Hi all,

I used to be an occasional member of this site ages ago, albeit exclusively on the Europe-branch, however my main residence was always the (sadly discontinued) LP 'thorntree' forum, therefore I did never rack up much of a profile on here. I have always enjoyed the sharing of personal opinions and I am therefore glad that this board is still around for an exchange of thoughts (alas traffic looks slower on here, too, compared to the past).

We (family of four, kids g13 and b10 + SIL & MIL) are going to NYC in a few weeks (Oct.14th-19th, i.e. five nights, flying in from Germany to JFK, staying near Times Square). For 'us' it will be the 1st time, whereas for my MIL it is the 4th visit already. Since NYC is thoroughly covered by guidebooks etc (+ my MIL as a repeat visitor), I guess we have a basic to-do-list fixed (somewhat too detailed already imo), yet I need help filling in a few gaps and taking care of a couple of odd questions) � glad in case anyone of you would like to be of assistance.

As a rule of thumb, we prefer exploring at our own speed to guided tours and generally enjoy organising most things ourselves, e.g. public transport/walking rather than hop-on/hop-off busses et al. And while it is a first time for us, hopefully it will not be the last, so there are hardly any strict 'must-dos', instead fun things and not-tourist-related activities are welcome to join the agenda. I gather we will get a good glimpse oft he city, but there will be no time to dig really deep. Budget is medium.

so, where do I start�

-maybe with an odd one: the famous steam vapor vents � I understand it will be impossible to predict where any will be, however are there any hints that would improve my chances to see some?

-rooftop water towers � just as famous, they are probably everywhere, but do you know of a location where they can be spotted easily and pleasingly from the street? guess it will not be possible to get up close to any, though�

-the 'Vessel' at Hudson Yards claims to reopen 'later this year' (according to homepage) � likely not in time for our visit or has anyone heard rumors about a precise date?

-NYCT busses � are they convenient to get around or rather get stuck in traffic a lot? any lines that are specially 'scenic'? ;-)

-NYC ferries look good � anything that speaks against using them as a tourist (except bothering the locals)?

-our kids are rather too old for playgrounds, yet they would not mind an occasional one either. any ideas for well located, maybe especially interesting/unusually designed playgrounds to break the routine?

-my 10yo son is currently very interested in high-end luxury cars � are there maybe any showrooms in Manhattan that would not mind a probable future customer visiting (*coughs*)? (e.g. we have a local Lamborghini dealer who does not mind 'ordinary people' coming inside as long as it is 'no touch, no photos, no inconvenience')

-seems the NYPD-museum is closed and remains closed � any idea whether it is possible to see the inside of a police car legally and harmlessly elsewhere?

-we will definitely do some self-catering, any tips what snacks and sweets you would personally recommend for some overseas visitors to grab from the supermarket?

-apart from that a pretty generic question here: any ideas for convenient and budget-friendly places to eat, not too far (geographically) from the beaten track? this is not a foodie-trip, can be cafeteria style, chain/franchise, too� yes, aware this is a terribly vague question, comments still appreciated...

-my SIL spotted the 'Field of Light' illumination installation near the UN is on during our visit (https://fieldoflightnyc.com/) � any comments on whether it is worth it? I am undecided. If I understand correctly, it is free but you need to book a timeslot, right?

-we are travelling close to election date: anything that would give us a whiff of the buzz? not really planning to attend a rally or similar, but the kids are getting interested and maybe there is something to enjoy spotting?

-last one, a longshot: I love going to the races and to experience horse racing in other countries excites me. Alas it seems Belmont is currently tearing down its grandstand, and I cannot make sense of the homepages of Aqueduct and Saratoga. given we will be in NYC midweek (mon->sat), I guess there will likely not be held any meetings anyway, but in case someone could enlighten me that I am indeed not missing out on an opportunity, this would calm me a lot!

goodness, did not expect this post to get that long. anyone still reading: congrats. any answers and further ideas: much welcome!!

Looks like there is racing at Aqueduct the day before you leave. https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/calendar/2024-10-18

Are you interested in harness racing? If so Yonkers track is open every weeknight during your stay.

Got to say I hardly notice rooftop water towers anymore. You'll find them on any building over six floors high. Think you might get a good view from the High Line, but can't say for sure. Chelsea Market is nearby for eating.

Yes, the High Line should provide the views you seek.

https://loyaltytraveler.boardingarea...-in-manhattan/

You do also have a good view of water towers atop buildings from the the outdoor sections of the Whitney Museum conveniently located at the foot of the high line.

There are many ferries going to different places from Manhattan but I think most people would recommend the Staten Island Ferry.

Several playgrounds in Central Park which is of course a nice place for a stroll and includes several locations within the park that are of interest. Most people in NY tend to walk quite a lot and you indicate you are staying in Midtown. Most people utilize subways as quicker to get places than buses but really depends on where you are going and the time of day.

