4 days in NYC, Christmas
 

I'm mostly stopping in NYC because I want to see the Rockettes perform and I want to go to the train show at the botanical gardens. Also, I can't turn down a chance to go to the Met. I arrive on Christmas Day and depart on Dec. 30. Is this a good time? The hostel is expensive and I'm a bit tempted to skip NYC in favor of time elsewhere if you recommend against visiting. I was in NYC in mid January last year, and I'm assuming the time between Christmas and NYE is much busier than that. But I'm failing to think of anything that appeals.

Would appreciate: recommendations on current hot exhibits or special holiday events or displays.

Recommendations for Christmas Day? I fly in around 9am and I can't check in until 3, so I'd like to find something to do if possible. Christmas concerts? Special Christmas lunch? Any open attractions?

What are your favorite museums? I'm definitely planning to get to the Cloisters this time. I loved the Smithsonian design museum. Any interactive museums similar to that? Any small museums you'd recommend? Favorite neighborhoods? Is Brooklyn worth a day or two?

Food recs! especially budget friendly ones. I enjoy ethnic food, I like delis, in fact, pretty much anything except fast food.

Finally: transportation. What transportation do you recommend for Christmas Day? I'm traveling light, landing at JFK, staying at HI NYC on Amsterdam. I seem to remember taking the subway from the airport, and a bus to the airport, but I'm not sure which airport I used last time.

Thanks!

Prime tourist season. Be sure to get your tickets for whatever you want to see as soon as they are available. Do not stay in midtown, try to stay in a residential area and eat away from midtown.

On Christmas Day, eat in Chinatown, Indian restaurants, or mideastern. There are a number of mideastern restaurants on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. I assure you, you have not seen or tasted some of the dishes at the Yemeni Cafe.


The Jewish Delis will be busy on Christmas.

You can take the Airtrain from JFK to Jamaica where you can take either the "E" train or the LIRR.

I'm guessing HI would count as midtown? Would Brooklyn or Queens be better? I'm fairly sure that's where the other hostels are. It was either hostels or the Jane, price wise, and the Jane has enough poor reviews to worry me.

I had figured that about tickets, and had planned to buy them as soon as I'm sure I'll be in NYC. Not sure what I want to see yet other than Rockettes. Thanks very much for the tip about Atlantic Ave, I love ME food, and the Yemen Cafe looks great!

The HI is at Amsterdam Avenue and 104th Street--definitely not midtown. This location is the Upper West Side, a residential neighborhood.

To reach this location from JFK by subway, you will probably have to make two connections--AirTrain to subway/LIRR to different subway. There are other options, though these directions show outdated prices:

http://hinewyork.org/contactus/directions/

Ah. I was confused- I was pretty sure it wasn't midtown, although I couldn't remember if it was upper east or west. I just wasn't sure where Imdonehere was getting midtown, as I mention Hi in my first post.

Maybe the Jane has gone downhill? Or the reviewers don't like sharing the bathrooms? I have stayed there several times without complaint.

One thing NY does well is museums, although they aren't free, alas. Several posts on New York, including a number of museums, on my blog:

https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com/?s=New+york

Sorry Marvel, sometimes I do gloss over the details of a posting.

If you are up in that neck of the woods check to see what is going on at St. John The Divine.

http://www.stjohndivine.org/

I know they have choral groups performing that time of year.

Also a walk by of Columbia's Low Plaza is worthwhile.

Museums: The Frick Collection, Tenement Museum (arrange tour in advance), Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art.
Ethnic restaurants are plentiful on 9th Ave in the 40s & 50s.
We go to NYC primarily for theater, so tend to eat in that area. Places we've liked: El Centro, Totto Ramen, Pongsri Thai, Basera, China Green.
In Lower Manhattan, Mooncake Foods.

<< Any open attractions?>>

Yeah, all of 5th Avenue around Rockefeller Center and to the park will be open on Xmas day and flooded with tourists.

<< I arrive on Christmas Day and depart on Dec. 30. Is this a good time? >>

Xmas is the best time to visit NYC ... and a reason why so many do.

>>One thing NY does well is museums, although they aren't free, alas.<<

But a lot are as expensive as you wish to make them. There is no need to pay the "suggested donation" at any museum that has such an option and does not have a specific entry fee. Museums like the Met or the Natural History Museum have tremendous endowments. Just like Ivy League colleges that don't need to charge tuition, the Met and its $3.8 billion in assets (compared to less than $800M in liabilities) doesn't need to charge admission.

For the train show at the Botanical Garden, Id recommend doing one early in the morning due to the size of the crowds throughout the day. We got there later than we wanted and it was very busy. That being said, it was great to see and a lot of fun.

