2nd trip to NYC – what to do?
 

Hi all,
I’ve got a whole bunch of questions so please bear with me – I’m returning to NYC 6 years after my last trip for a 2 week holiday and am looking to do & see a few things I didn’t last time (ie, no ESB or Statue of Liberty this time round) although will revisit a few places like the Met, Central Park etc

1) Its my understanding MOMA has been refurbished recently – are there new artworks on display that are worth the revisit? I will definitely make it to the Frick collection this time.

2) I’ve already managed to get myself a ticket to Spamalot (yay!) & am now considering a 2nd show : a)Rent (simply because I’ve never seen it), b)AvenueQ or c)Streetcar Named Desire. Yeah I know you can’t get much more diverse a selection than that but do any pop out as being the obvious choice or one to strike off the list (eg, is that untalented spice girl still dragging down Rent?).

3) I’m interested in doing a walking tour that involves one of my favourite pastimes, ie eating – has anyone done the Big Onion Multi-Ethnic walking? Similar tours are also conducted by Nosh Walks & Food of NY so feedback on any of these will be appreciated.

4) I’m also interested in doing walking tours (either guided or on my own) of other neighbourhoods but not sure which ones have the most to see or unique vibe – Greenwich Village, Soho, Tribecca, Chelsea, Nolita etc?

5) I will be spending part of the trip with friends so am after some recommendations for restaurants/bars/clubs for some 30-somethings (preferably where you don’t have to take out a 2nd mortgage to afford a round of cocktails).

6) I’m considering a day trip out of NYC into the Hudson Valley – would the boat trip by NY Waterway up the River & tour of Kykuit (Rockefeller Estate) be the best option?

7) Any hints for other quirky/less obvious places worth a visit would be great too!

Thanks, all help is much appreciated!! :-)

Our most enjoyable different thing to do was a tour of Lincoln Center, all the theaters were gorgeous and the guide was wonderful. We went on a Sunday a.m., only about six of us on the tour. We also took a day trip out and made an awful mistake of going on a Greyline "tour".....we got on at the bus authority center and it was actually just a commuter bus, stopping along the way with the place, an outlet mall, where almost everyone got off the bus and back on later in the day when we picked them up, packages and all. We hit FDK's home and the Rockefeller Estate, both interesting, but would not take that mode of transportation, any other way would be worth it.

1. MOMA is definitely worth a revisit. The renovation/expansion is so vast, you'll feel like you're visiting a new facility.
2. Avenue Q is a delight. If you want some serious theater, then go see Doubt.
4. Since you'll be here for 13 days, why not take more than one walking tour? Any one on your list would be good, two would be better.
6. Definitely take the Waterways/Kykuit trip. It's a wonderful way to spend a day. Just pick a day with sunny weather. I think Kykuit is the best mansion of them all along the Hudson Valley.

Lucy I think you'd be better breaking up some of these questions into different posts. I'll answer some quickly. I'm not sure MOMA has new works displayed, but the work is displayed differently than it was before. For example, Monet's Waterlilies is now all on one huge wall rather than in a room around several walls (I actually liked the old way better but that's another story).

I think for theater, most people feel Rent is liked more by teens than adults. It's really old news now. Avenue Q is very different. Wicked is a very hot ticket and that would be my suggestion.

People seem to really like the Big Onion eating tour of the village.

All the downtown areas have something of interest. It depends on YOUR interests.

For dining, I highly recommend a copy or a web membership to the Zagat Guide. For a 2 week visit, the price will pay for itself very quickly. NY Magazine also has IMO a great search engine for restaurants, bars, and shopping. NYmetro.com Their guides, especially nymetro.com/cheap are great.

Thanks for your help desertduds, HowardR & Mclaurie...I was considering posting all Qs under separate threads but thought that might annoy people that I was clogging up forum!! :-)

Did you do a TV studio tour?
I did NBC's and it was so much fun. They show you all the news rooms, talk show sets, and we even saw the SNL set while Janet Jackson was rehearsing.

Yep I did do the NBC tour last time! Thanks anyway. I was considering trying to get into a tv show taping like Letterman but it doesn't seem that easy to do!

Well, SNL's are impossible to get. But Letterman's are not hard to get. All you have to do is book your tickets 2/3 months in advance.