Here are a few suggestions:

• The Ferrari New York showroom is at 410 Park Avenue (corner of Park and E. 55th). We've walked by many times and there are usually people inside admiring the cars.

• You can't go wrong with a Black and White cookie from William Greenberg Desserts at 1100 Madison Avenue (between E 82nd and E 83rd). It's not far from the Metropoitan Museum of Art so if you're in that area, you could combine the museum with a sweet treat. If you can't get to Greenbergs, other bakeries and delis should also sell them.

Enjoy your family time in NYC.

Based on some your questions, I wonder what guide books you are using and how old are they. Anyway, I picked a few items to respond to:

-maybe with an odd one: the famous steam vapor vents – I understand it will be impossible to predict where any will be, however are there any hints that would improve my chances to see some?

Steam vapor vents??? I have been a NYer all my life (72 years) and the only steam vapor vents I ever have seen are those created when Con Edison (utility company) is doing repairs when/where needed during cold weather (October isn't that cold yet). It is almost impossible to predict if and when this might occur..

-NYCT busses – are they convenient to get around or rather get stuck in traffic a lot? any lines that are specially 'scenic'? ;-)

NYCT (public transit) are famously (or notoriously) slow as traffic in Manhattan can be horrendous. Also there are traffic lights at every block which may not always be in sync so you might stop at very block or two. These buses are single level enclosed type vehicles. The most scenic you will get is a slightly above ground level view of the sidewalk and street level stores (there is no way you can look upward). There are private tour companies such as Big Bus, Gray Lines (among others) that have double-decker buses that are open on the top level. I suppose the view is slightly higher but it still is of tall buildings (and you'd strain your neck looking up). But these buses are popular with tourists (be careful some of the fees can be high). One note though - these buses are still subject to the same slow traffic headaches as our public transit buses.

Some tour bus examples:
https://www.bigbustours.com/en/new-y...york-bus-tours (tickets start at about $58.00)
https://topviewtix.com/new-york/ (tickets range from about $45)
https://newyorksightseeing.com/ (Gray Lines - tickets range from $62 and up)


-NYC ferries look good – anything that speaks against using them as a tourist (except bothering the locals)?

Why would think you would be bothering the locals if using the ferries as tourists?

NYC Ferries are fine if looking at Manhattan and NJ (if on the Hudson River) or Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn) if on the East River appeals to you (you might get to see some still existing roof top water towers if they haven't been block by newer taller buildings). As these ferries (such as Circle Line www.circleline.com) are run by private tour companies the fees can shock you a bit. I will say if the weather is nice a cruise around Manhattan can be somewhat relaxing.

I would recommend, however, the Staten Island Ferry. This a free ferry run by the City of NY and runs from South Ferry at the southern tip of Manhattan to Staten Island. It passes by (but does not stop at) the Statue of Liberty and does provide some good views of for photos of the Statue and of NY Harbor The boats run usually about every 30 minutes during the day and the trip takes about 20-25 minutes from side to side. When you get to the Staten Island side you will be required to exit the boat and re-enter from inside the ferry terminal.

[The [i]Statue of Liberty Ferry is a separate service and is run by a private tour company. This ferry is available in Battery Park (lower Manhattan) and it is suggested that you buy tickets in advance from the website). There are authorized street vendors who wear red vests/jackets that say Statue of Liberty tickets located in various spots in lower Manhattan but I advise that you deal with this option with caution. https://www.statueofliberty.org/visit/ ]

Steam vents: these are iconic, a result of a district heating system.

I saw several steaming on April of last year and took photos. There always seems to be some kind of construction every few blocks, some with the striped steam vents.

Welcome back, Nautiker. Looks like you have received lots of good info. Are you and/or your family interested in the zoo? Here's a link fyi:
https://www.nycgovparks.org/facilities/zoo

​​​​​​My hub and I enjoyed Ellen's Stardust Diner:
https://www.ellensstardustdiner.com/
Wait staff are actors, and they sing and interact with diners. I'll admit it's a tourist trap, but my hub and I had great fun there. Reservations a must.

Looking forward to reading about your trip!


​​​

Just wanted to add a bit of background info to TDudette's posting regarding Ellen's Stardust Diner (I have eaten there a few times and enjoyed it).

The outside of the restaurant at 1650 Broadway is made up to look like the side of a subway car from the 1950s (with the car number being 1650) and is painted red. There are a couple of reasons for this: The owner, Ellen Hart Sturm was a former Miss Subways in the 1950s. Back in the very late 1980s (the restaurant opened in 1987) Ellen purchased a subway car in an auction held at the NY Transit Museum with the intent of using half of it as the entrance. There was a major issue that popped up after the sale that prevented any further use of the subway car- it had a lot of asbestos and the cost to remove it would have been way to much. As a result she just had a facsimile (a reasonable one) created to be the entrance.

