Sparks Steakhouse

is it any good? also, anyone have any idea where the best place to get a good Chateubriand for two is? thanks

Sparks Steakhouse

Sparks, as far as the steak is concerned, is one of the best around. The problem here, aside from the prices, is the ';snootiness'; of the staff, from the Maitre D%26#39; on down. If you%26#39;re not a regular or a celebrity or a heavy hitter--do not expect to be treated in accordance with the amount of money you%26#39;ll drop in this place. But the steaks are superb.

Sparks Steakhouse

A rating of #1767 out of 4283 restaurants in NY suggests there might be better steaks out there matt.

Sparks is one of the best steakhouses in NYC. I don%26#39;t know about the numbers thing MikeLaw mentions. My only problem with Sparks is it lacks any ambiance. I don%26#39;t know where the best chateaubriand would be. Chowhound.com is a message board for ';foodies.'; Check there.

For many years, Sparks was ';it'; for me. Then they expanded to what now looks like some hotel conference room, and if you%26#39;re sitting there it feels like you%26#39;re in Siberia (remoteness, not wind chills!). Their steak is still fabulous. I%26#39;ve been liking Del Frisco%26#39;s, on 49th St. %26amp; 6th Ave. I%26#39;ve never had Chateubriand though.

thanks for the replies. yea i checked out the menu and it was kinda expensive. Keens looked like a pretty good rated place, so i might try that. hey also, wasnt sparks where some gangster got shot infront of?

Very good. Big Paul Castellano, head of the Gambino crime family, was murdered, along with his driver, Thomas Bilotti, in front of Sparks Steak House by members of John Gotti%26#39;s crew. He was on his way to a meeting at Sparks (a setup) where, had the meeting actually taken place, he would have gotten a much better table than you or I.

Ruffian, I%26#39;d always felt sorry for Big Paul because he died hungry. So near and yet so far.

I believe Joey Gallo at least had a decent last meal.

Keens has a great old world ambiance to it (especially the clay pipe collection) but it%26#39;s not the best steak in town. I really like Wolfgang%26#39;s which is owned by a distant relation of the Peter Luger (Brooklyn) people. I also happened to notice that there%26#39;s a recipe in NY Magazine for chateaubriand from Ilo restaurant which suggests they have it. Ilo is in the Bryant Park Hotel. I%26#39;ve never been but it sounds good.

question 4 voyagereuse or bettina

Are there any moderate priced fish restaurants near the Belveder Hotel [48th st and 8th ave]

Ta GeePee

question 4 voyagereuse or bettina

I don%26#39;t understand why all the seafood restaurants are so darned expensive!!

The best mid-priced seafooder is Redeye Grill, on 7th Ave. at 56th St.

Lots of people like Blue Fin, on Broadway %26amp; 47th, but I%26#39;m not a big fan.

question 4 voyagereuse or bettina

Thanks Bettina, yer its the same here in England for good fish food it%26#39;s expensive

Thanks again for your help

Gee Pee

One general note about seafood. If you are here on a Monday, that is usually not the best day to order fish in a restaurant. According to the book, Kitchen Confidential, on Mondays you%26#39;ll get what didn%26#39;t sell from the previous Friday.

For something a little different, there is a greek restaurant called Molyvos that does very interesting seafood dishes. In Rockefeller Plaza, there%26#39;s Joseph%26#39;s Citarella.

The Redeye Grill is good as is another restaurant by the same owner, called Shelly%26#39;s New York.

Although these will set you back about $25 or more an entree, they are good. To lessen the pain you can always try having lunch as your main meal. It%26#39;s usually less expensive and the food is as good.

One of the best lunch bargains is the $20 prix fixe at Jean Georges, located in the Trump International Building. There is seafood on that menu, and the price is totally right.

Check out all of the above for menues/prices/locations on menupages.com.

There are moderate priced fish places, just not in midtown where rents are so high. Try the new BLT Fish at 17 st b/w 5th-6th. I%26#39;ve heard raves. Mary%26#39;s Fish Camp in the village

www.marysfishcamp.com

is funky and good. Pearl Oyster Bar is another in the village.

Just want to say well done to all who contribute to this...

Due to having to do the odd bit of work now and then (!), I cannot contribute as much as I would like to this site. However, I really do think that the assistance given by the regular and not so regular posters should be recognised as they make it the success it is!

I have seen quite a few mentions of the site in the travel sections of our Irish newspapers and also on sports sites where fans are looking for advice on where to go and stay for sporting events.

Kepp up the good work everyone and give yourselves a well deserved pat on the back!!

Just want to say well done to all who contribute to this...

Thank you, Stan!

Just want to say well done to all who contribute to this...

Ahhh, Stan. Sucking up just doesn%26#39;t get it done.

Cash bribes, however, are another matter entirely.

Thanks.

I%26#39;ll second that Stan!

advice offered here, especially by the natives, is invaluable!

well done %26amp; thanks everyone!

Couldn%26#39;t agree more, this forum is superb, i am addicted ! We are visiting NY late April and i am on this site every day, i just can%26#39;t wait.

I%26#39;ll triple those thoughts.

Concert in the parks NY Philharmonic

Has anyone got inside information on when the concerts are taking place this summer? I have looked on their site and the central park site. They have no info as yet. Last time we visited we were lucky to see them, the atmosphere was brilliant and the violinist proposed to his girlfriend. A night to remember.

Concert in the parks NY Philharmonic

They don%26#39;t post them until late spring/early summer. Typically they are held in the middle of the second week of July. I believe lasts year they were July 7 and 9. (When I say ';they'; I%26#39;m referring to both the NY Philharmonic and Met Opera concerts). They are also held at other outdoor venues throughout the five boroughs.

I%26#39;ll keep a lookout and will post a message when I see the dates announced.

Concert in the parks NY Philharmonic

Thanks Bettina. I%26#39;ll look forward to that. I think we may be unfortunate this year as we are coming later than normal due to friends holiday weeks. (16th July) We%26#39;ve even bought waterproof rugs just in case! Hurrah I can post again now from home, so can respond to messages without rushing in my lunchtimes.

Which Loop?

I have heard the downtown loop is the best. I can get tickets on Expedia for $35 each. Or can I get them in the city cheaper?

Which Loop?

Vnilla-

Are you talking about the greyline bus tours? We got the combo downtown/uptown/brooklyn loop plus the ticket to the Empire State Building. That one seemed like the best bargain. We did the uptown and the downtown. We didn%26#39;t have time to do the hop on/hop off on the uptown, but we still enjoyed the tour.

Which Loop?

Yes, that%26#39;s the one I%26#39;m talking about. Where did you get the tickets? Cost? Did you like uptown or downtown loop better and why. Thanks.

I%26#39;ve taken the All Loops tour twice and each time it was $48 (the most recent time was last July). Once I purchased tickets at the mail Gray Line office on 8th and another time, I purchased tickets in front of the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Broadway between 48th %26amp; 49th.

If you want to see a lot, this is the way to go. In addition to the tours already mentioned, it includes a night tour. Great view of the city all in lights.

vnilla,

We bought our tickets at the visitors center in Times Square. Well, from my limited 3 days in NYC, I would say the downtown loop is more interesting, more history, more character. Using that tour you can get down to chinatown, little italy, WTC site, ferry to staton island, etc. The uptown gets you to central park and the museums. Just depends on what you are looking to see.

Thanks. Very helpful insight. I appreciate it!

HershT...what did you pay for them?

I think we paid $60 or so, but that was all loops plus the ESB. I just looked up graylinenewyork.com and you can get the 3 loops and the night tour for $49. That is for 48 hours. Just one loop is $37 so if you are thinking of doing more than one then the $49 package is a bargain. And maybe you can get that package cheaper on Expedia.

That%26#39;s a pretty good deal...how did you like the night tour?

Also, HershT....did you buy a city map to get around? I found some neat books at Barnes and Noble that have a map of Manhattan. Just wondering if NY would have better ones. Thanks.

vnilla,

We didn%26#39;t actually go on the night tour. But.....we started the uptown loop a little before 5:00 and it got dark soon after that. So it was sort of like a night tour. The lights were beautiful.

I also didn%26#39;t buy a map. There are plety of brochures that you can get there that have street maps. But if you find one that you really like and is easy to read, go for it.

Thanks nywhiz.

Thank you for your message nywhiz,I have already checked out that web site it is excellent.

Thanks nywhiz.

You%26#39;re very welcome.

medication cream

Jazz and Meal

Hi

Travelling to NYC next week, and looking for an evening of Jazz and food on a Monday night. Staying around Soho, and probably more interested in the ambience than the particular performers.

Any recommendations, or am I wrong to combine the two?

Looking for something typically New York, but not sure if that actually exists!!

Any help appreciated.

Jazz and Meal

I was at Dizzy%26#39;s Club Coca-Cola in November, it is new and very nice...

Might not have the ';old time'; ambience you want but there is a great view of Central Park and the food was fine.

http://www.jalc.org/dccc/c_calendar.asp

Dizzy%26#39;s Club Coca-Cola:

Jazz at Lincoln Center Broadway at 60th Street

5th Floor

Reservations:

Call: 212.258.9595

Seating is available on a first-come first-served basis either at tables or at the bar

Jazz and Meal

Try the Cornelia Street Cafe in Greenwich Village. This is a lively restaurant on a quaint street in the Village with a nice little music venue downstairs where you can listen to music after dinner. Check their website for menu and event calendar.

Often the food isn%26#39;t great at a jazz venue but there are a few places that aren%26#39;t bad. I think you should care about the performers b/c there%26#39;s all different kinds of jazz. If you%26#39;re into Dixieland, Woody Allen%26#39;s band regularly performs at the Carlyle hotel%26#39;s Cafe Carlyle (uptown) on Monday nights. Very expensive but a great NY experience.

The Knickerbocker Bar and Grill in Greenwich Village is a much more laid back locals place with pretty decent food.

Mondays at Birdland (in the theater district) Art Blakey%26#39;s Jazz messengers perform earlyish (5:30)

Blue Water Grill has very good seafood and jazz in the basement. Not sure what their Monday nights are like.

Bigapplejazz.com is a good website to check for places

As a tourist, the previously mentioned Dizzy%26#39;s might be the most memorable depending on who%26#39;s playing.

