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