<p>Sorry my last post was unclear. There is no Chinese acrobat named Justin that I’m aware of. This actor/dancer (from Indiana University) was just so amazing that he reminded me of the unbelievable routines performed by Chinese acrobats in the B&B Circus.</p>
<p>I dont think anyone has mentioned it, but you really should head down to where the World Trade Center once stood. We no longer go, but if youre only there occasionally, I wouldnt miss itthere really is something sacred and profound about the experience of it (if you like to shop and get great dealsand thereby show your patriotism;) and indignation, Century 21 across the street from the WTC has some of the best deals in town on high-end fashion).</p>
<p>Also, if like, me you are into the history of who has been in NYC in the past, check out the White Horse Tavern on Hudson and 11th for a burger and a beer (I assume you are over 21Im not). Dylan Thomas and most of the other NYC Bohemians used to hang out there. While there, head across to Bleeker street into the Gay Village (unless you have kids), its a very exotic experience.</p>
<p>If you like jazz, swing through the Village off Bleekr right across to the Village Vanguard the Holy of Holies of the Jazz world. Its a little dive into a basement below a nail-salon on 7th in the village, look close or youll miss it.</p>
<p>Also, if you like used-book-stores like I do, you wont want to miss The Strand Book Store. It supposedly the biggest used book store on earth (13th & Broadway).</p>
<p>If you can, try to get tickets to Shakespeare in the Park in Central Park (its free, but you have to wait in line early in the morning to get tickets), As You Like It has been playing as of a week ago (my favorite comedy) but Im not sure if it will still be running though something will.</p>
<p>My family keeps our sail boat right off New York harbor and I cant imagine not seeking NYC from the water, Id check that out by any means necessary.</p>
<p>Also, the view of Manhattan at night coming out of the Lincoln Tunnel from the Jersey side is not to be missed.</p>
<p>Plus the normal touristy things.</p>
<p>WTC
Century 21
White Horse Tavern et al
The Gay Village (Bleeker st., etc)
Village Vanguard
The Strand
Shakespeare in the Park
Boat ride around the Battery (Stat. of Liberty, Ellis Island, Manhattan from the water)
Manhattan from Jersey (Lincoln Tunnel)</p>
<p>Don’t know if you’ll get this in time, but you can also stroll through the lobbies of some really ritzy hotels and pretend that you’re staying there–the Plaza Hotel for one.</p>
<p>And Central Park has a nice little zoo if you enjoy that sort of thing.</p>
<p>It really kind of bothers me that people see Ground Zero as a tourist attraction…and then there are people who sell tshirts and whatnot and make money of the tragedy. Maybe I’m just saying this because I’m a New Yorker who lived through 9/11, but I would never think of standing around the rubble and gawking. </p>
<p>Shakespeare in the Park is quite nice. They start Gentlemen of Verona - the Musical on August 16. You have to wait for tickets starting at 1pm I think. The show’s at like 8pm.</p>
<p>I second The Strand. That’ll also be a quick stop for you. While in the Union Square area, try to catch a meal at one of the many fantastic restaurants nearby. Union Sq Cafe is one of NYC’s most popular. The Blue Water Grill, Gramercy Tavern (slightly north of the square), the Strip House and Gotham Bar and Grill are great as well. They’re expensive, but well worth it. </p>
<p>Re: Ground Zero. I can completely understand why visitors want to visit the site. I don’t really consider it gawking at all. You leave with an appreciation of the sheer scope of that tragedy, one which you can’t obtain through pictures or news footage.</p>
<p>zantedeschia,</p>
<p>I am offended as you (not really) by the people of humble means selling t-shirts (they should get an Ivy League degree like us and get off the street and create there own tragedies on Wall Street just up the road).</p>
<p>Honestly, I think it has more to due with the two of us living in the area.</p>
<p>I suppose thats why they put that incredible memorial of Lights up right after the tragedy itself I wasnt offended by that one either. In any case, I would see it, even in its nearness in time, as we see the memorials at Pearl Harbor, Babi Yar, Treblinka or Wounded Knee; a place to reflect on our humanity and what happens when it disappears. </p>
<p>9-11 was, and is, my birthday.</p>
<p>See, I would have no problem with people visiting the memorial once it is completed. But as it has been for four years, it’s not much to look at, and so when people visit, they’re not seeing the same thing as the memorials of Pearl Harbor, etc. It’s hard for me to express what I mean, but it’s just that I feel people are attracted to seeing disaster, and sometime that can be a little disrespectful.</p>
<p>We just got back from the Griswold family vacation to NYC. Absolutely loved it despite the incredible heat wave. My thoughts:</p>
<p>Staten Island Ferry-Wonderful, great views and free
Subways-Super! Get a $7 all day pass and ride, ride, ride
Brooklyn Bridge-Took the subway, ate at Grimaldi’s ?, ice cream on the warf, walked the bridge back. Highly recommend it.
