Thanksgiving in Manhattan
Nov 15th, 2014, 03:09 AM
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Thanksgiving in Manhattan
Hello all,
We are visiting NYC next week [a couple in our early forties] for the third time. What we did not take into account is that our visit coincides with Thanksgiving and also with the black friday [sounds scary].
As most things are closed on Thanksgiving day, would any of you have any suggestions on what to do on that particular day? I do know about the Macy's parade but haven't figured out how best to see it , standing from 6 am does not sound very appealing as we will both be still crazy jet lagged on the day of. I suppose restaurants will be open? Some restaurants?
What about Broadway theaters? Cinema theaters? We wish to see Interstellar in the AMC lincoln IMAX screen.
Any other ideas on things to do on Thanksgiving?
I suppose black friday is a day like any other except we need to steer clear of shopping, right? Think we might visit the Bronx zoo on that day
We are visiting NYC next week [a couple in our early forties] for the third time. What we did not take into account is that our visit coincides with Thanksgiving and also with the black friday [sounds scary].
As most things are closed on Thanksgiving day, would any of you have any suggestions on what to do on that particular day? I do know about the Macy's parade but haven't figured out how best to see it , standing from 6 am does not sound very appealing as we will both be still crazy jet lagged on the day of. I suppose restaurants will be open? Some restaurants?
What about Broadway theaters? Cinema theaters? We wish to see Interstellar in the AMC lincoln IMAX screen.
Any other ideas on things to do on Thanksgiving?
I suppose black friday is a day like any other except we need to steer clear of shopping, right? Think we might visit the Bronx zoo on that day
Nov 15th, 2014, 04:23 AM
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A limited number of restaurants are open on Thanksgiving. Some traditional places may serve the usual turkey dinner. But most ethnic places will be open if you are willing to do that. For a traditional dinner you absolutely MUST have reservations in advance.
To see the parade in person you need to be up early and claim your place on the sidewalk, If you prefer it's on TV - you ill get the same view as those in the VIP viewing stand in Herald square (in front of Macy;s).
Yes. movies are open on thanksgiving - believe B'way shows are not.
For Black Friday (and anytime around the holidays) either avoid shopping completely or go early in the day (many places open at 8 am or later - many open until 10 or 11 pm). While the whole city will be mobbed (think a gridlock alert day so subway is the best way to get around - except feet) you can still do the major museums, Staten Island ferry, Statue of Liberty (if you have ferry tickets now - or you can see from a Circle line boat tour of the harbor).
You should definitely look at the incredible holiday windows (Lord & taylor, Saks and Bloomies are probably the most elaborate) and you should check out when the tree in Rock center will be lit - to see the skaters, all of the wonderful decorations there and drop in at St Pat's across the street. This is all handy when you do tip of the rock - better at night this time of year - to get an overview of the city. Best to see the windows late at night after the stres close so the lines to see the windows are longer (usually 3 people deep and will take 20 or 30 minutes to get your turn at the windows).
Do be aware that everything will be mobbed, allow extra time for crowds everywhere and recognize that surface transit will be VERY slow - except for walking - so make sure you have a good handle on the subway system.
To see the parade in person you need to be up early and claim your place on the sidewalk, If you prefer it's on TV - you ill get the same view as those in the VIP viewing stand in Herald square (in front of Macy;s).
Yes. movies are open on thanksgiving - believe B'way shows are not.
For Black Friday (and anytime around the holidays) either avoid shopping completely or go early in the day (many places open at 8 am or later - many open until 10 or 11 pm). While the whole city will be mobbed (think a gridlock alert day so subway is the best way to get around - except feet) you can still do the major museums, Staten Island ferry, Statue of Liberty (if you have ferry tickets now - or you can see from a Circle line boat tour of the harbor).
You should definitely look at the incredible holiday windows (Lord & taylor, Saks and Bloomies are probably the most elaborate) and you should check out when the tree in Rock center will be lit - to see the skaters, all of the wonderful decorations there and drop in at St Pat's across the street. This is all handy when you do tip of the rock - better at night this time of year - to get an overview of the city. Best to see the windows late at night after the stres close so the lines to see the windows are longer (usually 3 people deep and will take 20 or 30 minutes to get your turn at the windows).