I will chime in with a few :

Several suggested The High Line, and if you start near Whitney Museum, I recommend checking out Little Island, which is nearby. We went there last year (when my son was 10.5) and he had a great time with his friend playing there. It's not a playground per se but fun to explore.

https://littleisland.org

re buses - I can't think of a single time I enjoyed riding buses in NYC. They are slow and crowded. The buses is single story and there is no view to speak of. You'll only end up wasting precious sightseeing time by taking a bus.

Foods - there are literally 10 or more eateries on every single block in NYC. You can find all sorts of cuisines and price range.

Vessel - no idea but if it isn't open, I wouldn't bother going to Hudson Yards. To me it's just another soulless upscale shopping mall.

Thanks for the great info about Ellen's, nycguy10002

The slow bus = my rest time! 😁

many thanks so far for the great feedback - much appreciated!

@ fra diavolo & k marie & madam 397: indeed, High Line looks an excellent pick for water towers and given it's on my list anyway, I am looking forward to have that one solved!

@ fra diavolo: thanks for the Aqueduct-link - somehow it didn't work for me before. now I'm in a bit of a tight spot, since obviously I will have to try to cram it in... I hadn't realised the track is that close to JFK - given we don't depart on Saturday until 9pm, I might even... - naah, maybe that's too tight

@cats53: oddly enough, my son hasn't picked up on Ferrari so far (which puzzles me) - I will use the opportunity of this trip to change that! Greenberg looks good and went on our foodstuff-list...

@nycguy10002: ah, well, just those iconic steam vapor clouds you so often see on old photographs, but I already guessed there will be no way to tell in advance - maybe we'll get lucky, maybe we won't... the issue with busses is that I don't enjoy subway rides all that much - in case there is convenient transport above ground, I often try to stick to that, as it sometimes helps to get more of a feel of a city. alas convenience still is the main aspect, so I will be wary with those busses. not a big fan of bus tours in general, rather prefer walking instead. thanks for your view on the ferries, too. I was aware of the Staten Island ferry, looking forward to combine it with a few of the NYC ferries

@ tom mn: so they're still around, good to know - I'll be on the look-out!

@TDudette: thanks! Central Park Zoo is on the list, albeit mainly due to the 'Madagascar'-movies - apart from that, the city will be our main focus. Stardust Diner looks interesting, however will need to consider beause of the kids - their English is basic, so I'm a bit doubtful whether they can catch up. @nycyguy - thanks for the further background, just remembered that there was a 'Miss Subway' in 'On the Town' - will try to rewatch that movie in preparation to the trip...

@yk:thanks, too! I spotted Little Island on GoogleEarth and was wondering, I take your remark as a 'thumbs up'! on the other hand, my anticipation towards the busses has dropped further now, guess I will be careful ;-) re: Hudson Yards - that's a good point you raise, I haven't found much to do around there, indeed, but since it's starting/ending point of the High Line, I might end up there anyway - but good to know we probably do not need to assign lots of time there...

thanks again so much, this is very valuable to me and our planning. if you have further ideas to share, these would be very welcome!

three 'fresh' questions: a) any recommendations for decent ice cream? (it does not have to be the 'best' - I am allergic to superlatives), b) a bit specific: ideas for small shops about interior design/furniture, maybe Lower Manhattan area? (I have a small wood workshop myself, therefore 'the woodier the better'), c) considering a visit to the Intrepid museum with my son - thoughts?

and one more:currently researching transport from JFK>downtown, seems there is subway/LIRR, cab/uber and minivan (shared/private); I cannot find regular (direct) busses - is this really the case? seems odd.

kind regards
nautiker

AFAIK there are no direct buses to JFK from mid-town, same for LaGuardia. If you are up for it, there is a subway option also. Both the air train and the subway take contactless credit cards, maybe a local can confirm that the LIRR does also. Heading for Times Square area I�d take the air train to Jamaica and transfer to an express subway to Times Square (E).

Ice Cream: https://www.laboratoriodelgelato.com

Since you mentioned woodworking, I thought this Brooklyn store might interest you. They specialize in high-end woodworking tools. If you give them a call they might be able to direct you to a studio or shop. https://toolsforworkingwood.com/store/index.php

I cannot find regular (direct) busses - is this really the case?

There is an express bus from JFK to Manhattan. It is run by a private company - Golden Touch (formerly called the NY Airporter). The service is called the NYC Express Bus.

How to get the Express Bus from JFK Airport to Manhattan - Your options

The bus has stops at terminal 1, 4 and 8. If you are at other terminals you can use the AirTrain to get to those specific terminals (note the AirTrain is FREE while being used within the confines of the Airport.) The fare is $19.00 one way. It stops at 3 places on 42nd St - Grand Central (Park Avenue), Bryant Park (6th Avenue) and the Port Authority Bus Terminal (8th Avenue).

