Owdo_Gace

This will be my third trip to NYC. I am traveling for business but will have a day and a half to do what I want. I have done most of the major tourist activities that I always wanted to do (Ellis Island, Empire State Building AND Top of the Rock, Broadway shows, Central Park, Tenement Museum, walk Brooklyn Bridge, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Frick), although I always leave wishing I had more time to do more things. I have never been to NYC in December and I am excited about that but am not excited about battling crowds, so I may have to let that part go.

My food budget is about $100/day, and I am a foodie but don't necessarily need the best or most expensive food at all. I would like to go ahead and get reservations so I am not left scrambling or waiting when I get up there.

So far, I have figured out the following:

Tuesday
1p - arrive at hotel (on 44th in Grand Central Station area)

[ideas for a 3-4 hour block of time?]

5p - dinner ideas within a reasonable distance from the Sondheim Theatre?

7p - Beautiful (do I need to go ahead and get tickets, or is there a decent chance I can get discounted or lottery tickets if I wait? This show wouldn't make or break the trip, but after reviewing all of what is playing, I think I would enjoy this one the most. I just would like to save money if I can).

Wednesday
11a - Original Greenwich Village Food Tour (Foods of NY Tours).

[ideas for 3-4 hour block of time?]

6p - dinner (again, not sure where.)

8p - Hamilton (was given the ticket as a gift. I am obsessed, and this WILL make the trip, I expect!)

Any advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Owdo_Gace

I also meant to add:

If I leave Central Park South area at 4:00 pm on a Thursday, can I make a 7:30 flight at EWR, and what method of transportation do you recommend? I am nervous about crowds, congestion and traffic, but I am hoping that with a plan, it can be done.

nytraveler

How much luggage do you have? Can you manage it on subway at rush hour (stairs and escalators)? If so I would grab the subway to Penn Station, take NJ Transit to Newark airport station (NOT Newark Penn Station) then take the Airtrain to the correct terminal.

This will be OK for a domestic flight but very tight for an international flight.

If you have too much luggage for the subway arrange for a car service (Dial 7 or similar) to take you direct to the airport. But if you run into traffic you will be cutting it very tight.

Owdo_Gace

I will just have one carry-on small enough for an Allegiant flight plus a large purse, and it is a domestic flight. So I think I should be okay. Thank you so much!

maxima

I just checked broadwaybox.com and there are no offers for discounted tix for Beautiful. So if you really really want to see this show, I think you should just get a ticket in advance. Mid-December most shows will be doing well, as there are lots of visitors.

If its not that high a priority, you can wait. depending on your time constraints, the tkts booth at south street is open from 11-6pm, and sells tix for the same day evening and next day matinee performances

the booth in times square area opens at 3pm and the booth in Lincoln center opens at 12pm... not all locations are open 7 days a week

you will have to line up to enter the theater and have your hand bag checked, so allow time to get in and to your seat

I like Uncle Nicks.. Greek food, lots of fish dishes on 9th avenue and 50th Street, and Dafni's Greek Taverna on 42nd St and just west of 8th Avenue,,,they are both reasonably priced and in the theater district.

Owdo_Gace

Thank you, maxima! I wasn't able to find discounted tickets, either. I may just have to spend the money.

Still working on this itinerary with a few new ideas:

Tuesday
11:20 arrive at EWR
1:00 arrive at hotel (hopefully)
2:00 lunch at Sea Grill - is this worth it for the food and views and if not, other suggestions? I thought this would put me in the area to see a lot of the Christmas decorations.
5:00 Radio City Christmas Spectacular - is THIS worth it? I hear some raves and others that say it is overrated.
7:00 Beautiful - assuming I get tickets. I think the walk between RCM and the Sondheim Theatre is doable but not sure if that is the case considering the crowds and lines. If this is crazy, just tell me.

Wednesday

11:00 Original Greenwich Village Foods of NY Tour

2:00-5:00 - open. Options are 9/11 museum and memorial or Hamilton Happy Hour tour to get excited for Hamilton that evening!

5:30-7:00 light dinner or drinks

8:00 Hamilton


I'm open to all suggestions! Thanks, all!

maxima

Personally I wouldn't do RCM and a Broadway Show on the same day at that hour. the Christmas show is 90 minutes with no intermission, then you have to allow for time to leave the theatre and walk over to the Sondheim theater ..it is doable but you would not be having dinner I am guessing.

I am not a big fan of the Christmas Show. but others may be. Radio City is a pretty large auditorium, and there are discounted tix available. There are often 2pm shows at RCM so if you think you can make that, perhaps go to the earlier show and then have a meal before seeing Beautiful.
have some snacks with you to eat on the plane or while you are commuting from the airport.

I saw Beautiful this summer and enjoyed it. Good story and great music. I also thought Something Rotten was a lot of fun.

rncheryl

The Sea Grill with a view of the skating rink is a great way to get into the holiday spirit. I would check right away about reservations.

You will like the Food Tour; hope you have good weather

doug_stallings

If you do want to do Radio City and Beautiful on the same day (I also agree it may be too much), it's a very quick walk over to the theater from Radio City (10 minutes at most, even if things are really busy ... it's literally 4 blocks).

I personally do not think the Sea Grill is worth it. For that price you can actually eat lunch at the lounge in Le Bernardin, which is the best restaurant for my money in NYC. Or you could eat at Oceana, which is still much better than the Sea Grill. But that is my own personal preference. It's fun to watch the skaters at Rockefeller Center.

Owdo_Gace

Doug, thanks for the feedback. Le Bernardin looks fantastic, but they do not accept reservations in the lounge. Any feel for how crowded they will be around 2:00 that time of year, or should I just make a reservation in the dining room?

doug_stallings

Two PM is late for lunch anywhere, and I think if they are still seating people it would be an ok time to go. You could certainly make a reservation for lunch, but at $87 it's a pretty pricey lunch. I can assure you it's the best seafood lunch you'll have in NYC, but not everyone wants that kind of experience. Plus, men have to wear a jacket, so that's also a consideration (I don't know if that's a rule in the lounge, though.)

kawh

we had a lonch at Loeb Boathouse in Central Park last trip to NYC... we sat inside and it was lovely. I'm assuming they are open (and warm) in December. We expected a view...but were delighted that the lunch was good.

Owdo_Gace

Hello all -

I have updated my itinerary, but it is still a work in progress!

Tuesday
11:30 am - arrive at EWR
1:00 pm - arrive at hotel
1:30 pm - lunch at Modern Bar Room
3:00 - 6:00 - depending on crowds and weather, walk around and see Rockefeller Center, Fifth Ave, etc., or go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
7:00 pm - Dear Evan Hansen - new Broadway show
9:30 pm - dinner? Maybe Db Bistro Moderne because it is close to my hotel. Or other recommendations near the Music Box Theatre?

Wednesday

11:00-2:00 Original Greenwich Village food tour. I haven't booked this yet because I am not sure if this would still be worth doing if the weather is really cold or rainy. Advice here? I think I would really enjoy it.
2:00 - 5:00 - this time is free. Not sure what to do here...maybe Tenement Museum (I did this a few years ago and really liked it), another tour or museum?
5:30 - dinner at Gabriel Kreuther bar
8:00 - Hamilton

Thursday
9:00 - 4:00 - Seminar at Helmsley Park Lane Hotel. We have an hour break for lunch, which seems like just enough time to grab something fast. Are there good options within a 5-10 minute walk?
4:00 - get to EWR ASAP for a 7:30 flight back home

Thank you all!