I've booked a trip to NYC for a few days in December with the lady friend and was wanting to see what people's stories/thoughts/impressions were. I've never been and she is from there, so it should be interesting. Is it it worth it to see a Broadway show even though it costs texas$ ? What "tourist" sites are a must? Overated?

9/22/2006 4:47:05 PM

Personally, I'm a HUGE Broadway musicals fan, and you can't beat seeing them on Broadway. I would love it, but it depends on if your lady friend would. It's worth the money to me. PM me if you want advice on which show

When I went with my family a few days after Christmas, we went ice skating at Rockefeller (lines are L-O-N-G though) and watched the lights show on the side of Macy's. I think both of those would be good

9/22/2006 4:51:22 PM

empire state building is a must. find somebody selling the special with the skyride included and you will get to pass 50% of the line by going on the skyride (riding move). saves alot of time even if you don't want to go on the skyride.

9/22/2006 6:05:23 PM

I went up there for x-mas once and went to the Rockettes show, its sucked and I feel asleep.

9/22/2006 6:06:14 PM

Quote :

"its sucked and I feel asleep."

sounds like your english sucks

[Edited on September 22, 2006 at 7:47 PM. Reason : .]

9/22/2006 7:47:18 PM

it's definitely worth it to go to at least one show on broadway in your life (if you like the theater). get discount tickets from one of the TKTS booths if you can. also, just walking around and window shopping is fun because a lot of the big department stores put up elaborate decorations and scenes in their windows. if your friend is from there, i'm sure she can tell you what is good to see. nyc is fun at christmas (but crowded)!

9/22/2006 8:08:48 PM

The first time I went there was right after Xmas. If you like art museums, NY is the place to be. MOMA is one of my favorites, the Frick is really neat, and the Met is an all-day thing, you don't want to try to cram it into a couple hours.

Be prepared to freeze your ass off. But it's still a blast.

9/22/2006 8:41:38 PM

New York City during Christmas season is the best city on earth. I miss it so much that time of year.

Oh and if you skate... Wollman at dusk > Rockefeller anytime

[Edited on September 22, 2006 at 11:47 PM. Reason : x]

9/22/2006 11:46:44 PM

Thanks for the ideas. I want to see a Broadway show just for the novelty. You know, so I can say I saw one. I know I would enjoy it, but I might as well splurge. How are the your cruise boat tours around the city? It would be a good way to see the city, but in Dec., wouldn't being on a boat with wind be....a little brutal?

ALSO, what are some recommended places to eat in NYC? I care about the price, but not really. If it's good and people recommend it, I'm game.

9/23/2006 10:42:24 AM

theres a chinese place called gingers on broadway a few blocks down from times square. best chinese food i've ever eaten. much better than both china towns. not expensive either.

for pizza go to brooklyn

9/23/2006 11:02:06 AM

Go see a Broadway show, it's worth it. My family and I went last summer to NYC and I thought I would hate seeing a show (Chicago) there, but I went with them and loved it. Definitely would do it again.

9/23/2006 12:44:41 PM

also the day of the broadway show...the tickets are discounted like crazy....going between 2-4 you can get good seats at cheap prices (i went to see the graduate a few years ago and we got our tickets that day..we were 8 rows from the stage and the prices were really reasonable)

9/23/2006 12:48:51 PM

Oh and the Statue of Liberty / Ellis Island is cool and all. It just sucks that you can't go up higher than her frickin feet anymore due to security / safety risks. BS in my opinon. When I was there I asked the historical service guy and he said that there were no plans to reopen the stairs/whatever that go up to the top (ie: crown) anymore.

If nothing, go to Ellis Island just to see how the majority of the people of this country got here. The exibits are pretty cool if you like history at all or want to be where Will Smith was in the movie Hitch, haha.

^ Yeap. Also be forewarned that you are going to probably have to wait in a damn long line to get said tickets unless you get there early (TKTS booth). And when I mean "damn long" I mean "hollly frickin' crap I want to punch someone".