Thanks Ralf005 - I'll have a try for tix to Letterman.

Also I've now signed up online for Zagat...the choice of places is a little overwhleming though!!

One of the resons I didn't initially consider Wicked is that I assumed it was more targeted towards kids - is that not right??

Any further help with other questions from anyone would be great - thanks!

Sounds like a fun trip! On the theater end of things: Wicked isn't a "kids show" even though it's based on the Wizard of Oz -- kids do like it but so do adults. Of course, some people don't care for it -- for my own opinion, the book (the story) is very well written but the songs aren't the best. A lot of "belt to the rafters" kind of singing -- if you like that, then you'll like the score. There are some very exciting effects -- overall, it's a good evening in the theater -- definitely worth seeing.

Avenue Q is funnier, sweeter, sillier. I liked it. There are a lot of good plays on Bway now -- besides the Williams revivals (Streetcar and alo Glass Menagerie -- which BTW did not get the greatest reviews) there is "Doubt" and "The Pillowman"; people I know who have seen those two really loved them.

Rent -- meh. It's been around a while. If you're dying to see it, great, but in my opinion that should be last on your list.

I agree about the Hudson River trip -- I've done those, always loved it.

All the neighborhoods you mentioned are worth walking around -- Chelsea seems to have less architectural interest, at least in my experience.

Thanks for the great feedback robhart - very helpful.

I have one more question... I will be arriving at JFK (from Australia) at around 5.30pm on a wednesday & I need to get to my hotel on 49th (between 6th & 7th) - now a taxi is an expense I can't justify on my own so I was considering the Super Shuttle as I like the idea of being dropped at my hotel given I'll be a bit jetlagged (even if it takes ages because they're dropping others off first) - but when I fly out of JFK (flight is around 7.30pm) I wasn't sure how to get there as I've read the Shuttle is too unreliable in terms of picking up on time - is that right? I though maybe the best option would be taxi to Port Authirity & then catch the Airport Express bus from there - does this sound the best option? Thanks!

Lucy,
I would consider the show All Shook Up. I loved it. My friends went and saw it and loved it too. I would not see Rent. Saw it last year ar this time and it was blah. Wicked is wonderful. We also went to the Chealsea Market last time and that was just a fun place to go to. Nothing much there except tons of little resturants. Neat place to go hang out. We had alot of fun.

I think there was a thread a while back that more thoroughly discussed getting back and forth from the airport, but here is what it boiled down to:

Going back to JFK, the Airport Express bus from Port Authority is, I believe, $15. I've done the bus, and it's fine. Allow yourself an hour for the bus ride, getting to the airport 2 hours before your flight -- so you want to take a bus somewhere around 4 or 4:30.

The new way to get to JFK is the AirTrain. You can either take the A train a loooong way and then transfer to the Airtrain (cheap, but time consuming) or else take the Long Island Railroad from Penn Station to Jamaica, Queens, and transfer there.

But, the bus works just fine, and is a better choice, IMHO, than SuperShuttle. Others may have had different experiences.

Coming from the airport: I admit, when I come off a long flight, I splurge on a taxi, especially if jetlag is involved. The flat rate from JFK is $45, plus tip and toll -- so, something like $58-$60 all told.

The Airport Express bus is also a fine way to come in from the airport -- you could catch a cab for the few blocks from Port Authority if you have a lot of bags to schlep around.

But it would be nicer to be dropped off, I'm sure. I just haven't had good experiences with SuperShuttle in New York (fine in other cities.) Again, others' experience may vary.

I guess we all have priorities on how we spend our money. I can't imagine flying all the way from Oz and then using the Super Shuttle. Not only will you likely drop others off first, but you may sit around at the airport waiting for the bus to get filled. Take a taxi! On the way back, either take the bus from Port Authority or the AirTrain from Penn Station. Remember rush hour traffic starts at around 4 pm so leave yourself enough time to get to the airport and check in on time.

If you're looking for ways to save money, rather than using the Super Shuttle, consider

>using discount codes for theater tickets. Broadwaybox.com has many but usually not the "biggies" and usually good for dates about 1-2 months away

>get same day tickets from one of the TKTS booths. Look on tdf.org for info on times and locations and what's been available recently. Rent would definitely be available either way on discount.

