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<p>I have actually had the oposite experience. I’ve (almost) always purchased discount Broadway tickets from broadwaybox or theatremania. When I go to shows here, I have to pay full price. And the local theaters are larger than most Broadway theaters, so the “cheap seats” are a lot farther away.</p>
<p>OP, don’t rely on the concierge for tickets. Go on one of the sites mentioned here and browse.</p>
<p>I’d suggest on focusing on a part of the city each day, with a couple of sites in each part. In the middle, take a ‘day off’ for the ferry ride to Ellis Island (you go right by the Statue of Liberty, the Island is fascinating, and the water views of Manhattan SIMPLY.TO.DIE.FOR.) </p>
<p>For example:</p>
<p>Day 1 - Upper West Side, Harlem, Central Park </p>
<p>Day 2 - Upper East Side, Mid town</p>
<p>Day 3 - Ferry to Ellis Island</p>
<p>Day 4 - Greenwich Village, Soho, Chinatown</p>
<p>As a Brooklynite, I would suggest that you take the subway to Brooklyn Heights (A or C train to High Street; 2 or 3 to Clark Street) and check out NYC’s first suburb, and the first landmarked neighborhood (lovely, well-maintained houses). It’s a beautiful neighborhood with the best view of Manhattan from the Promenade you will ever see. It’s one stop from downtown Manhattan on the 2/3 or the A/C. Then you can walk back to Manhattan over the Brooklyn Bridge. Unbeatable!!</p>
<p>I’m not a big fan of going to shows because they got a Tony. The process is political, and a product of campaigning as much as quality (because of the corresponding surge of theatregoers after). I highly recommend Wicked and Ave Q. Keep in mind a lot of “amazing” shows do not have cross-generational appeal, something that Wicked has because of its accessible story and great sense of humor, and Ave Q because it’s fun and doesn’t take itself too seriously. Also - imho the current Glinda/Elphaba pairing for Wicked is the best ever.</p>
<p>I’m pretty disappointed with the eats suggested so far. Come on guys, we can do much better.</p>
<ul>
<li>Joe’s Shanghai (Soup dumplings - don’t bother with anything else): Cheap, and the soup dumplings are amazing. If you go I suggest arriving around 7, 7:30 at the latest because it builds a line quickly.</li>
<li>Katz’s Deli (Best known for its pastrami): Pretty expensive for deli sandwiches, but its pastrami is worth tasting at least once.</li>
<li>Shake Shack (Burgers, milkshakes): There’s a few of these around the city. Fantastic, fantastic burgers and even better shakes. The one on 23rd in Gramercy park is the original, but I’ve heard the rest are all very good.</li>
<li>Agreed with someone above on Serendipity 3. Haven’t been there myself, though if you watched the movie it’s pretty neat.</li>
<li>The Halal Guys on 53rd and 6th. You can go to them for dinner actually, it’s the same guys from noon to morning (contrary to some people’s belief that it’s a different cart). Fantastic halal, and who can leave NYC without some cart food?</li>
</ul>
<p>Have to run to make the train, but I’ll pop back in with some suggestions later. Just please don’t eat in GCT, the Oyster bar is pretty good but the rest is overpriced and not very good. If you can give us an idea of your price range or whether you’re willing to splurge a bit on a single meal, we can tailor our suggestions there. If you care about food, that is, which imho you should since fantastic eats is one of NYC’s top attractions (in case you haven’t noticed, I do :D).</p>
<p>Franglish, I know that my H and I would love your recommendation of Brooklyn Heights and my kids would hate it. They dislike walking tours and walking around neighborhoods just to be there. Same with tours of historic homes - I love them and the kids hate them.</p>
<p>So OP, do you know how your family members feel about walking around cool neighborhoods?</p>
<p>We took the subway to Brooklyn, ate at Grimaldis and then had ice cream at the famous place nearby, then walked back over the Brooklyn Bridge. Four of us enjoyed it and one of us didn’t. It made my son very nervous and he couldn’t wait for it to be over.</p>
<p>My 2 cents. Cirque de Soleil is performing Zarkana at Radio City music hall. </p>
<p>The roof garden is now open at the Met so you get exhibits and a view and can stroll around Central park after. </p>
<p>[The</a> Metropolitan Museum of Art - Home](<a href=“http://www.metmuseum.org/]The”>http://www.metmuseum.org/)</p>
<p>Of that list of shows I would suggest War Horse. It was wonderful!</p>
<p>If you like history I suggest the Lower East Side Tenement Museum.</p>
<p>I also love the Museum of Natural History .</p>
<p>Sent from my DROID RAZR using CC</p>
<p>Hm. Didn’t mean to see Porgy and Bess just because it’s won a Tony. I think the music magnificent, Audra MacDonald one of the great treasures of the American theater (saw her in Ragtime) and I like that something historical is re-imagined. My problem with many musicals is the music, but that’s just me.</p>
<p>We all have our favorite things/places. The OP will decide which work for her family.</p>
<p>I have been to Serendipity 3, and it’s fun. Burgers, salads, all fine. Desserts beyond amazing. And a little store and a lot of art nouveau appointments in a whacky way. A lot of fun.</p>
<p>Dylan’s Candy Bar is right on the corner if there is a wait. It’s vulgar, commercial and also fun.</p>
<p>If I was going to suggest someplace I usually eat, it’s the Arte Cafe, in the 70’s between Columbus and Amsterdam I think. You can get a three course prix-fix dinner for $14.00, and the food is really good. The atmosphere is charming (white brick walls with pictures of Italy, including a poster of Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday) and it has outdoor tables. It’s the ground floor of a brownstone.</p>
<p>It’s not exciting in the least, but it’s delicious and reasonable. I was suggesting things with a more touristy, fun flavor, because somethings that’s just what you want.</p>
