Attn: NYC natives & insiders

Parent Cafe
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<p>Okay, all you wise CC-ers!</p>

<p>DD and I are heading down to NYC for the day on Monday. A group of fellow incoming freshmen at her school have organized (via facebook!) a picnic in Central Park - what fun!</p>

<p>Anyhow, we are taking the train down from Northern CT relatively early on Monday - a 6am train that gets into Penn at 9:20 or so. So we will have a few hours to kill before she meets up with the other kids at 1:30. I’m looking for some suggestions of things to do - not the typical tourist things, but perhaps some things that only a “Native” would know about - shopping, eating (quick/cheap/good), etc. (Would like to stay around Midtown and not venture too far away, and also stay in “safe” areas.) Things like - where’s a GREAT slice of Pizza - or a great breakfast? Or a cute little shop that you’d never find in a guidebook? Or a great place to People watch? </p>

<p>THEN, while dd is off with the “gang”, I will have a couple hours to kill ALL BY MYSELF!! (I picture myself sitting on a park bench watching all the kids as if they were all still 4 years old at the playground!!) Ideas? </p>

<p>I can’t wait to hear from you all!</p>

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<p>Well, Penn Station is at 34th Street and 7th Avenue, and Central Park starts at 59th Street, and Central Park West on the West Side, and the southernmost edge runs a few avenues East to 5th Avenue. Then it goes uptown a couple of miles, while pretty much staying within the same rectangle-- CPW on the West, and 5th Ave on the East. </p>

<p>A mile is 20 blocks, so you will have a little more than a mile to walk to the entrance of the Park. You have to go two avenues East or you will miss it. I would walk uptown and East and head over to Rockefeller Center (47th St. and 5th Avenue). You will find great food and shopping all along the way, and very safe. Rockefeller Plaza is what they show on the Today Show, but by the time you get there, that will pretty much be finished. Still a lovely place to hang out. 5th Avenue is interesting. Depending where in the Park the group will meet, you can go to the (adorable) Central Park Zoo which is pretty close to the entrance, just North of 59th Street. Unfortunately, most museums in NYC are closed on Mondays. The Museum of Modern Art is open though. That’s at 53rd St. between 5th and 6th Avenues.</p>

<p>While the group is in the Park you can People watch to your heart’s content, or you can just explore. Anywhere you go around all that is very safe and fun. Let me know-- you can PM if you like-- if you need more details or ideas. Have fun! NYC in the summer is hot and sticky, but it’s great. Check the weather report-- it might storm a bit. :(</p>

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<p>Where in Central Park is the cement circle with the word, “Imagine” on it? I figure it’s across from where John Lennon last lived, but can someone state the cross-street of his last apartment?</p>

<p>When we brought students to NYC, they were excited to see the “Imagine” circle, and took their pictures with it. A timely message. Have fun!</p>

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<p>Have an ice cream cone in Bryant Park (42nd and Sixth) and watch the kiddies on the carousel.</p>

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<p>Personally, I like Columbus Avenue. I can’t swear that NO tourists will be there, but it is much more of a locals type of place with all kinds of shopping and restaurants. [Columbus</a> Avenue Business Improvement District](<a href=“http://www.columbusavenuebid.org/neighborhood.html]Columbus”>http://www.columbusavenuebid.org/neighborhood.html)</p>

<p>You will find some nationally known chains there, but lots of independent shops and boutiques. It is one block west of the Park, and the better parts start maybe around the mid-60’s? Great walking street and plenty of people watching.</p>

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<p>Franglish, thanks ~</p>

<p>We’ll probably take the subway up toward the Park (I believe it would be the #1?)…haven’t decided yet. The group is supposed to meet at the 81st St. entrance - we’ve got plenty of time!</p>

<p>I guess I’m just looking for some recommendations on places to go - We’ve been down to NYC several times; I feel pretty comfortable navigating around. Just looking for someplace unique that I may never have stopped into without a recommendation. Especially food! Everytime we go down, it’s the same thing (especially if DH is around!) … “Where should we eat?” “I dunno…” and we end up at Subway, or McDonalds because nobody wants to take a chance with the unknown!! (if I could make smiley’s I’d do an eye-roller here)…“Where do you want to shop?” “Oh, I dunno…” and we end up at Macy’s, AGAIN! (eyeroller)</p>

<p>Sorry for rambling!</p>

<p>P.S. Woody, I am taking Amtrak from north of Hartford. Amtrak goes to Penn, Metro North to Grand Central. The 15 minute drive to the Amtrak station is better than the 1.5 hour drive to Metro!!</p>

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<p>I didn’t know any trains from CT went to Penn Station.</p>

