Another New York City thread, I need some help!

[aboveH20]

This thread has been great! I am hoping to take DS8 on a quick overnight mother/son trip this summer. He loves the Museum of Natural History (the company I work for has a Corporate Membership so we get in free to several NYC attractions) and has been bugging to go back. I am thinking maybe a Broadway show for him as well (Spiderman, Lion King, or Matilda).

Anyway, I cannot add much to what has already been covered except to say stay away from the chain restaurants in Times Square like Olive Garden, Chili's etc. Prices are extremely inflated. Most of Times Square is like that.

My kids really enjoy Mars 2112 which is a theme restaurant in the Theater District. You ride a simulator to "Mars' and there are Aliens dancing in the restaurant. Pretty cute and prices are decent compared to Planet Hollywood or Hard Rock.

I am actually thinking of taking DS to the Ninja restaurant when we go. Can anyone tell me if that is worth it?

We went to the Ninja restaurant with my son and his girlfriend. It's not cheap! It's the type of place you'd only go once, so I wonder if they're still in business. (We also went to Mars, and I'm not really surprised they're closed.) Maybe because we were four adults the waiters didn't seem too "playful."

If your son is really into Ninjas and you've checked the menu ahead of time to make sure you're okay with the prices, sure, try it once. It's definitely different than other restaurants you've ever been to.

 

[wilkeliza]

We went to the Ninja restaurant with my son and his girlfriend. It's not cheap! It's the type of place you'd only go once, so I wonder if they're still in business. (We also went to Mars, and I'm not really surprised they're closed.) Maybe because we were four adults the waiters didn't seem too "playful."

If your son is really into Ninjas and you've checked the menu ahead of time to make sure you're okay with the prices, sure, try it once. It's definitely different than other restaurants you've ever been to.

Ninja isn't somewhere everyone only goes once. My DBF's nephew loves it there and well they can pay the prices so they take him once or twice a summer.

 

[aboveH20]

Ninja isn't somewhere everyone only goes once. My DBF's nephew loves it there and well they can pay the prices so they take him once or twice a summer.

Thanks for posting. I guess I should have known different people would have different experiences (and pocketbooks!). It's definitely well themed.

I've got tickets for Book of Mormon in two weeks and have been reading this thread for meal ideas. My son tells me to check out Shake Shack. I love The View at the Marriott Marquis.

 

[SingingMom]

Thanks for posting. I guess I should have known different people would have different experiences (and pocketbooks!). It's definitely well themed.

I've got tickets for Book of Mormon in two weeks and have been reading this thread for meal ideas. My son tells me to check out Shake Shack. I love The View at the Marriott Marquis.

We always stay at the Marriott Marquis, even though we live 40 minutes away! Lol

Shake Shake usually has a line down the street! Lol. If you are looking for easy quick counter food, Schnippers is good! Lots of the Broadway actors eat there between shows!

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[aboveH20]

We always stay at the Marriott Marquis, even though we live 40 minutes away! Lol

Shake Shake usually has a line down the street! Lol. If you are looking for easy quick counter food, Schnippers is good! Lots of the Broadway actors eat there between shows!

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

I'm not familiar with Schnippers. I had lunch "with" Geraldo Rivera at the Stage Deli once, my only run in with fame.

We've only stayed at the Marquis once, but have eaten there a number of times. I don't mind playing tourist, I'm not proud.

 

[wilkeliza]

I'm not familiar with Schnippers. I had lunch "with" Geraldo Rivera at the Stage Deli once, my only run in with fame.

We've only stayed at the Marquis once, but have eaten there a number of times. I don't mind playing tourist, I'm not proud.

Personally for me Shake Shack is over rated. I don't care for their burgers at all. Now Schnippers I love. It is family owned and operated with just only 2 maybe 3 locations in NYC. The are known for their sloppy joes. My favorite is the Mac and cheese sloppy joe. They also have chicken fingers and other things. Great local bite.

 

[SingingMom]

Personally for me Shake Shack is over rated. I don't care for their burgers at all. Now Schnippers I love. It is family owned and operated with just only 2 maybe 3 locations in NYC. The are known for their sloppy joes. My favorite is the Mac and cheese sloppy joe. They also have chicken fingers and other things. Great local bite.