Since you are going to take in the train show at the Botanical Gardens, be sure to also catch the model train layout in the NY Transit Museum Store and Gallery in Grand Central Terminal (located to the left of the Station Masters office).

If you are going to use public transportation to get from JFK to the HI NYC (Amsterdam Av and 104th St), take the AirTrain at JFK to the Howard Beach Station. There take a Manhattan-bound A train to 59th St-Columbus Circle. At 59th St go across the platform for the C train to 103rd St (on Central Park West). When you exit at 103rd St walk up to 104th St (on Central Park West) and make a left on 104th St and walk 3 blocks to Amsterdam Av (Manhattan Av, Columbus Av, Amsterdam Av).

Taking the E or the LIRR (Jamaica Station)from JFK just adds a lot of unnecessary transfers (and the LIRR costs more).

Thursday- oh, yes, NYC does museums very well! I couldn't tell if the Jane had gone down hill or not, that's why I was nervous. There's the usual nonsense from people about the bathrooms. But then there are complaints about service and a few about bedbugs. I know bedbugs can be anywhere, but multiple recent complaints don't bode well. I'm still debating- I think it looks cool. And to be fair, a lot of the recent reviews are positive. There are a few bad complains that worry me, and then the rest of the complaints are general American complaints- you know of the "the room was so small I'm sure I could die of dysentery" kind. Anyone here stayed there recently?

Abram- thanks! Frick and tenement were on my list. Any suggestions for a tour at the tenement? I hadn't heard of the Rubin, sounds interesting.

Thanks, Imdonehere, hadn't thought to check John the divine!
Thanks, bigruss, I was aware of the suggested entry fee. I really enjoy that- it allows me to roam in and out of the Met at will!

Thanks, nyc guy, much appreciated. Very excited about the trains!

Has anyone been to the train show bar car night? It's 18+ - I wondered if it might be less busy. I could go early, but I'd rather stay out late.

Change of plans. I have a reservation at the Jane now- got a lot of positive feedback on TripAdvisor forum, and I had wanted to stay there. And a private room after a long flight sounds heavenly.

Any food recs for that neighborhood?

I used to eat breakfast at the Bus Stop Cafe nearby (the cafe in the hotel is expensive).

Greenwich Village is walking distance but my recommendations would be way out of date.

You need to take your own coat hangers for the Jane, but they used to provide bathrobes and slippers. There are a couple of rooms on each floor that are smaller than the others, at the beginning of the corridors. If it looks like a corner has been cut off go down and ask to be moved.

There is a little divy diner UNDER the Highline called Hector's. Across the street is Bubby's. On 14th is Cappelia.

Santini is good with onerous reservation cancellation policy.

Mary's Fish Camp is terrific, no reservations, and usually crowded. Spotted Pig great burgers and fries also crowded

A little more upscale Red Cat and Cookshop.

Hi Marvelousmouse, you should definitely visit during the period between Xmas and New Year's. The city is very festive then and very busy, albeit more with tourists than locals since many people take off that week. Imdonehere is completely right that it is prime tourist season.

For dinner on Christmas, you should definitely make like most New Yorkers and have Chinese food. Xi'an famous noodles is a good, informal, quick option, and for only slightly more formal check out Han Dynasty in the East Village.

Given how busy Xmas week is, the advice to book museums in advance is very smart. Also getting to museums right when they open may be effective too. Similarly, visiting Rockefeller Center early in the morning may cut down on crowds.

Red Cat and Cookshop are great suggestions. Also make sure to check out nearby Gansevoort Market, which has great options and is a taste of a modern NYC food hall.

Have so much fun! :)

Bostonblondie- thanks so much, especially for the Gansevoort rec. Didn't know it existed and I love food halls and markets. I had been planning to go to Philadelphia but this trip did not shape up that way; London lured me instead. I'm so excited about NY at Christmas:)

Which museums should definitely be booked in advance? I always intend to go at opening but I like sleeping in a little too much in the winter.

Your welcome Marvel. Glad I could help.

Whoops, sorry, meant to thank you too, Imdonehere! Very much appreciate the food recs, especially for Mary's and spotted pig. Just what I was looking for. The pictures of the SP's fries already have me salivating!:)

Any great coffee shops within walking distance? I think the place I liked last time will be a bit too far of a hike for my morning espresso.

https://mcnultys.com/

McNulty's one of the great coffee/tea shops in the City. It is probably too far to go in the morning, but it would nice gift to yourself to bring home.

I live on the very opposite part of town and do not know the nearby coffee shops. If there are more six millennials in the neighborhood, there will be 12 coffee chops.

The most elegant Christmas trees are at the Met Museum and Natural history.

https://www.tripsavvy.com/the-best-c...in-nyc-1612954