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<p>I can’t go into the City with any of my girls without making a stop at the American Girl Store. </p>

<p>Anyway, I really don’t know little dining places. When we go we hit the chain restaurants.</p>

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<ul>
<li><p>I had a great time at Pinkberry - frozen yogurt concoctions, best ever</p></li>
<li><p>I read that Ralph Lauren’s daughter just opened up her own nostalgic candy store, very colorful and unique, but I don’t know where it’s located.</p></li>
</ul>

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<p>Not a native here, but my SIL lives in upstate NY, and goes to NYC a lot. H and I went there a few times this past year, and I can recommend lunch for you at Isabella’s on W.77th and Columbus, directly across from the Natural History Museum. A few blocks further west is Zabar’s, which is a real treat if you like genuine deli food and baked goods. Plus upstairs at Zabar’s is a kitchen lovers paradise of tools and gadgets. If you like mexican food there is a wonderful place near Carnegie Hall called Iquana’s. For a family friendly French bistro around W44th and Broadway (have to look up exact address) is Cafe Un Deux Trois. The Museum of Modern Art, which is open on Mondays has a great cafe in it, too. The restaurant downstairs is pricey. I love MOMA. If it hasn’t closed yet, there is an adorable French bookstore in Rockefeller Plaza that has been there for like 40 years, and you should check it out before it closes (due to being put out of business by the skyrocketing rent).</p>

<p>Silly me, the address for Cafe Un Deux Trois is 123 West 44th. The french bookstore is Librairie de France and has been in Rockefeller Center since 1935. Hope it’s still there. We bought S copies of Harry Potter books in french; he collects them in different lanquages. Zabar’s is at 80th and Broadway. Have fun!</p>

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<p>First, you need to figure out where it is that your D is meeting her friends. Central Park is BIG. I suspect that you mean that your D is meeting her future classmates at the 81st Street entrance on the EAST side. If so, you definitely do NOT want to take the 1 train! Here is a link to a map of the Park:[Central</a> Park Conservancy : Central Park Map](<a href=“http://www.centralparknyc.org/site/PageNavigator/Map]Central”>http://www.centralparknyc.org/site/PageNavigator/Map) You need to know whether your D is meeting people on the East or West Side of the Park to make your plans because that will control your itinerary to some extent. </p>

<p>I put what I understood to be your starting point and destination into [HopStop.com</a> - Subway Directions and Bus Directions for New York City (NYC)](<a href=“http://www.hopstop.com%5DHopStop.com”>http://www.hopstop.com). (Click on New York, of course.) It said the fastest way would take 37 minutes, and of that 18 would be walking. Take the 1 and I’m sure you’d add at least 10 minutes to that. Hopstop recommended taking the C train from Penn Station, getting off at 72nd Street, and then taking the road that goes through the Park to the East Side there and then up to 81st. It estimated the walk at 18 minutes. </p>

<p>Off the top of my head, I’d tell you to walk out of Penn Station and over to 34 & 6 (Ave of Americas) where Macy’s is. If you like to shop, you can go upstairs to Daffy’s, a place for good buys, do the Gap, Old Navy, etc. Get on the F train headed uptown. Get off at 42&6, at Bryant Park. If the timing is right, you might want to take the tour at the NYC Public library, which is right there. It’s an amazing building and has all sorts of neat stuff in it. (You did say offbeat). You can eat in Bryant Park, by grabbing a quick bite at a kiosk --I think it’s one of the chain called 'Wichcraft. Or you can have a fancy meal at the Bryant Park Cafe. There are sometimes cool things in the park. </p>

<p>Then walk over to Grand Central–or if you really don’t want to come up for air, at the Bryant Park Station go through the long corridor–just follow the signs–to the 7 train and take that to Grand Central. (I’d only do that if it’s pouring rain.) There are also tours of Grand Central. You might want to take one. On the lower level of Grand Central, there is a lunch place with a gazillion little restaurant booths where you can buy something to eat. There are also some interesting stores right in Grand Central–a wine store, an olive oil store, and Grand Central Market, with great but expensive foodstuffs. </p>

<p>You can catch the 4,5, or 6 (local) train at Grand Central and get off at 77th Street (local only) or 86th, an express stop, so only 2 stops from Grand Central. You’ll be on Lexington and you can walk to Fifth and the Park–which is preferable to walking through the Park as you will have to do if you stay on a West Side train from Penn Station. Others may disagree…</p>

<p>An alternative would be to stay on the F train until Rockefeller Centre. Get off there and go to the Top of the Rock for a great view. Your D might enjoy shopping in the NBC store there if you’ve never been there. You can walk East and catch the 4,5,or6 at Grand Central or walk to 51st and Lex and catch the 6 there. </p>

