New York by Neighborhood (also Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens) - please help!

Oh, and wanted to add, we're usually up for anything. We like museums, artsy things, outdoorsy things, shopping, love food, theater. We don't really want to do the ball drop in Times Square for New Year's eve. We'll be staying at Affinia Dumont at midtown. We won't have a car. W're both in our mid 30's, no kids. Many thanks!

Sorry - these are not "neighborhoods". New York City is mad eup of 5 separate boroughs (each equivalent to a county elsewhere).

Brooklyn (Kings county) has dozzens of separate neighborhoods - and more than 2 million residents. Queeens and the Bronx also have dozens of neighborhoods - most primarily residential. and once outside of Manhattan transit is muchmore diffiucult - you often need a subway, then a bus to get some where and end of the line can easily taek 1.5 to 2 hours.

Manhattan (the island most people think of as NYC) also has many differnt neighborhoods - and you could spend 10 days exloring those alone. I don't think you have any conception of how large NYC is. You mention upper east side and "hitting the museums" This would take you at least a week (Met, guggenheim, Whitney, Frick, Museum of the city of NY, Museo del Barrio, Asia House and several others), most of which don;t have free days.

I suggest you head for the outer boroughs only to do/see specific things - or you'll waste a huge amount of time.

Sorry, nytraveler, i meant i want to visit the neighborhoods of NY and then something in the burroughs of Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. I don't know much about the latter 3 burroughs so as a tourist, I was thinking maybe someone could suggest an easy spot for me to visit like maybe brooklyn heights for brooklyn to include walking across the bridge back to Manhattan.

Of course I won't go to ALL the the museums, maybe just 2 (Guggenheim and Nat history, for example).

I only have 10 days and want to visit the areas listed and was just wondering what highlights to hit. I understand NY is HUGE and there's so much to do which is why I was asking for advice on what to do in the areas. I agree I'm not from NY and don't know the burroughs well which is why I thought I'd ask.

Thanks anyway.

Personally, I commend you for realizing there's more to New York than Manhattan.

Is your husband a baseball fan? Yankee Stadium is in the Bronx, if that would interest him more than the zoo.

Wow, you've done a lot of research! From my experience, you've got plenty to fill ten days.

I'll leave it to the nice New Yorkers to offer more details on routes and restaurants!

Check out the Bronx and its botanical garden. We never made it to Arthur Avenue there but it was on our list. There are many Italian places to eat. You should be able to get a far better Italian meal there than in "Little Italy" in NYC.

Also~WaveHill in Riverdale, The Bronx is a lovely garden.(end of the Harlem line) I particularly like gardens in the winter and the views of the river are also lovely.

In Brooklyn look at the Willamsburg section(Peter Lugers for a burger @ lunch) or Park Slope. You may also want to check out Al di La as a place for an Italian dinner.

We stayed in Chelsea on our most recent trip(see my trip report). There is a great deal to do there. There are many galleries and the High Line is a particularly nice walk. There are lots of good little places to eat.

Enjoy..I wish I could be at St John the Divine on Christmas Eve.

BTW~I mentioned the 12:30 each day prayer service @ St Paul's Chapel near the WTC site. It is quite moving.

Sounds like you guys are going to be VERY busy while you are here. I am also THRILLED you are coming to the Concert for Peace at St. John's. This year we are doing Beethoven's 9th again and the Cathedral is fully open. A few years ago there was a fire and most of the nave was closed for repairs. I think Lauren Flannigan from the Met will be our guest, and she has an amazing voice.

Things to see and do in the city, to be honest alot of your time to see the outter broughs will be spent in transit, the city is BIG. So pick areas of the city you want to see most and research what's there. I'd suggest getting a book or two like the Fodors book on the City. They have already done all the research for you.

Pick an area like downtown and, start from there, see Battery Park, The Staten Island Ferry, walk up Broadway to eee Trinity Church, Wall St, World Trade Center, (Century 21 is right across the street for some good shopping), St. Paul's Chapel (World Trade Memorial), City Hall. From there walk up to Chinatown and Little Italy. That'a a full day of site seeing right there. Umberto's Clam House is a block away from Old St. Patricks and a good stop for dinner.

My area of town (Hamilton Heights) has some beautiful National Heritage Brownstone streets (Convent Ave, 147th St, Hamilton Terrace) a few Landmark Buildings, City College, and a few good restaurants, just to give you an idea of additional things to see. Also if you like Jazz, St. Nick's Pub is one of the BEST jazz spots in the city (149th and St. Nick).

Keep us posted on your planning and I'm so looking forward to saying HI New Year's Eve.