Empire State Bldg-The low point of our trip. Over 2 hours in line. If you go, go early in the morning or late at night to avoid the long lines.
Statue of Liberty-Didn’t go, but was told that if you go early you can walk up inside. Only if you go early though.
Yankee Game-It was sold out, but we got reasonable tickets from a scalper and had a wonderful time
Broadway Show-Agree with the others about TKTS. We went to the one by the fish market. Lines weren’t bad at all. Saw “The Producers” in great seats for about $60 a ticket.
Chinatown/Little Italy-Great food and good shopping on Canal street.</p>
<p>Loved the trip and can’t wait to go back. So much to do.</p>
<p>I am planning a surprise trip to NYC for our 20th anniversary. The last time we were there together was the winter before we were married. This thread has some great ideas and I hope for some input. I want to find a cozy, romantic hotel that is not too extravagantly priced. I have plenty of time to book, I want to go in mid December. Any suggestions? Also, anything at that time of year that we shouldn’t miss?</p>
<p>I second the Frick. VERY New York.</p>
<p>I second frozen hot chocolate @ Serendipity.</p>
<p>ag54–</p>
<p>One restaurant that we visited right after we got married (29 years ago) was The Four Seasons. Very chi-chi then; don’t know about now. But I would love to go back some day.</p>
<p>My in-laws gave us a night at the Plaza Hotel for a mini-honeymoon. Stayed on the 12th floor overlooking Central Park. couldn’t have been more romantic.</p>
<p>Check out hotels.com for some good deals. We booked a room at the Carnegie Suites Hotel once that was an excellent deal–nice location, all-suites, and small/safe (you can’t get into the hotel without walking past the front desk). Very romantic except we had one of the kids with us.</p>
<p>For entertainment, the winter holiday show at Radio City Music Hall and the Rockettes is a classic. A carriage ride (although I always feel sorry for the horses) through Central Park would be romantic.</p>
<p>Have fun!</p>
<p>The Plaza Hotel has been closed for renovations, and I don’t know when it’s expected to re-open again as a condo/hotel. You will definitely need to make reservations for Serendipity 3. Whenever I’ve called them the same day, they always would say the same thing - “no availability”, and we’ve been trying to go there for a while now, so it’s best to plan ahead on that one - call at least a day or two before. It doesn’t seem to matter what time of year it is - they’re just always booked! Another suggestion for fine dining would be Tavern on the Green - it would be particularly festive during the holiday season and a nice place to go for lunch/brunch. Ask to be seated in the Crystal Room. You could also take in a performance of NYCB’s Nutcracker at Lincoln Center, if interested.</p>
<p>Bummer about the Plaza. Took D (when she was little) upstairs to “look” for Eloise.</p>
<p>Hello all,I just wanted to write a quick thank you again. We are back home from a whirlwind trip (from rural Shenandoah Valley into NYC, via DC for a day). It was a wonderful 48 hours in New York and MUCH of this was thanks to all of you above. Not only did you give great, specific suggestions, but your enthusiasm for the City was contagious and I got there just so excited about seeing everything and showing my son.</p>
<p>In 48 hours, we were able to cram in the following list. Still SO much to go back to see, but of course that is inevitable. Everything we did was fun and worthwhile. Son would have loved to go up in the Empire State Building, but the lines even at night were over 2 hours long.</p>
<p>–Arrived Friday p.m., Walked down 5th Avenue (our hotel was close, on East 50th between 3rd and Lexington), saw St. Patrick’s cathedral, Rockefeller Center, FAO Schwarz (fun even for an 18 year old), Trump Tower, the edge of Central Park
–Had dinner with my college roommate who lives in Soho and ate at Pastis in the Meatpackers’ District, wandered around checking out the clubs and the restaurants
–Saturday morning rode the downtown loop of the Gray Line bus with an awesome tour guide. He was so good we didn’t get off until we got to Wall Street and Battery Park; walked down Wall Street, took the Staten Island Ferry; took the rest of the downtown loop back to the start a couple of blocks from the hotel. Son then met up with a college friend and they took the subway, walked the Brooklyn Bridge, ate pizza at Grimaldi’s and then “goofed around” in Times Square until fairly late.
