New York / Chicago- newbie needs suggestions!
 

Hello everyone,
I haven’t posted before on Fodors, but have been reading the forums for a long time. Thought those of you in the know could help me out with our upcoming trip!

Husband, 20-yr old daughter and I will be going to New York City in early Sept for 6 days (staying in midtown), and then stopping in Chicago for 3 days on the way home to California.

Have been to New York many times before, and was looking for any tips on what we shouldn’t miss (interesting/fun places to eat, discount shopping- we love handbags! accessories, etc), or anything else you can think of. I thought we’d try The Cloisters for the first time. Sounds like you go on the same day as the Met Museum (?). That sounds exhausting! We’ll also do some other museums, see some shows, do a little shopping. We’ve done the major sights on past trips, and would like to do a little more exploring.

As far as Chicago, have been so long ago we hardly remember it. Highlight will be the King Tut exhibit (daughter thinks she wants to be an Egyptologist!), and exploring the downtown area. Not much time there, so an overview is probably in order. Suggestions for fun restaurants and not-to-miss sights would be appreciated.

By the way, what does DH stand for- some sort of husband I guess? Thanks in advance for your help!

Well - if you haven't been in a litle while do Top of the Rock. Great views - and no lines like at ESB.

Cloisters is a good choice - just be prepared for a lot of uphill walking.

Most of the summmer stuff will have stopped by then - but there will still be a street fair each weekend. Don;t know the web site but if you check out time OUt New York and New York Magazine web sites it will list special events for that week in particular.

Why not spend one evening pretending to be real New orkers? Just explore a neighborhood (upper west side, village or lower east side). Do dinner, then shopping - window or otherwise (all have some shops open until at least nidmight) then stop for a drink at a cafe.

Don't know your special interests - but you may be able to check out some rehearsals at Lincoln Center - for free or almost - as well as a backstage tour.

And if you're sports fans take in a Yankees or Mets game - since it looks like both will be in playoffs this year.

thanks, nytraveler, those were helpful ideas. I'm curious why some posts get a ton of replies, and some- don't!

DH stands for Dear Husband.

Here is a list of the things I always do with my out of town guests:

1. The Impressionist galley at The Art Institute. Some of their paintings include "Sunday on La Grande Jette" by George Seurat, "Paris Street; Rainy Day" by Gustave Caillebotte, numerous Monets, Kandinski, Picasso, Casset, Edward Hooper's "Night Hawks" and Grant Wood's "American Gothic" just to name a few of the more famous pieces. Plus no girl of any age can resist the minature Thorne Rooms.

2. Lunch at the Courtyard restaurant inside the Art Institute. That is a very unique experience, a sheltered outdoor restaurant with tables arranged around the fountain.

3. If the weather is nice take a walking tour of the Loop. See some of the public art. See the Calder Mobile in the lobby of the Sear's Tower, The Calder Stabile in the Federal Center Plaza, the Picasso in the Daley Center, the Miro across the street from the Picasso, the Chagall at First National Plaza, and the Dubuffet at the James R. Thompson Center (formerly the State of Illinois Center). Walk down the "Canyon" of LaSalle street. Go to the Chicago Board of Trade and look out over the trading floor (M-F). Note the statue of Ceres on top of the CBOT.

4. Take a picnic & go to Grant Park at night for a free concert (not sure if they still happen in Sep).

5. After the concert walk to Buckingham Fountain (or the Married w/Children Fountain to the rest of the world!)Watch the light show.

6. After the fountain walk across Lake Shore Drive (very carefully) to the Queen's Landing & go on a boat ride.

7. Go out to the Adler Planetarium at any time to see a beautiful view of the Chicago sky line.

8. Lincoln Park Zoo.

9. Drinks at the top of the John Hancock Building. (Check out the view from the ladies room)

10. You did not say how old your daughter is. But just in case she is into American Girl, there is an American Girl store on North Michigan Ave.

3. Biking/walking (you can rent bikes)along the lake front from Oak Street (be sure to use the underground pedestrian walkway across Lake Shore Drive)to North Ave.

4. Ed Dubevic's is always a fun place to eat. Sort of a 50's diner.

5. Everyone always raves about Gino's East. I like the charred pepperoni pizza.

A search on this forum will also bring up some recommended restaurants.

oh, yeah, and shopping at Water Tower Place.

oh, yeah, and Navy Pier.

Why do some posts get more answers than others? Sometimes it's the question. Sometimes it's the time you post.

For NYC, if daughter is thinking of Egyptology, you should make sure to go to the Met.

The only reason to go to the Met & Cloisters on the same day is to save the entry fee since they're both included in the same price. But the Met entry fee is "suggested", so you could go another day and pay what you wish. The Cloisters is not a suggested fee,

Near the Cloisters is a lovely restaurant called New Leaf in Fort Tryon Park.

There's always lots of debate about the best way to get to the Cloisters. The bus (M4) takes a long time, but it leaves you right outside the door (or very close) while the subway is much faster but requires a hike to get there UPHILL from the subway station. You could take the subway and change to the bus for the last leg. ;)

The Klimt paintings recently purchased for the Neue Museum (near the Met at 86th & Fifth) might interest you although it's been crowded there. Cafe Sabarsky inside the Neue is very nice.

For discount shopping, Loehmann's, Daffy's, Find OUtlet and ofcourse Century 21. Here's some more info from NY Magazine on discount shopping, eating etc.
nymetro.com/cheap

Canal St. is the place where most go for the knock off handbags but you'll also find them on the street all over town.

