Broadway and New York

Parent Cafe
1

<p>I am hoping that there are knowledgeable members of the parents board who can help me with this special “problem” I have.</p>

<p>My boyfriend’s favorite musical is Les Miserables. It’s currently playing on Broadway until March 11th, and for a Christmas present (and a birthday present, and a Valentine’s present, and MY birthday and Christmas presents to myself), I decided I’d like to surprise him with a trip to New York to go see it.</p>

<p>The plan is to go during President’s Day weekend, flying out on February 16 and flying back to Berkeley on February 18. I’m working with his family in secret to stay with his aunt who lives in Plainfield, and I’m trying to figure out the best (and cheapest) way to fly there. That much I’m doing okay with and don’t need any help unless someone out there knows how to fly from Oakland airport to the airport closest to Plainfield for less than $450 for both of us round-trip (that’s to La Guardia; I’m not actually sure which airport might be closest to Plainfield).</p>

<p>So! I am appealing to you, parents, for ideas. I’ve never been to New York City before, never even been to the east coast except for quick stops in D.C. and, if you count it, Chicago and DisneyWorld. My boyfriend has, but since this is a surprise I can’t very well ask him for recommendations, at least not directly because OF COURSE I am the master of the innocuous question (which is made easier because I can spread it out over four months).</p>

<p>Where is a good place to get nice Italian dinner before the show on Saturday? I’m particularly looking for a place that serves seafood dishes, such as crab ravioli or shrimp caesar, et cetera.</p>

<p>Any recommendations for things to do in such a limited window? I think we’ll probably spend all day Saturday in the city, but Friday is for arrival and Sunday is mostly taken with leaving. I’m all for any kind of attraction – arts, shopping (though I won’t be BUYING anything), parks, anything and everything – but the main appeal is cheap/free. We’re going to be going specifically to do one of the things New York does best, Broadway, and we’ll more than likely be back another time to do anything else.</p>

<p>General suggestions are good, too. How’s the weather usually like in mid-February? Is President’s Day weekend going to be a bad one to be a tourist? What’s the easiest way to get around town once you’re there? Anything I need to be particularly aware of in terms of safety? Anything at all? Remember that I’m completely new to New York, and to the eastern seaboard in general.</p>

<p>Thank you so much in advance. This means a lot to me, and I want it to be as perfect as it can be.</p>

2

<p>I’ll start. :slight_smile: If the Plainfield you speak of is in New Jersey, try real hard to fly into (and out of) Newark Liberty airport. (EWR) Check out a map.</p>

<p>It’s like this:</p>

<p>[Plainfield]--------------------[EWR]-----[NEW YORK!!!]---------/ [LaGuardia]--------[JFK]</p>

3

<p>undecided,</p>

<p>What a nice thing to do for your boyfriend! Les Mis is a great show and although this revival has received mixed reviews, I’m sure you will both enjoy it. </p>

<p>A few Italian restaurants in midtown in the theatre district are:</p>

<p>Barbetta 321 W. 46th.</p>

<p>Latanzi 361 W. 46th. </p>

<p>Fiorentina 317 W. 46th.</p>

<p>La Rivista 313 W. 46th. All on Restaurant Row and all a short walk to the Broadhurst Theatre which is on W. 44th.</p>

<p><a href=“http://restaurantrownyc.com/media/restaurantrow.html[/url]”>http://restaurantrownyc.com/media/restaurantrow.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Plainfield, NJ is probably about a half hour’s drive from the Newark airport. LaGuardia is nowhere near there. It’s on the opposite side of Manhattan, in Queens. Newark would definitely be more convenient for you than LaGuardia.</p>

<p>I’m guessing you’ll be buying tickets for the Saturday night show so you’ll have all day to explore, which is always good! :slight_smile: Some inexpensive things to do in midtown, where you can walk to everything: Skating at Rockefeller Center; walk up Fifth Avenue and windowshop at Henri Bendel’s, Bergdorf’s, Tiffany, Cartier; go into FAO Schwartz and have fun looking at the toys and watching the employees put on a performance on the “BIG” floor piano; go into Central Park and visit the zoo (pretty inexpensive, I think around $7.00) and the cafe next to it is a great place to grab a bite to eat (delicious sandwiches, fresh fruit, and friendly employees); if you still feel like walking, continue up Fifth to the Metropolitan Museum of Art which has a pay what you can policy. Even a couple of hours there is fun, see the Egyptian exhibit. </p>

<p><a href=“http://www.metmuseum.org/[/url]”>http://www.metmuseum.org/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Head back to the theatre district in plenty of time for your dinner (make a reservation!) and be sure to visit the stage door of the Broadhurst after the show to meet the cast. </p>

