Going to NYC for first time.

[Brian Cassil]

A little embarrasing to admit, but true none the less. My wife will be flying out to meet me the last day of siggragh and we'll spend a couple of days in Boston and then take a train (question below) over to NYC where we'll spend 3 more days. We already have our hotel which is about 1 block from times square.

 

I'm looking for residents opinions on what to do and how to do it. Here are some of the things we want to do: See a broadway play, see the statue of liberty, and see the gugenheim. I also wanted to see the Yankees but they aren't in town while we'll be there so darn. I'm also a little confused on the best way to get a train from Boston to New York so any advice on that would be great. Any other general advice would also be appreciated. We're really looking forward to this!

[Ernest Burden III]

A play, sure. You can get tickets at the TKTS booth in Times Square, or go the theater box office and ask what they have. Tip--orchestra isn't so great--you're below the stage. Front of balcony is fab, you see the whole stage. Even the back of the balcony is good in most Broadway theaters. Don't hold out hope for Spamalot unless you have some cash to spend.

 

Statue of Liberty? (Which my 5 y.o. calles the Statue of Delivery). No! Instead take the Staten Island ferry round trip. Its a more interesting ride, costs less (free, actually) goes right past the Statue and won't eat up your day waiting in hot, smelly lines. August in NYC is hot and smelly.

 

Take the subway.

 

Guggenheim? No! It expensive as all heck and not worth the trouble unless there's a show you really must see. Otherwise, just walk by it along central Park. Its best from the outside.

 

Jazz clubs in the Village are always good.

 

The Met Museum is a must, though it'll take many hours to get just a taste of. Closed most Mondays, which sounds like one of your days, so plan ahead.

 

Ah...The Frick Collection is a much smaller art museum further up Fifth Avenue in a fancy rich guys house. But what a collection! It's a quick visit but like going to an ice cream parlor--wonderfully sweet. They got several of them Vermeers! Good ones, too!

 

See if Lincoln Center Outdoors is started up then--outdoor music of various kinds, great setting, free.

 

There are some great architectural walks that the AIA plans, but I don't know what you really want to do, what your wife would like. More clues?

[AJLynn]

Agreed on the Met, and MOMA is pretty cool too. What days will you be there? The Mets may be in town, and they're more fun to watch than the Yankees.

 

As far as getting there from Boston, there are two places to leave from - South Station, which is also on the subway Red Line and is next to Chinatown, is the main terminal in Boston for buses and trains. Trains also leave from Back Bay Station, which is an Orange Line stop and is right next to Copley Square, which is a Green Line stop. Most or all NYC trains start at South Station, stop at Back Bay and proceed to Penn Station in NYC. Acela Express is 30 minutes faster and a bit more expensive but also nicer on the inside. All trains are Amtrak.

 

There's also the bus option. I've taken the Fung Wah bus before (because it's cheap), and it's actually no worse than other buses - they upgraded from sketchy vans to motor coaches a while back. http://www.fungwahbus.com, South Station to Canal St. in NYC, $15, arrive early because the lining up and boarding process is decidedly sketchy and doesn't have much relationship to the time you reserve.

[Ricardo Eloy]

Agree with Ernest about Lady Liberty. The worst thing one could do is spending 2 or 3 hours in line to get to the head of the statue. It's a tiny place, from where you get to see NY only thru the smallest window of all ( it's on the left side of her crown) and for only a couple minutes. My worst experience in NY by far...

[mtb0506]

Is the Zaha Hadid exhibit still at the Guggenheim? that could be something to check out.

 

i always have my best times in NYC when i'm just wandering around, no particular place to go.

[Brian Cassil]

Great tips guys! I really appreciate it. The ferry ride around the statue sounds great.

 

Spamalot would have been my first choice for a show but I don't think my wife would have gone for it if we are onlly seeing one (which we are). We are looking at either Dirty Rotten Scoundrels or Wicked.

 

So should I get tickets in advance to take the subway from Boston to NY?

