Manhattan Entertainment
 

My wife and i will be going to Manhattan for a week from 22 November to celebrate my 60th birthday. We were there three years ago for five nights so saw some of the famous landmarks. What not so famous sites should we visit and are there any places we could have a few drinks with entertainment during the evenings. We are well served with shows and plays in the UK so do not really want to see a Broadway show. We are staying in the 414 Hotelon W46 Street

It's almost impossible to tell you about "not so famous" landmarks w/o knowing your tastes/interests. There are loads of museums, not just art museums, but lots of interesting stuff from the Forbes Gallery (free) with a collection of toy soldiers (and a current show on French jewelry)
http://forbesgallery.com/
to the Frick Museum (similar to the Wallace collection) which is in a gorgeous mansion. The Tenement Museum is also a very popular stop these days and if you've not been to Ellis Island, go.

A block from your hotel on 36 st. b/w 8th & 9th is "restaurant row." Some of the places have entertainment. Don't Tell Mamas is a popular piano bar. (Not sure I'd eat there). They have a cabaret theater upstairs and piano bar down that's fun.

Danny's Sea Palace which looks like a real tourist trap on the outside has very good Thai/seafood and they also have different cabaret shows in the back. http://www.dannysgrandseapalace.com/

Iridium is a jazz club that's not far.
http://www.iridiumjazzclub.com/
Haven't eaten there recently though so not sure how good the food is.

The Oak Room at the Algonquin hotel (a few blocks away) has cabaret. Pricey but swanky.

The Carnegie Club has a Sinatra Sat. night and live music other nights.
http://www.hospitalityholdings.com/carnegie/

That's just a few thoughts. YOu should have a look in Time Out New York or something similar. This website lists by week for shows and other things.
http://www.nytheatre.com/nytheatre/tripplan7.htm

Sorry, typo above. That should read a block from your hotel on <b>4</b>6 st....

I don't know if you and your wife are into jazz...but the premier jazz club, IMHO..and the one that my husband and I always go to when we're in NY is the Blue Note in Greenwich Village. Check out http://tinyurl.com/28l7o.

Well I would definitely go to Top of the Rock - which wasn't open when you were here before. And the Museum of Modern Art has been redone and reopened since then. Also the public library (Main Branch at 42 and Fifth) and the New York Historical Society always have interesting rotating exhibits.

There are literally dozens of other museums and galleries to see - check out New York Magazine web sites and Time Out New York for specific info on your dates.

There are also several comedy clubs you might want to try.

And if you get decent weather you might want to spend one or two evenings strolling one of the more residential neighborhoods - upper west side, lower east side or the village. Have a casuale dinner and shop (window - or real - most areas have some stores open until midnight) and stop in at one or two local cafes for a drink.

You could build the evening around an unusual cuisine. On the upper west side we have restaurants that are Agentinian (Pampas), Peruvian (Sipan), Ethiopian and host of other intresting choices.

Mclaurie mentioned Danny's sea Palace, and I checked it out and on Mon night they have an open mic, and some Broadway actors stop in. It has a 10$ cover...and it looks like fun :-)! Birdland jazz club looks good too! I am looking for more &quot;unusual&quot; things to do!

Judyrem, on Monday nights, the place to be is Birdland for Jim Caruso's cast party.
http://www.castpartynyc.com/

Brandy's on the upper east side is a lot of fun.
http://www.brandysnyc.com/index2.html

Mclaurie, you are right, I was confuddled, confused and befuddled ;-). yes it does sound fun!!!! I even had it bookmarked too. I bow to mclaurie's great wisdom!

Well thanks for your replies, some great ideas there, we like any kind of music from classical to bluegrass and will certainly try out some of your suggestions.

One of my favorite evenings in NYC (I live in Los Angeles) was at Don't Tell Mama's (I believe on W. 46th St. past
8th Avenue.) They have cabaret shows you pay for, but we went on a Monday night about 10 o'clock for the piano bar/singer and had a fabulous time. He did many show tunes, and also had friends perform who had a &quot;dark&quot; night
from their Broadway performances. Several of the staff (one just back from a cross-country musical tour) also sang during the evening. It was a combination of local people and tourists and great fun was had by all.

Jazz Standard/Blue Smoke--jazz club in the east 20s.

OR

Go see an opera at the Met and see if you can get reservations at the Grand Tier to eat during the intermissions. The food is supposed to be so-so, but a really fun experience. Tosca (Zefirelli production) and Barber of Seville (new production) are playing during that time.