Hi

And if you feel like journeying a bit farther to see one of the most authentic (and still swinging) clubs in NYC, check out the Lenox Lounge @ 125th St........ http://lenoxlounge.com/ Fantastic art deco space %26amp; the spirit of all of the greats still resonates (Miles, Billie, Trane). The 2,3 train 125th St. subway stop is practically on it%26#39;s doorstep.

Hi baron,

The best jazz on a Monday night is at the village vanguard. They have a big band every Monday and feature about 17 of the best NY jazz musicians. The vanguard is a famous club that all of the greats have played. Cover is $30 which includes 2 drinks. THERE IS NO FOOD AT ALL AT THE CLUB.

Food at NY jazz clubs is very average. Yes, food at Blue Water grill is very good, but it is not really a jazz club for listening. If you want a true NY experience, have dinner before or after the show and enjoy the music.

No one has mentioned the Blue Note...great venue with decent food in Greenwich Village....one of the best.

www.bluenotejazz.com

The Blue Note is a great club, but Monday night is not a good night to go there. Usually, the best club on a Monday night is the Vanguard.

We were in NY last Monday. Went to the Cornelia Street Cafe for a 7 pm dinner, then the 9 pm set at the Village Vanguard. Excellent evening, top food, brilliant jazz. Only bit of advice is that if you want a spot near the stage in the Village Vanguard, get there at about 8.15 pm. Will mean an earlier dinner, but you might prefer a better sight line.

There is also Cleopatra%26#39;s Needle (92nd and Broadway). The food is very reasonably priced, but mediocre---great live jazz, though! Check out their webpage: www.cleopatrasneedleny.com. It has a menu plus a schedule of who%26#39;s playing when. Live music is from 8 p.m to 1 a.m. You will need a reservation. Make sure the night you go has live jazz. Every so often, they have open mike nights, instead of the live jazz.

Tempted by the Carlyle but I think we%26#39;ll go for the Cornelia and Vanguard.

Thanks.

The Baron

marilyn monroe

I%26#39;ve just heard that there%26#39;s going to be an exhibition of marilyn photos at some museum / gallery in march - I%26#39;m a massive fan but don%26#39;t arrive until 1 April! Does anyone know if it%26#39;s still on then?

marilyn monroe

Unfortunately it ends on March 20th, at the Brooklyn Museum of Art.

marilyn monroe

Hi Sydzap

I%26#39;m sorry you won%26#39;t make it to NYC in time to catch the show. The Bert Stern images from his sessions w/Marilyn, ';The Last Sitting';, were to me the most impressive. The good news is I%26#39;ve done a little digging, and you could go to the Staley Wise Gallery and ask to see which images they have (just say you%26#39;re really interested in images of Marilyn). They might show them to you (white gloves treatment and all)...the only ';downside'; is that you might be tempted to buy (probably very expensive though)!! Here is their website... www.staleywise.com look under %26#39;The Collection%26#39; where they show a list of photographers %26amp; click on %26#39;Bert Stern%26#39;. The gallery is located at 560 Broadway (in Soho, near Spring St), hours are Tues-Sat 11am-5pm. You could call first to set it up...212-966-6223. Just an idea.

For any MM fans in NYC before the exhibit is over - it%26#39;s well worth the trek to the Brooklyn Museum. Go by subway, it%26#39;s about 100m from the subway stairs to the museum entrance.

The photos are amazing and very moving. My favorite was a shot of MM with Bogart and Bacall, at an Academy Awards I think. Marilyn is radiant beyond description in this particular shot, this photo alone is worth the trip.

Arrrghhhh!!!!!!!!!! I can%26#39;t believe I%26#39;ll miss the Marilyn photos, I was bouncing off the walls with excitement when I heard about the exhibition! Never mind, there are so many things on our list to do that I need 7 years, not 7 nights so I%26#39;m sure I%26#39;ll cope somehow! Thanks for the tip about calling in advance to request a look at some - do they really let you do that????Yes, I may be very tempted to buy a photo, maybe that%26#39;s something to think about on my NEXT trip (driving hubby up the wall talking about our next trip when we haven%26#39;t even had this one yet)...I am sooooo excited!

AHHH!!! I just about fell over when I read the topic. I am coming to New York March 9-13 for the sole purpose of meeting up with about 25+ Marilyn fans and attend the show at the Brooklyn Museum. We even have a gorgeous impersonator from the UK performing on March 13. If you are a fan check out my website www.marilynmonroe.ca !

Oh wow, it sounds like you%26#39;ll have an amazing time, I wish I was coming too! I%26#39;m so jealous! Your website looks great, are you going to post up some reports of how your trip went?

Thanks! Yes, I will do a write up for my website and post it here as well.

Best spaghetti and meatballs?

Where would i go to get the best spaghetti and meatballs?

Another question, from where does the water taxi to brooklyn go from?

Best spaghetti and meatballs?

Carmine%26#39;s. Get extra sauce.

Best spaghetti and meatballs?

The water taxi to Brooklyn leaves from downtown Manhattan from Battery Park. You can go to http://www.nywatertaxi.com for exact locations and fares.

I second the Carmine%26#39;s reccomendation, but go to the one that is Uptown on 90th street. Make reservations it is ALWAYS crowded.

Enjoy your trip.

Le Zie 2000.

You can take that to the bank.

$12.95.

Sweden ;)

LeZie? Would one need reservations?

Accommodation

We are looking to go to New York mid May.

Have searched various hotels and have also looked at furnished appartments.

Has anybody stayed at any of these and would you reccommend.

Have been looking at this site www.gamutnyc.com/traveler/html/trav_fr.htm

Any suggestions gratefully received

Accommodation

I think it%26#39;s unlikely you%26#39;ll find people who will bother to look at the website and recognize from a place from a small picture. It would be better for you to post what you%26#39;re looking for (size, price, location if you know etc.)

There are many apt style hotels if you want hotel amenities. Then there are b %26amp; bs that have apt type accomodation. Some of these have reviews here. Here%26#39;s one idea on the upper west side

www.countryinnthecity.com/our_apartments.htm

I think they%26#39;re reviewed here.

Brew Pubs/Large Beer Selection type of Bars

Anyone have suggestions on brew pubs or other bars with large selections of beers on tap?

Brew Pubs/Large Beer Selection type of Bars

www.cask-ale.co.uk/us/newyork-manhattan.html

Salisbury or Affinia 50?

It looks like my plan to come back to New York in September just may work out - I%26#39;m so excited! This time I%26#39;m coming with my mom, my sister and my daughter. Although I love the Belvedere, I think a suite that all 4 of us could stay in would be better. Right now we%26#39;re looking at the Salisbury or the Affinia 50. I would appreciate any opinions on either of these. They%26#39;re both rated well, so any advice would be great! I%26#39;ve always stayed right in the Times Square/theater area before, so either would be a nice change. Help me decide!

Salisbury or Affinia 50?

I think the Affinia 50 has been more recently renovated. They%26#39;re both excellent locations. The Salisbury is closer to the park. The Kimberly (next door to the Affinia 50) gives you access to a swimming pool if that matters to you.

Salisbury or Affinia 50?

Thanks, whiz. We had actually added the Kimberly to our list, as well as the Hospitality House. Decisions, decisions!

medication cream

new york 7 day pass--is it worth the $$$?

My husband and I will be in ny from 3/5 to 3/12 . We are looking

for the biggest bang for our ';$'; Is the 7 day pass worth the money?

Thanks,

Graycee

new york 7 day pass--is it worth the $$$?

I%26#39;m assuming you%26#39;re referring to the 7-day Metro card for the subways. Absolutely worth it if you plan to be visiting lots of attractions by subway--the best way to travel. However, be advised that it was just announced that the cost is being raised from $21 to $24. I believe it%26#39;s effective immediately.

new york 7 day pass--is it worth the $$$?

I agree, absolutely worth it.....the best deal in town.

No question - even at $24. Don%26#39;t forget you can use it on the subway, the buses and even the Roosevelt Island Tram. We stayed a week and it must have paid for itself 3 times over!

yes definitely ... worth the money

and don%26#39;t just use to subway,

OK it gets you there faster but you do see so much more on the buses.

we only used the subway a couple of times much prefering the buses

Thanks to U all for the feedback.

Graycee

$3 a day for unlimited bus and subway transportation! If you took only one ride a day it would be a bargain. I always buy the ticket, even for 4-5 day trips. The rate is going up to (I think) $24 soon, still a great buy. Check the mta website for further details. Be sure to get a subway map to help plan your individual journeys. Sometimes it%26#39;s better to use bus + subway in some combination, even on a single journey.

Can somebody tell me how to book this pass please, best to book before we leave UK?

hi vianna

If i%26#39;m right and the pass you have in mind is Metrocard, you can only book it in NY. This site www.mta.nyc.ny.us/metrocard/zipmaps.htm

indicates where you can buy it.

Avenue of the Americas

Is Avenue of the Americas an extension of some numbered avenue? I can%26#39;t find it on my map...I%26#39;m trying to pinpoint Radio City Music Hall.

Avenue of the Americas

Avenue of the Americas is 6th Ave.

Avenue of the Americas

radiocity.com/themusichall_directions.html

Got it! Thanks to both of you.

Book transportation ahead?

I will need a mini-van to get my 5 passengers to and from LGA to manhattan. Should I be booking this online ahead of time for both trips or do you call them when you land at the airport?

Book transportation ahead?

Book ahead.

Book transportation ahead?

Thanks. I noticed some of these limo companies have a service to meet you inside the airport (for extra $) I was wondering if that might be worth it. We are not experienced travellers and will likely be very overwhelmed at a huge airport. Is it hard to find the area you need to go to get your ride?

It%26#39;s actually quite easy, when you step off the plane, you would follow the arrows on the signs that say Taxi/Ground Transportation. (These will be on the same signs that guide you to the baggage claim.)

Depending on how much money they are asking for to meet you inside the airport, it may not be worth it. As they will not be able to come past the security checkpoint, in most of the terminals at JFK, these checkpoints are near the exits anyhow.

If you happen to be coming into Terminals 8 or 9 (American Airlines) they have been doing construction outside, so it could be confusing. I would advise to have someone meet you inside.

