Just back from NYC...
Jun 18th, 2008, 10:59 AM
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Just back from NYC...
Thanks to all of you who helped us plan our trip. We returned yesterday from NYC. Here's what we did and liked.
Stayed Jumeirah Essex House on Central Park South for three nights. Just had a big renovation, and the rooms were very nice. DH and I in park view King and 15- and 12- yr old boys in a two-queen bed interior room, both rooms on 14th floor. This is the highest floor for which the hotel has the two queen bedded room. Also, I believe that higher floors are more expensive. So, for those of you who are always searching for a fairly large room with two queens and a nicer, larger bathroom- -this is it, as long as you don't mind an interior room (it had three large windows onto, well, onto nothing) and next to elevator (some mechanical noise in the room). It was really nice and large, though. Our king was small with a small bathroom and a million dollar view.
First day explored Central Park on Essex House's four complimentary first-come first-served bikes. Two of them are smaller size, but the boys were fine on them. This was really a nice way to see the park. Dinner at Campagnola on Upper East Side. This was our best dinner. Food was great except for one item, and the wait staff just made it fun for the kids. Not really a family place- -more like a neighborhood place. If you're watching budget, not your place. The waiter says "You like pasta?" and then four plates with a variety of pastas shows up. He stopped us from ordering too many entrees, though, so that was good. Asked my son, "You like dessert?" and my son said no, he was too full, but waiter promptly places a piece of cake in front of him and puts the fork in his hand. We all laughed. You have to be in the mood, but it was fun for all of us. Yes, he ate all of the cake.
Day two, breakfast buffet at Essex House (very nice, not cheap) and then one son took lesson at National Tennis Center while DS2 and I did Apple Store, Niketown, Nintendo World (where you can play almost any Wii game) and Top of the Rock (would agree this is better than ESB, if you have to choose between the two). No wait. In the afternoon, off to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Our family had agreed that we would see 8 items, which we had listed out, and the rooftop sculpture exhibit, which is really great and takes no time at all. Some of our designated pieces were out on loan at the time. The kids sort of stopped to stroll through the modern art area without an agenda, so that was good. Total time spent there, one hour. Knowing we were not going to be there for hours, and knowing what we would see, helped the boys enjoy the time we were there, even though we breezed by several things that I would love to have stopped to see. But, we found in Europe last year that a targeted approach works best with our boys and art museums. Then, on to Central Park (which borders Met on back side) to see the mega-ramp BMX competition. DS1 realizes he's lost his IPhone (Christmas present) and when a teenager loses his music, phone, and text device, with no insurance on it, it changes everyone's day. Nuf said. Back to hotel to shower and mope for a while. Tavern on the Green pre-theatre dinner because none of us had ever been there and boys wanted to try it. Had reserved 5:45 time in advance online. Had more than enough time for two courses and then off to Lincoln Centre to see South Pacific. Spectacular. Even a 12 year old boy and a phoneless teenage boy liked it, although not as well as they had liked Spamalot (no surprise). The location combo of Essex House-Tavern on the Green-Lincoln Center worked well. As for Tavern on the Green, I'm glad we went. We were able to sit in the main room (although we were told you could not reserve a specific room when making the reservations) and there was a light rain on the glass ceiling, so it was nice. The food was not really very good for the price, but it wasn't awful. The waiter was quiet and distant, but not rude. We have now been there, it was nice, and we don't need to go again.
Day 3: run in Central Park then down to LES for breakfast at Schiller's (131 Rivington at Norfolk) in an old Liquor Bar- -very casual, really more for trendy 20 somethings. Really enjoyed breakfast. Must go downstairs to the restroom before you leave. This was a great launching point for our two hour private walking tour of the Lower East Side with Michelle Nevius tours. Our tour was called "Immigration and the Lower East Side" and we really liked it. I believe the web site is www.walknyc.com and the phone is 1-877-572-9719. James Nevius was our guide and as he led us through the neighborhoods he showed us historical photos and gave us a vivid image of what life was and is like for various immigrants through the history of NYC. We saw Chinatown and Little Italy during the tour. I would highly recommend it, and it would have been nice in combination with one of the presentations inside the Tenement Museum, but I was not able to reserve that. We tried to hit the edgy unique LES stores that had been recommended to us here in Fodor's but they were closed. Should have called first. Saved the info and will try again on next trip. Then walked around Times Square for a short time, because the kids like it. Dinner was at Tao in mid-town. The interior with the huge thai buddha, brick walls, and high ceiling was really great and we had mostly great food (sea bass satay was great, don't order the crispy tuna sashimi rolls) Only thing I can complain about is that the table was so small that we kept spilling things. We were at one of those small square tables that has the extra panel that folds out from under the table so that they can make it a larger table. So, all of your "small" plates don't fit on the table and you can't cross your legs under the table. Yes, I know, real estate is scarce in NY and you're often at a small table and/or right next to your neighbor.
