Trip report - We loved it!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trip report - We loved it!

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

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

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

Trip report - We loved it!

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