>Here's a website that has info on some FREE things including some walking tours

http://www.nycvisit.com/content/index.cfm?pagePkey=372

In addition to those, MOMA is free on Fridays starting I think at 5pm. Since it's normally $20, you can imagine how long the lines are and how crowded.

>There's something called Big Apple Greeters that offers for free a volunteer New Yorker to take you around to a particular area of the city (you can choose). Contact them on bigapplegreeters.org


Here's a page with info on a combo walking tour and cooking class. There are some other ideas on the page too

http://gonyc.about.com/cs/toursbr/a/savorybleecker.htm

For some quirky, less obvious thoughts

>there's a new exhibit called Ashes & Snow

ashesandsnow.com

>there's a new museum called the Rubin with art from the Himalayas
http://www.rmanyc.org/

>Consider exploring DUMBO in Brooklyn, the new young arty area under the Brooklyn Bridge. (If you haven't walked the Brooklyn Bridge you should). Do you know about the NY Water TAxi?

nywatertaxi.com

I don't really feel I'm up to date for 30 something bars and clubs. Sheckys.com is a good search engine though. The lower east side has a lot of less expensive, good and trendy restaurants. You might have a look at

nymetro.com/nightlife

which is a guide from NY magazine.

Answer to Questions
1. Haven't been to the new MOMA, It's just been too crowded to justify.
2. Go see Avenue Q. It's charming and funny and I thought better than Wicked and definitely better than Rent.
3. Someone has posted on chowhound.com about an eating tour of the Lower East Side. Do a search.
4. Don't know anything about walking tours. let us know if you do one and what you thought.
5. Again. go to chowhound.com and ask your question about where to go.
You may also want to check out egullet.org on the section about new york city.

Other quirky things to do in New York City. hmm, go see the Ashes and snow exhibit if your in town then.

I always think walking along the river is great. Make sure you go the Hudson River not the East river. You could even go to the trapeze school while there!

Have fun in NYC.

Ok, I'm convinced!! I'll splurge on the taxi when I arrive & get the port authority bus going back to JFK (airtrain won't be an option given I'll be loaded down with all the shopping I plan to do there!! :-) )

I've also decided on AvenueQ ...is that likely to have discounts available by the time I go in June or should I book now? I might try & fit in aserious play as well - maybe Doubt.

As for queues at MOMA - isn't it possible to buy tickets online & walk straight in?

Anyway I appreciate all the great ideas & website links....its true, half the fun is in the planning. :-D

Get tickets for Avenue Q now.
Yes, you can get tickets for MOMA on line in advance.

Lucy

Great thread - I'm also an Australian venturing to NYC (for the 5th time, but 3rd time as an adult), and some fo these suggestions are really great. Please email me - we can discuss what we both have planned, etc... I'm going in November.

I think I'm also going to see Avenue Q now.

Definitely get your theatre tickets right away. The sooner the better - shows sell out quickly, and if you are spending the money you might as well get good seats!

I recommend getting a copy of "Frommer's Memorable Walks in New York." It sets forth walking tours in different neighborhoods and tell you what subways to take. That way you can go at your own pace.

Also, have you checked out the Tenement Museum. The tour of an actual tenement is quite interesting.

JFK now has a monorail system that runs from the airport to Jaimaca, Queens for about 5 dollars. from Jamaica you can either take the Long Island Rail Road about 10 min (all together from airport to Penn Station, which is about 8 blocks from your hotel is 15 minutes) for another 5 dollars or take the subway for a dollar and fifty cents. the subway ride is about 40 min to an hour.

for more info click on www.mta.info

You may want to consider a wine tasting at the wineries out on eastern long island as a day excursion.

Lucy
I too am heading to NYC but unlike you this will be my 1st trip
I am in Adelaide and will be in NYC in december but will be arriving by train/bus havent decided yet
would love to hear from you when you get back as to the things you did and what worked
thanks
judi

I've now got a great seat booked for Avenue Q to go with my Spamalot one - very happy about that!

Unfortuatnely according to NY Waterway's website they won't start running their daytrips up the Hudson River to Kykuit till late June which is after I'll be there - I understand the train goes there as well but I really like idea of going by boat so are there any other companies that run similar trips?

