Need a place to eat by Tenament Museum

My mom and I will be coming from Ellis Island to the Tenament Museum and will probably need to get a late lunch somewhere within walking distance. We like all types of food. Thanks for the help.

Need a place to eat by Tenament Museum

I%26#39;m planning on eating @ Katz%26#39;s for lunch the day we visit the Tenement Museum. If I%26#39;ve used Hopstop and Google maps correctly, I think they are in close proximity to each other. Perhaps one of the locals can verify this?

Need a place to eat by Tenament Museum

Katz is right up the street from the Tenament museum. Very close. We ate lunch at Katz and went exploring down a side street and ran right into the Tenament Museum (and were so disappointed that we hadn%26#39;t scheduled a visit! It%26#39;s on our list for our next trip!).

Our two visitors have already nailed it but here is

a vote for Katz%26#39;s. If you want to see what it is like

rent the movie ';when Harry met Sally'; and have what

she%26#39;s having. If you don%26#39;t get that just watch the

movie. There are other places but Katz%26#39;s is true

New York.

The sandwich portions at Katz are huge. I mean really big, enough for 4 people. Try to pick something you can share or plan on bringing the remainder back to your hotel fridge.

There are a lot of better alternatives to the %26#39;fast food%26#39; heart attack pastrami sandwiches at Katz%26#39;s Deli. Just walk a block or two further down Houston Street and eat at the %26#39;Clinton Bakery%26#39;. Or take the train one stop to Broadway %26amp; Houston and walk over to %26#39;Tomoe%26#39; (for sushi) or %26#39;Lupa%26#39; (for Italian) both on Thompson Street. Katz%26#39;s is a filled with tourist ..... which kinda makes it a ..... %26#39;tourist trap%26#39;.

Also - Right near the Tenement Museum - closer than Katz%26#39;s are several small interesting restaurants -- I think the one I%26#39;ve eaten in is on the SE corner of Orchard and Grand but I%26#39;ve been interested in the ones near by. If you want huge hunks of great pastrami go to Katz%26#39;s - otherwise, read menus - look inside -- try what seems right to you when you are there.

I like Katz and I think if you%26#39;re a tourist in the neighborhood it%26#39;s worth a one-time stop. The last time we were there was in Sept. during the Feast of St. Gennaro and one of the waitresses brought ciambellina/zeppole back to the restaurant to share! (they were delicious and still warm, amazing). As others have said though, there%26#39;s better food just around the corner.

My husband and I had great glasses of champagne and apps. at some little French brasserie (did I spell it right? usually I spell it so it references lingerie) in that area...people were sitting at tables outside in front of the place. It was packed and very good. Of course I can%26#39;t remember the name of the restaurant. They only took cash.

If it%26#39;s something light that you want there%26#39;s a cafe on the quite close to the museum shop called 88 Orchard (it%26#39;s on the corner of Orchard and Broome). It%26#39;s an interesting place..

88orchard.com/files/88Orchard_MenuMyprintsit鈥?/a>

For dessert go to Il laboratorio del Gelato right by the museum

Another vote for Katz%26#39;s. Take a short walk to little Italy and have some dessert at Ferraro%26#39;s on Grand Street.

row cell

big onion walking tour or walk the brooklyn bridge

Hi. We have most of an upcoming Monday ';free'; before catching a 4:30 PM. We%26#39;re staying in the Union Sq. area. On Mon. AM, we%26#39;re debating whether to take the subway to walk the Brooklyn Bridge, stroll the Brooklyn Promeade, etc., OR take a Big Onion walking tour (1:00-3:00 pm) of Greenwich Village. Do we have enough time to do the ';Brooklyn thing'; and take a subway back to our hotel before going to Penn Station for our 4:30 PM train? Any opinions of Big Onion walking tours? Thanks!

big onion walking tour or walk the brooklyn bridge

Walking the Brooklyn Bridge is a great experience that every visitor should do. The walking tours are fine -- though that particular company has come in for some criticism here because their groups can be so large as to be unwieldy -- but not as memorable as the bridge, imo.

big onion walking tour or walk the brooklyn bridge

We%26#39;ve heard some complaints that some of the Big Onion tours get too big so it%26#39;s hard to hear the guide. I think you have enough time to ';do the Brooklyn thing'; if you start early and have the route well planned. Here%26#39;s a thread on walking the Brooklyn Bridge

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k866178-鈥?/a>

Another idea is to do the

foodsofny.com

walking tour of the village if it isn%26#39;t sold out.

You had also mentioned the Brooklyn Promenade. I would

definitely include that. Here%26#39;s how. From Manhattan

take the R or 2-3 line to Brooklyn get off at Borough

Hall if you are on the 2-3 or Court street if you are

on the R (it really is the same station). The street

you will come out to is Montague Street. Walk the length of Montague (about 5 minutes unless you stop

to shop or eat) and you will come to the Promenade.

Walk the full length of the Promenade (enjoy the view)

then continue down the hill to Dumbo and explore some

more. In Dumbo find Washington Street go up the hill

and at the top you will see a set of stairs that leads

to the Brooklyn Bridge and you can proceed across the

Bridge back to Manhattan.

I am thinking of walking across the bridge as well. How long a walk is it? I was thinking of walking round trip is that doable?

Taxi from JFK to E 34th St

I am planning my first ever trip to NYC in the first week of May. I have read all the tips here regarding transfers from JFK to Manhattan and have decided a yellow cab is the easiest and less stressful option though the most expensive! Am I right in assuming that if I hand over $60 each way to the driver for the trip from the Delta terminal to the Affinia Dumont on E 34th St I would be doing the right thing?

Thanks.

Taxi from JFK to E 34th St

The flat fare is $45. You then pay tolls and tips. If for some reason he takes a bridge (versus the midtown tunnel) to Manhattan there are no tolls and all you have to do is tip on top of the $45. He should, btw take the tunnel but he may know something about traffic at the moment which makes it a bad idea! Assuming he takes the tunnel, at the end of your ride you hand him $60--which will include fare, tolls and tip!

For your return--the same thing applies. You pay at the END of your trip!

Taxi from JFK to E 34th St

OK thanks for the info - sorry I maybe didn%26#39;t express myself clearly. I do realise you pay at the end of the trip but I was more concerned that the guy wasn%26#39;t going to give me sh*t for not tipping enough! I realise that tipping is far more widespread there than it is in the UK - I just wanted to do the right thing. My $60 equates to a 20% tip (assuming tunnel toll paid) which I assume is perfectly acceptable - I don%26#39;t want to be called a cheapskate Brit - or worse!

Thanks again.

The Affinia Dumont is seven blocks south of the drop-off point for $15 shuttle buses that pick up at JFK. You could take one of those, then cross 42nd to Grand Central and catch a cab to the Affinia for about $5.

Or you could, conceivably, walk up Murray hill, wheeling your luggage if small, south on Park Avenue, and turn left at 34th, one more block. It will be the place with the J. Seward Johnson sculpture of a painter out front.

Which Hotel is better for first timer?

Hi,

I just wanted to ask Your opinion New Yorkers or the once who have experienced these hotels because I%26#39;m a first timer and really need help to choose hotel to squeeze in all of my activities here.

So which hotel is better for overall (value, location, room, amenities, etc)? Hilton Garden Inn Times Square or Comfort Inn Manhattan?

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!

Which Hotel is better for first timer?

They%26#39;re both good budget hotels. I think Hilton Garden Inn is a bit nicer with bigger rooms. Either is a good option and they%26#39;re not that far apart from each other.

Which Hotel is better for first timer?

Something to consider... every room at the Hilton Garden Inn Times Square comes with a microwave, mini-refrigerator %26amp; coffee maker. Those are not standard amenities at the Comfort Inn Manhattan; although you can request a microwave and mini-fridge, there apparently will be an additional charge and may not be available to you if other guests have already claimed them.

Also, you%26#39;ll have a somewhat better variety of restaurants in ';Hell%26#39;s Kitchen';, the immediate environs of the HGI, than right by that Comfort Inn in the Garment District.

Thank You Very Much for the immediate replies!

By the way HGI compared to Comfort Suites Times Square which is better? Do you think taking Comfort Suites Times Sq. with the comp. b%26#39;fast is worth taking?

Thank You Very Much Once Again!

You know, I mistaked the Comfort Inn you were asking about. I thought you were asking about the Comfort Inn Midtown. NEITHER the Comfort Inn Manhattan nor the Comfort Inn Times Square (which is not really near Times Square) are,as good a location as the Hilton Garden Inn---IMO. I believe the Hilton Garden Inn TS also offers a free cont. breakfast.

We always stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Times Square.

It is a great hotel and you can%26#39;t beat the location for shows, subway, restaurants etc. They have a

great restaurant that serves a delicious breakfast (which you pay for). However, they do not have a

complimentary continential breakfasts. We were

just there two weeks ago.

We love the Ramada Plaza New Yorker Hotel, espcially on our first visit. It has gone under a grand renovation and the rooms are very nice, especially the tower rooms. It%26#39;s at 8th and 34th and very central.

I%26#39;ve just checked out the Hilton Garden Inn Times Square and it doesn%26#39;t mention anything at all about a complimentary continental breakfast. All I can see is free tea/coffee service. Can anyone else throw any light on whether the free cont. breakfast service still exists?

In my opinion I wouldn%26#39;t pick a hotel based on a free breakfast. I%26#39;ve found the free breakfast deals more trouble than they are worth. The scramble to get in line and jockey around other tired tourists for some bagels to me just isn%26#39;t the way I like to start my day.

While I haven%26#39;t stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn it seems to get great reviews.

I%26#39;m sure there are plenty of affordable, more relaxing breakfast options near the Hilton.

Good luck with your search.