Do be aware that everything will be mobbed, allow extra time for crowds everywhere and recognize that surface transit will be VERY slow - except for walking - so make sure you have a good handle on the subway system.
Nov 15th, 2014, 07:01 AM
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Ethnic restaurants are usually open.
Here is information on Thanksgiving including the parade route which makes it very hard to get cross town.
http://www.timeout.com/newyork/event...ing-day-parade
BTW, NY'ers called the Macy's Day Parade. It is just an unintentional custom.
The Bronx Zoo is closed Thanksgiving Day but open the next.
Here is information on Thanksgiving including the parade route which makes it very hard to get cross town.
http://www.timeout.com/newyork/event...ing-day-parade
BTW, NY'ers called the Macy's Day Parade. It is just an unintentional custom.
The Bronx Zoo is closed Thanksgiving Day but open the next.
Nov 16th, 2014, 12:15 PM
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A lot of restaurants are open on Thanksgiving nowadays, not just "some". And you can have some fabulous meals or something simple. The idea that only so-called "ethnic" restaurants are the best choices is dated. I'd strongly recommend a reservation asap. Many of the top spots are booked up, but a lot of smaller neighborhood places are fine for walk ins. I like Marseille and have eaten there a few times, but I've been going to Maialino lately, but it is long booked. Artisinal also does a good Thanksgiving, especially if you want a mix of traditional and French, but the costs have crept up too much in the past 2 years. But it's good.
Many stores, including Macy's are now open on Thanksgiving, but most tourist sites are closed. So that may be a good day for shopping and eating. I love to watch the parade, but only on TV.
Many stores, including Macy's are now open on Thanksgiving, but most tourist sites are closed. So that may be a good day for shopping and eating. I love to watch the parade, but only on TV.
Nov 16th, 2014, 02:29 PM
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I've been to NYC for Thanksgiving several times, never had any problem finding a place to eat dinner. Movie theaters are always open, every day of the year. Thanksgiving isn't perceived as that big a religious holiday that only "ethnic" restaurants would be open (I'm guessing that means some ethnicity that isn't CHristian).
There are several attractions open that day--Empire State Bldg, Ellis Island, Circle Line cruises.
There are several attractions open that day--Empire State Bldg, Ellis Island, Circle Line cruises.
Nov 17th, 2014, 04:01 AM
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Thank you all very much! We will not go for the "traditional" Thanksgiving dinner and will have something more casual instead, the morning of we might just spend in Flushing Queens, sampling the much famed local chinese food shops.
Now the big question remains... we will be able to muster the courage to stand since 6 am [!] in order to watch the parade? I think not , but we might just go to the balloon inflation the day before, combine it with a second visit to the wonderful museum.
... now if only I can convince the hubster to skip the shops on black friday we're golden (or is it only department stores that "do" the sales ?]
Thank you once more
Denise
Denise
Now the big question remains... we will be able to muster the courage to stand since 6 am [!] in order to watch the parade? I think not , but we might just go to the balloon inflation the day before, combine it with a second visit to the wonderful museum.
... now if only I can convince the hubster to skip the shops on black friday we're golden (or is it only department stores that "do" the sales ?]
Thank you once more
Denise
Denise
Nov 17th, 2014, 04:42 AM
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No - everyone has sales on Black Friday - with the possible exception of very upscale specialty boutiques - such as Cartier or Bulgari - and IMHO if you're buying there you don;t need sales.
