NYC Advice With Teenager

Parent Cafe
1

<p>We will be in NYC for 4 days from Aug 19-23, and I have never been before. If any knowledgeable parents want to throw in some ideas, I would so appreciate it. I am traveling there with my 16yo son.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Which areas would you recommend to stay? We will have a car that I am not planning on using in NY, but will have to be parked somewhere. I have been keeping my eye on Hotwire, and the hotels with the most stars for the least amount of money seem to be ‘Downtown Soho-Financial District’ and ‘Midtown East’. Not sure if the financial district would be a good place to stay over the weekend. I am open to suggestions in all areas, except maybe Times Square, which doesn’t look like an area I want to spend a lot of time in except for a quick visit. </p></li>
<li><p>What to do? There are so many choices, we need much more time. I am not sure we will go to a Broadway show unless we can get some day of show discounted tickets. I saw some information about the show called “Accomplice”, which looks like it could be fun. Of course, I would like to go to the Met, or MOMA. Also, S likes to look fine, so he wants to do some school shopping, since we live in the land of Keens and fleece, not fashion. Where would be a good area for him to do some shopping that is not super expensive boutiques, etc? We do have tickets to the Statue of Liberty, and would like to pay our respects at Ground Zero. S is an athlete, and he loves basketball and hip hop, if that helps at all.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Thanks for any suggestions!</p>

2

<p>there is a new app for iphone/ipad that tells you which tickets are discounted at the TKTS booth in Times Square on a daily basis; this may help you…search the app store; not sure the name but it was mentioned in the NYTimes this past weekend</p>

<p>Union Square has alot of off-price places but the best for what you are referring to is Century 21…</p>

3

<p>We were just in NYC July 1 - 3. We had a 16 yo and a 18 yo, and did the usual touristy stuff:
Times Square day and night. They’re different. (and there is a decent selection of apparel stores there)
Ground zero
Walked the High Line (this was a really nice diversion from ground level commotion)
Central Park carriage ride
Saw the Harry Potter props and sets exhibit </p>

<p>You might try getting tix to one of the late-night shows. (Jon Stewart, Colbert, Letterman, SNL, etc.) They tape at dinner time, so you don’t really have to be in the theatre at 11:00 +. Well, except for SNL of course.</p>

<p>I wanted to tour the UN, but was overruled. :(</p>

<p>A friend recommended a boatride tour of the island, but we ran out of time. </p>

<p>Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty are a must. I recall liking Ellis Island more, actually.</p>

4

<p>staying downtown is not bad, soho/tribecca/the financial district is not a backwater, and from there you have access to the whole city via despite all the complaining, an excellent mass transit system.If you stay downtown, you are close to Soho which has a lot of shopping in it (some high end stuff, but there are also interesting places), financial district has century 21. </p>

<p>You also are close to Chinatown, which is still a neat place to go have dinner (want to try something else? My favorite Dim Sum parlor, Nom Wah tea parlor on Doyers Street, a very narrow little alley of a street with a lot of history), this is to the south of Soho. To the north of Soho you have Greenwich village, which despite the fact that it has become very gentrified, still has some neat stores in it and such, great place to wander (east village is more funky, west village is more to stroll around, but still some interesting things to see there,also some stores and neat restaurants). Chelsea has some fun stores and it is literally just north of Greenwich village. </p>

<p>In that area, I highly recommend the high line, it runs from the west village to chelsea, it was once an elevated freight line that now is a magnificant park/walking path that stretches I think a mile and a half or so. </p>

<p>-For theater, there is a thriving off broadway theater, where prices are a lot cheaper but still some great shows. TKTS has tickets to these shows, and often people are passing out discount coupons to shows if you go to there to wait in line. If you aren’t afraid of something a little risque, I highly recommend Avenue Q, which is now off broadway, it is hilarious, kind of an adult version of the muppet show, so to speak.</p>