–While he was occupied, I went to a street fair on 7th Ave. and then took the advice above and asked at the Box Office, around 7 p.m. for any tickets (to Hairspray, at one of the theaters fairly close to the hotel). Got a 6th row center seat to what looked like a sold out performance, at least in the orchstra section. I realize that is one of those “bloated musicals” referred to above, but I enjoyed it and just being in the Saturday evening crowds was fun.
–Sunday morning, I had breakfast with my high school roommate, which was great, while son slept in; then we spent an hour at MOMA (I loved the Cezanne and (the censor blocks the other artist’s name…) show by the way, but impressionism has always been my sentimental favorite period). Then another hour walking down Madison Avenue and a last trip to FAO Schwarz (!) and off to the airport, with lots of memories and a determination to go back again very soon.</p>
<p>Also, really realized that my son is quite ready for that to be the last trip he ever takes with his mom, and that is okay with me–there are still the younger sisters that I can take next time!!</p>
<p>Believe it or not, we even managed a quick side trip to Princeton on the way to New York. There is a LOT of construction going on, the baseball diamond is very nice, the town is charming, and PJs makes really good pancakes. So much for the in-depth college tour! </p>
<p>Again, though, most of all, thank you. Your suggestions were terrific.</p>
<p>Glad you had a good time! And yay for Princeton :p</p>
<p>People who are talking about seeing NYC from the water, there’s a ride wtih Circle Line Cruises out of South Street Seaport, I think it’s called the Shark. It’s a speedboat and gets pretty wet, but it’s a lot of fun on a hot summer day, and you learn about the city as you’re doing it. It also stops at the statue of liberty for pictures.</p>
<p>I just saw Wicked and it was amazing.</p>
<p>My friend talked about The Beast. Is that the name of it? He loved it and thought my son would too. Didn’t have time to follow his advice though…</p>
<p>There is the Beast, which we did one year, but I think the one we do now is the Shark. The Beast is out of CHelsea Piers, not South Street, and South Street’s just easier for us. THey’re essentially the same thing though.</p>
<p>So will he apply to Princeton?</p>
<p>Alumother–he is a sophomore at Stanford! (But with some very good friends at Princeton, so he was curious)…but on that subject, a cute note: as we were wandering onto the campus and trying to get oriented, I spotted a man and woman chatting right outside the door of the “Public safety” office. I started to walk toward them, son right behind me, and the man winked at me and before I said anything, said “Two buildings down and to the right” before I could ask where we might find a map! He of course assumed that he was an applicant arriving for the campus tour. I was, I admit quite happy to be able to say, “Don’t worry, I am not another stressed-out mom, he is already in college!” So we had a nice little chat and he gave me a map; I asked him how many times a day he gets asked “where is the admissions office?” and he said I would have been about the tenth that day (it was early in the morning)…</p>