Planning a Summer Trip NEW YORK CITY!!!!!!

[traveler63]

We have a great couple that we enjoy being with, they are foodies and winos, just like us. So, we have been talking and they really want to take us to New York City!!!!! Now we are in the planning stages and it will by right around our Labor Day holiday(first part of September).

I have never been there and Mr. T63 has been but many, many years ago.

What are the 5 things that we shouldn't miss. Not the obvious, like Statue of Liberty but what are kooky or overlooked and would be worthwhile?

GO!!!

[Deleted]

I can't claim to know NYC very well, even if I have been there at least 15 times. How many days will you be there, because that's makes a difference on what you can realistically do.

Even though you said that the Statue of Liberty is too obvious, in the same boat trip you can also visit Ellis Island, and I found that much more impressive.

[traveler63]

We will be there at least a week with our friends and we might go early for another few days. Nothing is really firm right now, but I would say 10 days.

[Deleted]

Oh, well that's long enough to do just about "everything." My longest trip to New York was one week long when I was lucky enough to rent an apartment on the upper east side near the Met.

[bixaorellana]

Gosh, if you've never been, shouldn't you do some of the major sights? MOMA can't be missed! I was only in NY once as an adult, but if I had a chance to go again, I know I'd want to see the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. I was lucky when I was there, because it was February but relatively warm. I remember going by Rockefeller Center around late twilight, with all the twinkle lights and the skaters and tiny snowflakes in the air. It was like entering a Whistler painting! My absolute favorite thing, though, was gawking at the architecture.

[Deleted]

I don't think that T63 meant that she wasn't interested in the major sights -- just that everybody knows what the major sights are (Empire State Building, Times Square, MOMA...), so she doesn't need that list. Right?

[suzanneschuelke]

In addition to the major sites I like the Cloisters. I think the only reason it isn't more major is that it isn't near anything. But the subway goes right there.

[cristina]

A few years ago, I met my brother in NY and one of my favorite memories was having drinks at The White Horse Tavern in the Village. This is the bar where the poet Dylan Thomas reportedly drank himself to death. The place is covered with drawings and paintings of white horses that patrons have donated over the years and I'm going to confess that my brother and I stole one of them.

[traveler63]

Right K2. Our friends have all of the biggies covered for us. I'm looking for those places that are wonderful, but you might walk by because they are less well known. I know we will go at least once to the theatre/opera, etc. We are looking at staying at the Casablanca Hotel, which our friends and a lot of the reviews say is just wonderful and it is in the Times Square vicinity. Cristina's post is kind of where I am going with this.

[Deleted]

I was at the Paramount Hotel last time, and if you read the reviews on something like TA, some of the people say 'this was the worst hotel EVER' and others say 'it was cute and funky.' I found it cute and funky, but I think that both sides might be right, because it has been undergoing a very slow renovation for years, so obviously some people must get the unrenovated rooms, while I had one of the Philippe Starck designer rooms. The only problem is that the whole building has been covered by scaffolding for years, making the rooms very dark, but I spent so little time in my room except to sleep, I sure as hell didn't care.

[Deleted]

There might be some open-air concerts too in the summer, if that interests you T63.

[Kimby]

Lots of quintessential NY stuff is free and spontaneous. St. Patrick Cathedral, South Seaport, Central Park (obvious, though if you're a John Lennon fan, make a point to stroll by "Strawberry Fields" but watch out for rats)...Barbra Streisand was directing Prince of Tides and was filming a scene with Nick Nolte in Central Park when I was there.

We walked through the lobby of Trump Towers and the elevator doors opened to reveal...the Donald! One of our party's more brazen members marched right up to him and stuck out her hand and said "Nice to meet you Mr. Trump". Being a gentleman of sorts, he shook all our hands and made small talk and let us take a picture with him.

We also ate at Hard Rock Cafe and sat at a table next to Larry Bud Melman, a character from David Letterman's shows. Had tea at Tavern on the Green, not free, but not as pricey as dinner.

[spaceneedle]

Congratulations on your trip plans. I am a fan of the Roosevelt Hotel in midtown. Stayed there numerous times, I really like the location. It is close the Grand Central (literally down the street), the theater district and Fifth Avenue. It's not overly luxurious but a friend worked there for a long time and also had good things to say about it's management. If you use bidding for travel, you can get lucky and get rooms there fairly cheap. I will warn you that Manhattan can be stifling hot that time of year in terms of humidity. You are probably used to the dry heat of the southwest- but the heat, humidity combined with the heat coming up from the street from the subway can make 80 degrees feel like 105! I am sure you'll have a great time.

As for fun things to do, you might consider getting free tickets to any number of TV shows that have live audiences in NY. I once did this when (gasp!) Conan O'Brien's tickets were FREE!

NBC has a free ticket line you can call, not sure which shows are not in repeat mode that time of year, but you can try.

Phone: [phone]

Also you can get really great deals on last minute/same day theater tickets from TKTS:

www.tdf.org/TDF_ServicePage.aspx?id=56

Also NY is full of music and concerts, I know the Trinity church does a free concert series every Thursday in the summer.