I refuse to wait in that long a line! Lol. Dd19 and her friend did a few weeks ago and said the shakes were good.

The Schnippers we went to us right down the street from Newsies. Sandwiches are great! Dd likes the chicken fingers. Really good sweet potato fries, too!

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[mom2t]

Thanks. DD15 and DD12 (almost 13 in a month). We will be in Philadelphia for only one night (arrive around noon and leave the next day around 5:00 pm). We are planning to see the Independence Hall and Liberty Bell right after checking in the hotel. I haven't planned anything else yet. I think the kids will be very tired by the time we get to Philadelphia, so I didn't want to plan too many things before.

We went to Philadelphia last yr. drove over from the Amish area for the day. We did those and the double decker bus tour that lets you get off and on. We have a reciprocal museum membership and got in several places free. Love Philadelphia!

 

[aboveH20]

Personally for me Shake Shack is over rated. I don't care for their burgers at all. Now Schnippers I love. It is family owned and operated with just only 2 maybe 3 locations in NYC. The are known for their sloppy joes. My favorite is the Mac and cheese sloppy joe. They also have chicken fingers and other things. Great local bite.

The Shake Shack menu doesn't especially appeal to me, but my son who lived in NYC for eights years (and is driving cross country to relocate in LA as we "speak") keeps telling me to try it. Apparently they also have a Shake Shack stand at the Saratoga racetrack (MUCH closer to me) so maybe I"ll go there this summer.

I refuse to wait in that long a line! Lol. Dd19 and her friend did a few weeks ago and said the shakes were good.

The Schnippers we went to us right down the street from Newsies. Sandwiches are great! Dd likes the chicken fingers. Really good sweet potato fries, too!

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Did you like Newsies? I've seen all of the other Disney shows, Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid, Lion King, Aida, Mary Poppins and Disney Visa kept sending emails about Newsies but somehow it didn't strike me.

Looks like I may have to put Schnippers on the list for lunch.

 

[DISshopkeeper]

The Shake Shack menu doesn't especially appeal to me, but my son who lived in NYC for eights years (and is driving cross country to relocate in LA as we "speak") keeps telling me to try it. Apparently they also have a Shake Shack stand at the Saratoga racetrack (MUCH closer to me) so maybe I"ll go there this summer.




Did you like Newsies? I've seen all of the other Disney shows, Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid, Lion King, Aida, Mary Poppins and Disney Visa kept sending emails about Newsies but somehow it didn't strike me.

Looks like I may have to put Schnippers on the list for lunch.

Newsies is awesome! high energy entertainment. We scored front row center for Newsies at the TKTS booth.

 

[NYCDiane]

I agree about BroadwayBox.com. I usually just order online (always choose the seats I want) and then pick my tickets up at the box office before the show.

I have a question for Wilkeliza. You mentioned that all (or most?) museums are pay what you want admission. I don't know of any other than the MONH and the Met, or museums that have specific days/times that are free or reduced admission. I do know of museums that are free though.

So, since many times I decide spur of the moment to go to a museum I would love a list of places that are pay what you want admission everyday. It would be nice to go more often to different museums, so saving some money on the admissions would enable me to do just that .

No, the only major museums in NYC that are "suggested" admission are The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Museum of Natural History. The rest of the museums have set admission rates except The Museum of the American Indian which is downtown and has free admission. I don't know of any others that have free admission.

You can always check the museums' websites for visitor info and hours and admission rates.

 

[crazyme5kids]

No, the only major museums in NYC that are "suggested" admission are The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Museum of Natural History. The rest of the museums have set admission rates except The Museum of the American Indian which is downtown and has free admission. I don't know of any others that have free admission.

You can always check the museums' websites for visitor info and hours and admission rates.

Like I said, I know of a few that are free, the American Folk Art Museum is one (nice museum by the way), and then remembered that the Brooklyn Museum is suggested admission, but I was specifically looking for Manhattan museums.

So, to get the answer to my question, I just looked it up. I thought others might like a list as well. Here is a listing of some that I found. As you can see, the list includes museums in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Staten Island too. If anyone knows of other museums that are free, or pay what you want everyday (not select days or times), please add to this list. I'm not sure how up to date this list is though, so as NYCDiane said, always check the web site.