<p>The weather is extremely variable in February. I’ve experienced everything from unseasonably mild where all you need is a light jacket, to the worst storm I’ve ever seen in NYC a few years ago, where the snow was piled 20 feet high at intersections and the airports were closed for three days. You should be able to check online just prior to leaving, though, to get a forecast.</p>

<p>If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM or email me.</p>

<p>Have a wonderful time!</p>

4

<p>Wow, that is an amazing present for your boyfriend and you are going to have a terrific time. I am not a New Yorker and figured those from NYC could give you the skinny on where to eat and what to do better than I ever could. My daughter (who goes to college in NYC) is seeing the revival of Les Mis this Sunday! Her grandmother got her tix for her recent 18th birthday and to take a friend. Her best friend from home traveled to NYC for the weekend to see the show with her and that friend has never been to a Broadway show before(my daughter is also in a musical theater production all weekend and so her friend is there to see that too). My daughter has seen many Broadway shows but has never seen Les Mis on Broadway. I bet it will be a great experience for all of you. Definitely go to the stagedoor after the show, which is particularly fun if you have never been to a Broadway show before. Even without spending much money, you will have fun just walking around the sites such as Times Square. There really is nothing like NYC. </p>

<p>Susan</p>

5

<p>Thank you both for replying so promptly. :)</p>

<p>Yes, it is the Plainfield in New Jersey. I did not realize this until it clicked in my brain that those visits to New Jersey must have been to this aunt, which means it wouldn’t be the one in New York. Yeah, I’m a little slow sometimes. :stuck_out_tongue: I’ll revise the plane ticket search for Newark, instead. Thanks! The reason I was searching to La Guardia is because I was originally planning on staying in a hotel, until his little sister gave me their aunt’s email address.</p>

<p>alwaysamom: I am indeed planning on tickets to the 8pm performance, so I’m hoping we can make the most of the day we get there. If my fundraising goes really well, I might consider extending our stay another day (so leaving on the 19th) so we can relax and spread it over two days. </p>

<p>I’m really interested in seeing the Met, but I’m not sure I’d want to spend the limited amount of time there I would have to if we only had one day. I’ll look into the other suggestions, but those are exactly the kinds of things I’m looking for, so thank you very much! I’ll look into those restaurants, too. Of course I’ll make reservations. I’ll probably do my darndest to make special reservations. :)</p>

<p>The weather I’m not particularly worried about. We are both mountain kids, and while New York snow is different from California snow, we are prepared for far more cold than California offers. I am more curious about the trends – whether it’s ALWAYS snowy, for example. Knowing it’s variable just reminds me that it was a silly question to ask: weather is, naturally, unpredictable. :)</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

6

<p>You can travel easily and safely by subway or bus. Since you will only be in NYC for a brief period I would say its best to chose one or two sites to visit. I suggest the American Museum of Natural History (79th Street & Broadway) which is located across the street from Central Park. I promise you won’t regret it! Enjoy this great city.</p>

7

<p>You’ll probably get the best rates on plane tickets booking about 40-70 days out; $450 round trip for two is going to be tricky – more likely around $540. Basically a low end round trip air fare from the SF bay area to NY area is around $270. Check Kayak.com & JetBlue for fares (Jet Blue would fly Oakland/JFK)</p>

<p>Right now I don’t see any good rates… so if I’d suggest that you just keep an eye on the fares for awhile; it’s just a little too soon to get the best discounts.</p>

8

<p>Undecided–STOP,
Do not book any flights yet until/unless you have confirmed seating for the show. Many Broadway shows are sold out six or more months in advance. After you confirm the show seats you can get your flights. (and then you may be in the 40-70 day window calmom speaks of)!</p>

9

<p>Unfortunately, Jet Blue flies into JFK, and Southwest flies into LaGuardia, so these usually cheap airlines won’t do it for you.</p>

<p>I second ice skating in Rockefeller Center. It’s one of those quintessential “only in NY” experiences. I believe it’s free or only a nominal charge. And you can rent ice skates there. </p>

<p>With such a limited time frame, and the fact that you’ve never been there before, I’d also suggest taking one of the bus tours around the city. They’re not terribly expensive and they’re a lot of fun. I grew up in NJ, and we were always in the city - my parents loved Broadway - but it wasn’t until 3 years ago when I visited with friends that I actually took a tour. It was wonderful! I saw places I had never been and learned things I never knew. You can also get off to explore and then get on again. I’d suggest the “downtown” tours which take you to SoHo, Greenwich Village, Ground Zero, Chinatown and the Lower East Side. Get it in Times Square, and then if you still have time or energy, you can walk or subway to Central Park and back in time for the show.</p>

<p>(I also agree - don’t book anything until you have tickets!)</p>

10

<p>undecided - Be sure to make plans for your daytime activities for both sunny-nice days and rainy-frigid-not-nice days. I <em>heart</em> New York, but as with any place, you could get either type of weather in February. So don’t get your heart set on a day in the park without alternate plans :). Wear shoes you <em>really</em> like walking in, whatever you plan for the day.</p>

