What are your NEW YORK CITY must do's?

[Frances999]

Hi

We are headed for NYC for 5 nights before going to Florida this August. I am trying to plan ahead and find out what there is to do. I have a few guide books but I'm lost! would sure appreciate some help from any people on the DIS.

Thanks!

 

[rubyslipperlover]

you're going to want ot see the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building.

as for the rest, it depends on your interests and how much time you have.

in august most New Yorkers are looking to get out of the city on weekends. so restaurant reservations, Broadway theater tickets and yes, even baseball tickets, are a bit more available than they otherwise might be. you can always get tickets to something on Broadway, but you might not be able to get the hottest shows. if you have any interest in seeing the major league baseball teams play, get tickets sooner rather than later. NY also has minor league teams.

if you have the time I'd suggest going up to the Bronx and spending a day at the Bronx Zoo. you do need a full day to appreciate the Bronx zoo.

Central Park also has a small zoo. it's near all the museums -- American History, the Met -- so you can combine a trip to the park and the zoo with a visit to a museum.


I love walking around Chinatown and also Times Square.

I owuldn't make a special trip downtown to see Ground Zero -- there's not much to see these days, now that construction of the new buildings has begun. but if you're going to be downtown anyhow, allow yourself some time to walk over to Ground Zero and take a look.

 

[Frances999]

Thanks for your reply! How far is Bronx from, say Times Square?

We were thinking of seeing Beauty & the Beast or The Lion King? Can anybody recommend either of these? Should I make a reservation before I leave or buy tickets upon arrival in NYC?

Thanks!

 

[rubyslipperlover]

the Zoo...well, I drive there from Long Island...I thnk it's about 45 minutes to an hour on the subway from theTimes Square area. anyone who has a better estimate...

you could probably get tickets for either show after you arrive here, but if you really have your heart set on one of those shows it's better to order in advance. if you wait until the last minute and have to get tickets from a ticket broker instead of ticketmaster or the box office you'll pay a premium. on the other hand, if you're flexible about what you want to see, you can get discounted tickets on the day of the show from the TKTS booth in Duffy's Square.

 

[noseybuddy]

Thanks for your reply! How far is Bronx from, say Times Square?

We were thinking of seeing Beauty & the Beast or The Lion King? Can anybody recommend either of these? Should I make a reservation before I leave or buy tickets upon arrival in NYC?

Thanks!

I did see the Lion King and thought if was a very good show. I am sure Beuaty and the Beast is just as good, it has been there a loooooong time. I would get my tickets before my trip, just because I would want to sit in a certain area and it would be one less thing I would have to worry about.

 

[CrazyChristie416]

Defiinately do everything everyone else suggested said, they are all great ideas, but here are a few more...

Check out the NYC World of Disney store. Its where the 5th avenue Disney store was. They have alot of Disney World merchandise and some cool New York stuff too.

Definately see a Broadway show. If you go to the TKTS counter on broadway you can get tickets for less than half price. The only downside is its cash only.

I love the South Street Seaport. If the weather is nice, you can take a ride on the water taxis to area under the Brooklyn Bridge. Over there is Grimaldi's pizza, the pizza is excellent. I always bring my out of town friends there, but get there early because there is always a line to get in because the pizza is so good. Its pies and cash only, as well. After pizza, try out the Brooklyn Ice cream factory, its excellent, probably the best ice cream ive ever had, I love the vanilla chocolate chunk.

Am I making you hungry yet??

For dinner, or a late lunch, head over to mulberry street to whats left of Little Itlaly. If your in a seafood mood, try my favorite spot for fried calamari umberto's. If your in a pasta mood, try Costa Azzura, they have great specials.

For dessert, try Ferrara's for all your sweet tooth and coffee needs.

If you want an Asian Inspired meal try 17 Mott street Wo Hop, great Chineese food, great prices. There is this indonesian place I love on Doyers street you may want to try.

If there is anything else I can help you with, let me know. I was born and raised In NYC, so if you need anything just let me know.

Have a great trip if we dont talk before then.

Crystal

 

[disneyfanatic60]

We had to attend a funeral in Long Island last January and decided to head to NYC to do some quick sightseeing. The very first thing we had to do was to go to Times Square. It was just amazing to stand there and visualize what we had only seen prior to that on TV and in pictures. We were awestruck. It was just amazing. Our second must do, was to find the Disney Store. This was just great. We had a blast there. We did wander over to Central Park hoping to do a carriage ride but it was much too cold.

I someday hope to go back. There are so many things I would truly love to see and do. Have a great time!

 

[bjgrazi]

Flame suit on............

I agree with all that's been said except for if you're going to see a play. Go for something other than Beauty or Lion King, there are so many great plays out there. You've seen the movies and they're done in Disney. TKTS in times square is a great place to get discounted tickets in the summer. Remember cash only.

Oh and on John's Pizza on Bleeker Street and Magnolia Bakery cup cakes. A must do.