Check out the weekly on line magazine www.timeout.com for New York. I recently saw a good walking tour in the Bronx that included the Botanical Garden and other spots. I think they do other out of the way suggestions.

Between Christmas and New Years you will want to be mainly indoors unless we get some unexpectedly warm weather. I cannot reco the botanical gardens, the zoo ir wlking the Brooklyn bridge is the weather we usually hve then (high of perhaps 40 - with a windchill at night often in the teens or below).

If he is a basebll fan he probably would like a tour of Yankee Stadium (go to the web site for details). If you gt a warm day take the subway to the far side of the Broolym bridge and walk back. I don;t know of anything in Queens worth a visit on a first trip to NYC versus what you would get in Manhattan - and an hour closer.

If you were coming at a more clement time of year I would suggest either the botanical garden or the zoo in the Bronx, the Brooklyn botancal garden/prospect park of Brooklyn Museum, Queens - not so sure. And Staten Island is almost completely residential - except for the free ferry - which has great veiws of the Manhattan skyline on the way back.

And if you have to choose museums go to the Met (the greatest cultural institution in the western hemisphere) versus the Guggenheim (the outside is the best part).

thanks all and hello travelbuff! Looking forward to meeting you at St John's and thanks again for the ticket to the concert!!!!

Yeah, we've both been to NY before separately so we've both seen a lot of the touristy stuff and wanted to concentrate more on the neighborhoods ( I know Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn is a burrough and not a neighborhood but never been to before so wanted to check it out). I think we've pretty much decided for Brooklyn to hit DUMBO (i find the name cute too), walk across the bridge. I've read it will be freezing cold with the wind chill on the bridge but willing to sacrifice a little for the experience. Maybe end up at the river cafe for dinner or that cool rice restaurant everyone seems to be mentioning. Was thinking maybe of combing this with a morning at Chinatown. Do you know how far the Brooklyn museum is from DUMBO?

I'm afraid my husband is a soccer fan (he's English) and not a baseball fan at all. So I guess we may skip Bronx and/or Queens if I can't find anything of interest although I really wanted to be able to see something of those 2 other burroughs.

Thanks nytraveler. I've looked up the free days in the museum and found some to even have the parties after hours, etc. I've been to Guggenheim but it's small and they have the Kandinsky exhibit going on that I would really like to see so I may just do that on the pay as you wish sat. Brooklyn museum has the free first sat then too though so not sure what we'll do just yet.

The Bronx and Queens are very, very residential. Many of the places of interest are spread over many miles. Therefore it's difficult to pinpoint a particular thing to do, since the places of interest are not next to one another or as easily connected as in Manhattan. Also, many of the places of interest in those boroughs are in outdoorsy settings, so if the weather is cold and gray, you may not have an enjoyable time.

With all that time, you should go to the Cloisters at the northern end of Manhattan. Yes, it's a museum, but it's like taking a trip to Europe. You can cap your visit with a meal in the interesting surrounding neighborhood that is experiencing many changes.

If you get some nicer weather, the Bronx Zoo is indeed next to the Bronx Botanical Gardens and both have special holiday displays. While in the neighborhood, it's easy to visit Arthur Avenue, the Little Italy of the Bronx, for a meal.

Another thought for Queens would be to take the #7 train to the end of the line at Flushing, Queens, and explore the area--many good Asian restaurants. Similarly, some enjoy a ride to Astoria, Queens, the end of the line for the N/W trains to have a Greek meal.

If you like Jazz, a trip to the Louis Armstrong house in Queens might be of interest.

http://www.louisarmstronghouse.org/

Again, it's in a residential neighborhood, not really close to anything else. You reach it from the #7 train, so this might be combined with lunch or dinner in Flushing.

Queens has some of the most interesting neighborhoods in the city as it is probably the most diverse area in the world. You will find just about any ethnic cuisine and quite well done since they cater to people who know their own cuisines. Flushing is definitely worth a visit - replete with great Asian restaurants and some say the best Chinese eating in the world. Here are a couple: Joe's Shanghai, Spicy and Tasty - but you can almost walk into any one of them and enjoy. Take the 7 train to last stop - Main Street. Sripraphai (in Woodside) is considered by many the best Thai restaurant in town.

Thanks ellenem! I like the idea of taking the #7 to Flushing or the nw trains to astoria. Once you get off the train, is it somewhat of a small area to wander and find stuff to look at? I like it! Thanks!

Oh, and we do like Jazz so the suggestion at Hamilton heights and the one in queens is duly noted! Thanks.

