Trip report - We loved it!

Just returned from a wonderful trip to NY for my daughter%26#39;s 16th birthday. My best friend came along too, as she had never been. We all had a great time, loved everything about it. Stayed at the Grand Hyatt, great location, and nice, big room on the corner, huge complementary breakfast (a deal with the room). We took the subway everywhere, day and night and never had a problem (until I got a summons (ticket) our last night for letting my daughter through with me when we realized she lost her 7-day ticket as we hurried to the theater).

We saw The Producers, Phantom and Mamma Mia. Loved them all, my friend and I especially loved Mamma Mia. We bought all our tickets on broadwaybox.com beforehand and were really glad since someone told us the TKTS line was 3 hours one day! Our seats for Phantom were quite a ways back on the floor, just had to duck our heads a little to see some of the off-stage action. Not a problem.

We ate at wonderful restaurants, thanks to all the advice here. Had a pre-theater cheese plate and wine at Cafe Une Deux Trois; fabulous dinners and wine at Balthazar and Vice Versa (daughter loved that best!) and Joe Allen. Had a nice brunch at LeMadeleine, though didn%26#39;t get the garden room because of a bridal shower. Still, was very good. Had pizza at John%26#39;s and lunch at Carnegie Deli. We wouldn%26#39;t have changed any of them. Have to mention that all the servers and staff were fantastic. Many made special efforts to recognize my daughter%26#39;s birthday. Tried to go to Serendipity one afternoon but were told the wait was 3 hours there too, so skipped that and got some candy at Dylan%26#39;s Candy Bar on the corner.

Spent lots of time shopping, Century 21 - daughter got some Versace pants, $250 for $19.99! Macy%26#39;s, Bloomingdales, Loehmann%26#39;s, Canal street, Sephora, H%26amp;M, Tiffany%26#39;s etc. Walked all over Times Square and checked out NYU for my daughter who is an actor, and took her picture with Eloise at The Plaza!

Went to WTC site and St. Paul%26#39;s. Very glad we saw the tributes in there. Walked to Battery Park to see the SOL, didn%26#39;t do the tour. Had a problem with the Empire State Building. We bought tickets on line and had planned to go after the theater. We got down there a little after 11 (all the info we saw said it closed at 12) but were not allowed to go in. They had a small crowd in the lobby and said they weren%26#39;t letting any more people in as the last elevator went up at 11:15. We showed them our tickets and since we three, and only two others were outside, asked to be let in. They wouldn%26#39;t budge. Disappointed, we planned to go back during our last day, however, found out the observation deck was closed that day because of limited visibility. So we missed it all together. Oh well, our tickets don%26#39;t expire, so it just gives us a reason to go back!

We walked from the West side of Central Park, through The Gates, to the Metropolitan Museum on Sunday, which must have been the most crowded it%26#39;s ever been! But, had a nice time and I did get to the roof garden to see the park view from there. Not a great view, I think the castle in the park was better.

We took cabs to and from the airport, noon time coming into town, 5 pm leaving. Both were just about $25. plus the $4 toll. A great deal!

Thanks to all of you for your great suggestions, recommendations, etc. My daughter said, ';I was meant to live here!'; So, I assume we will be back many times!

Trip report - We loved it!

What a great report. Hope the subway incident turned out all right. Gotta hold tight to those MetroCards!

You hit all my favorites, so I%26#39;m assuming you%26#39;ll be eating nothing but salads for a while to lose some of the weight you must%26#39;ve gained from all the good food here.

Tell your daughter to try for July on her next trip... so many free concerts and events, and free Shakespeare in the Park.

Trip report - We loved it!

The ';money shot'; from the Cantor Rooftop Garden is at dusk--and it%26#39;s not really of the park but of the lights of the skyline.

Times square brewery for new year ????

What do you think.....

Does it have a view of the ball drop?

Help please

Times square brewery for new year ????

You%26#39;re referring to the one by the 42nd St. subway stop?

If so, then no. If it had a view of the ball, it would be booked for the next decade. You can see the crowds and tomfoolery from upstairs, though, which may be more fun.

Most folks who%26#39;ve ';been there/done that';, even in Pre-9/1/2001 days, would tell you that it takes a certain amount of willpower and stamina to physically be in Times Square on New Year%26#39;s Eve.

Welcome, and let me be among the first to wish you a Happy New Year!

clay aiken

Anybody like him? I am hoping to see a sighting in new york, as he is working on his next cd.

clay aiken

who

shared bathroom?

I found a really cool hotel that%26#39;s really cheap. It seems clean and it%26#39;s in a good part of town, but it%26#39;s got a shared bathroom. Is this a bad idea? We%26#39;re not going to be spending a whole lot of time in there, I know, but I keep imagining my freshmen year at college in the dorms.

What do y%26#39;all think? The difference in price between this and the other hotel with a private bath I was going to book is about $45 a night, so I think it might be worth it. (My trip isn%26#39;t far away so I%26#39;m running out of options too.)

shared bathroom?

Which hotel is it? Have you read the reviews posted on this page? I suppose it depends on how the bathroom is set up. If it were me, my main concern would be security in that situation.

shared bathroom?

It%26#39;s the Carlton Arms. It seems that two or three rooms share a shower and toilet. It looks clean in the pictures, and there are locks on the doors, and it seems like only one person is in there at a time (so I wouldn%26#39;t be showering next to a strange man or anything). Plus I%26#39;m traveling with my boyfriend, so I%26#39;m not worried about being alone. This makes my main concern time management, because I don%26#39;t want to be waiting around for a shower in the morning. There%26#39;s a sink in the room so we%26#39;ll be able to brush our teeth, etc., no problem.

It%26#39;s gotten mixed reviews on this site. (I can%26#39;t believe one of the reviewers opted to stay in a shared bathroom room on her honeymoon!!!)

What about the Seton Hotel, anyone know anything about that?

How amny rooms are sharing the one bathroom. Just remember you may never be able to get the bathroom when you want it. Also is it an option to take the room without the bathroom with the option to upgrade on the 2nd night if it doesnt work out for you.

just the thought of sharing a bathroom freaks me out :)

The rooms with a private bath are all taken. They give the option of looking at all the available shared bathroom rooms and choosing which you want. I think two or three rooms share a bathroom, so that%26#39;d be anywhere from two to six other people besides me and my boyfriend.

Have you thought of bidding for a room on one of the discount webpages? You may be able to get a room with a private bathroom in your price range. Personally, I can%26#39;t imagine sharing a bathroom with total strangers. Yes, I lived in a dorm in college and shared a bathroom with 39 other people but if I%26#39;d had my way, I would have had my own private one. That said, I would think in the hotel situation, you need to look at the set up--is it an individual bathroom where you can lock the door to keep others out while you%26#39;re in there---or is it a big communal one like in a dorm? If so, security would be a big issue, in my opinion.

Keep imgaining those freshman years in the dorms. How long are you planning to stay? That might make a difference in your tolerance level of a shared bath and toilet.

Share bathroom? Not for me. Never, ever. IF you have no other option, I would investigate other hotels before booking. I dont know this hotel and have never heard of it.

There is Habitat on 57th and Lex and I think single rooms with a shared bath start at 75 dollars, but there is a $2 charge plus an additional 13-14 % on top. A $45 rate may seem good, but dont forget all the taxes.

Have you tried PRICELINE or similar sites.

Do i need to dress up for Norma's ?

Hi it%26#39;s me from the breakfast question, Norma%26#39;s sounds great but i just wondered if we needed to dress up for it as i am a bit of a jeans and sneakers kinda gal and we%26#39;re travelling light.

Do i need to dress up for Norma's ?

Casual is fine.

blemishes

Holiday inn martinque

We are coming to NY and this is the hotel we were able to get for a reasonable price. Hopefully this was a good choice. any opinions on this hotel?

Holiday inn martinque

This hotel gets surprisingly good reviews right here

tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60763-d99425-R鈥?/a>

I don%26#39;t love the location for attractiveness and dining options, but it will be convenient for sightseeing. Enjoy.

Holiday inn martinque

Myself and 3 girlfriends stayed here a couple of years ago and we found it really convenient for sightseeing, you%26#39;ve got a subway across the street from the hotel, Macys is very close as is Times Square. They desk staff were a little slow in checking us into our rooms, however we did manage to get an upgrade to a penthouse suite which was fantastic! The hotel doesn%26#39;t have a particularly large bar area but you%26#39;re pretty close to most things so I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ll find somewhere nearby if that doesn%26#39;t suit. Hope you enjoy your stay!

How can I search the forums?

Hi,

I may be missing something real simple here, but I cannot find any way to search the forums - is this possible?

Thx

How can I search the forums?

I can%26#39;t find a way to search them either.... I%26#39;ll bump this back to the beginning, maybe someone can answer for us....

The Gates

WE are planning to come to the city tomorrow to visit The Gates. Any suggestions or thoughts? Any way to avoid the crowds? Good places to eat around Central Park?

The Gates

Being this is the last weekend. it will be very crowded. I suggest getting there as early as possible to avoid some of the overcrowding. It is drawing record crowds, that just is the way it is.

I like both Isabella%26#39;s, on 77th %26amp; Columbus, and Pappardella on 75th %26amp; Columbus. Enter the park on 80th Street or so, and maybe even visit the American Museum of Natural History, a great place. Beautiful neighborhood to walk around in, too.