 

[Queenie]

The museum on Ellis Island was fascinating. I found the Statue of Liberty strangely disappointing, it's much smaller than it looks on TV. Oh, and if you're a music fan don't miss the John Lennon memorial in Central Park. If I remember right there's an Alice in Wonderland sculpture in the park too. You could have your picture taken by the "Friends Fountain" too, we did it on our school trip, got all 40 of us in the picture too, quite a feat!

 

[swanmom]

Bjgrazi............I'll split the difference with you (and no flame suit needed!)
I agree with you about Beauty and The Beast. It was a good show but there are much, much better theater experiences out there. But I disagree about The Lion King. I felt that the music, sets, costumes made it a unique theater experience.

 

[Pin Wizard]

A Broadway show...or five...or ten!

I still want to get to Tavern on the Green in some lifetime.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I have heard lots of good things about the double decker sightseeing buses that line up in front of the Port Authority (42nd Street and 8th Avenue--near Times Square).

I believe you can buy a ticket that's good all day. You board the bus, taking the sights from the bus windows, and get out wherever you'd like, then get back on the bus later.

If you are Downtown, take a ride on the Staten Island Ferry round trip. This is one of the least expensive and enjoyable ways you can take in a lot of sights. You'll sail close to Governor's Island and the Statute of Liberty. Great views of New York Harbor and lower Manhattan too.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Besides many of the things already mentioned, we like to:
See a show at the Sony Imax theatre in Lincoln Square.
Be in the audience of the Late Night With David Letterman Show (PM me if you want to know how to get in the day of the show).
Walk around Central Park including a ride on the carousel. They also have walking tours.
Visit the Intrepid Museum.
Shop on Canal Street.
NBC Studio tour at Rockerfeller Center.
? Visit Coney Island (Brooklyn - best to have a car but could be done, I believe, on public transportation)
Cheap Eats: Gray's Papaya (hot dogs); Tad's steakhouse (a must-do in my family; have been going there since the 1960's); Ray's pizza.

Warning: NYC is fun but very expensive (which is why we do some things that don't necessarily cost a lot)!! Have a great trip!

 

[lsyorke]

Oh Yeah, Johns Pizza!! We pay the freight and take the ferry over from N.J. just to get pizza!!

 

[MUFFYCAT]

Friday mornings ABC has free concerts in Bryant park (42nd & 6th Ave). It's wide open fields with small tables and chairs on the side.
DON'T go to the Rockefeller Center/ NBC concerts. It's on a small street, with all the equipment set up you can't see anything.

Also with the ABC concert, you can see them practice before the show. NBC practices at about 6:00 a.m. and you won't see the artists until they go on air (which is usually about 8:40).

 

[tiggerlover]

Definitely see a show, and if I had to chose between B&TB or TLK, I would chose The Lion King. I saw both shows and TLK is by far the better of the two. We loved TLK so much we are considering going when it comes to VA in December.

Statue of Liberty and The Intredpid would be good places to go. If you like baseball there is nothing better than a Yankees game at Yankees Stadium. Times Square is a blast at night. Central Park on foot and then by horse drawn carriage is another favorite of mine. A trip to FAO Schwartz is always a lot of fun and I hear the Disney Store and Toys R Us are good places to go too.

If you have the time and want to go to The Bronx Zoo, do go, it is a great zoo.

Whatever you chose to do I am sure you will have a wonderful time. NYC is an interesting place indeed.

 

[dvcfamily41801]

Oh and on John's Pizza on Bleeker Street and Magnolia Bakery cup cakes. A must do.

I was going to say the Magnolia Bakers for the cupcakes as well. They are AMAZING!!!

 

[CrazyChristie416]

? Visit Coney Island (Brooklyn - best to have a car but could be done, I believe, on public transportation)

Coney island is accesible via the D, W, F, and Q trains. Beach isn't the nicest in the world, but the kids will have a blast at Astoland, Dont forget Nathans.

Crystal

 

[aprilgail2]

Phantom of the Opera is my all time favortie broadway show! Beauty and the Beast is nice, my 5 year old loved it but it is no where up to par as far as other Broadway shows go. The Museum of Natural History is a great thing to do too! My daughter and I are goign to spend the day there on April 3rd if she is not sick (shes been sick for over a month now)

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I was going to say the Magnolia Bakers for the cupcakes as well. They are AMAZING!!!

My wife's pregnant and she demands these cupcakes every weekend!!! We stopped by yesterday afternoon and I ate 3... !!! Magnolia Bakery is great, and the line outside moves quick so get in and enjoy! I'd suggest you take a cab though, because the Village is pretty hard to navigate for first timers.
As far as your question, what exactly do you like to do? Eating, drinking, hanging out in the park, boating, zooing, seeing shows, art or natural history museums???? what kind of art??? The question is too vague. There's just too much to see and do. If you want to do the tourist thing, I would definately consider taking the Grey Line bus tour. You can get on and off and they get you around the city fast. You can take the uptown or downtown tour and if we're working when we have guests, we send them on it. Never had an unhappy relative!