carlota

yes!!! after all the efforts its done!! we are staying at the sofitel, which i'm dying to know after reading all the fantastic reports!! We’ll be there for 6 nights

Now I have to think about restaurants, musicals, etc.

Restaurants: I was thinking of going back to the river cafe (where my now husband proposed) but then again, I love trying new places...any ideas? What about a place called the view? Is there any other romantic recommendations??
And for more "normal" dinners (in terms of budget, not so expensive, but good food and stylish place)

What about breakfast near the hotel? any lovely places?

what about musicals? I've tried again jersey boys but is full.
which do you recomend? drowsy chaperone? What about the new one the Pirate queen?? The wedding singer? Annie? Hairspray?

Thank you guys again!

SusieQQ

Drowsy Chaperone for sure!

lizziea06

Here are my recs for normal dinner:

Blue Ribbon
Goblin Market
Red Cat
Cookshop
Landmarc
Stanton Social
Azafran

These are all new American/Tapas, and you can see the menus on www.menupages.com

earl30

the view is the place on top of the marriott marquis. it is mediocre at best, but ok for drinks and a revolve before or after a show. since drowsy chaperone is right there, combine the two.
it's hard to top the river cafe for romance and view. just do it.

mclaurie

Romantic restaurants
The View (rest.) in the Marriott Marquis hotel is generally judged to be mediocre food at high prices. It's the only place in NYC that revolves though. Go there for a drink (before 8 or 9 there's no cover charge) or they have a dessert buffet that some have said is pretty good.

There are some cruises around Manhattan that you can do for dinner (or lunch or drinks) Bateaux Ny is supposed to be good. http://www.spiritcitycruises.com/ba/index.jsp
Another one here http://www.zerve.com/SailNYC/ManCirDi
and another
http://www.shearwatersailing.com/happy-hour-cruise.cfm

The Rainbow Grill is a great place for a romantic cocktail. (Top of Rockefeller Cetner)

I strongly suggest you buy a subscription to the Zagat guide online (or get hold of one of their guides). They have lists of romantic places, prices etc.

For breakfast near your hotel, right on the same block is the Red Flame coffee shop. This is nothing fancy, just cheap and cheerful. Some "special" places for breakfast:
>Balthazar in Soho-- they have their own bakery and it's a charming French brasserie
>Norma's in the Parker Meridien hotel (west 58 st) known for huge portions of good breakfast food (with prices to match)
>Michael's restaurant--west 55 st. b/w 6th & 5th. This is a publishing/power broker spot that's NOT on the tourist path. This is a lovely restaurant for a regular meal too. Lunch is crazy. At dinner it's much quieter.

For theater, can't remember if I've already suggested you try contacting www.applause-tickets.com about Jersey Boys tickets. Sometimes you can get them for just $30 above face value and with a meal included.

TC

I vote for Drowsy Chaperone. It is wonderful!

wantsomesun

Since you are going to be here for a few days and seeing the sites, I would strongly suggest carrying around a Zagat guide. That way no matter where you are, there will be a good restaurant close by. One thing about NY, restaurants tend to come and go, so with a guide in hand you will have lots of choices.

Also you might try www.playbill.com for suggestions on whats playing and what's new.

Also don't forget Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center while you are here, lots of great concerts for the holiday season.

TrvlMaven

I just returned from NYC last night. Met friends for early lunch, tho' they serve breakfast, too at Foley's Fish House in the Renaissance Hotel at 2 Times Square. Food was excellent and the view of Times Square is great. Also went to the Morgan Library for the Bopb Dylan exhibit (excellent), Top of the Rock is very nice--we were there for sunset--very cool watching the city "light up". Didn't eat there--but had take out from Saigon Grill (two locations--one in the Village, one uptown). Also enjoyed Cathedral of St. John the Divine and Columbia/Barnard. Met friends who'd seen Drowsy Chaperone and raved. Patsy's Pizza in Village was also a good, cheap eat.