Please help us tweak our NYC Itinerary!

Hi There,

I%26#39;m back again, and asking you to please help us tweak our first trip to New York City. We will be there Easter Weekend (Thurs-Mon). The first couple of days will be just my 18 yr old daughter and me, so we%26#39;re hoping to get the shopping out of the way then. It looks like mostly I need help with restaurants. Some we%26#39;d like to try, if they%26#39;re near anything we have planned, are: Shake Shack/Ellen%26#39;s Stardust Diner/Roberto Passons?

We like are pretty simple eaters, nothing fancy necessary. Would love your ideas!

THURS: Arrive @ LGA at 11 am.

Have car service take us to Times Square Hotel.

* LUNCH IDEAS??????

Head over to 5th Avenue and do some window shopping

OR

Macy%26#39;s? What else is around Macy%26#39;s as far as shopping?*can we squeeze both Macys and 5th Avenue window shopping in to one afternoon? Are they within walking distance of each other?)

* Dinner @ Robert Passon

* GUYS %26amp; DOLLS @ Nederlander Theater

FRIDAY:

I%26#39;m still google earthing things, but I assume we can do this via cab or subway?

* KATZ DELI FOR LUNCH

* TENEMENT MUSEUM TOUR

* CHINATOWN

* TOP OF THE ROCK? If we want to see Sunset, how much time should we allow?

* Dinner ideas, please?

SATURDAY:

10 am BIG APPLE TOUR

Dinner Locally

SUNDAY:

8 am Catch Cab to Brooklyn Tabernacle

9 am Easter Service @ Brooklyn Tabernacle

What would you do if you were me? Somehow/Sometime in this day, I%26#39;d like to walk the Brooklyn Bridge. I%26#39;m thinking we could leave church, head somewhere for brunch/lunch-fancy not necessary (ideas,please?)

Back to hotel for a nap

3 pm WICKED

Trattoria for dinner

3 pm WICKED

After show dinner at Trattoria?

MONDAY: CENTRAL PARK until we catch 4 pm flight

**I appreciate any help!!**

Please help us tweak our NYC Itinerary!

You really don%26#39;t need a car service from LGA. A regular NYC yellow taxi from the taxi stand outside the terminal will be fine. For lunch on the first day, since you%26#39;re staying in Times Square and will likely eat there some evenings, I%26#39;d eat closer to Fifth ave. You don%26#39;t mention budget but a few ideas:

%26gt;the Cafe inside Saks Fifth ave. has some lovely views from the tables along the window. Food is pretty simple (soups, salads, sandwiches) but perhaps a bit pricey for what it is.

%26gt;Brasserie Ruhlmann in the Rockefeller Center complex is another idea-very pretty and some outdoor tables too.

%26gt;OR, use this as your opportunity to go to Ellen%26#39;s Stardust Diner which is between Times Square and Fifth ave.

Macy%26#39;s has lots of other stores around it on 34 st. including Gap, Old Navy, Victoria%26#39;s Secret. If you decide to do that instead, I%26#39;d go to Ayza for lunch, one of the few decent, pleasant places in that area. There%26#39;s also a restaurant in the basement of Macy%26#39;s that%26#39;s fine, but I find it depressing eating in a windowless basement.

I personally would do the Fifth ave. thing on arrival. There is some affordable shopping along Fifth ave. H %26amp; M has a location at Rockefeller Center. I%26#39;d also go up to Top of the Rock at that point. St. Patrick%26#39;s Cathedral and Saks are both across from Rock. Ctr. There%26#39;s also a food court in the basement of Rock. Ctr.

LOOK AT A MAP.

I%26#39;d head to Macy%26#39;s first thing on Fri. morning when it will be less crowded. (mornings are always better for shopping). Take the subway from there to the lower east side for Katz%26#39;s and the Tenement Museum.

hopstop.com

will help with directions. You take the F train but get out at different stops depending on whether you go to Katz%26#39;s or Tenement Museum first.

Dinner on Fri. Why not in Chinatown since you%26#39;re going there? If not, I%26#39;d head to Soho to some place like Bistro Les Amis. See another neighborhood besides Times Square/midtown.

It%26#39;s very easy to get a subway to Brooklyn on Sunday. The A train is what you need. A taxi will take the same time (~ 30 mins.) and cost $15+.

I don%26#39;t know that you%26#39;ll have time for the church service, brunch walking the bridge AND a nap before a 3 pm matinee.

I don%26#39;t know what Trattoria you%26#39;re thinking about on Sunday, but you%26#39;ve already got Italian on Fri. night. I%26#39;d have something else.

Please help us tweak our NYC Itinerary!

Are you totally set on Guys and Dolls?

In the Heights is Awesome and the music is very 18-yr old friendly...

Or South Pacific is a once in a lifetime production....

';I%26#39;d like to walk the Brooklyn Bridge.';

I would think you could fit that in before/after Katz.

Set on Guys %26amp; Dolls, tickets already purchased. So many shows, so little time!

OK, Brooklyn Bridge we are flexible on the day/time. I just figured since we were at Brooklyn Tab it surely must be semi-close?

Is it close to Katz Deli?

You guys are awesome! Thanks for all your help!

If it%26#39;s between Macy%26#39;s and 5th Ave, I%26#39;d do 5th Ave without a doubt. I hated Macy%26#39;s, and my girlfriend didn%26#39;t like it either but insisted on walking through every floor anyway :(

5th Ave can have some good deals. I found some nice jeans in the basement of Bloomingdales when I was there.

but of course Bloomingdale%26#39;s is on Lexington and 59th, not on 5th......but you will have a wide choice of shopping on 5th Avenue but in large part (except for H%26amp;M and below 42nd) it tends to be pricier than the Macy%26#39;s neighborhood

Don%26#39;t plan absolutely everything.....you may see a restaurant as you are walking about that looks appealing to you....do remember, however, that if you want to eat in the Times Square neighborhood between 5:30 and 8, everybody going to theatre is having a pretheatre dinner.....it is a good reason to avoid this neighborhood when you are going to a matinee anyway....as was suggested, go to Soho, to the Village, to the East Village, to Chelsea, to the Upper West Side...go somewhere other than TSquare to eat whenever possible

Ok, we%26#39;ve re-worked some things. Please help with my Friday!!!

So far, we%26#39;re doing lunch at Katz and then the Tenement Museum. If I%26#39;m looking at my map correctly, these are all in the same area.

Can we do Chinatown/Little Italy in the morning, have lunch at Katz, Tenement Museum and then walk the Brooklyn Bridge? Is all of this within walking distance of each other? We will take the subway down there to start our day. (Thanks for the hopstop advice!) Once we get over the Brooklyn Bridge, is there something we should see on the other side? Also, once we get across, do we walk back, or can we get a subway back up to our hotel area?

FINALLY, is the World Trade Center/ Century 21 down on this end of the city?

I promise I%26#39;m trying to read the map. It%26#39;s not a great one. (Or my vision is not that great.) Going tomorrow to pick up another guide book, as I left my last one at a friend%26#39;s house while out of state:-(

Sorry for all the questions. You guys have helped more than you know!

Tammy

Skip the Shake Shack unless you feel like waiting online for an hour outside

Ok, will skip the Shake Shack.

Millenium Hilton for our soho shopping trip

Hi everyone, I just booked via priceline and got the hilton hotel for one night.

I realize this hotel is not in soho so how far a walk is it?

My 18year old daughter and I want to explore the soho area and shop all the resale and boutique shops.

I do like Cent. 21 so thats a plus.

Are we going to be dissapointed with this is it out of the way?

thanks.

Millenium Hilton for our soho shopping trip

You%26#39;ll love it! Esp if you ask for a room facing north or east (say it%26#39;s someone%26#39;s birthday or something). Fabulous views!

You can get FREE street, shopping and dining maps of the area.

http://www.downtownny.com/mapsguides/

You can measure distances and transit directions using hopstop.com or www.maps.google.com

You are right above the sprawling Fulton Street-Broadway-Nassau subway station (#2, 3, 4, 5, J, M, Z, A, C, E subway lines) and the Chambers Street-WTC-Park Place station (#2, 3, A, C, E %26amp; PATH trains), not to mention near the M9 and M15 buses which go through Chinatown to the East Village and north.

You can even walk to Soho on a nice day. Walk north on B%26#39;way or Lafayette Street. Both are interesting. Church Street has boring stretches, imho.

Don%26#39;t forget, you%26#39;ll be a 5 minute walk away from the South Street Seaport, which has the original (and quieter) Abercrombie and the less crowded TKTS booth.

I could go on and on (and I have) about how fab lower Manhattan is. I haven%26#39;t even mentioned the hisotry. Have you seen my self guided walking tour of the area?

WORLD TRADE CENTER AND LOWER MANHATTAN: Self-guided walking tour

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g60763-c62611/New-Yor鈥?/a>

My only warning is don%26#39;t eat at the hotel resaurant Church and Dey. Way better options all around you.

Here are my other suggestions about dining, touring and shopping in the area:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k2018730 -Restaurants_bars_in_Tribeca-

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k1021587鈥?/a>

One of our Albany fans, TPXB, has great descriptions in his early trip report. Send him a PM for more.

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k1347764- Trip_Report_July_18_20_Hotel_and_Food_Part_One-

Millenium Hilton for our soho shopping trip

We stayed there last year. Very nice hotel. Gorgeous.

queens, you are fantastic!!!! I will look at the threads you provided and print the info to take with. My daughter is excited we went to williamsburg just this past weekend and shopped. What fun we had.

Oh I called the hilton and requested a double bed room not facing the world trade center construction. I don%26#39;t know what to expect using priceline and all.

