Calling all New Yorkers

[TracyK]

Hi,
I'm visiting your wonderful city for the first time with my DS age 13. We are arriving on 27 December and am hoping to see all the wonderful Christmas decs. here are some of the possibles on my list.

Empire State building (I'm hoping to do this in the day and possibly again at night).

Ellis Island

Bronx Zoo (for holiday lights).

Rockefeller Center

Broadway (I have booked seats to see Phantom on New Year's Eve)

Times Square (New Year's Eve celebrations, We won't be able to get there until approx 10:30 - is this too late?)

Central Park (any thing in particular you would recommend on a visit to the park)

Madame Tussauds (what's the best time of day to avoid queues?)

Radio City Christmas spectacular (would anybody recommend this. I have read some good reviews).

American Museum of the Moving Image (my DS is very interested in this one).

I have many other possibilities (too numerous to mention). We're certainly going to be spoiled for choice.

I would appreciate any recommendations, comments etc. including good places to eat, not too expensive and suitable for teenage boy
Thanks
Tracy

 

[joats]

I'm not from NYC but go occaisonally as I'm in CT. My favorite restaurant is Carmine's. They have gigantic portions and serve "family style". One order of something is enough to feed everyone at your table. I once ordered garlic bread it was about 20 slices. See website for more info: www.carminesnyc.com

Jekyll and Hyde's is also fun. Your DS might get a kick out of it. website: www.eerie.com/

Hopefully some native NYC-ers can give you further info.

You certainly have a lot planned to do...how long are you staying?
I hope you enjoy your trip...have a fantastic time!!

 

[IloveDMB]

Don't live there buy visit often as that is where all my family lives.

Radio City Christmas spectacular (would anybody recommend this. I have read some good reviews).

This is a must see. It's like a holiday tradition and it really is spectacular.

Rockefeller Center

The tree is awesome and so beautiful. And you can ice-skate underneath but be sure to bundle up because it can be so very cold there.

I don't know how into shopping your son is but 5th Ave. is definetly a must just for sure enjoyment at all the ridiculously expensive shops.

I can think of so many other things but I don't know how long you will be there for.

 

[Bichon Barb]

Oh, silly me. I thought you said "New Yorkers" -- not "New Yawkas".

False alarm.

 

[maidmarion]

Definitely walking around East Midtown will be fun and festive. Don't miss the holiday displays at Macy's and Bloomie's! Incredible.

One really beautiful spot for lights is to go down west of the seaport, right down to the end of Wall Street. There are a few spots there for sitting and it would be a great hot chocolate, watch the lights spot.

Finally, St. Patricks is gorgeous.

I would be happy to help more if you need me! Just send me a PM with any NYC question. Have a wonderful time in the City!

 

[ToyStory Fan]

If you can it is always cool to go ice skating at 30 Rock (Rockefeller Center), since you are also seeing the sights why not make a visit to the world's most famous arena and catch a NY Rangers hockey game at Madison Square Garden (31st and 7th). While in Central Park check out the Central Park Zoo, we were there for a wedding last year, it was so cool. Palces to eat....way too many to list, but pick up or go online to Zagat and get the inside scoop on places to eat and places to miss.

Don't forget to stop in for a coffee at Dean and Deluca's near 30 rock. You can also try to get tickets for the taping of Letterman or the Tonight Show.

 

[Twigs]

As mentioned above Carmines is a great restaurant, and the food is great, but since they do serve family style the portions are HUGH! If it is just the two of you and you want Italian go to Mulberry St. in Little Italy. The streets are all decorated and they have Christmas Trees at each corner. On some weekend nights the street is closed to traffic. This is also where all the restaurants are. We always go to Cafe Sorrento the food is great and they will also make anything you want even if it isn't on the menu.

We went with DS's class last year to Jeckle and Hyde restaurant and it was a lot of fun, the food is so so, but you go to those places for the atmosphere.


And the Radio City Spectacular is a great show.

 

[DVCindy]

If the 30 Rock rink is too crowded, or you'd like to see some of Central Park, try Wolman Rink in Central Park. It's much bigger and has a beautiful view of Central Park West. I lived in Manhattan for several years and I've skated there many times. I prefer it to the Rockefeller Center rink.

Check out the Plaza Hotel ... beautiful ... a New York icon.

Have a wonderful time !

Cindy

 

[TimeforMe]

I, too, heartily recommend the Christmas Spectacular--it is just so beautiful. You've already gotten some good recommendations, but I'd add also add Madison Square Garden for a tour. Your son will love it. There's also an NBA store across the street.

Planet Hollywood right in Times Square is always a lot of fun to look at the memorabilia, etc. There's also a HUGE ToysRUs right next door that is always fun to walk through.

Have fun--New York is the greatest city in the world and especially at Christmastime! Enjoy!!!!

 

[Arabella Figg 2003]

You're seeing Phantom on New Year's Eve. The theater is on West 44th, towards the 8th avenue end of the block. If you walk to the 7th Avenue end of the block, you will be in Times Square. The show will end at 11:00 or so.

The ball drops from One Times Square, a building located at 42nd Street at the junction of Broadway and 7th Avenue. You want to be on either of those avenues facing south to 42nd Street when the ball drops.

