Help! Overwhelmed by New York City information
Feb 6th, 2015, 10:18 AM
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Help! Overwhelmed by New York City information
My husband and I are traveling to NY the end of Feb. staying near St. Patricks.
1 I am so confused with websites to purchase Broadway tickets; suggestions?
2. Also, can anyone give suggestions for quaint/nice restaurants since we be there during restaurant week. We like upscale but not super expensive.
3. What is best way to get from airport and then daily around city ? uber, taxi, subway, bus?
4. Other than 911 Memorial, we are flexible. Suggestions?
Any specifics that will help me would be wonderful.
1 I am so confused with websites to purchase Broadway tickets; suggestions?
2. Also, can anyone give suggestions for quaint/nice restaurants since we be there during restaurant week. We like upscale but not super expensive.
3. What is best way to get from airport and then daily around city ? uber, taxi, subway, bus?
4. Other than 911 Memorial, we are flexible. Suggestions?
Any specifics that will help me would be wonderful.
Feb 6th, 2015, 10:38 AM
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(1) The TKTS booth itself @ 47th and Broadway.
(2) The point of restaurant week is that the upscale and super expensive have special menus for restaurant week. Speak in terms of cuisine preferences.
(3) What airport? From LGA, shared ride or taxi. Take the subway > bus unless you need to travel across central park.
(4) There's a whole Fodor's page full of them.
(2) The point of restaurant week is that the upscale and super expensive have special menus for restaurant week. Speak in terms of cuisine preferences.
(3) What airport? From LGA, shared ride or taxi. Take the subway > bus unless you need to travel across central park.
(4) There's a whole Fodor's page full of them.
Feb 6th, 2015, 12:21 PM
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I usually buy my tickets right from the source, Ticketcharge or whoever the venue is using but that's because I want a good seat and have very specific things in mind that I want to see. And the shows I often want to go to are very popular, and I'm not usually there in off periods.
But if you don't have my pickiness, I think there are several with discount codes and they aren't that different -- playbill is fine, or broadwaybox.com or theatermania.com Those are the ones I have looked at (only to find there are no discounts during my dates).
I don't have the time in a short visit to stand in those lines, which also means you have to have your visit revolve around being in that area at that time. If you do, it's a way to go.
I just get around the city by subway and bus, whichever works better for where I'm going. I have a map of the lines. I usually stay around Times Sq as I do a lot of theater, but I take the bus to go up to the museums (one runs up Madison Avenue and runs down 5th) and the subway lines aren't as convenient.
But if you don't have my pickiness, I think there are several with discount codes and they aren't that different -- playbill is fine, or broadwaybox.com or theatermania.com Those are the ones I have looked at (only to find there are no discounts during my dates).
I don't have the time in a short visit to stand in those lines, which also means you have to have your visit revolve around being in that area at that time. If you do, it's a way to go.
I just get around the city by subway and bus, whichever works better for where I'm going. I have a map of the lines. I usually stay around Times Sq as I do a lot of theater, but I take the bus to go up to the museums (one runs up Madison Avenue and runs down 5th) and the subway lines aren't as convenient.
Feb 6th, 2015, 03:18 PM
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1. Another Broadway discount site is playbill.
2. I like www.menupages.com for searching restaurants by location, cuisine, price and to read menus & reviews.
3. From LGA to your hotel near St Patrick's. you can take the Q70 express bus to 74th/Jackson and then the E train. If you will be taking at least 13 subway rides (we never do in a 4 day weekend), the unlimited 7 day metro card is a good choice at $31. Otherwise, buy a metrocard at LGA and load it with an amount you think you'll use. The subway (and walking) is the best way to get around.
4. What are your interests?
2. I like www.menupages.com for searching restaurants by location, cuisine, price and to read menus & reviews.
3. From LGA to your hotel near St Patrick's. you can take the Q70 express bus to 74th/Jackson and then the E train. If you will be taking at least 13 subway rides (we never do in a 4 day weekend), the unlimited 7 day metro card is a good choice at $31. Otherwise, buy a metrocard at LGA and load it with an amount you think you'll use. The subway (and walking) is the best way to get around.