Just catching up on some older posts. I am actually flying into LGA not JFK can anyone suggest whether it is worth the extra $25 to have the limo company meet us inside??

Thanks!

LGA is a much smaller airport. If you don%26#39;t pay the extra for them to meet you, where will they meet you or what do you have to do?? I would ask. What airline are you flying? Different airlines are in different terminals. Here%26#39;s a map of the airport.

http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/ltframe.htm

If you%26#39;re coming Delta or US Airways it%26#39;s very easy. They%26#39;re in a separate terminal.

I just got back after a weekend in NYC. Flew into LGA. It%26#39;s very easy to find the Taxi/limo area. Just follow the signs, however, upon arrival, the lineup to catch a taxi was huge and it was freezing. The wait was probably about 1/2 hour, perhaps longer, don%26#39;t know for sure as we waited for about 15minutes and changed our mind and hopped on a bus. But then again, we only had light handbags, no suitcases so it was easy to move around. I remember thinking it would have been nice to have a limo arranged and have someone inside, holding up a card with our name on it, which is what I%26#39;m sure you would be paying the extra for. Especially true, if you%26#39;ve got lugguge etc. I think it%26#39;s worth it. What also makes a difference is who%26#39;s in the group, is it family with children, couples, girlfriends? Sometimes the bit extra is more than worth it in order to start a trip off smoothly with no hassle.

Thanks I am flying West Jet which I think is the Central terminal. We will have luggage with us and want to get to the the hotal asap. But it seems like alot of money if it is pretty easy to find the way ourselves.

One or two questions

We are three weeks away from our trip to N.Y. and are busy planning where to go and what to do etc. We have one or two questions to ask and if anyone can help with the answers we would be very grateful.

1.My daughter is interested in buying an Apple Mini i Pod and I wondered if there was a problem with buying one in the U.S. to use in the U.K. Is the guarantee still valid and also is there a problem with the voltage when using the mains battery charger?

2. Is Estee Lauder make up any cheaper in the U.S.?

3.On the day that we return home our flight is 8.00pm.I think we have to check in at the airport 3hours before.What time do we need to leave our hotel in Broadway in order to get to the airport in time for check in?

4Has anyone visited The Sony Wonder Tecchnology Lab? My husband anD son fancy going there while my daughter and I visit Bloomingdals or Macy%26#39;s. Will it be ok for adults or is it mainly for children.

I think that,s just about covered everything.Phew!!!

Any help appreciated. Thanks Rosee

One or two questions

Hi Rosee,

I only know the answer to question#3. Which airport are you going to? And which day of the week is it? If you need to be at the airport 3 hours ahead of time, you need to leave the hotel at 4pm at the latest to get to Laguardia. JFK and Newark, I would leave 330pm to give yourself an hour an half, as they are further away. If its a week day, especially a Friday, count on rush hour traffic and more delays.

Any sugestions where to buy Billy Crystal tickets?

Hi, I am taking my husband on a surprise week-end for our 20th anniversary in April to New York. He is a big Billy Crystal fun. THe show is sold out. THere are alot of places to pick up tickets at a premium.Any suggestions on where to get tickets to the show. OR which ones places are reputable. Please help. I am desperate. Also any suggestion on a good italien restaurant near the theatre district

Any sugestions where to buy Billy Crystal tickets?

Have you checked on ebay? Very often people get tickets they can%26#39;t use and sell them there. I%26#39;ve never bought any this way, but lots of others have. That said, these tickets wouldn%26#39;t be hard to sell so ....

stubhub.com is often mentioned for sports tickets. Maybe that would be a good place to try. You might also ask your hotel concierge (now).

For Italian in the theater district, there are about 50 to choose from. Here are what I would consider the best for a special meal. Check out more details on menupages.com

Cascina

Esca

Orso (very trendy, celeb spotting, hard to get a table)

Lattanzi (good, nice service)

Barbetta (probably the prettiest in a townhouse and a bit formal-most romantic)

ViceVersa

Any sugestions where to buy Billy Crystal tickets?

Also try craigslist.org

Have you tried www.broadway.com? They often have tickets, but at a premium. Billy%26#39;s about the hottest ticket I%26#39;ve seen in many years! I have a funny feeling his show will eventually show up as an HBO special though.

My family and I got 4 tickets on the day they went onsale (Feb 6).Iwas on hold for 2 hours but great seats but at a premium--$176.00 a piece so you do the math.E-bay is probally your best bet and thats going to be at least $300 a piece.

Another thought I had is trying applause-tickets.com They have them for $199/ticket

I am mad about Billy Crystal, and was happy to shell out $100 to see him, but I guess my love does have limits. I wouldn%26#39;t pay $150+.

I just checked E-Bay--2 tickets for about 450.00--not the best seats but thats not bad

My husband and I saw Billy Crystal in January - the show was fantastic, we were staying at the Doubletree Metropolitan, we asked the concierge to get us tickets, we paid $ 190 a ticket, the seats were upstairs, but we had a good view.

if you have no luck with brokers you can always go to the venue and hope you luck into a couple of tickets there out on the street. If people don%26#39;t sell them online, that%26#39;s where the end up.

NYC on crutches or wheelchair possible?

Hubby %26amp; I had plans for first trip to NYC March 5 - 12. Airline tickets bought, hotel reserved. Unfortunately, I fell last week and broke my ankle (cast up to knee). I%26#39;m just sick about it and we%26#39;re about to cancel (and waste tickets to 3 B%26#39;way shows I already purchased). Can anyone convince me it is still possible to go? How will I get/sit in theatre, restaurants? Foot has to stay elevated. Possible to manoever busy sidewalks in a wheelchair? I have Big Apple Greeters reserved - should I get back to them and see if they can accommodate my handicap or just cancel?

Should I try to go anyway or forget about it (boo hoo)? Anyone else go through this as a tourist? Please help me decide.

NYC on crutches or wheelchair possible?

I don%26#39;t know what to say. I think I%26#39;d still go for it. You%26#39;d need to call ahead to each restaurant and tell them you need an extra chair for your foot. And go early to your shows and ask to speak to the house manager. They can make arrangements for you. They would either seat you in a wheelchair section, or some theaters have special disabled seats where the side slides out. You might telephone the ticket agency to see if there%26#39;s a number you can call in advance. If that%26#39;s not possible, just get to the theater extra early.

It%26#39;s great that you%26#39;ve got a Big Apple Greeter reserved. Your Greeter can be a big help with helping you get around. Do you know that all of our buses are wheelchair accessible? That%26#39;s how you%26#39;ll be getting around.

O.k., as I%26#39;m thinking about it, I say Go For It!!! There are lots of permanently disabled tourists who find New York a pretty accessible place, and you should too. Obviously it%26#39;s much better when you%26#39;re able to more easily get around, but this way you can take notes of what you want to do on your next trip.

NYC on crutches or wheelchair possible?

Thanks so much, Bettina! My ankle is feeling better already with your encouraging words. My first thought, as I layed in the snowbank after the break, was not my pain, the surgury nor the cast...it was ...MY TRIP TO NYC! Any other useful tips like yours are certainly welcome.

Rent a motorized scooter???

Don%26#39;t let your ankle problem spoil your trip. I had double foot surgery a few years ago and traveled without problems, it just takes extra time and planning. Be sure to check with your airline on their policy regarding checking your wheelchair, getting you from the curb to gate, etc.

If your hotel has concierge services, talk to them before the trip. They should be able to help you in many ways, especially in planning transportation by bus or taxi. You will need to take extra care with restaurant plans, many NYC restaurants have the restroom in the basement for example. Do use the phone to determine whether your chosen restaurants will be able to accommodate you comfortably.

Try to avoid busy sidewalks during rush hours, you don%26#39;t want people bumping into your elevated footrest. Take extra care with entering the street from sidewalks, I tumbled out of my wheelchair once when I mis-judged a curb. Sometimes it%26#39;s better to back into the street (if someone is pushing the chair), rather than risk tumbling forward.

Do get to theatres extra early, check NOW with each theatre you will attend to see whether you need to change your seating from your original tickets. Do let your greeters know about your accident, they will adjust their activities with you or you might be matched with a greeter who specializes in helping people in a wheelchair.

You might not be able to see quite as much as you originally planned, but you should be able to have a great trip. Go for it!

One other thought on theaters -- they all have accessible bathrooms, but you have to get a key from an usher. Not all restaurants are accessible. What shows are you going to see? I%26#39;ll try and suggest nearby restaurants that%26#39;ll accommodate a wheelchair, and that have accessible bathrooms.

Glad you%26#39;re feeling better!

We have tickets to Rent, The Producers and Movin%26#39;Out. My spirits are gradually lifting. I phoned my travel agent this am and made arrangements for the flight as well as a wheelchair access room at our hotel. You sure take these things for granted when you don%26#39;t need them. One thing at a time...I%26#39;m trying to find phone numbers for each theatre to check into special seating, as per your suggestion. Are they available? (Richard Rodgers, St James and Nederlander)

Do the Gray Line tour buses (double deckers) have wheelchair access? How about touring ESB?

Thanks again!

The Nederlander Theater, where Rent is playing, is, I believe, across the street from the back entrance to the new Times Square Hilton. Their restaurant, ';Above,'; is on the same high floor as the hotel lobby. It%26#39;s a new hotel, so it must all be wheelchair accessible. My recollection of the restaurant, which I%26#39;ve been to once, was that it was roomy and airy. We were two at a table for four. This is a restaurant you should definitely look into for before or after Rent.

Go to www.nederlander.org -- The Nederlander Organization operates the Richard Rodgers and Nederlander Theaters. You can click on the ';contact us'; link on their web site, so you can ask for info on wheelchair seating at those theaters. For the St. James Theater, contact Telecharge, 1-800-432-7250.

I love this forum! Thanks Bettina, Dianne %26amp; NYCamb. Called all 3 theatres. Was accommodated nicely at St James, the guy at Richard Rogers was really helpful and sympathetic, and I was told to go early to Nederlander and they%26#39;d see what they could do (least helpful, but still hopeful).

Yahoo! ';Start spreading the news...'; NYC here I come - cast, crutches, wheelchair and all!

