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<p>You don’t need to drive. That’s what all the great public transportation is for. That’s one of the things I find liberating when I’m in the city: I’m no longer dependent on a car and can go anywhere without having to worry about parking.</p>
<p>I have only visited a few times and I love what I have seen. So easy to get around, was much cleaner that I expected, and all the people - I just loved it. I would love to live in several different cities for a year just to experience them. NYC is at the top of my list.</p>
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<p>That’s funny, that’s how I feel when I visit friends in the suburbs! That’s OK, different strokes, as they say.</p>
<p>It’s completely possible to have a great night in the city and not break the bank. You just have to avoid the tourist places. Try the small theaters or non-profit spaces, where you can often get a ticket for under $25. Or one of the museums on Friday night – it’s free (a big saving at $15-20/person). If you like live music, there are tons of small rooms/bars, try Joe’s Pub or Town Hall. As for food, there is no other city where you can eat so well for so cheap. Even some of the well known restaurants have special deals these days. Actually, there’s never been a better time to come visit NY. We’ve been able to get tickets to a lot of different shows recently that would have been sold out last year.</p>
<p>“You don’t need to drive” - I will never go to 8pm Broadway show after we were forced to walk very dark Brooklyn streets with shady characters on some corners after 12 midnight because we could not catch a taxi from Manhattan. Was not very liberating. I can hop in a car where I live any time day / night and go anywhere and never worry about parking. This is liberating for me and one of the reasons to feel very restricted in NYC besides numerous other reasons.</p>
<p>RE52 - I echo oldfort - when D’s jazz band made Essentially Ellington a couple of years ago, they stayed in a hotel close to Newark Airport. There are many hotels on the “other side of the river” that are quite reasonable, and getting into the city is quite easy. Have fun on your trip!</p>
<p>Love NY. We’ve lived there twice, one of my Ds attended college there, and we still visit several times a year to see friends and go to shows. There really is no other city like it. </p>
<p>Just thought I’d pass along that if anyone is planning on seeing Guys and Dolls in the near future, there is a producers’ discount for orchestra and front mezz seats for Tues. to Fri. evening performances. Just give the code Jersey when you order online or by phone from Ticketmaster, and get a 35% discount, good for shows through mid-May.</p>
<p>^Oooooo! Just what I was hoping for! My D played “Nicely Nicely” in her senior year of HS!</p>
<p>My 20 y.o. S is an outdoors --skiing, hiking, camping-- kind of person. But, give him a chance to visit NYC and he is “outta here!” He says he wouldn’t want to live there, but loves to visit.</p>
<p>I don’t exactly hate New York, but I can’t see the enthusiasm some people have for it.</p>
<p>I lived near New York City for the first 42 years of my life. I worked there for six of those years. I have driven in the city and lived to tell about it. </p>
<p>New York City is old. It’s noisy. It’s always sort of dirty. It defines the term “crumbling infrastructure.” In fact, I think some parts of the city are held together only by grime. It’s also expensive, and I don’t see any extra benefits that justify the expense. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t mind if I never went there again.</p>
<p>RES2 my daughter and I stayed at the Vanderbilt near UN area. 2nd or third ave around 51St I think? Google it. Vanderbilt YMCA. small train car size rooms with a door you can lock. Bathroom down the hall shower a bit like a locker room but privated shower room available. No kitchen but a fridge in the room. Surprise cable TV! oh $95.00 a night. Kids programs on the first floor lots of day care people watching everybody and good security because of the kids programs.</p>
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<p>This made me laugh—so true. NYC is definitely not for those who want a clean city! I remember my first view of NY up close, coming out of the subway after getting off Amtrak, early early Sat. morning, no one around, but a huge trash tornado blowing down the street. Had never seen one of those before. Come to think of it, I’ve only ever seen those things in NY!</p>