First timer to NY

Hi folks, this is my first post so apologies if I break any of the netiquettes for this forum....

I%26#39;m off to New York for the first time in just over 2 weeks and was hoping to get some feedback on the basic schedule that my other half and I have come up with. It%26#39;s a joint birthday treat to ourselves and so shopping for gifts for each other will play a large(ish) role - although it%26#39;s not the main aim of the visit:

Tuesday 15th: this is the evening we arrive so we%26#39;ll probably just wander around to get our bearings and have a meal. We%26#39;re staying in the Sofitel on 44th Street so can anyone recommend a good restaurant near there?

Wednesday 16th: Monring and afternoon - Gray Line Bus trip Day 1 (downtown loop for Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty). Evening - Do the night time Loop.

Thursday 17th: St Patrick%26#39;s day parade (finishes at 2pm). Bus trip Day 2 (Brooklyn loop - which stop do we get off to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge?). 8pm - The Producers (just booked our tickets via BroadwayBox.com - is it OK to pick them up on the day at the box office?)

Friday 18th: Woodbury Shopping Centre (reckon that%26#39;ll be an all day thing). I was thinking we%26#39;d get the bus - is this the best option?

Saturday 19th: Window shopping on 5th Avenue (Macy%26#39;s/Bloomingdale%26#39;s/Saks). Saturday evening - go out for a few drinks, preferabley somwhere a bit more laid back (i.e. don%26#39;t need to queue to get in!)

Sunday 20th: Central Park (is it obvious where to get the hired bikes when you get there?) -%26gt; Strawberry Fields -%26gt; Guggenheim museum -%26gt; Empire State Building. Evening: still to be decided so open to suggestions....

Monday 21st: We leave mid afternoon so I%26#39;m open to suggestions. Had thought about the Bronx Zoo - is that a recommended visit?

Thanks in advance.....

First timer to NY

Hi

My wife and I went to NYC for the first time in July last year. We stayed about a week in Manhattan and I guess we checked out the typical touris stuff like Empire State Building, Times Square, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge etc. I have posted a trip report with pictures on my homepage http://gardkarlsen.com. Maybe you can find some useful information there :-) Have a great trip

Regards

Gard

First timer to NY

You%26#39;ve got a good itinerary.

For Tuesday, there are tons of good restaurants just a few blocks from your hotel. Check Menupages.com for food preferences. You might consider Virgil%26#39;s for barbecue or one of my favorite spots, a Brazilian restaurant called Via Brasil at 34 West 46th. Excellent seafood and beef dishes. Nice, laid back atmosphere. Excellent service. Reasonable prices. No music on Tuesday but there is music Wednesday through Sunday.

For Thursday and Friday, yes, you can pick up the tickets at the box office, and yes, unless you%26#39;re planning to rent a car, bus is your only option for Woodbury Common.

For Sunday evening, you might visit Grand Central Station and perhaps have dinner at the Oyster Bar and then sample some Junior%26#39;s cheesecake for dessert. Or, hop a subway and browse around Greenwich Village. Perhaps drop into a club for jazz and a few drinks.

On Monday, by all means visit the Bronx Zoo if you have time. It%26#39;s very large and if you have to get to the sirport midway through the day you won%26#39;t be able to see it all. As an alternative, you might want to check out the Museum of Natural History. It%26#39;s more convenient and very, very good.

Right on the same block as your hotel is DB Bistro Moderne, a very good rest. in the City Club hotel (there are several hotels on the same block). It%26#39;s famous for having the most expensive burger in town (with fois gras) but there are plenty of other choices. Also on the same block is 44, the rest. in the Royalton Hotel (very trendy). There%26#39;s Triomphe in the Iroquois Hotel and Gaby in your own hotel is supposed to be good too. You might check menus on menupages.com. Also on your block is the very famous Algonquin Hotel that has a cabaret act in the Oak Room.

www.algonquinhotel.com/OakRoom/performers.htm

Since you%26#39;re staying in the area, I would try to pick up the theater tickets some time before the performance. At an odd hour (may 11 am that day) there will be no line.

Here;s info on biking in the park

http://www.centralparkbiketour.com/

I seem to recall the rental place somewhere near the Carousel but not sure.

The bike rental place in Central Park is right near the Boathouse restaurant.