New York attire and tours
 

Travelling to NYC for New Year's with teen sons. Marriott Marquis overlooking Times Square. How do people dress for dining and theater? Can you recommend tours of the city? We've heard of one called Marvelous Manhattan Tours or hiring a private licensed guide. Any suggestions appreciated.

Regarding dress:People do not dress in sneakers and jeans to go to theater and dinner. (Well, not the locals anyway. Use this opportunity with your teen sons to dress properly--their future wives will appreciate you for it!) Secondly, it is cold here. In the past two days I have seen a million tourist freezing their b---s off wearing their leggings, sneakers and short puffy coat. This is neither functional or attractive. Bring a long coat, hat and gloves and some nice boots with a chunky heel--comfortable and fashionable--because you can wear them with warm socks and still go touring, to dinner and then theater! (Yes it is okay to wear jeans with the boots!) Two dead giveaways for looking out of place: Bad handbag and bad footwear. It doesn't have to be expensive, though. <BR>As for touring, do it on your own. The city isn't that big. (About 9 miles by 21 miles.) Get a book, decide your priorities, get a subway map or take cabs (I recommend that if you have the means) and visit. Do some shooping in the funky stores in Soho, walk the block between 5th and 6th on 47th street and look at the diamonds in the diamond district windows, have coffee at the oak room bar at the plaza hotel (for another ten bucks you can get a bowl of soup to go with it)have lunch or dinner at O'Lunney's at B'way and 47th, not too expensive; eat breakfasts and lunches at the delis you see all over, it saves cash and it's what we do. (I say this after dropping big bucks all over Paris only to figure out three days later the locals were buying ham and chesse sandwhiches from the street vendors, MM good, too!) Take the boys to the MTV studio in Times Square (although they have probably already mentioned this!)Well, there's too much to do to list in this space! Have fun! p.s. when jostled on the sidewalks, say "excuse me." We do.

Hi Judy; <BR>The weather reports for this weekend are wicked!! ALOT of snow is expected late Friday night and early Saturday morning. The frigid temps are supposed to be here for awhile--teens with wind chills below zero. So dress accordingly. I would not worry too much about dressing for dinner or the theater. Fashion goes out the window in NYC when the freezing weather is here! <BR> <BR>Have a great time and welcome to NYC!

Coat & tie isn't necessary, but one should dress nicely. <BR> <BR>Don't forget about the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Belvedere Castle, Guggenheim, and Museum of Natural History. The museums are a great place to spend cold days. <BR> <BR>

I live in FL and am clueless as to what would be in vogue in the winter in NYC or any snowy place. The boots have to be waterproof, yes? Is waterproof and fashionable an oxymoron?

Anne, don't sweat it! As a previous poster said, when the bad weather hits, fashion goes out the window. Right now, they're predicting a possible foot of snow this weekend! Wear your waterproofs and don't think twice about what others will say, because they'll either be dressed the same way or wish that that were!

Many people do not dress up for the theatre, as you will see. Jeans are common. Rarely do you see men in suit & tie. I agree with other poster that this may be good opportunity to require your family to dress nicely... but casual is more the norm than dressy. <BR> <BR>When you (or others go), take a random poll of what other theatre-goers wear. Take the first 50 +/- people you see during intermission. I've done this the last few times and was surprised how many casual dressers were nearby.