I never used it before. I prefer to book directly with the hotel but the prices for a decent place in soho was 300 for the night.

thanks again will let you know how it worked out when we return.

Just ordered the maps! I am excited now. Hope the weather is nice We want to walk over the bridge. Again your info is priceless thanks!!!

Queensboulavard- I read it costs 55 dollars to park at the hotel yikes. Any suggestion for something less expensive in the area or what are the chances of parking in the street on a thursday? I really don%26#39;t have the patience to drive around for too long. thanks in advance for any tip you could provide

Def do not park at the hotel!

You can park at one of the many Icon garages nearby (I know there%26#39;s one at the Woolworth Building on Barclay Street and on the Church St. side of 90 Park Place.)

www.iconparking.com

www.nycgarages.com

Queens, thanks for posting your self-guided tour of Lower Manhattan!

Thanks again Queensboulavard I used icon and the other web site and got some prices the least expensive is 50 bucks ( for what I estimated to be 32 hrs of parking) then I maped it out to be about a 11min walk 1/2 mile away.

My question Parking at the woolworth building (3min walk away) how do I get prices. I googled but came up empy Do you have any suggestions?

Did I mention how great your are !!!!!

HTH!!

I thought you could estimate prices on Icon%26#39;s website. If you can%26#39;t I%26#39;ll check abck later.

what does HTH stand for? I will try again!!! t

how to apply

how to deal with cheating

Landing at JFK Weds at 5pm....Taxi/LIRR/or subway....

Which would be the best option to get to the Affinia Dumont 150 East 34th Street at this time of day, assuming this is the %26#39;rush hour%26#39;

Cheers

Martin

Landing at JFK Weds at 5pm....Taxi/LIRR/or subway....

It is rush hour but taxis from JFK are flat fee. It

just may take a while due to traffic.

Landing at JFK Weds at 5pm....Taxi/LIRR/or subway....

A taxi will cost you a $45 flat fee + any toll/tip and will probably be the easiest mode for you to take.

Forget subway especially with luggage.

LIRR will get you to Penn Station (34th St %26amp; 7th Ave) but then you will have to take a taxi from there to your hotel. In reality you take the AirTrain from JFK to Jamaica where you then transfer to LIRR.

Williamsbrurg for breakfast?

I have a friend who will be in Williamsburg Brooklyn in the morning and would like a good breakfast suggestion. Thanks!

Williamsbrurg for breakfast?

Egg: http://www.yelp.com/biz/egg-brooklyn

Williamsbrurg for breakfast?

%26#39;Egg%26#39; is the popular choice near Bedford Avenue. The service is painfully slow so if you order %26#39;eggs rothko%26#39; then you need to wait for the hen to lay the golden egg. But the toasted Amy%26#39;s challah bread with broiled tomato and seasonal mushrooms on the side are delish. The pancakes are ..... okay (not as good as Clinton Bakery) and the French toast is also okay. The other option is the Polish restaurant right across from the subway exit by North 7th Street. They make kielbasa and eggs on a roll and always have a nice Polish soup.

But if you are talking about %26#39;Greater Williamsburg%26#39; then there%26#39;s also the %26#39;Kellog Diner%26#39; on Metropolitan Avenue and Union, the %26#39;Garden Grill Diner%26#39; and %26#39;Phoebe%26#39;s%26#39; both on Graham Avenue. %26#39;Enid%26#39;s%26#39; on Manhattan Avenue right on McCarren Park is the place to see and be seen on the weekend for brunch. Excellent Bloody Mary%26#39;s and the vibe is pure Williamsburg ..... which is to say ..... you%26#39;ll feel like you%26#39;re in Vermont.

';I have a friend who will be in Williamsburg Brooklyn in the morning...';

So, I guess they already know it%26#39;s not going to be a ';stay for breakfast'; kind of night? ;o)

QB .... but it also never hurts to bring your own toothbrush and a %26#39;get lucky%26#39; change of clothes ..... just in case.

And don%26#39;t forget your makeup....

Thanks for the great suggestions I will try them since I%26#39;m coming into town myself!

My friends tried Egg and thought it was pretty good they loved the oj? didn%26#39;t like a ham and jelly/ grits sandwhich thought it wierd. Who would try anyway?!!

EGG is supposed to be Southern breakfast. I just can%26#39;t get into the grits concept either. If you here (I live in Williamsburg) then you should really try %26#39;Enid%26#39;s%26#39; for a late breakfast brunch. Get there at around 10:30 and get a table by the window overlooking the park ..... or else you might need to wait. The entire %26#39;space%26#39; has a pretty unigue feel to it. Lots of flannel shirts, lots of ski caps, lots of hoodies, lots of tats ..... lots of Vermont-esque delicious goodness.

Chinatown

What is a good restaurant in Chinatown that is not touristy? We do not care about atmosphere just the food

Chinatown

Did you see the responses you received the first time you asked this question? They%26#39;re here:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k2666892鈥?/a>

(To see your previous posts, just click on your screen name.)

Chinatown

I realized I asked the same question twice, I am sorry that you are so upset about it.

piano bars midtown?

Girls%26#39; trip end of April! Looking for suggestions.

Thanks!

piano bars midtown?

There%26#39;s a bunch of information here:

tripadvisor.com/鈥?6258789

I asked the same question back in Feb. 2009 and learned more than I ever expected about piano bars.

piano bars midtown?

Thanks for the info! Looks like we%26#39;ll be there the same time as you.

Quickest way to get from JFK to Midtown at 19:30pm?

We will be leaving JFK for Midtown at about 19;30pm on a Thurs eve, which type of travel would be the quickest one, taxi, shuttle, train, metro etc? How long should it take roughly - hoping to make a restaurant reservation downtown for 21:30pm after checking in!

low disk space

Proposed Itinery

Me and my boyfriend are coming to New York on 23rd February for 5 nights. I have been trying to put together a flexible itinery for when we get there and would be grateful of any advice.

Arrive Sat 23rd Feb 2.30pm Newark airport, get a taxi across to our hotel (The Westin) check in and probably head out in to Times Square to get some food and take in the sights. Early night as probably suffering from jet lag.

Sunday - take the grey line sightseeing hop on hop off bus tour (down town route)to try to get our bearings. Explore Greenwich village, china town, soho and little italy, grab some lunch and head to Ground zero. If there is still time get the subway to brooklyn and walk back over the bridge to take in the views. Go to Empire state building in the evening - can we book tickets for this when we get to NYC or is it best to it before we go?

Monday - Go up TOTR first thing then ice skating at the Rockerfellar centre, do the up town tour on the grey line tour bus, visiting central park and museum of natural history. Book a broadway show to go and see that evening.

Tuesday - spend the morning shopping before going on the SATC tour at 3pm.

Wednesday - Get the boat over to Liberty Island to see the statue of liberty and also go over to Ellis island. Leave the rest of the day to do anything we have missed as up early Thursday to catch flight.

I want to keep it flexible with not knowing how long everything is going to take. But saw the need to plan a little bit as otherwise wouldn%26#39;t know where to start when we get there. As I%26#39;m not too sure where everything is in relation to one another wanted to check the %26#39;do-ability%26#39; of my plan!

A few more questions:

when would it be best to fit in visiting grand central station on the route?

where would you recommend for breakfast, somewhere close to the Westin that does the great classic of waffles with candian bacon and maple syprup?

Thanks in advance!

Proposed Itinery

Grand Central fits in the area you%26#39;re exploring on the Monday. Alternatively, when you%26#39;re done with the Brooklyn Bridge, hop on the subway at City Hall and then get off at Grand Central and walk back to the hotel from there.

The Westin isn%26#39;t too far from the Hotel Edison, which has a cafe serving great American breakfasts (228 W. 47th).

Make sure you pre-book your Monument Pass if you want to actually go inside the S of L or get there about an hour before the first ferry. Otherwise, there isn%26#39;t much to see or do on Liberty Island.

Proposed Itinery

can I just say regards jet lack and suffering thereof. You don%26#39;t really get that much jet lag flying westwards for just 6 or 7 hours. I find that going to sleep early on the first night is a mistake for me. Cos I end up waking up at stupid o%26#39;clock. IE about 4 in the morning!

Anwyay, just thought I%26#39;d mention. Not that I suggest partying till dawn, but I now try and stay awake till a normal time, rather than give in to temptation and have an early night!

I would also buy your Empire State building tickets before you go, it will eliminate one lineup when you get there. Just make sure you purchase them from the ESB%26#39;s own site so you get an actual ticket, not a voucher from a third party which will not eliminate the lineup. You can also purchase an audio guide which we found really interesting. That also can be purchased in advanced.

www.esbnyc.com/index2.cfm鈥?/a>

Regarding your classic breakfast, what exactly do you mean when you mention Canadian bacon? From what I understand, what is called Canadian bacon in the US is called back bacon in the UK. Here is a description and picture of what we in the US call Canadian bacon:

nueskes.com/products/bacon/Canadian_Bacon.cfm

Most of the bacon you get here with breakfast is what (I believe) is called streaky bacon in the UK. Here is a description and picture of that:

nueskes.com/products/bacon/Bacon_Sampler.cfm

Am I even remotely correct in this matter? I just wanted to make sure you knew what to expect if you order waffles and bacon during your visit. Also, I%26#39;ve learned that bacon is cooked to a greater degree of doneness here in the US as opposed to the UK, so if you don%26#39;t want you bacon crispy, be sure to tell them so when you place your order. Hope this helps rather than confuses...

The canadian bacon looks more like what we would call gammon. So i%26#39;d probably go for the streaky bacon. I just remember having it for my breakfast every day last time i went to New York and it was so good!

I%26#39;m feeling like I need more than 4 days to fit everything in that i want to do!