Don%26#39;t forget your garbage bags, for encasing your casted leg while bathing or showering. Also in case of rain while wheeling around town! That brings up are you reserving a handicapped room, might be much easier to use the bathroom, room to store your wheelchair, wider doors, etc. Good to hear you%26#39;re feeling more optimistic about your trip.

I would think there has to be a forum on the web for wheelchair travelers! Have you tried googling for this? You might find lots more info. that would help you with this journey.

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Discount tickets to Broadway shows

If you choose to line up for tickets at the TKTS booth (Times Square or the Seaport location), what kind of wait can be expected ? We will be looking for show tickets for March 29 or 30, something family oriented, but we are not looking for one particular show - suggestions? What websites are good to look for discount tickets ahead of time if we do not wish to chance the lineups in nyc?

Discount tickets to Broadway shows

We have discovered from someone else%26#39;s post that online discounts on those dates are difficult (especially for kid friendly things.) b/c it%26#39;s Easter week. You can have a look on broadwaybox.com for discount codes but not sure there are any for those dates.

tdf.org will tell you about the 2 (yes 2) TKTS booths and what%26#39;s been available recently. The one downtonw across from the south Street Seaport is much less crowded AND you can buy matinee tickets there the day before. So in your shoes, I%26#39;d go down there on Tues for a wed matinee.

Hairspray, Fiddler on the Roof, Beauty and the Beast, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Cookin%26#39; off Broadway. OH here%26#39;s an idea!!! Shockheaded Peter is off Broadway, is based on a children%26#39;s story book and got rave reviews in London. It%26#39;s available with a discount (from Playbill) for $41!! and good for your dates. Check on playbill.com (by registering for free) and/or broadwaybox.com

Discount tickets to Broadway shows

nywhiz, thanks for the info - I%26#39;ll check it out!

Mamma Mia is a good musical

too.

Salisbury area must sees including eats?

Okay switched from embassy/financial dist. to Salisbury Hotel we are family of 4 (2 adults %26amp; children ages 7 %26amp; 4). The reviews are pretty good so not too nervous about choice. Wondering about must sees including restaurants %26amp; sights? Arriving 3/4-3/7.

Salisbury area must sees including eats?

The great thing about The Salisbury is its location. You have a subway station at each end of the block with Columbus Circle only 2 blocks further away. Consequently the whole of Manhattan is at your mercy! Must sees for us were: walking over Brooklyn Bridge at sunset, ditto Empire State Building, the Cloisters, Ground Zero/St Paul%26#39;s Chapel.

Great places to eat? We liked D J Reynolds (351 W 57th Street), Angelo%26#39;s Pizza (next door but one) and we could/should have visited the Carnegie Deli and The Boathouse but time or the wallet did not allow. Shelleys is opposite the hotel and the Red Eye grill just around the corner - they both come highly recommended.

Anybody seen anyone ';famous';???in new york

Sounds kinda immature, but i am a star struck person, and me and my 2 best girlfriends are going during spring break, and have this plan to spot ';famous people'; while we are there. Any hot spots where they hang out at?

Anybody seen anyone ';famous';???in new york

I%26#39;ve seen Sean Penn and Alex Baldwin (seperate times) on the Upper West Side, on the street. Don%26#39;t know where the hang outs are, sorry.

Anybody seen anyone ';famous';???in new york

When walking around both the Upper West Side and Greenwich Village just keep your eyes open because you never know who is next to you. Also, Times Square before %26amp; after showtimes.....if there is someone specific you want to see that is in a show, you want wait to see them afterwards.

I have seen so many people, too numerous to mention, even on the subway.

Happy sightings!

Yeah, I saw Santa Claus in last year%26#39;s Macy%26#39;s Thanksgiving Day parade.

I can beat that Ruff...I saw Bettina! She%26#39;s much more famous than Santa. Just remembered that you saw her as well,which has me lagging behind ....darn that parade. (tried to write a word that rhymes with sam, but it wouldn%26#39;t post, it said it was a profanity!!!!!!!!!!!!)

My job has me walking around Manhattan all day with hour periods of time to kill. Most of my stomping ground is around Chelsea and the Village but I have seen celebrities in every neighborhood. Primarily in Chelsea, Soho Tribeca and the West Village. Keep your eyes open because they really seem to blend in here. (unless, of course, they%26#39;re out clubbing with an entourage).

They do seem to blend in, some of them look almost human! I know how tough it is having a famous face. I%26#39;m often mistaken for Catherine Deneuve.

Hang out outside a theater in which the show has recently premiered, as the audience is exiting or during intermission. The celebs like being the first kid on their block to see something. I once shared a smoke with Matt Damon during the intermission of La Boheme. Also, try any of the NY-based talk shows--Letterman, Regis %26amp; Kelly, Today, etc. You%26#39;ll see them entering and exiting.

Saw Ronan Keating in Times Square last Nov. - americans may not know him but he was in a boy band in the UK/Ireland a few years ago.

I saw alan rickman from die hard and harry potter in fao schwarz, I actually ran his woman over with my daughters pram....I blame jet lag for that!!

Try hanging around NBC, for example, I saw Kevin Bacon arriving for TODAY last year... look for limo%26#39;s...

Help with itinerary

I am so confused now with our itinerary, maybe someone can help. I am going with my 12 year old son (mom). We will be in New York late on the 22 of March and leaving late on the 29th of March. We like museums but I think 2 would be enough. We are going to a Knicks game the night of the 23rd. We are planning a broadway show for 1 or 2 evenings other than that it is up in the air. We want to group activities by location so we%26#39;re not running from one end of town to the other on the same day. We are staying at the Belvedere so we are close to midtown. Please help!!!

Help with itinerary

Not easy to do without knowing your interests and budget but here are a few thoughts to start you off.

March 23 - Take the Grayline downtown bus loops tour in the morning. You can get on and off wherever you see something worth exploring. After lunch, wander over to the ESPN Zone in Times Square. Your son might like the interactive games. About an hour before sunset, head over to the Empire State Building to watch the sun set from the Observation deck. After, a quick dinner and walk over to the Garden for the game.

March 24 - Spend the morning exploring Central Park. Have lunch at the Boathouse and wander over to the west side and spend the afternoon at the Museum of Natural History. Don%26#39;t miss the dinosaurs. Back to the hotel, dinner and a show.

March 25 - Hop the subway downtown and take the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island tour. After that, visit Ground Zero, St Paul%26#39;s Church, perhaps Wall St. Walk over to the South Street Seaport, have lunch, admire the views and tour the tall ships.

Afternoon, walk around Chinatown, Little Italy and Soho.

March 26 - Head up to the Bronx Zoo. Come back midday, have lunch, and tour Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick%26#39;s, Radio City Music Hall. Walk south along 5th to 44th Street and then east over to Grand Central Station. Cheesecake at Junior%26#39;s.

March 27 - Try the jazz bruch at B.B. King%26#39;s. In the afternoon take the Circle Line 2-hour cruise around lower Manhattan. From there, walk over to the Intrepid Air, Sea %26amp; Space Museum. Do a Broadway show Sunday night.

March 28 - NBC tour if he%26#39;s interested in TV. If not, over to Chelsea Piers for the sports activities. Afternoon wandering around Greenwich Village. Back to hotel and dinner at the Carnegie Deli and the world%26#39;s most impressive pastrami sandwich.

March 29 - Back to any attractions you might have missed. Perhaps a helicopter ride to top it off. Pack and home.

Help with itinerary

Thanks Ruffian42 that itinerary looks quite doable. We are pretty much game for anything. Budget wise it doesn%26#39;t really matter. We have a greeter one day but not sure when so we can work around that as well. Thanks again for your help!

I think Ruff%26#39;s plan looks great. If you want to splurge, everyone seems to love a helicopter ride. My guess is it would be a highlight for your son. Also, the Intrepid Air and Space Museum might interest him and is not that far from your hotel. Only other thought right now, Chelsea Piers is a huge sports complex if he%26#39;s into sports (chelseapiers.com) And there are some interesting programs for kids at the park (centralpark.org)

Sorry I didn%26#39;t read all Ruff%26#39;s notes. He%26#39;s already covered what I suggested. ;) except for the helicopter ride. (I think)

Thanks NYWhiz its becoming clearer now. When you read so many itinerary plans it starts to become really confusing. Do you know if you can get a big apple greeter for more than one day during our visit?

Transporation suggestions from LGA to Salisbury Hotel?

Hi there: Does anyone have any suggestions on transporation for family of 4 (2 adults %26amp; children ages 7 %26amp; 4) from LGA to Salisbury Hotel on 3/4?

Transporation suggestions from LGA to Salisbury Hotel?

sorry I meant transportation (smile)

Brrrrr?

Heading to NYC March 14th. how%26#39;s the wheather?

taxi transportation normally $45 to JFK, is there any lower than that?

Brrrrr?

Here%26#39;s the website that describes all the transport options from JFK. Cheapest is the train.

http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/jgtsfram.htm

You might also consider the bus that goes to Grand Central or Port Authority. (Don%26#39;t take the bus that drops people at their hotels. It takes forever).

It really depends on how many are travelling, how much luggage you have and where you%26#39;re going to decide which is best.

It%26#39;s very cold here now and we just had more snow. Go to wunderground.com to see average temps etc.

Brrrrr?

The rate you have is pretty standard for cab fare, and I would recommend a cab over other options from JFK to Manhattan to save time and hassle.

As for the weather, yikes, who knows? Take along some long silk underwear, good boots, warm topcoat, hat and scarf just in case. You will ikely need them in the evening, regardless. Also take layers, i.e., stuff you can peel off if the day turns warm. Buy an umbrella when you get there if you need one and your hotel does not provide. March is sometimes a windy, rainy month. Cheap umbrellas can go blooey on you in 10 seconds if a squally windy rain kicks up. Better to go to a good department store and buy a strong one than go to a corner grocery or drug store and find yourself buying many cheap ($9.99) ones. Even in the rain, New York is fantastic!

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First Timer Suggestions

I am going to be in NY March 12-16 and have some friends joining me who have never been to NY. Any suggestions of where to take them? I%26#39;ve been twice before but have yet to do many of the touristy things. Any restaurant suggestions would be great too? Thanks -Rachel

Is it still going to be snowing when I get there?