Phantom of the Opera Tickets

Am leaving for NY on Thurs. and would really like to see the Phantom of the Opera. Is it sold out? I know it%26#39;s short notice but I did find tickets on telecharge.com for the ctr/lt rear mezz. Is this a reputable place to buy tickets and if so does anyone know if seats in that location would be any good? I%26#39;m feeling really desperate about getting tickets for anything at this point and would appreciate any advice. It looks like I can get tickets from ticketmaster for Beauty and the Beast.

We%26#39;ll be in NY Feb. 18th -23rd.

Thanks!!!

Phantom of the Opera Tickets

Don%26#39;t sweat it.

With the exception of ';Wicked'; and ';The Lion King'; you should be able to get good seats (NOT REAR MEZ!) for at least five or six enjoyable shows.

Just get me some dates and I%26#39;ll talk you through it.

Phantom of the Opera Tickets

Broadwaybox.com is still offering 50% discounts.

I%26#39;ve seen the Phantom of the Opera and Beauty and the Beast and both are fantastic, however, if you can get tickets for Phantom I%26#39;d recommend that more. I got our tickets on Broadway.com for half price and our seats were fantastic.

Tickets are available at a discount on broadwaybox.com.

I%26#39;m looking to get tickets for this show for next week but the only tickets available are in Row T/U at the very outside edge (Seats 25-27). The website says that viewing is restricted for up to five minutes of the show at these seats. Does anyone know is the view from here obstructed or should I try and go to another performance.

Thx

Rory, try another performance, those seats are terrible!

It%26#39;s too late I%26#39;m afraid.

Anyone looking for two crap tickets to Phantom of the Opera for next Thursday? :(

Sorry Rory, I%26#39;m sorry I responded! You know what? I%26#39;m sure they%26#39;re full view seats. So what if they%26#39;re not the best -- better to be inside the theater than outside. You%26#39;ll have a wonderful time. Just don%26#39;t sing along and annoy the poor people around you!

We went to see Phantom on Thursday 10th, we had good seats front mezz don%26#39;t know about your seats but there were quite a few empty seats when we were there, so you may be able to move, I am sure some people did after the interval. It%26#39;s a wonderful show by the way you will love it, and you don%26#39;t need great seats to enjoy the wonderful music!

Thanks to Carpenter and all for your advice. We ended up leaving for our trip before I could put any of your help/advice to use. We ended up getting Phantom tickets at the box office for only $30 each. My son (19years) and his girlfriend got us 6 tickets all for the student price the day of the performance. They weren%26#39;t prime seats mind you - we weren%26#39;t all side by side but rather one behind the other right against the wall on the far left side, top level. Our view was never obstructed at any time, though, and I was just thrilled to be there as we%26#39;d had no luck through TKTS. We did get tickets for Beauty and the Beast, Little Women, and Democracy, all at 50% off through TKTS. We used advice from this site and used the Seaport location one day. We also saw Perfect Crime for $25, getting tickets at their box office. Again asked if there were any student rates and they gave us the tickets for that price. Great seats, second row right in the middle. WE had a great time - were only there 6 nights. Definetely didn%26#39;t even scratch the surface of all there is to do!

are there discounts for longer stays?

Hi there

just looking at the prices for accommodation for an upcoming trip i am hoping to take in september.

Does the usa have discounts for 7 night stays? some places you stay 7 nights and the 7 night is free.

Is this heard of in the USA?

what is the norm that most people would stay in a place 5 days or 7 days?

any help you can give me would be much appreciated.

I am looking at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Tribeca. THe website has a room with private bathroom for

$129.00 plus tax = $148.58 per room, per night.

Do you think this would be the final cost? or are there other taxes ontop?

Iam in the process of emailing them.

are there discounts for longer stays?

My parents got a ';purchase 2 nights get one free'; deal at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square this past summer. Sometimes the larger chain hotels have that sort of deal. Try some of the major American chains such as Marriott, Ramada, Hilton, Holiday Inn, and the Choice hotel group. My best guess would be just to contact several of the hotels and see what they have to offer you.

are there discounts for longer stays?

Here are some other ideas-

1) Housing swap- I personally have never done this, nor do I know anyone who has, but it sounds cool! Check out www.craigslist.org. Click on ';New York City';, then underneath ';housing'; click on ';housing swap';. I know that would love a week in New Zealand! Maybe a New Yorker would want to switch places with you for a week.

2)Extended stay hotels- I know that someone else has recommended an extended stay hotel in this forum. Search the posts. They may be able to give you a discount for a longer stay. (I%26#39;m not sure if a week qualifies or not, but possibly.)

3) Time shares- Maybe I will have time to look into this a little more for you later. I know I read another post about someone having a time share week in NYC. Maybe someone else could fill you in on how to purchase a week. Those are usually offered one week at a time, and it is usually much cheaper that way.

Good luck!

Worst hotel in New York??

Whenever I feel in the need for a good laugh, I check out the latest reviews on the Carter Hotel! Is this ';officially'; the worst hotel in New York, or are there others to rival it? Just curious!

Worst hotel in New York??

According to the Trip Advisor New York City Hotel rankings, there are actually 7 hotels ranked below the Carter, including the Manhattan Broadway. So if nayone%26#39;s stayed at the Manhattan Broadway, they can stay at the Carter and actually be moving up to a better hotel.

Worst hotel in New York??

The other two that regularly get tagged as ';worst'; are the Pennsylvania and New Yorker.

For many years a friend of mine stayed at the Edison, and always had good things to say. Over the last couple of years, though, I%26#39;ve seen some pretty poor reviews, and lately reports of mice.

I think the Carter may win top honors, just on the anecdotes alone. If I%26#39;m ever in the neighborhood I have to stop in, just to see the lobby.

It beats the Milford Plaza and the Penn, because by luck you actually can get a habitable room in either of those places.

Welcome back Voyagereuse you havn%26#39;t forgotten us. How is the new job going. Do you know what has happened to Nywhiz we all miss her very knowledgeable inputs.

Hi Waterford, I%26#39;m working from home today because of the snow. Newspaper work very busy, long nights when getting the paper pumped out, but I like it a lot. When I get a free minute now and again, I will pop in to say hi.

I hope your trip plans are going well Waterford. I think you will be the most organized NYC traveler when you next arrive.

Voy, I am always planning my next holiday I think my hubby thinks there are better than me locked up but, it is what I enjoy doing and there is no where I love going more than your wonderful country.

As badas this place seems to be, CitySearch.com rates it the 5th best hotel value hotel. It is rated an 8.1 out of 10.0. Go figure. I guess this is another sight I will visit when I am at the Big Apple.

The LaFountaine has got to be the worst.

Every time you walk past it, it seems like ther%26#39;e a new chalk outline of a body on the sidewalk in front of it and that yellow

';Crime Scene Do Not Cross'; tape by the Bellhop stand--who is usually a differant guy every week.

Now that I think of it, maybe it%26#39;s just a set for ';Law and Order';.

Carpenter, the search function shows zero results for it. Now I%26#39;m curious!

Sorry, Bettina, I was just having some fun with this thread. There are some really, really bad hotels that aren%26#39;t even mentioned on the internet because they were closed or torn down 20 years ago.

These places made the Carter look like the Four Seasons.

blemishes

Getting Married in NYV in Oct 2005

Hi there

Could anyone recommend some really nice hotels to stay in when we travel over to New York to get married, we are getting married in a church just off times square and broadway so anywhere around this area would be great. Willing to spend up to 400 a night. Also if anyone could recommend a nice restaurant for approx 25 people.

Thanks in advance.

Getting Married in NYV in Oct 2005

I think you%26#39;d do very well at the Hotel Casablanca which is a ';five-diamond'; boutique hotel just off of Broadway in the heart of Times Square.

http://www.casablancahotel.com

You%26#39;d probably be able to land one of their best rooms for under $400 per and that would include all taxes.

Now, if you want the creme de la creme of restaurants for a small group (25) you might contact the 21 Club and make inquiries about their upstairs room which seats 32. The three course dinner menu is $68 excluding taxes, gratuities and drinks.

www.21club.com/web/onyc/onyc_c2c_upstairs.jsp

I cannot think of a more luxurious place to have dinner and I would make inquiries about such a possibility as soon as possible. The 21 Club is far and away the most celebrated restaurant in New York, so prestigious that newcomers don%26#39;t even think about a table in the regular dining room until they have become known there.

You would think it%26#39;s a stuffy place but the miracle is, it is not.

Check it out.

Getting Married in NYV in Oct 2005

Both of Carpenter%26#39;s suggestions are good. Some other options/thoughts...the Sofitel is a lovely hotel also in the area. But you don%26#39;t really need to stay in that area just b/c the church is there do you? A hotel on Central Park South with a view of the park would be very romantic. The Westin Essex House or the Ritz Carlton would fit the bill. And both of those hotels have very nice restaurants.

For more rest. info, we need a budget for that, time of food and type of ambiance. Do you want something fun/lively, something more serious? Do you want a private dining room or do you want to sit in a big rest. etc.

Thanks to both you guys for your suggestions.

Nywhiz to answer your questions I would be looking for a restaurant thats fairly laid back and chilled out and the price range would be in the $100-$150 range plus wine and drinks.

