NAVIGATING IN NYC WITH FODORS —A TRIP REPORT:

I would be remiss not to begin by thanking all of the Fodorites who voted for me and made it possible for my wife and me to enjoy this wonderful experience. It was a fun trip and we are most grateful.

BACK IN NYC:
We had lived in Ridgewood NJ for three years in the 1970s and spent considerable time in the City then, but less so in recent years. We arrived at about noon on Sunday and went to our lovely hotel, the Michelangelo in mid-town http://www.michelangelohotel.com/

What a great hotel and location. We quickly got oriented and walked a short distance to the Rockefeller Center and then took the elevators to the TOP OF THE ROCK observation deck to get a fabulous view of the city on a sunny afternoon. We found the view to be preferable to our memories of the Empire State Building vista since you are closer to the actual buildings and to Central Park. After a few candid shots in the Rockefeller Plaza, we headed back to our hotel to get ready for dinner.

We met our Fodors hosts at the BASSO 56 ristorante just a few blocks from the hotel. http://www.basso56.com/ This place is the real thing. If you are partial to authentic Italian cuisine then this is your place. But as good as my veal marsala turned out to be, it paled in comparison to our lovely and gracious Fodors hosts. Amy_D the Marketing Coordinator for the Fodors Forums, was as charming and sweet as I had anticipated. She is really the one who manages our beloved Forum and was my contact for all of the pre-trip logistics. Grazie Amy! She was joined by the Marketing Director for Fodors, Susan__ H, a most enjoyable dinner companion. It was the perfect way to start our New York adventure.

MONDAY IN THE CITY:
My wife, Susan, has always been fascinated with the entire immigration scenario and had read about the Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side. She made reservations before we left for 1:30 on Monday, giving us just enough time to have lunch at the famous Katz’s Deli on Houston Street. What a phenom! She had the iconic corn beef sandwich for a mere $15.25 and I opted for their excellent split pea soup. We sat at the table next to the one made famous by Meg Ryan in the scene in WHEN HARRY MET SALLY but it did not seem to have the same effect on either of us. Perhaps we had the wrong food.

We enjoyed our one hour walking tour of the museum and had an excellent docent. We both have had considerable experience as docents and found his depth of knowledge to be excellent.
We then taxied back to our hotel to get ready for the big party with all of the Fodors people.

THE EVENT:
The celebration was held at the Bohemian National Hall on East 73rd and was in collaboration with Czech Tourism USA. Evidently the Czech Republic also claims Eugene Fodor as a favorite son. It was a big cocktail party with several hundred people---many Fodors employees. But, it did include several other Fodorites living in the NYC area. I was pleased to have the chance to meet these fellow Fodorites:
Ekscrunchy, ggreen, and Howard R. See the link for more about the program of the evening which was really a celebration of the 75th anniversary of Fodors as a publisher of travel guide books. The primary remarks were made by the Fodors Publisher, Tim Jarrell.
http://www.fodors.com/news/story_448...news_fd_032311

TUESDAY IN THE CITY:
Tim Jarrell was most kind to invite us to lunch the next day. Amy gave us a tour of the Random House building, they are the parent company, and joined us for lunch as well. Let me report to my fellow Fodorites that I am most confident of the long tern viability of the Forums as an integral part of Fodors marketing strategy. They do indeed value our daily input as important “ intelligence” for their book editors. I love the term they use---TRAVEL INTELLIGENCE. We all are part of the Fodors family by our participation in the various Forums and they view it as exactly that. I was the one Fodorite privileged to experience it first hand and I came away duly impressed.

Of course, no trip to NYC is complete without a stop at the Metropolitan Museum---my wife’s’ favorite. We spent a lovely afternoon there, primarily enjoying the new exhibit of Chinese art, before heading out to LaGuardia and our flight back to Chapel Hill.

Thanks again to the Fodorites that made it happen for me and a special thanks to Fodors for sponsoring such dynamic online travel Forums for all travelers to enjoy.
http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...y.php?cat=4548

BOB THE NAVIGATOR

congratulation bob, you deserved it, glad it was wonderful

You're welcome. And thank YOU for the trip report.

I am eternally indebted to you for introducing me to the Schernthaner and the charming Frau Eisl. The least I could do was vote for you!! Haha.

So glad you won and glad you and the Mrs. had a good time in NYC.

Good going Bob!

Bob: Congratulations on your win. You epitomize Fodorite spreading of travel knowledge!
I didn't know that you live in Chapel Hill. We finally got to visit there this winter on our way to Key Largo, and stayed with a friend at Fearrington. Lovely place and lovely area!

Hi Bob,

I have been looking forward to hearing all about your much-deserved winning trip! And in true fashion, your reporting is worthy of praise. Well done!

(I have always thought of ekscrunchy as male. Had to chuckle when the picture showed he is actually a she. )

Bob thanks for posting your report and the pics. I enjoyed meeting you and your lovely wife, Susan. Please pass on a message from me: The product we discussed is Aveda Brilliant Emollient Finishing Gloss. It comes in a blue bottle. Many thanks!

Bob I was happy to nominate you. You've always provided very generous help to all of us who need it.

I'm glad you enjoyed your prize. Cathie

Grazie Erica, Passed on and appreciated.

It looks like Fodors showed you a well deserved good time.

We Fodorites rely on people like you to answer our in depth and sometimes silly questions. The Fodors Guides always help us to outline our trips, but then it's the posters like you who help to "refine" them.

Glad you enjoyed it.

Not to be picky, but shouldn't this be posted in the US forum, as opposed to the Europe forum?

Aside from that, congrats to you, Bob, and as I'm currently planning a trip to NYC and looking for good Italian restaurants, I've put BASSO 56 on my list.

Actually hazel oyu are correct, so I did it at both since most of my time is here on the Europe Forum.

Bob, you are my role model. Wish I had known of this event, tho I'm small potatoes on this forum, but would have hopped a train from Philly to shake your hand. However, now that I know you are in Chapel Hill, that raises another possibility... I have a son near Greensboro, and I may get in touch sometime when I am heading down that way. In the meantime, congrats!

Thanks Jan, you are too kind.