First Timer Suggestions

Rachel your ??? are much too general. We don%26#39;t know how old you/your friends are, what you like, where you%26#39;ve already been and where you haven%26#39;t, what sort of food you like, where you%26#39;re staying.....get the picture ;) And maybe it will be snowing at this rate. Who knows. Not the weather men.

I would say read the trip report just posted today on the thread titled ';Back in Maidstone'; posted by maidstonenic. They did almost everything. The one thing that the Brit%26#39;s do that everyone seems to love is take a helicopter ride. It%26#39;s expensive but many say it%26#39;s a highlight and worth it.

First Timer Suggestions

Sorry for the vaugness. My friends and I are 23 and they are visiting from Virginia and have not traveled much at all. I was just looking for some sightseeing suggestions since we are only there for 4 days and I haven%26#39;t done much beyond Canal St. on my visits. I have seen the Statue of Liberty (from across the water) and have walked by the Empire State Building and Central Park. Are these things worth doing more indepth? Someone told me there is a bar that you can get the same view as the ESB. We are staying on 46th Street but willing to go wherever within the city if you all have suggestions. Hopefully this helps narrow things down a bit :)

One suggested ';tour';--Start out at Rockefeller center, (this is a NY focal point), check out ice rink and the RCA building--shops in the concourse, then cross 5th Ave to Saks, then go up 5th- go into St. Patrick%26#39;s cathedral, look into the various shops going up 5th, go into Trump tower--there%26#39;s a casual eating place, shops; farther up 5th is FAO Schwartz and across the street is the Plaze Hotel (just before central park)--take a walk into the Plaza (hope its still open, its being made into condos), then head into central park--walk around and look back at the skyline on central park south. You might want to go up as far as the zoo in central park--its small but very nice. You might want to walk into the upper east side streets--in the 60s across to Park Ave to get a flavor of that part of town. All sorts of interesting upscale shops on Madison Ave in the 60s and up. You%26#39;ll also want to walk around Times Square also, maybe get tickets to a show.

If they want an outrageous shock, take them to Lips restaurant in the West Village, hosted by exotic, entertaining Drag Queens/transsexuals. They do 2 ';shows'; each evening, one around 7pm and the next around 9pm so time your meal accordingly, they lip-synch and dance and have a laugh with the guests.

www.lipsnyc.com

Whats in for this year???

ok so last year, the thing everyone was going crazy over was louie vutton, and von dutch stuff. now that thats kind of old, what is it this year??

Whats in for this year???

Roca Wear and Ralph Lauren

Whats in for this year???

I think it%26#39;s whatever you personally like and fits within your budget. I see people styled to perfection everywhere from Paris to Kansas City in unknown brands with unknown prices. Grab a fashion mag or two to see trends, then pick clothes that you feel comfortable in that compliment you. Go for quality and (clothes should last for more than a year), and don%26#39;t assume that price is a measure of the same. Buy what works for you at department stores, boutiques, discount stores, or consignment shops. Feel free! Have fun!

River Cafe?

After reading all the rave reviews of The River Cafe I had a look at the w/site. Looks fab!!!!!! How much would an average 3 course meal be? I%26#39;d like to go for my birthday (will be in NY for it) but don%26#39;t want to take out a mortgage for it. Also what%26#39;s the dress code for women?

River Cafe?

Well ya might have to take out a mortgage, but heck it%26#39;s your birthday!! I read it is $78.00 a person, not including drinks. I am going with my 2 best friends, and am trying to convince them to go, cause it looks awsome, and everyone raves about it!!! Happy birthday to you!!!

River Cafe?

Check the website again, click onto menu and the prices are there for lunch, brunch, dinner etc.

MEn need jackets for dinner, women dressy casual.

I am going on Thursday, will be wearing slacks %26amp; a nice top, and I will post a report.

It seems that everyone who has gone %26amp; posted has loved it.

We%26#39;ll see.

Thanks, athough the ';happy birthday'; is a bit premature........it%26#39;s not %26#39;til September....thank god, because I%26#39;m the big (boo-hoo) 30! Am I right in thinking $78 is about 锟斤拷40-45. Would love to hear how you get on if you do manage to coax your pals into going.

Hey you and me both Devondumpling.

That is why i am planning to be somewhere fun and exciting for my birthday and what better place in the world than NYC.

What date in September? mine is the 24th.

The River Cafe is a MUST. We went in January, for Sunday lunch - 2pm. The food is fantastic, definitely leave room for dessert. Try and book as far in advance as possible, and ask for a window table.

21st. Flying home the next day. I couldn%26#39;t think of anything more depressing than staying home for my 30th. Besides it%26#39;s a great way to avoid those embarrassing surprise parties, or worse still finding out there isn%26#39;t one. I%26#39;m doing all the overtime going at work so I can SPEND, SPEND, SPEND!!!!!!!!

so how long will you in NYC for?

i don%26#39;t know what the airfares are like from England to NYC but here they are huge.

About 锟斤拷400 from my local (ish) airport, which is twice what it would be from Heathrow. I figure that it would cost me and my mum about 锟斤拷100 each to get to Heathrow (train and hotel stay) so it%26#39;s not too bad. Do you have any idea what the weather is likely to be like in September? Hot, humid,sticky,mild? I%26#39;m hoping that it will be starting to cool down abit.

I can%26#39;t make out the $$ amount as it is showing in squares all i can see is 400 and im sure it wasn%26#39;t $400.. that would be a bargin if it was.

The cheapest i have found for September is $4858.60 for 2 tickets for my husband and I.

there are sales on now that finish in june and end of august. Wouldn%26#39;t you know september is one of the expensive months to visit.

Okay, did a few sums and I think your flight is around 1,800+ pounds, correct? Where as our flights are about 800 pounds for both of us. I will not be moaning about the cost of the flight from now on, that%26#39;s for sure. It%26#39;s a shame about airport tax which accounts for around 90 pounds each. I%26#39;ve a funny feeling I%26#39;ll be returning in two seats. All I keep hearing about on this forum is foooooooood!!!!!!! What better way to discover a country than with it%26#39;s food.

Suggeted Itinerary March 8-15

First trip to NYC between 8-15th March, 2005. Would be grateful for any thoughts on improving this itinerary. Iv%26#39;e left a day free as a %26#39;wild card%26#39; - would appreciate any suggestions here - possibly a day trip, suggested walk, anything really??

Tuesday

Arrive JFK at 4:30pm (Taxi to Manhattan - $45). Staying at Hotel Thirty/Thirty for 3 nights.

Wednesday

Purchase a 7day Metro card ($21).

* Trying to secure a %26#39;big-apple greeter%26#39; for first day. This is still unconfirmed so will follow Thursday锟斤拷锟絪 itinerary if this is not possible.

Thursday

(am) Take subway to Battery Park (at the top of Whitehall St) and catch Staten Island Ferry.

On return visit Ground Zero, St Paul锟斤拷锟絪 Cathedral, Century 21 (22 Cortland St).

South Street Seaport for views of Brooklyn Bridge.

Take subway to Little Italy with the aim of getting something to eat on Mulberry St (Pellegrino锟斤拷锟絪).

(pm) Pre-booked tickets for ESB in evening.

Friday

(am) Transfer to the Ameritania Hotel (230 W 54th street - 4nts).

Stroll down to Times Square to get bearings and grab some lunch, before returning to the hotel to change.

(pm) visit MOMA (11W 53rd street) - free entry from 4pm.

Tickets booked in advance to see Chicago @ 8pm, Ambassador Theatre (North side of 49th Street). Walk along Columbus Ave after the show - look for somewhere to eat/drink in the area (??).

Saturday

(am) Central Park 锟斤拷锟?Boathouse Restaurant (located on the north eastern tip of lake) for 锟斤拷锟絙runch锟斤拷锟? Bethesda Fountain then hire a rowing boat to view the Bow Bridge and lake. Walk west to Strawberry fields and Upper West Side. Visit NY Public Library before returning to Hotel.

(pm) BB Kings (Jazz club) located on 42nd street.

Sunday - %26#39;sports day%26#39; :-)

(am) Watch Wales versus Scotland 6Nations Rugby at Baker Street Pub on 1st Ave, corner of 63rd St (Website confirms that the game will be televised 锟斤拷锟絣ive锟斤拷锟?from 10am).

(pm) Maddison Square Gardens. Booked tickets in advance to see the Nicks vs Sonics 锟斤拷锟?starts at 6 pm.

Monday - Shopping day to keep girlfriend happy following sports day :-(

(am) 锟斤拷锟?Either 5th Ave or bus out to Woodbury Common.

Visit Cinema at AMC Empire (42nd Street).

Tuesday

Check out of Hotel and get subway to Grand Central Station. Juniors for cheese cake.

Return via subway and Air-train to JFK. Flight leaves at 6pm.

Suggeted Itinerary March 8-15

The MTA just raised the price of the 7-day card from $21 to $24.

The itinerary is pretty loose, which isn%26#39;t a bad thing. Notice you don%26#39;t have a lot of the usual suspects listed, such as the Empire State Building, MoMa, Museum of Natural History, Greenwich Village, Chinatown, etc. Have you done these previously?

Also, just out of curiosity, why are you changing hotels in mid-stream. By designb? Or did the 30-30 not have a room for your entire stay?

Suggeted Itinerary March 8-15

Ruffian - thanks for responding and happy %26#39;St David锟斤拷锟絪 Day%26#39; to you and everyone else on the forum.

I have scheduled a visit to the Empire State Building for Thursday evening and MOMA on Friday around 4pm. I appreciate we won%26#39;t have much time to see all that MOMA has to offer as we have Theatre tickets booked for 8pm, but I guess we can return later in the week if we like!

I haven%26#39;t visited Greenwitch Village or China Town before.

I recall a posting by %26#39;Carpenter%26#39; suggesting a walk from the Financial District - North along Broadway towards Union Square (with a detour left on Bleecker Street). I%26#39;ll look to include this on Thursday afternoon if my legs can handle it. I%26#39;ll hopefully have time to take a stroll into China Town after eating in little Italy??

I couldn%26#39;t secure any accommodation (in my price range) for a full week during our stay - 30/30 being fully booked over the weekend period. Ordinarily, I would have avoided the move.... I锟斤拷锟絤 looking at it positively though as it锟斤拷锟絪 a bit closer to the Theatre district and Central Park. I%26#39;m hoping your curiosity isn%26#39;t fuelled by any concerns with the Ameritania??