ALWAYS FREE (or pay what you wish):
American Folk Art Museum
American Museum of Natural History (pay what you wish)
Bronx Museum (pay what you wish)
Brooklyn Academy of Music’s BAMcafé live events
Brooklyn Museum (pay what you wish)
The Cloisters (pay what you wish)
El Museo del Barrio (pay what you wish)
Godwin-Ternbach Museum at Queens College
Green-Wood Cemetery
International Print Center
Metropolitan Museum of Art (pay what you wish)
Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology
Museum of American Illustration
Museum of Biblical Art (pay what you wish)
National Museum of the American Indian—Smithsonian Institution
New York City Police Museum (pay what you wish)
P.S.1 MoMA (pay what you wish)
Queens Botanical Garden (free Nov-March)
Queens Museum of Art (pay what you wish)
SculptureCenter (pay what you wish)
Socrates Sculpture Park
Staten Island Museum (pay what you wish)
Storefront for Art & Architecture
Studio Museum in Harlem (pay what you wish)
Waterfront Museum

Just a note: When I went to the New York City Police Museum, I think it was a year or could be two years ago at this point it wasn't suggested admission, at least it wasn't posted as such. I think it was only $8.00 though to get in. Maybe it is a PWYW now. It's a small museum, but had some interesting stuff.

 

[NYCDiane]

The Cloisters is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and you can get in free with your (same day) Met ticket.

The other "pay as you wish" museums definitely want you to pay "something" but they all have 'suggested admission' cost (the Met is up to $25 I believe).

There was a scathing article in the paper a couple of months ago (NY Post?) stating that The Met isn't supposed to be charging a penny to anyone in admission fees due to some agreements with the city or some tax breaks or something. I'll see if I can find it and post it here.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Ha Ha yeah, even the free museums want you to pay something . I just thought since it was stated that most museums were pay what you want admission maybe someone (like me) would like to take advantage of saving some money, and to find out where these museums are.

Many of the museums listed are very small, not what we would call major museums, even what I would say more of a gallery feel. I went to one last fall, but for the life of me can't remember the name, free, but very gallery feeling. Still, some are interesting, and a nice way to spend some time.

I read an article, maybe the same article, or one about the Met and admission. I think the agreement with the city is that they don't have to pay any property taxes in exchange for not charging an admission fee.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Ha Ha yeah, even the free museums want you to pay something . I just thought since it was stated that most museums were pay what you want admission maybe someone (like me) would like to take advantage of saving some money, and to find out where these museums are.

Many of the museums listed are very small, not what we would call major museums, even what I would say more of a gallery feel. I went to one last fall, but for the life of me can't remember the name, free, but very gallery feeling. Still, some are interesting, and a nice way to spend some time.

I read an article, maybe the same article, or one about the Met and admission. I think the agreement with the city is that they don't have to pay any property taxes in exchange for not charging an admission fee.

 

[wilkeliza]

Like I said, I know of a few that are free, the American Folk Art Museum is one (nice museum by the way), and then remembered that the Brooklyn Museum is suggested admission, but I was specifically looking for Manhattan museums.

So, to get the answer to my question, I just looked it up. I thought others might like a list as well. Here is a listing of some that I found. As you can see, the list includes museums in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Staten Island too. If anyone knows of other museums that are free, or pay what you want everyday (not select days or times), please add to this list. I'm not sure how up to date this list is though, so as NYCDiane said, always check the web site.