4. What are your interests?
Feb 6th, 2015, 04:18 PM
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Go to Broadwaybox.com to buy discount tickets in advance. They will be available for many shows but probably not the biggest hits. For discount shows take the code from broadwaybox.com to the official online ticket seller for the show (per playbill - often ticketmaster or telecharge), pick out your tickets, pay and have them held for you at the box office. If the show you want is not discounted, try to get them now online - for the best choice of seats and prices. If you wait until you get here you will have to use a scalper for a huge price.
How to get in from the airport depends on which one you are landing at, how much luggage you have and if you are willing/able to schlep it through stations and up and down stairs.
For getting around the city foot is best except for longer distances - more than a mile or two. For that use subway - fastest and most efficient. Taxis are fairly expensive and are not readily available in bad weather.
For restaurant week google to see which ones are taking part - only a few do of the many hundreds of good places in the city. Then we can advise you among the ones you are considering.
How to get in from the airport depends on which one you are landing at, how much luggage you have and if you are willing/able to schlep it through stations and up and down stairs.
For getting around the city foot is best except for longer distances - more than a mile or two. For that use subway - fastest and most efficient. Taxis are fairly expensive and are not readily available in bad weather.
For restaurant week google to see which ones are taking part - only a few do of the many hundreds of good places in the city. Then we can advise you among the ones you are considering.
Feb 7th, 2015, 01:52 AM
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Her is a list of restos that are participating:
http://www.nycgo.com/restaurant-week...word_text%255d
http://www.nycgo.com/restaurant-week...word_text%255d
Feb 7th, 2015, 07:37 AM
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Thanks to all for the info concerning Broadway tickets. I agree Christina; I don't want to stand in long lines either. Abram, thanks for suggestion for metro card. Will take care of that at LGA.I checked restaurants that are participating in restaurant week. Made reservations at Bello on 9th Ave and Benoit Restaurant & Bar. Does anyone know specifics on either of them?
Feb 7th, 2015, 10:22 AM
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Ifyou go to menupages.com you will see all the details of each restaurant - including the regular menu and usual prices. Don't think the restaurant week menus will be there (this menu is always limited, often choice of 3or 4 each appetizer, main course or dessert) so you want to see if that menu is listed here or on opentable. If not, call the restaurant to see what the choices are.
Feb 8th, 2015, 02:14 PM
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I usually just take a yellow cab from the airport to my destination - less hassle. I've also taken the new york airport shuttle service bus to Grand Central station and that is simple and inexpensive.
Morandi in the West Village is a really good Italian restaurant with good ambiance.
Morandi in the West Village is a really good Italian restaurant with good ambiance.
Feb 8th, 2015, 03:48 PM
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1) Every show has an official seller, either Telecharge.com or Ticketmaster.com. Playbill.com has every show listed with links to the official sellers. If the show is discounted.on sites like broadwaybox.com or playbill.com or theatermania.com you will still be directed back to the official seller for the purchase. If you print out the discount and bring it with you to the box office when you get to NYC, you save yourself some transaction fees, but also run the risk of not getting seats if you're only going for a few days. Teh most popualr shows like Wicked, Lion King, Book of Mormon are rarely discounted.
2) Don't get hung up on restaurant week. The rw menus are often very limited, and may not include many of the best dishes. The area around St. Patrick's is anything but quaint. It's a high rent district with some of the best/most expensive restaurants in the city, many of which offer "bargain" (in relative terms) prix fixe lunches Mon-Fri. without rw. La Grenouille and Le Bernardin are 2 near your hotel that have great prix fixe lunches normally. Have not been to Benoit in a long time but would not be a top pick for me. Never heard of Bello. I had a very nice rw lunch at the Monkey Bar in the Elysee hotel (maybe your hotel?). It's not quaint but a lovely room with great murals, some history and the serice was very good. Bouley has a fabulous prix fixe lunch...don't know about rw.
