Couple of related questions. Is Coney Island open in May? Have always wanted to ride the carousel, visit the C I museum and have a Nathan's dog. And we wanted to walk the Brooklyn Bridge back to Manhattan - right before dusk.
What about transportation between CI and the Brooklyn Bridge? And is there a dinner spot (casual clothes) that might look *over* the bridge when we get back?

Coney Island should be open in May. Check out its website for more info.
http://www.coneyisland.com/tourism.shtml

Coney Island is a long way out in Brooklyn it may take 40-50 minutes on the weekends to get to the BKLYN bridge from CI. Sorry, can't remember what subway station is closest to the bridge.

If you walk over the bridge from BKLYN to Manhattan you can go to South Street Seaport for night. Several restaurants (ex. Uno's Pizza) with river/bridge views.

But, if you walk from Manhattan over to BKLN you can go to a great brick oven pizza place (Lombardi's?) right under the bridge. May have a long line but, worth the wait - plus you have a city view while in line. Also, there is a little pier at the water's edge in BKLN, just down the street from the pizza place, which makes for great photo opps with the bridge/city in the background. Many wedding photos are taken there on the weekends.

Sad news for you is that the merry-go-round is no longer operating at Coney Island. Many of the rides and games will be open in May on the weekend, especially if the weather is very warm.

A good reason for going out there is also the Aquarium which is right on the boardwalk as well.

Take the A train directly to Coney Island, it actually travels over the bridge into Brooklyn so you will get great views of the city.

Have a fun time while you are here.

A slight correction - the A train does not go to Coney Island....it's the D train. You can take the F train back - that stops at York Street which is near the Brooklyn Bridge and Dumbo....

We went to NYC last May and did almost exactly what you are planning. When we went at the beginning of May, the games and carnival rides were only open on weekends. If I remember correctly, the games/rides are open daily after Memorial Day, but you can check the website to make sure.

Anyway, we started out early on a Sunday morning. We went to the NY Aquarium, walked along the boardwalk, ate at Nathan's, and rode the famous roller coaster. I definitely recommend going to the aquarium - I found that it makes the long subway ride out to CI more worth it.

We took the F train to York St. and walked down to Grimaldi's, which is the pizza place the previous poster recommended. The line was a bit long, but it was worth it! My only regret was that we didn't save room for ice cream from the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory! It is right down the street at the pier that was mentioned above. We did walk down to the pier and took some of the best pictures of the city skyline and bridge from there.

After we ate, we walked across the bridge and down to the South Street Seaport. We went to Bodies... The Exhibition at the South Street Seaport Exhibition Centre. It was really interesting!

We had a great time, and I'm sure you will, too!

thibs 27,
wow, this is exactly what we are planning to do! But I can't do the roller coaster - stomach is a sissy. Since the carousel is closed (bummer) maybe we can do the Ferris Wheel without my embarrasing my dh.

The aquarium is a great idea. (I had missed that) And I'll check out what's on at the Seasport.

About Grimaldi's? Is it thick or thin crust? (We love thin crust & hard to find where we live)

You made it easy - I'll just cut and paste and plug that in for one of the weekend days.

The Aquarium is nice, but not world class.

Totonno's on Neptune street near Coney Island generally gets the "Best Pizza in NYC" awards. Thin crust. Lots of atmosphere.

For info on the various shows/activities at the aquarium - so you'll be there at the right time - go to the website of the Wildlife Conservation Society - they own it as well as all the zoos in NYC.

Grimaldi's is thin crust.

I think "Bodies" is still at the exhibition center. I checked the website recently to see if it was still there. We are going back to NYC in June with my husband's parents, sister, and brother-in-law. I gave them a list of where we went/what we did last time, so I checked to see if it was still there before I put it on the list.

Even if you decide not to go to "Bodies" there are other things to do at the Seaport. I think there is a museum and a shopping mall, but we didn't have time to go to either. I don't know about the hours, but I'm sure you can find the information on this website. When we went to NYC last year, "Bodies" was open from 10 am - 10 pm on Sunday.

I didn't mention this earlier, but on that same day, we also went to the Empire State Building. We went there first thing shortly after it opened at 8 am. We had purchased our tickets in advance on the website and were able to get up to the top very quickly. I don't even remember waiting in line -- if we did, it was a very short, quick-moving line. I guess early Sunday morning is not a very busy time or at least it wasn't that day.

Anyway, I just wanted to mention that because you do have time to do something else that morning before you head to CI. When we went, the aquarium didn't open until 10 am, and the amusement parks, etc. didn't open until noon. If I remember right, the subway ride from midtown to CI was about an hour.

Get the fries at Nathan's and the pizza at Totonno's. Pack it all in!