I%26#39;ve tried to keep the itinerary quite loose, however, any direction you or others can offer is much appreciated.

Funny your wishing me a happy St. David%26#39;s Day. Back at you as well. This morning I turned my calendar from February to March and there, in the March 1 box, in small letters, it said ';St. David%26#39;s Day-Wales.'; Okay...my curiosity is up. Who was St. David and of what importance is he to the Welsh?

Back to travel-related matters. My query about switching hotels had nothing to do with any concerns about the Ameritania. I know nothing about it. It was about the fact that having to switch lodging in the middle of a vacation is generally a pain in the butt.

Since you mentioned you may have lunch in Little Italy, here are a few recommendations since I used to live there.

For pizza, Lombardi%26#39;s, 32 Spring Street.

For pasta, Pellegrino%26#39;s, 138 Mulberry.

For non-pasta Italian, Il Palazzo, 151 Mulberry.

For white tablecloth elegance, Il Cortile, 125 Mulberry.

For a tiny place that looks non-descript but nonetheless serves up surprisingly good food, Rocky%26#39;s, 45 Spring Street.

I%26#39;ll just mention that the lines at MOMA for the Fri. free admission have been very long. Since you%26#39;ve got theater planned for that night, might not best time to go OR, get there much before 4 to get at the front of the q. Somehow I have the idea you don%26#39;t really want to do this ;-)

I%26#39;m confused about your walking Columbus Ave. after your show. Columbus ave. is on the UWS and the show is midtown. It certainly can be done, but if you%26#39;re eating after the show (around 10 or later) I don%26#39;t think you want to be strolling around.

I don%26#39;t think row boats will be available this early in the season. The water is probably still frozen.

Ruffian, Thanks for your advice.

Dewi Sant (St. David) in the Welsh language was the grandson of Ceredig, King of Ceredigion and son of Non, who was said to be King Arthur锟斤拷锟絪 niece. In his life he was a Celtic monk who helped to spread Christianity through the West of Britain. He founded many religious centres in Wales and even travelled on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where he was made an Archbishop. He has recently been acknowledged as a major player in helping to keep the Welsh language (the oldest language in Western Europe im told) alive and kicking.

Although he lived in the 6th Century most stories about him were written over 500 years later. One famous story describes when he was speaking to a large crowd in Llandewi Brefi (a village in Wales better known these days for its prominence in a sketch for the UK comedy 锟斤拷锟斤拷锟斤拷Little Britain锟斤拷锟?and its central character Daffydd 锟斤拷锟絫he only gay in the village锟斤拷锟? and he made the ground rise up so everyone could see him. Bit of a 6th Century David Blane.

I was about to suggest that St David锟斤拷锟絪 Day is a very similar to that celebrated by our Celtic cousins on St Patrick锟斤拷锟絪 Day yet with less international renown. However, I understand St David was given the name Dewi Ddyfrwr (David the Water Drinker) by his followers because he drank only water all his life. Not much resonance with St Patrick锟斤拷锟絪 Day there then :-)

Apologies if iv%26#39;e gone on a bit - learn%26#39;t most of this today myself which is a bit poor really!

Full points to him for keeping the language alive...but couldn%26#39;t he have done something to clear up the spelling a bit? I was always concerned about driving in Wales because if I got lost and needed directions, I was convinced I couldn%26#39;t have pronounced where it was I wanted to go...or where I was.

NYWhiz -

Thks - I got the %26#39;Columbus Ave Walk%26#39; from a posting on the forum. Will look for somewhere a bit closer to the Hotel me thinks.

Thks also 4 the frozen lake pretext - it was a suggestion tabled by my girlfriend. Think you might have saved me a bit of elbow grease there.

Ps. you锟斤拷锟絭e got me sussed re: MOMA :-)

Fair point Ruff.

Donny Osmonds just been over here having the same problems trying to find his Great Grandfather in a place called Merthyr Tydfil.

So you%26#39;d be in good company.

Actually, it%26#39;d be Donnie who%26#39;d be in good company.

The Gates

I have read a few mentions of The Gates. Can someone explain what are The Gates please

The Gates

The gates was a project started in 1979 and was placed for 16 days in central park. There were thousands of orange ';gates'; (more like a piece of orange cloth hanging between two orange poles) spread out through central park.

They have been dismantled now, but it wasn%26#39;t that special... at least for me.

The Gates

It was the attempt of a self-proclaimed artist and his wife to hang thousands of orange shower curtains throughout Central Park during the month of February with the City%26#39;s permission after about four previous City administrations had turned the idea down. It was quite controversial. Some people bought the hype. Others thought it obscured, if not defaced the natural beauty of the park. The good news is that the laundry is back in the hamper where it belongs.

Weather

Hi Planning on a trip to NY what is the weather generally like in July/August we will be there for a fortnight not tied to any dates. Ann

Weather

Usually hot and humid, occasionally humid and hot.

medication cream

Greek Easter Restaurant

Does anyone have any ideas on what would be a good family type Greek restaurant to go to on Greek Easter Sunday? (May 1st) Would Astoria be better than Manhattan?

Greek Easter Restaurant

I was going to recommend Astoria but I see you already know about it. Dozens of wonderful Greek restaurants there--but I never remember the names. Check the NY (not NY City) board for neighborhoods until you find Astoria. If you%26#39;re willing to travel a bit further into Queens, I can recommend my favorite Greek restaurant, Laterna(sp) on Bell Boulevard in Bayside, Queens. Wonderful family place, Greek owned and operated.

Greek Easter Restaurant

Make sure wherever you go:

- you have a reservation.

- that it is near publication transport otherwise that could elevate your dinner price by a substantial bit.

Budget Hotel

Im planning to go to new york city for the weekend.Can anyone tell me any clean budget hotels that are cheap but also clean and no shared bathrooms.

Budget Hotel

The madison hotel is a GREAT budget hotel. I stayed in the junior suite of this hotel and payed 119$ US, but there are cheaper rooms. you can check it out on their website.

Just keep in mind that it still is a budget hotel and therefore it is a no frills hotel. However, the people working at the hotel are friendly enough and try to accomodate your every need.

Budget Hotel

before i forget, although i haven%26#39;t stayed there, the red roof inn is supposed to be fabulous. so try booking this place before the madison.

I stayed at the red roof inn this past weekend. Rate of $109 for a double room. Excellent location, 32nd st btwn 5th and 6th ave. Just under the Empire State Building. Coffee maker and coffee in room. Great little breakfast room with fresh bagels, donuts, fruit etc in the morning. Rooms are small but clean! I thought it was a great deal.

21st birthday to remember

We are bringing our son to NYC on the 5th of April to celebrate his 21st birthday - 6th April (we are also bringing my parents in law and my son%26#39;s best friend) It is a complete surprise, he knows nothing about it but as it has alsways been his dream we would like to make it as memorable as it possibly can be. Any suggestions for a perfect day that will also suit 3 generations?

21st birthday to remember

How about a helicopter ride, there a few websites offering tours of the city. I took a helicopter around the liberty for my 21st birthday and i was amazing

21st birthday to remember

Thanks Nikki, that%26#39;s a really good idea, can you recommend any particular site?

Lunch or dinner at the River Cafe rivercafe.com

What does he like in particular?

Hi Nywhiz, He%26#39;s just about to Graduate from University with a degree in Multi Media design, his taste seems to me to be typical for his age and career choice. Food wise its steak, pizza etc and he is very keen on beer and bars (what student isn%26#39;t?!) but he despises pretension of any kind although he is trendy. Does that make any sense? He has had a passion to visit NYC since he was a child and so will want to see all the famous sights and, as a film buff, would be keen to see film locations etc. Thanks for your help

Mine was booked with http://www.allnewyorktours.com/

I had no problems at all with this company i%26#39;d strongly recommend it.

If he%26#39;s into movies etc, why not go to lunch in Times Sq at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co, which has been created from the Forest Gump movie. Food here is typically american and they offer some great drink choices. I really loved it here.

I still think the River Cafe is a once in a lifetime experience.

If he%26#39;s a film buff and loves NY I%26#39;d assume he knows Woody Allen movies. WAllen uses the Manhattan skyline view from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade (not far from the River Cafe.) so you must go there. I%26#39;ll do some more thinking.

Elliebelly....there%26#39;s a family style restaurant in Little Italy called Puglia%26#39;s that is alot of fun with upbeat groups who are looking to celebrate. For a nominal fee, maybe 20-30, they%26#39;ll give you different italian dishes while serving you pitchers of beer %26amp; wine. They just keep it coming. They also have this elvis looking impersonator that keeps the diners entertained and waiving their napkins in the air. It%26#39;s really only fun for dinner. Always had a good time there.

Don%26#39;t forget the Roosevelt Island tram for great views of the 59th Street Bridge (featured in the new Spiderman movie and in the opening scene of Woody Allen%26#39;s Manhattan. Brooklyn Heights and Bridge is guaranteed to take anyone%26#39;s breath away (no matter how old) and don%26#39;t forget to visit Hersheys in Times Square and get a Happy Birthday message put up in lights for $4.99 - see here for details: www.hersheys.com/discover/timessquare.asp

Hope your son has a fabulous birthday - don%26#39;t forget to let everyone know that it is his special day - you%26#39;ll be amazed at the treatment you%26#39;ll get.

Nicci, nywhizz, Eddie, thank you so much for your I help, it is very much appreciated.

I am a Woody Allen fan so I too am looking forward to Brooklyn Bridge etc, John will love it, especially now we know where to get the proper view.

All three restaurants sound just what we are looking for, one all of us will like, one for the boys and one for the girls, perfect!

Incidentally, is it better to pre-book transport from the airport (JFK) or take our luck on the day?

Thank you MaidstoneNic, what a terrific idea, it would make his day to have his name in lights!

If we opt to walk Brooklyn Bridge only one way

Reading this forum tells me from Brooklyn back to Manhatten is the best view - right now we are planning on catching the subway from Lexington Ave to City Hall stop, walking across to Brooklyn, Grimaldi%26#39;s for pizza and back across the bridge. However, if we choose to just walk back is this our best bet.....we are staying at The Warwick - I%26#39;m guessing we would walk to the subway station at 42nd/Broadway and take the #2 train to Clark Street in Brooklyn. Catch a view from the Promenade. Then how far of a walk is it from there to Grimaldi%26#39;s?

