Things to do with the Boyfriend in New York and Washington

Parent Cafe
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<p>My boyfriend is visiting me in New York City and Washington, DC, over winter break, and I’m trying to think of things we could do while he’s there. I grew up in DC, so that shouldn’t really be a problem (but I’m open to any suggestions that I might not have thought of), but since my family moved to New York two weeks before I left for college, I don’t really know enough about the city to plan anything interesting. Aside from seeing a Broadway show (if the strike ever ends!) and ice skating at Rockefeller Center, do you have any ideas? He’ll probably arrive in New York on 15/12, travel to DC on 19/12, and leave the morning of 22/12.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!
E.</p>

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<p>Many art/other museums–MOMA, the Met, the Guggenheim to name a few–going to the top of the Empire State Bldg at night (great view!)–a walk in Central Park–eating at a deli–eating NY pizza–walking around Times Square (the Virgin Superstore is a big pleaser)–a city tour of NYC (including Ground Zero)…</p>

<p>Just to name a few things…</p>

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<p>In DC you might go to the Folger Theater or Arena Stage (especially if B’way strike continues.) I’m dying to see the Turner and Hopper shows at the National Gallery. Fifth Avenue Christmas windows are a tradition if you can stand the crowds. Cheesecake. The Natural History museum is good if you aren’t into art. The tenemant museum and the museum at Ellis Island both give you a good picture of immigration life. I have friends who love the Museum of the Moving Image - still haven’t been there myself. [Best</a> New York Museums - Visit a New York City Museum](<a href=“http://gonyc.about.com//od/museums/tp/Best-New-York-Museums.htm]Best”>http://gonyc.about.com//od/museums/tp/Best-New-York-Museums.htm) has nice descriptions.</p>

<p>I also am a big fan of eating somewhere fancy for lunch. Not so expensive, but an experience you don’t get so much in the hinterlands.</p>

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<p>I haven’t been to NYC in years, but my favorite place is The Cloisters (medieval art), a branch of the Met. Museum of Art in northern Manhattan, Fort Tryon Park.</p>

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<p>The Hopper exhibit at the NG is “not to miss.” Took the relatives on Fri and Sat.</p>

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<p>NYC: We did a tour at the UN on the Sunday before Thanksgiving… definitely worth while. Plans to remodel in 2009 will limit ability to tour in the near future…so you might want to consider that?</p>

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<p>I just happen to know that The Guggenheim Museum has hired some Juilliard students to play at their “Works & Processes” series in December.</p>

<p>Three dates when they will play - twice each day.
12/15 4:00 (5:30)
12/16 2:30 (4:00)
12/17 10:30 (12:00)</p>

<p>Pay special attention to the horn player! ;)</p>

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<p>i would go to the peking duck house in china town. then a walk to little italy for dessert. that is my favorite nyc thing…</p>

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<p>I find the Gorilla exhibit at the Bronx Zoo just fascinating. I could spend hours watching them.</p>

<p>The Polar Bears in the Central Park Zoo are also amazing.</p>

<p>There are some great comedy clubs.</p>

<p>Bodies Exhibition at South Street Seaport.</p>

<p>A free late night ride on the Staten Island Ferry. It goes really close to the Statue of Liberty, and also provides a great look at the night skyline of NYC.</p>

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<p>The American Folk Art Museum on 53rd is wonderful – and manageable, as opposed to MOMA next door. But you can still go into the MOMA gift shop.</p>

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<p>If you enjoy classical music, there’s the New York String Orchestra seminar which is a full fellowship instructional festival for college aged musicians. It is an extremely selective program and many of these “kids” will fill chairs in top name pro orchestras in the coming years.</p>

<p>They have two concerts at Carnegie Hall. [Schneider</a> Concerts and New York String Orchestra Seminar](<a href=“http://www.nysos.org/]Schneider”>http://www.nysos.org/)</p>

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<p>and the Staten Island ferry!</p>

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<p>Small museums are so nice, you feel you can see everything properly-- the Frick for example. </p>

<p>The Museum of Natural History is also wonderful. Maybe the Rembrandt exhibit at the Met…?</p>

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<p>I have lived in both DC and NYC - both are amazing cities with so much to do, even it it’s just walking around.</p>

<p>This is a great time of year to visit NY - all the stores are decorated for the holidays, holiday markets are set up at various places around the city (Union Square Park, Bryant Park, Columbus Circle and Grand Central Terminal). Union Square Pk also has a farmers market (M, W, F & Sat). Bryant Park offers free ice skating on the pond.</p>

<p>Other fun things in NY are the Circle Line tour which is a narrated boat tour around Manhattan, Chelsea Piers (indoor sports of all kinds) and Chelsea Market (for food lovers - home of Food Network and a multitude of food-related shops/restaurants).</p>

<p>I have also heard great things about The Lower East Side Tenement Museum, though I haven’t had the opportunity to visit it myself.</p>

<p>I loved everyone else’s suggestions as well - all of them!</p>

<p>Our favorite things to do in DC are touring the monuments at night, visiting the Smithsonian (all, but especially American History), and hanging out in either Georgetown or up in Chevy Chase (great shopping/restaurants). We also enjoy visiting Old Town Alexandria.</p>

<p>Enjoy yourselves!</p>

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<p>Talking about art in NYC: Ronald S. Lauder and Serge Sarbarsky Collections of GUSTAV KLIMT, Neue Gallerie 1048 Fifth Avenue at 86th Street
Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Thursday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. [closed Tuesday and Wednesday]</p>