I haven't heard of the Tenement museum -so I'll look into that as well - thanks!

Try www.hudsonrivercruises.com

Have a good time at the theater -- I liked Avenue Q a lot.

Question for anyone who knows the layout of the theatre in which Avenue Q is playing...would tickets right orch. approx. 20 rows from stage be good seats for this production?

Also, for Lucy, if you check out the website given before www.nymetro.com, they have some great visitors info on the city's best tours - walking tours, eating tours, shopping tours - you name it, it is there.


Thanks.

How did you get Spamalot tickets? I am going to be in NYC in July and really want to see this. I only need 1 ticket.

I'll do my best to help you out. I live in Manhattan, btw.

1. MOMA - I went there post-renovation. Go there in the morning. Even on weekdays, it's very crowded in the afternoon. Lines are long for their cafeteria. Suggest go across the street to Thai restaurant for their lunch special (around $8). You can come back after lunch to finish the tour. Guided tours recommended at MOMA. Some pieces are too avant garde.

2. Usually, the wait at TKS booth to get discount tickets is around an hour. Look for Naked Cowboy. He's famous/infamous. Going to Time Sq at night is fun. Have a drink at the rotating bar/restaurant called the View.

3. I also recommend Cooking!, a new interactive, culinary show. Koreans make music and theater out of cooking. You can participate and taste some food, too. Fire, smell, knives in the air, utensils making rhythmic noise, etc. This is off broadway. Not too expensive.

4. If you have a budget to taste the finest, go to Per Se. $150/pp 4 star restaurant (there are only 4 of them in NYC per NY Times). Reservation is hard to get, so you have to call 2 months in advance at 10 am sharp. It's at Time Warner building. Or, you could go to Jean Georges at Trump Int'l Hotel and Tower. $90 tasting menu is pretty good. It was featured in the Apprentice show. Next to Central Park.

5. For great Indian food, go to Jackson Heights, Queens. If not, Indian row in downtown will do.

6. Love going to South Street Seaport. Cuban restaurant called Cabana makes great food and great view of the harbor, ships, financial district.

7. Grimaldi is a brick oven pizza parlor right below Brooklyn bridge. It's the original Patsy's. You'll see photos of major politicos, celebs on the wall. After your pizza dinner, walk down a bit to the pier and go to the River Cafe and have dessert. It used to have the view of WTC, but now they're gone...

8. 1/3 of the tourists go to Harlem and do a walking tour. Gospel brunch is a popular item.

9. Brooklyn has underground transit museum that's interesting. I saw people come out of a man hole and thought there was some major train issue. Nope, it was the exit of the museum. BAM is a good museum where the latest artists' works are shown before they make it to MOMA.

10. If you are a foodie, you gotta try Brazilian BBQ, Korean table BBQ (make sure that you go to a place w/ wood charcoal not gas/electric grill) on 32nd st and broadway, and dim sum and bubble tea at Chinatown (hot pot, too).

11. Soho is great for art galleries. Tribecca for fine dining. Chelsea is residential and boring (shopping malls) - don't go there. Nolita is a small place. I recommend Greenwich Village - so much history there and so many famous writers come from there.

12. For a list of happening bars, try Sex and the City website. Any cocktail will start at $8 minimum. Try Mojito, one of my favorites. Hear that W hotel has a decent bar. Downtown (Tribecca, Soho, etc.) is best bet.

13. In the summer, they have 2 hour happy hour & dance cruise around Manhattan.

14. Cute Belgian restaurant in Soho (I think, not the one in Chelsea) is called Petit Abeille (sp? -little bee). Loved their sausages w/ mashed carrot/potato dish.

15. Alice's Tea Cup in Upper West Side (Amsterdam & Columbus, high 70's or low 80's st) Great scones w/ sweet fresh cream and jam. Cafe Lalo on 83rd and Amsterdam is good, too (featured in You Got Mail movie). Cafe Mozart is frequented by Juliard students who sometimes play there on a whim. Serendipity in Upper East Side (low 60's, I think) has the best frozen hot chocolate I've ever had. Pass other desserts there, not worth the money.

16. Carmines is family style restaurant -good for groups. Italian. Ceasar salad and strawberry short cake to die for. One in midtown, one in UWS.

