New York City help

[PrincessDeb]

Hi! I don't post often but I lurk alot-enough to know that you guys can help with my question! DH and I are going to NYC next weekend for an anniversary trip. We've never stayed overnight before (always went in for the day to see a show and left late at night). This time we have Sunday afternoon tickets for Spamalot and are staying overnight afterwards. Our original idea was to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday (and then shop for deli treats to take home) but I just figured out that the Met is not open on Monday! The other thing we talked about doing is the touristy thing of taking one of those bus tours of NYC where we can see more than the Times Square area but all I'm finding online are two day hop on hop off passes and we only need one. Does anyone have any advice on fun things to do in NYC on a Monday that don't involve shopping (necessarily) and are easy to get to since we aren't used to the transportation there? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

I'm at work so I'll be checking back periodically-
Deb

 

[ckay87]

Well, you'll probably get much better advice from others. I'd just like to vote for the American Museum of Natural History. I love love that place.

As for transportation, the city bus system is very simple. (I prefer it to the subway because you can always see where you are)...(much cheaper than a cab too.) You can get a MetroCard in the subway at a kiosk and load it up with dollars or get an all day pass for 7 bucks. There are crosstown busses and busses that go up and down the avenues. Find a bus stop on an avenue, check out the route that's posted (that will tell you how far it goes up or down), and stick to the ones that are an "M" route (for Manhattan.) That's a real basic overview, but trust me it's easy. And the bus drivers are very helpful. Pick up a MetroCard and that city is yours.

 

[PrincessDeb]

Thanks! I appreciate your help!


Deb

 

[DVCLiz]

Deb - cabs are everywhere and easy to get, even for this NC gal who had never been to The Big Apple. By the end of our long weekend last Thanksgiving, even my then 10 year old daughter could hail a cab and pay and tip the driver. Enjoy your weekend - I'm jealous of those Spamalot tickets!!!!

 

[imsorry]

Central Park is a beautiful walk thru. There is a zoo and it's fun to take a ride on the carousel!

 

[Oh Kay!]

Have you been to the newly renovated Museum of Modern Arts yet? It's not too far away from the Times Square area (I presume that's where you are staying the night?).

 

[PrincessDeb]

Yes, we are staying in the Times Square area. That's the only area I'm very familiar with. We did go to South Street Seaport once and went to the Lincoln Center last year on an elementary orchestra field trip. I'm ready to try something new!
I ordered those Spamalot tickets a long time ago....
Thanks for all your suggestiions everyone!

 

[mcnuss]

If it's a beautiful day, go take the Circle Line cruise. They have some great packages and you could walk to the pier from TS.

http://www.circleline42.com/

 

[TxJasmine]

I remember seeing this thread last Friday, and just wanted to say that you will love Spamalot! We saw Spamalot this past Saturday afternoon. Just like you, we had our tickets for a LONG time, and patiently waited. The show is hilarious! We took our kids to the show and they loved it. It did help that they saw the movie the week before the show.

After the show, we waited by the stage door with lots of other people. Several of the performers came out to sign autographs. It was very well organized, and they made sure to sign for everyone who wanted an autograph. They were all very nice and gracious. The last performer to come out was David Hyde Pierce (Tim Curry and Alan Tudyk never did). He signed autographs for everyone and posed for pictures. He made eye contact and talked a little to the fans. He was really nice about the whole thing. I have been a fan of his since Frasier, but I like him even more now since he seems like a genuinely nice guy.

I just mentioned all this because I never suspected it would be so easy to get autographs. If that is something you want to do, then I definitely recommend it.

Whatever you do, have a great trip and enjoy the show!

 

[diskids2]

I second the Museum of Natural History. There is the planetarium, wax museum, wait outside NBC for the Today show, St. Patricks, Radio and TV Museum, Empire State Building to name a few more.

 

[MrsNick]

For an Uptown tour:

I believe that most museums are closed on a Monday, but the Museum of Natural History (Central Park West between W79th - W81st St.) is open.

(EDITED TO ADD) Whoops, almost forgot, BEFORE you hit the museum, go to W80th St. and Broadway to Zabar's (since you mentioned deli treats) - Zabar's is a NYC institution. You can buy all kinds of great foodie items here, and if you need a snack, go to their cafe right next door. Also, across the street from Zabar's is H&H bagels (another NYC institution). Then, hit the museum by walking East on W.80th St., until you hit Columbus Ave. At Columbus, walk up to W. 81st St, and continue East until you get to Central Park West. Walk south on Central Park West until you hit the main entrance of the museum.

Go to the Museum for a couple of hours, then enter Central Park at the W. 81st St. Entrance. Walk south (downtown) on the main loop, and then hang east (or left) at the 72nd St. cross-thru. (You'll see the big fountain and pond to your left). Keep walking to the East side of the park. You will come to the 72nd St. Boathouse (where you can rent boats if you like). But, if you prefer to people watch, get a table at the 72nd St. Boathouse Restaurant. The food is mediocre and expensive, but you can get a table on the water and just people watch. Order a cheese and fruit platter to share, and a glass of wine. It's a nice place to while away time on a nice day (and fall in NYC is the best time, in my opinion).

From there, if you still have time, walk East to the E. 72nd St. exit of the park, cross Fifth Ave. and continue to Madison Ave. Walk uptown or downtown and go window shopping. Barney's is really cool, as are the "flagships" of some of the major designers (like Chanel).


or go Downtown:

grab the S (shuttle) subway from Times Square to Grand Central. At Grand Central, transfer to the 6 train headed downtown and exit at Spring St.
There's a terrific bakery called Ceci-Cela at the corner of Spring and Lafeyette Ave. Grab a croissant and coffee and people watch from the bench outside, or for table service walk all the way to the back (it's long and narrow, but there is table service back there, and a bathroom for what that's worth).

Not sure if the feast of San Gennaro is still going on, but if so, you will be very close to Little Italy. Little Italy is smack next to Chinatown. When you come out of the bakery, go south on Lafeyette Ave. until you get to Grand St. On Grand, go East (left) until you run into Chinatown and Little Italy. This is always fun, to just walk and people watch. From here, you can do one of two things, 1) continue south (downtown) until you hit Canal St, where you can get lots of knockoff items (handbags, watches etc.) or you could 2) proceed North and you will hit the East Village, which has it's own interesting vibe, and lots of boutiques, as well as Polish and Ukrainian restaurants.

Enjoy your day! and let me know if you have questions. I lived in the city for many years.

 

[jamzots]

Go to Little Italy!! We were there this past weekend for the Feast of San Gennaro what a blast!