<p>And for a lovely and romantic evening walk (stroll) consider WINDOW WONDERLAND…From the red awnings and understated elegance of Saks Fifth Avenue (611 Fifth Ave.) to the lavish yuletide glow of Macy’s Herald Square (151 W. 34th St.), New York’s legendary department stores offer a window wonderland at holiday time. Animated figures carry out imaginative themes that range from best-loved ballets to Dickensian characters and modern-day Muppets. Lord & Taylor (424 Fifth Ave.) is known for its extravagant windows and magical animation. The windows at Bloomingdale’s (1000 Third Ave.) are a study in urban chic. Displays at Tiffany & Co. (727 Fifth Ave.) have a holiday sparkle all their own. And, of course, look for a toyland theme from the newly renovated FAO Schwarz (767 Fifth Ave.).
Here’s a map (don’t worry about the descriptions, the themes are different this year): [Christmas</a> Windows Walking Tour Map - See the Christmas Window Displays on this Walking Tour](<a href=“http://gonyc.about.com/od/christmassights/l/bl_xmaswindows.htm]Christmas”>http://gonyc.about.com/od/christmassights/l/bl_xmaswindows.htm)</p>

<p>The Staten Island ferry is free!</p>

<p>I’m heading to NYC for all next week, so I’ll be doing these and more.</p>

<p>Have fun!</p>

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<p>In NYC, free/inexpensive/romantic things I did with my boyfriend many moons ago were wander around Central Park, particularly Belvedere Castle and the Shakespeare garden. Definitely the Staten Island Ferry. The skating rink at Bryant Park is very nice.</p>

<p>The window displays are great – but the crowds on Fifth Ave. can be overwhelming.</p>

<p>One of my favorite restaurants is Serendipity, near Bloomingdale’s, (60th between 2nd and 3rd).</p>

<p>For tickets, go to the TKTS booths (the one downtown usually has much shorter lines).</p>

<p>Going to museums can be expensive, although there are student discounts. At least in DC, most museums are free.</p>

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<p>Aside from the usual big museums, I find The Tenement Museum fascinating. The Museum of the Moving Image IS terrific (very hands-on to understand how movies are made). Caution: add on the extra time to get there; it’s in a borough, not Manhattan. </p>

<p>If time is tight, there’s plenty on Manhattan Island. Don’t worry about Broadway; there’s PLENTY of off-broadway, or off-off-broadway. This is not a location; it means the smaller numbers of seats. Google up “Off Broadway” or best yet, buy yourself a copy of The New Yorker Magazine to read about all the plays, concerts and more that week. </p>

<p>I like to go to Ellis Island, just get up early to be the first in line for the departing ferry boat. I sail past the Statue and wave to her (as my grandmother must have!) but enjoy learning the immigration story at the Ellis Island museum. You don’t have to get off at Liberty Island, in other words.</p>

<p>I can’t quite “get” the appeal of the Staten Island Ferry in the middle of winter! Isn’t it just cold and wet? I must be missing something here…probably there’s a view of the skyline, right?</p>

<p>I often organize one day on the West Side (either the Museum of Natural History or the Museum of Modern Art and adjacent Folk Art museum), ending up with an evening in Greenwich Village for a comedy cafe or off-off-Broadway show that costs less than a movie sometimes! (Off-Broadway can run around $35-65, depending). </p>

<p>Then on another day I go “East Side” to some museums, maybe the Metropolitan, Guggenheim, or others recommended. The Met lets you donate 25 cents as admission (you decide); so if money’s a concern, let them help you at this moment in your life. If it’s very cold outside, you can spend the entire day there happily. Great for European collections. Their newly opened Egyptian and Greek section will knock your socks off! I just saw it last Spring. Wow. </p>

<p>The Museum of Modern Art must cost $20 apiece by now so bring your student ID’s everywhere. That is uniquely American/international in scope.
Its mandate is to show only works from 50 years ago. This is interesting, since I guess their great NY Abstract Expressionists will go to…where? the Met? It’s been 50 years already…</p>

<p>I don’t shop but those who do love the decorated windows on Fifth Avenue, which borders the East Side of Central Park, all Christmas-y now. It’s an art form, too!</p>

<p>If you want to buy a single guidebook to carry, I recommend a little black book called “Not For Tourists” – gosh I think that’s the correct title.</p>

<p>Bundle up warm so you can walk from place to place, but plan a time that has its focus indoors, IMO. Wait, you’re Scandanavian, right? Forget what I just said. Have fun.</p>

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<p>I think I heard on the news last week that Serendipity has been closed by the Board of Health.</p>

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<p>I lived in NYC for 14 years. You have gotten some great suggestions here. </p>

<p>Seeing the tree at Rockefeller Center, the windows at Macy’s and Saks…all good holiday stuff. </p>

<p>I love the Museum of Natural history too.</p>

<p>I lived in Greenwich village, so that is really my favorite place in the city. I would suggest walking around the village and maybe Soho. There are great shops and lots of fun restaurants.</p>

<p>It all depends what you guys are into. A meal at Jekyl and Hyde is different.</p>

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<p>Don’t know when the last time you were in DC, but here are some of the newer places I would visit. The Torpedo art gallery, Spy museum (buy tickets on-line, hard to get that day for the time you want) Go to the mall and see all of the state xmas trees. Old town for lunch. If you have a car and into military museums, the new Marine museum at Quantico.
For NYC go to the Pierre Hotel for lunch/tea. Hoboken sea port.
Finally if you are driving to and fro, exit at 8A NJ Tpke and stop in Princeton, great town to walk around for a couple of hours and only a few minutes off track. Stop for lunch and eat at the “A &B” —alchemist and Barrister</p>