ALWAYS FREE (or pay what you wish):
American Folk Art Museum
American Museum of Natural History (pay what you wish)
Bronx Museum (pay what you wish)
Brooklyn Academy of Music’s BAMcafé live events
Brooklyn Museum (pay what you wish)
The Cloisters (pay what you wish)
El Museo del Barrio (pay what you wish)
Godwin-Ternbach Museum at Queens College
Green-Wood Cemetery
International Print Center
Metropolitan Museum of Art (pay what you wish)
Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology
Museum of American Illustration
Museum of Biblical Art (pay what you wish)
National Museum of the American Indian—Smithsonian Institution
New York City Police Museum (pay what you wish)
P.S.1 MoMA (pay what you wish)
Queens Botanical Garden (free Nov-March)
Queens Museum of Art (pay what you wish)
SculptureCenter (pay what you wish)
Socrates Sculpture Park
Staten Island Museum (pay what you wish)
Storefront for Art & Architecture
Studio Museum in Harlem (pay what you wish)
Waterfront Museum

Just a note: When I went to the New York City Police Museum, I think it was a year or could be two years ago at this point it wasn't suggested admission, at least it wasn't posted as such. I think it was only $8.00 though to get in. Maybe it is a PWYW now. It's a small museum, but had some interesting stuff.

Sorry I didn't have a list and was trying to find a time to do some research. I guess I forget how many museums we have here when I said most. I only frequent the Met and the Natural Science Museum as well as Brooklyn which are all pay what you wish.

 

[disneypharm]

We went to Philadelphia last yr. drove over from the Amish area for the day. We did those and the double decker bus tour that lets you get off and on. We have a reciprocal museum membership and got in several places free. Love Philadelphia!

OP here again
Thanks. I will check the reciprocal museum membership website to see what else we can go free. I only checked NYC for intrepid.

I talked to DH and he said that he will probably fall sleep during Newsies , so I think we will be getting Spiderman tickets. I checked Broadwaybox tickets and they have 4 seats on the first 2 rows behind the stage. So, my question is would you ever get tickets that close to the stage?

Some more questions:
Would you eat lunch or dinner at Serendipity 3 or just dessert? Samantha Brown ate some frozen hot chocolate in her Christmas in NYC Great Weekends episode.

How long is the wait for Staten Island Ferry?

Also, we will be using Amtrak to go to Washington DC. Do they provide internet access to passengers? DDs would like to use their IPads.

In Philadelphia, would you consider visiting Betsy Ross house?


In Washington DC, how far away is Udvar-Hazy Center? Would you get a cab to visit and how much would that cost?

Sorry I have so many questions!!

 

[NYCDiane]

Ha Ha yeah, even the free museums want you to pay something . I just thought since it was stated that most museums were pay what you want admission maybe someone (like me) would like to take advantage of saving some money, and to find out where these museums are.

Many of the museums listed are very small, not what we would call major museums, even what I would say more of a gallery feel. I went to one last fall, but for the life of me can't remember the name, free, but very gallery feeling. Still, some are interesting, and a nice way to spend some time.

I read an article, maybe the same article, or one about the Met and admission. I think the agreement with the city is that they don't have to pay any property taxes in exchange for not charging an admission fee.

Not sure if you're aware of this little tidbit but many of the libraries on Long Island have free passes to NYC museums and educational attractions like the Intrepid. Check out your local library website and see what they have --- a nice way to save some money!

 

[SingingMom]

OP here again


I talked to DH and he said that he will probably fall sleep during Newsies , so I think we will be getting Spiderman tickets. I checked Broadwaybox tickets and they have 4 seats on the first 2 rows behind the stage. So, my question is would you ever get tickets that close to the stage?

In Philadelphia, would you consider visiting Betsy Ross house?

!!

Honestly, we LOVED Newsies, I saw it five times, DD saw it six times, and DH saw it four times! I promise your DH won't *fall asleep* ! ;-)
However, if he'd rather Spider-Man, enjoy! We tend to love seats up front, but DD is a theatre major and likes to be as close as possible to see the actors' faces. Others prefer a few more rows back, to see the entire stage. It's really a matter of personal preference.

As for Betsy Ross's house, if you have time, it is a neat place. I remember being amazed how low the ceilings were! Lol

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[crazyme5kids]

Not sure if you're aware of this little tidbit but many of the libraries on Long Island have free passes to NYC museums and educational attractions like the Intrepid. Check out your local library website and see what they have --- a nice way to save some money!

I always forget about that! I just looked at our library's web site and the Museum of Modern Art, Guggenheim and the Intrepid, plus a few here on LI are on their list. We are planning on going to the Intrepid with the kids, so that saves a nice chunk of change . Thanks for reminding me to check the library.