"Last" Day- -breakfast at Rue 57 on the corner of 57th and 6th was great- -best banana pancakes ever. Then to LGA and then...3-1/2 hours on the plane, on the tarmac...back to the terminal. Flight cancelled (weather). Rebooked for the next day (earliest we could get out). So, we decided to stay in Soho at the Soho Grand. Back into the city with our luggage. We booked two standard rooms, each small with one qween bed. They were just fine. Brought a live fish up to each room to keep us company, and as a member of the hotel's club, an amenity box with fruit, cheese, olives, crackers, water. Nice. Dinner there in the swanky, sexy Grand Lounge and Bar (made less swanky and sexy by our presence!) Great small plates. DH and DS1 walked around the neighborhood after dinner, and the next morning, after a good breakfast at the hotel, we walked Soho and shopped a bit, then back to LGA again. This time, success- -returned home yesterday.
It was a great trip and again, all help received from Fodorites was welcome. Saving Greenwich Village walking tour and LES shops, pre-theatre recommendations, for next trip.
Stayed Jumeirah Essex House on Central Park South for three nights. Just had a big renovation, and the rooms were very nice. DH and I in park view King and 15- and 12- yr old boys in a two-queen bed interior room, both rooms on 14th floor. This is the highest floor for which the hotel has the two queen bedded room. Also, I believe that higher floors are more expensive. So, for those of you who are always searching for a fairly large room with two queens and a nicer, larger bathroom- -this is it, as long as you don't mind an interior room (it had three large windows onto, well, onto nothing) and next to elevator (some mechanical noise in the room). It was really nice and large, though. Our king was small with a small bathroom and a million dollar view.
First day explored Central Park on Essex House's four complimentary first-come first-served bikes. Two of them are smaller size, but the boys were fine on them. This was really a nice way to see the park. Dinner at Campagnola on Upper East Side. This was our best dinner. Food was great except for one item, and the wait staff just made it fun for the kids. Not really a family place- -more like a neighborhood place. If you're watching budget, not your place. The waiter says "You like pasta?" and then four plates with a variety of pastas shows up. He stopped us from ordering too many entrees, though, so that was good. Asked my son, "You like dessert?" and my son said no, he was too full, but waiter promptly places a piece of cake in front of him and puts the fork in his hand. We all laughed. You have to be in the mood, but it was fun for all of us. Yes, he ate all of the cake.
Day two, breakfast buffet at Essex House (very nice, not cheap) and then one son took lesson at National Tennis Center while DS2 and I did Apple Store, Niketown, Nintendo World (where you can play almost any Wii game) and Top of the Rock (would agree this is better than ESB, if you have to choose between the two). No wait. In the afternoon, off to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Our family had agreed that we would see 8 items, which we had listed out, and the rooftop sculpture exhibit, which is really great and takes no time at all. Some of our designated pieces were out on loan at the time. The kids sort of stopped to stroll through the modern art area without an agenda, so that was good. Total time spent there, one hour. Knowing we were not going to be there for hours, and knowing what we would see, helped the boys enjoy the time we were there, even though we breezed by several things that I would love to have stopped to see. But, we found in Europe last year that a targeted approach works best with our boys and art museums. Then, on to Central Park (which borders Met on back side) to see the mega-ramp BMX competition. DS1 realizes he's lost his IPhone (Christmas present) and when a teenager loses his music, phone, and text device, with no insurance on it, it changes everyone's day. Nuf said. Back to hotel to shower and mope for a while. Tavern on the Green pre-theatre dinner because none of us had ever been there and boys wanted to try it. Had reserved 5:45 time in advance online. Had more than enough time for two courses and then off to Lincoln Centre to see South Pacific. Spectacular. Even a 12 year old boy and a phoneless teenage boy liked it, although not as well as they had liked Spamalot (no surprise). The location combo of Essex House-Tavern on the Green-Lincoln Center worked well. As for Tavern on the Green, I'm glad we went. We were able to sit in the main room (although we were told you could not reserve a specific room when making the reservations) and there was a light rain on the glass ceiling, so it was nice. The food was not really very good for the price, but it wasn't awful. The waiter was quiet and distant, but not rude. We have now been there, it was nice, and we don't need to go again.