 

Great advice on the museums! All I really cared to see at the Guggenheim was the architecture anyway and the outside will be good enough. This Frick collection sounds interesting, and I love Vermeer!

 

So how about places to eat? Nothing TOO expensive but we're OK spending a little money for something memorable.

[Ernest Burden III]

Spamalot would have been my first choice for a show but I don't think my wife would have gone for it if we are onlly seeing one (which we are). We are looking at either Dirty Rotten Scoundrels or Wicked.

 

Just about anything would be good, Broadway knows how to put on a show. My wife looked up Spamalot tickets for us a few days ago--the cheap, partially view obstructed seats were about $150, I think. Some seats were $300.

 

So how about places to eat? Nothing TOO expensive but we're OK spending a little money for something memorable.

 

Well you haven't lived until you've eaten one of those hotdogs from a decrepid cart on a NY streetcorner. Go for the 'kraut and mustard. Mmmm, that's good eatin'.

 

I'll have to think about that...

 

Oh! There is a street with a series of Indian restaurants, east 6th that are great and cheap. (I've heard Indian people say there aren't many/any great authentic Indian resptaurants in NYC, but there are a lot that claim to be). I most recently ate in one mid-block on the south side, but they are all great, they have guys out front to explain why they are your only real choice tonight. The one we were in had two guys playing traditional music sitting in the front window (its down a few steps). The Ramones sang about that street, how could you go wrong?

 

On your way there from the Astor Place subway stop you can cruise 8th street for all your counter-culture needs, or go around the corner to McSorley's, an ancient ale house (the fixtures have hundreds of years of cobwebs on them) for a quick pair of ales (how they're sold).

 

For expensive dress-up with the wife, you can't beat Cafe Des Artiste just north of Columbus Circle. Not cheap, but memorable.

 

I'll think of some other things...

[Parker1]

If you want a "for sure" lay...

...horse drawn carrage ride in central park...

[Brian Cassil]

If you want a "for sure" lay...

...horse drawn carrage ride in central park...

 

Ah, but you see, that's the beauty of being married...

 

Well, this is actually a way to celebrate our 10 year anniversary so maybe that would be called for. Good idea!

[Ernest Burden III]

If you want a "for sure" lay...

...horse drawn carrage ride in central park...

 

I'm not so sure Brian would want to have sex with one of those horses, though any one of them would be preferable to the drivers.

 

An evening stroll along Central Park South is pretty nice, too.

 

Try taking a fancy picnic lunch to Bryant Park, our little bit of Paris in NY, right behind the Main Library on 42nd St., then walk slowly up to Times Square, stop in the Virgin MegaStore (the name is NOT an exageration) and buy a CD.

 

There's a great comic art store on 33rd St. betwn. 5th and 6th Avenue. Why did I know you would want to know that?

 

It's 'under' the Empire State Building, which should be seen, if not visited. After about 70 years its every bit the icon it was when it was new. How many of the crappy buildings we so often draw as a profession will that be said of?

[alexandre]

Hi guys,

Sorry to interrupt but I've been eavesdropping as I'll be taking my little family to a trip on the East Coast this August that will include five days in New York.

It's nice to see I won't be the only one with my head turned up ! Great to have some tips: anything to avoid those looks from my sons when I'll try to show enthusiasm for a walk !

Cheers,

Alex

(As an aside to Ernest, it's quite unnerving that both Jeff and you had to step in and actually explain the judging but you couldn't have done it better)

[Ernest Burden III]

I'll be taking my little family to a trip on the East Coast this August that will include five days in New York.

 

Then join right in!

 

Anything specific you want to know about that isn't covered here?

 

For kids you cannot beat the American Museum of Natural History--more stuffed animals than FAO Schwartz (famous over-priced NY toystore).

 

How old are your kids?

[alexandre]

Then join right in!

 

Anything specific you want to know about that isn't covered here?

 

For kids you cannot beat the American Museum of Natural History--more stuffed animals than FAO Schwartz (famous over-priced NY toystore).