Several good suggestions so far.

For Brooklyn, consider the Brooklyn Museum, which is quite good. If the time of year were right, would also recommend the Brooklyn Botanical Garden next door (though they do have some indoor exhibits). There's a subway stop right at the museum and if memory serves, the subway line runs through the DUMBO neighborhood. A good spot to eat near the Brooklyn Bridge on the Brooklyn side is Grimaldi's Pizza (not to mention the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, if you don't mind frozen treats this time of year).

There apparently isn't much in the way of decent Italian food in Little Italy anymore aside from Lombardi's Pizza -- most guidebooks I've seen call the area's eateries tourist traps. Such guidebooks recommend the Arthur Avenue area in the Bronx as being a much better option.

Veselka is a 24 hour Ukrainian diner in the East Village -- very good in my experience.

Good options in the Lower East Side for food include Katz's Deli (arguably the best pastrami on rye you'll ever have), Russ and Daughters (smoked fish on bagels and such, take out only), Il Laboratorio del Gelato (ice cream storefront), and Kossar's Bialys (bialys and not much else).

thanks bachslunch!

Another question, all we need for NYE is a dinner place that's nice enough without a pre fixe menu near the Upper West side (by St John's the Devine).

Any ideas?

If you head to one of the ethnic places on the upper west side they usually don't have prix fixe fou-fou dinners on New Year's Eve. Just tell us what cuisines you like - and some idea of budget - and people can make recos.

Oh - and I don't want you to think I have anything against Queens. I was born there - and lived there until I was 11 - but in a purely residential area. there are some pretty parks where they had the 1939 and 1964 World's Fair - and Flushing is an interesting ethnic area - but still little to see compared to Manhattan - and every thing very spred out - often hard to get around without a car.

don't think that at all nytraveler. i appreciate your input and understand you were comparing to manhattan. so is there an area in flushing or astoria that you would recommend?

we like any cuisine but for that evening, maybe not chinese. thinking maybe either italian, japanese, even indian? It would be great if it had a nice, maybe romantic atmosphere? I saw vai but they have a pre fixe for that evening. maybe something like that for atmosphere?

again, thanks for all the suggestions!

Things to do in Brooklyn near (somewhat) the bridge in the winter:
Check out the boutiques along Atlantic Ave

Walk along the Promenade in Brooklyn Heights, then walk down the hill to DUMBO (check out the Brooklyn Flea which will be indoors), then on to the bridge (chose the route carefully to avoid crossing in scary traffic)

Dinner in Park Slope: Al di La, Applewood, Frannys, take a stroll down 5th ave after dinner (very easy to hail taxis and close to all major trains at Atlantic Ave)
Dinner on Smith Street: Saul, Po

Check out Williamsburg-Martha Stewart just did a show on Brooklyn. Visit Peter Lugers, Marlow & Sons, etc http://www.marthastewart.com/show/the-martha-stewart-show/the-brooklyn-show

Some additional resources for Brooklyn ideas:
http://www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Man_v_Food/ci.Brooklyn.show?vgnextfmt=show


Food related for the outerboroughs
http://www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Anthony_Bourdain/ci.No_Reservations_in_NYC_Outer_Boroughs.show?vgnextfmt=show

Upper WEst Side Italiann could be Isabellas, near the Museum of Natural History, Bella Luna on Combus and about 89, Gennaros on Amsterdam and I think 92nd. A fairly new good neighborhood Indian is Tandoori on 94th near Broadway - but there are a ton of others.

1) Queens
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k2768305-l17566670-Queens-New_York_City_New_York.html#17566670

2) Brooklyn
Did you see this? http://www.marthastewart.com/show/the-martha-stewart-show/the-brooklyn-show
The best way to do this is to subway over to Brooklyn and walk back over the bridge (when you're ready) so the views of Manhattan are in front of you. DUMBO is on one side of the bridge and Brooklyn Heights (with the Brooklyn Promenade for great views) is on the other side (both on the Brooklyn side).

3) The NY Botanic Gardens in the Bronx has a lovely train exhibit. http://www.nybg.org/hts09/

6) Little Italy is for tourists only. Vincent's Clam bar is the "famous" place but not worth the trouble. Go to Lombardi's for pizza.

7) The free ferry I think you're talking about is the Staten Island ferry which does NOT go from Battery Park but on the southEAST corner of Manhattan. Have you amde friends with maps.google.com yet???

