Reminder: The Plaza Hotel is Closing April 30th!

I just returned from spending three nights at The Plaza Hotel in New York, and I enjoyed my experience enough that I just wanted to remind people that it is scheduled to close on April 30th to be converted into condos (blasphemy IMHO).

Even if you only stop by to watch the bustle at the Fifth Avenue entrance, to have a last afternoon tea at the Palm Court, to check out Eloise%26#39;s photo on the wall, or to buy an authentic Plaza towel etc from the gift shop -- I think checking out the Plaza should be on everyone%26#39;s NYC itinerary between now and the end of April.

Staying there isn%26#39;t for everyone, both because of the cost and the less-than-perfect service (judging from the TA reviews) -- but there are some online deals and more if you are a Fairmont President%26#39;s Club member. I was able to get a rate that averaged out to about $225 per night -- a fair deal for a high end midtown hotel.

I was reminded that the Plaza is so much more than a hotel -- and particularly that it is a kind of meeting place/refuge for both New Yorkers and visitors alike. A grand public space -- with tea and restrooms -- where almost everyone at least seems like they could be rich, famous, or interesting...even if they are not. :-) Staying there, even for just one night, gives one a kind of privileged seat at all of this....and having a Central Park view room (request upper floor too) is just wonderful.

One obvious way to save $$ is to not eat at the hotel. The prices are insane and there are, obviously, lots of less expensive alternatives in the neighborhood.

Anyway... I just wanted to put my two cents in and remind anyone planning to be in NYC between now and the end of April: stop by the Plaza while it still is what it was!

Reminder: The Plaza Hotel is Closing April 30th!

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Reminder: The Plaza Hotel is Closing April 30th!

Tony---I know this off-topic, but did you ever make it to Boston? You were scheduled to go when the blizzard hit, so---just wondering. . .

Hi Sue. :-)

It took me two days to get to Boston from California....the first day my flight to Boston was cancelled and I took it as an omen and gave up.... the second day my flight to Boston was cancelled again but I pressed on and got to Chicago, spent the night at the O%26#39;Hare Hyatt, and then onto Boston. I guess that%26#39;s almost three days!

Nonetheless....I loved Boston in the snow....especially walking around all the snowcovered old cowpath streets on Beacon Hill.

I had planned to take the train down to New York from Boston, but they cancelled all of those too! So my recent trip to NY was a totally separate thing. I really hadn%26#39;t planned to be back so soon, but I wanted to see The Gates and when I found out about the Plaza closing...that tipped the scale and I splurged with my United miles.

Trouble logging in.

Can anyone help I can only log in %26amp; post messages from work. Used to be able to do it from home no probs. Does anyone know what I am doing wrong? No help section on this forum.

Trouble logging in.

If you set up your account from work you probably had to give a password (I don%26#39;t remember). So just put in you user name and password from your home computer and it should work.

Trouble logging in.

Or maybe you didn%26#39;t log out at work? I don%26#39;t know if it%26#39;s possible to be logged in on two computers simultaneously?

I had the same problem a couple of weeks ago. I was able to stay signed in at work but, when I went home it said that my email wasn%26#39;t valid. If you email tripadvisor all they will tell you is to make a new password but, if you can%26#39;t get in under your name at home how can you make a new password?!?! In the end I had to create a new screen name using my school email address and not my home email it was easier than trying to figure out how to fix the problem. Good Luck!

Did log out. Have e-mailed trip advisor, waiting for a reply. I don%26#39;t really want to use my school e-mail. Thanks for the replies though.

medication cream

NYC trip entertainment??

OK... two questions:

Whats%26#39;s the review of Blue Man Group (Off Broadway) at the Astor Place Theatre. Also, would it be appropriate and entertaining for kids (5, 11, 14).

Any advice on getting tickets for the ';Emril Live'; show on Food Network - I think it%26#39;s taped in NYC.

Thanks a bunch!!

NYC trip entertainment??

For numerous BMG reviews check out the website at this address:

http://www.epinions.com/trvl-Theater-Off_Broadway-Blue_Man_Group_Tubes/display_~reviews

NYC trip entertainment??

Blue Man Group is great, but I%26#39;m not entirely sure that a 5-year-old would like the show. It%26#39;s very visual, but it could be a bit creepy for someone of that age. The 11 and 14-year-olds would probably like it, but I doubt they%26#39;d get most of the humor.

Be aware that the theater is pretty cramped and not suitable for claustrophobics.

Tickets for Emeril are done via a lottery, and he only shoots for a limited time, so it is pretty much out of the question, sorry.

Record stores

While I%26#39;m in NY I%26#39;m planning on visiting some second hand record stores to try to pick up some rare/deleted vinyl. Can anyone recommend some good second hand record stores? The kind of thing I%26#39;d be looking to pick up is early nineties Britpop, late seventies/early eighties punk, and some sixties stuff (Stones/Beatles/Byrds etc).

