Experienced NYC traveler or local?
 

We are coming back to NYC for the 2nd time in October. Two well traveled 14 yr old girls and their mothers for a girls trip. Looking for tips for the hidden gems we missed the first time. We are staying right in Times Square at the Casablanca. What we did last year, and don't plan to repeat are: Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, Empire State Building, Grand Central Station, MOMA and Natural History Museum. We already have tix to Wicked and The Wedding Singer. We need tips for good off (or on) broadway shows, inexpensive (but fun) shopping (no $150 jeans!), good restaurants (little neighborhood cafes are our favorite), best museums, good walking routes to see different parts of the city, etc. We have 5 days. The only thing we plan to repeat from last year is lunch at Tavern on the Green, an afternoon in Central Park, and shopping at Trash & Vaudeville. Any tips appreciated. Last year all your tips were a huge help. Thank you!!

Museums not to miss:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Frick

Shopping:

Syms
Century 21
H&M
Mexx
Daffy's

The girls (and probably moms, too) would get a kick out of Pearl River and Kate's Paperie in SoHo, with two H&Ms nearby (if it hasn't come to a mall near you yet).

For 14 year olds they would love Conway right next to Macy's lots of kid clothing for great prices, knock offs of designer clothing, and quite honestly I get alot of casual clothing, tees, jeans, there. You will like it because decent quality tees are $3.00-$5.00 and jeans will be $10-$20.

I also second the recommendation of Daffy's designer clothing at great prices and there is one next to Macy's at Herald Center.

There is also an Old Navy on 34th between Broadway and 7th Ave.

Union Square is another good suggestion for shopping there is a Forever 21, Strawberry, DSW and Filene's.

Since you are going to be here in October and the colours will be coming out, take a trip to the Met Museum and go to the roof garden to see the colours of the park.

Also you might enjoy taking a trip way uptown to Ft. Tryon Park, and walk through to see the Cloisters. Take the A train to 191st ST, and walk through the park. YOu will walk by the cafe (owned by Bett Midler), I think it's still called the Unicorn CAfe and stop for lunch or early dinner there. The views of the Hudson River from the Cloisters are breathtaking.

Have a great time while you are here.

When we wre in NY, 2 years ago, with our "teen's" daughters(12 and 16), they like :
- Jackson hole, for the burgers,
-the grill at gramercy tavern and Ocean grill for more "sophisticated" meal;

-Hairspray+++ for musicals;

-the parlor entertainment-jazz in an appartment in Harlem(website : parlorentertainment.com);

-walking/shopping in Upper West Side from Broadway to Columbus via Amstardam,
from the 61st to the 81st, 85st streets

-NIketown, some Levis store, NBA store,...

-Ellis Island(much more than Statue of L, that we've made 2 years before) and
the museum of indians;

-the tenement museum for a complement/Ellis Island with the end of the day touring Soho(for the fun because for the prices it's...);

-and they were impressed by Grand Central and the whole 42nd street-art deco buildings...

-finally, the museum of the city of NY and El Barrio..
Erik.

I forgot another musical, where they had a lot of fun, even the music is more of our "period" : Mamma Mia....
Erik.

Ellis Island Immigrartion Museum

For the Met go to the web site breoferhand and pick out 2/3 departments you want to see (Costume Insititute? Impressionists?) since to do everyting would take days. Also check to see when they are giving gallery talks - which can make the experience much more interesting

For a good neighborhood to explore in the evening do the upper west side. Tons of great places to eat - of every ethnicity, lots of interesting small shops as well as a Filene's Basement, an enormous Tower Record and B&L - and if the weather is nice lots of sidewalk cafes for desset or a drink and resting of feet.

A ride on the Staten Island ferry, a walk on the Brooklyn Bridge, the views are great on a clear day.

A restaurant suggestion: Amy Ruth's in Harlem. The best southern cooking in the city, reasonably priced, off the beaten path, and you'll get to see a real NY neighborhood (although tourists ARE increasingly visiting Harlem). Try a weeknight or weekday, weekends are extremely crowded.

John

loangalsal, what a fun mother-daughter trip!

If you're looking for additional shows, Hairspray is perfect for that age group! Also, I would recommend the off-Broadway show Altar Boyz. Both shows have discount tickets available through the fall Season of Savings program, www.seasonofsavings.com

The new observation deck at Rockefeller Center is supposed to be fantastic, and has views of the park.

If you find yourself on the East Side, check out S'Mac, a new restaurant featuring "gourmet" macaroni and cheese! I just ate there on Saturday, and it's delicious, not to mention unique. http://www.smacnyc.com

Your girls might also enjoy the Big Onion walking tours, which are a great way to explore the city on foot. There are many different choices, so you can pick based on an area you'd like to visit: http://www.bigonion.com

The SoHo suggestion is a great one- in addition to the stores mentioned, there are many others to wander into, and also plenty of street vendors selling handbags, jewelry, etc.

Also, if they have any favorite movies set in New York, it's always fun to go by the filming locations. A Google search will generally help you find what you're looking for, or you can try one of the film location tours.

Have a great time!

Thanks for all the great tips so far! Noticing another thread RE: Tavern on the Green, it looks like we got lucky last year...we had great food and service! We skipped the Boathouse last year, is that a better bet? Thanks!

The Boat House, imo, is nicer and better (although not outstanding) food.
http://www.thecentralparkboathouse.c...tions/home.htm

As for shows...Blue Man Group and if it is still around -- Stomp. Teens should have a great time at both, as well as moms.
Hope this helps...
Debi

Another fun and unique restaurant is Peanut Butter & Co, in the West Village. The restaurant serves many different varities of peanut butter sandwiches, some basic and some more "inventive." This could be a great stop for lunch, perhaps before or after our shopping day!
http://www.ilovepeanutbutter.com/

Little Italy, Lower East Side, including the Tenement Museum, and Chinatown.

For inexpensive shopping, hit at least one Filene's Basement. Great deals!

If you want to save on food, go to Zabar's and pick up some yummy chocolate croissants, knishes, etc. for about $1.50 each. They also have good sandwiches, sushi, etc.