To respond to tom_mn's comment on the LIRR - the since the LIRR services is distance based, they do not accept contactless payments at the LIRR ticket machines (they do if you buy the ticket from the ticket office on the street level at Jamaica). You can buy tickets online using your smartphone at https://new.mta.info/traintime for more info and to download the APP. IMPORTANT to note - the AirTrain fee of $8.50 (It was $4.50 just from July to Labor Day) is NOT included in the LIRR fares (or subway fares).

If you do take the Airtrain to Jamaica to connect with the LIRR, you want to take the train to Penn Station and walk up to the Times Square area. If you take the LIRR to Grand Central and exit on 42nd St, you can also walk although it is a longer walk to walk crosstown than it is northbound. Many NYers would opt for taking the subway from Jamaica LIRR station although it would involve changing trains and so taking the LIRR into Manhattan is easier.

Steam vents while they. may appear romantic in old photos are not actually romantic in real life as there have been several explosions over the years that have been fatal as well as causing environmental issues.

So most NY visitors plans include a Broadway show, visiting the Empire State Building or the Statue of Liberty, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, one or more of our world-class art museums or the Museum of Natural History, the Circle Line boat ride, shopping and many more options.

Not trying to argue a small point, and we don�t know the exact hotel address, but the E subway gets substantially closer to Times Square than either LIRR train station, and besides, both train stations are likely too far to walk with baggage.

I live in NYC and I kind of like the buses.....especially the Limited ones that make fewer stops than the slow ones. You need to buy a ticket before boarding in the machines at the stop.

As a woodworker, one shop you should not miss is in Soho near the southern end of Crosby Street at #5: BDDW. When I buy my new penthouse, all the wood furniture will come from there (jut kidding about the penthouse and the furniture). I would love to her what you think of his work. There are a lot of woodworkers in Brooklyn but I don't have any names with me now...

I love your list! So many interesting things that few people think about.
We refer to the steam vents as "manhole covers," or at least I think that is what you are referring to.

Also, an interesting thing to spot are circles of colored glass embedded in sidewalks....some are in and around Chelsea and near Penn Station in what we call the "Garment Center" and also in Soho.These provided light for the workers in the sweatshops below, during the 19th and early 20th Centuries. See if you can find any.. The real name is "vault lights."

One good area for food is in the 20s, to the east and west of 5th Avenue.

Also, the Lower East Side and the East Village.

I just want to explain this for those who would not be familiar. The Limited buses being referred to are more formally called "Select Bus Service" or SBS (the route number of the bus always precedes the SBS on the bus route sign and signs at the bus stop). This is a local bus but it only makes stops at certain points - usually major street intersections. With this type of bus you pay the fare in machines outside on the street at the bus stop rather at the fare box on the bus by the driver. On the SBS bus you may board the bus at any of the 3 doors (the whole idea behind the paying before you board is to allow for faster boarding). The machines accept the MetroCard only, but there also is a "skinny" machine that will accept coins. Once the fare media is accepted the machine will issue a paper receipt (the ticket). You hold onto this receipt as proof of payment while you are riding the bus. If you are paying by coins that machine will give a different type of receipt. That receipt will entitle you to a transfer to another bus (not subway) if you need one. Show that receipt to the driver on the first bus who will issue a paper transfer. You may also pay using a contactless card (debit/credit) or OMNY card or smart device by using the scanners at the any of the doors of the bus (you will not get a receipt in this case). When paying by MetroCard a transfer to bus or subway is automatically added (or removed if you are transferring from bus/subway). The same applies when using the contactless cards/devices.

It should be noted that there can be an occasional team of fare inspectors who will check to see if everyone has the proper receipt. If you paid by contactless media the inspectors have a machine that can check the media you used. Anyone not having sufficient proof of payment will be subject to be removed from the bus and will be issued summons for fare evasion. The fine is $100.

I have a SBS line very near me which I use all the time (mainly to get me to a subway line).

On regular local buses you have to enter at the front door and pay using MetroCard, coins of contactless media.

The trip via subway can take 45 minutes to an hour or a bit more depending on where you are staying and which train you take.

One suggestion: If your hotel (or where ever you are staying in Manhattan) is in the "Midtown" are (basically from the Penn Station area northward) - take the AirTrain to the Jamaica stop and then the Manhattan-bound E train on the subway. If the hotel is in lower Manhattan (Financial district/World Trade Center area) up to the Chelsea area (23rd St area) - take the AirTrain to the Howard Beach station and take a Manhattan-bound A train. Note that there are places along these routes where you may transfer to other subway lines if needed.