On the Brooklyn side of the bridge there is a restaurant called Pete's Downtown. You'll be ok in casual clothes and you have a view of the bridge and the skyline from your table. There's no view from inside Grimaldi's. You can still walk down to the water from there, though and it's breathtaking.

Jeffrey,
Thanks for Totonno's. I read up on it and it sounds great.
Dohlice,
I will! I can! I may have to have a dawg - or half a dog too. And certainly a beer somewhere? Probably not at Nathan's. Maybe Totonno's?
And Pete's Downtown sounds just perfect for us.
Thips27,
Thanks for THAT tip - I was planning to go early in the day - we can sleep in now!
nytraveler,
haven't checked that website yet, but I will! Thanks.

Wll start a new thread with questions about Battery Ellis Island and LES.

I visited Coney Island last September - it was very quiet since it was the weekend after Labor Day and there was hardly anyone on the beach but we had a great time. We grabbed hot dogs and kernel corn! - I've never seen that before at a hot dog place - it was really buttery and good.

After checking out the midway and beach we walked along the boardwalk and into Brighton Beach. We really enjoyed the neighborhood feel and the interesting shops there.

We took the train back to Park Slope area (lovely area) and shopped and had dinner there before heading back into Manhattan. I'd say you should have no problem having time to do as you've planned - it will be a tiring day but should be fun.

Grimaldi's serves a great thin crust pizza. I'm not a fan of commercial pizza joints but love Grimaldi's pizza. It has a great atmosphere as well. If you do go there, after dinner just walk across the street towards the water (under the bridge) and grab some ice cream from the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory as another poster recommended - yum. It's super creamy.

Have fun and definately wear comfy shoes.

There is a wonderful carousel in Central Park if you need a carousel fix.

There is a bar called Peggy O'Neil's. Cold beer!

New question?

I have mapped the whole thing with "HopStop" (thanks Laurie) and it is working fine. Except after walking the Brooklyn Bridge - I can't figure out where to "get off" to catch a ride back to the Affinia Dumont.

And thanks to Janette - I really enjoyed reading about your day in Brooklyn - and to Dohlice for the bar! And to ellenem for the Carousel idea. I was sorry to hear that the one in Coney had closed. I will check out the one in Central Park though.

As goofy as this sounds, I'm trying to do some of the things that are referred to in songs - as I'm a music lover/teacher. EG: "I'll Take Manhattan"(Mott St in July - and the Carousel bit in "Thanks for the Memory". Of course that means a walk down Delancey. And my respects to the departed "Gang at 42nd st" - and BOTH "New York, New York" .....ad infinitum... (ad nauseum!)

janette,
I do hope you read this! I just read your wonderful 10 day trip report and enjoyed it immensely. You did many of the things that we are interested in doing!

Did you walk the bridge back to Manhattan? I am trying to figure out where you "get off" and catch transportation back? I'm thinking we will go on to Greenwich Village to meet a friend that evening.
(shhh! I wanted to know where you went for your private fitting? I want to do that also)

I'm so jealous of your 10 days too!

The closest train to the Brooklyn end of the bridge is the High St station. There you can catch the A or C train back to Manhattan. This train stops at West 4th St in the West Village.

Thanks Brahmama - I'm glad you enjoyed my report - it was so long I don't think many read it.

I've walked the Brooklyn Bridge many times and loved it every time. The day we did go to Coney Island and Park Slope we had dinner in Park Slope, did some shopping and since we'd been walking most of the day, ended up taking the train back into Manhattan.

If you do have the energy definately walk the Bridge back over - takes about a half hour. You'll come off the bridge right across from City Hall - then you can take the subway up to the Village.

I had my bra fitting at Intimacy, 1252 Madison Ave (corner of 90th and Madison). I made an appt through their website (www.myintimacy.com).

Did I hear you say you could "sleep in" one day? NO, no, no - do not waste precious NY time sleeping in. LOL I'm brutal when I'm in NY - whoever is with me knows that there are no wasted moments. My crazy itineraries allow for about 7 hours of shut eye and then it's go, go, go.

Have a fabulous time - is it your first time in New York or is this the first time you're able to head off the beaten track?

I have my 10-day itinerary in pdf format - if you're interested I could send it to your e-mail address. I've listed info about some of the places we visited, transportation, etc. in it.

ellenem,
just what I needed to know. I guess I need to get a really good close-up map now.

janette,
oh, I'm so glad you found my post! Thanks for the website for Intimacy too.

I've been to NY bunches of times, but mostly years (and I do mean years ago) I was living in NJ and would hop the train for a matinee. I even would drive in alone - never a worry. And I've spent the odd night there in later years, before a cruise or a flight. But never have my dh and I had a week trip to do all the things that I've dreamed about. And time to just wander and watch!

And I would simply love to have your 10 day itinerary emailed to me! I love detail - more for me to obsess over!