Going to NYC this weekend!!! *UPDATED WITH MINI TR*

[aristocatz]

My DF just surprised me!! We are taking the train early tomorrow morning & going to the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular at Rockafeller Center!!!

Where else should we go? We want to stay local within that area (within a few blocks I guess-I've never been so I can't picture the area) & not venture out too far because it will be very cold and we have limited time.

I'd like to try New York pizza. We are not interested in going anywhere fancy, no time for Ellis Island or Ground Zero (that's for a different trip), not interested in clothes shopping, & we are not big drinkers/dancers (glass of wine or a beer here and there with a meal is nice). I'd like to go to the top of a really big building (doesn't Rockafeller center have a really tall building with an observation deck?), go to FAO Swartz, any other fun stores or (warm) spots to go to? Any fun Christmas decorations to see, things to do???

Recommendations for sit down dinner that's not too fancy or that we will not need a reservation for a Saturday night?
Thanks!

Thanks!

 

[fraggle551]

Dress WARM! It is insanely cold here right now. The wind makes it so much worse. By warm, I mean 2 layers of pants (I usually do tights or stockings under jeans), many shirts, gloves, hat, etc.

Here is the link to the top of the rock (the really big building you wanted to see)
http://www.rockefellercenter.com/index.php/section/2#/2/1/-1/11/

All the windows, St. Pats, and things aren't terribly far away from Rockerfeller center. There is a building right near the tree that has dancing snowflakes set to Christmas music, it's always been a favorite of mine. I believe it's right across from the tree - you definitely can't miss it.

As for a resteraunt, there are many around. Just walk around the area, you will find some. They generally have menus on the outside, so you can see the prices & type of food that they serve.


Have a great time! Take lots of pictures.

 

[BelleWDW]

Top Of the Rock was Awesome!

LOts of food right there.

 

[akhenaten]

The store with the lighted snowflakes covering the front and sync'd to music is Saks Fifth Ave.

For a neat place to eat check out Prime Burger near Saint Patricks...
it is like stepping back in time.... unique booths....http://www.primeburger.com/home.nxg

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...rger+NYC&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&sa=N&um=1

We also enjoyed the Cartier Windows last year...I am not really a jewlery person... but their display was the classic red boxes and they would push out and slowly open up and it was fun to see the incredible jewlery inside ( kinda like you were opening the gift... LOL..the anticipation)

 

[akhenaten]

Oh and have a great time!

get to the tree from the theatre.... then walk away from the tree towards fifth ave... saks is straight ahead. St pats is to the left of saks and the prime burger is on the side street to the left of st pats. I think Cartier was on fifth the next block up....

 

[lukenick1]

I just got back Wednesday and we had an awesome time! Stayed right near Times Square and the weather wasn't too cold. We were there Tuesday/Wednesday. I really loved walking around taking in all the Christmas decor. The streets alone are decorated. We went to Macy's which is a must. The inside of the store is soooo pretty. Make sure to see Santa, he is there til 9pm. Rockefeller Center is amazing! We also took a horse and buggy ride thru central park but it was not decorated at all. Just plain. Don't miss Bryant Park...lots of little shops and beautifully decorated. Closes early on weekdays. The Rockette's show was AWESOME! You will love it. Was the highlite of our trip. There are pizza shops everywhere around Times Square as well as Starbucks if your cold If you have any other questions please let me know...I will answer to the best of my ability. Where are you staying??

 

[JerseyJanice]

Saks Fifth Avenue and its splendid holiday windows are on 5th Avenue and 50th Street.

For an inexpensive and tasty meal, don't shy away from the street vendors in the area. Many of them have been there for decades, and it's not just because their location is in a prime tourist area. Check out their offerings. I love the shish-ka-bob cart myself.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[lukenick1]

by the way.....make sure to hit the World of Disney store there....they are closing on the 31st!

 

[lukenick1]

one more thing......
Im going back next week to see the rest of what I couldnt fit in.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Oh, have a great time! I'm ready to go again.

My DD and I took a bus to NYC Black Friday for "free time". I didn't intend to shop (stores were VERY crowded). But rather just see the city.

The bus dropped us half a block from Radio City, in front of the NBC building (and the entrance to Top of the Rock). The Christmas tree is just around the corner from Radio City.

We went around the skating rink and over to Saks to look at the window displays, working up 5th Ave to the World of Disney store, looking at all the goodies on display in the storefronts.