8) Orchard st. is not what it once was, but there are still some of the old places like Fine & Klein. The lower east side is now quite trendy with lots of hip stores and restaurants. Classic les is Katz's deli. For something new and trendy, places like Allen & Delancey, Schillers, Stanton Social. Have a look on menupages.com

9) The Met and others are "pay what you wish" so maybe not free, but you can give what you can afford. The Met is open late on Fri. and Sat. http://gonyc.about.com/b/2008/01/11/new-york-city-museum-free-pay-what-you-wish-days.htm

Thanks mclaurie. Those are all very helpful and I think we'll probably skip some areas - and yes, that's what I meant, "pay as you wish". Actually, we've looked at it and think we're best doing the city pass so we're not too worried about the museum admissions now (although adding the standard admission prices for the museums alone is only $10 less than the total so if we decide to do the empire state building again and statue of liberty and ellis island, then it will be worth it - what do you think of the pass?)

There are 5 nights open for either a show (we want to see at least 3 shows) or a nice prolonged dinners. Haven't decided which shows yet.

So here's what we've come up with. Pls let me know what you think so far.

Fri, 12/25: arrive early afternoon. check in to hotel and maybe potter around grand central station/times square? What's open on the 25th? early evening.

Sat, 12/26: Natural History Museum (broadway show in the evening possible)

Sun, 12/27: Bronx zoo, Botanical Gardens, Bronx Little Italy (evening open for a show)

Mon, 12/28: Guggenheim, Met, Central Park, Madison Ave (evening open for a show)

Tue & Wed, 12/29 & 12/30: Chinatown (dim sum lunch) on the 29th,the rest of the two days will cover East Village, Tribecca, SoHo, Statue of Liberty and Staten Island (evening open for a show)

Thur, 12/32 (NYE): Bryant Park shops in am, MOMA (4:30 to 6pm), St john the Devine, Dinner at Upper West Side (looking at some of the restaurants the nytraveler suggested), then fireworks in Central Park

Fri, 1/1 (NYD): Brunch somewhere then head to Queens Museum to see the Panorama (thanks mclaurie) then head to Austin St for dinner and maybe a nightcap at one of the area bars.

Sat, 1/2: I know the view is better coming from brooklyn to Manhattan but we want to be at the Brooklyn Museum that evening (free first Saturdays with a museum party from 5-11pm) so we'll head from the manhattan side first (make some stops along the way to see the view from the other direction) then do DUMBO (with the flea market) and Brooklyn Heights Promenade then the Brooklyn Museum (pick up tickets earlier if possible). Train it back to midtown.

Sun, 1/3: Open. I'm sure we'll find out some stuff we'd want to do while at the city so we can spend the day doing that here. (evening open for a show)

Mon, 1/4: Open during the day then heading to LGA around 2:30 for a 7pm flight out.

Thanks!

When near Orchard Street try Ino's and Il Labarorio de Gelato.

As others noted, to me the boroughs are more about the people and from where they came than the sights. They speak 175 languages in Queens and to me that is interesting.

If that is not enough there is beautiful residental architecture in Brooklyn Heights and Park Slope and a slew of restaurants now althrough the borough.

I for one hate the name DUMBO. It was concocted and contrived by real estate people. And if it had that name when I was growing up and someone asked, "Where are you from?" and you answered "Dumbo" none of the responses would be good including "Yeah, and I'm from effiing Pluto."

good point aduchamp1. I guess I would feel that way too if I lived/came from there. My immediate link to the name when I read it was the elephant cartoon character with the big ears who I find cute.

I too agree it's interesting about the languages. Also read that 46% of the residents were born outside the US. The mix of cultures must be pretty impressive and another reason I just want a taste. Was hoping to just walk around Austin St and soak some of the diversity.

I think we'll probably skip manhattan's little italy. Is the bronx one better? Not sure if I'll really bother with Orchard st anymore. I tried to find the shops the last time we were there but thought I just wasn't in the correct intersections because there were not a lot of shops but now realized it may have just been a saturday where I read today most of the shops are closed. If what I saw on sale at the stands was an example of the majority of the fare on sale, I may just skip Orchard st altogether.

I'm looking more at Forest Hills in Queens and I am getting excited for the shopping (after the museum, of course)! This is a super forum! Thanks for all the suggestions!!!

The Queens Museum is closed on January 1.

http://www.queensmuseum.org/about/general-information

There are scores of great Italian restaurants in Manhattan from all regions and at all prices. And what is left of the shrinking Little Italy there two wonderful stores DiPalo on Grand Street, which makes its own mozzarella and ricotta and otherwise imports the highest quality Italian cheeses and meats and Alleva cheese store.