Wow, I didn%26#39;t know I was going to learn this much about cured pork products today! What you call gammon is actually closer to what we consider ham here in the US! So get ready for that streaky bacon, since that%26#39;s about all you be able to order for breakfast in most places on this side of the pond. Unless you want breakfast sausage: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakfast_sausage

Okay, I%26#39;m going to work now...

Hi,

We are planning to go to NYC at the end of May and were wondering how your itinery went in Feb...did you find that you managed to stick to it.

How did the Sunday plan go, seems like you were going to go to lots of the places we plan to go to. We go for four nights.

Any hints and tips would be gratefully received re: SATC tour, Empire State, breakfast, the hop on %26amp; off tours, Grenwich village, little italy.

Hope you had a really great time.

Thanks

Anna

how to apply

Taxi between Buffalo Greyhound and Depew Amtrak

Hi there,

I am traveling from Toronto to Chicago on June 13 and will be staying in the Windy City for a one-week vacation. I am tempted to takethe Lakeshore Limited night train. However, since I would be arriving in BUffalo at the Greyhound station, I would need to take a cab to Depew Amtrak station. Any idea how expensive it is?

Taxi between Buffalo Greyhound and Depew Amtrak

Taxis cost $2.30 for the first 1/6 mile, and then $3.00 for each additional mile. The Amtrak station is about 10 miles from the Greyhound station, so that should cost around $33.00.

http://www.libertycab.com/rates.html

If you want to save money and don%26#39;t mind the hassle and the extra time, you could catch an NFTA metro bus from Greyhound to the Buffalo Airport - it only costs $2 or $3 at the most. Then catch a taxi from the airport to the Amtrak train station. The Amtrak is less than 3 miles from the airport so a taxi would cost around $11.

Here%26#39;s the website for the NFTA:

http://www.nfta.com/metro/

Taxi between Buffalo Greyhound and Depew Amtrak

I see. Thanks guys for the info! I think what i will do is the following. Take the Greyhound bus directly to Chicago. It takes 11 jours and costs 147 dollars canadian return tax inclusive. I love train travel but I really don%26#39;t find it user friendly for this trip. To bad the Buffalo Central terminal has not been in use for ages. Also, why don%26#39;t they stop at Exchange station? It would make soooo much sense.

Imagine if the Toronto-Montreal train only stopped in Dorval. It%26#39;s that stupid!!!

Something else i can do. Take Coach canada or Greyhound to the Airport and then take the cab to the station. But I think my Greyhound all the way via Detroit makes sense.

Some Amtrak trains do stop at the Exchange Street Station downtown, but I think that%26#39;s out of the way for some routes...

parking near salisbury hotel

we are driving to NYC in June and staying with a group at this hotel. the rest of the group is flying in however. any suggestions for parking. we have been to NYC once before and know we will not need the car until we leave once we get there, and the hotel web site suggests a parking garage at 28$ a day. any other possibilities?

parking near salisbury hotel

$28 a day is a bargain for parking- snap it up.

Trip Report - Last Visit 1976

Last visitrd NYC in 1976 and I must admit - disliked just about everything about it. Age must impart some wisdom because I found the city to be a very nice place to visit just two weeks ago.

Brief trip report follows:

Day One (Friday) - arrived mid afternoon via AmTrak and followed advice given on the Forum and took a taxi(four family members) to the Blakely Hotel on West 55th Street. The Blakely met our needs by providing a two room suite with two queen beds and a daybed in the sitting room. Location was favorable with easy access to the subway and within walking distance to several of the city%26#39;s sights. Walked to the TOTR and spent around 3 hours there catching the sunset and also viewing Manhattan after dark. Highly recommended ! Make sure you stop and watch the three film clips (total 12 minutes) about the Rockefeller Center on your way up to the viewing area. Visited the ice skating rink, the ';plaza'; area and St. Patrick%26#39;s Cathedral after descending seventy stories. Strolled down Fifth Avenuw window shopping on the way to the obligatory night-time visit to see the lights of Times Square.

Day Two - Early start (8:30 a.m.) with OnBoard Tours-

good general overview tour of some of the major tourist sights, both historic and cultural. Jerry, a native New Yorker was an excellent guide displaying real pride in his city and an enjoyment in sharing it with others. After the tour we took advantage of the Metropolitan Museum of Art extended hours and spent over three hours admiring treasures of the ancient world and the American art section. Fabulous museum - try to have a ';game plan'; and prioritize the sections you would like to visit before entering.

Day Three - met the ';Slice of Brooklyn'; Tour at Union Square. Nice tour of Brooklyn%26#39;s neighborhoods with two stops to sample pizza. This tour came highly recommended and it did not disappoint. Met some very nice people on the tour from different areas of the U.S. After returning to Union Square just spent some time relaxing and enjoying the scene around the park.

Day Four - Shopping Day. Began at Century 21, ended up again window shopping on Fifth Avenue. Enjoyed a slice of Junior%26#39;s cheesecake at Grand Central Terminal in between.

Day Five - rode the subway to the Cloisters Museum - half the fun is getting there! The visit to this museum was the highlight of the trip for me. Incredible display of medieval art and architecture in a very peaceful setting. Having visited a similar museum (Cluny) in Paris, I was expecting much of the same - but in my opinion the Cloisters is superior.

Took the subway back, tranferred to a crosstown bus through Central Park for a return visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Much to our suprise, the St. Patrick%26#39;s Day Parade was still parading up Fifth Avenue when we arrived. Spent nearly an hour viewing the parade while enjoying hot dogs and pretzels purchased from a vendor%26#39;s cart. Spent another couple of hours in the Museum enjoying the company of VerMeer, Rembrandt, Monet and countless others. The parade was still ongoing when we left the Museum - incredible! I am so glad that we were able to experience this event while on our trip. That night went to the theatre and saw ';Jersey Boys'; which we thoroughly enjoyed.

Thanks to the members of the Forum for their advice, tips, and general wisdom which prepared us for our visit to NYC and made it very ejoyable for all.

Trip Report - Last Visit 1976

Wow, that is AWESOME! So, did you miss the graffiti?

;oP

How old are your kids and what did everyone else think? Where did you eat? (A very important question, as you know!)

Did you folks buy much at C21 or anywhere else?

Glad you got to see the St. Pat%26#39;s Day parade in such ideal weather.

Thanks for the happy recap. When%26#39;s your next visit?

Trip Report - Last Visit 1976

';Trip Report - Last Visit 1976';

Whew, I thought you were doing a trip report on your visit in 1976 !

: )

Very nice report--glad you came back after all these years!

I enjoyed your trip report very much. Glad to hear you enjoyed JERSEY BOYS. We have tickets for our July visit. Like QB, I%26#39;d love to hear about your food experiences! Thanks for sharing!! :D

FABULOUS report!! And on this trip you did the very RIGHT thing by taking the subway back to mid-town from the Cloisters.

With the parade going on, the M4 bus route would have been a mess.

Hopefully you%26#39;ll be back in less than 30 years and when you return and re-do the Cloisters, have a day or week metrocard and take the M4 bus back to the Met. Plenty of places to hop on and off and visit en route -- ask when you are planning that trip! Welcome Back

How do you think NYC today differs from 1976? I wasn%26#39;t born yet, so that%26#39;s why I ask. I%26#39;ve always lived in this area, so I%26#39;m curious. I imagine it was a lot dirtier and unsafe. That%26#39;s what it was like in the late 80s/early 90s when I was a little kid.

My first visit to NYC was in 1968 when I was 18 years old.

I had my pocket picked in Times Square by some little kids who shoved flowers in my pocket and then took them out along with some cash when I said I didn%26#39;t want them.

My friend and I stayed at the Schuyler hotel on

W.46th street for $10 a night.

We visited the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building but pretty much walked around scared the whole time we were there.

My next trip was 10 years later and with many more since its my favorite place to visit in the world.

Really? I didn%26#39;t think the late 60s were nearly as bad as it was in the 70s/80s/early 90s.

Obviously after 40 years the memories have faded but I do remember Times Square as a very scary place.

Also coming from a relatively small city at that time - Vancouver - to what was then the largest city in the world was a bit intimidating.

Fortunately we now have the crime in and traffic in Vancouver that makes us fearless to travel anywhere.

Some have asked about our food experience while in the City. I must admit that we are not very much interested in fine dining but do enjoy trying to experience ';local cuisine'; while travelling. We took advantage of the continental breakfast available at the hotel each morning. Typical fare, but a good selection of cereal, yogurt, bagels, muffins, etc.

One establishment we did frequent due to its close proximity to the hotel was Fluffy%26#39;s Cafe and Bakery.

No gourmet offerings here but good sandwiches and pasta bowls along with a nice selection of pasteries.

Very nice people work here. Another restaurant we tried less than a five minute walk from the hotel was La Bonne Soupe. Casual French fare with excellent service and reasonable prices. The ';Slice of Brooklyn'; tour provided our main meal on the day we visited the two pizza establishments. We enjoyed lunch at Junior%26#39;s in Grand Central Station one day.Several members of the Forum have mentioned MenuPages.com which is a great resource in locating restaurants by location , type, price, etc.

Transportation to JFK Airport

Can anyone assist me with the best way using public transportation to get from Norwich CT to John F Kennedy airport on a weekday. I would appreciate the assistance having only been to NY once.

Transportation to JFK Airport

One way is to take the Amtrak train from New London to NY Penn Station...then transfer to the LIRR and take any train to Jamaica Station...Exit and transfer to the AirTrain which takes you directly to all the terminals at JFK.

blue hair

transportation from EWR to Affinia 50 hotel in new york

I am traveling with my family and going to New York for the first time. We know absolutely nothing about NYC transportation. How would be the best way to get from the EWR airport to the Affinia 50 Hotel located at 155 E 50th Street? Thanks for your recommendations

transportation from EWR to Affinia 50 hotel in new york

Order a car service.

dial7.com

will give you door to door service for about $65-70 including tolls and tip.

transportation from EWR to Affinia 50 hotel in new york

The best thing for you to do is start reading the Sticky / FAQs on the forum. This question is asked frequently throughout the day and all the answers are there.

