re: New York around the holidays

[cornflake]

We are going to be in NYC next week. We fly in Tuesday and out on Saturday. So far our plans include the 9/11 Memorial on Tuesday evening, the sightseeing bus tour on Wednesday and Friday (to see all of the major sites), Macy's Parade on Thursday, and Radio City Christmas show Thursday night. Our hotel is in Times Square. On the Macy's Parade day we plan to spend time in Central Park when it is over. The sightseeing, double decker bus will take us to the typical tourist spots - Empire State Building,ferry to Statue of Liberty, etc. We do want to eat at Ellen's. We do want to go to Macy's to see Santa and the display. I did not know about Dylan's or Serendipity. I will add that to my list. Oh.......is Serendipity that ice cream place that the movie is named after? I love the movie Serendipity! Isn't that also the name of the little ice cream place they eat at? Is that in NYC?

Do you have tickets for the memorial?

Why in the world are you taking the bus thing not only once but apparently for two days? You're going to spend two days sitting in traffic just endlessly. Endlessly.

If you want to see sights, just go see them; take the train or walk around.I mean your hotel is in TS, just walk over to the Empire State some night. It's right there. I wouldn't go to Dylan's, it's a giant tourist trap of expensive as heck candy. There are a bajillion candy places.

As above, the ice cream is Serendipity III, it's been in many, many movies, yes. It's great, it's got a line an hour or more long but get the frozen hot chocolate if you end up going.

 

[mefordis]

Serendipity III (don't get confused there's only one) is the place they eat at in the movie. It's ok but nothing I'd go out of my way for.

Just so you know, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are closed until further notice because of damage from Sandy so don't plan on seeing them on this trip as the ferries aren't running.

Went there yesterday and I agree - no need to go back. Crowded and average food.

 

[cornflake]

Went there yesterday and I agree - no need to go back. Crowded and average food.

You're not supposed to eat the food, silly!

 

[mathmagic]

My family is also going to NYC for thanksgiving, but we have no idea where to eat on Thanksgiving day. On any other day, we would just go to 9th in midtown and try someplace. But I don't know if anyplace will be open on Thanksgiving, if it essential to have a reservation, or if there will only be $100 per person types of menus offered that day. Any suggestions for a place to eat that day? Or even just a general strategy?

 

[cornflake]

My family is also going to NYC for thanksgiving, but we have no idea where to eat on Thanksgiving day. On any other day, we would just go to 9th in midtown and try someplace. But I don't know if anyplace will be open on Thanksgiving, if it essential to have a reservation, or if there will only be $100 per person types of menus offered that day. Any suggestions for a place to eat that day? Or even just a general strategy?

Lots of places will be open. Some only part of the day, but those are more the places they think won't get a crowd - like my fave Mexican place is closing at 4 or whatever I think (there's a sign in the window). There are others in the neighbourhood that serve closer to the traditional Thanksgiving thing that I know will be open because they have special menus in the window.

Most hotel restaurants, general non-very-specificfood type places (except Chinese, which are always open), tons of pubs, etc., will all be open.

Most of the places aren't going to upprice too much. A place with $25 entrees might do a $50 prie fixe. A very nice place will be more.

If you like wandering around midtown I think you'll be fine, though you might try more toward 7th, which tends toward more 'traditional.' Also neighbourhoods will have plenty of neighbourhood places open, with traditional food. Pick a nice neighbourhood to wander if you like.

If you want to be really 'safe' and traditional, hit a hotel restaurant. Generally they tend toward the more expensive end but if you avoid like, Daniel, you can find something.

There's plenty - tons of people here go out and lots of people host others who go out and there are a metric ton of tourists for Thanksgiving who go out.

 

[TLHB70]

Serendipity III (don't get confused there's only one) is the place they eat at in the movie. It's ok but nothing I'd go out of my way for.

Just so you know, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are closed until further notice because of damage from Sandy so don't plan on seeing them on this trip as the ferries aren't running.

Thank you so much for this information. Maybe we can make a trip back another day to see Statue of Liberty.

 

[TLHB70]

Do you have tickets for the memorial?

Why in the world are you taking the bus thing not only once but apparently for two days? You're going to spend two days sitting in traffic just endlessly. Endlessly.

If you want to see sights, just go see them; take the train or walk around.I mean your hotel is in TS, just walk over to the Empire State some night. It's right there. I wouldn't go to Dylan's, it's a giant tourist trap of expensive as heck candy. There are a bajillion candy places.

As above, the ice cream is Serendipity III, it's been in many, many movies, yes. It's great, it's got a line an hour or more long but get the frozen hot chocolate if you end up going.

Yes, we have tickets to the memorial. I ordered them over a month ago.
DH has had three ACL surgeries on the same knee. Then, over the summer, I had knee issues with my patella popping on and off track. Therefore he and I both would prefer to take taxis or subway or bus rather than walk when they are an option. We know we will will be walking when needed; we are both packing our knee braces. However, we thought the bus would be better and cheaper than taxis and make riding a good option over walking to/from some places. We do realize we will be walking a lot. We just thought the bus would help alleviate a bit of it. We have counted on the bus for Wednesday. Then we will know if it is needed for Friday or not. Friday is not a definite for the bus, but we will set that day aside for it if we need it.
Thank you for the information on Dylans and Serendipity. We will run into them if we pass them and have time, but we will not put a priority on them.
Thank you so much for your helpful information. I am looking forward to our trip!

