New York City December Only One Day with Kids (preteen)
Dec 4th, 2012, 07:37 PM
#22
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The Statute of Liberty is presently closed to visitors. The Statute was not damaged during Hurricane Sandy, but the pier and other areas on Liberty Island were severely damaged. As of now there is no scheduled re-opening date.
If long entrance lines is not your thing, do not attempt FAO Schwartz in December. and the crowds near the tree at Rockefeller Center can be overwhelming depending on the time of day and day of the week.
Carmine's has large family style portions and the food is not very good.
If long entrance lines is not your thing, do not attempt FAO Schwartz in December. and the crowds near the tree at Rockefeller Center can be overwhelming depending on the time of day and day of the week.
Carmine's has large family style portions and the food is not very good.
Dec 5th, 2012, 07:44 AM
#23
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I've eaten at Patsy's Italian restaurant, which is around the corner from my office. It's ok but a little expensive. I think a family would do better at Tony's di Napoli, which is close to Times Square, serves family-style, and takes reservations for smaller groups, unlike Carmine's. But reservations (even for lunch) are a must and need to be made at least a week in advance during the holidays.
Becco might also be a good choice for lunch, but only if the kids will eat the pasta special (you never know what's going to be served, though).
I do disagree with maxima about Carmine's. There's no doubt that it's a touristy spot and offers little more than red-sauce Italian food, but I do eat there on occasion, and the food is surprisingly good (in some cases quite good indeed, particularly the specials). (However, I never eat at Times Square, so it's possible that kitchen may just not be up to the task of such hordes, but the food on the Upper West Side is always well prepared.)
In terms of activities, I'd definitely see the tree at Rockefeller Center, but just be prepared for crowds and definitely get out of the Rock Center/Times Square madhouse for something less frenetic.
I like Economy Candy on the Lower East Side for simpler, old-fashioned candies, not the fancy expensive stuff at Dylan's (and if you go there, you can eat at Meatball Shop on Stanton, which is excellent albeit very busy). There are some other cool stores on the Lower East Side, and the Tenement Museum is there and is a fun and worthy activity if your kids like museums. The original Donut Plant isn't far from there, and Chinatown is also there, though it will also be frenetic. And Laboratorio del Gelato is also around there. Lots to see now on the Lower East Side, and it's not as crowded as the rest of the city, particularly during the day.
Dim sum can be a special, fun lunch for kids as well ... head to East Broadway for the mall under the Manhattan Bridge and eat at the dim sum restaurant there if you want soup dumplings.
Becco might also be a good choice for lunch, but only if the kids will eat the pasta special (you never know what's going to be served, though).
I do disagree with maxima about Carmine's. There's no doubt that it's a touristy spot and offers little more than red-sauce Italian food, but I do eat there on occasion, and the food is surprisingly good (in some cases quite good indeed, particularly the specials). (However, I never eat at Times Square, so it's possible that kitchen may just not be up to the task of such hordes, but the food on the Upper West Side is always well prepared.)
In terms of activities, I'd definitely see the tree at Rockefeller Center, but just be prepared for crowds and definitely get out of the Rock Center/Times Square madhouse for something less frenetic.
I like Economy Candy on the Lower East Side for simpler, old-fashioned candies, not the fancy expensive stuff at Dylan's (and if you go there, you can eat at Meatball Shop on Stanton, which is excellent albeit very busy). There are some other cool stores on the Lower East Side, and the Tenement Museum is there and is a fun and worthy activity if your kids like museums. The original Donut Plant isn't far from there, and Chinatown is also there, though it will also be frenetic. And Laboratorio del Gelato is also around there. Lots to see now on the Lower East Side, and it's not as crowded as the rest of the city, particularly during the day.
Dim sum can be a special, fun lunch for kids as well ... head to East Broadway for the mall under the Manhattan Bridge and eat at the dim sum restaurant there if you want soup dumplings.