And what you can expect -for instance at Macy's - is the ground floor jammed elbow to elbow with shoppers and "facilitators" at the end of each escalator to pull off the laggards who get off and just stand there - creating the dangerous possibility of a human pile up. If you do go move briskly out of the way when exiting any elevator or escalator. Anyone who can;t move briskly shoul definitely stick to elevators only - and probably very early or late night hours
And what you can expect -for instance at Macy's - is the ground floor jammed elbow to elbow with shoppers and "facilitators" at the end of each escalator to pull off the laggards who get off and just stand there - creating the dangerous possibility of a human pile up. If you do go move briskly out of the way when exiting any elevator or escalator. Anyone who can;t move briskly shoul definitely stick to elevators only - and probably very early or late night hours
Nov 17th, 2014, 05:49 AM
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Three shows will be performance Thanksgiving evening: Chicago, Phantom of the Opera and Pippin. Discount offers are availabe for all three.
Another restaurant offering a good dining experience on Thanksgiving is Chez Josphine.
Another restaurant offering a good dining experience on Thanksgiving is Chez Josphine.
Nov 17th, 2014, 06:10 AM
#10
We had a great time in NYC on Thanksgiving a few years ago. We stayed at the Muse in the Times Square area and watched some of the parade in bed while eating breakfast, got up and walked a few feet to the corner and watched the parade go by. Back to bed and watched the rest of the parade from the room. Walked around for a while in the afternoon, looking at the decorated windows, etc. and had a fabulous late afternoon Thanksgiving lunch at the West Bank Café. Saw Phantom of the Opera.
Years before I spent Thanksgiving at a friend's apartment in the Times Square area. It was a cold, windy day and the balloons were held low. Put Thanksgiving dinner on, went to the street corner for a few (cold) minutes and watched some of the parade. Returned to the apartment and finished dinner while watching the rest of the parade on TV. It's kind of cool to see the floats, balloons, etc. one just saw reappear on TV after they reach the cameras at Herald Square.
Re Black Friday sales - no impact at all on seeing the city. If you aren't a shopper, don't go shopping.
Years before I spent Thanksgiving at a friend's apartment in the Times Square area. It was a cold, windy day and the balloons were held low. Put Thanksgiving dinner on, went to the street corner for a few (cold) minutes and watched some of the parade. Returned to the apartment and finished dinner while watching the rest of the parade on TV. It's kind of cool to see the floats, balloons, etc. one just saw reappear on TV after they reach the cameras at Herald Square.
Re Black Friday sales - no impact at all on seeing the city. If you aren't a shopper, don't go shopping.
Nov 17th, 2014, 06:52 AM
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Actually, the one category of restaurant that are often closed on Thanksgiving are Chinese restaurants, so you may find things hit or miss if you go to Flushing that day. Instead, they are usually open for Christmas dinner. I'd spot check a few to see how extensive closures are. Since Thanksgiving is really just an American holiday, a lot of these restaurants close so that people can be with their families.
I do think a movie is a great idea. I often see a movie on Thanksgiving day.
I do think a movie is a great idea. I often see a movie on Thanksgiving day.
Nov 17th, 2014, 08:54 AM
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According to these links found by google there is more than you think that is open. (My pick for this holiday might the National Museum of the American Indian.)
http://mommypoppins.com/newyorkcityk...city-with-kids
http://gonyc.about.com/od/thanksgivi...giving_day.htm
http://www.nycinsiderguide.com/thank...#axzz3JLjMtkYd
http://mommypoppins.com/newyorkcityk...city-with-kids
http://gonyc.about.com/od/thanksgivi...giving_day.htm
http://www.nycinsiderguide.com/thank...#axzz3JLjMtkYd
Nov 17th, 2014, 09:48 AM
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Thank you all again!
Ekscrunchy please do share your tips on Flushing (and would you also please ask if they will be open on Thanksgiving day?), I am SO eager to explore the area but have read so much I am already confused. Although we are both big eaters I don't think we can manage some of the Flushing eating tours I see described on some websites where one goes to 5-6 different restaurants to eat the one specialty of each one. For one thing my brain will have plenty of time to realize what I have already eaten , which is not usually the case hahaha
We do want to see a movie on the 27th especially an IMAX at AMC Lincoln center hmmm any suggestions for a decent burger joint in the upper west side? I couldn't find anything using opentable, they're all probably closed due to the holiday...