<p>-For a really cheap thrill, take the Staten Island Ferry from its terminal downtown at the end of Water St in the financial district. It is free, and you can ride it round trip from Manhattan to Staten Island and Back, and on a warm day it is a lot of fun, and you get to see the whole harbor, the statue of liberty, ellis Island and so forth. </p>

<p>-If feeling adventurous, go to one of my favorite places, Coney Island (the subway ride there is fun). The NY Acquarium can be a lot of fun, and the original Nathan’s Famous is there whose hotdogs are the best, plus there is a sideshow there, too, and amusement rides (the cyclone Roller coaster is a must, if you like them). </p>

<p>Just some suggestions, people will probably have a ton more:)</p>

5

<p>Thanks to all of you for the immediate info! This is exactly what I was looking for! Century 21 and the the high line are definitely added to the itinerary, and I will probably book that hotel in the Financial District, now that I got some info about the area. And musiprnt, you must have listened to our conversation last night, because we were wondering where we should go in Chinatown for some dim sum!</p>

6

<p>I wouldn’t stay downtown, especially with a teenager along. Midtown is a much better location, for anyone, in my opinion, unless you’re in the city on business and need to be near the financial district. It’s dead downtown at night and there are limited things to do there during the day. Staying in midtown, you can walk almost anywhere you need/want to go, and there is a huge variety in accomodation and restaurants, as well as things to do. If you want to see a show and don’t want to pay full price, you can use TKTS or, a better option is broadwaybox.com or playbill.com. You’ll get discounts, in advance, and without having to line up for a few hours. There’s no show playing called Accomplice so I’m not sure where you heard about that. :slight_smile: A few suggestions that both a parent and a 16 year old would likely enjoy - and that you can get tickets to fairly easily - Avenue Q is fun and a teeny bit risque I suppose, but I’ve seen it several times and always with a mix of teens and parents, and once with grandparents; in the same off-Broadway complex is a revival of Rent with a new and very young cast; on Broadway, Catch Me If You Can would be a good one or Hair, if a little nudity doesn’t bother you. Your son would probably enjoy Spider Man but I’m not sure you would. :)</p>

<p>Your son wouldn’t be able to go to a taping of The Daily Show because you need to be 18. Not sure about Colbert or SNL, but those tickets are generally obtained only through a lottery that you must sign up for weeks, sometimes months, in advance. There are standby tickets offered on day of, if you want to line up at 7 a.m. Their websites will have the relevant information.</p>

<p>I haven’t visited the Ground Zero memorial area recently but it was very interesting, and moving, for us when we did so, and we’ve been back a few times through the years. When they had it set up in the church, there was a beautiful memorial and display, I’m not sure if it’s still there or not, but the area is interesting to visit in person, just to actually see where things happened on that awful day. Maybe combine that with a visit to Pier 17 and the South St. Seaport area, which is always fun, especially in summer when it’s filled with street performers. You can take one of the many harbor cruises from there or Ellis Island or the Statue of Liberty, too, if you’re so inclined, or even take a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge. </p>

<p>Greenwich Village is interesting. You could walk around the NYU campus, visit Washington Square, head south of there to the shopping and numerous great little restaurants. Take a walk along Jane Street right over to the Hudson and see where the survivors of the Titanic disaster were housed. You could even walk up from there and access the High Line. </p>

<p>Without knowing your son, I’m not sure if he’d enjoy the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but most teens I know can find something interesting there most of the time. The Met is a beautiful museum on the Upper East Side and an easy walk from midtown. You can incorporate a walk through Central Park, even a visit to the zoo there for the same trip. I would strongly recommend against taking a carriage ride, at any time of year, but especially in summer. Ever since I discovered how poorly those horses are treated, I’d never recommend that anyone do it.</p>

<p>Have fun! There’s more to do in NYC than anyone can possibly do in one visit, or I think even in one lifetime. It’s why it’s such a great place to go.</p>

