<p>Hopstop, which jonri mentioned upthread, is a great resource for figuring out travel times. They also have options for figuring out how long it would take to walk, how much it would cost to take a cab, etc etc etc [HopStop.com</a> - Subway Directions and Bus Directions for New York City (NYC)](<a href=“http://hopstop.com/]HopStop.com”>http://hopstop.com/). There’s even an option to get hopstop directions texted to your phone.</p>
<p>Keeping a subway map with you is a great idea. We got one of those nice little “Not For Tourists” guides for NYC, which has a heavy-duty fold-out map of the subway system at the back, really convenient. If your daughter is going to be going into the city on a regular basis, it would make a nice gift: it’s got a discreet black cover, is small enough to fit easily into a purse or small backpack, and contains scads of info that is really useful even for locals (I’m not one, but sometimes wish I was).</p>
<p>According to that Columbus Ave map, there is a Pinkberry on Columbus between 74th and 75th. It sounds like fun. I wish we’d known about it when we were there.</p>
<p>Mercymom, I saw that too (thanks to all who posted all these links, they are great!) - we’ll definitely be stopping there.</p>
<p>Here’s the tentative plan:</p>
<p>Hop off the train @ Penn, take the subway over in the direction of Union Square (looks like the N?), & get off either there or at Astor Place, spend some time there, walk up to whichever one we didn’t get off at, then hop back on the N then the D (???) uptown to W 81st when it’s time to meet the group…</p>
<p>Then when DD is busy I’ll wander over to Zabar’s & some of the Columbus Ave shopping…either that or I’ll fall asleep on a park bench, lol.</p>
<p>Then when we’re done we can take the 1 back to Penn to meet the train home!</p>
<p>So, then the next question is, should we get a day pass for the subway or just buy a couple of tokens? Guess I have to look at the MTA site!!</p>
<p>If you get a day pass, you can only use it every 20 minutes (pretty much prohibits sharing), so each of you would have to get one. That would be a good idea, though, because it would save you money. One day card is $7.50, which would be .50 less than 4 rides. You can get these from the vending machines inside most subway stations (certainly a bunch will be at Penn Station).</p>
<p>if you are willing to travel a bit, while your D is in the park here’s a great experience for you…
the Chelsea Market.Its downtown on 9th Ave between 15-16th streets. Take a subway (A,C,E or Llines) to 14th and 8th Ave. Its the old National Biscuit Bakery Building (huge huge,a whole city block long and wide)) where they made Oreo’s, Mallowmars,etc. It has fabulous food shops/eateries inside. Its where the Food Network Studios are…like Rachael Ray’s show and the Next Food Network Star, etc and Martha Stewart’s show is filmed there too. They offer tours.Their website is chelseamarket.com
by the way, I think its great that the kids organized a meetup!
They will be in the right part of the park for the Strawberry Fields/Imagine area.</p>
<p>ooops…I couldn’t edit too late!
the tours aren’t offered by the market building itself.they are from a seperate company,I just googled them…its foodsofny.com/chelseamarket</p>
<p>if you go you’ll have fun,for sure…with or without a tour
there will be tourists but they are everywhere this summer. Its cheap for others to come to the US this year and NY is swarming.</p>
<p>theres also an upper west side Magnolia Bakery, at 69th/columbus) very famous cupcake place. You’re not too far from Morningside Heights if you have any interest poking around the Columbia campus, see the cathedral of st john (biggest gothic church in the world), go to Tom’s Restaurant (famous for being the seinfeld diner).
Lincoln Center and the Time Warner Center are both near the southern edge of central park, and its a fun neighborhood to walk around in.</p>
<p>You guys are the best! I was sort of ambivalent about this trip down, but now I CAN’T WAIT!!</p>
<p>Where exactly is Tom’s? That would be a hoot!</p>
<p>catheemee, isn’t it a great idea? I think there are at least 55 kids or so who have “accepted” the facebook invitation. After they meet at the entrance they are going out to the Great Lawn to hang out and picnic. Remember the days when we were dropped off at school with nothing but our nametags???</p>
<p>Thought I posted but…
Across street from Pinkberrys (which is at 70th and Amsterdam) is Gray’s Papaya which sells only hotdogs – no seating. This is where Amsterdam, Columbus, and Broadway cross – so make sure you end up on correct street. Up 72nd St from Gray’s Papaya is Granddaisy Bakery (yummy breads) and across the street is another bakery with very good cupcakes plus Tip Top Shoes. In my opinion, the best ccc (chocolate chip cookie) in NYC is at Levain Bakery somewhere on 74th Street in that neighborhood (you should google it). Also if you knit, Knitty City (think it’s 79th Street) has helpful staff.</p>
<p>Slithey, you are right, I have PUH-LENTY of time - lol, and I think I will be coming home very hungry as well -NOT! Let’s see, cupcakes, cheesecake, hotdogs, burgers, pizza, a deli, bagels…</p>
<p>The best pizza place in Manhattan is on Bleeker street at the corner of 7th avenue south, called John’s. We have been going there for over 25 years and have never been disappointed. Their pizzas are made in charcoal ovens and are thin crust. Simply the best! Try the one with sausage topping.</p>
<p>Agreed on John’s. I used to live on Bleecker St. back in the day (way back!) and went there often. It’s one of the few places in NYC that hasn’t changed much at all.</p>
<p>Hi all, I’m going to ask one more question before I go tomorrow!</p>
<p>DD has said that one thing she REALLY wants to do is to be able to shop from some street vendors…she wants to find (ANOTHER) new bag…</p>
<p>Plan of attack is to spend some time in Union Sq and Astor Place before heading back uptown. Will there be any vendors around there? Or would we have more luck uptown near Central Park?</p>
<p>I realize its last minute but figured I’d try posting one more time. Wish me luck, I’ll let you know how it goes!</p>
<p>I’m back! Just wanted to say THANK YOU to all who posted - we had a great time!</p>
<p>Let’s see…we went down to Union Square, and wandered around there for a bit…then DD wanted to walk down to the Village, so we did. We were amazed looking at the NYU campus - being from a small town, and with DD attending a rural campus next year… it was something to see! Anyhow we looked into the cupcake cafe, among lots of other stores, then headed back up towards Astor Place. By this time it was getting a bit late for her Meet-up so we headed up the Lexingon ave line, got off at the East side of the Park and walked across to the West Side meeting place. (By this time we had missed the group - DD couldn’t understand WHY I wouldn’t leave her alone in the park to find them, lol…I’m such a bad mother)</p>
<p>Finally she met up the other kids and I went off for my afternoon of shopping! Headed down to Columbus ave/Broadway. Hit Zabar’s, Papaya (although it was too HOT for a HotDog, so I just got a drink). PinkBerry’s is under construction, not open yet. Went to TipTop shoes, ??EuroPan?? for a big slice of cheesecake, Levain Bakery for some cookies for DH and DS (eek! $3.50 EACH???) H&H Bagels for some to bring home…and lots of other places too. Was supposed to meet back up with DD at 5:45 but my feet had had it by then so I went and sat in the shade by the Park for a while.</p>
<p>All in all, a great trip! Thanks to all! And, DD had a great time meeting her future classmates - I think 30 or so showed up.</p>
<p>Thanks for the follow-up! I was thinking of you yesterday, as you were slogging through a very hot and muggy day! Glad you had fun. Come back in the autumn, when NYC is really at its best. IMO…</p>