NEW YORK THIS THANKSGIVING

The problem you experienced last year on Thanksgiving Eve in the area on the west side where they blow up the balloons - long waits at restaurants was probably due to the large crowds that congregate to see that spectacle. Try this - when you are ready for dinner hop the 79 St. Crosstown bus and get off on 3rd or 2nd Ave. - You'll find lots of very nice restaurants and you'll be away from those crowds. It's about a 10 minute bus ride.

I agree, get out of the neighborhood where the balloon blowup is held and you'll have a much easier time finding food. Why not just do some research and make a reservation? Menupages.com for research and opentable.com does reservations for many restaurants.

I will warn you the tree lighting ceremony is HONESTLY a waste of your time. You'll see much more if you watch it on tv. There are thousands of people, you can't get close enough to see anything and the show is done for the tv cameras. Watch it in your hotel (or at a bar) on tv and late that night, walk over to Rock Ctr. to see it lit in person.

Where do you plan to stay?

hey again,

thanks for the info, it is a no brainer I know to get away from the crowds so I'll check out your suggestions.

I'm about to book one of te following the Edison, the Paramount but I think its more likely to be the Penn for the budget I'm on and its location.

Do you mean the Hotel Pennsylvania? I think you'd better do a search on here before you book that hotel. There is probably no more reviled hotel in NY.

The tree lighting ceremony is fun under certain condtions:

The weather is good
You're tall enough to see over other people
You don;t mind standing for hours and hours (people start gathering around noon to be close to the front)
You have a strong bladder (once out no one will let you back into the crowd)

Agree it can be seen much better on TV

For the parade we watch the start of the parade where it does, then head back to our apartment to watch the end on TV

And if you mean the Hotel Pennsylvania - don;t even think of it - not even for free. It has serious problems - including filth and vermin - not a place anyone would want to stay.

The Paramount has amazingly TINY rooms. The Edison is old and dated (but ok in a pinch) and the Pennsylvania is a place to avoid. Hotel prices in NYC have come down A LOT since last year. You should be able to find much better options than these. Have a look on quikbook.com

I have no problem with the Edison, but the Hotel Pennsylvania is truly the pits. There are some other options nearby, but in truth I don't think staying near Macy's is a positive during Thanksgiving. I think it's a negative because of the extra-large crowds. It's just as easy to take the subway down to Macy's and stay elsewhere.

thanks for all the advice, I'm still searching for the hotel and am having dinner with friends in the city there choice but will certainly do some research on a few other bookings before we set off.

Any tips on the choice of shows, plus I'm going to try to get a knicks game in at MSG!

The Knicks tickets are unlikely during the holidays. Madison Square Garden typically hosts a college basketball tournament during that time, though the Knicks might play in the days before and after that tournament.

Actually over Thanksgiving, MSG hosts a Cornell-Boston U hockey game -- at least last year and this coming year. I think the game was the Saturday night of last Thanksgiving weekend.

DO NOT stay at the Hotel Pennsylvania. I have traveled the world and stayed in hundreds of hotels (including about 12 in NYC) - the Hotel Pennsylvania is by far the THE WORST I have ever stayed in.

Here is a list of about 80 Manhatten hotels: all in the same price range as the Hotel Pennsylvania and all far better choices.

http://www.eurocheapo.com/newyork/