Thanks again

Songe

$100-150 for 25 people? Per person? Do you expect people to dress up or be casual? I%26#39;m confused about what you%26#39;re looking for. When you say laid back do you want casual? What kind of food?

I would be looking for American style food with a twist!

When I said a casual, laid back restaurant I didn%26#39;t mean that we would be going in jeans and sneakers just somewhere that isn%26#39;t too fussy and OTT but at the same time has excellent food and a good standard of service. I assume my guests will be dressed in proper wedding day attire. As its our wedding day I am willing to spend that bit extra as they will have all made the effort to come over.

Thanks again

Nywhiz

I would be looking for American style cuisine with a twist!

When I mentioned a casual laid back restaurant I didn%26#39;t mean that we would be arriving in jeans and sneakers. I would like to go somewhere that has excellent food and a nice atmosphere but at the same time not too fussy and OTT. I presume that my guests will be dressed in wedding day attire.I am willing to pay that bit extra as it is our wedding day.

Thanks again

Fake i.d.

Hey! What would happen if i tried to use a fake i.d. to get into a club/bar and got busted?

Fake i.d.

New York State has a law on the books colloquially refered to as the ';ABC'; law which is actually Sec. 65B of the Alcohol Control Law.

Briefly, if you%26#39;re under 21 and present a false or fraudulent document, or a document which is not your own, you can be arrested.

If the document is used to purchase alcohol, you can be fined up to $1,000 and imprisoned for up to six months.

My guess would be a first-time offender might be let off with 30 hours (or less) of community service but you%26#39;d probably have to name names. How did you get the I.D.? Where? Those sort of questions. Someone I knew was busted for possessing a fraudulent I.D. and the police put the fear of God into her to find out how she procured the fake I.D.

It can be a very nasty business, getting arrested.

I really don%26#39;t see the upside to risk this kind of penalty and trauma just to get into a club.

The potential downside is so steep I think I would find some other way to enjoy my time in the city.

Fake i.d.

Don%26#39;t do it. It%26#39;s not worth the consequences.

Here%26#39;s how it happened to my friend:

She was having coffee at a Starbuck%26#39;s and a larcenous team of servers lifted her wallet from her pocketbook while one of the two distracted her.

They went on a shopping binge and the plocie nailed the them with the wallet.

Guess what they found inside the wallet? A fraudulent document the girl used for clubbing.

They called her with both good and bad news. The thieves were caught but she was going to be arrested and charged with a Class B misdemeanor.

As we all know, both felonies and misdemeanors are crimes and they NEVER come off your record.

Never.

Fortunately, she was smart enough to have her families attorney escort her to the precinct and they cut a deal.

It is truly a shame that youth has to be wasted on the young.

9 times out of 10 they%26#39;ll either deny you admission or simply take it away. I take no responsibility but had a fake for 3 years from a shady place on the street and had no problem.

Some places are stricter than others. The nicer establishments tend to care more.

isn%26#39;t it about time the US lifted the archaic law of banning alcohol sales to Under 21%26#39;s? Surely all it does is promote the use of Fake IDs and kids getting a thrill off drinking under age. You can go to war for your country at 18 but can%26#39;t have a single beer till you are 21 - crazy logic.

For once, I can say that the UK is ahead of the US in allowing people to drink (hopefully, responsibly) at 18.

It really is a different culture in the US - I have never once been asked to provide ID to buy a drink since I was 18, and was probably asked twice between the ages of 16-18. I have been asked more times to produce ID to buy a lottery ticket - seriously!

Plus those penalties above seem really harsh for using a Fake ID, really really harsh.

You find it crazy logic that you can go to war at 18 but can%26#39;t buy a drink? Try this on for size.

In California and perhaps a few other states a 14-year-old girl can get pulled out of school to get an abortion and neither the school nor the abortion clinic is allowed to notify her parents it even happened. Of course, if she is caught buying a drink using fake ID after the abortion--she can be arrested and the police are required--by law--to notify her parents and they cannot question her unless at least one parent is present.

thats just crazy.

i have heard that you can%26#39;t buy a drink till you are 23 in some states - is this true?? thats just mental if it is.

Haven%26#39;t heard that, but I do remember that during the soccer hooliganism era of the 90%26#39;s some pubs in England attempted to keep out anyone under 30.

By the way, if you travel to any of the western states in the U.S., keep in mind that in many of them it%26#39;s illegal to tether your horse to a parking meter...even if you put the quarter in.

Stu...now you got me started, so here goes:

In Alaska it%26#39;s illegal to feed alcoholic beverages to a moose.

In Alabama putting salt on a railroad track is punishable by death.

In Arkansas you can legally beat your wife but no more than once a month and it%26#39;s actually against the law to mispronounce the name of the state.

In Pasadena, California, it%26#39;s illegal for a secretary to be alone in a room with her boss. It is also illegal to set a mousetrap without a hunting license.

In San Francisco it%26#39;s illegal to wipe off your car with used underwear. And in Los Angeles, eating oranges in the bathtub is against the law.

In Hartford, Connecticut it%26#39;s illegal for a man to kiss his wife on Sunday. It%26#39;s also illegal there to educate a dog.

In Florida, unmarried women who parachute on Sundays may be jailed. It%26#39;s also illegal to jog with your eyes closed.

In Georgia, you can%26#39;t change the clothing on a storefront mannequin unless the store window shades are down.

In Hawaii, it%26#39;s illegal to own a mongoose without a permit.

In Idaho, boxes of candy given as romantic gifts must weighh at least 50 pounds.

In Chicago, Illinois it%26#39;s illegal to fish in pajamas or to take a French poodle to the opera.

In Gary, Indiana, it%26#39;s illegal to attend a theater within four hours after eating garlic.

In Kentucky, carrying an ice cream cone in your back pocket is illegal, as is remarrying the same person four times or more.

In New Orleans, fire trucks must stop at red lights even when going to a fire. It is also against the law to gargle in public.

In Maryland, it%26#39;s illegal to play the Randy Newman song ';Short People'; on the radio. Mistreating oysters is also against the law.

In Massachusetts you can%26#39;t wear a goatee without a license, while in Michigan a man legally owns his wife%26#39;s hair.

Minnesota can jail a woman for 30 days for impersonating Santa Claus. It is also illegal to tease skunks.

In St. Louis, Missouri, fireman cannot rescue a woman wearing a nightgown. She must be fully dressed to be rescued.

Montana makes it a felony for a woman to open her husband%26#39;s mail and a misdemeanor to show movies depicting crime.

In New Hampshire, you can%26#39;t dye margerine pink, check into a hotel under an assumed name or sell your clothes to pay off a gambling debt.

In Newark, New Jersey you can%26#39;t sell ice cream after 6 pm unless the customer has a note from their doctor. It%26#39;s also illegal to slurp soup.

In Asheville, North Carolina, it%26#39;s against the law to sneeze on the street.

In North Dakota, serving beer and pretzels at the same bar is against the law.

You can%26#39;t sell cornflakes in Columbus, Ohio on Sunday. And in Youngstown, Ohio, it%26#39;s actually illegal to run out of gas.

In Oklahoma, you can be jailed for making faces at a dog.

In Pennsylvania, ministers are prohibited from performing marriages if either the bride or groom is drunk.

In Newport, Rhode island, you can%26#39;t smoke a pipe after sundown.

In Charleston, South Carolina, all carriage horses must wear diapers.

South Dakota makes it illegal to sleep in a cheese factory.

In Dyersburg, Tennessee, it%26#39;s illegal for a woman to call a man for a date.

And my personal favorite, a recently-passed anti-crime law in Texas requires criminals to give their victims 24 hours notice, either orally or in writing, and explain the the nature of the crime about to be committed against them.

Every one of these is true. And you thought you had problems not being able to get a drink until age 21?

Blooming heck...I%26#39;m glad our council aren%26#39;t following San Fran%26#39;s idea. My car washing regime would have to change.....

Chinatown Choices

I have it narrowed down to 2 choices for lunch in Chinatown, Ten Pell and Wo Hop.

Anyone been there ? Comments please.

And in order not to confuse me anymore, please do not suggest any other places, lol.

Tx

Chinatown Choices

I%26#39;ve never been to Wo Hop, but I can highly recommend Ten Pell. Probably the best and freshest tasting Chinese food I%26#39;ve ever had.

Chinatown Choices

Don%26#39;t know Wo Hop. But 10 Pell is my #1 favorite restaurant in Chinatown. Can%26#39;t go wrong there.

Next question would be, how do i get to Pell Street from Herald Square ?

I know where the place is but am looking for the easiest/fastest way to get there, excluding taxi.

It does not seem to be near any subway stop.

Take almost any train to Canal Street (the 4, 5 and 6 are closest). Walk east until you get to Mott. Turn right on Mott going into Chinatown and away from Little Italy. Go about two blocks until Mott intersects with Pell. Turn left and go to #10.

Don%26#39;t know if you have been looking at Menu Pages.com but we used them and settled on 10 Pell or the one across the road from it I think Joe Shanhai??

We went on a Sunday night, don%26#39;t know if this was a bad time but, as 10 Pell had great reviews we went there......it was nearly empty apart from maybe 3 or 4 tables, after we got in we realised 3 of the tables were taken by the staff, so only 1 other table was actually dining.