Doug_Stallings thank you for suggesting chinese restaurants might be closed it would be a mini-tragedy to hoof it all the way to Flushing just to be disappointed. We will make the trip though, probably on another day.
Will probably revisit top of the Rock once more just to get that "wow" feeling once again, it makes me feel so small and humble, and at the same time so proud of my fellow human beings that created all this big chaotic lovely mess that is NYC , I have *such* a crush on this city...
Best to all
Ekscrunchy please do share your tips on Flushing (and would you also please ask if they will be open on Thanksgiving day?), I am SO eager to explore the area but have read so much I am already confused. Although we are both big eaters I don't think we can manage some of the Flushing eating tours I see described on some websites where one goes to 5-6 different restaurants to eat the one specialty of each one. For one thing my brain will have plenty of time to realize what I have already eaten , which is not usually the case hahaha
We do want to see a movie on the 27th especially an IMAX at AMC Lincoln center hmmm any suggestions for a decent burger joint in the upper west side? I couldn't find anything using opentable, they're all probably closed due to the holiday...
Doug_Stallings thank you for suggesting chinese restaurants might be closed it would be a mini-tragedy to hoof it all the way to Flushing just to be disappointed. We will make the trip though, probably on another day.
Will probably revisit top of the Rock once more just to get that "wow" feeling once again, it makes me feel so small and humble, and at the same time so proud of my fellow human beings that created all this big chaotic lovely mess that is NYC , I have *such* a crush on this city...
Best to all
Nov 17th, 2014, 10:21 AM
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Denisious: You do not actually need a food tour of Flushing. Most of the restaurants are located within an easy walk of the Main Street stops of the Long Island RailRoad and the #7 subway train. The others can be reached by either of those two trains, followed by a bus, but since this will be your first visit, there will be more than enough to eat within a couple of blocks of the train stops.
Among these are a couple of my favorites, including Fu Run on Prince Street near Roosevelt Avenue, offering mostly Northern Chinese from the NE provinces, along with some NW-style "Muslim" dishes. A "must try" here is the Muslim Lamb Chop, heavy with cumin and red chili peppers.
Nan Xiang, on Prince Street, is a Shanghai specialist with very good soup dumplings and a cold case filled with Shanghai appetizers including vegetarian options.
For Cantonese, Imperial Palace is just off Main Street, and is known for their fish and seafood; they also have excellent Peking pork chops.
For Sichuan, the most accessible for you would be Spicy and Tasty, also on Prince, near Roosevelt.
Hunan House, a bit further but still within an easy, and interesting, walk is excellent as well, especially if you like spice.
There are a few malls in the area that are worth checking…these will have food stalls and simple eateries, often with excellent food. There are also street vendors; many of these sell food from the NW, such as grilled skewers of meat and offal.
Here is a thread (linked below) in which I mention a few places in Flushing; I have also written a bit about Flushing on the www.Chowhound.com site, and there you will find the contributions of many posters much more knowledgeable than I am about Flushing Chinese restaurants.
Note that Little Pepper, which might be the best Sichuan Chinese place in the NYC area, has moved to the College Point area, a few miles away, and is now a bit tricky to reach by public transportation for anyone with limited time.
There are also a slew of mostly newer places on Kissena Blvd, and on Main Street, south of the downtown area and an easy bus ride from there. Among these, I like Golden Palace very much, as well as Kung Fu, another Shanghai soup dumpling specialist.
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...estaurants.cfm
Among these are a couple of my favorites, including Fu Run on Prince Street near Roosevelt Avenue, offering mostly Northern Chinese from the NE provinces, along with some NW-style "Muslim" dishes. A "must try" here is the Muslim Lamb Chop, heavy with cumin and red chili peppers.
Nan Xiang, on Prince Street, is a Shanghai specialist with very good soup dumplings and a cold case filled with Shanghai appetizers including vegetarian options.
For Cantonese, Imperial Palace is just off Main Street, and is known for their fish and seafood; they also have excellent Peking pork chops.
For Sichuan, the most accessible for you would be Spicy and Tasty, also on Prince, near Roosevelt.