7

<p>OK, here are my very opinionated recommendations:</p>

<p>If you have a choice between Soho, Tribeca, or the financial district as a locale for a hotel, I would go with the first two, because the financial district is pretty empty at night and on weekends. Not terribly dangerous, but it’s pretty boring. I would also recommend the Lower East Side, if there are good deals there. </p>

<p>I second Union Square – it is crawling with young people and the last time I was there, last weekend, there was a street hip-hop performance that was pretty slick. I actually watched it from upstairs at Whole Foods (!), which was very comfortable, considering it was in the 90’s outside. That’s another tip – the WF upstairs is a dining area with a bathroom (key), where you can eat take-out, rest up, etc. It has a great view of US Park. It has so many NYU students, it can feel like a school cafeteria, but it’s a good place to catch your breath and do some people watching (ie, lots of beautiful teenage girls for your S!).</p>

<p>I highly recommend MOMA to both of you. Make sure your son has his student ID!</p>

<p>A walk over the Brooklyn Bridge is spectacular and your S will never forget it. Take the A or C train to High St in Brooklyn, which will take you to the base of the bridge, then walk to Manhattan over the bridge. You’ll end up in Manhattan close to Chinatown where you can have dim sum!</p>

<p>If you go to the High Line (and you should!), check this out for a uniquely NYC experience: [The</a> Lot | The High Line](<a href=“http://www.thehighline.org/the-lot]The”>http://www.thehighline.org/the-lot)</p>

<p>Places to avoid: Times Square, except once for a walk through at night to see all the lights, South Street Seaport. I would say Soho, except that there’s a lot of shopping there, particularly for young guys (esp on Broadway). Actually, ditto for Union Square, except that your S will probably love it. </p>

<p>Almost every other neighborhood has its unique charms. And please stay away from chain restaurants: Olive Garden, Fridays, etc. There are so many wonderful places to eat that are not expensive here. (If you’re into Italian cuisine, check out Eataly: [Eataly</a> New York | We Sell What We Cook & We Cook What We Sell](<a href=“http://eatalyny.com/]Eataly”>http://eatalyny.com/)</p>

8

<p>What alwaysamom says about a midtown location being convenient is true but not really for a 16 year old boy! Also, the Met is technically walking distance from midtown but you may want to save your energy for the museum. The walk is really pleasant though.</p>

<p>Mostly, in midtown, you have a few museums and all the standard flagship stores on Fifth Ave. Not something that will interest your son very much, unless he loves browsing at Bergdorf’s, Tiffany’s etc. And the other stores are just bigger, fancier versions of the ones in every mall. Why come to NYC for that? (one exception: the Apple store) Even as a middle-aged adult, I find downtown much more interesting and varied.</p>

9

<p>With a car, my preference is to stay on the Upper West Side, since it’s easier to navigate and a more residential neighborhood with decent restaurants. And if you haven’t seen it before, the Museum of Natural History and planetarium are fabulous and also on the UWS. you are then an easy subway or bus ride to just about anywhere. Other things are entirely dependent on your kid’s interests. There is the tenement museum on the Lower East Side, the Frick Museum in a mansion on Upper East Side, the National Museum of the American Indian at Bowling Green. There is also often some very good off-Broadway theater to be had, and it’s worth checking the listings. (You should also know that Century 21 is an enormous bargain department store in the financial district that is not for the faint of heart, and may not be what your fashion-forward son is interested in.)</p>

10

<p>Hotel Beacon… you get a suite with 2 rooms for the price of a room- with a small kitchen. You are on the upper west side, the subway a close walk. You are in walking distance to Zabars and the Fairway supermarket across the street is great. Good NYstyle coffee shop downstairs. Teenage boys must eat… There is a theater downstairs which sometimes has good concerts. I second all the other suggestions above. With this location you can walk to a lot …Which will be good with all the eating you will do!</p>

