I just want to thank everyone here for all your help with our trip! We had a fabulous time in the big apple. In only 2 1/2 day we managed to do some shopping in Soho, walking through Tribecca, Garment District, Pizza at Grimaldis in Brooklyn, walking over the Brooklyn Bridge, coffee in Little Italy at one of the oldest coffee shops, strolling in Times Square, coffee at FIKA, browsing in Rizzolis bookstore, walking in Central Park and through Upper West Side, breakfast on Upper East Side, drink at the Carlysle Hotel, Mamma Mia on Broadway, drinks and entertainment at the Carnegie Club and more.
Our hotel Doubletree on Lexington was affordable and the location was great. We took the subway everywhere and we could also walk everywhere from there. Rooms were good enough size with everything we needed and hubby loved the free cookies that we ended up "walking off," thank god. I enjoyed the colder weather and didn't even have time to think about it! We loved the atmosphere and live band at the Carnegie Club and can't wait to go back! We felt like we stepped into an old movie from the 1940's or something. The only mistake we made was going to the Carlysle Hotel for a drink and not staying long enough for the entertainment that started as we were leaving. Not realizing it was the same guy singing at the piano from the movie "Little Manhattan" which is my favorite movie!! That bothers me and I will make sure I visit next time we go to NY. We didn't get to ice skate in Central Park, as the rink was closed for a private event. We took a nice walk through the park instead. Shopping on Canal Street was sooo much fun, even though I just read the article about their recent raid there, ooops! I absolutely love NY and can't wait to go back. But tell me. Is Brooklyn really that bad? When I told people and even local New Yorkers we went to Brooklyn for pizza, their reaction was "why would anyone want to go to Brooklyn". Even though we stayed around the bridge area. Is it considered to be less safe than let's say, Harlem and the Bronx??

I was looking forward to your report. It didn't disappoint (but next time, some paragraphs, please? )

I don't know why you got that reaction about Brooklyn. It's actually become quite trendy.

Without knowing to whom you spoke, it is difficult to know their prejudice.

Hi schnookies!
THrough your message i would like to thank everyone too who helped us with our New York trip in December!
It is truly an amazing city!!! We LOVED IT and can't wait to get back sometime in the near (we hope) future!

Thanks schnookies! I really enjoyed reading your report. The folks here were really helpful to me also as we planned our first trip to New York City back in 2006.

I had to laugh at your "why would anyone go to Brooklyn?" comment. I have friends who live in Brooklyn who always say "why would anyone want to live in Manhattan?". There is the usual neighborhood "resentments" in NYC just like many cities. Still that general comment about going there for pizza (presumably to Grimaldi's?) is a bit odd.

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I apologize for the not perfect writing, since English is not my native language I just really wanted to let you know how much I appreciated all your help. I can't wait to go back too!!! If you had a choice between going in either April or May, when would you go?

It's hard to characterize Brooklyn as a whole because of its size, but the parts near the river and bridges are very safe and very desirable places to live. It's actually more costly to rent or buy in areas like Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, and DUMBO than in certain areas of Manhattan!

I'm totally biased, as I live in Cobble Hill. I spent five years in Manhattan, and I don't you think you could pay me to move back

Glad to hear you had a good time and enjoyed the Carnegie Club.

April and May are two of the best months to be in NY, either one will work. I'd probably lean toward mid-May though if I had to choose.

Enjoyed your report too!

Brooklyn was originally built as a retreat from Manhattan for the wealthy. I'm sure some parts are dangerous but the places you went, no.

Without knowing exactly the words people used, and whether they were kidding or not, the reaction to Brooklyn (escpecially from New Yorkers) was probably meant as
1) a joke
or
2) "Why would you travel for pizza, when there's plenty of pizza in Manhattan"
or
3) "Why would you go out of your way to Brooklyn when you only have 2 1/2 days"
Whatever. As long as you had a good time, who cares!

Hi schnookies, I so enjoyed reading about your good time in NYC. And your writing is just fine, much better than mine often is, I must learn to edit before I post as I am a terrible typist.

I hope you are able to get back to NYC as soon as possible. Thank you for sharing your visit to NYC with us.

I grew up in Bay Ridge, Brookly. My mom still lives there. I now live in Florida for the past 10 years.I have, to this day, not found a good italian restaurant!!! New York (Brooklyn) is the ONLY place for pizza (Maria's pizzeria on Fort Hamilton Parkway and 71st street. YUM! Brooklyn is very trendy now. Yuppies galore in downtown brooklyn. Lots of history. Love it and miss it!!

Hi schnookies, I'm so glad you had such a great trip! I followed your plannning posts and it was nice of you to let us know how it all went.

Your writing is fine - no corrections necessary!

My wife and I grew up in different parts of Brooklyn and now live in Manhattan. We belong to art coop called Brooklyn Waterfront Artist's Coalition. I love that name. Our main exhibition space is a Civil War era warehouse in Red Hook. Occasionally someone will find a coffee bean between the original floor boards. From there you can see the Statue of Liberty and a Brooklyn trolley, some idealist hopes to restore to duty.

Across a narrow channel a sugar refinery once owned by Ferdinand Marcos is being razed. The derelict structure was simply elegant, twisted in its lack of use.

Nearby the behemoth cruise ships the Queen Elizabeth and the New Queen Victoria dock. Is there a name less associated with fun than Queen Victoria. Maybe they will go elsewhere.

If somone does't like Brooklyn, I say fine. That means more room for the rest of us.