Hunan House, a bit further but still within an easy, and interesting, walk is excellent as well, especially if you like spice.
There are a few malls in the area that are worth checking…these will have food stalls and simple eateries, often with excellent food. There are also street vendors; many of these sell food from the NW, such as grilled skewers of meat and offal.
Here is a thread (linked below) in which I mention a few places in Flushing; I have also written a bit about Flushing on the www.Chowhound.com site, and there you will find the contributions of many posters much more knowledgeable than I am about Flushing Chinese restaurants.
Note that Little Pepper, which might be the best Sichuan Chinese place in the NYC area, has moved to the College Point area, a few miles away, and is now a bit tricky to reach by public transportation for anyone with limited time.
There are also a slew of mostly newer places on Kissena Blvd, and on Main Street, south of the downtown area and an easy bus ride from there. Among these, I like Golden Palace very much, as well as Kung Fu, another Shanghai soup dumpling specialist.
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...estaurants.cfm
Nov 17th, 2014, 01:50 PM
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I know West Bank Cafe on 42nd St is open on Thanksgiving as I'm going up there myself that weekend. That's not near Lincoln Center, though.
I like Nice Matin which is a casual French bistro up near the Natural History museum, although that's not right at LIncoln Center. Not far on the subway. It's open Thanksgiving, I believe, but may be booked.
http://www.nicematinnyc.com/
I suspect a lot of burger joints may not be on Open Table. YOu could try Shake Shack at COlumbus Circle, it's open every day usually, so might be open that day:
http://www.shakeshack.com/
I don't think they even take reservations, not sure.
I like Nice Matin which is a casual French bistro up near the Natural History museum, although that's not right at LIncoln Center. Not far on the subway. It's open Thanksgiving, I believe, but may be booked.
http://www.nicematinnyc.com/
I suspect a lot of burger joints may not be on Open Table. YOu could try Shake Shack at COlumbus Circle, it's open every day usually, so might be open that day:
http://www.shakeshack.com/
I don't think they even take reservations, not sure.
Nov 17th, 2014, 10:25 PM
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Thank you all so much! if you ever decide to visit Greece please drop me an email at my fodors ninckname @gmail.com and I will be more than happy to suggest restaurants, hotels and islands to you 
I also feel quite strongly about restaurants and have very specific views on what is acceptable vs. what isn't when it comes to food.
So now I definitely have my sites on Hunan House and Imperial Palace, which means we probably have to visit Flushing more than once. Any ideas of other things to do in Flushing? Not that we don't enjoy people watching , it is our favorite passtime...
From the other thread you linked I got the idea to go to Motorino for lunch on the day that we arrive , it is a convenient time to find the place semi empty and not wait for ages, also quite near our hotel [we are in chinatown].
Christina thank you for the Nice Matin recommendation I have booked a table there for the 27th as it is very conveniently located to the cinema, so that takes care of our evening meal...
I must say I have already made a couple of reservations to Tanoshi sushi, as the place is so small one needs to book way ahead , I do hope it will live up to the hype. Maybe we will revisit Yasuda for their wonderful lunch special...
So many delicious decision to be made !
I also feel quite strongly about restaurants and have very specific views on what is acceptable vs. what isn't when it comes to food. So now I definitely have my sites on Hunan House and Imperial Palace, which means we probably have to visit Flushing more than once. Any ideas of other things to do in Flushing? Not that we don't enjoy people watching , it is our favorite passtime...
From the other thread you linked I got the idea to go to Motorino for lunch on the day that we arrive , it is a convenient time to find the place semi empty and not wait for ages, also quite near our hotel [we are in chinatown].
Christina thank you for the Nice Matin recommendation I have booked a table there for the 27th as it is very conveniently located to the cinema, so that takes care of our evening meal...
I must say I have already made a couple of reservations to Tanoshi sushi, as the place is so small one needs to book way ahead , I do hope it will live up to the hype. Maybe we will revisit Yasuda for their wonderful lunch special...
So many delicious decision to be made !