11

<p>Was just about to post the Beacon. My DD and DH were in NYC last Christmas. Stayed at the Beacon and my DH texted me right away full of praise for me choosing that hotel. Large rooms, kitchen saves a ton of money (no $5.00 bagels for breakfast). Supermarket right across the street. They did not have a car and found the subway easy. Went to lots of shows etc. Both loved the hotel and especially because they scored a corner room.</p>

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<p>Maybe the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum?</p>

13

<p>Thanks again for all the great info</p>

<p>My first preference at the beginning was to stay on the Upper West Side, but I keep looking at Hotwire, which isn’t good if you don’t know the city at all. Now I have just become overwhelmed. I checked out the Hotel Beacon, but they don’t have rooms available for our stay. I did find a cute hotel named Hotel Belnord in the same area, and they have twin-twin rooms, which is perfect for us. The price is right, also, so I think I will make a reservation there. I like the idea of staying in a more residential area, and walking to Central Park. </p>

<p>Also, it is close to Columbia, as S is interested in a few colleges, which is the reason for the other half of this trip. Many of them are not at this level, but it is ok to have a super reach. </p>

<p>S is a typical teen, however, and will probably like any ‘cultural stop’ once we are there, but won’t be passionately begging to go. The NYU girls, however, sound right up his alley. Can someone clarify Washington Square and Union Square. Is Washington Square close to NYU, so then what and where is Union Square? </p>

<p>No worries about us eating at chain restaurants. I am infamous for my ‘The Malling and Chaining of America’ screeds. The only way family gets to go to places like Ruby Tuesday’s, OG, etc is when I am out of town, so I am sure they will be scurrying to the the mall outlying restaurants while we are on the East Coast. I can’t wait to go to some of the ethnic restaurants that we don’t have here, eat at some good delis, good pizza, etc.</p>

<p>I will check out Avenue Q, that would be fun. I looked into The Book of Mormon, but that seems to be the hot ticket in town. We will have to wait 3 years until the traveling troup comes out west, I guess. </p>

<p>Here is the info for Accomplice. It does’t sound like anyone here has heard of it, however. Its not really a show, but I am not sure what it is, exactly, except everyone who reviews it seems to like it. If anyone knows anything about it, I would love to hear. </p>

<p>[Accomplice</a> | New York City & Hollywood | Game, Tour, Show & Scavenger Hunt in NYC, NY & Los Angeles , CA](<a href=“http://accomplicetheshow.com/]Accomplice”>http://accomplicetheshow.com/)</p>

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<p>If you do decide to take the Staten Island Ferry, get off on the Staten Island side and take a look at the deeply moving 9/11 memorial. You will be glad you did.</p>

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<p>A third vote for the [Hotel</a> Beacon](<a href=“http://www.beaconhotel.com/]Hotel”>http://www.beaconhotel.com/). In addition to having kitchens and being near Fairway and Zabar’s (also H&H Bagels, just south of Zabar’s), it is within easy walking distance of the American Museum of Natural History and Central Park, both of which are wonderful.</p>

<p>I also second the recommendation for the [Tenement</a> Museum](<a href=“http://www.tenement.org/]Tenement”>http://www.tenement.org/). Their tours are a lot of fun, and they have a wonderful gift shop.</p>

<p>A couple other recommendations: [National</a> Comedy Theatre<a href=“very%20inexpensive%20tickets%20for%20really%20well%20done%20improv;%20this%20is%20a%20favorite%20in%20our%20family”>/url</a> and [url=&lt;a href=“http://www.nyctours.com/]Joyce”&gt;http://www.nyctours.com/]Joyce</a> Gold’s walking tours<a href=“have%20never%20been%20on%20one%20that%20I%20did%20not%20enjoy%20a%20great%20deal”>/url</a>. </p>