The rice came in a little bowl, which looked as if it had been sitting all day as it was pretty much stuck in the bowl. My Mum had something with prawns, and she got loads of massive prawns, she couldn%26#39;t believe the size or how many she got, her dish was fine. I think I had something like shredded Peking Pork which wasn%26#39;t really shredded and just a mass of pork with a pile of sping onions on the top, very disappointing. As for the armosphere...there was none.

Obviously I don%26#39;t know what the food was like at Joes across the street but it was very full and the atmosphere looked as it should for a busy Chinese restaurant.

Century 21- just curious

I keep reading about Century 21, i%26#39;d love to know where/what it is ( does this question rank with what is a bagel ? Probably.Sorry. )(If you%26#39;ve read any of my other posts you may have noticed i apologize a lot. Sorry! )

Century 21- just curious

Century 21 is several things. it is one of the largest real estate agents in the U.S., but I doubt that%26#39;s what you have in mind.

It is also a department store:

http://c21stores.com

Century 21- just curious

Deb dont apologise for asking questions this forum is so good because everyone asks questions!

Can%26#39;t tell you alot about Century21 it%26#39;s a hugh discount store near the WTC site spent about 45 minutes in it over Thanksgiving but it was so busy we had to leave.

Century 21 is a discount dept store, extremely messy, I don%26#39;t know how anyone finds anything as the racks of clothes are a shambles. Unless you have heaps of time to waste, dont bother. I find macys much better and you get the visitor discount card! Hope this helps

The trick is to go when they first open up, so it is not so crazy. I like their housewares %26amp; linen departments...have gotten great bargains. I never seem to be able to find clothes, though, too much rummaging around for my taste. I especially hate this store when it is crowded and avoid it at all costs.

Some people rave, however, because they find great designer stuff at deeply discounted prices. I guess it%26#39;s the luck of the draw.

NYC Girl, ANy idea what time they open. That sounds like the way to go as I am looking for homewares, especially bedlinen

Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri - 7:45 AM to 8:00 PM

Thursday - 7:45 - 8:30 PM

Saturday - 10M - 8:00 PM

Sunday - 11Am - 7:00 PM

Happy shoppping!

Also try Macys %26amp; Bloomingdales, and don%26#39;t forget to apply for an additional 11% discount at the customer service desk by showing your passport.

Lord %26amp; Taylor is also a nice store, don%26#39;t think they offer the discount though.

I cannot imagine shopping at 7.45am....what a treat. Just out of curiosity, any idea how long by subway it would take to get there from 42nd %26amp; 3rd (staying at the NY Helmsley. Want to be there as the doors open. Pathetic isn%26#39;t it???

About 20 minutes or so.

Deb, I dont think you will to be there quite that early, shopping in NY was just crazy Thanksgiving Weekend but I dont think it will be that busy this time of year. I was there twice that weekend. Saturday lunch time was crazy but then again all the shops were crazy. I went there again about 11am on Sunday morning and it was a lot more civilised and there are tonnes of bargains to be had. I think the best bargains are to be had in Sunglasses and handbags. But my best buy that day was a shirt I got for my husband down from $220 to $50. At times it lookds a bit like a jumble sale but then again I found some of the shops in NY were a bit like that especially Daffys and Filenes Basement. Enjoy your shopping I am home 3 months and still amazed at the bargains I got. I kills me to buy clothes here all the nice gear is about 5 times the price they were in NY.

The Avalon

Have booked a suite at the Avalon. Has anyone any good or bad things to say about the hotel? Also, what about the location - is it a nice area %26amp; can you advise where the nearest subway, drugstore etc is please?

This site is so wonderful, I%26#39;ve picked up some very useful info from you guys. Thank you!

The Avalon

I%26#39;ve never heard of it, but it certainly looks nice and gets good reviews on this site.

Nearest subway is the #6 local that you get at 33rd St. and Park Avenue. Pay attention to the signs, as the entrance closest to you is for Downtown only; uptown trains are on the other side of Park Avenue. From that station (33rd St.), it%26#39;s one stop up to Grand Central (42nd St.), where you can make connections to the 4/5 express trains, the #7 (if it%26#39;s running!) and the Shuttle, that goes directly to Times Square. From the downtown side, it%26#39;s 3 stops to Union Square (14th St.) where you can connect with the 4/5 express trains, plus the L and the N/R/W. (The N/R/W is the closest thing our system as to your Circle Line, as these lines will connect with both eastside and westside lines.)

You%26#39;re right near the famous bistro Artisanal, known for their incredible cheese selection, and great fondues! 2 Park Ave., bet. Madison-Park), 1-212-725-8585.

There%26#39;s a nice, old-fashioned neighborhood Italian called Villa Berulia, on 34th St. bet. Park %26amp; Lexington, 1-212-689-1970.

I have a favorite neighborhood restaurant not far from you. Giorgio%26#39;s of Gramercy is on E. 21st St., and is a lot-key place with very good American cuisine. www.giorgiosofgramercy.com.

Have a great time!

The Avalon

We stated at the Avalon last Christmas. Very large, georgous marble oversized tub. Very attractive room with double beds and seperate seating area. 12 dollar cashews from the minibar! Yummy though. Tiny lobby with a little reading room. Typical 35 dollar 24 hour no retrieval vallet and they will charge you if you are a minute over. Skip the restaurant attached to the hotel, very crowed and nothing wow about it. Nice location, especially handy for Macy%26#39;s.

I think you%26#39;ll like the hotel. The area is not the most exciting but it%26#39;s certainly convenient. You%26#39;re just a few blocks from the Empire State building. Trio is another good rest. (33 st b/w 3rd %26amp; Lexington). The largest chain of drugstores in Manhattan is Duane Reade and there%26#39;s sure to be one nearby. 34 st is a big wide 2 way ave. with a crosstown bus that you may find convenient.

By going to menupages.com and looking at the east 30s listings you can see restaurants in the area. There are also a lot of trendy restaurants in the 20s on and just off Park Ave. South.

If you%26#39;ve got any pets at home, Doggie Do and Pussy Cats too is a fun shop nearby on 3rd ave. %26amp; ~ 36-37 st.

Stayed there over Thanksgiving and it really is ideal. Its in a part of town known as ';Koreatown'; so there is an abundance of Korean food if you are so inclined. The rooms are very nice and spacious for the money. The only complaint I had was the lack of water pressure in the shower. Maybe they%26#39;ve taken care of that by now. There is a little grocery store right on the corner of 32nd and 5th which came in handy. Have a great time!

Thanks so much for all the info%26#39;. It%26#39;s really great to get tips from people %26#39;in the know%26#39;, especially Bettina who seems to be the font of all knowledge! I live in London so if I can be of any assistance to any of you guys thinking of visiting the UK, just ask.

mama/daughter trip

just have to say how much i love this site and forum and how helpful it is reading all the posts. I will be in New York in mid April and I am taking my 9 year old daughter. I went last year with a group (when the Queen Mary 2 was there), but I didnt really see a lot - just mainly walked around. This time I am taking my 9 year old daughter, and I would like to do as much as I can on Saturday and Sunday with her. I am considering getting up early to stand outside the Today show on Saturday morning like I did last time, but I%26#39;m thinking this might be too early of a start for my daughter - I really want to do some fun things with her in the city and eat at some really neat places. Any suggestions?

mama/daughter trip

Take her to Central Park. A carriage ride and a mosey through the zoo. Maybe Madame Tussauds. The Today show is great but not as interesting as a tour of Radio City or the NBC Studio. If you are there in warm weather a water taxi is a treat. Zoom around the harbor, get off and on as you like. Maybe a play. Wicked is wonderful, Good Vibrations is lots of fun if you like Beach Boys music. For food, it all depends on what your daughter likes. New York City has everything.

mama/daughter trip

Go to the official Central Park web site:

http://www.centralparknyc.org

and click on the link ';Just for Kids.'; Lots of great ideas there.

I%26#39;m sure she%26#39;d love visiting the American Girl store on 5th Ave. %26amp; 49th St. And the big Toys R Us in Times Square, with its indoor ferris wheel. The new FAO Schwarz isn%26#39;t getting rave reviews, but is probably worth a look.

Lots of kid-friendly restaurants. Try Peanut Butter %26amp; Co. (www.ilovepeanutbutter.com), they serve every pb combo you can imagine!

Serendipity is also enormously popular with kids.

(www.serendipity3.com)

Serendipity is right near Dylan%26#39;s Candy Shop, on the corner of 3rd Ave. %26amp; 60th St.

You%26#39;ll also find a big choice for kids at EJ%26#39;s Luncheonette (locations on the east side %26amp; west side), and at Sarabeth%26#39;s (also several locations), which is famous for their brunch.

thanks for all the great info! one other thing - can anyone tell me much about the murray hill suites - how close to everything, etc.

We just got back from NYCity two days ago...I took my 7 year old daughter to American Girl Doll Cafe for lunch....it was truly a mother/daughter moment....she loved it! They totally cater to the girls (and ofcourse their American Girl Dolls that actually have their own little seat at the table)....For an hour it%26#39;s all about them...definitly go there if your daughter is ';girly'; in any way. Also, that%26#39;s pretty much right across the street from where they shoot the Today Show so we watched that for a bit, went to Build-A-Bear and then over to American Girl Cafe for an 11:00 lunch.

