mpmgm

Our family be spending 4 days in NYC after Christmas with two girls, ages 11 and 14. We'll be staying at the Renaissance Times Square. This is far from my first trip to NY, but I'm usually there solo on business during October. I'd love some advice on everyone's favorite holiday "must sees" as well as advice on bargain shopping which is the prime reason the girls want to go. I'm hoping we can fit in a show or two, and since the girls have never been, we'll have to do the touristy things too. Thanks for any and all help!

HowardR

Assuming you're talking about right after Christmas, then all the stores--Macy's, Bloomingdales, Lord & Taylor, etc.--all will be having big sales, along with just about every other retail establishment.
As far as the theater, get your tickets now, as the week between Christmas and New Year's is the busiest one of the year.

Iregeo

We like ice skating at Rockefeller Center, dinner at Tavern on the Green (the food's not great but its drop dead gorgeous at Christmas), peeking at all the beautiful department store Christmas windows, and hot chocolate (or high tea) at the Plaza. Have a wonderful time!

almesq

Definitely Rockefeller Center to see the tree; store windows (my favorites are always Saks at 49 and 5th and Lord & Taylor at 39th and 5th.
All the stores will probably have good sales, but for good bargain shopping, check out Century 21 downtown near WTC, and Daffy's for women's clothing is good (a couple of locations). For shows, you can go to TKTS line in Times Square (or slightly less crowded one downtown on Lafayette in east village), but since there's a lot of tourists in town then, you never know what they'll have available, but you can always get something there. Also, Museum of Natural History on Central Park West at 79th Street and the Planetarium next door are 2 of my favorites.

k_999_9

For bargain shopping: Canal Street

lisettemac

Century 21 is a great idea. As teens/pre-teens, there are two new stores on 5th that might interest them. H&M is a UK transplant. It is on the corner of 5th and 51st. They have inexpensive and trendy stuff. Slightly more expensive, but still trendy, is the new Mexx at the corner of 5th and 52nd.

For must-sees, you are already staying in Times Square. Of course, you'll want to see Rockefeller Center and the tree. Also see the windows at Saks, Lord & Taylor. I'd suggest a walk in the park or even a carriage ride.

If you can still get tix to the Radio City Christmas show, it's good and lots of fun for young girls. The Nutcracker is showing at Lincoln Center, if that's more up their alley.

mclaurie

They've just opened a new American Girl doll store near Rockefeller Center if your girls are into that.

Don't forget the Xmas Tree at the Metropolitan museum. For sweets, have an ice cream sundae at Serendipity and visit Dylan's candy store near Bloomingdales.

gigimax

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bennnie

Be prepared for crowds - I mean big big crowds, not your ordinary October crowds - around Rockefellar Center. And expect long waits to be able to skate. When we went in Dec 2001 the wait for Wollman rink in Central Park was 90 minutes.

But its a great time to be in the city. We had a ball. We did St Patricks, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, Dim Sum in Chinatown (Harmony Palace on Mott Street), carriage ride in Central Park, carousel in Central Park, Ferris Wheel at the Toys R Us in Times Square, pizza from John's. Also saw an IMAX movie near Lincoln Center. Have a great time.

scubadive

Never heard of Dim Summ in Chinatown -- can you tell a bit more about it? Thanks!

mclaurie

Dim Sum are Chinese hors d'oeuvres or small portions. Places that specialize in this have carts they wheel around with lots of small plates. You choose what you want from the carts. They leave the (empty) plates on the table & figure your bill at the end of the meal based on your plates. You must resist filling up on the first things that come around because invariably, the later stuff is better

sillybalkan

Translated from Cantonese, Dim Sum is "a little bit of heart". It's traditonally eaten with tea for breakfast or at mid day. There are plenty of good, inexpensive dim sum places in ctown. Enjoy!!!

almesq

If you're going for dim sum, stay away from the famous "palaces" like GOlden Unicorn--too big, and food is often cold by the time it gets to you--not worth waiting in the ridiculous lines. Go to HSF on Bowery, certainly one of the best imo.

donnabee

Walk up and down Broadway in Times Square. Very festive and MTV is there. Rockefella Center to see the ice skaters and tree, Radio City Music Hall area, Macy's, ToysRUs - huge store with a working ferris wheel, The Plaza Hotel to see their tree, Central Park - you could take a horse and carriage ride (one thing I haven't done yet - but will do this year), if your children like Old Navy - you must go to the Old Navy near Macy's - the best Old Navy around, Empire State Building....just walking/riding the streets is magical during the Christmas season.

mpmgm

**Hope this isn't a duplicate post....I'm having trouble with the website.** Thanks, everyone for the information. I do have a question about shows. We'd hoped to find Hairspray tickets, but (no surprise!) there aren't any. I've seen most of the older shows playing and can't think of any but HS and The Producers I'd love to see again. Ideas anyone? Has anybody seen Never Gonna Dance, yet? What about Wicked? Thanks so much!!

kflodin

How about Moving Out, the billy Joel-based musical. Sounds perfect for your girls' ages. Also you can never go wrong with 42nd Street. By the way, Chinatown is also great for shopping -- lots of inexpensive neat things for their room and accessories. Also check out Pearl River Mart on Broadway about 2 blocks north of Canal. A Chinese emporium with fun fun, inexpensive stuff for girls this age (and for you!). Tell 'em that all the fashionistas go there (which is true!).

karisiera

ttt