You could go to St Patrick's Cathedral just up 5th from Saks.

We went in to Tiffany & Co. for the fun of it, on through Central Park and finally the Museum of Natural History. (a good mile and a half in about an hour and a half with stops).

We came back to midtown in the afternoon, just taking it all in. We wanted NY pizza but ended up at a Subway/Papa Johns on 7th Ave.

Next was Macys Herald Square at 5th Ave & 34th St. We spent a lot of time circling the streets in the Times Square area as the sun went down, watching the bright lights and going into Toys R Us for a little while to warm up.

We ended the day by having a sit at the tables outside TRU-in the middle of Times Square! until the bus came .

Bundle up! It is freezing in the northeast this weekend! You can check the forecast at weather.com for zip 10018.

 

[aristocatz]

Thank you all!!!! Where is the World of Disney store? Close to the area we will be?

My DF won't tell me which hotel we are staying at-the whole trip is a surprise that I just found out today. All I know is the hotel is on Park Ave...I'm sure it's not a mega fancy hotel (we don't have much money and he likely couldn't afford more than $400/night for the one night we are staying lol), but there are really no bad sections of Park Ave right??

Any pizza place you recommend in the Rockafeller Center area? We will arrive in NYC by train around 10:30am & the Christmas show starts at 7pm & with the cold weather I"m sure we won't venture too far away....Time Square, our friends want to go to FAO Shwartz wherever that is, Macys, etc...

Thank you for the tip about the burger place & please keep your ideas coming!!

 

[lukenick1]

FAO Schwartz is quite a distance from Macy's. FAO is on 59th Macy's on 34th. You will need to take a cab or subway for sure. If the weather was warm you could prob walk it. Disney store is a few blocks from FAO. All are on 5th avenue.....disney, st pats, fao, saks.

 

[aristocatz]

FAO Schwartz is quite a distance from Macy's. FAO is on 59th Macy's on 34th. You will need to take a cab or subway for sure. If the weather was warm you could prob walk it. Disney store is a few blocks from FAO. All are on 5th avenue.....disney, st pats, fao, saks.

I guess our hotel is right next to Grand Central Station.....so maybe we can check out Macys when we are near the hotel & then take the subway to 5th Avenue?

My DF just revealed that we are staying at "70 Park Avenue" hotel-is that a nice hotel?

 

[akhenaten]

I don't know the hotel... but it looks really nice online...
Please come back after your trip and tell us how it was and all about your trip!

 

[aristocatz]

I don't know the hotel... but it looks really nice online...
Please come back after your trip and tell us how it was and all about your trip!

I will-thanks!

 

[mjkacmom]

We came back to midtown in the afternoon, just taking it all in. We wanted NY pizza but ended up at a Subway/Papa Johns on 7th Ave.
.

You did not! You could've entered any pizzaria/deli and had MUCH better food!

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

You did not! You could've entered any pizzaria/deli and had MUCH better food!

You would think we could find a pizzeria but they seemed scarce on 7th between 75th & 55th. We saw 2 on the other side of the street but decided against it.

 

[Abbie]

Not to hijack (sorry OP) but my DD is giving a day trip to her BF for Christmas. The top things she wants to do are ice skate at Rockefeller Center, visit Times Square, and go up the Empire State Bldg. If I remember correctly, I think the Empire State Bldg will require a cab ride, right?

The other thing she really would like to see is Gimbels (thanks Elf! ) I guess I kind of thought that didn't exist anymore....anyone know?

 

[lukenick1]

Not to hijack (sorry OP) but my DD is giving a day trip to her BF for Christmas. The top things she wants to do are ice skate at Rockefeller Center, visit Times Square, and go up the Empire State Bldg. If I remember correctly, I think the Empire State Bldg will require a cab ride, right?

The other thing she really would like to see is Gimbels (thanks Elf! ) I guess I kind of thought that didn't exist anymore....anyone know?

NO Gimbels is long gone. Or at least we couldnt find it.

 

[lukenick1]

I guess our hotel is right next to Grand Central Station.....so maybe we can check out Macys when we are near the hotel & then take the subway to 5th Avenue?

My DF just revealed that we are staying at "70 Park Avenue" hotel-is that a nice hotel?

Check out pics and review here of your hotel
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...l_a_Kimpton_Hotel-New_York_City_New_York.html

Dont let negative reviews put you off.....you can't please everyone! Focus on the positive!