each year.
Hi
Could anyone help me
We are arriving into Newark Airport n 26th October 2006 and staying with Friends in Long Island we intend to travel to Penn Station and then onto Central Islip
But could anyone tell us where we can leave our suitcases as we want to do a bit of sight seeing and shopping before we leave Manhattan
My cousin recently took a train out of Penn Station to Boston. She was on the Acela Express (Amtrak), and they had a special waiting area where they keep the luggage for you, and you can wander around until time for your train. You didn%26#39;t mention which train you were taking from Penn Station, but if it is Amtrak, they do have luggage holding areas if you have a ticket.
Chissis, Central Islip is on Long Island. They are taking the LIRR.
Drumneen, unfortunately the facilities for checked luggage in NYC are few and far between. The only facility at Penn Station is for people with tickets for Amtrak -- and you are not taking Amtrak. Because of terrorist bombings in lockers in the 1970s, there just are not any lockers in rail and bus stations in NYC.
You might also want to know that the term ';left luggage'; is not generally used in the US, and many people would misunderstand it to mean ';luggage that had been left behind accidentally'; -- that is, ';lost and found';.
Here%26#39;s the solution...
Walk to a hotel, any hotel. Tell the bellman that you%26#39;re checking in later in the day and you%26#39;d like him to store your bag till then.
Since your room isn%26#39;t ready... %26lt;wink%26gt;
It works.
Which should I do from the airport (EWR)?
Does anyone have a name for a hired car service?
I always use Carmel Limo from EWR, I have had good experiences with them (some have reported that theirs was not as good).
www.carmellimo.com
Check the website for discount coupons as well. Just know that each car is individually owned %26amp; operated.
We will be traveling to NY for a wedding on 4-1-07. We will be there probably from Thurs or Friday until Monday. We have a 5 yr old and was told we should probably stay near Times Square because it is centrally located to things we might do like Theatre District, Toys R Us, food, etc. Not sure if this is true or not so looking for some NY experts to give us advice on where to stay that is reasonably priced. Not sure what is considered reasonable in NY. Also, suggestions for fun things to do with a 5 yr old. Does it matter which airport we fly into? Any package deals for hotels with theatre tickets, etc. If so any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
I fly out Sunday 2nd trip this year - once you go there you will probably come back as hooked as everyone else. I stayed in The Salisbury and this time will be staying in The Wellington. Salisbury was excellent value (booked through Virgin) and was on 57th Street which was only about 10 minute walk to Times Square and the Theatres, Wellington is on 55th Street, there is a Planet Hollywood in Times Square to eat. There is a Madam Tusads again didnt visit this last time either.
There is a Natural History Musuem which you 5yr old may enjoy and also central park. I have yet to find out what exactly is in the park as last time run out of time to visit everything but I%26#39;m sure someone else will comment.
You could take a horse %26amp; carriage through the park. You could take a boat trip they may enjoy that.
This is only a few bits I%26#39;m sure others will come flooding in
left210 - I strongly suggest you get a NYC guide book and start your planning there.
Staying in midtown, Times Square is an expensive proposition, but it certainly is where a lot of the action is, however I would check out other possibilities.
You may want to check Virgin Atlantic or British Airways to see if they have any fly-stay packages.
I%26#39;ve gotten some good deals with both going to London, perhaps they have reciprocal arrangements for Brits in NYC.
So, guidebook, BA ,Virgin are good places to start.
Hope you find this helpful.
Poppa
There is no advantage to staying in the Times Square area, as with a 5-year-old in tow you will not be going to the theater anyway. (You really weren%26#39;t thinking of going to the theater with a 5-year-old, were you?) With that out of the way, your options become much more numerous. Some things a 5-year-old might enjoy would include the small but pleasant zoo in Central Park, the playgrounds in the park, and riding the Staten Island Ferry -- which of course is free.
If you can get the Salisbury, it%26#39;s a great idea. Two blocks from Central Park, and easy walking distance to midtown sites, including Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Fifth Ave., etc. Plus the Salisbury offers a kitchenette... very handy when traveling with a five-year-old, so you can always have snacks and drinks on hand. Other options are the Affinia properties, which offer kitchens.... like having your own apartment! I like the location of both the Affinia 50 and the Affinia Dumont.
Be sure to read through the reviews on this site before booking anything.
This time I have booked with lastminute.com and got virgin flights I would highly recommend virgin flights if you can get them as they offer you as much as you want drinks etc which would be handy with a small one.
I tried Virgin, Expedia, Lastminute, Thomas Cook and found lastminute the cheapest this time although virign were cheaper in April - it really is worth comparing the various packages offered by each company and as Bettina states the Salisbury is only couple of blocks from Central park.
The $3 continental breakfast they offer is also great value as much as you want to eat and drink for a small reasonable amount.
My room had 2 double beds, 2 comfortable chairs, writing desk, huge walk in wardrobe with safe and iron and ironing board. Small kitchen area with tea and coffee facilities, fridge and microwave.