Newark Airport is in New Jersey so you can not get a NYC taxi there. We strongly encourage people to avoid the Newark taxi%26#39;s. We also strongly encourage people to avoid Super Shuttle and AirLink.

The best thing to do is to prearrange a sedan through a reputable company that offers competitive rates. Two of the very best are All State and Dial 7. All State is www.allstatelimo.com and their direct dial is 212 333 3333. Dial 7 is www.dial7.com and their direct dial is 212 777 7777

The Newark AirTrain and the Olympia Trails bus from Newark both cost $15.00 per person and they aren%26#39;t door to door. They%26#39;re a great way to save money if you%26#39;re one or two people but if you have three or more you might as well take a sedan, particularly if you have no idea where you%26#39;re going.

The Affinia is a very good hotel, very well-situated. You%26#39;ll want to go to www.mta.info and familiarize yourself with the subway map. Your closest stations will be 51st Street on the 6 train (it is the green one) and Lexington Avenue on the E and V trains (blue and orange). Don%26#39;t ask people where the green trains or the blue and orange trains are, they%26#39;ll think you are being silly and they may think you%26#39;re crazy. I%26#39;m simply telling you what color they are on the map for your reference, nobody on the street will know the trains by color.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

dial7.com--is there one you would recommend?

My personal preference is All State. The reason I like All State is that I%26#39;ve always had a very new sedan and a very good driver. They%26#39;ve always been very professional and very reliable. I%26#39;ve found All State to be first class.

I%26#39;ve used Dial 7 too and I%26#39;ve never had a problem with them. I think some of their sedans are a little older and some of their drivers are just okay while I find All State a notch above.

You%26#39;ll be fine either way. If you want to know who I call when I call for a sedan, I call All State.

I like the train idea.

www.njtransit.com

Thanks for the suggestions/recommendations. I took your s/r and am going with allstate. I will let you know how it goes. Thanks again for the help.

just returned from a great week in NYC. I took the advice on Allstate transportation service and it was exactly as you mentioned. I appreciate the recommendation and it was just as good as you said. Thanks again.

Another JFK-Manhattan transport question...

So now I%26#39;ve changed our hotel from the Pod to the Belleclaire on 250 West 77th Street, Broadway, Upper West. I%26#39;m still determined to take the Sub, though, even if the route is not as straightforward.

I was thinking of taking line A from Howard Beach and then either changing at Fulton-St-Broadway or Chambers-Park/WTC to line 2 or 3.

What would be the easiest station for a transfer?

It looks like Chambers Park has less lines, so Im guessing it might be that one?

oh, just now I noticed another alternative: 59 Str Columbus Circle, and then get on line 1. this one looks like it%26#39;ll give less walking distance?

We%26#39;ll be cruising at about 3 pm on a Friday...

Thanks in advance!

Another JFK-Manhattan transport question...

O, never mind, I found a better route on HopStop...

Sorry

Another JFK-Manhattan transport question...

What about the AirTrain / LIRR to Penn Station and then grabbing the subway from there up to your hotel on the UWS

O, I%26#39;ve read about the LIRR, but it slipped from my mind...I%26#39;ll look into it, thanks.

Mayem ..... I%26#39;m not the best person when it comes to actual travel advice. But if you are set on having an adventure and taking the subway, then I think you might also consider instead taking the %26#39;E%26#39; train (it%26#39;s express and makes less stops and goes through better neighborhoods) directly to 50th Street and then switch for the %26#39;C%26#39; to 81st Street. You can easily walk from 81st and the park to Broadway and 77th Street. You%26#39;ll get the ';Wow I%26#39;m in NYC'; when you see the park and the Museum of Natural History by the train exit.

Bonus Advice:

Have your nephew read the ';Catcher in the Rye'; by J.D Salinger before your visit ..... NYC figures predominately into the book and so does Central Park and even the M of NH also plays a major cameo. It%26#39;s a story of a high school boy in turmoil. A lot of students in the US read that book in high school.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catcher_in_the_Rye

BTW .... it%26#39;s also the book that Mark Chapman was carry the day he shot John Lennon in front of the Dakota Apartment building which is also on or around 73rd Street and near Strawberry Fields all near your hotel. It might add some colour and make the trip more interesting for your young charge.

';Where do the birds in Central Park go in the winter?';

cartridge

to those of you very familiar with the city

I know that people on the nyc forum actually live in the city, or have visited so many times you know it like the back of your hand. you know how to navigate from neighborhood to neighborhood and see things ';in order'; so to speak, you know what restaurants are your favorites, and you know where to shop etc.

so what im asking is, if you could make an itinerary, as detailed as you want it to be, for a 4 day trip, what or where would you tell someone to see/do/eat/shop?

if you were to be a ';tourist'; in your own town what are the best things to do, during the day, as well as at night? i%26#39;d like to know shows, restaurants, the neighborhoods with the best shopping, the best times to go to places, anything.

to those of you very familiar with the city

Have you seen the FAQ page on must-see%26#39;s and must-do%26#39;s?

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g60763-s409/New-York-鈥?/a>

to those of you very familiar with the city

Hi Crans: I did a brief forum search for %26#39;walking tours%26#39; and pulled up yours for Greenwich Village from last summer:

tripadvisor.com/鈥?3612868

Itwillbe swell: For additional Great information: You can do a search for anything, including neighborhoods on this forum (including itineraries) after you%26#39;ve read the stickies/FAQs at the top of the forum page.

Come back with specific questions..you%26#39;ll get plenty of information.

For information about restaurants in particular neighborhoods or by cuisine or specific foods try: menupages.com

Frommer%26#39;s puts almost all the content of its NYC guidebook (and more) on its website for free and includes suggested itineraries. So that would be a terrific starting point for you, in addition to the FAQ%26#39;s here %26amp; making use of the forum%26#39;s Search function [the box right above your first post]:

www.frommers.com/destinations/newyorkcity/

This is a difficult question to answer as we need to know more about you. New York is a different city to different people. For example, an artist might want to take in the MET, MOMA, Whitney and Galleries in Chelsea and DUMBO. A person who likes urban landscaping would gravitate to Central and Prospect Parks, Wave Hill and the Cloisters. Foodies would have a different tour centered on farmers markets and restaurants. Shoppers would head to any number of stores depending on their tastes, budget and needs.

New York has so many different neighborhoods, that speak to us all differently. Let us know what you like to do, and we will be in a better position to help you.

jersey gardens or woodbury common

Hi we are coming to new york 2-7th april. We are hoping to grab a bargain!! wot do people think is better for bargains jersey gardens or woodbury common

thanx

jersey gardens or woodbury common

I cannot comment on Woodbury Common, but we certainly found a few bargains at Jersey Gardens.

Enjoy your trip

jersey gardens or woodbury common

Depends what you want. Yours is a popular question. In the FAQ ';sticky'; at the top of this forum is a typical debate:

BUT, IS WOODBURY COMMON BETTER THAN JERSEY GARDENS?

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k838911- Woodbury_common_v_Jersey_gardens-

Try typing, ';woodbury vs. Jersey gardens'; or ';which is better jersey gardens'; in the search box for more info. You can sort by date.

I%26#39;ve been to both and have enjoyed them very much! Deciding on which one to go really depends on what you%26#39;re looking for. Woodbury has more designer labels and if you happen to be there when the stores have sale on, you easily find bargains in stores like Tod%26#39;s, Burberry etc. Check the Woodbury web site for store listing + info for sales and other special events, and when you register as VIP guest, you%26#39;ll get discount coupons that sometimes are of better value than the ones in the booklet you get with your bus ticket.

If you%26#39;re more looking for kind of ';everyday'; brands like Tommy, Gap, Nike Jersey Gardens has them all. I went there last December and shopped a lot - basic everyday clothes and sports gear. JG is an inside mall where as in Woodbury you need to walk outside - so in case the weather is bad, JG is more convenient. In addition, the trip to JG is shorter and much cheaper than to Woodbury. I%26#39;d also recommend checking the off-discounters like Century 21, Filene%26#39;s Basement, Loehmann%26#39;s at Manhattan. I%26#39;ve learnt that sometimes they have pretty much similar stuff as the outlets.

Regarding prices I could%26#39;n really see any differences between JG and Woodbury - can%26#39;t remember whether the tax was different.

Thanks very much for the advice.We will probley go to jersey gardens. For our short trip i think jersey gardens will be the better one. We are just really looking for Gap, Tommy, nike ect.

thanx

I just wanted to let you know there are a ton of sales everywhere in manhattan right now. I was just there last month I got a anne kline coat for 140.00 that retailed for 400.00 we bought a ton of things i had to have some of it shipped home. I plan on going back again next Feb.Have fun on your trip

We too are trying to decide on which outlet mall to visit. One major deciding factor for me is how easy/hard it is to get to. We are a group of 9 women, so a cab is not an option. We are staying near Times Square.

I know there are daily excursions offered by grayline from The Port Authority Bus Terminal to Woodbury which ranges between $32-$40 pp. What about Jersey Gardens, is there an easy way to get there without having to change trains/ busses etc??...How long is the trip??? What are the fares? ....Thanks

It is qute easy to get to jersey gardens from Port authoity.Not sure about price, but it is cheaper than woodbury common.

