Spontaneous trip to the City

[mimmi]

I'm going to NYC at the end of April, ok, maybe that's not so spontaneous after all, but with the long distance flight and getting organized it feels as if I don't have much time.
There seem to be so many NCY experts on this board that I thought I could get great tips here.

The situation:
I'm going with my cousin who has never left Europe before, without kid and husband. I've been to NYC at least 20 times, but never for longer than 48 hours and usually only did some shopping, grab a snack and sleep a lot as I was always exhausted from work.
We are staying at Madison/6th Avenue, so I think there are many interesting things in walking distance.

My questions:
I've reserved tickets for the 9/11 memorial, they are for 11 am. Do we have to be there at 11am sharp or can we come anytime between 11 and 12?

I love rooftop bars, what are the best ones?
I'm not sure if we should see a broadway show, mainly because of the jet lag which makes evening adventures so tiring, but if we do, are there shows with tickets available on the same day?
I would be grateful for breakfast tips, I remember that finding nice breakfast spots has always been the biggest challenge for me.
Thanks!

 

[Caradana]

Awesome! Madison and 6th, do you mean Madison and 36th? I can recommend breakfast spots if so. I don't think Madison hits 6th St? But maybe you mean the East Village, down by the Bowery somewhere?

 

[Janepod]

I'm going to NYC at the end of April, ok, maybe that's not so spontaneous after all, but with the long distance flight and getting organized it feels as if I don't have much time.
There seem to be so many NCY experts on this board that I thought I could get great tips here.

The situation:
I'm going with my cousin who has never left Europe before, without kid and husband. I've been to NYC at least 20 times, but never for longer than 48 hours and usually only did some shopping, grab a snack and sleep a lot as I was always exhausted from work.
We are staying at Madison/6th Avenue, so I think there are many interesting things in walking distance.

My questions:
I've reserved tickets for the 9/11 memorial, they are for 11 am. Do we have to be there at 11am sharp or can we come anytime between 11 and 12?

I love rooftop bars, what are the best ones?
I'm not sure if we should see a broadway show, mainly because of the jet lag which makes evening adventures so tiring, but if we do, are there shows with tickets available on the same day?
I would be grateful for breakfast tips, I remember that finding nice breakfast spots has always been the biggest challenge for me.
Thanks!

Madison and Sixth Ave. don't intersect - do you know, Madison and what? (And it's not Madison and Sixth St. - Madison ends at 23rd, Madison Square Park.) If you can be more precise I can recommend a breakfast place. I love Balthazar, which is probably not near your hotel, but a great place to eat and people watch.

For the memorial, the line you get in at 11:00 a.m. will still be long and have a bag check, so you will be fine coming later, but I would try to be in it by 11:30 or so. In my experience they are flexible.

For rooftop bars - love Brass Monkey (meatpacking). Beekman Towers (but it's really an older crowd - I just end up there a lot because my apartment is nearby). The Gansevoort is much younger and cooler, but a velvet-rope type place. I have only been there for private parties so I don't know what it's like on a regular night but I think you may have to wait quite a while and shell out some $$$.

Search this board for TKTS - many posts on how to get discounted same-day tickets.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Lorelei Lee]

Yes, TKTS has a booth in Times Square for same day tickets. Also check to see if their South Street Seaport location is open -- I think it took damage from Sandy but if it's open it's likely to be less crowded.

Sent from my SCH-I800 using DISBoards

 

[mimmi]

Oh sorry, the 4 went missing somehow, it was supposed to be Madison and 46th, but I just discovered it's Madison and 45th.

I know Balthazar, I had dinner there in the year 2000 (wow, I'm really getting old) it's in SoHo or somewhere nearby, right?

 

[Janepod]

Oh sorry, the 4 went missing somehow, it was supposed to be Madison and 46th, but I just discovered it's Madison and 45th.

I know Balthazar, I had dinner there in the year 2000 (wow, I'm really getting old) it's in SoHo or somewhere nearby, right?

Yes, Soho. Spring Street, just east of Broadway.

Are you staying at the Roosevelt? You'll be near-ish the Comfort Diner. That's on 45th between 2nd and 3rd. A little bit of a walk but not bad if you're going to, say, Grand Central to get the subway.

 

[mimmi]

Yes, Soho. Spring Street, just east of Broadway.

Are you staying at the Roosevelt? You'll be near-ish the Comfort Diner. That's on 45th between 2nd and 3rd. A little bit of a walk but not bad if you're going to, say, Grand Central to get the subway.

Yes, the Roosevelt, I hope it's ok, but the location seemed good.

Thanks for the breakfast tip, I just looked on their website and saw a picture of a delicious looking French toast, we will definitely go there and I'm contemplating French toast for breakfast tomorrow...

 

[Janepod]

Yes, the Roosevelt, I hope it's ok, but the location seemed good.

Thanks for the breakfast tip, I just looked on their website and saw a picture of a delicious looking French toast, we will definitely go there and I'm contemplating French toast for breakfast tomorrow...

They have s'mores too!

I don't know anything about the Roosevelt, but I have walked by often and it is in a terrific location. Very convenient to shopping, subways, Rock Center, easy walk to Times Square.

 

[Bren's Mom]

Many shows have matinees, around 2pm on Wednesday and/or Saturday. Might be an option for you to do a show without risk of falling askeep!