Jenna

Will the city be deserted or mobbed?

nyer

The city itself--deserted, but road travel out of the city (and maybe into, also)will be very difficult, and the airports also very crowded.
Once you're here though, delightfully empty...

Flynn

It's been a given that people flock out of New York City over the Memorial Day weekend. After a long winter and no holidays since Presidents Day, people are chomping at the bit to go away. If the weather looks nice, people can't wait to hit the beach or go to their weekend homes or shares or someone else's beach house.

It's a great time to visit the city because restaurants aren't as crowded, you can get theater tickets, museums aren't as packed. I love these long weekends when everybody leaves Dodge City

Patrick

Spent the entire month of May in New York City last year, of course ending with Memorial Day weekend. Although people say it clears out, I didn't see that. Our apartment was in the east 70's, a residential neighborhood and the local restaurants were just about as jammed as always. Of course on Monday businesses are mainly closed making it seem a lot like a typical Sunday. There was some huge thing going on along Fifth Avenue next to Central Park -- but I can't remember what it was all about. We found restaurants and shows to be just as busy on that Friday and Saturday as any other weekend. Saw the opening weekend of Moulin Rouge and that place was packed.

We finally made a trip out to Coney Island on Monday just to have a Nathan's hotdog and see what that place was all about. Needless to say it was very busy there as well.

Alana

Memorial Day weekend is a wonderful time to visit NYC. As previous posters have stated, the natives flee for anywhere but Manhattan and nothing really closes down except local businesses. Honestly, when we lived on the upper eastside and again on the westside, it was certainly quieter. But, that being said, NYC is always busy.

It is a great time to take advantage of patronizing popular museums, hotels, and restaurants. The weather is pleasant for outdoor activities and street fairs are all over the place starting in May.

NYGirl

Coming from other cities, sometimes what a New Yorker sees as empty, does not seem so to a visitor!
It is usually easier to get reservations in otherwise booked restaurants, easier to get tickets to plays, and best of all, the weather is usually mild and you can walk all over the city!
Which is much more pleasant that going somewhere then trying to drive back into the city on Monday evening.
I already look forward to Memorial Day

Patrick

Although I come from outside New York, I was not aware of any great difference in the "crowd factor" between the other four weeks of May and the weekend of Memorial Day. I'm not saying there may not have been a difference, but other than the actual Monday holiday, there was VERY little noticeable difference anywhere in New York that I went including "my neighborhood" in the east 70's.
I think calling the city "deserted" is a definite overstatement.

And although I prebought most of my many theatre tickets well in advance, we saw no plays on Friday or Saturday night of Memorial Day weekend, because the selection was not as good or seats were not as good as the weekends before that. Apparently a huge number of people go to New York that weekend specifically to see plays. And don't forget it is the weekend before the Tony Awards. We also tried to get tickets to Moulin Rouge opening that weekend for both Friday and Saturday night, but they were all sold out in advance (at the Ziegfeld). Instead we had to go on Saturday afternoon. So I'm not sure I could agree about tickets being easier to get that weekend. It certainly wasn't the case with either plays or the movie for me.

Howard

While some New Yorkers do go away for the weekend, it's a myth that the city clears out. Perhaps the biggest difference is that not as many suburbites come in over the weekend.
Actually, it's a great time to come into the city. Weatherwise, it's definitely a good time in NY.

Candee

It's a fun time to visit! New Years is my favorite time to visit, but I've been there Memorial day as well....both times with nice weather.

nina

I visited NY last Memorial Day weekend. Neither the airport, nor Times Square were crowded. The weather was great.
I had a wonderful time. In fact, I was planning on doing it again this year.

steve

It's true that many NY'ers leave for the weekend. I kind of enjoy the space. The art fair is also going on in the Village that weekend. The weather is usually great. Good time to come.