17. Again, if you come here in the summer, check for Central Park's Shakespear at the Park. Bring wine, cheese and blanket.

18. One of my favorite restaurants in Chelsea is La Vie Trattoria on 7th Ave and 22nd st (I think). Venetian style Italian. I loooove their spaghetti w/ meatballs. Very different. Many gay couples go there, so you know they serve good food.

19. Go to Tiffany's upper floors. Tourists rarely go up there, so sales people are eager to let you try on extremely expensive and beautiful jewelry. Serve coffee. It's like a small museum.

20. If you want to shop for things to make your own clothes for some reason, check out garment district on high 30's and 7th or 8th avenue. Also fabric district downtown (Nolita, I think) for curtain/upholstery material. Wanna look at pretty flowers? Flower district in 20's and 7th ave (I think).

Rough suggestions and details. If you find anything interesting, google to confirm exact location.

NYCdreamer - Your post has some inaccuracies and one whoppingly wierd statement.

"BAM is a good museum where the latest artists' works are shown before they make it to MOMA."

BAM is the famous Brooklyn Academy of Music - an avant garde, music/dance performance space. Are you perhaps meaning the Brooklyn Museum of Art - which I've only heard referred to as "The Brooklyn Museum of Art".

"Soho is great for art galleries. Tribecca for fine dining. Chelsea is residential and boring (shopping malls) - don't go there. Nolita is a small place. I recommend Greenwich Village - so much history there and so many famous writers come from there."

Soho still has a few high-end art galleries, but for the last ten years, Chelsea has bloomed with many (at least 40-50) galleries that can no longer afford Soho rents.

Soho is a well known shopping district now -(more of a mall than Chelsea) certainly - with Prada, Banana Republic, Bloomingdales, Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn . . . .

"14. Cute Belgian restaurant in Soho (I think, not the one in Chelsea) is called Petit Abeille (sp? -little bee). Loved their sausages w/ mashed carrot/potato dish. "

Petite Abeille in Soho has closed.

"18. One of my favorite restaurants in Chelsea is La Vie Trattoria on 7th Ave and 22nd st (I think). Venetian style Italian. I loooove their spaghetti w/ meatballs. Very different. Many gay couples go there, so you know they serve good food."

The name of the restaurant is Le Zie 2000, on 7th Avenue and 20th St.

Gay couples know good food????? I am speechless.

1. theatre. your plans sound great. If you find you want to take the opportunity to see more shows, you might look at the TKTS website

http://www.tdf.org/tkts/#

and see what has been for sale recently at the half-price booths in TImes Square & South Street Seaport [note - same tickets both places, seaport line usually shorter].

From the current list I HIGHLY recommend Hairspray, All Shook Up (unless you hate Elvis' music), and Shockheaded Peter. I also liked HurlyBurly and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels has some good word of mouth.

The Tennessee Williams plays unfortunately don't have good press.

2. Chelsea - no architectural interest to speak of, but the actual major art galleries are all there now, in far west Chelsea. Can combine with a visit to the Meatpacking District, which is very chic shopping (or looking). In that district, eat at Florent, an eccentric 24-hour French bistro.

Wow! Thanks for all the new posts - all tips are much appreciated - only a month to go before I'm there - I can't wait!! :-)

PlumeriaTattoo: I booked my Spamalot ticket on Telecharge's website - I suspect I just got lucky as that was the only performance that had any availability for the dates I searched on...the seat is up in the top balcony section though (front row at least) but I'm just so excited to be going at all! :-D

Lucy - I saw Spamalot in March and loved it. I am not a Monty Python fan but it didn't matter. Laughed the whole time. Hank Aziria is leaving the show for a while during the summer because of a previous commitment but if you are going the beginning of June, you might get to see him. He is amazing with all the parts he plays and doing all the different voices.

I would also recommend All Shook Up. We got discount tickets for it, wasn't all that excited about it but enjoyed it alot. All the great Elvis songs and some outstanding singing by the cast members. I would also recommend Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Another show that I laughed the whole time. Don't know about discount seats for this show, though. It's getting more buzz as it gets different types of nominations leading up to the Tony Awards.

Petite Abeille is still open. 4 different locations in Manhattan. mp, lighten up! Don't you ever watch Queer Eyes for the Straight Guy?