Do not forget to see the old Italianate Polic HQ on Center and Broome which is now very expensive condos and where Teddy Roosevelt was once Commissioner.

Then you can walk to Joe's Diary on Sullivan Street, a 80 year old hole in the wall where they make arguable the best mozzarella in the city. Across the Street on Houston is Raffeto's, which is 100 years old. They chop some of their pastas to order on a machine that was obsolete 50 years ago. Their store made pasta, is one of the great food values in NYC.

Then up to Faicoo's on Bleecker Street where they make sensational suasage and other things like rice balls.

And then you can traipse over to Veniero's another 100 year old establishment for dessert.

This way you can see a number of Manhattan neighborhoods and some great, great food establishments.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/di-palos-fine-foods-inc-new-york

http://gothamist.com/2004/08/12/joes_dairy.php

http://www.yelp.com/biz/raffettos-corp-new-york

http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7117232/new_york_ny/faicco_pork_store.html

thanks aduchamps. will peruse the links in a few.

Hi ellenem.

Yes, I've discovered some changes needed to be made on the days because of museums closing or found "pay as you go" days so therefore more convenient.

Switching 12/26 day and 12/28 day because the cloisters are closed for Holiday mondays and guggenheim is pay as you go on saturdays from 5-8pm.

also switching 12/27 with 12/30 because bronx zoo and ny botanical gardens are pay as you wish on wednesdays (and most stores close early, apparently, on sundays on arthur ave.

lastly, switching 1/1 with 1/3 because the Queens museum, as you said, is closed on New Year's day.

Anybody know if the TKTS booth in midtown manhattan is open on Christmas day for shows that evening? I saw somewhere that some broadway and off broadway shows are not dark that eveing.

Thanks!

Here is a recent thread about walking across the Brooklyn Bridge with some information about the neighborhoods on either end.
http://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/brooklyn-bridge-244496-2.cfm

You could certainly walk through Little Italy in Manhattan when you visit Chinatown. As noted in another post, Little Italy has been shrinking over the years but there is still a core left

I'm sorry I can't keep track of your itinerary changes. Can you please repost with the corrections you've made if you think you need more input?

I'll just mention on shows:

> it's more difficult to get discounted tickets for Sat. nights and prices are higher to begin with than on weeknights.
>most shows don't have performances on Mon. night (there are a few) although there may be some special performances for the holiday week since many won't run for NYE. Playbill.com will have a holiday schedule posted on the bottom right of their site.
> not sure about TKTS booth on Xmas day. It was open in Times Square last year but not the other locations as per this
http://www.newyorkology.com/archives/2008/12/whats_open_chri.php

As you'll see from that link there's not much open early evening besides movies, Radio City Xmas show, and Top of the Rock and ESB. You might consider ESB then. It might be less busy than at other times. Top of the Rock is rarely a long wait but might be that day.

Have you thought about making a restaurant reservation for Xmas day? Many restaurants will close earlier than usual. Some are only serving til 8 or 9.

As for dinner near St. John the Divine, I don't know the area very much but just looking on menupages, A Cafe & Wine Room looks very nice and is very close. http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/a-cafe-and-wine-room/menu
http://www.acafeny.com/

I'm not a big fan of the City Pass. I think it's a lot of money and keeps you running around going to the places that are included regardless of whether you want to and as you've pointed out, the savings are not so great if you don't pay the requested fees in the museums. There's a combo pass for Top of the Rock/MOMA that's good value at $30 and must be bought in person at one or the other.

You say you're getting excited about Forest Hills??? When/what are you doing there? Doing the Met can be an all day affair. Doing that and the Guggenheim on the same day I think is overkill.

Oh, and not a lot of shows play on Sun. evening either (most do have a matinee) so inadvertently you've picked possibly the 3 worst nights of the week (Sat., Sun., Mon.) to try for a show. There are a few that do have Sun. night performances and that's sometimes a good time for discounts. "In the Heights" is one of my current favorites and it does have a Sun. night (7 pm) performance). Evening shows are usually at 8 pm except Tues. many are at 7 and if they have Sun. shows they're usually 7 or 7:30.

We loved "God of Carnage". We went on a Tuesday and it was sold out.

Thanks mclaurie. I have 5 nights open to shows, not 3 but we do want to see at least 3 shows. Thanks for posting that review. That will help with the choices when it comes down to it. Now I think I do want to see fiurzabruta! Looks different.

Oh, I said I was excited about the shopping at Forest Hills (not the place itself). I read a couple of articles about the shopping there and it listed some of the stores w/ description and it sounded good.