 

How old are your kids?

 

My kids are (God that makes me VERY old) 17 and 8; the small one used to have a DINOSAUR period that took me through various natural history museums- I hope he's still a fan because what with the World Cup and all now he's experiencing a sort of football epiphany ! The elder is in a guitar-hero phase: maybe a Broadway show or a Madison Square Garden event will sparkle some positive response out of his teenage blasé ! (just (half)-kidding)

 

I'm really looking forward to this american trip (our first one); it's extremely "ambitious" (translate foolhardy) but I hope it will not be too exhausting: I think the key is not trying to see everything and not being ashamed to do simple "tourist" things like seeing the Empire State or the Brooklyn Bridge etc.

 

It's useless to say any idea is more than welcome.

[alexandre]

Is the Zaha Hadid exhibit still at the Guggenheim? that could be something to check out.

 

Yes indeed it is: just checked and it's on through October- excellent idea !

[alexandre]

They call me the thread exterminator- but anyway...

 

How about comedy showcases: has anyone been to a comedy club ? On a different level: "Shakespeare in the Park" ? The terrace on the Met Museum with view of Central Park ? Delicatessen ?

 

As you might have noticed I just bought a guide.

 

When we're through with NY could anyone provide eceptional tips for Boston, New England, Philadelphia and Washington ?

 

No kidding.

[Ernest Burden III]

How about comedy showcases: has anyone been to a comedy club ? On a different level: "Shakespeare in the Park" ?

 

I've never been to a comedy club, but they would be adult environments, so what would you do with the kids? A performance in Central Park is always great, but I don't know if there is a Shakespeare play every year, and while you would get a high quality rendition, I wonder if you and your family have good enough English to make sense of it--most American's can't follow Shakespeare, could your kids?

 

 

The terrace on the Met Museum with view of Central Park ? Delicatessen ?

 

A deli for a lunch, sure. Any pizza place, too. Neither are a 'destination'.

 

There is a restaurant, I think on 19th st or thereabout, called America which is a cavernous, intentionally noisy celebration of american food. Its pretty good (for that sort of thing) and kids should like it. Its not meant to be a 'kid restaurant' (there are places like that, unfortunately) so you should have fun, too. Noisy. Loud. But fun.

 

The Met's terrace should not be missed. I fear that Brian and his wife will not be able to do an evening at the Met because of the days they will be in NY. If you go on a Friday or Saturday you could see some art (and miss lots more since the Met is huge) have drinks in the late afternoon on the terrace. Most wonderful!

 

When we're through with NY could anyone provide eceptional tips for Boston, New England, Philadelphia and Washington ?

 

You're in the US for how long? I think you're trying to do too much. Anyway, why not make that inquiry a seperate thread.

[alexandre]

I wonder if you and your family have good enough English to make sense of it--most American's can't follow Shakespeare, could your kids?

The youngest hardly speaks English but the rest of us can get along- we've seen "Julius Caesar" with a British cast in Paris and very much enjoyed it (true: there were titles)- Most Americans can't follow Shakespeare ? You sound like a French newspaper !

 

Its not meant to be a 'kid restaurant' (there are places like that, unfortunately) so you should have fun, too. Noisy. Loud. But fun.

 

If you remember Paris you will allow that there are NO such restaurants here so I hope my kid won't make a fuss if we "drag" him here and there

 

The Met's terrace should not be missed. I fear that Brian and his wife will not be able to do an evening at the Met because of the days they will be in NY. If you go on a Friday or Saturday you could see some art (and miss lots more since the Met is huge) have drinks in the late afternoon on the terrace. Most wonderful!

 

Looking forward to that !

 

You're in the US for how long? I think you're trying to do too much.

 

We're definitely trying to do too much ! But we're going to just let things happen around us and get a taste of the USA so we can come back and see what we liked the most. The "program" is Boston first so I can say hello, than New England for a week or so, then NY for six days, then by train to Philadelphia, then Washington, then back to NY to catch a plane to a sunny beach and REST !