Another great thing is, ofcourse, Broadway. We saw Beauty and the Beast and it was yet another great experience. If you lookon the internet you can find the coupon code to get tickets at 50% off...we sat front row center for only $55/ticket!! (go to ticketmaster.com and type in ';save7'; in the coupon code and you%26#39;ll get them for that price even now..I just checked adn the same seats for $100 came up as only $55 with the code entered!!)

Also, we went to Mars 2112 for dinner one evening...really cool, you get on a ';space ship'; going to mars, take a cool ride, and when the doors open up , your on the Red Planet, aliens and all...

Have fun!!

Hi there! I am going for the second time this summer. One thing I highly recommend if you are staying for 2 or 3 days is to purchase the New York Pass. I went 2 years ago and used it. It was great. Basically, for around $70 you get a Metro Card for all the public transportation so you don%26#39;t have to worry about paying each time or getting so much. It%26#39;s unlimited. You also get into things like Ellis Island (Statue of Liberty), tour of Radio City Music Hall, tour of NBC Studios, museums, and all kinds things. It was well worth the money and not having to worry about the hassle. They actually have a website. I think it%26#39;s www.newyorkpass.com.

Have a great trip! I can%26#39;t wait myself.

thanks a bunch - we cant wait to go!!

blemishes

freakatorium

has anyone been to this freakatorium museum?looks interesting!

http://www.freakatorium.com/

freakatorium

It does look interesting. I don%26#39;t know how far of a travel it would be from Times Square...or if there is a stop on the tour bus loop I could hop off at to get to it. Anyone been there?

My kids would prob like it.

East Coast / Canada Tour Bus Recommendations

Hello,

I will be traveling to NYC in Mid-July and I was wondering if anyone can recommend a good tour bus / guide company that will cover the East Coast and/or Canada. I%26#39;ve seen some tour operators that feature 5,6,7, or 8 day tours but I wanted to get some input from you all.

Thank you.

East Coast / Canada Tour Bus Recommendations

Try Tauck Tours. They have tours of New England, the mid-Atlantic states and eastern Canada, including the Atlantic provinces. They%26#39;re one of the best, if not the best for tours.

East Coast / Canada Tour Bus Recommendations

Thank you for your input. It looks like a really nice tour group. Is there anything else a bit cheaper, maybe not including dinners, etc.?

Thanks.

Don%26#39;t know. The Tauck tour was the only tour I%26#39;ve ever taken and that was largely because we couldn%26#39;t get into the hotels in the Canadian Rockies we wanted to stay in without booking the tour. The tour companies book huge blocks of rooms leaving few, if any, for the independent traveler. That said, even though I don%26#39;t like the idea of organized tours, my experience with Tauck was first rate. There may be cheaper ones...but you get what you pay for.

Broadway tickets online

I%26#39;m travelling from the UK to NY in the summer.

Can anyone recommend any reliable online theatre ticket web sites where I can book tickets for broadway shows ?

Thanks,

Mark

Broadway tickets online

Go to playbill.com From there there are links for buying almost every show. However if you register for free, you%26#39;ll also have access to discount codes for some shows. You can then buy online, on the phone or in person on arrival. Broadwaybox.com also has the discount codes available without having to register but no other info there.

There%26#39;s also a TKTS booth (2 actually) for same day discounts when you%26#39;re here. tdf.org has a listing of what shows have been available at the booths.

Broadway tickets online

Each show uses an exclusive ticketing agent, usually Telecharge or Ticketron. So, when you look for discount codes on www.broadwaybox.com (which also publishes the playbill.com codes), they direct you back to the ticketing agents. These are all secure sites, so no worries about using your credit cards, plus you can elect to have your tickets held at the box office.

If your choices aren%26#39;t available, you can order premium-priced tickets through www.broadway.com.

I don%26#39;t recommend the TKTS booths because you spend way too much time waiting on long lines, and you won%26#39;t know what%26#39;s available until you reach the box office. And then you often don%26#39;t get very good seats.

Beauty and the Beast

After much researching, we have decided to see Beauty and the Beast. It is at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre on 205 W. 46th Street. If you have been to this theatre, please advise the best seating for under $100 and the best place to buy tickets. I really don%26#39;t want to stand in line at the TKTS booth. Thanks.

Beauty and the Beast

Check discounts at www.broadwaybox.com

If you don%26#39;t want to go that route, go to www.playbill.com, join for free, print out the discount coupon and purchase the tickets directly at the box office when you arrive. THey also will have the seating chart for the theatre.....on the left side, go to Broadway and you will see a listing of all shows, click onto Beauty %26amp; the Beast and you will get all of the pertinent information.

Also, www.theatermania.com is another source for discount coupons, join for free, also.

Beauty and the Beast

Do I have to worry about it being sold out at the box office? We will be going on March 28,29 or 30. Thanks so much.

Probably not, but you never know.

Try purchasing them through broadway box then, this way you are assured of seats.

Thanks. I have one more request. Since this will be our first trip to NY, we will be arriving Sunday, March 27th around 7-8 pm, staying at the Travel Inn at 515 W 42nd St. Can you suggest a place for dinner, not too expensive, but says..THIS IS NEW YORK!

Some of the experts on this site recommend Joe Allen, on W 46th Street between 8th %26amp; 9th, a real NYC experience. I have eaten there and the food is reasonable and very good. Make a reservation at www.opentable.com. It is an easy walk from your hotel, I think you will enjoy it.

You can check the menu at www.menupages.com.

Thanks. That sounds great. You%26#39;ve been so helpful.

I went to www.opentable.com and couldn%26#39;t find Joe Allen%26#39;s in the list. Help!

I checked also, must not be a participating restaurant.

You could call them @ 212-581-6464 or fax them @212-265-3383.

Website - www.joeallenrestaurant.com

What about a good sandwich place? Hot dog? Just kind of a quick meal, then back to the hotel and rest so we can get ready to explore Monday morning.

There is a sandwich shop called Big Apple Cafe %26amp; Deli on W 42 St between 8th %26amp; 9th, near your hotel. That might fit the bill.

Otherwise, walk to Times Square and you will see many places for a quick fix! Believe me, you won%26#39;t starve!

Have a great time, and if you need more into, just post, others will respond,too.

As for me, can%26#39;t sleep, normally would not be on at 2:24 AM!!!

car service-which one?

which car service should we use from newark and about how much should we expect to pay for 4 to the belvedere?

car service-which one?

I usually use Tel Aviv (www.telavivlimo.com), but Carmel is also popular.

car service-which one?

BEWARE: Carmel is the only car service in New York City that has ever stood me up. When I finally reached them on the phone, all I got was an excuse. They didn%26#39;t apologize, or even attempt to send a car. I usually use Highbridge Car Service or All American.

FAO lindy-lou

Hi,

Thought you might be too busy to be on the forum.

Has Dan seen his replies? Should we post some more for him?

Have you finalised your itinerary?

Pat

FAO lindy-lou

hi pat,i have just replied on dans topic,thanks so much for your reply. x

blemishes

NYwhiz is back

Hey whiz where have you been? we have really missed you from the forum

NYwhiz is back

Ruffian said he had her locked in the trunk of his car !

NYwhiz is back

Thanks Elle. I was away getting some sun and warm weather (but Ruffian%26#39;s trunk sounds interesting).;)

And you have come back to 8';of snow !!!!

Yup.

Your advice and humor have been sorely missed. Welcome back!

Greenwich Village

Hi Everyone this is a question for all the helpful New Yorkers. We have the chance to stay in a Studio at Bleecker Street over Christmas and New Year and were wondering what the area is like. Would it be better than staying at the Belvedere? Thanks in advance for your help.

Greenwich Village

Bleecker St. is a great area. Would it be better than the Belvedere? It depends on the apt. and what kind of travelers you are. The Belvedere is in the theater district so if you plan on doing a lot of theater, it%26#39;s more convenient. Do you like having hotel services (ie daily maid, a front desk/concierge). What is the price difference?

Greenwich Village

Thanks for your quick reply ny whiz and nice to see you back! I noticed lots of people asking where you had gone. You helped us out a lot last year before our 1st great trip in November! The price difference would be 锟斤拷300 so its quite a bit. We like quiet places to stay, dont need lots of people running after us!! Just another question where would you go for Christmas Dinner given the choice? I am really excited I dont have to cook it this year! :-)

Sorry that was three hundred pounds, nearly six hundred dollars.

The studio apt is 300 pounds cheaper??? Please tell us about it. Where exactly is it. Through whom would you be renting it etc.

Where would I go for Christmas dinner??? The River Cafe would be memorable. If you%26#39;re staying on Bleecker St., there are lots of cozy options. Blue Hill and Home are 2 in that area.

The company is called metro home.com. The studio is on the south side of the street between Sullivan and Thompson Street. We were quoted a weekly rate of 1050 dollars for the week extra days being prorated. I worked it out at 1360 dollars as it says there is no sales tax on 1 week or more stays. We are going for ten days and the Belvedere have told us the stay would be 1986 dollars. When i done currency converter it worked out 300 pounds cheaper to stay in studio apt. Thanks for advice on meal will look into it.

cab or limo ?