Day 3: run in Central Park then down to LES for breakfast at Schiller's (131 Rivington at Norfolk) in an old Liquor Bar- -very casual, really more for trendy 20 somethings. Really enjoyed breakfast. Must go downstairs to the restroom before you leave. This was a great launching point for our two hour private walking tour of the Lower East Side with Michelle Nevius tours. Our tour was called "Immigration and the Lower East Side" and we really liked it. I believe the web site is www.walknyc.com and the phone is 1-877-572-9719. James Nevius was our guide and as he led us through the neighborhoods he showed us historical photos and gave us a vivid image of what life was and is like for various immigrants through the history of NYC. We saw Chinatown and Little Italy during the tour. I would highly recommend it, and it would have been nice in combination with one of the presentations inside the Tenement Museum, but I was not able to reserve that. We tried to hit the edgy unique LES stores that had been recommended to us here in Fodor's but they were closed. Should have called first. Saved the info and will try again on next trip. Then walked around Times Square for a short time, because the kids like it. Dinner was at Tao in mid-town. The interior with the huge thai buddha, brick walls, and high ceiling was really great and we had mostly great food (sea bass satay was great, don't order the crispy tuna sashimi rolls) Only thing I can complain about is that the table was so small that we kept spilling things. We were at one of those small square tables that has the extra panel that folds out from under the table so that they can make it a larger table. So, all of your "small" plates don't fit on the table and you can't cross your legs under the table. Yes, I know, real estate is scarce in NY and you're often at a small table and/or right next to your neighbor.
"Last" Day- -breakfast at Rue 57 on the corner of 57th and 6th was great- -best banana pancakes ever. Then to LGA and then...3-1/2 hours on the plane, on the tarmac...back to the terminal. Flight cancelled (weather). Rebooked for the next day (earliest we could get out). So, we decided to stay in Soho at the Soho Grand. Back into the city with our luggage. We booked two standard rooms, each small with one qween bed. They were just fine. Brought a live fish up to each room to keep us company, and as a member of the hotel's club, an amenity box with fruit, cheese, olives, crackers, water. Nice. Dinner there in the swanky, sexy Grand Lounge and Bar (made less swanky and sexy by our presence!) Great small plates. DH and DS1 walked around the neighborhood after dinner, and the next morning, after a good breakfast at the hotel, we walked Soho and shopped a bit, then back to LGA again. This time, success- -returned home yesterday.
It was a great trip and again, all help received from Fodorites was welcome. Saving Greenwich Village walking tour and LES shops, pre-theatre recommendations, for next trip.
Jun 18th, 2008, 12:12 PM
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What a wonderful trip and report!
I'm curious why you chose Campagnola? I live near to it and have never gone. I actually don't know anyone else who's gone, but after your positive experience, I think I'll give it a try.
I'm curious why you chose Campagnola? I live near to it and have never gone. I actually don't know anyone else who's gone, but after your positive experience, I think I'll give it a try.
Jun 19th, 2008, 05:08 AM
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CentralParkGirl, my husband chose Campagnola because he had enjoyed a business dinner there, where the waiters just kept the courses coming, even though no one ever ordered anything. We went to Italy last year, and the kids loved these big Italian meals, so he thought they'd like it and they did. DH's friend told him that once, during the US Open last year, he dined there and both Andy Roddick and Maria Sharapova were there (not together). The pasta was great as was the calamari. We ordered the large T-Bone steak, which came out sizzling on what I would call a fajita platter, and while it probably exited the kitchen a perfect medium, it was sizzling so much that by the time it reached the table it was a bit charred on the bottom. The waiter noticed this thing cooking fast and so he reached over, cut it into four pieces and served our plates. Kinda funny. I've read reviews that have said that the service was rushed (ours was not), that regulars are seated before new diners, even though the new diners arrived earlier (we were seated right at our reservation time, so I don't know), and that if you tell them you're celebrating a special occasion, they will bring out a huge dessert that they end up charging you a fortune for (we had a dessert brought that we did not order, but it wasn't expensive and we were in a good mood and didn't care). Anyway, if you try it, I hope it works out well.
Jun 21st, 2008, 03:09 AM
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I enjoyed your account of your recent New York trip. Sounds like you had a great time. Like yourself, I also had fun exploring Central Park by bicycle. An ideal way to experience the benefits of this wonderful park.
If you go again, consider timing your visit to coincide with fall. I was lucky enough to visit Central Park at this time of year, and the autumn colors were a highlight of my visit as I'm a keen photographer.
While on my cycle ride around the park, I took a photo near the Jacqueline Kennedy Reservoir. You can view this at
http://www.flixya.com/photo/356562/G..._Park_New_York
Thanks again for a most informative review of the Big Apple.
If you go again, consider timing your visit to coincide with fall. I was lucky enough to visit Central Park at this time of year, and the autumn colors were a highlight of my visit as I'm a keen photographer.
While on my cycle ride around the park, I took a photo near the Jacqueline Kennedy Reservoir. You can view this at
http://www.flixya.com/photo/356562/G..._Park_New_York
Thanks again for a most informative review of the Big Apple.
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