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Disclaimer: I have been to Manhattan many times, so I have done most of the usual touristy things.
I will be staying with my friends who live in midtown East, near Queens Tunnel entrance.
March 11 (Wed)
- Arrive NYC around 5pm @ Penn Station (by Megabus)
- Pick up macarons from Macaron Cafe (recommended by Fodors editor Erica_D here: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2&tid=35154928)
- Go to friends' apt
March 12 (Thu)
- 11am Views from the Past Central Park walking tour
http://www.centralparknyc.org/site/Calendar/164706733?view=Detail&id=105229
- If weather is bad, visit Museum of Art & Design instead
- Lunch at Roberto Passon
- pick up Macarons from Bouchon Bakery @ Time Warner Center
- Afternoon Lincoln Center Backstage tour
http://www.lincolncenter.org/asc_load_screen.asp?screen=visitorinfo_indivtours
- back to friends' apt for Rest
- 8pm Rusalka @ Metropolitan Opera
March 13 (Fri)
- Morning: Forbes Galleries
http://www.forbesgalleries.com/
- 12:30pm Grand Central Neighborhood walking tour (1.5 hrs)
http://www.grandcentralpartnership.org/what_we_do/promote_free_tour.asp
- 2pm NY Public Library tour
- followed by UN tour
March 14 (Sat)
- Morning: Jewish Museum
- Husband arrives @ Penn station at 1pm
- Meet up in LES for Chinese lunch near Tenement Museum
- Tenement Museum tour
- return to apt for Rest
- 8pm La Sonnambula at Metropolitan Museum
March 15 (Sun)
- Morning: Metropolitan Museum
- Lunch at Neue Galerie; +/- tour Neue Galerie (depending on time)
- return to apt for luggage and depart
Questions:
1) Has anyone taken the Views from the Past Central Park walking tour? Comments?
2) Lunch at Roberto Passon - I've read so many good things about it so I want to try. But it is about 10-15 blocks south of where I will be, so I'm wondering if there are better options that are closer to Columbus Circle/Lincoln Center, but similar price?
3) Has anyone been to Forbes Galleries? How long would you say it takes to go through it? If I have some extra time, what else is interesting for a quick stop nearby (before I head to Grand Central tour)
4) UN Tour - I've read that tickets are usually gone by 1-2pm for the rest of the day. Is it possible I stop by that morning (since my friends' apt is close to UN) to buy a ticket for later that day?
5) How large is the Jewish Museum? Will 2 hours be enough?
6) Quick dinner suggestion near Lincoln Center? Looking for a place that serves sandwich/soup etc for a quick and light meal before opera.
7) Any idea how long we'll have to wait for a table for lunch at Cafe Sabarsky on Sunday, if we get there before noon?
8) Any must-see art shows in Manhattan in mid-March that you know of?
9) Is there a backstage door for the Met Opera @ Lincoln Center? Where is it located and do you know if one can get a glimpse or even autograph from the singers at the backstage door?
Thanks in advance.
Tentative Itin for Manhattan mid-March, lots of Qs
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yk - your trip looks great (btw, you're arriving on my birthday). a few comments: I wouldn't make a 15 block detour for Roberto Passon, but I'd have to give a little thought to an alternative. I worked at the Forbes Gallery during Open House NY and I loved the permanent collection. Find out if they are giving a tour. It is so much more enjoyable when it's explained how and why the Forbes family collected certain things. It made it very personal. Honestly, I've never done the entire Jewish Museum at one time, but be aware that there's no admission fee on Saturday and as a result, it can get very crowded, especially with the Chagall exhibit still on. I don't think you can see it all before leaving to meet your dh. If you need a snack when you come out, Ciao Bella gelato is down the block. Friday (my dh's birthday) sounds very tight. Cafe Sabarsky could have a wait of 30 -45 minutes - depends on how lucky you are.
There's a Le Pain Quotidien (Belgian bakery/cafe) across from Lincoln Center (60 W. 65th ST betw Bway and CPW)
Centralparkgirl - Early happy birthday to you and your husband!
You're right about Friday - I don't know what the heck I was thinking with the Grand Central tour + NYPL tour back-to-back. I guess I'll skip the NYPL tour and save it for next trip.
My main goal at the Forbes is to see the Hungarian Art Nouveau ceramics exhibition. As for Jewish Museum, I mainly want to see the Chagall, so if I don't get around to see the rest, I'll save that for next trip as well.
And thanks, I think Le Pain Quotidien will be perfect before the Opera!
Forbes Galleries is a small space with a few interesting collections. I would think an hour is plenty. If you haven't already been to the Union Square market, I would head over there to stroll around and ogle the vegetables, flowers, bread, cheeses
Jewish museum is pretty big (though not Met Museum big!) but how much time you spend depends on whether you are seeing special exhibits, main collections etc. I'd guess 1-2 hours depending on how you like to see museums.
General comment: Friday you have a lot of tours in a row. Though all seem interesting, do you want to break it up a little with some strolling,or shopping, or eating?
Revised:
March 13 (Fri)
Morning: Forbes Galleries
12:30pm Grand Central Neighborhood walking tour (1.5 hrs)
2pm NY Public Library tourUN tour
I'll eat lunch either before or after the Grand Central tour. Any suggestions for lunch near Grand Central? Looking for simple good food, any cuisine, but no more than $15 out the door.
Personally, I wouldn't skip the NY Public Library. At least walk through it.
Can anyone else help with my Qs?
I thinking inexpensive eating around Grand Central is tough. One option is Cinema - the Brasserie on 45th St - see below. It's nothing special, but you would need a lunch reservation - it fills up. My recommendation for something easy would be to eat in Grand Central - see link below for the casual places.
http://cinemarestaurants.com/
http://grandcentralterminal.com/go/dirListing.cfm?currCat=2138210777
For a meal near Grand Central, what about the food court on the lower level of Grand Central? All the choices are for local restaurants, not national chains.
For lunch on Thurs. treat yourself to the prix fixe $24 lunch at Asiate in the Mandarin Oriental hotel. It's on the 35th floor of the Time Warner building. Entrance on the side street (I think 60th) Great views, yummy food. Make a reservation.
I've heard the Grand Central tour on Fri. often runs long. You can leave if you have to. For lunch, grab something on the run either in the food court in Grand Central (if you have time, some clam chowder and some oysters at the Oyster bar- if no time some takeaway) or at Pershing Square on 42 st. across from Grand Central.
Waiting for a table at Cafe Sabarsky for Sun. lunch can be endless and imo a waste of time. If you really want to go there, I suggest going for breakfast when they open at 9. It's empty. Then head to whichever museum you want.
The Asiate at the Mandarin Oriental sounds wonderful. I looked up their menu and the $24.09 2-course lunch looks good. HOWEVER, with "business casual" listed as dress code, does that mean no jeans? Since I'll be doing the Central Park walking tour, I'm pretty sure I'll be clad in down jacket (black) plus jeans...
Any other more casual suggestions?
In regards to Cafe Sabarsky, we probably won't end up going. I think we will meet up with DH's friend for lunch on the UWS instead.
If you want to go to Asiate, you don't HAVE to wear jeans to the park. A pair of slacks is just as good. You take your jacket off before entering and check it so that's not an issue. No one will see it. You don't have to be dressed to the nines, but business casual is what it is.
More casual, the Burger Joint in the Parker Meridien, Bella Vita pizza, there's a Le Pain Quotidien on 7th & 58th st.
Btw, there's a Whole Foods in the Time Warner building with lots of take out options. There's a snack bar in the park at the Boat House and there are plenty of casual places near Lincoln Center. You can also get a sandwich at Bouchon Bakery.