kathy

Since you are taking kids, I absolutely say try to stay near Times Square. Last year I lived in the neighborhood, and there is always so much going on. (My favorite being a little group of kids who break dance). Definetely go to the TKTS booth in Times Square for show tickets. Also, ESPN Zone is a blast (even for my husband and I) as their is an arcade upstairs. Don't forget the WWF rest. if you're in to that. When you get to the City, stop at any bookstore and buy a copy of "NYC for Free." It has a chapter on things for kids, as well as lists festival/seasonal events. Don't really worry about what you wear--tourists seem to stick out anyways (but there are hundreds of them, so don't worry.) But, if you could do me a favor and stick to a few NY rules: 1. Please don't have you & your family take up the entire sidewalk when you walk, because most of us will be bustling by you to get to work. 2.When you ride an escaltor and are just stanind there, stay to the right so that the rest of us can walk down on the left. Thanks, just some of my pet peeves! Have a great trip!

flora

We took our kids last June to NY and they loved it. Used TKTS as others have mentioned. Stayed on upper W. Side in the Hotel Olcott. A little shabby around the edges, but clean and we had a large 2 bedrooom suite w kitchen; the price was right and location was terrific--2 doors down from the Dakota Apts., 1/2 block from Central Park, and near 2 subway stops. There's a very reasonable BBQ restaurant adjacent; lots of little cafes and restaurants; and walking distance to ZAbar's. Best activity was walking around west side & ending up at Lincoln Center one evening, where they had an outdoor swing band & dancing--great NY moment.
PS forget the black clothes, it's too hot in June! Dress light!

Rhett

Thanks for all the advice. Now to put it to use. My wife will want to a New York look other than black.

Susan

We'll be taking our 9, 10, and 13 year-old kids to New York City in April. The kids love jazz, and want to go to jazz clubs. Are any jazz clubs kid-friendly? Will I even be able to get them in the door?

Owen O'Neill

I'd suspect that those which offer only cocktails are not but those offering seating and dinner are more likely to be kid-friendly. I suggest calling arounf but as I recall, Birdland is likely to be a good bet. There are also a few nonoalcoholl serving jazz venues that are good. I've been to the Internet Cafe on east 3rd Street near 3rd Avenue and it fits the bill. They have 8 or 10 rental PC's in long dark room with comfy chairs and coffee/desserts available. Brick walls and a long narrow room create a very cool ambiance that you're all sure to appreciate - live jazz for or five nights per week and it's usually quite good. The BB King Blues Club on occasion has jazz artists or folks whose music might be of interest. It's big and plush but has great lines of sight to the stage and dining. The food is very pricey as are tickets (relative to the Internet Cafe which is free) but BB King's is a great venue.

Susan

Thank you very much for the tips, Owen. My kids thank you too. They want to try all three of your suggestions. BB King's sounds great, and the kids aren't at all concerned about the price. It is the parents who have to pay, right?

Owen O'Neill

Oh yes... I know only too well how the parents pay! There's a $10 minimum per person per table for food and/or drink. If you have a group it can be distributed however you like. here is the option of standing and having no minimum but it's worth sitting. I've been advised that the food is actually quite good but it's very pricey. I usually either have 3 soft drinks (about $3.50 each) or I have one dessert item and a coffee (totals about $11). There are no reserved seats so get there a decent length of time before the show (1 hour)if you want to sit at the better tables (meaning closer to the stage and to the center of the room. I should mention that regardless of where you sit there is a decent line of sight to the stage.

ll

susan,

there is a small jazz club in the west village called, "Smalls" that you might want to check out.

this is from their website:
http://www.smallsjazz.com

"4 hrs of jazz on weekdays, 13 hrs of jazz on friday, saturday and sunday. Cover just $10. Stay as long as you like. Self-Serve free non-alcoholic beverages at the bar or bring your own."

it has a very old school feeling - very small and intimate. there used to be free shows on saturday nights 7pm-10pm. you can call their number to see if the free shows are still going on.

fen

Just got back from New york. we stayed in the howard johnson hotel in 8th street and it was just great. the room was big ans spacious and the amenities were great. theree was a table for us to write any business things we want there was a microwave incase we need a hot cup of tea tetc. and it was only 118 after taxes. great value. it was waliking distance to the lincoln centre where we went for the opera and to the broadway where we went to see the phantom of the opera.
just great.
call their tooll free line to book.
i would suggest getting tickets through the internet as you get good seats. the queue was long and the seats were poor.
hope this helps
bye
fen

x

ttt for didp

Sue

Don't worry about the black clothing. We went to NY in April for the first time. Wore the same clothes we would at home, jean shorts, tshirts, tennis shoes. We had people coming to us asking for directions so we must not have looked too much like tourists.

Go into Central Park and go to Belvedere Castle. I absolutely loved Central Park and only saw about 1/4 of it.