monpetit

Since 5 years ago, we've been in NYC with our 2 daughters and have made "the highlights"(Emp.St.Bdg, Ellis island, Brooklyn Bridge, ...) and as my wife and I try to come twice a year in NYC and so begin
to know(as it's possible to know NY...),we've
tried this year to "capture" some of the NY
atmosphere==>a lot of walks...

Arrival on saturday, april the 3rd, at 4'10
pm landing at JFK and a 5'15 pm arrival at the Drake Swissotel.
Reservations made via Delta.com and all the wihes(send via the net)have been honored : separated queens bed in the children's room, kingbed for the parent's room, rooms far from elevator and icemachines(as far it can be...), non smoking floor and in the rear for quietness==>an excellent beginning.
First dinner at a Jackson Hole(64th. and 3rd)
for very juicy burgers and after a short walk in UES, a good night.

Sunday, april the 4th. : breakfast in a Starbusk(57 and lexington)and then, via
Central Park, direction the Flea market on Columbus, quick lunch at Isabella's and then
walk till the 125th, via Broadway, with
look at St John the divine/Columbia and a
passage till the Apollo theater.
Subway from 125/Bdway till 163rd and then jazz at 555 Edgecombe avenue(the parlour entertainment) from 4 to 5'45 p.m.
We've to go without listening at the 2nd set
because at 7 p.m. we were at the Wintergarden for Mamma Mia : not the best musical, but good for our teens and music of our "age" for the parents...The dinner was quick at the deli just across the Sheraton
towers...It has not been difficult to sleep...

Monday, april the 5th.
Breakfast at 9 at the Palace restaurant(adress find in this forum), 57 and lexington), very pleasant and a very convenient rate(23 to 32 $ for 4, tax include
depending of the choice of everyone..).
Then , a little part of the 5th(57th. to 42nd), the Public library, then the 6th. till Macy's for the flowershow(certainly the
nicest we've seen in 8 years) and after,
lunch at Uncle Jack's steakhouse-very good.

Return by the 7th. avenue-quick stop at the hotel(because daughters and wife have made some...shopping)."Short" walk till Columbus circle to take the subway till Cathedral parkway to meet some friends of us for
a "glass" in their apt(108th.) and then diner
at Bistro 1018(amsterdam) -not so bad.
Back to the Drake by cab...And a good sleep...

Tuesday, april the 6th.
Breakfast at Starsbuck and then walk to Columbus circle via the 57th. and subway to
Delancey street-reservation at the Lower
East side museum for the 2 tenements tours at
1 and 2==>before the morning has been occupied by the visit of Soho(castiron architecture, galleries, shops,..)-lunch at
Katz delicatessen(burgers and hot dogs OK, but I've found my corned beef not so good...)
but atmosphere is great...
Then the tours(very interesting both) and a good complement to the Ellis Island visit...
After, a quick stop at the economic candy store for the fun and back to Soho for...
shopping. Walk till union square and subway to be back at hotel.The daughters have been let to a good sleep after some sandwiches
and we've gone-only the parents-to see
"Twentieth Century" : very pleasant, even we've not understood all the jokes...And,for
us men on the 45-50, no more physical complex with Baldwin : the icons also take
some "pounds"...But his charism is always here...

Wednesday, April the 7th.
Breakfast at the Barnes and Noble, 66st and Columbus with a friend of us and then,
American Folk art museum-permanent collection
and the talk quilts very interesting, the museum building very nice, the expo. about the work of a Louisiania sister was not
interesting for us(not really our cup of tea...).The museum shop has some good articles.
Then, a good lunch at Canaletto
an italian restaurant on 64 and 3rd and then we've been by the 3rd Avenue to Spanish Harlem(till the 110th.) to see the "De La
Vega"'s wall paintings and fresque and a stop at his shop(t.shirts, bag, a painting and 2 smalls tiles).Back to hotel half walking and half subway, because at evening we were at the Madison Square Garden for
Knicks versus Bulls : not as good than 7-10
years ago, but very funny for our daughters and a qualification to the play off for the
Knicks and so a good evening.
Transition between Spanish harlem and Upp.
East side at # the 92/98 th. steets is very impressive for the children.