Thanks.....We may consider JG then, as WC is quite a distance.We only have a few days so if we can accomplish the same thing in 1/2 day at JG as opposed to a full day at WC, then JG it is!! As long as we do not have to make connections with busses or trains etc to get there we will be fine. I do not want to get lost in the big city.

The bus takes you right there, and drops you off outside the main entrance. I have just checked the opening times, it is open 10am-9pm, We are thinkin of goin the day we fly in, and getting the shopping out the way. That will give us 5 days to do sight seeing.

Jersey Gardens is close enough (and much smaller in scale than Woodbury Common) that it%26#39;s do-able as an evening activity. Eat a late lunch and arrive there in late afternoon. Take a look at the website to help you decide which stores seem most appealing [Cohoe%26#39;s -- one of the ';anchor'; stores upstairs, right to your left when you come through the main entrance -- isn%26#39;t well-known but worth a stop imo] so you have an ';attack plan'; :-)

http://www.jerseygardens.com

Lastminutetravel.com question

Hi. My son and I are coming to the city April 25 for 1 night. Already booked transportation now just working on a hotel. Found an undercover on lastminutetravel.com for 131/night for a 4* hotel in Midtown...is there anyway I can figure out what this hotel is before booking it?

Would love to hear from anyone who has actually used that site and been very happy with the outcome. thanks.

Lastminutetravel.com question

I%26#39;ve never used the site myself, but to figure out which hotel it is, if you copy the words they use to describe the hotel and then do a websearch, it%26#39;s often the exact words off the hotel%26#39;s own website. By doing that, I judge this is the Doubletree Metropolitan at Lexington %26amp; 51 st. This is not a 4* hotel in my book (although it%26#39;s ok). I don%26#39;t think you can guarantee getting 2 beds if that%26#39;s an issue.

What are you coming to do and do you care where you stay?

Lastminutetravel.com question

This may sound crazy but a big part of the reason that we are coming is because I wanted to take my son on his first airplane ride and it was short and sweet to come to NY city. He and I have been there two other times before and love it. It doesnt really matter if we get one bed or two(he%26#39;s 8 and most likely wont want to sleep in his own bed away from home anyway) and doesnt really matter what area we stay in(although on our other trips we stayed at the Ramada New Yorker and would prefer a little different area)

I actually am trying to bid on priceline but have been rejected so far, I have seen what I believe to be Sheraton Manhattan on Hotwire for 129 and I have booked a cancellable room at Gild Hall for $142 through quickbook.com I just happened to see lastminutetravel.com today and was interested in anyones opinions about it.

excel

Trip Report 3/23 - 3/26

Day 1: Fly in from Chicago to Islip(Long Island) at 9:15 AM. I know out of the way, but R/T tickets were $78 for non-stop flights. Took shuttle to LIRR, perfect timing, next train was in 10 minutes. Arrived at Penn Station 11:30. Taxi to Dream Hotel, room was ready so we checked in. Reserved all 3 nights on priceline for $88/nt, we stayed at the Hudson last summer a few block away so we knew the location was good, within a few blocks from multiple subway stops.

After getting settled in it was off to lunch at Caracas Arepas Bar in the East village. Took the subway down, purchased $7 pass each day,and it was just a few blocks away from the stop(Thanks to Hopstop for directions). We each had an arepa, I had chicken/chorizo/avacado with an amazing chimichuri sauce and a sugar cane and lime juice. My wife had a shredded pork/tomato with mango salsa. These were both full of flavor and well worth the trip down especially at only $6 each.

Next stop, Century 21 for some shopping, picked out something for our daughter and I picked up a shirt and then left my wife to continue while did some sight seeing. Walked down Wall Street, through Trinity Church saw Alexander Hamilton%26#39;s tomb stone, and checked out Federal Hall.

Met back up and took the subway to Chinatown. Wife picked up some earings and we shared a big pretzel. Then we went to my favorite shop in the area, Pearl River Market on Broadway. Walked through SoHo and hit some shops and Cafe Bari for ';bite-size'; cupcakes at the walk up window. These were ridiculous, 3 for $3 and they were about the size of quarters, nearly blew off the plate in the wind.

It was about 5:00 so we went back to the hotel to relax and get ready for the main event at the day, dinner at Ko. Took the subway over to Union Square and walked over to the Strand to look at some books before dinner at 9:30. Walked over to Momofuku Ko at about 9:15 and we were seated right away. If you have not heard of this restaurant, it only has 12 seats and only 2 seatings a night. The only way to get reservations is online, we were incredibly lucky as my mother-in-law got some how got through online. I will post a full review of Ko on menupages, but it was an amazing experience. 11 unique and sophisticated dishes prepared right in front of you by what feel like you own personal chefs. Finished dinner at about 11:30 and took a cab back to the hotel. I%26#39;ll post day 2 as a reply.

Trip Report 3/23 - 3/26

The WQXR-FM reviews of Momofuku Ko were in three-minute segments, lasting one week, all by the same reviewer. He raved about the food, didn%26#39;t like their reservation system and (I%26#39;m not sure if I recall right) their lighting.

The ';private chef'; thing was started in this country by Rocky Aoki at the first Benihana, on West 56th, a good 30 years ago now.

Trip Report 3/23 - 3/26

Day 2 3/24: Took subway to Zabars in the morning for bagels and lox and to check out the market. This is definitely a place to check out for all food lovers. Spent some time in the housewares department on the 2nd floor, picked up a few odds and ends for cooking and then walked through Central Park to the Upper East side. Wanted to at least see the Guggenheim since we didn%26#39;t last time, peeked inside and checked out the gift shop. Then walked over to Kitchen Arts %26amp; Letters, which is a book store of all cookbooks. Browsed for a while and then went to FAO Schwartz to pick out some things for our daughter. They had a new ';make your own muppet'; area which was cool and we might try it next time when our daughter is a little older. Back to the hotel to drop off bags and head out on the subway to Brooklyn. Off at high street and walked to Grimaldi%26#39;s. Good timing, as we arrived around 2:00 and didn%26#39;t have to wait although it was still full. Shared a small pizza, could have easily ate a large, but we were planning on some other snacks. Pizza was excellent, I can honestly say that I prefer to our pizza in Chicago, a great flavor from the ovens that you just don%26#39;t get every where.

Then we walked the Bridge back over, sure it was a little cold and breezy but this is becoming one of our favorite things to do when we visit. Great views and a great way to walk off lunch. On the other side, back on the subway to Union Square to check out Momofuku Milk Bar bakery. Ordered a couple of pork buns, not quite as good as last time we visited the Noodle bar but still excellent. Then we tried the cereal milk ice cream and a piece of cake. Both were good, not great, but we did get a marshmallow, cornflake, choc chip cookie to go that was outstanding!

Next we walked over to the Strand again to pick up some of the books that we had seen from the night before. This is a must for book lovers, but beware it is a major time commitment, there is no way you are getting in and out quick.

Headed back to Time Square on the train to check on shows, ended up being a little worn out and just kind of walked around. Did go to the shops at Time Warner/Columbus Circle to check out the Jazz Club, they had some really cool photos. Ended the night with a hot dog and papaya drink from Grey%26#39;s. Never again, one thing Chicago does so much better is hot dogs, not even close.

Day 3 coming soon...

Thanks for the trip report. Keep it coming.

Day 3 3/25: Decided to go to Union Square for the Farmer%26#39;s Market for breakfast. Great baked goods and lots of samples! Definitely need to get back in the summer when its in full swing. Next to my wife%26#39;s favorite Chelsea Market for some gifts for family and friends. Walked to Books of Wonder Children%26#39;s book store, great selection of kids books and rare books, also has an adjoining cupcake cafe. Next up lunch, took the subway to Katz%26#39;s deli. My wife had the Pastrami on Rye with a side of pickles that she had been dreaming of and I had the matzah ball soup and chocolate egg cream, both were very good. Next, subway to Rockefeller Plaza walked around a little and watched the ice skaters and went back to the hotel to drop off bags. Then took the subway to Harlem. Went to the Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Market and picked up a hand drum for my daughter. Walked through Marcus Garvey park, there is a great view next to the old ';fire spotting'; tower where you can see all the way to the Empire State Building. Walked up to 125th street and down to the Apollo. Last stop was the Harlem Studio Museum, unfortunately they were closed to install a new exhibit so we just checked out the gift shop.

Next subway back to Lower East side to Frankies 17 on Clinton Street, recommended by our waitress at Ko. This was a fantastic small (10 tables) Italian joint. Great salads, crostini with mushroom and truffle oil were outstanding, and home made gnocchi and cavetelli. We had 8:00 reservations for Upright Citizens Brigade so we headed over their to get in line. Went to the show ';totally J/K'; and would highly recommend it, the two guys that host the show are hilarious and then they had Jenene Garafalo, Wyatt Cenac (from the Daily Show), and Mike Birbiglia (from the Broadway show Sleepwalk with Me). I would definitely go if you like to have a good time and its dirt cheap, tickets were $5 and you just make reservations on line. There late shows are $3 or Free!

After the show we headed over to St. Mark%26#39;s to hit the Dessert Truck, shared the Chocolate Bread pudding with Bacon Custard glaze, real good. It was getting late, but I wanted to walk down 4th Street to Washington Square Park. We got there and saw the Wash. Arch at night which was cool. Then strolling around we saw Mario Batali%26#39;s Otto. I know it sounds crazy, but what better way to end the night then splitting a pizza. Had the tomato, pecerino, and egg, good not great. Back to the hotel to pass out.

Day 4 will come as a reply...

