first trip to new york city

Parent Cafe
21

<p>you MUST see a broadway musical! tix are usually $70-$100, but if you go to the TKTS booth in times square 2 hours before the show, you can buy tickets 30-70% off.</p>

22

<p>The Essex House is where we normally stayed for New York trips, using Starwood rewards points, but the hotel was sold early this year to a foreign company and is no longer in the Starpoints program. From your first post, I noticed that you are using some type of reward points, so you may want to check this out before proceeding any further with the Essex House. It’s really a shame, because this was a great, great location. As for alternatives, I have found tripadvisor reviews to be great, once you narrow down search a bit.</p>

23

<p>Do you have dates in mind?</p>

<p>It would be great if you could come during restaurant week this summer:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.nycvisit.com/RestaurantWeekSearch/index.cfm?pagePkey=1673&CFID=11907761&CFTOKEN=12122398[/url]”>http://www.nycvisit.com/RestaurantWeekSearch/index.cfm?pagePkey=1673&CFID=11907761&CFTOKEN=12122398&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>last year’s resturant week:</p>

<p><a href=“http://newyorkmetro.com/restaurants/articles/restaurantweek/index.htm[/url]”>http://newyorkmetro.com/restaurants/articles/restaurantweek/index.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

24

<p>check out the museums… i personally love the little quirky shops down in soho. i’d check out central park. if your husband loves ethnic food, i ate at a really good vietnamese resteraunt near central park… but then again, there are a million of them so i couldn’t tell you which i ate at. :P</p>

<p>you could do the “top of the rock” thing where you go to the top of the rockafeller center… which is pretty cool. you get a great view of the empire state building and can take excellent pictures of it. (here’s a picture my sister took the night we went up. <a href=“http://www.chrisnlinz.com/albums/tiffany/empireClose.jpg[/url]”>http://www.chrisnlinz.com/albums/tiffany/empireClose.jpg&lt;/a&gt; )</p>

<p>also, i don’t know if you have “cosi’s” (<a href=“http://www.getcosi.com%5B/url%5D”>http://www.getcosi.com</a> ) near you, but i love to eat there every time i’m in new york. i love to get a little table outside and order smores. they bring out the little fire to your table for you to make them. also, their sandwiches are amazing.</p>

25

<p>

That’s crazy! I also was shocked to find out how expensive shows in Vegas are. Music theater people must be pretty well off!</p>

26

<p>Yes , there are rowboats in Central Park. Enter park near 72nd Street.<br>
Some restaurants require jackets and ties but many more do not. Don’t forget a visit to Chinatown for Chinese food much better than your average neighborhood Chinese restaurant. Other museums to consider depending on your taste are Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Whitney specializing in American art of the 20th century. Wandering around the galleries and restaurants in Chelsea (Westside around 16th to 23rd Street) can also be fun. Manhattan is a place for walking, observing the streeet scene, following your fancy and making your own discoveries. Must read for “spiritual” preparation is E.B. White’s classic essay “This is New York” – as true now as it was 50 years ago.</p>

<p>As for Serendipity–anything requiring a two-hour wait outside is not worth it. Plenty of great places for desserts all over Manhattan. Look for people walking their own dogs --they are probably local and can give the best advice about good places to eat nearby.</p>

<p>Call Lincoln Center for info about Philharmonic Morning rehearsals-- $14 for a great concert.</p>

27

<p>The best meal I have ever had in the United States was at Bouley down in Tribeca. Everything about the experience was wonderful from the moment you walk in the door and are greeted by a wall of apples to the tea cakes they give you when you leave.</p>

<p><a href=“https://www.davidbouley.com/[/url]”>https://www.davidbouley.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Also, My Most Favorite Dessert Company on 45th between Sixth and Broadway. Its Kosher so if you’re there on Friday go before 3pm and forget about it on Saturday. I’m not Jewish, but it is always a stop when I am in town.</p>

<p>Also, I love the Palm. There are many great steak places and everyone has their favorite on but the Palm is mine. Family owned since 1922. The original on 2nd Ave is a classic.</p>

<p>Finally, a great little hotel is the Mercer in SoHo </p>

<p><a href=“http://www.mercerhotel.com/mainintro.html[/url]”>http://www.mercerhotel.com/mainintro.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Have fun</p>

28

<p>Waiting in line for TKTS can be a waste of time. If you know what show you want to see go to their box office around noon and ask what “rush” discounts they offer. We saw Beauty and the Beast first row center balcony on a Sat. nite at about 40% off that way.</p>

<p>Second the Edison Hotel deli for a quick bite. Check out the murals in the lobby while you are there.</p>