HI after much reseach have finally booked a hotel for trip in March Affinia Dumont and flying into Newark is best to just get a cab ( and how much should it cost) or is it better to pre book a car( how much is average and also recc any good ones ).

thanks in advance

cab or limo ?

NYC sets the rate of a cab ride from JFK or La Guardia...I think it%26#39;s about $45. Newark is in New Jersey, so I don%26#39;t think they%26#39;re bound by the same restriction. I%26#39;d plan on spending about $60 for a Newark to midtown NYC cab ride. Sure it%26#39;s a ridiculous rip-off, but if you have luggage and don%26#39;t have the patience to navigate your way via bus, train, railroad, etc., you have to spring for it and chalk it up to part of the price for going on vacation!

cab or limo ?

Thanks do you think it would be better to book a limo or car ( would it be around same price or dearer.

We arrive around 7pm is it safe to get trains ( two girls, my friend thinks this would be an adventure i%26#39;m not so sure).

Try limos.com. They have a list of many companies with a great range of cars and options. You can select to get quotes from several companies through the one request.

We used md limousines last week through limos.com and were more than happy with the price quoted, and the service was excellent. Drivers very helpful and we did not need even to tell them where we were going when we were picked up, never mind full directions as I understand is needed for cab drivers.

Pat

We stayed at the Affinia in November last year and it was fantastic, we tried to book to go back this year but companies over here don%26#39;t seem to have any room availability. Anyway why I%26#39;m posting!

The hotel can arrange the pick up from the airport if you contact them the staff are extremely helpful and they negotiate an all inclusive price which helps. It cost us, I think, about $70 and it certainly took the hassle out of aranging it. Just a tip not many of the limo drivers actually know where some of the hotels are are also the hotel can be known as the Dumont Plaza.

Christopher the doorman is a friendly guy who will do his best to help you out with any questions. Have a great time.

Is the cab $45 from Laguardia to Times Square area? How far is it and how long does it take in the middle of the day?

';Trains'; from Newark to midtown NYC? No New Yorker would do this; why should you? You%26#39;ll have plenty of time to get adventurous when you%26#39;re in Manhattan trying to go cross-town!

thanks everyone .

why wouln%26#39;t NY orkers take the train is it unsafe ?

CDOJ

Any more tips on Affinia and surrounding area%26#39;s, eating etc

getting excited now

Book a car from Newark. Cab service there is iffy and not worth the risk.

nbc tours

is there a good day to do the tour that they might be taping a show?

nbc tours

I don%26#39;t know. But even if they are not taping a show, this is a good tour.

rescue me

This series is slowly growing on British tv audience - is it filmed on Manhattan or is it all made out in Brooklyn or Queens ?

Flying out to New York this Wednesday -- really impressed with the quality of info provided by the regulars -- thanks guys and gals.

rescue me

It is filmed all over NYC......has been renewed for 13 more episodes. It is good, isn%26#39;t it? Many of our firefighters say it is true to life, made very real by Denis O%26#39;Leary and his own heartbreak regarding some of his personal losses. It made us realize that they are not superhuman, but human after all, and all that entails.

NYC has always loved its fireman (sorry, world, we have the best %26amp; the cutest) before, and especially after 9/11. This event has deeply effected the entire department, and it is going to take years for it to fully recover, if ever.

rescue me

By the way, have a great time in THE BIG APPLE!!!!!

lastminute.com hotel rates

Hi

Could anyone advise me if lastminute.com hotel only rates inc. all city taxes etc...

Have looked all over their website and it says inc. VAT and airport taxes in the price .

They are quoting a very cheap rate for the hotel I want and im a bit worried there is a catch!!

Thanks!

lastminute.com hotel rates

The way to validate is to call the hotel your are interested in direct and ask them to offer you a match or reduction in rate. Have fun!

lastminute.com hotel rates

And I would say call lastminute. It%26#39;s a UK website and has a toll free number on the website. If they say yes, then I would also doublecheck with the hotel.

blemishes

Electricity

Best friend%26#39;s daughter is also coming to NY ina couple of weeks time. She wants to know if there will be any problems using her hair stylers plus how long would it take to charge camcorder batteries.She has bought an adaptor here in GB. We run on 230v a/c transforming down to 12v 1000 milliamp to charge camcorder batteries. Hope this means something to someone out there %26#39;cos it certainly doesn%26#39;t to me!

Electricity

Can%26#39;t comment on the hair stylers but my camcorder and cameras charged fine using the normal adaptors.I just put them on overnight.

Electricity

If she looks at her hairstraightners and other electrical goods most things are dual voltage nowadays. Hope this helps.

If your electrical equipement says 100-240 volts you should be fine.

unfortunately my hairdrier is marked up as 230v only, would it be worth buying one in New York? how much are they?

Your 230v hairdyer will work out here if you get a travel adaptor plug for it, BUT it will be incredibly slow! You can pick up a hairdyer out here for less than $20, that%26#39;s less than 锟斤拷12 to you!

Many hotels in the U.S. have hair dryers in the room. check the hotel where you are staying....

chinatown and little italy kid friendly restaurants

any suggestions?

chinatown and little italy kid friendly restaurants

No particularly ';kid-friendly'; Chinese restaurants, bit in Little Italy there%26#39;s a restaurant called La Mela (167 Mulberry) where the staff goes out of its way for families with kids. Great food, big portions, lots of fun.

Soho - Store opening times

Hiya,

Just wondered if anyone could advise us of opening times of stores in the soho area...

Thanks in advance

Epic x

Soho - Store opening times

Most stores do not open until 11:00 AM, sometimes 12, so keep that in mind.

Soho - Store opening times

I remember the last time I visited some seemed to be shut on a Saturday is this common for boutiques?

Saturday is usually a very busy day for Soho, they may be closed on Monday or Tuesday.

Being that there are very small shops, hard to know exactly.

cool thanx

italian restaurant

can anyone recommend a good pizza restaurant for tonight ? im at the millenium hilton if that helpsat all. i%26#39;ve only been here 2 days and it%26#39;s beyond my wildest dreams.the shopping is out of this world !!!!!!!!.

italian restaurant

You%26#39;re downtown, right?

Go to Bleecker St in Greenwich Village, between 6th %26amp; 7th Avenue %26amp; head to Johns Pizza (pies only).

If not, near Bleecker %26amp; 6th Avenue, try Joe%26#39;s pizza for a great NYC slice. Besides, the neighborhood is great for strolling, good music venues, nice tree lined streets.

Please help with driving into NYC-won't ask anything else...

I am SO confused. We are driving from Texas-stopping in Hershey and then on to NYC. I have scoured this forum for two days and can%26#39;t determine the best way to get into NYC. I am thinking of staying in Midtown but don%26#39;t know what to do with car. Don%26#39;t want to drive in city. We will be there for 4 days/3 nights. I am also considering staying at Hyatt Jersey City (secured parking) and taking PATH into city every day. I have two girls ages 14 and 10. Please advise.

Please help with driving into NYC-won't ask anything else...

I%26#39;m one of those New Yorkers who%26#39;s never owned a car, so I%26#39;m afraid I%26#39;m not much help with that. I%26#39;ve never heard of a New York hotel offering free parking, and it can get pretty expensive. So you just have to see if it%26#39;s worthwhile. I can tell you it%26#39;s so much better to stay in Manhattan than commute back and forth.

Please help with driving into NYC-won't ask anything else...

i Have also considered parking at one of the airports and taking a cab into midtown. I don%26#39;t know if I am making it harder than it has to be. Surely someone has done this before and has a suggestion.

Try the Travel Inn on W 42nd St....good hotel, with a pool and ';FREE PARKING';, believe it or not. It gets good reviews and know some people who were happy there. CHeck out the reviews on this site.

Try the Travel Inn on W42 St -gets good reviews here, it has a pool, and they offer free parking.

When I moved to NYC last year, I left my car in an off-site airport discount parking lot in Newark. I then took NJ transit into the city. It was the cheapest lot I could find, and I was intimidated by the thought of driving in the city. I won%26#39;t say that it was fast and convenient, because it wasn%26#39;t- but it worked. I can%26#39;t remember how long it took me to travel (New York subway transportation included)- maybe an hour? Maybe less. It wasn%26#39;t that bad. I wasn%26#39;t in a hurry to go see the sights, though!

A friend has also told me about parking his car in a lot in NJ and taking the ferry in. He hasn%26#39;t been able to tell me where he parked, though, or any other details about the ferry. Anyone?

The free hotel parking sounds great! I wish I had known about that a few weeks ago. If you are okay with driving in the city, that sounds like your best bet. As I said before, I was very intimidated by driving there, also. I have driven it several times now. It is stressful, but I (and my passengers) have survived! I lived in Texas for almost 5 years. Driving in Dallas and some of the other major TX cities is no walk in the park either! If you want more details about the Newark airport parking/transport, let me know. Otherwise, I would say go for the free hotel parking. I can%26#39;t believe it exists!

Oh, and I have also stayed at the Hyatt Jersey City. We parked there and took the PATH in. It worked for us, because we were only there for one day. I would recommend staying in the city, however. The Hyatt has a nice view OF the city, but it%26#39;s not the same experience as staying IN it!

Thanks everyone! I really prefer to leave my car somewhere safe and avoid driving into the city - the parking/ferry option sounds great. Please let me know if you can get more info on that. I just don%26#39;t know where to start to determine how best to leave the car, schlep the luggage and get into Midtown.