I did do the google search and I did find that archived article from newyorkology which is where the question of this year's tots booth being open. I sent them an email w/ the question but will also call so we'll just play it by ear that day. We arrive at 2pm so after checking I'm. We'll wander over and see what we can get.

Yep, looked at open table but it looks like a few places will be open until at least 8 so depends if we can get broadway tix or not.

Think we'll skip the city pass then but the MOMA/top of the Rock looked good when I saw that on the MOMA site.

We've both been to the Guggenheim. I simply wanted to see the Landinksy part of the show so that won't take very long, I hope and the pay as you wish is not till later in the afternoon so am hoping it'll work out.

Thanks PamSF. Will look at that too.

My husband now has the revised schedule (he wanted to put it ok google docs) so I'll repost when I get it Bach.

Sorry for the typos. The iPod's not very forgiving...

What are you shopping for in Forest Hills? I can't imagine going all the way there from Manhattan for shopping???

You can get a good discount for theater NOW and avoid wasting time in line later by visiting these websites:

playbill.com
broadwaybox.com
theatermania.com

These sites offer you discount codes for purchasing tickets online. If you're still undecided, you can also bring the discount code along with you and use it to purchase discount tickets at the actual box office. With all the visitors who will be in NYC at this time, I'd expect the TKTS lines to be huge.

Hi Michelle, it's not just the shopping. If you look further upon the thread, we wanted to visit Queens and the museum.

Ellenem, I have been looking there butnot a lot of discounts yet for the times we're in NY. Will keep checking pfcourse but if I can't find amy foe the shows we want,then I'll wait till we get there. Getting them ahead of time was always the plan for the tix. It was the Christmas day one I said I will play by ear.

Got a reply from tktx and the times square location is open but not south street or the other. Opens at 3pm.

Michelle, it's also an opportunity to see a neighborhood in Queens. I just got excited that there'll be shopping and decent stores.

(I have lived in NYC for 35 years and I have never heard anyone recommend leaving Manhattan to shop in Forest Hills. Good luck.)

i'm not going to forest hills just to shop. i'm going to forest hills because it's not too far from queens museum and there's a small area we can walk around in. you are correct, there's plenty of shopping in manhattan but that's not why we're going.

To travel between Forest Hills to the Queens Museum, the subway would involve backtracking to Roosevelt Ave and switching train lines. A more direct route would be the Q23 bus along 108 St. You'd still have a bit to walk between the museum and the bus, but it would be less than the closest subway. You could grab a taxi, but you might have to call a car service since there are much fewer yellow cabs in the outer boroughs. If you walked the entire distance between the two, it's about 3 miles.

thanks ellenem!

Believe me, Forest Hills isn't for shopping - it's really just a residential area. (I used to have an aunt/uncle that lived there - and it's really very quiet except right along Queens Blvd - about which the less said the better.)

Even the US Open left Forest Hills years ago.

for those researching, here's the schedule of shows open during the holidays.

http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/134473-Broadways-Christmas-Week-Performance-Schedule

If you have the time, you might want to visit the Little Odessa area of Brooklyn in Brighton Beach. If you like Russian style foods, then this is the place! Not only are there a number of good restaurants, but there are also some excellent food emporiums such as International Foods - I don't know of another place like that in NY. If you need to ask directions while in Little Odessa, you may have to stop several people before finding one that speaks English - it is still a very ethnic enclave.

I don't know what you want to buy, but if you want to leave Manhattan to shop go to Park Slope and the Cobble Hill/Boerum Hill area. I don't live in Brooklyn (I'm in Manhattan) but I love to walk along 7th Avenue in Park Slope from Atlantic Avenue on down and then I am planning on exploring Court Street/Atlantic Avenue in Cobble Hill/Boerum Hill area. Many cute boutiques/shops in both areas. Also Bleecker Street in the West Village has many cute shops too.

Thaks Skiergirl. I plan to check those out too.

Atlantic Ave/Boerum Hill Tour
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/nyregion/15stop.html?_r=1

k_brklyn, that's fantastic!!! Thanks, I love hobnobs!

k-brklyn~
Thanks for the link. I downloaded same for our next trip to NYC (Fall 2010). I want to be there now!

For the Upper West Side of Manhattan, have you considered seeing something at Lincoln Center? There are several restaurants right across the street from there, including Bar Baloud, which normally does have a pre fixe menu, though not likely for New Year's Eve. Also, Ed's Chowder House is there as well, and I loved their lobster.

Oh, I wouldn't say there is anything cute about DUMBO [fyi], and if you're from the UK, with your wonderful gardens, I don't know if I'd go to the Arboritium.