[Edited on September 23, 2006 at 12:53 PM. Reason : response to above post]

9/23/2006 12:50:00 PM

I suggest Greenwich Village, too. The Boxer is a good bar to just sit and have a few drinks in, Mary's Dairy has really good ice cream. Try to find Vosges in SoHo, they have the best chocolate pepper ice cream EVER.

9/23/2006 3:07:51 PM

pommes frites in the village
susie's chinese on bleeker st. is the best ever
il palazzo on mulberry st. in little italy was fantastic. it was zagat rated pretty high and also has reasonable-ish prices
if you want something bigger/well known, try either Carmine's (Italian) or Les Halles (french). Both are excellent, but hard to get reservations for. If you really wanna be a high roller, go to Balthazar or Cipriani

9/23/2006 3:42:24 PM

I went up there for x-mas once and went to the Rockettes show, its sucked and I feel asleep.

9/23/2006 3:49:35 PM

I saw the Rockettes thing for xmas, it was ok...

Best time to be in NYC is during Xmas in my opinion. Rockefellar (sp?) Center is a must.

9/23/2006 4:33:19 PM

I've done Christmas in Manhattan twice.

I had this whole long thing typed out. But I realized...ask your girl. She's from there. She knows the area--at least some of it.

Yeah, do some touristy shit. Yes, go to Rockefeller, see the tree and watch the skaters.

Embrace the City. Open up to serendipity. My favorite times in Manhattan are the times when plans fell through (late for reservations, lines too long, etc...), and we just bummed around, ducked into whatever struck our fancy, whatever we were curious about.

But, more than anything, enjoy your time with your loved ones.

[Edited on September 23, 2006 at 10:02 PM. Reason : Have fun!]

9/23/2006 9:49:50 PM

I can't remember specifics from when I was there, but I remember absolutely loving Little Italy

9/23/2006 9:59:18 PM

Find the oldest asian lady you can near Rockefellar to do one of these charcoal things of you + the girl.. It was like 15 bucks, although she made me look like anime, it's kewl.

9/24/2006 1:15:25 AM

Quote :

"empire state building is a must."

If you are going to do that tourist trap, do it at an off time (midday or in the morning in the middle of the week). It's going to take a long time, but no need to make it worse. It took me a good 2-3 hours at 4:30 on a Thursday.

9/25/2006 5:50:42 PM

Scared shitless about the empire state building. I don't do so swell with heights, but figure I will muster all courage I got and go through with it. For those that have been to the top....what's it like? You know, for people with that fear.

Any websites for discounted broadway tickets? I'm thinking about Spamalot. It's got to be funny. It just can't be.

9/26/2006 8:54:58 AM

^You can go to a TKTS booth and get them the day of the show. Spamalot is hysterical. My parents and I were crying when we saw it last year.

10/3/2006 3:12:47 PM

please stay away

getting to/from work and around town is difficult enough without more of you people

^^ they're doing construction where TKTS in Time Square used to be - i have no clue where it is now


[Edited on October 3, 2006 at 9:54 PM. Reason : zdzs]

10/3/2006 9:53:17 PM

^its located in the ground floor of the Marriot Marquis, which is across the street from its normal place.

For ice skating another good suggestion is Bryant Park (right next to the Public Library). The rink there isn't as big as Central Park's, but its free. Thats right, free. I think the skate rental is like $8. Only downside is they don't clean the ice often.

I'd say don't go to the top of the Empire State Building. Its a really long wait, and like $30. Instead I'd go to the top of Rockefeller Center. Its a 360 degree view b/c you are on the VERY TOP, costs about $15, and you can make reservations so you don't have to wait in line...at all!

Quote :

"Oh and the Statue of Liberty / Ellis Island is cool and all. It just sucks that you can't go up higher than her frickin feet anymore due to security / safety risks"

Not true, they opened it back up to the Crown a few months ago.

As far as restaurants, don't go to the usual tourist traps! Do some research and find something good in Little Italy and/or Chinatown. Way better than cookie cutter crap you can find anywhere.

I'll reply again when I have some more spare time, but I need to watch my Yanks win this game right now!