 

[cornflake]

Thank you so much for this information. Maybe we can make a trip back another day to see Statue of Liberty.

Unless you're very into the Statue, I always advise tourists to skip the trip to it.

If you'd like to just see it a bit closer (and take a nice boat ride), take the Staten Island Ferry - which is currently up and running fine.

It's a half hour each way, you just get off on the other side and reboard the next boat, it's free, it's fun and you can see the Statue better and get a really beautiful view of the southern tip of the island and the B'klyn and Manhattan bridges and etc. It's very pretty if you go so you hit dusk/dark going one way.

Docking is also fun - stand outside.

 

[TLHB70]

Unless you're very into the Statue, I always advise tourists to skip the trip to it.

If you'd like to just see it a bit closer (and take a nice boat ride), take the Staten Island Ferry - which is currently up and running fine.

It's a half hour each way, you just get off on the other side and reboard the next boat, it's free, it's fun and you can see the Statue better and get a really beautiful view of the southern tip of the island and the B'klyn and Manhattan bridges and etc. It's very pretty if you go so you hit dusk/dark going one way.

Docking is also fun - stand outside.

Oh, thank you. This will be perfect! DH looked at a harbor cruise online when I told him the Statue was closed, but this will be a cheaper option!

 

[cornflake]

Yes, we have tickets to the memorial. I ordered them over a month ago.
DH has had three ACL surgeries on the same knee. Then, over the summer, I had knee issues with my patella popping on and off track. Therefore he and I both would prefer to take taxis or subway or bus rather than walk when they are an option. We know we will will be walking when needed; we are both packing our knee braces. However, we thought the bus would be better and cheaper than taxis and make riding a good option over walking to/from some places. We do realize we will be walking a lot. We just thought the bus would help alleviate a bit of it. We have counted on the bus for Wednesday. Then we will know if it is needed for Friday or not. Friday is not a definite for the bus, but we will set that day aside for it if we need it.
Thank you for the information on Dylans and Serendipity. We will run into them if we pass them and have time, but we will not put a priority on them.
Thank you so much for your helpful information. I am looking forward to our trip!

This is a common misconception about those buses - they're NOT a way to get around. At all.

They're just a way to sit in traffic and pay a lot of money to do so, honestly. If you're not up for walking, for sure take cabs or the train or buses, but try the regular City buses, not the tour buse. You'll just stand at stops forever waiting for them (and then I've heard people say they come by but are too crowded so they have to stand and wait and wait and wait for another) and then sit in traffic some more on them.

Get metrocards and hit the regular buses and trains, you'll get everyplace you want to go, and much faster.

Also, if you want to have like a 'tour', do something like take a bus to a farther destination, like take a bus to get the Ferry, or take the bus up to Ft. Tryon Park and go to the Cloisters (great, Medieval things museum up in a lovely park at the top tip of Manhattan). Or take a bus up one ave, go crosstown on another bus across the Park and then take another back down - transfers are free in general and those buses come often and have their own lanes and such. Still longer than it'd be on the train but faster than the tour things and way cheaper.

 

[TLHB70]

This is a common misconception about those buses - they're NOT a way to get around. At all.

They're just a way to sit in traffic and pay a lot of money to do so, honestly. If you're not up for walking, for sure take cabs or the train or buses, but try the regular City buses, not the tour buse. You'll just stand at stops forever waiting for them (and then I've heard people say they come by but are too crowded so they have to stand and wait and wait and wait for another) and then sit in traffic some more on them.

Get metrocards and hit the regular buses and trains, you'll get everyplace you want to go, and much faster.

Also, if you want to have like a 'tour', do something like take a bus to a farther destination, like take a bus to get the Ferry, or take the bus up to Ft. Tryon Park and go to the Cloisters (great, Medieval things museum up in a lovely park at the top tip of Manhattan). Or take a bus up one ave, go crosstown on another bus across the Park and then take another back down - transfers are free in general and those buses come often and have their own lanes and such. Still longer than it'd be on the train but faster than the tour things and way cheaper.

The metrocards will work on both buses and trains? I assume the maps will be at the stops, correct? I will make DH look into that tomorrow when we arrive. The things right around TS will not be an issue. We were just thinking about the things farther away.
Thank you! Your information has been extremely helpful!

 

[cornflake]

The metrocards will work on both buses and trains? I assume the maps will be at the stops, correct? I will make DH look into that tomorrow when we arrive. The things right around TS will not be an issue. We were just thinking about the things farther away.
Thank you! Your information has been extremely helpful!

Yes, metrocards work on all MTA buses and subways. There are paper subway maps you can request from any subway token booth clerk (go into the station and there's usually a booth in the larger ones) that they'll give you for free.

Bus maps are per line, mounted on the bus stop poles on the street. Like the bus stop on 42nd and 8th for the M42 crosstown bus shows the route for THAT bus.