<p>Have fun!</p>

11

<p>Since flying east kills an entire day, we always bite the bullet and fly the red-eye. We just do everything we can to sleep on the plane. For such a short weekend, it won’t make sense to go any other way. We arrive early (6 -7 am) get into the city and then go to Carnegie Deli in Manhattan for breakfast. Oops, I see you are going into NJ and Newark is closer.</p>

<p>My H just flew Frontier Air from OC to La Guardia…pretty cheap, but had to go thru Denver. May have flights from Oakland…check them out for cheaper fares and may go into Newark.</p>

<p>That weekend…you could have horrible weather so if you can avoid stop overs in Chicago, you have a better chance of getting to and from without horrific delays.</p>

<p>Definitely make sure you can get tix to the show before you book your air. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

12

<p>I second the city bus tour. I have done this many times, in many cities where I have limited time. This way I get a birds-eye view of the city and make mental notes for the next time (and in many cases there was a next time). And if something really catches my eye I can always go back for more. I also suggest not worrying too much about sleeping in or staying up too late. Because you’re on a whirlwind take advantage of as much as you can in that window.</p>

<p>New York, New York, a helluva town.
The Bronx is up, but the Battery’s down.
The people ride in a hole in the groun’.
New York, New York, it’s a helluva town!</p>

13

<p>Airtran is another low-cost airline (someone earlier mentioned Jet Blue and Southwest). They fly from LA or SF to Newark (with a stop in Atlanta). You can get discount coach seats for $159 per passenger. I think discount coach just means you pick your seats at check-in (but I’m not positive, so don’t take my word for it).</p>

14

<p>soozievt: How wonderful for your daughter! I’m a theatre techie, but it’s more of a hobby than anything (as if anything that eats as many hours as theatre does could be a mere hobby…), and I’m definitely looking forward to standing at the stage door. :)</p>

<p>Egelloca: I would like to see Central Park, but I don’t think I plan on going if it’s just too snowy/after-snowy when I get there. Thank you for the suggestion on the number – that never occurred to me, but I do remember trying to fit the major sites in D.C. into two days involved a lot of running…</p>

<p>Calmom: The $450 was actually a quoted price I had from cheapflights.com on American Airlines. It was about a 12 hour trip (plus the two hours getting there, plus the time getting to his aunt’s house), but I was expecting the trip to eat a day each way anyway. I always keep looking, just in case someone throws out any specials as they sometimes do.</p>

<p>mominva: Of course not! I’ve been checking LesMis.com’s ticket vendor every other day or so, just making sure they have tickets available. It would be something of a wasted trip if we couldn’t make it to the show, so that’s definitely the first thing on my purchase list.</p>

<p>Chedva: I have a special place in my heart for ice skating, so I would absolutely love to do that. We’ll see if that fits into the “walking around for 10 hours” plan after a day on a plane, though! The bus tour is a great idea; I did one in D.C. when I went and it was the only way to fit everything in.</p>

<p>jmmom: Growing up in the mountains and spending a lot of time in Texas, I know better than to expect the weather to cooperate. I’m sure I’ll have as many sweaters and gloves packed as tank tops and flip flops! Always prepared. Even for long walking days. :)</p>

<p>blucroo: I’m waiting for his aunt to get back to me with details before I plan exactly when we’re arriving. As much as it might help us to get in at the early A.M., I’m not so sure she’s an early riser. I forgot that there were airplane delays that come with poor weather, so that’s a great point about the layover. I’ll keep an eye out for that and do what I can to avoid it. Thank you!</p>

<p>"just"aMom: Being college kids, we’re NEVER worried about a lack of sleep. :slight_smile: The bus tour is looking more and more like a fantastic idea…</p>

<p>bing121086: I hadn’t even heard of them, but that’s fantastic! Thank you for the tip, I’ll definitely look into it.</p>

15

<p>undecided, </p>

<p>The bus tours are great but, keep in mind, they are much better in mild weather. The upper decks of the buses are open and, even on a mild fall or spring day can be very cold. I was in the city a few weeks ago and a young entrepreneur was selling hats and gloves out of a green trash bag to those who were in line to board the buses! :slight_smile: The Gray Line offers tours which leave right from the Times Square area on Broadway at 47th. A downtown loop one day ticket is $39/each. The entire loop takes between 2-3 hours, depending on traffic. You can get on and off at about 20 different stops, but realistically, you wouldn’t have time to do even half of them in one day. The tour guides vary in quality, and talent!, but most are pretty interesting, with different anecdotes for much of what you’ll see on the tour. If you have a good one, keep a couple of dollars handy when you get off, because they do expect a tip.</p>