<p>Another possibility is to go South when you Exit Penn Station and head over to about 25th Street and Madison to Madison Square Park. Believe it or not, the lunch cafe there is one of the “hottest” places to eat in New York. You’ll have a wait in line which can be long if you hit it at the wrong time. You’ll see a lot of office workers out for lunch plus a lot of little kids in the play area. You can then walk over to Park–you’ll see the MetLife building looming in front of you. You can walk if it’s a nice day. You go through the MetLife building and you’ll be in Grand Central. Or you can hop on a 6 train at 28th and Park Ave South (it’s just the continuation of Park Avenue) and take that to Grand Central or Dylan’s and Bloomingdale’s at 59th, or have your D head straight up to 86th Street to meet her friends if they are meeting on the East Side. She’ll walk over to Fifth Avenue.</p>

<p>If you go with her, walk North and you hit “museum mile.” Lots of museums there to choose from. If you’ve never hit the Museum of the City of New York, treat yourself. </p>

<p>Personally, I don’t think Dylan’s–the candy bar Dylan Lauren owns–is that big a deal, but it’s about 60th and Third, so you could get off 4,5,or 6 at 59and Lex and walk to it. (It’s been there a number of years.) </p>

<p>I do think the map will help you make sense of these suggestions.</p>

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<p>[STRAWBERRY</a> FIELDS - Historical Sign](<a href=“Central Park Monuments - Imagine : NYC Parks”>Central Park Monuments - Imagine : NYC Parks)</p>

<p>This is the link to Strawberry Fields, the John Lennon memorial, and toward the bottom of the article is the explanation of the Imagine circle.</p>

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<p>I am guessing that you are entering on the Upper West Side of the Park. (I looked at map and did not see a 81st street entrance.)</p>

<p>Let me know if you are entering on the East Side–have many recommendations for that side.</p>

<p>We were just there. Stopped at the Housing Work Thrift Store-306 Columbus Ave
(bet. 74th & 75th)</p>

<p>Lots of great things–not a typical thrift store.</p>

<p>Also went to Ricky’s. My 17 year old love it. It is like a beauty supply store–but they have sooo much more. Spent at least an hour in there. There are several on the upper west side. Might try–472 Columbus Ave, between 82nd and 83 or 112 W 72nd Street–bet Columbus and Amsterdam Avenue </p>

<p>Pinkberry!!! YUM we all loved it. Several locations </p>

<p>Also there is a Magnolia Bakery location on the Upper West Side. Not as cute as the famous one in the Village–but no line going out the door. Stop by for a cupcake–or bring some to the picnic. 200 Columbus Avenue</p>

<p>Let me know what your interests are and I might have some more suggestions.</p>

<p>(Like if you are a ribbon, button, trim freak like me–where you can kill a lot of time.)</p>

<p>Also, just a mom–I will also be a mom and suggest that your daughter has the cell phone numbers of the people that she is meeting–at least a few.</p>

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<p>Obviously, I was guessing East Side of Park. If it’s West, then scratch my suggestions!</p>

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<p>Jonri–
I am going back to NYC next week–have Bryant Park on the list to stop this time.</p>

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<p>you go to new york and eat at mcdonalds??? you just ruined my day! what kind of food do you like?</p>

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<p>If you like hamburgers it’s hard to beat “5 Guys” on East 55th st. between 5th and 6th Ave (Closer to 6th on the north side). Small location with red awning. Originally from the D.C. area they’re expanding pretty rapidly now-- the word got out. Awesome fries and everything is fresh.</p>

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<p>franglish, thank you; that link was interesting.</p>

<p>I see the “Imagine” is on the west side of Central Park, at 72nd St., and part of a larger project called “Strawberry Fields” in the park right across from the Dakota Apartments. </p>

<p>So this is only relevant if she’s meeting up the friends on the west side of the park at 81st, I guess. That’s important.</p>

<p>jonri, thanks for naming “Dylans.” When I saw her on the Today Show, they made it sound as though it just opened yesterday. They said it was small but
notable because she has the candies we grew up with, things I hadn’t thought about in years but that helped put my dentist’s kids through college.</p>

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<p>Paying3tuitions: I believe it’s Upper East side by Bloomingdale’s --I think. She has a few of them nationally.</p>

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<p>Justamom - a fun place for you and your D to go to eat would be Ellen’s Stardust Diner, on Broadway and 51st St. It’s a 1950s-style diner with performing waiters/waitresses. My kids love it. I’ve got to run, but more when I get back.</p>