<p>Dinosaur BB-Q is a really fun, fairly reasonable honky-tonk rib joint on 125th Street in Harlem. My daughter went there all the time with her friends when she was at Barnard, and she took me. The food is wonderful, and it’s a fun place.</p>
<p>That’s only if you find yourself uptown.</p>
<p>Memphis was terrific and you can’t beat Wicked. </p>
<p>Both shows will have you energized and feeling so uplifted. </p>
<p>Get up early one morning be in the square for the Today Show or another morning show. Bring a sign that says “HELLO CC friends”</p>
<p>My FAVORITE restaurant is Cafe 79 - an upscale vegetarian restaurant that is utterly amazing. Ask for reservations on the second floor, near the window.</p>
<p>I believe Cafe 79 is now The East River diner. I could be wrong, but I think they may have a different menu. My aunt and uncle live in Yorkville so I am there on occasion.</p>
<p>Sorry - the restaurant is Candle 79, they have a smaller, more informal place called Candle Cafe and I was just morphing the two places. Gosh, I would have felt bad if I had directed someone to the wrong place! Actually, they now have a third place, Candle Cafe West. We love the place so much that we go there for three special occasions each year - my birthday, hubby’s birthday, and our anniversary. That wouldn’t be a big deal, except we live in south central PA.</p>
<p>That’s so sweet worknprogress2. I am happy to have given an appropriate correction because I almost didn’t post – not wanting to nitpick. I find it so sweet you have a special place you come so far for.</p>
<p>You’ve got lots of great recommendations here. I’ll just put in my two cents on Broadway shows. I saw Death of a Salesman in April–it was one of the best performances I’ve seen. I’d highly recommend it. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is wonderful. Also saw Porgy and Bess before it went to Broadway–it was at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, MA. It was excellent too. </p>
<p>I think just the experience of going to a Broadway play is so great that I’d make it a priority. Regional theaters are not the same–even if it’s a show that was on Broadway. There’s something really exciting about being in the city and going to the theater district. Lots of buzz and excitement–there’s really not anything like it in other US cities.</p>
<p>Some of the restaurants that we went to in New York: Grimaldi’s (in the city…all cash…10 minute wait), Tao, Circa, Serafina’s, Carnegie Deli (cash only)…do I sense an Italian emphasis?</p>
<p>Dinosaur’s makes a good BBQ, but it’s a little out of the way. If you are in the mood for ribs you could look for the Daisy Mae’s food cart: [Daisy</a> May’s BBQ USA](<a href=“SLOT88 : Situs Judi Online Slot Gacor Terpercaya AutoSlot88”>SLOT88 : Situs Judi Online Slot Gacor Terpercaya AutoSlot88) We had a really nice (and not too pricey) meal at [Bar</a> Boulud](<a href=“http://www.danielnyc.com/barboulud.html]Bar”>http://www.danielnyc.com/barboulud.html) across from Lincoln Center. If you sit outside you can people watch. Another fun place to eat old steak house that hasn’t change a bit since its founding in 1926 - [Top</a> NYC Steakhouses: The Palm: Best Midtown NYC Steak Restaurant, Private Dining](<a href=“http://www.thepalm.com/Palm-One]Top”>http://www.thepalm.com/Palm-One) They have restaurants all over the US, but the original one, has all the original cartoons from the newspaper folk who worked in the area and paid with pictures.</p>
<p>Create a login for yourself at playbill.com and and at theatermania.com for info about discounted performance tickets. You can follow the links to buy online, call the venue with the discount code, or just show up at the box office with the print out. Both will send you emails a couple times each week with featured performances/events.</p>
<p>Can you give guidance on the sorts of food & budget you have in mind for restaurants? </p>
<p>Carmine’s has good food & huge portions (all served family style):</p>
<p>[Carmine’s</a> | NYC’s Legendary Family Style Italian Restaurant | Homepage](<a href=“http://www.carminesnyc.com/]Carmine’s”>http://www.carminesnyc.com/)</p>
<p>We went to Carmines pre-theatre once. It was good.</p>
<p>D and I went to Serindipity in Las Vegas. The frozen hot chocolate is terrific.</p>
<p>Several “big name” shows - Avenue Q and Rent - are now off Broadway. I hear that it’s a trend - costs are lower, so they can extend the run. The tickets cost less, but you have to decide what you want. You may see terrific performances, but without the high dollar production. It is fun to see the set pieces, costumes, etc. of the big time Broadway shows.</p>
<p>The Burger Joint at the Parker Meridien is fun…in part because a burger dive behind some curtains of an upscale looking hotel is so incongruious.
[Burger</a> Joint at LE PARKER MERIDIEN Hotel New York](<a href=“http://www.parkermeridien.com/eat4.php]Burger”>Best Appliances for Comfort Living - The latest product reviews and roundups that are at the right price, on trend, consumer favorites, and timely)</p>
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<p>I’m not sure I’d call it a trend, since very few shows have done it. Rent is a revival, not a transfer. It closed on Broadway in 2008, and was revived three years later in 2011. The sets for Avenue Q and Rent are very similar to those of their Broadway productions, so the advantage of seeing these shows at the New World Stages theatres is that the venue is more intimate, perfect for both. The production values are virtually the same as you would have seen at the John Golden and the Nederlander. Also, several of the castmembers of both shows were in the Broadway productions as well.</p>
<p>Good to know, alwaysamom. The entire breadth of my knowledge on the subject came from one NPR story.</p>