I would suggest walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, and exploring a bit of Brooklyn Heights for your Brooklyn option.

Thanks LoisL,

My husband is from the UK, I'm from the USofA. I did call Bar Baloud, actually, and at that time last week, they didn't know yet what they were doing for NYE. I plan to hit one of his restaurants, probably the moderne but if they're not doing pre-fixe on NYE, it may just be the place for us. We LOVE his food. His restaurant in Vegas is one we always go to when there.

Will check out Ed's Chowder house too since I'm a huge fan of seafood.

Thanks!

Cafe Boulud is very close to the Met. They have a lovely prix fixe lunch.

one question, are these places (promenade, DUMBO) will be open Holiday weekend? Also, I've been to Grand Central Station before right after Thanksgiving and they usually have holiday stalls there - will it be there the holiday weekend we're there?

Thanks. Plans are really coming together now, thanks to all your suggestions. We really appreciate it and promise to do a trip report.

I suggest for your "neighborhood visit" in Queens that you do Jackson Heights. Get off the subway at Roosevelt Ave. Several lines stop there. You can just wander around for several blocks in any direction. Typical Queens residential architecture and an area of stores/businesses stretching for many blocks. The area is very ethnic now, mostly Indian but also South American, Asian, etc. I lived in Jackson Heights a a few decades ago as a child when it was a very white middle class neighborhood. My daughter lived there two years ago when she got out of college and I visited frequently and it was interesting to see the same physical neighborhood with totally different population. Anyway it's a good neighborhood with a quintessential Queens feel (think the TV show "King of Queens"), plenty of inexpensive decent ethnic restaurants and only a relatively short subway ride from midtown.

BYW, I also lived in Forest Hills and wasn't crazy about it then and when I visited it recently I found it pretty boring.

I see Lombardi's pizza mentioned twice so presume it is good. I've not been there but was going to recommend not to miss a slice of New York pizza from one of the little pizza shops you will stumble upon. Also, hunt down a savory knish from a Jewish deli. Two wonderful and cheap light meals I've not found outside of New York. Oh, and don't forget soft serve Carvel with hot fudge sauce.

Hi isabel, that's a good suggestion as ellenem suggested we may be backtracking with how we get there. Will definitely look into that and I appreciate that bit of info.

Hi Nelson. Yes, I haven't had a knish and was wanting to try it when we get to east village. i saw a thread about several recommendations where to try it but what is carvel with hot fudge sauce? is that an east village thing too?

Thanks!

Carvel is a chain of ice cream stores but there are none in the East Village. I beelive Nelson is a New Zealander so maybe that means something else to her.


The owner was named Tom Carvel. This was truncated from hos polysyllabic Greek name and appeared in his own TV commercials. He was an enthusiastic mumbler and in the same sentence would talk his "gourmet ice cream" and something called "Fudgie The Whale." He was both mocked and adored for his quirky, homey, oxymoronic ads.

Aduchamp1 is correct. Carvel is the purveyor of lucious soft-serve ice cream and cakes. They were a staple of my NYC childhood and still on the "must have" list on my visits there.

I've recently noticed, with a bit of sadness, some packaged Carvel goods in the freezer of our supermarket here in Colorado. But nothing compares to getting the smooth, creamy soft-serve direct from the machines at the franchise. Vanilla ice cream with hot fudge sauce, just do it!

Most likely you will not find one in the East Village, but might in your Brooklyn or Queens excusions.

They also have a franchise locater on their website:
http://www.carvel.com/about_us/history.htm
http://www.carvel.com/products/carvel_specialties.htm

Have a great trip!

I don't think Nelson is a New Zealander, but I am!!!

you want to get your knish from Yonah Shimmel in the Lower East Side.

I got my Nelsons mixed up.

I don't remember its history, but I do remember that going to Carvel was always a treat -- my two favorites were the "flying saucer" or a "brown bonnet" (a cold soft-serve cone dipped in chocolate sauce - I liked the frozen brown bonnet, but LOVED the fresh one).

Mr Softee (a soft-serve truck) does chocolate dips as well.

Oooooooooh! I'm going to have to look out for Carvel then. I love soft serve ice cream...even though it'll probably be cold as heck!

To begin, here are two of the Manhattan locations:

Carvel
400 2nd Ave at 24th St

Carvel
901 6th Ave at 34th St


The store locator at this site does not work very well:
http://carvel.findlocation.com/search.aspx

While I applaud Nelson's idea to get a slice of pizza in New York, you'll find that many of the places that routinely show up on "best NYC pizza" lists sell whole pies only, refusing requests for slices altogether -- and that includes John's, Grimaldi's, Lombardi's, and Totonno's for sure.