There is a comuter ferry service from Weehawken, NJ to the west side of Manhattan. It%26#39;s a very quick ride - just crosses the Hudson. Go to nywaterway.com. You may have to call them to check on long term parking, and whether security operates there round the clock. Also, I%26#39;d ask about whether you can expect to find cabs waiting at the other side. (12th Ave., Manhattan - you couldn%26#39;t walk from there.) Hope this helps!

I just thought of another way you can do it. There%26#39;s a train station in New Jersey called Metropark, an easy exit off the Garden State Parkway. (It%26#39;s either in Iselin or Woodbridge, NJ). It%26#39;s a big station, and both Amtrak (express) and NJ Transit (NE Corridor local line) trains stop there on their way into NYC. They have a huge indoor, secure parking lot, and I know they offer long-term parking. We left our car there once for a few days when we took the train to Washington,D.C. I looked up the phone # for you (the parking garage): 732-906-1661. If I remember, it%26#39;s really cheap, something like $6 a day! (It may be more now, that was a couple of years ago.) Anyway, to find directions to the train station, you can contact Amtrak or NJ Transit. Hope this helps!

Hi! Personally, I wouldn%26#39;t hesitate to drive the short distance into Manhattan and stay at the Travel Inn, with its free parking. You have such a short time in New York - you don%26#39;t want to spend half of it commuting back and forth, in and out of Manhattan. I live in Cape Town, South Africa, and I have driven right through midtown Manhattan from one side to the other, in a hired car on one of my trips to New York, and if I could do it, I%26#39;m sure you could (bearing in mind that I also had to contend with sitting on the ';wrong'; side of the car, and driving on the ';wrong'; side of the road, compared to how we drive in South Africa!) If I am correct, the Travel Inn is far over on the West side of Manhattan, so once you were through the Lincoln Tunnel from the New Jersey side, it wouldn%26#39;t take you five minutes to drive there. Just my opinion, but hope it helps. Cheers, Cind

While I%26#39;ve never stayed at the Travel Inn, free parking is a good deal. If the hotel is not up to snuff, you can park your car in the Municipal Parking garage (enclosed) in Long Island City (Queens) and hop onto the subway at Queensboro Plaza station. You have a choice of four different subway lines right next door. In 10 minutes you%26#39;ll be in Mnahattan. It will probably cost you about $12 a day and you can leave it there for all four days.

Tickets for show how far in advance?

Hi there

I have been trying to see what shows will be showing end of september when I am planning my trip to NYC.

The broadway.com site when i put in date ranges keeps coming up error.

Where can i find out what shows will be playing in september?

I would really like to know what will be showing.

Hair spray sounds good, as does wicked from what i have read. will these shows still be on?

any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

kirsty

Tickets for show how far in advance?

Try www.broadwaybox.com.

www.playbill.com will give you all of the info on the shows,when they open, if they are an ';open'; run, meaning they will play until they no longer sell enough tickets to sustain it, and when they close, if it is a limited run or its initial run is coming to an end. On the left side click onto Broadway and you will see a listing of shows currently playing,and those opening soon. You can join for free.

You will not get discount tickets for Wicked at this time, the show is hot and looks to stay that way, so I suggest purchasing them now at full price. Hairspray is offered on discounts, but it might be too much in advance, keep looking.

Shows open %26amp; close all of the time, but the ';hot'; shows should still be open in September.

Tickets for show how far in advance?

If you%26#39;re getting an error message, it%26#39;s because they%26#39;re not ticketing that far ahead. September is two Broadway seasons away, so you%26#39;ve got plenty of time. Lots of new shows will be opening in the next couple of months, and another crop in the fall. Browse the Broadway listings on www.playbill.com. Their site is also a good source of news, as is www.broadway.com.

blemishes

First day activity

Our trip in June is growing closer. My eighteen year old son and I are getting very excited. We already have tickets to Wicked and Avenue Q. We are interested in suggestions for what to do the day we arrive. We should get to our hotel around noon. Will want them to hold our bags until check-in. Don%26#39;t want to get too far away from hotel. We are staying near Times Square. Want to make the most of our day, without spoiling what we will be doing the rest of the week. No theatre the first night. Maybe a deli dinner? Rockefeller Center? Any suggetions?

First day activity

Dear Runfar82,

You might want to explore 42nd Street on your first day. Once you drop your bags at the hotel there are lots of things to see and do along that street.

Madame Tussaud%26#39;s Wax Museum at Times Square- 42 St. between 7th and 8th Aves.

The NY Public Library - visit the beautiful reading room and see the current exhibits; have your picture taken with the marble lions - 5th Ave between 42nd and 4oth Streets.

Grand Central Station is located at 42nd and Park. Ave - there you can take a self directed or guided tour. Also at GCS there are many dinning options both casual and fancy.

Right near GCS you can see the striking architecture of the Chrysler Building located at Lexington %26amp; 42nd St.

Finally, if you have the energy and inclination head to 1st Ave.%26amp; 43rd St. for the United Nations Headquarters.

If you take all my suggestions you will be exhausted so take the M42 bus back to your hotel.

Enjoy you stay,

ATreeGrowinBrooklyn

First day activity

That all sounds so right. What do you suggest for a late lunch/early dinner? It needs to be very NY -- no fine dining with this 18 year old.

Not sure where you are staying, but the first night might be the best night for dinner at the hotel. I always do that when traveling to NY simply because by the time I get up in the AM, get to the airport, fly, get to the hotel from the airport, check in, unpack, and take a mosey around the area, I%26#39;m dead tired. Early to bed, earl;y to rise and take on the wonder of Manhattan!

Mamababoo -- Afraid to tell you that it may be the Belvedere. You were the one that really encouraged the Algonquin. Still have that reservaion. Not sure that the Belvedere has a restaurant? We will be sure to go over to Algonquin to check it out. Seems like a lively place from the comments.

Dear runfar82,

I like the idea of room service too but, if you want to go out on the town there are a few restaurants that I would recommend. If you want to celebrate your arrival and stay with the 42nd Street theme, try Chez Josephine 414 W 42ND Street at 9th Avenue (212) 594-1925 - French/Continental cuisine. Owned by Josephine Bakers son. It has been I while since I锟斤拷锟絭e eaten there but, I remember my last visit fondly. It is a very festive environment and the owner was charming and flirtatious. Take a nap and go after 8:00 PM to avoid the pre-theater crowds.

Le Madeleine 403 West 43rd street at 9th Avenue - French, delicious food and an attentive knowledgeable wait staff; very pretty environment. (212) 246-2993. Also, I would recommend their Prix Fixe Dinner; an excellent value.

Bello 863 9TH Ave at 55th Street (212) 246-6773 - Italian; I锟斤拷锟絭e never had a bad meal there and the staff always seems glad to see you. If you go to dinner midweek they serve (complimentary) these really crispy thinly sliced potatoes. Yummy!! Also, this is a little more casual than the other suggestions.

Amarone 686 9th Ave, Between 47th and 48th Streets (212) 245-6060 - Italian - Very good food; make sure you have a glass of the wine they are named for.

Enjoy,

ATreeGrowinBrooklyn

Whoops, I forgot about the 18 year old. Bello is still an O.K choice but, also consider

Uncle Nicks 747 Ninth Avenue, between 50th and 51st Street, 212 245-7992. It is a casual Greek place. Excellent food at a good price.

Island Burgers and Shakes 766 9th Avenue. It is also between 50th and 51st Streets 212 307-7934

ATreeGrowsinBrooklyn

musuem of natural history

my kids are 7 and 9 - I have been told this is a must see for us. are there any discounts out there for this musuem?

musuem of natural history

The only discount I know of is if you buy one of the passes this museum is included as well as MOMA and the Guggenheim. I think City Pass is the best because it%26#39;s good for 9 days whereas some of the others have to be used within a 2 day period. Here%26#39;s info. It%26#39;s still not cheap I know

http://citypass.com/city/ny.html?id=aYIpfo4Z

musuem of natural history

also check this

www.amnh.org/museum/specials/supersaver.php鈥?/a>

The museum is incredible and a couple of blocks from Central Park. If you buy a City Pass in advance it is free. I always buy the City Pass because I never know in advance what wonderful place I might take a notion to see in New York.

Dear Kumidog,

The $13.00 adult/$7.50 children admission is a suggested amount. You can contribute any amount to gain entrance to the museum.

ATreeGrowsinBrooklyn

Best Western Hospitality House

Hi, Me and four friends are planning a trip to New York City in late May. We had a hard time finding a hotel that would allow all five in one room. Finally, came upon the BW Hospitality House. Can anyone tell me if this is in an okay neighborhood and within reasonable distance of all the sights. Also, how about the hotel itself--looks nice and sounds like lots of room for the gang of us--please give me more info.

Best Western Hospitality House

It%26#39;s in a very safe neighborhood. It%26#39;s not far from Grand Central Station and the Chyrsler building and within walking distance of Bloomingdales. You should be fine there. Are you over 21? If not, does the hotel know? Just checking because some hotels don%26#39;t allow under 21s staying without ';chaperones.';

Best Western Hospitality House

Were not only over 21 were over 50! Thanks for the info, I also looked under this site, under the hotel info and it gets really high ratings from all that have stayed there. Guess we will keep the reservation. Can%26#39;t wait to see New York. Thanks for the input.