Any suggestions/changes are welcome.

If we opt to walk Brooklyn Bridge only one way

You could also take the A or C to High street. Either way, you%26#39;re looking at a walk of about 1/2 mile--10 minutes.

If we opt to walk Brooklyn Bridge only one way

Just make you sure you time things to walk back across the bridge at dusk. That%26#39;s the secret to 99% of the magic.

Whenever I lived along the Lexington line, I would take the 4 or 5 express train to Fulton St./Broadway-Nassau. I would then change to the A or C and take it one stop to High St. in Brooklyn. When you walk out of the High St. subway stop, you are at a pedestrian entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge. We would usually walk from there to Grimaldi%26#39;s first, however. It is a very short, easy walk. It is not a very attractive street, however; Clark St. might be more scenic route. I have never tried it, so I don%26#39;t know. You could walk easily from there to Grimaldi%26#39;s, the River Cafe, Jacques Torres%26#39;s Chocolates, the water front, etc.- and definitely very easily to the bridge.

I just copied this off one of Ruffian%26#39;s posts:

';You can take the A, C, or E to Borough Hall or the 2 or 3 to Clark Street. Make sure you explore Brooklyn Heights. The Clark St. station will let you off right in the middle of it. The Heights is a landmark residential neighborhood of old brownstone homes and tree-lined streets with old fashioned gas lamps. Walk down to the Promenade for the best views of Manhattan in all of New York. From there it%26#39;s about a 15-minute walk to the Brooklyn Bridge. The entrance is just off Tillary Street, easy to find with plenty of signs. At the other end of the Bridge is the Brooklyn Bridge subway station.';

Ruffian, if I were to get off at Borough Hall, would I be in this part of Brooklyn Heights you have described? If so, I might have to stay on one more stop on the A/C line the next time I make a trip there. I hope you don%26#39;t mind my plagiarism. I gave you credit, though!

TravelRN. High Street lets you off closer to the Bridge. The Jay Street-Borough Hall entrance is closer to the Heights. The Clark Street station on the 2 or 3 lets you off IN Brooklyn Heights itself. It%26#39;s the only station actually in the Heights.

Thanks for the credit.

Thank you Carpenter, TravelRN and of course Ruffian!! Hopefully I will be posting our two day :( itinerary shortly and would love lots of input!

link to NYC forums

Hi! Could you give me some links to other NYCity forums where I would find topics, etc. Thank you.

link to NYC forums

There is another site askanewyorker.com you could try there but if you have any questions please post them here and someone will try to help you

link to NYC forums

There%26#39;s virtualtourist.com which has lots of regular contributors, and I have to second askanewyorker.com which is fantastic!

Flights to NYC in October from the UK - buy now or wait?

Hi,

We are looking to fly to NYC in October of this year. Prices for flights are quite expensive for this trip - if we book now.

Hotels are already reserved, but we%26#39;re just wondering if it would be better to wait a while to buy the flights in case they come down.

Local travel agents have told us to buy now as if we leave it, it will be more expensive, but I think that there must be some deals available later on in the year for flights in October?

Is there anyone on this forum that flew to NYC last year around October - when did you book, and how much were your flights?

Any help much appreciated.

Thanks.

Flights to NYC in October from the UK - buy now or wait?

I would predict they will become more expensive. We book a fair amount of flights from the UK to Baltimore and so far they all seem to get dearer as you get nearer to the date. Oct is definately not the cheapest time, I have recently compared flights for the halfterm week with flights in December and the ones in December are way cheaper!

October is a v popular time to visit New York, not too hot or cold, again another reason I think they will not come down.

You can leave it til later if you don%26#39;t mind taking the risk, but I wouldn%26#39;t, depends how important your trip is.

I have noticed the hotels in NYC October are fairly pricey too!

Flights to NYC in October from the UK - buy now or wait?

Hi

If your planning to go during UK half term, I would recommend to book now rather than later. I booked my flights for March at the beginning of January with Virgin and ever since then the flight price has always been more expensive, haven%26#39;t seen it get cheaper. Also does your trip include a Sunday night stay in New York? The lowest fare most airlines offer required you to stay a Sunday night to get the best rate, you may find that your fare may come down by at least gbp 100 per person if you include a Sunday night stay, ours did.

Hope you find a good deal. C

Hi,I got bargain flights flying to New york on Good Friday booked last October,I have kept an eye on prices and they only ever go up.Have a look on Kellkoo price comparison web site they give you best the prices .Hope this helps.

i have booked a flight with united airlines flying xmas eve for 325.00 pounds which was much cheaper than the other airlines for flying on this day. however, it was this price because i included hotel booking as part of package through united vacations, if i was doing the same flight without hotel the cost was in the region of 500.00.

as an alternative operator try bon voyage(www.bon-voyage.com) or travel city( not ure of their web address but you will find ads in weekend newspapers. they are well known for good deals to florida but also do new york.

good luck

i agree with the others....book now. we%26#39;re going at the end of the month and I booked our flights back in october. I keep checking to see the price of them and they%26#39;ve went up by around 锟斤拷300 each!!!

It would be a good idea to book now as the October period goes falls in another shoulder period for airlines. Most of the %26#39;deals%26#39; you see state flights in the %26#39;low season%26#39; of Nov to December. This year I think the Xmas December cout off is around 14th Dec.

Thats when prices shoot up for the pre Xmas flights.

A tip if your travelling around Xmas. Book early for a xmas day flight and the norm is to transfer you back to a flight on xmas eve but you get the advantage of paying a much lower price.

Also check the airlines direct, don%26#39;t just rely on the likes of Expedia and Travelocity.

Enjoy.

medication cream

Taxis On Public Holidays?

I was just wondering how taxis charge on public holidays? Taxis over here tend to charge double fare on days like Christmas Day and I was wondering if it is the same in NY?

Im trying to plan a Christmas lunch and if it will be double fare I may re think going to the river cafe.

Thanks

Emma

sorry if this is a silly question!

Taxis On Public Holidays?

No extra charge on holidays, Emma, just that there might be a fewer number of them from which to choose.

Weather in New York

I am planning to go to New York at the end of November and was wanting to find out what the weather is usually like that time of year. Should I expect snow?!

Weather in New York

I think you should expect snow.

More details about New York Weather can be found at

uk.weather.com/weather/local/USNY0996鈥?/a>

Weather in New York

Feel free to expect anything you choose. Our weather does not care. You can get snow or brilliant, sun-filled days end of November. More likely to see snow in January through March.

Arriving in NY

Folks,

what can I expect when we touchdown at JFK? I%26#39;ve never flown to the USA before so don%26#39;t quite know what to expect...

Will there be loads of forms to fill in when we arrive or anything like that? Is there anything I can do that will speed up the process from leaving the plane to jumping in a taxi? Also, what is the airport security like - can I expect to have my hand luggage searched or is it still just totally random?

I think we%26#39;ve been concentrating too much on what we%26#39;ll do when we get there rather than actually getting there - it was only last night I thought I%26#39;d better check that my passport was still valid for another year!

Thanks in advance....

Arriving in NY

You will be given forms to complete on the plane. If you have these and your passport ready for immigration that%26#39;s all the speeding up you yourself can do.

I myself have never had my hand luggage searched either on departure from the UK (just the normal scanner thing) or entry into the US.

Arriving in NY

Hi, just to confirm. You will receive 1 visa waiver form per passenger and 1 customs form per party (same surname party)on the plane, you fill these out before landing (you will need your passport number, flight number and accommodation details so make sure you have them to hand). They are now fingerprinting you on these new scanning machines on arrival in the US, I travelled last Sept and again in January, I was fingerprinted in January but neither time was I photographed although I saw this happening to alot of other people so be prepared. I have found the luggage searching is more frequent in the US than the UK, (not hand luggage but hold luggage-suitcases). On my visit in January 1 of the suitcases in our party was opened on the way out by US security (they broke the lock!), on the way back they advised us if they wanted the case open so we could supply the padlock key if required - moral of the tale - dont lock your cases! This may sound silly but make sure you smile and are courteous to the immigration officers, some people get fed up with the waiting around and take out their frustration on the officials - be warned, this does not go down well!. All in all, we would rather have the extra security than not. Timewise, I have found some airports take longer to clear than others but have found JFK to be average, approx 60-90 mins to clear customs and immigration. Hope this helps.

Agree with what Coxy said - The visa waiver form that I filled in on the plane, I filled in wrong, put my date of birth in the wrong set of boxes, and you cant cross out. Asked the airhostess for another one and they had no more, so I was panicing a bit before we got to immigration. ANyway some guy came up and down the lines asking if forms were needed, so I got another one there (panic over). I got seperated from hubby while I was filling mine in, they opened more desks and he was ushered through. THe guy wouldnt let him wait at the other side of the desk for me he had to move behind a roped area so I couldnt see him, panic sets in again. ANyway when I got to the desk, got fingerprinted and photographed, the immigration official told me ';Dont worry, your husband is waiting just round the corner, he couldnt stay here'; and he was there, so my panic was for nothing the Immigration chap told hubby he would tell me where he was and he did, so I was most impressed. Sailed through customs and no luggage opened. Just be polite and do as you are asked.

Beauty and the Beast

Can you advise me on the best way to get discount tickets for March 28,29 or 30. Broadwaybox.com, playbill.com, theatermania.com all have codes that expire March 20. Should I just chance it and go to TKTS in Seaport area or is there any other way that I haven%26#39;t heard of yet? Thanks.

Beauty and the Beast

Have you tried to buy tickets using the codes that expire? Sometimes they%26#39;ll still work. If not, I found this other website online. I know nothing about it but you could try. If that doesn%26#39;t do it, unfortunately maybe because that%26#39;s Easter week, there may be no discounts available (supply and demand). You could try the TKTS booth. Look on tdf.org and see if it%26#39;s been available recently.

Beauty and the Beast

Oh my gosh..I didn%26#39;t even realize we were getting there Easter evening...boy, I%26#39;m with it, huh? I did call ticketmaster because of using broadwaybox.com and tried to give them the expired code, but the guy said he showed no valid codes. So, I guess I will just stand in line and hope for the best. I can get tickets for $100 a piece, but I just can%26#39;t handle that much. Thanks.

