kelly

Message: First time in NYC for family....our tentative schedule looks like this:
Tues: Circle Island tour and Mamma Mia; Weds: NBC tour, Conan O'Brien taping, and Empire State Bldg
Thurs: Central Park and Yankee aft. game. Friday: "the rest of NYC". Staying at Crown Plaza near Times Square
Any advise of what to fit in on above days?
Is Carmine's a good restaurant? THANKS!!

xxx

Carmines is a very mediocre restaurant. Go to Becco instead.

Serena

how about a trip to the Metropolitan Museumn and a walk through Central Park. Also a walk down Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue. A bus tour of lower Manahatten might be another option. That gives you an overall sense of the city, so that you choose things to visit at a later date. You also might enjoy another show. "42nd Street" and "Millie" are good family shows.

Pat

Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and/or ride the Staten Island ferry. Both free and fabulous.

J. Carson

Chicago is better than NYC, even though its a big city. Try it!!!

S

J. CArson - and what is better in Chicago? Theater, museums, popular tourist sites such as Statue of Liberty, Central Park, etc

Suzy

Ignore Carson, he's just out to make trouble. On another thread about visiting Botson, he recommended Philly instead.

Statia

How 'bout a walk thru Greenwich Village, Soho, Little Italy (lunch there?), and Chinatown?

Times Square?

Have fun! NYC is a fabulous place.

x

Ditto on Susan's comment. Carson has been very active this morning. In one post it is suggested an 83 year old who tires easily not visit NYC but, rather, roam around the state enjoying the natural beauty. In still anothrt post he suggests the Chicago skyline is superior to NYC skyline and 5th Avenue doesn't measure up against NIchigan Ave.

Kim

Kelly, Carmine's is a good choice for your family, you order a few entess and share (you're not being "cheap" it is expected - the portions are very large) so it is cost-effective. The food is not high-level gourmet but it is very good. Becco is wonderful, but hardly reasonable for a family trip unless it was a splurge for a special occasion. Also try John's Pizzeria, it's reasonable priced, offers pasta dishes, pizza etc. it is in a converted church on 44th street and it is kind of a neat place to go. Since it is your first time in NYC you might want to contact Big Apple Greeters who will take you on a tour of whatever neighborhood you would like - a great way to see NYC, many here have had a wonderful time with them. The bus tour someone else mentioned would be a good thing to do early on in your visit, you'll get an idea of the neighborhoods and where things are and what you would like to go back and visit on your own. Have a fantastic time!

E.

I agree--Carmine's is really fun when it's hopping, and I thought the food was good.

Statia

I think the food and atmosphere is good at Carmine's, as well. But, I would be willing to try Becco next time (since I hear a lot about it, also). Anybody know what price range Becco is? I'm gathering that it's more expensive than Carmine's?

xxx

The above posters may be thinking that Becco is Babbo (owned by the same family) and Babbo is expensive. Becco is similar to Carmines in that the food is served family style at about $25 per person. The food is much better at Becco. I've eaten at both.

Statia

Thanks xxx. I actually have been reading about "Becco" when people have asked about Carmine's. They say that both are family style, but the difference in the food is night and day. I did enjoy Carmine's, but will also give Becco a try on my next trip.

Thanks again for the pricing info.

Darci

Here is the web site for Becco.

http://www.lidiasitaly.com/restaurants/becco/becco.html

aMom

Becco and Babbo are not the same family, Becco is Lidia Bastianich's and Babbo is Mario Batali.

I'm with Statia, head downtown. Times Sq. is for tourists, Village, Soho and surrounding areas, is for explorers. Well worth a day at least. More varied and reasonable food, stores of every kind imaginable, free entertainment, mnusicians, jugglers, etc. in Washington Sq. Park and nuch more.

xxx

Yes, Momathome, you are correct. I gave wrong info when I said Becco and Babbo are owned and operated by the same family. Thank you for your correction!

Frank

xxx: I can understand your confusion with Becco and Babbo, since Lidia Bastianich and Mario Batali have recently teamed up with the seafood restaurant Esca. BTW, I agree that Becco is head over heals better than Carmine's. JMO.

Debby

I live in FL & have been going to NYC every year since the early 90's. Love it, love it, love it. Ate at Carmine's w/three other friends & we ordered 5 items incl dessert & I had enough left over for three meals! Each item was enough for four+ people. After going for a couple of years I took the double decker tour bus and regretted not taking it sooner---& for the two day deal, I believe is best. You can get off wherever you want & hop back on whenever you want & I agree w/ another reply---good for the overall knowledge. Follow w/a map. You can pick up these NY City Guide books for tourists in the hotel lobby or at the visitor place in Times Square w/coupon for $ off. Mamma Mia is great--saw it in Chicago and NYC. If sold out you can try standing (I always do)space for like $30(one year I saw six shows in four days for $125! I love NY!

Howard

For the record: Becco does NOT fall into the family-style category. As others have posted, it's far superior to Carmine's.