You might check for discount show tickets on broadwaybox.com

Some sort of boat ride is always nice in good weather. There are lots of options including cruises with meals. Bateaux NY gets good reviews. There are also some sailing boats.

http://www.shearwatersailing.com
http://www.sail-nyc.com

There's free kayaking if you or daughter are interested.
http://www.downtownboathouse.org/programs.html

Lunch at the UN might be fun. Info here

http://www.newyorkology.com/archives...d_nations.html

For shopping, besides Century 21 and Loehmann's, you can do research on sample sales in the city. Time Out New York, New York magazine list them. Also dailycandy.com sometimes sends out lists of upcoming sample sales. Some are better than others, but they can be worthwhile.

thanks to all of you for your great suggestions. By the way, I saw the Klimt paintings- twice!- in LA. Fantastic!

NVL325, here are what I'd recommend for your stay in Chicago.

Since your daughter wants to be an Egyptologist, in addition to the King Tut exhibit at the Field, I would recommend a visit to the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago in Hyde Park. It has two exhibits that I believe she'd find fascinating--photographs of the opening of King Tut's tomb and of the Far East at the time of Tut. By the way, when you are obtaining tickets for Tut or looking at the website for the Oriental Institute, why not send an e-mail to the museum to see if there are any lectures or even if one of the museum staff is available to discuss these exhibits further.

I always recommend the Chicago Architecture Foundation's River Cruise as one of the best experiences to be had.

IMHO, I'd skip Navy Pier, unless you wanted to take a cruise on the lake on the Windy (our four-masted schooner) or go to the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre.

If you are here on a Sunday afternoon, you can take your daughter to Jazz Showcase. Wonderful venue for fine jazz.

Agree that the Art Institute is a must see. Also agree with Buckingham Fountain, especially during the night light show (on the hour until 11 pm).

The outdoor concerts are over when you arrive, unfortunately. However, so many choices for indoor theatre. You might consider Wicked - hot ticket, open run.

If your husband is a sports fan, check the Chicago Cubs website and see if there is a tour of Wrigley Field available when you are here (on weekends when the Cubs are playing on the road).

Hope you have fun when you are here and come back again when you have a little more time to explore!

The Frick is a favorite small museum of mine.

New York is great for places that specialize in one thing - like hummus from The Hummus Place, cream puffs from Beard Papas, Korean dumplings at Mandoo Bar.

DH is Dear Husband.

I would very strongly advise against doing The Met and The Cloisters in the same day. Yes, I think you would save on admission, but trust me...not worth it. They're nowhere near each other (Cloisters are really far away) and if you're planning on taking the subway or bus up there it's best left to another day--it would take all day to do both. I always think Serendipity's is fun (it was in the movie "One Fine Day") and it has the famous Frozen Hot Chocolates and is right near fabulous shopping. The trick is to give the host your name (they'll quote you 2 or 3 hours) and then go shopping, come back in an hour and usually your table is ready within 15 minutes. Also, if you like Thai food a fun place that's very hip and cool is called "Highline" down in the Meatpacking District and has totally reasonable prices for a NYC restaurant. Check it out: http://nychighline.com/ If you guys like cupcakes then Magnolia Bakery is a must (it was also featured in an episode of Sex & the City) and is a NY institution. Here's a link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia_Bakery People will wait hours for these things, but if you get there during the middle of the day (especially on a weekday) there's no wait. If you like shopping I'd highly recommend you and your daughter walk around SoHo--there are hundreds of great stores from famous designers and up and coming ones and great even just to window shop. For "discount" shopping I'd second someone else's suggestion to sign up for the Daily Candy Deals email that tells you about sample sales, you could also check out Chinatown though I'm not a fan of the crowds and dirty streets--if you want a knockoff bag you'll probably be able to find it here.

In Chicago, make sure to stop at Millennium Park & see the "bean" & amazing fountain. And don't forget about the World Champion White Sox, if they're in town that weekend!

Enjoy!

thanks for these great ideas- coming from you locals- just the kind of things I was looking for- especially the ones involving chocolate!

Your daughter would love "Wicked" tickets in Chicago at Ford Theater for the Performing Arts. If you can still get them www.ticketmaster.com

I saw with my daughter and grandaughter- it is one of our favorite days to remember.

Loop area, just where you will be.

Welcome to Chicago and have a ball.

If your daughter is that into Egypt, you might want to hop on the subway and visit the Brooklyn Museum which has one of the greatest Egyptian collections in the world.

John

I was born in New York and lived near Fort Tryon Park. Now I live in the Chicago suburbs.

Be sure to the take the Architectural boat tour previuously mentioned. Try to go to a concert at the Pritzker Pavillion in Millenium Park and leave lots of time for the Art Institute. Skip Macy's and shop instead on Oak Street and North Michigan Avenue. Have dinner at RL (Ralph Lauren). And marvel at how clean Chicago is compared to NYC.

Just back from a three day trip to Chicago. Can't say enough about how amazing it is!!The highlights were..Millenium Park...not to be missed on a summers' day; Drinks at the Signature Lounge, John Hancock Tower...don't pay the money just to go to the observation deck; "Wicked" was fabulous; the Ralph Lauren store on the Magnificent Mile is not to be missed....I want to live there!!!!; and lastly the Architectural Boat Cruise...lots of wonderful views and great info. Make a reservation through your hotel.
It's one of my new favorite cities!
Enjoy your trip!

thanks for the continued great tips- our trip is coming up fast- Wed to NYC, then on to Chicago the next Tues. Any last minute thoughts- let 'em rip!

Gilford said how beautiful the Ralph Lauren store is: now eat at the equally beautiful RL restaurant adjoining. They even have a great hamburger and a lobster sandwich if you don't want a full meal.