I'm sure there's someplace to get a map of all bus lines but got me as to where - there's a red tourist thingy in TS, maybe there.

You can also look online before you go and print a wee one - and there are apps for smart phones - and if you put two NYC addresses or even cross streets (like if you put 34th and 7th avenue to 42nd street and 8th avenue, new york) into google and hit maps, it will give you a map and if you hit directions, there's a bus logo above the directions you can click that will tell you the bus AND subway lines you can take and highlight the stops on the map.

The mta.org I think has the general maps.

 

[cornflake]

Bus stops here look either like a glassed-in three-sided shelter thing with an information pole or just the pole (there's a stop about every 2 blocks on avenues, about every single block going crosstown). Pole has information on what buses and their destinations at the top (and where you currently are) and the map lower down.

 

[TLHB70]

Thank you! I am going to look for a smartphone app now.

 

[frndshpcptn]

Chiming in - if you are heading far from Times Square (for example the WTC Memorial), I would reccomed not taking teh regular MTA bus. Take a taxi (even through it will be expensive) or the subway. Depending on the time of day, it could take you over an hour to get from TS to Lower Manhattan.

For Serendipity - I wouldn't eat anything there. The food is not great. But its a good photo opp!

If you do want to walk Fifth Ave and look at the Holiday windows, and you have limited mobility, I strongly reccomend going at night - after 9 or 10pm. I walked Fifth ave this past Saturday night around 10:30, on my way home from dinner and we were basically the only people on the street. We saw everything (that was up) without the crowds, pushing and shoving.

I'm not Catholic - but St. Patricks is just magical this time of year. It's worth a stop.

the weather is great here right now - a fantastic time to visit the city!

 

[TLHB70]

Chiming in - if you are heading far from Times Square (for example the WTC Memorial), I would reccomed not taking teh regular MTA bus. Take a taxi (even through it will be expensive) or the subway. Depending on the time of day, it could take you over an hour to get from TS to Lower Manhattan.

For Serendipity - I wouldn't eat anything there. The food is not great. But its a good photo opp!

If you do want to walk Fifth Ave and look at the Holiday windows, and you have limited mobility, I strongly reccomend going at night - after 9 or 10pm. I walked Fifth ave this past Saturday night around 10:30, on my way home from dinner and we were basically the only people on the street. We saw everything (that was up) without the crowds, pushing and shoving.

I'm not Catholic - but St. Patricks is just magical this time of year. It's worth a stop.

the weather is great here right now - a fantastic time to visit the city!

Thank you so very much for your helpful information!
I can't wait to be there. We fly out tomorrow around 10 AM so we should be there by noon.
I am so excited that the weather forecast is showing nice weather for the week. I hope it stays that way.

 

[cornflake]

Chiming in - if you are heading far from Times Square (for example the WTC Memorial), I would reccomed not taking teh regular MTA bus. Take a taxi (even through it will be expensive) or the subway. Depending on the time of day, it could take you over an hour to get from TS to Lower Manhattan.

For Serendipity - I wouldn't eat anything there. The food is not great. But its a good photo opp!

If you do want to walk Fifth Ave and look at the Holiday windows, and you have limited mobility, I strongly reccomend going at night - after 9 or 10pm. I walked Fifth ave this past Saturday night around 10:30, on my way home from dinner and we were basically the only people on the street. We saw everything (that was up) without the crowds, pushing and shoving.

I'm not Catholic - but St. Patricks is just magical this time of year. It's worth a stop.

the weather is great here right now - a fantastic time to visit the city!

In general, agree about the bus but thought the poster wanted to 'see the City and stuff from aboveground like on one of the greyhound messes.

Above poster is of course correct - it will take a while to get down to there on the bus. If you want to get there quickly, take the train.

Food is not the point of Serendipity! No one eats the food - ice cream and frozen hot chocolate, people! Though there are plenty of other fun, way less crowded places. If you like rice pudding, try Rice to Riches, a store that sells only rice pudding, in a huge variety of flavours.

There's also Oatmeals, with awesome locally-sourced oatmeal in sweet and savoury combinations (like with apples sauteed in butter and cinnamon or with figs and gorgonzola and a balsamic reduction), I believe this is maple bacon and parmesan -

or Pie Face, which is a cute Aussie store sells sweet and savoury pies and pastries.

Or go straight to Momof uku (no space, board thinks I'm cursing) Milk Bar and try...

Or their famous cereal milk soft serve (ice cream tastes like the milk left over in a bowl of kiddie cereal)

Or go to Doughnut Plant and try the world's greatest doughnuts (no kidding, those Krispy Kreme things are like a 1, these are an 11 on a 1-10 scale)

We do dessert well here.

 

[TLHB70]

OMG, cornflake! I want to try ALL of those!

 

[LiamandMaeve]

We are from South Jersey and are heading to NYC the day after Christmas to see the Harry Potter exhibit, American girl store, Lego store, and FAO. We hope to eat at Ellen's. This will be the first time the kids have done the city thing in NYC. We are hoping to do the Nat. History museum the next day. Any thoughts for how bad it will be the day after Christmas?

Thanks!
Christine

 

[renae3]

bump