Record stores

Bleecker Bobs, 118 W. 3rd St between 6th Avenue %26amp; MacDougal

Bleecker St - 239 Bleecker St %26amp; Carmine St

House Of Oldies, 35 Carmine St.

Discorama - 186 W. 4th St @6th Avenue.

The above are very close to each other, in the West Village.

Tickets for Regis, Jon Stewart, etc...?

I sent for tickets to Regis and Kelly, The View, Daily Show and a few others months ago, I did receive tickets to The View last week but have heard nothing on the rest. Do they usually come snail mail or e-mail? We are leaving on the 14th, do you think there%26#39;s still hope that they will come?

We really wanted to see Regis and Conan but I don%26#39;t know if I want to waste time standing in line for something we may or may not get into with stand-by tickets.

Tickets for Regis, Jon Stewart, etc...?

Iowa, I can just respond about The Daily Show. I don%26#39;t know how you ';sent'; for tickets, but according to their Web site (and how I got mine). You needed to call them at a special number listed on the site.

At this point, when it comes to The Daily Show, I would chance it, show up as early as you can for a taping and wait in line. They are good about trying to accomodate stand-bys, they even let you use the bathroom while you are waiting. Check out their Web site, it will give you specific details.

Let the staff know you don%26#39;t have tickets and they will advise you accordingly. Good luck. Report back if you go, okay?

Knicks tickets

Trying to get hold of some tickets for Knicks game on Sun 6th March ... ticketmaster showing none available. Can anyone recommend any other ticket sources - or is there a chance of any being available at the box office a few days before or on the 6th? Thanks.

Knicks tickets

Try Stubhub.com. This is a site where season ticket holders not attending specific games sell tickets that would otherwise go unused. They%26#39;re reliable.

Knicks tickets

Thanks - but unfortunately these only seem to give the option of sending the tickets out by mail, which will be too late as I am leaving the UK in a few days - do you kow of anywhere that will hold the tickets at the box office or allow printed email confirmation to collect the tickets? thanks

I am also going to get tickets for Sundays game

Try getting them sent to your hotel - I am gonna book mine tomorrow and get them sent to my hotel - hopefully they will arrive on Thursday - the same as I do!!!!

Hope to see you there too!

Ah - brilliant idea!!! Who are you booking yours through? Many thanks!!!

I have booked mine through Stubhub.com

It was cheaper last week when I looked, but I guess the sellers put their prices up closer to each game.

Our tickets are in %26#39;the gods%26#39; but they were the cheapest - and to be honest - we are going for the atmosphere and the experience more than anything else.

Watch out - as there is a 23 dollar service and shipping fee added to the cost of tickets

you will be fine, we were right at the very back seats when we last went and it was still a good view, madison square gardens is the best and the atmosphere was amazing you will love it, we are at another game in 3 weeks time, cant wait. hope you have a great time

I spent ages trawling through websites looking for tickets before our trip in January, and ended up having no luck.. upon arriving in NYC went along to Madison Square Garden on the way to ESB day before the game.. what a result! Plenty of tickets left in all areas, no queue at all, really helpful staff, and the best bit was tickets are face value, no supplement, credit card charge, bkg fee etc. I would definitely reccomend waiting till you get there.

First time user !!

Hi,I am travelling to New York with my family over Easter,our children are age 6 %26amp; 9,we are stay for 3 full days and located upper west side.How does this sound (busy first day downtown)Statue of liberty,Sea port, Ground zero, China town,Little italy. Day2 (Easter Sun)Ice skating central park and a bird watching tour also in the park, my son is very keen to do this he saw it advertised on C P website,late afternoon ESB ready for sunset. Day 3 Times square Toysrus walk to Macys and a little shopping.Do you think this sounds ok......Have I missed anything.Many Thanks.

First time user !!

perhaps its me but there does not seem a lot of kiddie stuff to keep them amused, mine are grown up now and this seems packed with adult stuff

bettina will probable help when she sees this as lives in new york

First time user !!

I%26#39;m not sure the skating rink will still be frozen by Easter Sunday :( You should also check that the birdwatching tour is on for Easter Sunday on centralpark.org The kids would enjoy ';the Easter Parade'; on Fifth Ave. It%26#39;s not really a parade, but people dress up in crazy hats and parade around on Fifth ave. near Rockefeller Center (50 st). Lots of buskers etc. Fifth Ave. is closed to traffic for a while around there.

Your plan sounds fine. What about a show? Beauty and the Beast? Cookin%26#39; off Broadway. There%26#39;s a theater called the New Victory that shows only shows for kids (with gentler prices). Look on broadwaybox.com for discounts.

Here%26#39;s a guide from NY Magazine for kids%26#39; stuff.

nymetro.com/urban/guides/family/index.htm