Last, there is much to be said for a trip to central park on a warm day, to have a picnic OR see Shakespeare in the park!

I heart NY!

[cristina]

If you like architecture, then I would suggest the NY Public library (which also usually has a selection of art exhibits) and, in addition to being a beautiful building, its free.

Another building of note is the Cathedral of St John the Divine, near Columbia University. It was one of the largest churches in the world and is, after 120 years or so, still not quite finished being built. They generally host some very high quality concerts as well (even Sting performed there in December).

If you find yourself visiting Ground Zero, you won't be too very far from the Brooklyn Bridge. Walk across the bridge, even just to say that you did. But you will be rewarded with the best pizza on the planet on the other side. The name of the place that I have in mind is escaping me at the moment, but I'll come back with the name when I remember.

Shopping the street vendors in the Village or Soho is also a lot of fun. I have picked up some interesting original art at bearable prices, as well as unique artist-made jewelry, especially in Soho (although its been a couple of years since I last visited Soho). Actually there are street vendors everywhere but those are my two favorite areas for the quality of items for sale.

[cristina]

OK, as soon as I hit post, I remembered...Grimaldi's pizza. Its kind of underneath the Brooklyn Bridge. And they only take cash. But it is well worth it.

[cristina]

And the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory for dessert!

[traveler63]

Oh, thank you thank you all that have posted. There are some really great ideas. Please keep them coming! Also, Spaceneedle, you are right about the humidity, but I will persevere!!!!

[Deleted]

There are so many wonderful suggestions mentioned. I agree with Suzanne that the Cloisters should not be missed and on the way there is St. John the Divine,also a fabulous suggestion.
Both the East and West Village can be done in a day,add Soho and Tribeca,I would add another day to.
The museums,the big ones MOMA and the Met are real time consuming but you don't have to see them all. Then,the Guggenheim,Copper Hewitt,they are all part of Museum Mile along 5th or right off..
Then,there's the Museum of Natural History where you could spend days,weeks even but,just see some of the main exhibits.
I like checking out the smaller museums,The Jewish Museum(also off 5th and part of Museum Mile.),and the Frick is great too.(may have something small like vermeer drawings,not a huge venue but really lovely.
The Museum of the American Indian is also fabulous and right up your alley with regard to your love of Native American artifacts T63.That is way downtown and may require a special trip or be incorporated into other downtown sites.
I personally love to be spontaneous when in NYC and walk,walk,walk.
You will find some off the beaten path fabulous bistro or cafe or gallery.
Deyana's suggestion about outdoor concerts is an excellent idea. The NY Philharmonic puts on great free concerts in Central Park during the summer and you can put together a small picnic from one of the many fine little groceries to be found everywhere.
I always scope out the New Yorker or New York Magazine right before a trip there to see what's coming up. New York magazine also has great food and shopping information. I'm sorry I let my subscription recently lapse. Always some thing new and fun to be found in there.
I'm sure I will think of more...You're going to have a fabulous time,truly a great city.

[imec]

Here's a roadfood.com review of Grimaldi's as suggested by cristina. You may want to check out other NY eateries listed in roadfood.com too.

[traveler63]

Thanks Imec!!! You know what a foodies we are. !!!!!!! Speaking of food, I think it is time for me to post more of the food in Paris. So, look for it in Europe category soon. Also, the 2nd Chateau.

[traveler63]

Casimira;

I so thank you for your post and I have added your suggestions to my list. The Jewish Museum is a definite because the couple we are traveling with are Jewish and we have already talked about it. The Native American Museum is a wonderful suggestion and I did not know that there was one, but Mr. T63 did. All in all your suggestions are wonderful. Thank you so much. I appreciate any other ideas that you might have.

[Deleted]

You are very welcome T63. The Jewish Museum, although, it does have a rich Judaica collection(very small), exhibits all types of art work. The last two major exhibits I saw there were Jackson Pollack and some of his contemporaries and the other was a wonderful Modigliani exhibit. The time of year that you are going is perfect,although,it can be frustrating because some of the Fall exhibits are just opening that very week after Labor Day and there are long lines.
I am in NYC that week every year, for as far back as I can remember,and the weather is usually superb,hints of Indian Summer in the air...But then,considering that I am coming there from a sweat box inferno, anything below 95F and 100% humidity is cool for me.
September and October in NYC is heaven to me.It is hands down, my favorite time to be there.
(And all the children are back in school...)

[traveler63]

Thanks Casi. All of this information is just going to be wonderful and I always take my laptop because everything is in it. It is much easier to lug than all of the paper. AND, it costs too much to run my I Phone when traveling for the internet and or media. Usually hotels, have free internet in the rooms, and yes, I will be careful with it. I know it is much more secure if you are renting an apartment, but we aren't staying that long, or who knows by the time we do go we might just add another week.

[Deleted]

I had to pay for internet in my hotel, but the internet in the hotel next door was $2 cheaper and the signal was just as good...