Thursday,april the 8th.
Brakfast at the Palace and then 56th. till
the 8th. and walk down thru 8/9/10 av.(Hell's
kitchen) till Chelsea, viewing the J.K.Javits show center only external(autoshow was in preparation...).Just acroos the street, there is an old "garage" with some "cars sculptures" of the 50's...Pity to
see how they have changed since last year : some has felt...Times perhaps for some NYkers
to be interested in the preservation of this.
The gold rush bar is also nice to see(never been in : does someone know how it is??).
Then a visit to the Chelsea market-very impressive to the children) and then lunch with friends of us at the Greenwich brewery
just across the street /Jefferson Mkt library: not bad but too expensive for what they offer...
Then a visit to the Jefferson Mkt library(a complete tour, grace of our friends) and after, a walk in Greenwich village-not the best part of NY for us...("too politicaly correct and too"intelligentsia"...).
Then, back to hotel for a quick dinner at the Palace and an early sleep for the childrens(hope of the parents who were at Carnegie hall for the Joshua Bell recital :
as good you can imagine-despite a cell phone
during the tchaikowski serenade-even at classical music it can happen...).

Friday, april the 9th.
Breakfast at Starsbuck and then the 3rd av. till Southstreet seaport.We love the 3rd avenue because there is not a lot of "shopping"-more practical stores and the
view of the buildings(Citicorp, Chrysler,
Empire,...) by this side is uncommon...
Lunch at the Bridge café-always perfect)-
little walk in downtown(to discover to the
daughters the buildings before the "alignment" law : narrow streets,...).
Then subway to the 42nd and walk thru the 42nd. street(Gd central, Chanin, Daily news, UNO,...).Back to hotel and at evening,
Hairspay... a very good musical and a way
to explain all the progress between the 60's and now in the fight against racism...
Saturday, april the 10th. :
Breakfast at Starsbusk and then,direction Upper West Side via Columbus to a detour for
the NY historical Society : a very very intersting exposition about "home sewing" in NY-very complementay/LES museum.Then a visit to Zabars and the family "divides" : shopping in UWS for Mum and Salomé(10ys old) and a game at yankee stadium for Dad and
Faustine(16 ys old)...NYY has loosed but it
was fun. I'm affraid this season will be
difficult for a Yankee's fan if the batters
don't progress quicly...
Then back to midtown for a litlle shopping and a dinner at Morton's(5th and 45) : very good bisque/salmon -smoked and steamed/aspa-
ragus and meat/crabcake/key lime pie but a very unpleasant chocolate souffle-long to wait(the 1st failed..) and not good but a good surprise : they don't count deserts because of our long wait...
After, the last musical, 42 nd street : very
impressive for the childrens : the tap dancers...

Sunday, april the 11th. ! breakfast by a friend of us at west end avenue/66st. and then a quick tour of the Lincoln center(and explanation for the children about construction and west Side story).Then, back to the hotel and cab to airport and back flight to France...
We've been both enchanted and I let to my
old daughter the first conclusion : after seeing how we've been everywhere welcomme and
seeing at zabars the french cheeses and in
different supermarket, french waters, french limonades,...she had said " fortunately, we've the media to explain to us why US is
againts us, because by ourselves, it's difficult to see..."(16 ys old but by chance she knows that what is in the media is not by far always true...)[I think an american teen will have the same impression coming in France...].
Second conclusion of both children : we understand now why you are in NY one or twice a year and we hope sometimes in next years we can flight with you again...
Sorry for this long long trip but 8 days in NY is an intensive experience...

Erik.

Scarlett

What a Grand time was had by all! Thank you and it was not too long, but just right~

weenie57

Sounds like a great trip! Glad the Drake worked out. If I could afford to take my 2 teens to Europe right now, France would be my first choice. Not only because they both take French in school, but because to my way of thinking, the French have a beautiful country, the greatest food in the world, and a wonderful way of life from which Americans could learn a thing or two. I am so glad you felt welcome here...I believe it is only a few very loud, but very ignorant, Americans who can't see that the rest of the world has their own point of view on things - in fact, many of these same people would like to deny even fellow Americans an opposing point of view by generally accusing us of being unpatriotic. Oh well, some good things in life go on. Thanks for the write up.

bardo

Thanks for taking the time to write such an enjoyable post. It was a real pleasure.

HowardR

Double compliments--for planning a great trip and doing a great writeup reporting it!

monpetit

Thank for the first responses.
As jetlag began really to gain against myself, after a full day of work(7 a.m. till now 5 p.m. with a 1/2 h of lunchtime,and another 1/2h to write the poster... but it's the cost of a week of absence), I'm going to repose a little...
So, sory if there are some questions...I'll respond tomorrow morning, when I'll be back...
Erik.