Day 4 3/26: The last day started with a trip to Ess-a-bagel first thing. This is a must if you want real NYC bagel experience. Lox, cream cheese, tomato...heaven. Next the wife and I part ways, she heads to 5th avenue for some shopping, I head to the UN and Grand Central Station. Unfortunately no time to go on the full tour of the UN but did check out the grounds and went inside and looked at the public exhibits. I then took the subway back to hotel, checked out and had our bags held and then met up with my wife the MOMA. This was a highlight of the trip, wanted to do either the Met or MOMA and glad we chose MOMA. This is a perfect museum to spend a few hours at looking at incredible art. Every piece seemed to be right out of college art class we had taken. One of the special exhibits right now is interesting about an artist who locked himself in a cell for a year and had a photographer take pictures of him daily. Strange, but interesting.

Not much time left, so we walked to Columbus Circle and had lunch at Bouchon Bakery. Very good/simple sandwhiches. Cab to Penn Station, LIRR to Islip, and back to Chicago. Already starting on our list of what to do for the next trip, thanks to everyone who posts questions/answers/ideas on here for helping making our trip so great.

What a great report! You definitely packed in alot during your stay.

I did not make it to the Arts %26amp; Letters bookstore on my last visit so it%26#39;s still on my to-do list.

wow great trip! thanks for sharing the details with us. gave me some new ideas to research.

can%26#39;t believe you said that about the pizza-ever since my dh and i went to Chicago and had their pizza -we were hooked!and those Italian beef sandwiches OMG we love chicago......yummy,yummy Chicago!

Great report--very glad to see that you went to Ko and Frankies!

We were lucky getting into Ko. Thanks for all of your feedback in the forum Crans.

fun time in NY

We are visiting New York for some fun time. We will be staying for 4 days. Any advice on cool bars and nightclubs appreciated. Both of us have kids, and so heading to NY to let our hair down without the kids!! also a couple of ideas for good places to eat - trendy and good food. We are staying in Times square. Thanks

fun time in NY

First: Get the heck out of Times Square. Your choices there are limited to the usual tourist sights. If you really wanna go to another Hard Rock Cafe, so be it.

I%26#39;d try looking into Williamsburg in Brooklyn. Its one stop into Brooklyn [Bedford Ave] on the L train. It%26#39;s a great nabe for pub hopping and for dining. Here is a list of a variety of neighborhood pubs: www.freewilliamsburg.com/bars/index.html

Plus, if you are there Friday night or Sat/Sun afternoon, you can visit the Brooklyn Brewery, which also has weekend tours on Sat/Sun. Its a great neighborhood hangout as well. Here%26#39;s their site: http://www.brooklynbrewery.com/

As for food, check out the TA site for recommendations. Seek and ye shall find.

fun time in NY

Go down to the village and just kind of wander around

until you see something that suits you. The village

is not all that it used to be but is still fun for

those visiting. I agree get out of Times Square.

Flying into Laguardia and out of JFK... got 5 hours !!! ?

Hiya guys... a young couple coming to New York for the First time.

Flying INTO Laguardia then Out of JFK.. they have given us approx 5 hours in town..

HellllllllllllllllllllllllllllllP

What the hell can you do in 5 hours and see the sights???

How long is it from Say ';times square'; back to JFK?

What shouldn%26#39;t we miss...

Anything would be helpful.

Thanks in Advance.

Big love from us in the UK :o)

Flying into Laguardia and out of JFK... got 5 hours !!! ?

Sorry, but you really do not have time to go into Manhattan from LGA, see anything, and then get back out to JFK in five hours. Besides, what did you plan on doing with your luggage?

Flying into Laguardia and out of JFK... got 5 hours !!! ?

How about a private limo tour of the city with pick up and drop off at the airports. Would probably only give you 2 hours as you have to check in through security about 2-3 hours before the flight.

By the time you get your luggage, there really wont be time enough to get into the city. I wouldnt take the chance that you could miss your next flight.

I think the idea of a private limo tour is a good one. Not cheap-but maybe doable. Is the 5 hour from the time you land to the time you leave or is it from the time you land to the time you have to be back at the airport. If it is land to leave you have no time to do anything. --

Considering the extent of Air Traffic Control delays going into LaGuardia and all the traffic on the Van Wyck Expressway leading to JFK Airport, it would not be wise to try to go into Manhattan.

You%26#39;ll need to just get yourself right from LaGuardia to JFK Airport and you%26#39;ll need to save New York City for sometime when you can have a proper visit.

At JFK, you need to be there 1 hr. before flight for domestic and 2-3 hrs. before for international. It takes on average 40 mins from LGA into Manhattan and an hour to travel b/w JFK and Manhattan. I suspect you%26#39;re headed back to London so probably not enough time to do much of anything. Also travel time b/w the 2 airports will depend on day of week %26amp; time of day. It can take as little as 15-20 mins. in a taxi or as much as 1 hr. plus depending on traffic.

With the added complication of luggage, it seems unlikely you could do much. The only thing you might want to consider rather than sitting in an aiprort is getting a meal near LGA (depending on time of day) but it then becomes more challenging to find a taxi if you leave the airport. Armed with the phone number of a car service, you could take a taxi from LGA to a restaurant and then call for a car service to pick you up to go to JFK. The Queens Museum that houses a panorama of NYC is not far from LGA, but what to do with luggage.

www.queensmuseum.org/panorama/about.htm

Hiya and Thanks..

the 5 hours we have is up until we need to check back in... our luggage is being taken across for us so all we have is a hand bag. Is the traffic so bad that we cant take a cab to just drive us round?

WE a Already checked in for the flight as its connecting

5 hours is a lot of time to kill lol.

Thanks for all your advice anyways..

5 hours may be a generous estimation!!

Who%26#39;s to say your flight will arrive on time?

Secondly - at times - customs/immigration may be overtaxed and take longer than normal.

Take the advice of those who are familiar with the goings on here and just get over to JFK for your connection.

Or if you do not care to take the advice YOU asked for do take a tour of the City and suffer the consequences.

I%26#39;m a gambler, but wouldn%26#39;t place a bet on this situation.

Poppa

What day of the week? Time of day? If we鈥檙e talking about a weekday afternoon no way do you have time to even take a car/limo tour because of traffic concerns 鈥?but if it鈥檚 a morning or weekend you might consider it. But honestly 鈥?I wouldn鈥檛 chance it no matter when the layover is.

Just out of curiosity, how are you getting your bags taken for you from LGA to JFK? Sounds like a sweet deal...

If you really have five hours from the time you get to the curb at LGA and the time you have to check in (for intll give yourself at least 2 hours) at JFK, *then* yes, you could do something very quickly. Not sure what anyone does in Times Square as a tourist other than snap pictures, but that%26#39;s certainly doable.

I would not advise having a cab drive you around on a tour of the city. While its possible you%26#39;ll get a knowledgable, friendly driver, it%26#39;s more likely you%26#39;ll get someone who barely speaks english chatting away on their cell phone who would really rather you just got to where you%26#39;re going, paid them, and got the heck out. Point-to-point, yes, touring... not so much. Regardless, it will cost you a pretty chunk of change. In from LGA and out to JFK will be running you about 100 bucks including tip when all is said and done.

Another big factor is when you%26#39;re doing this, and what the traffic is like. If you%26#39;re doing any part of it between 430 and 730pm on a weekday, there%26#39;s a good chance you%26#39;ll be stuck in serious traffic that will eat up most of your time.

cartridge

Penn Station to JFK (AGAIN!)

After reading the answers from my question last time.

I think i should rethink about taking the airport bus to JFK.

Previous post:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k2660865鈥?/a>

I saw recommendations that i should take a train from there to Jamaica station (LIRR) then take an airtrain.

That sounds pretty good but, i have a huge, yes huge, luggage that i will be dragging with me. So im not sure if i should take the train or not. Since the bus probably have more space for my luggage, cause its an airport bus, and i dont have to move with it until im there, like i have to when changing the train. This is why im not so sure if i should take the train or not.

I need some opinions on this.

Thanks

Penn Station to JFK (AGAIN!)

I have done both,and if your luggage is that big, I recommend the bus, much easier.

Penn Station to JFK (AGAIN!)

Alright, thanks :)

Itinerary

Hi friends. New member here planning 1st NY trip this summer (8/3-8/7). Hotel is booked - we%26#39;re a couple blocks south of Central Park. Please let me know if this makes ANY sense at all:

Day 1

Check in around 4pm Unpack check out hotel. Walk over to Carnegie hall 鈥?take pictures. Buy MetroCard, take Subway to Times Square. Walk around, take pics/videos, go to shops, . Eat Italian for dinner at Becco. Take Subway back to hotel.

Day 2

Breakfast at Park Caf茅. Subway to Pier area for Statue of Liberty ferry or cruise. Get pics of Wall Street, Federal Reserve, WTC ground zero. Street vendor lunch. Maybe walk through Little Italy/Chinatown. Take subway to Brooklyn, walk around Brooklyn Heights 鈥?eat Brooklyn pizza. Get pics/video from Brooklyn Bridge. Walk over Brooklyn Bridge. Subway back to hotel.

Day 3

Breakfast at Park Caf茅. Subway to Harlem 鈥?see Apollo, Clinton鈥檚 office, Abyssynia Church. Lunch at Sylvia鈥檚 Soul Food Restaurant. Subway to Garment district 鈥?let wife shop. Dinner %26amp; Jazz at Birdland. Subway back to hotel.

Day 4

Morning walk through Central Park 鈥?start around West%26amp;59th, end @ 65th%26amp;5th. Walk down 5th Ave 鈥?shop some more. Get pics of Trump Tower, St Patrick鈥檚 Cathedral. Lunch @ Istana. Take Top of the Rock tour@ Rockefeller Ctr. Back to hotel and rest. Broadway show at night 鈥?dinner wherever.

