Going to New York City for the 1st time in Dec. A group of 7 staying at the Doubletree guest suites, trying to decide what play to see any suggestions and should we get tickets now. Also, for the full experience want to go to Tavern of the Green. Have tickets for rockettes any other ideas, what the opinion of doubletree.

Call ahead and it's pretty easy to get tickets to the Conan O'Brian show. Did it year or so ago and had really good time!

Fran,
I'd get tickets to plays now, being that there are 7 needed. You will be able to get same day discounted tickets from TKTS in Times Square, but not always available for the show or day you want. Jane Eyre, The Musical and Suessical, The Musical (Dr. Seuss)will be in previews or just opened.

If you go after the first week (or few days) in Dec, the Rockefeller Center Tree will be decorated.

A good restaraunt (for a group of 7) for theatre night would be Carmines. In the middle of the theatre district (there is a second one on Broadway, but not in the Theatre district), serves Italian food "home style" (huge portions served to all on huge plates). Make reservations.

dr s got lousy early reports.
Asking what play is tough: musicals are
miss saigon, cabaret, kiss me kate, annie get your gun; serious drama if you are hi-brow, Copenhagen. Off bwy: stomp, blue man tubes (VERY loud but fun).

Hey Dr S,
What have you heard about Seussical? I have the Times A&L section in front of me and previews don't start until Oct 15th. Please do share what you know. {have you heard anything about Jane Eyre, too. Who is in the cast of both?)

Also agree with Blue Man Tubes as a +++

To answer the original poster first, it's tough to recommend a show until one knows what type of show the seven of you want to see. And, there are lots of choices. If it's a musical, you're probably "safest" with "Kiss Me Kate." "Cabaret" and "Chicago" are also at the top of the list. If the group likes dancing, then either "Contact" or "Fosse" are musts. And, of course, if you haven't seen any of the long-run shows (i.e., "Phantom of the Opera," "Les Miserables" or "Miss Saigon"), any one of those might be a good choice. IMO, you couldn't got wrong with any of these eight!
As for comments and questions from the other posters, depending on what part of December you're coming, I wouldn't chance it for tickets at TKTS (the half-price booth), as there's good chance that most of the above will not be there.
In answer to the question about "Seussical," the advance word is not good! The musical version of "The Full Monty," which starts previews on September 28, has gotten better comments.

I heard that "Seussical" is being totally revamped in Boston before heading for NYC. It received terrible reviews, thus the remake.

If you can get tickets to The Lion King, you will love it. I saw it twice (once in NYC, once in Toronto.) If the Scarlet Pimpernel is still showing, I enjoyed that. Andrew Lloyd Webber shows are always a safe bet. I saw the Rockette's show a few years ago. All I can say is may God give you a speedy performance. Seriously, I was the only person among the six of us who didn't like it. Something about 100 high-kickin' Virgin Mary's that just doesn't do it for me. But it's an extravaganza. We went to Tavern on the Green and found the food to be average but the experience to be awesome. Bring your credit card. Be sure to hit a traditional Manhatten deli for a real New York treat. We also saw a performance of Orpheus which I enjoyed immensely. Tickets to concerts at Carnegie Hall are often easy to get. If you're a Letterman fan, you can get a good feel for his neighborhood by popping into some of the shops and restaurants in the area. Kind of a fun thing to do. And the famous Soup Nazi of Seinfeld fame is set up just of Broadway. I always recommend starting a trip to a new place with a half-day trolley or bus tour, just to help you get your bearings and to see a lot of places early on. We feel compelled, when we travel, to hit the high spots--even if it's just a drive by of the Empire State Building or the Statue of Liberty. These tours let you get some of the marginal attractions--whatever they might be in your head--out of the way. You'll love NYC. It's clean, relatively safe, and the energy is amazing. Wish I was going. In fact, most of December is still open for me so...

My husband took my daughter and a friend of hers to New York in the summer and stayed at the Doubletree. He thought it was great.

He and I were there last weekend and stayed elsewhere because the Doubletree was booked. I saw where it is, though, and the location's great. Be sure to request a room on a high floor, so you don't get street noise from Times Square.

I recommend a restaurant called Nocello, which is on W. 55th between Broadway & 8th. We had a wonderful dinner there--one glass of wine, entree, and coffee, plus tip, came to about $70 for the two of us. We just walked in at 6 or 6:15 and got seats. There was a party of 8 sitting next to us, and they seemed to be having a great time.

Go to www.zagat.com and search for that, or for other restaurants in Midtown West. We also ate at Joe Allen on "restaurant row" on 46th. We loved that, too. I didn't see any large parties, but that doesn't mean they can't be accommodated there.

Interestingly, we'd stopped by there at about 4:30 and were told they were completely booked till 9 p.m. But then we decided to just drop in at about 6:15 and were seated promptly. They must save some tables for walk-ins.

If you like art, try a visit to the Frick. It's got a great collection and is much more doable than the Metropolitan. You can easily see the entire collection in an hour.

Once again, depending on the type of show you like, it is hard to recommend one. There are so many great shows in NYC. As far as musicals go...I love The Lion King, Les Miserables, and Chicago. Cabaret was good, but VERY RAUNCHY. To call this show risque is an understatement. Be sure to do the uptown Grey Line tour (they have a downtown also, but I prefer the uptown). You definitely get the "full experience". You can get off and on the bus for 2 days so you can spend any amount of time you like at each attraction or stop.

Fran, early December the Holiday season is in full bloom so you can't find a time of the year better to be here, ok so it's a bit cold, but the warmth of the city lights and the warmth of the people you meet will make up for it.

Someone mentioned Carnegie Hall, and early December is when all the Holiday concerts are happening. I sing with one of the big choruses here and there are going to be some great concerts to hear. Try looking at the Carnegie Hall website for the schedule. There should be a couple of Messiahs and at Lincoln they do several "sing-in Messiahs", which is alot of fun.

Also the Nutcracker Suite at Lincoln Center is a favorite of the season, and a must see is A Christmas Carol, which is a new tradition here, and gets some big name stars in leading rolls. It's a Broadway show but plays at the Paramount which is at Madison Square Garden complex.

I agree with everyone else that the Doubletree is very nice and in a great location.

Since there are 7 of you, you might try a dinner at America, the place is huge and should be able to accomodate you witout a problem. The food is good and large portions, and the menu is the biggest I have ever seen, 2 suggestions there are the shrimp ravioli, and save room for the Death by Chocolate.

Tavern on the Green is ok a bit pricey, but a winter wonderland and on some evenings have music, on Christmas Eve they have singers wander through the restaurant singing Christmas carols. I would recommend going there for a drink to see the lights.

Oh and you might want to take a carriage ride trough central park in the evening with the lights comming up it is really pretty.

Gee we should all get together and write a book on "New York at Christmas".

Hope you have a great time while you are here.

tweedy

yes