Going back to your itinerary, it will be alot to do Bronx Zoo, Botanical Gardens and Arthur Ave in one day - I don't think you'll also have time for a show. Bronx Zoo is enormous - I know you said your husband doesn't like zoos but it really is a fantastic zoo. You will need a minimum of half a day there and even at that you will only see a fraction of the zoo. If you spend half a day there, half a day at Botanical Gardens, and have dinner on Arthur Ave, that will be a great and very full day! Dress warm! And eat at Dominics - it's the quintessential Arthur Ave restaurant. No menu, sit at a table family style with other diners, food's fantastic. Then go down the street for dessert Palombo's.

Be sure to take the advice and seek out Carvel Ice Cream. The soft serve is the best you have ever had, the vanilla in particular. It should be, since Tom Carvel invented soft serve ice cream. It is a wonderful story:

"Athanassios Karvelas (1906-1990) was brought to the United States as a child from his native Greece. At the age of 26, after a variety of careers that ranged from a drummer in a Dixieland band to an auto test driver for Studebakers, Carvel was incorrectly diagnosed with fatal tuberculosis and fled to the country air of Westchester, New York. Borrowing $15 from his future wife Agnes, Tom began selling ice cream from his battered truck. Memorial Day weekend of 1934, Tom’s truck suffered a flat tire so he pulled his trailer into a parking lot next to a pottery store and began selling his melting ice cream to vacationers driving by. Within two days, Tom had sold his entire supply of ice cream, and realized that he could make a lot more money working from a fixed location. The generous potter allowed Tom to hook into his store’s electricity, and Tom opened for business. Two years later, Tom bought the pottery store, converted it into a roadside stand, and permanently established himself as the first retailer to develop and market soft ice cream."

If you're flying into La Guardia or JFk airports, you'll land in Queens.

Hiya, yes, we're flying into La Guardia but we'll have our luggage and everything with us so that won't be a good day to visit any part of the Queens burrough.

We are assuming that it will be VERY cold by the time we hit the Bronx zoo and the gardens so I doubt very much we'll be staying to see everything. Anyway, we can probably schedule a late show that night, not an early one. Thanks for pointing that out though!

The basingstoke, cool story.

Ellenem, thanks for the locations! They are now entered on the iPod for easy access.

You asked if DUMBO and the Brooklyn Promenade would be closed, if you come on a weekend [or whenever]. They are areas to see, and there is 'nothing to close'. The Promenade overlooks Manhattan, with it's beautiful skyscape. It is a painful sight for me, as my memories of it include the Trade Center. I still keep trying to see it........... bizarre, I know. But, back to the promenade, the area it is in is Brooklyn Heights, a really nice section of Brooklyn.

Thanks LoisL. That helps a lot.

Also check out this underground tour if you decide to visit Brooklyn-it is on Atlantic Ave:

http://mcbrooklyn.blogspot.com/2009/11/quite-crowd-for-atlantic-avenue-tunnel.html

thanks k_brklyn, but not sure I would be up to that tour. I'm a slight germaphobe. Think I'll stick to the shopping.

I would walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, which connects two appealing areas that you can work in at the same time. In Manhattan, it's alongside Southstreet Seaport. On the Brooklyn side, you are by Brooklyn Heights.

South Street Seaport is the most over rated sight in NYC. It is neither charming or interesting.

And it's a mile from the entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge, isn't it?

The Brooklyn Bridge is about 10 minute walk to South Street. But at the foot of bridge on the Manhttan side, you have interesting municipal architecture including City Hall and its Park, Muni Bulding, Boss Tweed Courthouse and the Surrogate's Court while across the park is the Woolworth Building.

If you make a right as you exit the bridge you will see the courthouse that is in 1,000 TV shows and movies and the nearby Negro Burial Fround. Then there is Chinatown. All infinitely more interesting than South Street

Adu: "It is neither charming or interesting." You mean, "It is neither charming NOR interesting." And, yes, I think everyone in NYC agrees...

Yes I igNORed to proofread the posting.

I see you mentioned Ellis Island as a possibility. Like a number of New York attractions, it is one I never visited when I lived there. But my wife and I toured Ellis a few years ago when we were back visiting family. Highly recommended in my book.

One thing I'll never forget was a letter home from an immigrant that is posted on the wall. It reads:

"I have learned three things since my arrival here in America. The first is that the streets are not paved with gold. The second is that the streets are not paved at all. And the third is they expect me to pave them!"