Day 5

Leave

I figure if you guys are BRUTAL and I follow the recommendations, it just might be a great trip. I%26#39;m the ';trip man'; in the family and I always plan great ones - NY just has so many possibilities and so many things that are different from anywhere else in the world...I just wanna get this one right too.

Itinerary

Day 1: If you%26#39;re hotel is a few blocks south of Central Park, there%26#39;s no reason to take the subway from Becco back to it. Just walk, especially if it%26#39;s a nice summer night.

Day 2: I would go to Chinatown after you walk across the bridge. As you have it now, you%26#39;re doubling back on yourself by going from the Financial District to Chinatown to the Brooklyn side of the bridge.

Day 3: What is your wife shopping for in the Garment District? I ask because the name misleads people sometimes--it%26#39;s a place for fabric wholesalers and the like, not a place to buy finished clothes.

Personally, I would eat somewhere else then go to Birdland. The food at jazz clubs tends to be mediocre.

Day 4: Do you have a credit at Istana or something? Hotel restaurants here tend to be terribly overpriced and sort of blah, with a couple of exceptions, so I%26#39;m curious why/how you picked this place.

Itinerary

Great recommendations, thanks!

As far as garment district, I heard in addition to the fabrics there are shops with cute cheap purses, shoes, etc. All I know about this is 3rd-hand info.

Istana was a random pick that seemed to be 1. in the area and 2. nice atmosphere. We%26#39;re 100% open to other suggestions.

OK now I%26#39;m debating whether to do an unlimited ride subway metrocard or just get the gray line all loops tour as our means of getting around. With the above itinerary, any suggestions?

The Grayline tours are just that, tours, not means of getting around. They%26#39;re very slow and might not necessarily go where you want to. The subway is much, much better, but whether you should get unlimited ride cards or pay-per-ride cards depends on whether you%26#39;ll ride enough to make the former worthwhile. (You%26#39;ll have to do a little math to figure this out!)

Day 1

Where exactly are you staying? A couple blocks south of Central Park could mean a lot of things and some of them wouldn%26#39;t require a subway to or from Times Square. If you%26#39;re at the Wellington or Park Central, walking could be quick and more interesting.

I think Becco is pretty ordinary and more about quantity than quality. It%26#39;s a popular pre theater venue too that gets very crowded from 5-7:30. If you want a good yet inexpensive Italian meal there are many better options imo. How many are you and who?

Day 2

The ferry to actually visit the SOL is in a different place than the free Staten Island ferry which passes it from a distance and that%26#39;s in yet a different location than many of the cruises. So you really have to decide exactly which you%26#39;re going to do and know where the various piers are located. If you plan on actually visiting the statue and Ellis Island, buy tickets in advance online and reserve a monument pass so you can go inside. Visiting the statue (and Ellis Island is included if you want) will take some time--4 to 5 hrs. There%26#39;s a tour of the Federal Reserve bank but you have to book in advance.

www.newyorkfed.org/aboutthefed/ny_tours.html

I don%26#39;t think you%26#39;ll have time to do all you list on day 2 if you actually visit the statue and Ellis Island. You might have time if just visiting the statue, but for many, Ellis Island is more interesting.

Day 3

Breakfast at the same place? Why? Try some place else. Too many good options to keep repeating. I agree with Crans that most jazz places don%26#39;t have great food. Do you know who%26#39;s playing at Birdland on that date? You might also consider Dizzy%26#39;s Coca Cola as another jazz venue with great views of Central Park.

On Day 4, start your Central Park walk at the corner of 59th and Sixth Avenue. Go straight into the park on the road, which is obvious; just walk on the sidewalk, not the road itself. What you%26#39;ll find is a loop road, about 2 miles in length, that shows you the best features of the southern third of Central Park, to wit (text copied off one of my Central Park tour signs):

CELEBRITY HOMES

Yoko Ono, Demi %26amp; Ashton, Steve Martin, John McEnroe,

Jerry Seinfeld, Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, Lauren Bacall.

MOVIE SCENES

When Harry Met Sally, Elf, Enchanted, Scent of a Woman, Balto, Birth, Along Came Polly, Mr. Deeds, Stuart Little, Kramer vs. Kramer, Ghostbusters, Home Alone II, Cloverfield, The Out-Of-Towners, Splash!

(And a smattering of TV鈥檚 Sex And The City.)

Strawberry Fields, the memorial to John Lennon. Tavern on the Green, Bethesda Fountain, The Dakota Building.

Restrooms are in Tavern On The Green, first left from the entrance. You will exit the park at 59th and Seventh Ave, one block from where you started.

TourguideStan

You guys are amazing-thanks so much. I%26#39;m going back to the drawing board and will post a revised version later. Talk to you in a few days.

long hair cut

Giorgio's of Gramercy?

Planning a trip to NYC in May, and looking for your advice on a couple of restaurants.

We have been discussing the Gramercy Tavern as a special night out, and are aware that it will be very pricey with our Aussie dollar exchange.

I saw a couple of past reviews on TA re Giorgio%26#39;s of Gramercy, and it seems to be just as nice with less $$ required.

I don%26#39;t mind spending the money, and dress code is no issue either way ... we were just looking for your thoughts on value for money,I guess. Also, I know restaurants often go in and out of favour depending on the chef at the time etc (well, they do in Oz anyway).

Any thoughts will be appreciated. Thanks

Giorgio's of Gramercy?

I have been twice to Giorgio%26#39;s of Gramercy but have never been to Gramercy tavern. They are not quite in the same league. Gramercy tavern is a high end restaurant with the prices that go with it, Giorgio%26#39;s is more of an in between. It serves excellent food with not too steep prices. If you go on a Sunday night, check the website to see if they are still offering it, wine bottles have a 15$ rebate.

I went with my boyfriend at the time and we both liked it very much. I went back with my parents on another trip and they also loved it. It is casual and friendly service with excellent food. Gramercy tavern is more of a gastronomic experience and Giorgio%26#39;s is more of a casual night out with great food, but more standard. The portions are huge by the way. My boyfriend and I both had appetizers and entrees and we felt bad after dinner.

It is not often that people come on this forum, or on Chowhound.com, and speak ill of Giorgio%26#39;s.

Giorgio's of Gramercy?

I%26#39;ve eaten at both many times each and definitely prefer Gramercy Tavern; although I have not problem with Giorgio%26#39;s. GT is expensive for dinner, so if you want your money to stretch further and still have a good time then go with Giorgios%26#39;s. If you really want the special top notch meal and service and you don%26#39;t mind spending over $200US then do Gramercy Tavern.

We are looking at eating on the tavern side....any thoughts about that?

We%26#39;ve been to Giorgio%26#39;s several times - my wife loves their risotto! we took my brother and sil there for his 60th b-day - they loved it and went back when they were in town a month later.

Just recently, my brother and 3 of his UConn fan buddies spent the weekend in the City for the Big East tourney. He took them to Giorgio%26#39;s and they can%26#39;t wait to go back. Good food, pleasant friendly service and definitely good value for NYC.

Never been to GT, but always looking for a good, sensibly priced restaurant and Giorgio%26#39;s fills the bill.

Poppa

You can%26#39;t make a reservation for the bar at Gramercy Tavern (I assume that%26#39;s what you mean by the tavern side). It%26#39;s first come first serve. Gramercy Tavern is a special occasion place. Have not been to Giorgio%26#39;s but it sounds like good food but less of an event.

Giorgio%26#39;s is one of the best kept secrets in New York. We%26#39;ve gone to dinner multiple times, and also recommend it to my out of town friends.

It%26#39;s a little cheaper than the average NY restaurant, and the food is a little better!

GoG and GT are in 2 different leagues.

Thanks for your feedback everyone. It%26#39;s good to hear that Giorgios is well regarded ... I think we will go there and save our dollars. Then I can spend a little more on shopping! (Or maybe just have some extra wine with dinner... Ha!)

Oh, and thanks CriCri7 for mentioning chowhound.com in your reply. What a fabulous site ... I didn%26#39;t know it existed.

(That%26#39;s not so strange coming from a simple soul like me who has only just recently discovered TA!! My travelling life has changed forever...)

accor hotel gaurantee

We are coming to New York this spring- staying at the Sofitel. Has anyone ever used their ';price gaurantee?';

9 to 5 musical

Little by little, I will get our itinerary down! I have 3 teens, 2 are boys 16 and 15. Do you think they would hate this musical? The price is right for us and it opens on the 7th, which works well for us. We wanted to see Spamalot, but its gone! Thx!

9 to 5 musical

Have you/they seen the movie? I don%26#39;t think of this story as one for teen boys but I could be wrong. What about the off b%26#39;way shows like Stomp, Blue Man Group, Altar Boyz or Fuezerbruta? Those are very teen friendly. If you%26#39;re not bothered by adult humor, Avenue Q on B%26#39;way is on discount and very funny. I took my godson at age 14 and he loved it.

9 to 5 musical

Skip it. There are so many others including those

just listed. They would be bored by 9 to 5

Alright. We%26#39;ve narrowed it down to Jersey Boys or Wicked. Just going to go for it and toss financial caution to the wind!!! Thanks. If you have an opinion on either of these two shows, please let me know.

Rock of Ages is getting good reviews and may be an option. There are discounts available on BroadwayBox.com.

I was also going to suggest Rock of Ages. It gets great reviews if you look on broadwaybox. I haven%26#39;t seen it but am planning to on our trip the end of this month. Plus the tickets are only $69/ticket if you buy them on the broadwaybox.com.

Thank you for the suggestions. I just couldn%26#39;t fork over $1200 - $1300 for Wicked. So, I bought Alter Boyz for Saturday night and would like to go to Rock of Ages or Irena%26#39;s Vow on Tuesday night. Total for each show will be about $275.00 - $300.00, far easier to stomach!