LOL. I hope you%26#39;re not 5 women sharing one bathroom! That hotel has 2 bedroom/2 bath apts. So does the Salisbury Hotel.

When we made the reservation we didn%26#39;t worry about the bathroom, would love to have two but I believe the info we got states one. Were all good friends and we will manage as long as we use the extra mirrors in the unit and sink in the kitchen area, we will manage. PJR

Itinerary for October 2005 Trip - 25th Wedding Anniversary

Hi everyone! I have been lurking here for a few weeks now, and have already learned quite a bit. I have booked the Belvedere Hotel. We will be arriving at Newark airport on a Sunday around noon. We will be staying four nights; departing Thursday evening at 6 p.m. Please help with suggestions for our proposed itinerary.

Attend 1 Broadway Show - (Hairspray?)

Attend 1 Taping - (Conan O%26#39;Brien?)

Central Park

Dakota/Strawberry Fields

Brooklyn Bridge

Empire State Building

NYC Library

Chrysler Building

China Town

Little Italy

CBGB%26#39;s

Ground Zero

Rockefeller Plaza/Center

Times Square

Ferry Ride - Statue of Liberty

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Macy%26#39;s

Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated. This is a once in a life time trip for us!

Thanks.

Itinerary for October 2005 Trip - 25th Wedding Anniversary

';Hairspray'; is a great romantic choice, you%26#39;ll love it. But stay tuned, as the spring season is close and lots of new shows will open in the next few months and then another wave of new shows will open in the fall. So you%26#39;ve got plenty of time!

The best thing to do is plot out on a map all the things you want to see, so you can focus on specific neighborhoods.

For your anniversary dinner, I strongly recommend the River Cafe (www.rivercafe.com), great food and the most wonderful views of the skyline, the river and the beautiful Brooklyn Bridge.

You might also contact Big Apple Greeter at www.bigapplegreeter.org

We are an organization of 300+ volunteer New Yorkers who love showing visitors around our neighborhoods for FREE. I%26#39;d recommend booking a Greeter to help you explore Central Park.

Have fun planning!

Itinerary for October 2005 Trip - 25th Wedding Anniversary

Thanks, Bettina. I guess what I%26#39;m trying to figure out is if it is even feasible that all of the things on my list can be done in the time we have. Also, I checked out the River Cafe web site, and it looks a little too fancy for us. Any suggestions on something just a little step down on the ladder, so to speak?

Thanks again for your help.

Broadwaybox.com

Am I doing something wrong? I go to Broadwaybox.com and say that I want to buy tickets to Hairspray so they direct me to Ticketmaster.com. The problem is that there is no box totype in a discount code. I know the discount code is Save7 but no place to type it in. Do some shows not give discounts? They are telling me my tickets will cost $100. I want a discount! We will be going the first of June. Is it to early to get tickets? HELP!

Broadwaybox.com

Sometimes those discounts are only for certain shows- such as the matinee, but not the evening performance. Did you try more than one show?

Broadwaybox.com

The discounts available for Hairspray expire 3/20/05. (I just checked Broadwaybox.com. As far as I know, discounts on other websites also expire around that time (applies to site I use: seasonofsavings.com). That%26#39;s not to say that new discounts won%26#39;t open up closer to June. If you want a discount, you%26#39;ll have to wait and see. If you definitely want to see that show, and you want good seats in June, you may have to pay full price.

I have decided to go on a Sunday afternoon because I saw that the discount code box was on that page. When I typed in the code SAVE7 it comes up saying that that is not the correct password. I thought I might have gotten my password typed in wrong so I checked that and it is correct. I tried yesterday and today and the same thing comes up. When I go to a date without the code box I can get tickets for full price. I%26#39;d rather have a discount. So, now what am I doing wrong?

Whether or not the code is correct, you will not be able to get a discount at this time for June tickets. The offer expires in March.

Ruffian42

Chelsea beware!.By the time you play a league game again man utd will only be 3 points behind(if we beat palace).I%26#39;ve just returned from the match today,we played terrible but rooney saved the day with 2great goals,I don%26#39;t know if I want chelsea or the scousers to win tomorrow if you lose your confidence will take another blow which can only be good for United but I never want liverpool to win anything so I wish you good luck.If we win the league I will buy you a drink in may when i am in NY.Cheers Rob.

Ruffian42

It seems the witness protection program will soon be receiving a call! They may be required to relocate an individual who we shall all miss.

Ruffian42

Ah Rob %26amp; Steve. I am reminded of a wonderful old horse who used to race in the New York area called Jacques Who. He was a horse who, when he looked hopelessly beaten would stage these marvelous rallies only to fall short and come second.

Dream on, my friends, dream on.

blemishes

Theatre Tickets - Help Please!

I am coming to NY with my partner for the first time in July and want to book tickets for La Cage aux Folles at the Marquis Theatre. I have looked on ticket master and at the moment I can get tickets for $100 each plus booking fee of $6. I am ok with the price but don%26#39;t know about the seats - is centre of row A of the Mezzanine level ok? It says that Row A overhangs row M of the Orchestra seats - will we have a good view? The other choice is Row B of the Orchestra stalls but I don%26#39;t want to be too close - should I go for Row A of the Meazzanine? Thanks

Theatre Tickets - Help Please!

Most people would consider first row of the mezz prime seating and would jump at the chance. From this vantage you get a good view of dance numbers etc. I%26#39;ve looked at the seating chart here and find that row B of the orchestra (stalls) is actually the 4th row not the 2nd. If those seats are center, I personally would prefer those b/c I like being close to the action, but I might be in the minority. Here%26#39;s the seating chart.

playbill.com/reference/鈥?184.html

Theatre Tickets - Help Please!

Check to see if there are any discounts for this show on www.broadwaybox.com. If there aren%26#39;t, you might want to wait a while as it%26#39;s sure to be discounted by July. Even though it%26#39;s a wonderful show, and Gary Beach is a big name on Broadway (and Daniel Davis is well known to TV fans here), it%26#39;s not a runaway hit, so you shouldn%26#39;t have to pay full price. There are a lot of shows due to open in the next couple of months that will be the top tickets.

Thanks NY whiz and Bettina for your prompt replies. I know what you mean about waiting for the discounts but I%26#39;m worried if I do we won%26#39;t get such good seats. The trip is a surprise for my partner%26#39;s 50th birthday and I want everything to be perfect. I may wait a few weeks though. Thanks again, this forum is just so helpful, I;m having such fun planning everything - so hard keeping it all a secret until July though!!!

www.theatermania.com is offering discount codes for La Cage. You can get $100 tickets for $65. You have to join theatermania, but it%26#39;s free, and worth it to get $35 off each ticket.

IMHO, front row mezz is the best seat in the house. I will gladly pay $100+ for front row center mezz than any seat in the Orch. Pay the 100 plus whatever fees if this is a ';must see'; show. If you are flexable with shows and seats, then go to TKTS or wait for discounts at Ticketmaster. But if this is the one show you really want to see, pay and go.

Kelly

food courts

during a trip to las vegas i ate a food court with a chinese takeaway called either panda hut or panda house can anyone tell me if this available in new york it was the best chinese i ever tasted hope theres one in NY!!!!!!!

food courts

If Panda House is the best Chinese food you%26#39;ve ever tasted, we%26#39;ve got to get some real Chinese food into you. Get down to Chinatown and try either 10 Pell, Joe%26#39;s Shanghai, Big Wong%26#39;s or New Green Bo (for dim sum). You%26#39;ll forget about Panda House. But to answer your original question, I think there are some in the food courts at some of the suburban shopping malls. I don%26#39;t know of any in NYC but I may be wrong.

food courts

thanks ruffian hey are you the chelsea fan??????????

Blue through and through!

I think the chain you are referring to is Panda Express.

If you really want a food court in Manhattan, you can find one at the top of the Manhattan Mall (6th ave at 32nd St). I am not sure if the Chinese Place there is a Panda Express, but it is the same exact food.

I must confess, Every so often I do get a craving for Mall Chinese Food.

Panda Express has a restaurant locator on their website:

http://www.pandaexpress.com/default.asp

I did a search for zipcode 10036 and the nearest location was Newport Center in Jersey City.

One of the movie theatres on 42nd street has a food court (with Chinese fast food) as you leave the building.

There is a Manchu Wok in Rockefeller plaza.

Pretty decent chinese fast food.

thnks all........... me and the wife are coming over on june 4th for ten days so we will be looking for all sorts of advice what to do where to go etc,etc.

we have 8 days to fill as we are spending a couple of days in sag harbor L.I with relatives so we will be posting plenty of questions.

P.S ruffian i meant panda hut was best chinese as something to eat on the move i%26#39;ll try and explain myself better next time sorry.

NoseyP. Promise me you won%26#39;t come to New York and eat at a food court (if one even exits here) . I will cry. There are hundreds of restaurants that are fast and inexpensive in any given neighborhood. Seriously, even getting a street cart hotdog is a better more new yorky experience than going to a food court here.

i%26#39;m really sorry i asked that question now i promise we wont eat at any food courts if i find one.

so where should go for italian,indian,chinese,steak,seafood,hotdogs,hamburger oh and alchohol???