seeksocean

Thanks as usual! I think one play for the time we are there is good since the days will be filled with museums and sites and FOOD! Speaking of...where is a good place to eat near the theatre were South Pacific is playing? Not too fancy, but good. And, if the play starts at 8pm, when should we make a rez? Thanks! I am so ever grateful!!!

Centralparkgirl

Dinner at 6pm will give you plenty of time for a leisurely dinner and then to walk across to the theater (the Vivian Beaumont theater is northwest of the Met Opera house - one minute walk past the Met). There's Bar Boulud, Daniel Boulud's new place $42 for a prix fixe 3 course dinner. Less expensive is Shun Lee Cafe (next to the regular restaurant) for dim sum and other good Chinese dishes. Josephina's or Fiorello's - all right across Broadway from Lincoln Center.

seeksocean

Thank you CPG! We are staying at the Omni Berkshire and I have been going to menupages.com and printing out all the menues of restuarants that have been recommeded and then mapquesting them from our hotel.

So many of the suggested places are less than a mile from our hotel. Where we live here in the rural northwest, we walk that far no big deal. Is it really not a good idea to walk within our NYC neighborhood at night (night being before 10pm)? My idea would be to do our daytime siteseeing and then take a 'hotel break' and then walk to dinner. But is that naive? Will taxis at night be my fate? Thanks Centralparkgirl in advance for your advice!! XOXO

seeksocean

Sorry about all my typos!

sf7307

Seekocean, you absolutely can walk in the neighborhood of your hotel at night (there'll be far more people around than in your rural neighborhood!). The only thing I wouldn't recommend is actually crossing Central Park late at night, just cross from west (where Lincoln Center is) to east (where you hotel is) on one of the main streets (57th St. for example) and you'll be just fine. Just as an example, we have friends who live in the west 70s. We had dinner with them near Union Square, then walked to our hotel at 47th St., then they walked HOME another 30 blocks. It's the best way to get around. Of course, if you feel like it, cabs are abundant.

Centralparkgirl

Your hotel is in a great location. As sf7307 said, don't go into Central Park at night. I personally avoid empty or quiet side streets at night. So walking across 57th Street is fine - plenty of people and traffic all the time.

sf7307 - laughing about your comments on walking around the city. It is soooo cold lately that cabs seem ideal!

sf7307

CP, I'm cold HERE in SF...really, my mother told me I hated cold weather from birth! (As for walking in NY, well, there's no other way to go when it's decent weather -- when we were there in October, we walked one day from 49th and Lexington, to 71st and Central Park West, to Amsterdam and 116th and back to 71st and CPW. Believe me, I felt it the next day!)

Centralparkgirl

sf - three words that I detest: wind chill factor!!!

sf7307

(OT - how's your DH doing?)

Centralparkgirl

(slowly getting there; back at work; eating everything in sight! - thanks for asking!)

seeksocean

Thanks! Since there are 4 of us, will one cab do?

bbobo

Another restaurant idea we just experienced and LOVED is Center Cut. 212-956-1288 @44 West 63rd St. www.chinagrilmgt.com It's on the second floor of the Empire Hotel just above PJ's and right across from Lincoln Center. There's a glass elevator looking over the square, and they have a fabulous prix fix pre theatre (4pm-7 or 8pm?) for $39.00 for 4 courses. fabulous choices,we have the steak, a popover to die for, and the dessert is cookies to go! 5 enormous yummy cookies of many kinds-make great muchies for walking the city! you can also order a different dessert and take the cookies with you! (just don't rattle the bag during the theatre!!!) we ordered a side dish of spinach with artichoke hearts and puff pastry that was to die for. This place has been open just 3 months and is wonderful-it deserves to stay open!

as for walking? it's the Best way to see New york! of course a carriage ride through the park is also delightful, and a fun way to get near Lincoln Center . . . you can call ticketmaster at 212-707-4100 and speak to a person--and yes, it should be South Pacific and do consider Chicago-very different from SP and marvelous--and if the weather is bad and you want another show do consider The Lion King-get orchestra seats on the aisle-not to be forgotten! good weather? think of a walk through China Town and Little Italy. They're right next door to each other and lots of fun. sorry for so much info-we love NYC!

seeksocean

Thanks so much! What about the question of how many can fit in a taxi? There are 4 of us. Thanks!

seeksocean

One more question..!! Yes, a carriage ride was on the list..So much to do!!..Is this something we should pre-book..or even can prebook? We will be there the week before Memorial Day (including that weekend) and we have read that it's a great time to go as many New Yorkers go on vacation. How far in advance would/could you book restaurants?

doug_stallings

A taxi fits four people, but someone will have to sit in front with the driver.

I can say that I've sat at the very top on the right at the Beaumont, and I had absolutely no problems with sight lines. It's one theater that is really great that way.

And I would NEVER ever pay more than the top regular ticket price for any play (frankly, I rarely will pay full price ... if there's no discount, I usually don't see it ... even The Producers). HowardR is right on that point.

seeksocean

Thanks Doug, I have always appreciated when you sign in on posts.

I like to do my homework and I feel that I get a better experience out of the deal...especially on fast trips like this. Glad to hear about the 4 in a taxi.

We did a package through Expedia, which I am happy with, so many things are taken care of and I feel the deal was fair, as we do fly out of our small regional airport, which can be expensive. I am looking forward to the surprises on this trip though...good ones, I hope.

On the question of booking tables at popular restaurants...how far in advance would you suggest?

seeksocean

Doug...one more thing (always one more thing with me!)...If we know we want to see South Pacific mid-week in mid to late May, how far in advance would you recommend us buying our tickets?

We do hope to see some good jazz and those schedules come later it seems. Thanks!

mclaurie

When you mention Expedia and a package and many things taken care of, I just want to say if you've bought airport transfers in NYC don't use them or try to cancel. Super Shuttle, the shared shuttle bus is just awful and actually more expensive for a party of 4 than a regular taxi.

I don't know the answer to your when to buy tickets but during the week you generally find better options. The show is at 7 on Tues. and 8 on other nights.

seeksocean

Shoot, we may have blown it on that one. I don't think that we can cancel that part of it. Oh well.

seeksocean

Our show nights would be Wed-Sat. I have an E-mail in to a relative that travels to NYC to see if she could just go and buy us tickets at the box office.