TarheelsInNj

There are a lot of great Broadway shows right now, and the options you mentioned are pretty different...can you give us an idea of what you like?

carlota

thanks! i'll check the restaurant suggestions. The problem with the river cafe is that apart from paying for dinner, the cab is really expensive aswell!!so we are thinking of trying a romantic restaurant not so far...
about our tastes for the shows? we LOVED mamma mia, phantom of the opera, beuty and beast...didn't like for example Blue man group (in london, maybe in us is better)

basingstoke1

For a romantic spot I love the ambiance at Cafe des Artistes at 1 W. 67th. It is a bit pricey but not terribly so. Try Sunday brunch. Look them up on Google to see what I mean.
A fun place for excellent French food in a down to earth casual atmosphere and a great value is Les Sans Culottes East on 2nd ave at 57th street, or Les Sans Culottes West on 46th. I've yet to meet anyone who has been there and has not wanted to return.

Maxim525

Do Not go to the View. It is designed for the tourist and a rip off of the Windows of The World formerly located in the late WTC. Go about 4 blocks west of the Marriott in the theater district and you find about 40 restaurants all excellent , all affordable. le Rivage, the French is the best.

As far as shows that both of you will enjoy. I reccommend Avenue Q, sort of a grown un Seseme Street, Wicked, or Jersey Boys.

Have fun

TarheelsInNj

Hello! Since you're coming in December, I think you'll be out of luck for both Wicked and Jersey Boys unless you're willing to pay extra- December is one of the busiest times for Broadway.

Hairspray is a great show, and it sounds like you might really enjoy that. You'd probably enjoy Wedding Singer as well, especially if you liked the movie.
You might also consider The Lion King, which may still have tickets in December if you hurry.

anamaria

Bookmarking , Our family will probably be in New York in December..I thought we would be staying in Washington D.C, but plans are changing quickly. If we go I will probably start a thread.
Great Info Fodorites!!

carlota

i had no idea the wedding singer was like de movie...i'm not really sure if we'll like it...
Jersey boys was our first choice but unfortunally it's full those dates!!
between hairspray and the drowsy chaperone? which is more spectacular?? and which venue is better?
my husband saw lion king
any other suggestion?
by the way, when do sales begin? is it worth going to one of the outlets outside nyc? never been to one..

carlota

restaurants: between babbo, Daniel, River cafe...?
I took a look at the raimbow room and it seemed like a night club, is that right? do you mean the grill?

caribdvr

Regarding plays: saw The Wedding Singer last month and loved it. Lots of good choreography, hip hop dancing, loud fast music. I liked it better than Hairspray (saw in Houston, not Broadway), but Hairspray is a lot of fun too. Avenue Q is great, but not for political conservatives. Did not like Martin Short Fame becomes me. Putnam County Spelling Bee was very funny, but I would choose the others first (then again, our friends liked Spelling Bee better than Wedding Singer, difference being that we like rock and lots of dancing and they like soft rock). Jersey Boys and Wicked are fantastic. Drowsey Chaperone was sold out when we were there, but people on the street said it was very funny. Definitely try playbill.com or broadwaybox.com ahead of time for tix--may pay 60% instead of the 50% you can get at TKTS the day of the performance, but better selection and you don't spend 2 hours in line. And if you like Letterman, send in the on line request for tix, that was a lot of fun, but plan on spending the entire afternoon, lots of waiting around even if you have tix.

basingstoke1

To follow up my earlier post mentioning the restaurants Les Sans Culottes, the food is country French rather than the sophisticated cuisine that some folk might think of. Good cooking, large portions, and an unbelievable array of included appetizers for the table that features a rack hung with lengths of a variety of French sausage - just hack off as much as you want - big basket of a variety of fresh raw vegetables and usually melon, and a crock of country pate. There is n extensive menu as well as a 3 course fixed price dinner at $22. A deal!

TarheelsInNj

The two shows you're deciding between are very different. I think Hairspray would be perfect for you, given the shows you've mentioned enjoying. It's fun, generally lighthearted, and has great music and dancing.

Drowsy Chaperone is a fantastic show as well, but I wouldn't recommend it for everyone. The basic premise is about "The Man In The Chair," a musical theatre fan who escapes his lonely life by listening to his favorite 20s musicals (in this case, one comes alive right in his living room). It's extremely clever, but very "insider" in terms of jokes, etc.

TC

"It's extremely clever, but very "insider" in terms of jokes, etc."

I disagree that one would need to be a theater insider to enjoy Drowsy Chaperone. The jokes are very broad, the idea is more than clever, the set is truly imaginative, and the talent is outstanding. Having said that, I agree that given your history, you would love Hairspray, but I think you would also enjoy DS.