Yes I did plan on taking our son to see The Lion King. He will be six by then and can easily sit through a 2 hour show. I was just told it would be more convenient and more things within walking distance if we stay in the Times Square area but I am completely open for any other suggestions. If we stay elsewhere, how do we get around? I heard it is expensive to use taxis and how safe is the subway? Also, how do I get the tour guide book recommended?
For ideas on touring with kids, here is a collection reports from families with younger kids.
tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k473208-鈥?/a> Collection_of_trip_reports_from_families_with_YOUNG KIDS
They will give you a jumping-off point. Great reviews, honest opinions. Most were first-time visitors and most are 3-6 day visits.
Go ahead and steal an itinerary, if you want!
Check out Time Out New York for Kids, a great magazine for children%26#39;s activities
www.tonykids.com
Happy reading!
Times Square isn%26#39;t walking distance to everything you want to do, but neither is anything else. Your best bet is to find a hotel in your price range and then determine if you like the neighborhood.
Cabs can be expensive for some trips, but aren%26#39;t bad for others. The subway is perfectly safe.
You can get the tour guide book that was recommended by going to your local library or bookstore. If your library has them, they%26#39;ll likely have more than one brand, so you can review several and see what you like. You will definitely benefit from starting with one before going further - you%26#39;ll need to make lists of things you want to do/see and where they are located, etc, and a guidebook will have lots of that in one place.
And the poster who suggested you fly with Virgin may not realize that you are flying within the US. They%26#39;re great when flying in from the UK, but you%26#39;re not doing that.
There are pros and cons to staying in Times Square. Agree with a 5-6 yr old, there may be more cons than pros. With kids, it%26#39;s nice if you can get a suite hotel for some extra space and a kitchen. Doubletree Suites Times Square is great, but pricey. Radio Ctiy Apartments is the budget suite hotel of choice near TS but not in it.
radiocityapartments.com
The Salisbury is closer to Central Park but not far from TS. Also suites, also good, a bit dated looking but clean.
nycsalisbury.com
Also near but not in Times Square, the Blakely is a great hotel. Some of their rooms are suites, some not.
The Beacon Hotel on the upper west side is a short cab or subway or bus ride. No, cabs are not expensive at all, but I guess everything is relative. The Beacon does have theater packages but I%26#39;m not sure you save any money. The Beacon is also an all suite hotel so you%26#39;d have more space and a kitchen but right now, rack rates on their website for your dates are high
The Affinia.com group is perhaps the best group of suite hotels. None of their hotels are right in Times Square but several are not far. The closest is Affinia Manhattan and that%26#39;s the cheapest for your dates.
It doesn%26#39;t matter which airport you use. La Guardia is closest so taxis or car service from there is cheapest, but pick the airline/flights that are best.
Unless you find some amazing package deal, I think I would book all the pieces separately to allow yourself flexibility for flights, hotels etc.
In addition to Lion King, Disney has another theater called the New Victory with shows especially for younger kids.
http://www.newvictory.org/
Mary Poppins (a huge hit in London) is just starting here too.
Another poster - annie238 - recently wrote that Frommers New York City is great for ideas for families with kids.
Another great website is Go City Kids
http://www.gocitykids.com/?area=197
Will be in NYC this Thur Oct 19 for three nights. I need some recs for the following areas. I am looking for restaurants in the $80 to $100 range EXCLUDING wine %26amp; drinks. NO Susci or pizza. Thur night something on Restaurant Row. Friday night going to Carnegie Hall for NY POPS so would like something in that general area for either before or after the show. Sat night Jersey Boys. Again something in the general area to allow for dinner before the show or something that serves late to go after the show. Thanks in advance. Where is nywhiz when you need her !!! This is my second post with no answers to the first one.
If you are interested in the NY deli experience, I would recommend the Carnegie Deli, just down the street from Carnegie Hall (7th Ave). The food is excellent and the portions are huge, so go hungry ;) . You can check them out online at carnegiedeli.com.
The PALM RESTAURANT and The PALM TOO are excellent steak and lobster restaurants, be prepared to pay a little more for the experience though, it is worth it and you%26#39;ll probably be dining next to a few celebrities !
What kind of restaurants deliver? Here at home the only thing delivered is pizza (bad pizza). I would like to have something really good delivered. Is there such a thing? We will be in the UES. Any ideas? Thanks.
I can%26#39;t speak for the UES, but I know that downtown, where I work , just about every kind of restaurant delivers: Chinese, Italian, Mexican, chicken, barbecue, Indian, diner, Cuban -- you name it. I would assume that restaurants in that neighborhood also deliver. What I suggest you do when walking around during the day is to stop in a likely looking place and ask if they deliver, and if the they have a menu for you to take (which they will if the answer to the first question was ';yes';)
You can also go to Menupages.com and sort both by location and feature -- and one feature you can sort by is ';Delivery';.
Suitcases everywhere! Red eye tomorrow night! I%26#39;m almost through asking questions!
Do you know where to find a delivery option on Menupages? I looked there and didn%26#39;t see it. That%26#39;s a good idea about asking around. Thank you once again.
GWB, as soon as I went back to Menupages (of course) it jumped out at me where to check for who delivers. Thanks for the tip.
Have a great trip.
Helen in Aus
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