<p>If you do decide on a tour, I agree that the downtown loop is the most interesting. Two areas I would highly recommend that you get off the bus would be Ground Zero and South St. Seaport. After you see the TT site, go across the street to St. Paul’s and see their exhibit in tribute to 9/11 and the rescue workers who rested there for months during the search.</p>

<p>When you know that you’ll be able to get affordable flights, I agree that you need to order your tickets ASAP. Since you only have one night available, you want to make sure that you can get the best seats possible for that show. Discount codes currently available don’t go that far into the run yet, but it’s worth checking again once you’re ready to order. Check playbill.com and also broadwaybox.com for discount codes. I wouldn’t worry about the stories of shows being sold out six months in advance. That rarely happens and this year, even with Jersey Boys which is the most popular show on Broadway, it’s not sold out that far in advance. It’s unlikely that it would be a problem with this production of Les Mis, if you’re planning to do it, for example, within the next month or so.</p>

16

<p>Speaking of cheap airfares, I’m not the world (or cc) expert, BUT someone recommended kayak.com to me as a portal. I have recently found tix cheaper there by quite a bit than anything I find on the other portals. Give it a try. They are an umbrella portal pointing you to the best deals from such sites as cheaptix, Travelocity, Orbitz, all of the individual airlines, etc. etc.</p>

17

<p>And, don’t forget to check <a href=“http://www.studentuniverse.com%5B/url%5D”>www.studentuniverse.com</a>.
Oh… never mind. You’d need to sign him up via his email address and spoil the surprise.</p>

18

<p>Touring depends on the weather. If it is a nice day and you have on comfortable shoes and you’re a kid–</p>

<p>Buy yourself a Streetwise Manhattan. <a href=“http://www.amazon.com/StreetWise-Manhattan-Streetwise-Michael-Brown/dp/1886705976/sr=8-1/qid=1163283111/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-4143548-8161428?ie=UTF8&s=books[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/StreetWise-Manhattan-Streetwise-Michael-Brown/dp/1886705976/sr=8-1/qid=1163283111/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-4143548-8161428?ie=UTF8&s=books&lt;/a&gt;
Get a sharpie pen.
Circle the neighborhoods you want to see. You’re a kid. You can see a lot of New York on foot–if its not raining or snowing.
Figure out how to take the subway down to Canal Street and Chinatown.
Start with Mott Street in Chinatown and walk north.
Through Little Italy. Stop for a pastry and coffee!
Through Soho. check out a gallery!
Through Greenwich Village. Stop in Washington Square Park to observe humanity.
Over to Astor Square and the start of St Marks Place --if you have time.
Up Fifth Avenue.
Loop over to Union Square if you have time
BAck to walking north on Fifth
Past the Empire State Building
Past the NYC Public Library (go in if you have time)
Over to Grand Central
Over to Times Square and your early dinner reservation.</p>

<p>If you have time the next day,</p>

<p>Start at<br>
St Pats on Fifth Ave
Across the street to Rockefeller Center–go in to see the lobby murals
Over to MoMa for a quick run through if no lines
Up to FAO Schwartz --in if no lines
Tea or coffee at The Plaza?
Up to Central Park.
Take a horse ride?
Check out Sheeps Meadow
Central Park Ice Skating Rink
The Boat Pond
Alice in Wonderland Statue
Out of Park to Fifth and up to the Metropolitan Museum. 25 cent entry fee okay. Good for a whiz through–you don’t have to stop.
Continue up past the Frick Museum and the Cooper Hewitt, the McMansions of their day.
Walk into the Guggenheim to look up into that atrium… Skip the $15 entry fee.
Across Fifth again to see the Reservoir .
Across again and past Fifth to madison.<br>
Down madison past all the shops,
To the WHitney Museum.</p>

<p>Have fun!</p>

19

<p>And after you follow cheers’ itinerary, go <em>very</em> heavy on the caffeine with dinner, so you will be awake all the through the play. You can sleep on the plane another day!</p>

20

<p>For us younger folk, after theater dinner is the thing. Manhattan is wonderful at night. Last time I walked home from an after play dinner we danced in the street to some great music along with many others!</p>

<p>My 2 favorites:</p>

<p>On a budget, Becco on restaurant row. For $22 you get to eat all you want of the three daily pasta specials, always good, in an upscale restaurant. You also get a great mostly seafood antipasto. Great ambiance and food and a superb bargain.</p>

<p>More of a splurge but also a bargain (if you’re of drinking age) is Cite nearby on W. 51st. For $70 each, a fabulous meal with seafood platter including huge shrimp, a major hunk of beef, lamb or fish, dessert and all of the really good wine and champagne you wish. Fun atmosphere!</p>

<p>You’ll have so much fun!!!</p>