For quaint places look in the village at places like Home, Good, Jane
Opentable.com
Is a booking site for most restaurants but sometimes phoning will get a reservation when opentable is showing no availability.
3) To/from LGA, a taxi is simplest amd will cost $35-$45. Once you get to Manhattan, a combination of subway, buses and the occasional taxi depending on the distance is how to get around. Hopstop.com is a site that will show you subway and bus routes.
4) if you go to the 9/11 Memorial, theres a Tribute Center from which you can take a walking tour. The memorial (free, no tickets required) is next to the museum where you do need tickets.
http://tributewtc.org/
911memorial.org
The Tenement Museum is very popular and should also be booked in advance.
Goldstar.com
is a site with discounts on various things which might give you some ideas.
If you like pizza, there's a Brooklyn pizza tour that also shows you some of that borough.
Asliceofbrooklyn.com
Freetoursbyfoot.com has become a popualr way to see differentareas and also has some self guided tours on their site.
2) Don't get hung up on restaurant week. The rw menus are often very limited, and may not include many of the best dishes. The area around St. Patrick's is anything but quaint. It's a high rent district with some of the best/most expensive restaurants in the city, many of which offer "bargain" (in relative terms) prix fixe lunches Mon-Fri. without rw. La Grenouille and Le Bernardin are 2 near your hotel that have great prix fixe lunches normally. Have not been to Benoit in a long time but would not be a top pick for me. Never heard of Bello. I had a very nice rw lunch at the Monkey Bar in the Elysee hotel (maybe your hotel?). It's not quaint but a lovely room with great murals, some history and the serice was very good. Bouley has a fabulous prix fixe lunch...don't know about rw.
For quaint places look in the village at places like Home, Good, Jane
Opentable.com
Is a booking site for most restaurants but sometimes phoning will get a reservation when opentable is showing no availability.
3) To/from LGA, a taxi is simplest amd will cost $35-$45. Once you get to Manhattan, a combination of subway, buses and the occasional taxi depending on the distance is how to get around. Hopstop.com is a site that will show you subway and bus routes.
4) if you go to the 9/11 Memorial, theres a Tribute Center from which you can take a walking tour. The memorial (free, no tickets required) is next to the museum where you do need tickets.
http://tributewtc.org/
911memorial.org
The Tenement Museum is very popular and should also be booked in advance.
Goldstar.com
is a site with discounts on various things which might give you some ideas.
If you like pizza, there's a Brooklyn pizza tour that also shows you some of that borough.
Asliceofbrooklyn.com
Freetoursbyfoot.com has become a popualr way to see differentareas and also has some self guided tours on their site.
Feb 9th, 2015, 11:51 AM
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NY'ers rightly or wrongly rarely go to the Theater District to eat. For years it has a terrible reputation and now NY'ers would not want to waste their time and money finding out which one are the better ones.
I have never heard of either and Bello doen't even get a mention in Zagats while Benoit is an Alain Ducasse it only garners a 23 in Zagats. And clearly Zagat's is not the be all and end all but it is an indication. And the menu at Bello is not particularly northern Italian. And Zagat's usually has a herd mentality and Alain Ducasse is part of the hed.
NY has 1,000's of ethnic restaurants that visitors do not try for many reasons, the worst being it is not near their hotel or the theater.
I have never heard of either and Bello doen't even get a mention in Zagats while Benoit is an Alain Ducasse it only garners a 23 in Zagats. And clearly Zagat's is not the be all and end all but it is an indication. And the menu at Bello is not particularly northern Italian. And Zagat's usually has a herd mentality and Alain Ducasse is part of the hed.
NY has 1,000's of ethnic restaurants that visitors do not try for many reasons, the worst being it is not near their hotel or the theater.
