glen

Hi All,
I’ll be in NYC this Sunday to take my wife and cousin to see Les Miserables at the Imperial Theatre located close to 45th Street and Broadway. I will be chauffeur and will not be going to the play. However, I will be going to lunch, so I have two questions.
1. Where’s a good place to eat close to the theater? We’re open to just about anything.
2. While they are in watching the play, I’ll have about 3 hours to kill. Any suggestions there?

Thanks,
Glen

Philip

You are at the cross roads of the world, so there are plenty of things to do. Entertaining yourself is just a matter of what your interests are.

Shop for music, books and videos at Virgin Megastore Broadway & 45th.
Maybe see a movie. On 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenue there are two movie complexes that show just about every movie currently out.
Visit Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum on 42nd Street between 7th and 8th ave.

Ted

I presume your family is seeing the matinee? If so, I suggest you spend the 3 hours at either the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Fifth Ave @ 82nd St.) or the American Museum of Natural History (Central Park West @ 79th Street).

As for lunch, you have hundreds of options in the area. I suggest you do a search on www.zagat.com and see what looks good. Since you have a car, both the Times Square and Upper West Side would be convenient.

x

If you haven't seen Les Mis, I'd go to the play! Even if you're not into musicals, this one is different. (Since it's played for so long, you can probably get a reduced price ticket pretty easily.)

Lori

Les Mis is closing in less than 2 months - I don't think there are any reduced-price tickets. In fact, I know most remaining evening performances are sold out through Tele-charge. However, previous posters have provided great suggestions on things to do. The museums are a great idea, and not too far away by public transport. A couple of additional ideas: The Empire State Building is a short walk or bus ride. Rockefeller Center is also close if you are interested in ice skating. The Circle Line boats dock just west of Times Square, so you may be able to take a short ride on the Hudson. Their cruises are incredibly informative, even to native New Yorkers. Of course, shopping is everywhere if you enjoy that, or need to get anything. My final suggestion, which is what i would do myself (weather-permitting for a Floridian), is to simply wander sround and take in the atmosphere of the city. You don't mention how familiar you are with the city, but MTS maps are very handy even if you are walking. I hope these few ideas help, or at least stir up more ideas for you!

suzanne

I suggest Delta Grill (48th Street/9th Ave) as a good place to eat by yourself at the bar. I always end up meeting interesting people there and the bartenders are friendly. The food is southern/Cajun, so some is spicy, some is fried. And it's very good...the coconut shrimp appetizer is divine! I also recommend the crab cakes, fried chicken, and spicy pork chops.

3 hours to kill? Hmm...it's going to be so cold you'll want to stay indoors. And parking is so difficult and expensive that you should probably spend the whole time in one place. Too bad you didn't get theater tickets! Movies, museums (art, natural history, or the Intrepid), or indoor tours (like NBC Studios) are the only things I can come up with. Or - one of my favorite winter things to do - bowling.

glen

All,
Thanks for the info. I appreciate it. I have lots of ideas now!
Regards,
Glen