We will be visiting New York in November and staying at Fitzpatricks Grand Central. Would love to hear recommendations for eating and drinking - fun places with good atmosphere. Suggestions for the 3 days will help our itinerary. Also for Broadway shows, is it worth waiting and going to TKTS? How much savings is there?

Thanks for suggestions,

Savings at TKTS is 25-50% off face value (plus a small service charge). I definitely think it is worth it, especially when orchestra seats are almost $100 each as they are now. I have always had great luck at TKTS and gotten great seats. However, it depends on what you want to see. If you want tickets to one of the newer, really popular shows, they may not have them at TKTS. But for shows that have been around awhile, or for some of the less popular ones, it is definitely worth checking TKTS. Also, make sure you bring lots of CASH to the TKTS booth -- that's all they accept.

Gonzalez y Gonzalez is a lot of fun. Last time I was there they had a live band and everyone (except for me with 2 left feet) was salsa dancing. Can't remember the address.

Also try Connelly's, and check to see if the house band, Black 47, will be there. It will be one of the best night's you've ever spent listening to live music.

Hello Grace,

I am staying at the Fitzpatrick in December and would love a return reply when you get back to let me know how you liked it.

Try McSorley's Ale House...Good beer..Pot bellied stove and sawdust floors. Eclectic bunch of people, too.
hic!

McSorley's can be tough to get into on a weekend. Tried to go on a Friday night about 9 p.m., and there was a line. Anyone who waits in line to get into a bar must be a complete moron. However, I hope to try it sometime when it's not so crowded.

Not to get too personal, but as a seasoned NYC bar-hopper I can't help unless I ask: What are you into and what kind of person are you? Are you closer to 21 years of age or 45? Do you prefer a casual pub or a luxurious lounge atmosphere?

IMHO, McSorley's is ok but I don't like the fraternity party atmosphere. I also have asthma and there is a hundred year's worth of dust on the fixtures. If you want history, a better bet might be Chumley's, in the West Village but it's a little hard to find.

Yes, I've been to NYC twice in the past 2 years. Both times had to include the bar scene. The first time was pretty much all of that. I believe we went to Hamburger Harry's (a pretty good place to eat a good hamburger and get a chance to spend time with a friendly bartender). Then, we had gone to O'Flannigan's? Pretty cool...defintiely a place where you could cut up.

I suppose like the others say. It all depends upon what interests you. I like the party scene and prefer crowded places. The above places weren't too crowded. However, on my last place I ventured to places that were pretty much gathering clubs. "Le Bar Bat" was a cool and interesting place with numerous floors (I believe 3) of various scenes. The ground floor had a live band (the music differed on each night and at different times). I enjoyed dancing with many people on this floor. The night I went (a Saturday night), there was a band that played salsa/latin music as well as disco/funky music. Then, the top floor had a jazz club scene. (Actually, it was more like a smoke room.) The basement was a hot disco/technotronic dance club. All I can say is that one definitely shall dress in layers since these places can pack in many people --- and much body heat. Of course there's always the Whiskey Bar. But that really wasn't my taste.

There's a jazz club all of the way in Little Italy where one brings his/her own alcohol (bought from a nearby liquor store) and listen to jazz played by newcomers. It was quite romantic and fairly inexpensive (unlike the cost of many New Yorkaise drinks---good, but approx. $8 a glass for a call drink).

As for the food scene...there's a place called "Pastis" that was totally awesome and fairly priced. The food is French, delicious and dinner parties sit at either a communal or private table. Me, I preferred the communal table because I got to see what others were ordering and their reactions.

Wherever you go and whatever you do, just have fun! Oh, I ended up seeing Saturday Night Fever on Broadway and paid for my tickets (on the orchestra floor) from a TKTS location.

Good luck!