<p>Good resources for tickets: as has been said, the TKTS booths (the one at the South Street Seaport will probably be less crowded) is great, but you might also want to try SchoolTix.com and [url=&lt;a href=“http://www.highfivetix.org/Aspx/EventsAndShows/EventCalendar.aspx]High”&gt;Homepage - ArtsConnection Teen Programs]High</a> 5](<a href=“http://www.manhattancomedy.com/]National”>http://www.manhattancomedy.com/). High 5 is amazing. If your kid is between the ages of 13 and 18, you can get tickets to many off-Broadway (and the occasional Broadway) shows and other events for five dollars each. Each kid can get one ticket for himself and one for another person (e.g., a parent). I see that they have tickets for the [Fringe</a> Festival](<a href=“http://www.fringenyc.org/]Fringe”>http://www.fringenyc.org/) plays when you will be there. Check out [this</a> list](<a href=“http://www.fringenyc.org/index.php/about-us/fringehigh]this”>http://www.fringenyc.org/index.php/about-us/fringehigh) of Fringe events that appeal especially to teens.</p>

<p>For many more ideas, either pick up the current issue of Time Out New York when you get there, or check it out [online[/url</a>].</p>

<p>Edited to add: sorry, after posting I saw your post saying that the Beacon Hotel is full. As to Washington Square and Union Square: NYU is very spread out. Most of it is, I believe, near Washington Square, but I think there are some dorms up by Union Square. Union Square is about a half-mile north of Washington Square. </p>

<p>Also, a good resource for non-chain restaurants is [url=&lt;a href=“Dining Out”&gt;http://newyork.seriouseats.com/]Serious</a> Eats](<a href=“Time Out New York | New York Events and Things To Do All Year”>http://newyork.timeout.com/).</p>

16

<p>One more thing: Union Square has a great Greenmarket on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. If you’re nearby, stroll through and have some cider and cookies or other goodies.</p>

17

<p>My son went to Accomplice with a friend and had a blast. Just now I asked him what it was and he described it as a scavengar hunt + tour. He felt it was a really unique way to enjoy the city and highly recommended it.</p>

<p>There are so many things to do in NYC, from wonderful walks, to shops, special restaurants, terrific theatre, and delightful neighborhoods to discover. I suggest you consider you take one section of NY at a time to explore and go from there. (Upper West = Columbia, Museum of Nat Hist, dinner @ Carmine’s; Village = NYU/Washington Square/Union Squ green market, then for dinner go to Chinatown; financial section for tours of ground zero and go on Staten Is ferry, and then one day, do something different like Accomplice.</p>

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<p>If you’re looking for a different kind of (interactive) show, consider this:
[?Sleep</a> No More? Is a ?Macbeth? in a Hotel - Review - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://theater.nytimes.com/2011/04/14/theater/reviews/sleep-no-more-is-a-macbeth-in-a-hotel-review.html]?Sleep”>‘Sleep No More’ Is a ‘Macbeth’ in a Hotel - Review - The New York Times)
[Sleep</a> No More](<a href=“http://sleepnomorenyc.com/]Sleep”>http://sleepnomorenyc.com/)</p>

<p>I haven’t seen it yet myself, so can’t give it a personal recommendation, but it sure sounds like something to write home about.</p>

19

<p>Is it just the two of you? Try La Quinta Inn in Koreatown, on W 32nd. I went with my daughter last spring and the place is a lot nicer than I expected, for a price cheaper than most. The area is bustling at night since it’s lined with Korean restaurants but we did not really hear any noise since we were up high and stayed in the back. It’s walkable to Times Square, I think. My 17 yo D loves Times Square at night! Touristy, yes, but must be done nonetheless…</p>

<p>We used to stay at Hotel Beacon but they seem always fully booked as you have found out.</p>

20

<p>I am planning a NYC trip in September and went round and round trying to choose a hotel. I finally chose the Washington Square Hotel in Greenwich Village. Don’t know if that would work for you but you could check it out. I have a friend who is staying there this week and I look forward to hearing what she thinks.</p>