The problem is, on New Year's Eve the crowds start forming early in the evening. The police department corrals everyone into barracaded "holding areas". If the weather is cooperative, by 11:00 the crowd may go as far back as 52nd Street. Once you're in one of the "holding areas" you have to stay there for the rest of the evening, or you'll lose your spot.

It's very possible that when you exit the theater you will not be allowed to walk towards Times Square. You may have to walk up 8th Avenue for a few blocks before you can walk back over to 7th and find a place to stand.

If you don't have plans for dinner that evening, you may want to have pizza at John's on 44th Street. It's right across the street from the theater. The building used to be a church. Not a s touristy as Carmine's, but the food is excellent. they specialize is brick oven pizza.

 

[TracyK]

Thank you, thank you, thank you all soooo much for the wonderful suggestions. We will be staying for a week and I want to cram in as much as possible. There are so many wonderful attractions which makes your suggestions so useful in helping me plan my itinerary.
Thanks again
Tracy

 

[charlie,nj]

check out: www.nyctourist.com

 

[Kimberle]

I've seen the Christmas Show this year. (It's the same as last year.) It's wonderful. We were 7th row center. Last year, we were in the bottom Mezz & still had a nice view. The first 3/4 of the show is secular. The last 1/4 is the most beautiful nativity I've ever seen. I cried both times.

Also, if you can get tickets, the Nutcracker at Lincoln Center is wonderful. We saw it this w/end. As long as you can get in, you'll be fine. MIL bought the tickets very late so we were in the "nosebleed" seats.

Don't forget the wonderful museums, Natural History (my dh workded on this rehab), Met., etc. MOMA is still in Queens, they are rehabing the mid-town location (my dh is working on this project, it's going to be awsome when done.)

I don't know how soon it will be ready, but they just brought a Concord jet (plane??) to the South Street Seaport/Intrepid.

Circle line offers a nice cruise (abt 3 hours) around the city.

For quick inexpensive meals, look for the many coffee shops (they are all over). They are much better & usually cheaper that McDonalds, etc. Look off the main roads, on the connecting streets. Most coffee shops/cafes/resturants have menu's posted.

Oh, the backstage tour of Radio City is wonderful.

If you want to see a broadway show but don't care what, get tickets at Times Sq, half price. I've gotten really good seats there.
Recent shows I've seen: Hairspray, Producers, both excellent but hard to get. I'm going to see Mama Mia next.

 

[bjnw]

how about the statue of liberty ( i think it has reopened), the musuem of natural history ( i highly recommend that), after that walk through central park (it's beautiful esp. if there's a little snow on the ground) and you'll pass tavern on the green (restaurant) that's right smack in the middle of the park (it's so beautifully lit for xmas) . keep going thru the park to the east side (very different from the west side which is where the museum is) and then hop a subway and go downtown to ground zero and then trot over to chinatown and little italy. great culture and cheap eats. when i lived there i would eat in chinatown and walk over to lil' italy for dessert. other suggs. i think there's a new science museum that opened up. great for young boys. i fyou're staying on the west side you should check out Zabar's - the most incredible food/bakery/fish store in the world. you can grab a bunch of wonderful dishes and bring them back to your room. don't forget to try a knish andor a pretzel from one of the street vendors. sorry this is so long but there's just so much to do. a great city. have fun.

 

[Arabella Figg 2003]

the Intrepid is not part of the South Street Seaport complex. It's docked on the west side, in the 40's. The Seaport is in lower Manhattan, under the Brooklyn Bridge. Both are worth a look, if you have time. The Intrepid is a WWII memorial, the Seaport looks to the city's 19th Century heritage.

You didn't mention Ground Zero. It's not the most glamorous of spots in NYC but it's also part of our heritage.

 

[Arabella Figg 2003]

The Statue of Liberty itself is still not open to the public, but you can visit Liberty Island. The ferry service that runs to Ellis Island stops at Liberty Island as well.

 

[Oh Kay!]

Try to have a brunch at the Tavern on the Green. It's located on the south-western part of the Central Park.

Re the Bronx Zoo--Our family has stopped going to the zoo since we joined the American Museum of Natrual History. Since your primary goal is to see the christmas light, I won't discourage you, but depending on the length your stay, it might not be the best use of your time.

The Lord and Taylor's, a department store, by the Empire State Building has beautiful Christmas window displays.

 

[Arabella Figg 2003]

Frankly, I'd rather see them alive and breathing than stuffed and mounted in a display. but the museum does have other fascinating collections -- American Indian artifacts, gemstones, a planetarium.

 

[TracyK]

What brilliant suggestions. I am sooo excited. Keep them coming.
Tracy

 

[aprilgail2]

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is great! We go every year! We combine it with a visit to Mars 2112 (restaurant).....if you choose to go to Jeckyl and Hydes, the one midtown is much better than the other one and they do not accept visa or mastercard (VERY strange) and you can also go to restaurant.com and buy a 25.00 gift cert for half price or bid on one from restaurant.com on ebay for there for even less......The toy stores are great, toys r us has a giant ferris wheel in the middle of it and FAO Schwartz is not to be missed...we usually take a horse and carridge ride around central park.