I agree $100 is too much for Beauty. Does it have to be that show? If you aren%26#39;t coming with kids, I strongly urge you to pick something else, preferably with a discount.

I am coming with my husband and my 16 year old daughter. Beauty and the Beast has so many sweet memories when my daughter was little...she watched that video so many times, I%26#39;m surprised it survived! We just thought it would be a sweet reminder of past times. Plus, we love the movie! Do you have suggestions of a play that a 16 yr old would enjoy? Rent, Hairspray, Stomp? It can be broadway or off broadway..we really don%26#39;t know the difference anyway.

Any of the ones you mentioned would be good. But my first choice would be FIDDLER ON THE ROOF! Famous music, great story and Harvey Fierstein will be taking over as Tevye (the lead) if he hasn%26#39;t already. Second choice would be Mama Mia.

You and your daughter should go to a matinee of Steel Magnolias. It%26#39;s just opening, about southern women (did you see the movie with Julia Roberts?) It%26#39;s got a great cast including Delta Burke. Discounts on playbill.com

Thanks...I%26#39;ll talk with her later about options.

Yes, I did see the movie...it was really good. I like Delta Burke too. Thanks for the suggestion. I appreciate that! :)

I would hold off a week or so and see if you find discount codes for ';Beauty and the Beast.'; I%26#39;m typically quite cynical about ';family'; shows, but I%26#39;ve seen ';Beauty'; many, many times over the years, and it%26#39;s lots of fun. Even if you see another show, you should still see Beauty as well!

Thanks Bettina...that%26#39;s kind of what I was thinking. I%26#39;ll keep checking back and then if I can%26#39;t find anything, go to TKTS booth. I looked on the website and last week they sold tickets to Beauty and the Beast. I just love the movie we really, really want to see this one the most. Thanks everyone again.

Hunan park, Calle ocho, Isabella's

Looking for opinions on these restaurant choices on the Upper West Side. Planning a weekend there in 2 weeks and these are the restaurants we are thinking about. Also thinking about having lunch at Baldoria%26#39;s before Sat matinee at Hairspray.

Hunan park, Calle ocho, Isabella's

I like Hunan Park. It%26#39;s just a neighborhood place though, so don%26#39;t expect ';fabulous,'; just really good Chinese food. Isabella%26#39;s is a good brunch place. So is Ocean Grill.

Awesome NY food the 1st night

We are arriving into NYC on Sunday evening, March 27th, probably around 7 or 8 pm. Will be staying at the Travel Inn at 515 W 42nd St. Please advise me on a few choices for dinner, at reasonable prices. I%26#39;m looking for the first meal to really show me New York City at it%26#39;s best....whether it be a hot dog or a great sandwich...Thank you.

Awesome NY food the 1st night

Unfortunately, no ';one'; restaurant will show you ';New York at its best';--whatever that means...and NY at its best is DEFINITELY NOT about ';reasonable prices';!!!! Gotham Bar %26amp; Grill in Greenwich Village is a great example of a great NY eatery (about $70 a person); Notaro on Second Ave. bet. 34th and 35th Sts is a great example of a neighborhood Italian restaurant with very modest prices; any Au Bon Pan is a great example of an upscale fast-good-food quick stop sandwich shop (and there are many sprinkled around the city); any of the quaint bistros/cafes in the Chelsea section (8th Avenue from about 17th to 23rd St) are great examples of non-pretentious hip spots to brunch/lunch/or have dinner. Or you could just wander over to Sixth Avenue (formerly ';Avenue of the Americas'; which only a tourist would refer to that way), across from Radio City, around lunchtime, where half a dozen or so carts ply their culinary wares--from Greek to Italian to Kosher to Chinese! (THATs the NY City experience that many workers enjoy daily!) Hope this is all of some help. Would you be able to answer the question easily if I asked the same one about Louisville, say?

Awesome NY food the 1st night

I just posted this in response to a query from someone else staying at the Travel Inn --

Chez Josephine is always recommended here, though I haven%26#39;t been lucky enough to eat there. For a nice casual meal, the West Bank Cafe is good. They%26#39;re both on 42nd St. between 9th-10th Avenues. You%26#39;ll also find the Westway Diner on 9th Ave. and 43rd St. Though you won%26#39;t see it on ';Seinfeld,'; this is the real diner that was the inspiration for the one used as a setting on the show. (The exterior of the show%26#39;s diner set is Tom%26#39;s, on the UWS.) That might be interesting if you%26#39;re a fan of the show.

There are a couple of nice bistros on 43rd St. %26amp; 9th Ave. too. I prefer Le Madeleine (www.lemadeleine.com) but Marseille is also good (www.marseillenyc.com).

For a real ';New York'; experience, I%26#39;d probably recommend Joe Allen%26#39;s on Restaurant Row. www.joeallenrestaurant.com

You%26#39;ll need a reservation though. Typical (though good) American food and very good burgers, this popular theater district restaurant is a hang-out for actors and others involved in theater. And probably the best-known celeb spotting place.

Seems as though I have offended you geohab...not sure why, I guess my wording was what it should be. I have heard so much about New York, I just wanted a restaurant that says, You can only get this in New York...that%26#39;s all. Louisville? It%26#39;s pretty much the same as Indianapolis, St. Louis...in a lot of ways I guess. I thought this forum was to ask New Yorkers about their city.

Bettina_NYC didn%26#39;t seem to have a problem or attitude answering it. Thank you Bettina. Hope I meet New Yorkers nice like you.

I%26#39;m a REALLY big Chez Josephine fan and as I%26#39;ve said on numerous occasions that%26#39;s not because it%26#39;s cuisine is the best money can buy but because of the owner Jean Claude.

If there%26#39;s a more gracious, charming, and endearing restauranteur in New York than Jean Claude I haven%26#39;t met him yet

He has that rare ability to make you feel like a dear friend who has dropped in after long years of seperation. When he drops by your table on his nightly mission to charm the world, it is as if you are the only person in the restaurant. Donald Trump could be at the next table and you would still have all of Jean Claude%26#39;s attention.

These snippets came from Menu Pages. I have not purposefully excluded any poor reviews:

Posted by jane lord on 11/23/2004

My first visit to new york

My first visit to new york was made especially fabulous by an evening at Chez Josephine. We only happened upon it because it was just across the street from our hotel but we went for a special birthday meal for my mother. Jean-Claude had greeted us earlier in the evening and although we were tired and dishevelled from our exertions during the day he was so warm and unpretentious he would have seated us immediately. However we returned later having scrubbed up o.k. and his wonderful staff made it a fabulous night to remember with their attentive and humourous service-- just wish the night could have lasted much longer! Merci Pierre and merci Jean-Claude! You are first on my list on my return.

Posted by Greg M. on 09/20/2004

Magnificent evening at Chez Josephine

What an absolutely amazing evening at a wonderful bistro! This was my first visit to Chez Josephine. We arrived almost 45-mins early and were seated immediately by the gregarious Jean Claude. The staff is courteous and attentive. We had been to a 4 p.m. matinee that afternoon and walked into the middle of the evening pre-theatre rush. We let our waiter (Jarry) know we were in no hurry and spent a wonderful, relaxed evening enjoying the food, wine, music (live piano bar) and most of all, the atmosphere! Three hours later as we ordered our coffee and dessert Jean Claude sent over a round of dessert port wine with his compliments! Thank you, Jean Claude, I know there will be many more visits to Chez Josephine in the future!

Posted by Booozoo Miller on 08/31/2004

A must see on Broadway

I have been to Chez Josephine dozens of times and it is always a delight! Jean Claude is the best host in New York City.

Posted by frequent theatergoer on 08/01/2004

Never a disappointment

A charming and friendly host, attentive waitstaff, a varied and interesting menu that isn%26#39;t ';too wayout';, and well prepared food at reasonable prices. What more could you ask for! We return again and again and are never disappointed.

Posted by Marty on 06/08/2004

Fabulous

This is a place you must visit. Jean Claude, the host and son of legendary performer Josephine Baker, makes you feel wonderful. Whenever me and my wife are in the city, our first stop is Chez Josephine. And let me not forget that the food is excellent.

Posted by jessi on 02/02/2004

One of our absolute favorites

Warm, friendly greeting and service. Wonderful piano bar. Excellent food, especially the lobster bisque soup and the desserts! Delightful tributes to Josephine present throughout.

Posted by Anonymous on 01/19/2004

excellent food, excellent value

Visited this small French restaurant with another couple. We all ordered different meals and were all very pleqsed with what we ordered. The prices were very fair. Have recommended this restaurant to other visiting NY City.

I would also consider Balthazar for a late-night, can%26#39;t-miss dining experience. It%26#39;s legendary.

That sounds great Carpenter. Thank you so much!

Sorry you mis-read the tone of my message! I meant all of what I said in a friendly, helpful way....OUCH! Re-reading my message, I see how you could have misinterpreted it to reflect an ';attitude';...I am, of course, humbled and apologetic. I am, as my wife and son will tell you, a REALLY, REALLY nice guy! My reference to Louisville was by way of suggesting that YOU would be as hard-pressed as we are in giving you a simple answer to your apparently simple request to find the ';real'; NYC at its best. From your answer, I guess you would NOT be! Enjoy!

I disagree with geohab....you can experience NYC food at reasonable prices, with a real NYC vibe.

Besides, he lives on Long Island, not NYC (no offense).

And yes, you will meet lots of nice New Yorkers.........you will have a great time.

Thanks for responding geohab...maybe I was asking a lot, but I just want to come back to KY and say, WOW I ate at this place and it was so NEW YORK! I believe you that you are a nice person, otherwise you wouldn%26#39;t have responded! NYCgirl..thanks for your response as well...I am sure there are wonderful people in NYC and I look forward to our trip and meeting them...We are so excited!!

Chez Josephine is an excellent idea with a fun atmosphere. Joe Allen%26#39;s is another great idea for good, reasonably priced American food. Hell%26#39;s Kitchen has very good Mexican. Virgil%26#39;s BBQ has great ribs (although maybe not as good as you%26#39;re used to). 44 southwest is supposed to be good Italian. I haven%26#39;t been.

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