[Edited on October 3, 2006 at 10:25 PM. Reason : k]

10/3/2006 10:19:38 PM

I lived there both last summer and this summer...so for what its worth, check some of these out.

Food:
Joe's Shanghai (in Chinatown, on Pell St) - have to try the soup dumplings
Girmaldis Pizza (in Brooklyn Heights) - long lines, but some of the BEST rated pizza
Juniors (in Brooklyn) - some of the best cheesecake
Grays Papaya - cheap eats...2.99 for 2 hotdogs and and a papaya drink...might want to find a bathroom shortly afterwards though
Street vendors - there is a particular one with lines over ONE block long, I think it was on the corner of 52nd/53rd and 6th ave...don't quote me on that location though...haven't ate it personally, but if its got THAT long of lines, there has to be something good about it!
Shake Shack - again, long lines, supposedly awesome shakes and burgers

Entertainment:
Broadway Shows - TKTS - try the booth located at South Street Seaport...lines are much shorter and move faster, and same amount of tickets as the Times Square location
Off Broadway - also lots of fun
Double Decker bus tour - assuming they still operate in winter...great way to see the city with someone giving you some "insights" about the buildings/locations without any walking and getting tired
Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center) as opposed to Empire State Building - in my opinion, better views, MUCH shorter lines, about the same price
Subways - its always fun to experience the subways...you meet the most interesting people there
Museums - MoMa, MET, Natural History...can become time consuming and costly
SoHo - around Prince Street, Spring Street, there's great shopping and interesting people

Hope that helps!
-Jon

10/3/2006 11:00:23 PM

Puglia in Little Italy (Mott Street i think)

well known enough to be a never-miss good eat, and quaint enough to not be touristy

10/3/2006 11:30:55 PM

http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7169105/new_york_ny/silk_road_palace.html

Free unlimited wine!

10/3/2006 11:45:24 PM

It would be CRIMINAL not to go to a Rangers game, get down on the glass during warmups, and have your picture taken as Darius Kasparaitis skates by.

10/4/2006 5:06:37 AM

NYC is amazing during Christmas / New Year's, but it's cold, very cold, so wrap up.

Almost anything you do is worthwhile (broadway show is awesome!), but please, please, do NOT see the Rockette's. That was the worst $40 or whatever I've ever spent in my life.

Seriously I would've rather given it to the Western Blvd. Shadowboxer

10/4/2006 7:18:00 AM

Hit a Broadway show (personally my favorite is Phantom of the Opera if its playing)

Hit all the major tourist attractions

PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD NEVER eat at a chain restraunt while you're there. Go to little italy, or chinatown and find a couple good hole in the wall places where I promise the food will almost always be awesome. Also, please grab a slice or 8 of authentic New York Style Pizza from a hole in the wall joint. you'll thank me later

10/4/2006 9:06:41 AM

^listen to that guy. You might want to buy a Zagat guide. They rate everything worth a damn in the city. I think it runs around $25

10/4/2006 1:07:59 PM

im not sure if it is like this over Christmas, but the TXTS booth should sell half price matinee tickets on wednesday and saturday. If you get there early in the morning you can pick almost any show and get the matinee show half price. We saw The Producers for less than $50 which is one of the more popular shows. It is definately worth it!!!

10/5/2006 2:58:46 PM

SABARROS IS GOOD NY PIZZA!

10/5/2006 4:52:07 PM

^please don't listen to that, lol.

If you want to go to a good pizza place near Times Square, I definitely recommend John's Pizza on 44th street between 7th & 8th Ave. Reasonably priced, damn good, and its in a building that used to be a church, so its really cool looking inside. Its really convenient if you're in that area for a show. And if you tell them you're going to a show they'll give you faster service.

[Edited on October 5, 2006 at 6:57 PM. Reason : k]

10/5/2006 6:57:25 PM

stay at the MILFORD Plaza. awesome hotel . . . . not too expensive and near everything .

10/5/2006 7:59:22 PM

10/5/2006 8:31:16 PM

theres alittle egg roll hut somewhere in chinatown thats amazing

10/5/2006 8:33:56 PM