doug_stallings

You can get fresh shellfish (I'm not sure about lobsters) and other fish at Wild Edibles on 3rd Avenue (between 35th and 36th). It's a seafood market and restaurant with a limited menu of reasonably priced seafood. It's small and always mobbed, so I suspect it's good, though I haven't eaten there.

owlwoman

If you take a bus, pay cash and need a transfer, just ask for one. On the subway, there's no way to do this, so you need to use a metro card if you're going to transfer.

I like Asia de Cuba a lot, it's a fun place and the portions are big enough to share. Would definitely make a reservation there, it's pretty popular.

Sounds like you have a great plan, hope the weather is as good that weekend as it has been, anyone in NY this week has totally lucked out, it's the perfect weather week!

Brahmama

Haven't answered the latest emails yet (but I will!)
Thunderstorms here in Texas (badly needed) and internet down for a while.

Anyway:
Have found through TZOO - "Baby,It's You" and "Memphis" for our Thursday night - both with aisle seats.
Help! Did you see? Did you like?

Brahmama

And while I'm waiting for your opinions, I can read those new emails and respond.

Maxima!
Wow - such helpful info esp about the buses. I am now beginning to relax a bit. Also thanks for the detailed info about the Met (how to find the handicapped entrance, etc etc)

And about the Metro Card, are you saying that both of us can use the SAME Card? Or do we need two? Our friends said they could pick them up as they get in hours before we do. Best place?

yk-
Thanks for the Met dining link. I checked all the venues and think that the Petrie Court will work for us. We mainly will want a place to SIT down and veg for a while - some wine and a small plate. The view will be nice and we'll be happy!

And we will eat at Dock's that night...which brings me to:

mclaurie-
I never have huge expectations! But you have to remember, we're landlocked in TX - and the only fish we get is usually frozen from (ahem) China, which I refuse to eat on principle, when there is a good supply of shrimp etc on the Gulf Coast etc. It is available on the coast locally (drove down a couple of months ago) but the chain mkts seem to prefer flown in fish/meat/produce to state-grown. Grrr.
Anyway, that means that we will enjoy it a lot even if it's below what you guys expect. We haven't had mussels since Ireland a few years ago, and a pound of lobster is just fine with us. And we'll have had some wine, and we may be making a bit of that noise ourselves to celebrate being in NYC!

And while the tdf is a great idea, we could never get our cards before about a month - and we'll be there in a couple of weeks. I do want to look into it for future visits. The only thing wrong with this visit is that it needs to be twice as long.

owlwoman-
Thanks for your advice and opinion! As the reviews about Asia de Cuba have been SO varied (some wonderful - some were the worst I have read - always a bit suspicious of that) we decided to have drinks and small plates there before the theatre on Thursday. At least we can try it out a bit - and I'll report back in my Trip Report how it worked out.

and Doug-
I love salmon and I'm very picky about it. I cook (my main hobby) and prefer to fix it myself. It's usually too overdone for me and saturated in sauces that I may not care that much for. But we'll take a miss at Docks and go for the Prix Fixe Menu!

MFNYC

For info on recent Broadway shows, check this thread: http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...pring-2011.cfm

Re: Metrocards, the unlimited ones only 1 person can use at a time. The pay-per-ride kind can be shared. They can be purchased at any subway station. There are mostly machines now (as opposed to manned booths), and they take cash or credit cards. You can also refill a card using the machines.

Brahmama

Thanks MfNYC,
I had just re-read that thread - I had actually posted in it and asked about Anything Goes when we thought we had tickets for it. I couldn't find one single comment about "Memphis" (Of course I was skimming) and not much about "Baby it's You" except that it was definitely about the music of that era and might not interest people who didn't remember it. (Of course, I do! But not sure my 50 YO friends will...) Has Memphis been around for a while? That might explain why there are no comments about it.

And thanks for the explanation of the Metrocards. There is a 7 day unlimited for $29.50 but doubtful if we use it more than 6 total times, so I guess we'll just take lots of coins with us. Yikes! So you have to use JUST coins, not just exact change with a couple of bills and a couple of quarters, right?

MFNYC

You can buy a regular metro card and just put six rides on it, and add to it if need be. Coins don't work for subways in any case, only in buses.

Bowsprit

I am in awe of the breadth and scope of the information contained in this thread!

Thanks to all those who contributed such great suggestions.

maxima

Yes if you are using a regular metrocard, and it seems like that is what you will use, you can pay for everyone using one card. Just figure out how many rides you will need at a minimum and your friends can pick the card up for you. When you get on the bus, the person with the card will "dip" it each time in the fare box for each person, and if you need a paper transfer ask the driver. you need a transfer for each person.
so yes your friends can get you a card in advance, just let them know how much money to put onto the card.
you can add money to it if you need to later on. If you are not planning on a lot of rides per day, per person you should not get the unlimited card.. (each person has to have their own unlimited card); in manhattan you cannot transfer for free between certain buses but dont worry about that.. the buses all have numbers and the signs on them will have the number and the end destination..at the bus stops there are generally boxes with a printed schedule and route map.. so you can see where you are and where the bus goes . you will see for example that there are several buses that go up madison or down fifth avenue and if they all go to where you want to go it doesnt matter which one you take.. however some buses will be marked limited,.. that means they dont stop at every stop just the major ones.. you can ask the driver if the bus will stop at the street you want before getting on.. the limited buses may be quicker just make sure it does not overshoot your stop so you dont have to walk back too many blocks.

for theater tickets : yes memphis has been playing for some time.for discounts you can go to broadwaybox.com and print out the coupons or see what is on offer when you are here at the tkts booth.,, there are 3 booths two in manhattan and one in brooklyn...for more information on the ticket booths go to tdf.com and click on ticket booths...credit cards are now accepted at the booths as well as cash and travelers checks... if you are flexible there is always something good.

doug_stallings

I just got back from Anything Goes, which was really great. And I took a peek at the mezzanine. If you get seats on row JJ (back row of the mezzanine), the seats are accessible and the leg room large enough that you don't even need an aisle seat. The Stephen Sondheim theater is unique (and I'd forgotten this) because you enter on the Mezzanine level and go down to get to the orchestra. It's one of the most accessible theaters I've ever seen with full elevators and good sightlines throughout. So I"d take a chance. There are a lot of stairs in the mezzanine, but I think it's doable, perhaps with a little help. There are several other fully accessible rows, but I don't know if they reserve t hose tickets for people with disabilities (you should call and ask).

ellenem

"When you get on the bus, the person with the card will "dip" it each time in the fare box for each person, and if you need a paper transfer ask the driver. you need a transfer for each person."

A MetroCard keeps track of the transfers for up to four people sharing the card—no need for paper transfers, which are for people who pay with coins.

Bowsprit

Yes, you can swipe the MetroCard four times per ride.

Brahmama

Thanks for the MetroCard info. We are picking up a $20 and adding $1.10 so we will have 10 rides total on it. We just plan to ride the buses and have checked all our routes with HopStop and/or Google Maps.

We have a pretty good schedule, but also have some time for some serendipity - and nothing we can't cancel if we decide on a last minute change.

Doug-
Thanks for scoping out the mezzanine for us - I wish all the theaters were blessed with that leg room and good sight as well. We waited too long for the Thursday night for Anything Goes, but still need a matinee for the Sunday (Memorial Day weekend - maybe all sold out). I'd also like to see "How to Succeed" - so I'll let you know what we did get to see in my Trip Report.

Again, thanks for all the help in this thread (and the many others I have read through) I've printed out a bunch of things from it and it will certainly enhanced our visit.

Kudos and Cheers to the NYC Experts!