New York City itinerary ideas?
 

Hi folks,

I'm going with my mom to New York for a long weekend in a few weeks. This is mostly a theater trip,and we have been many times so kind of looking for some out-of-the ordinary suggestions. Specifically....

on Saturday we're doing an 11AM tour at the Tenement museum on Saturday that will be over by noon. we'll have a light lunch, and then we are free until our pre-theater dinner (5:45). What could we do in the neighborhood that would be interesting? what would you pair with the Tenement musuem? We're interested in lots of things...history, museums, architecture....so feel free to make any suggestions.

On Sunday we have a matinee at 2PM. What to do on Sunday morning? Tough to fit in a museum unless its a small one. Not really up for walking around since it;s February. Aside from shopping, what would you do with just a couple or three hours on a Sunday? Maybe a smaller museum? Do they do tours of the New York Public library?

To understand what can really fit in your small pockets of time . . .

Where is your pre-theater dinner on Saturday?

Where is your hotel?

Where is the theater for the Sunday matinee?

Saturday dinner is at molyvos-- roughly 55th and 7th, I think

Our hotel is right in Times Square on 42nd.

Sunday matinee is Book of Mormon, also right in Times Square.

I'm a little bit tempted by the nypl docent tour at 2pm on Saturday, but that might be a squeeze to get to, though if we have a really quick lunch we can make it.

Essex Street Market
Economy Candy on Rivington Street--a blast of an old fashioned past if you have never been

These are both very nearby Tenement Museum

We enjoyed the NYPL tour very much.
The International Center for Photography (44th/6th) sometimes has interesting exhibits.
Have you done the audio tour of Grand Central Terminal?

You know, the International Center for Photography is a place I've been meaning to go...unfortunately it closed last month as it is moving downtown! drat.

I tried to interest Mom in the Grand Central tour the last time we were there, but for reasons I can't explain, she wasn't into it. Nice idea though.

Essex street market looks nice..that's a possibility.

Great suggestions so far...keep 'em coming!

topping to get some more suggestions...
surely someone can suggest a small museum, historic site, or something that would fit on a Sunday morning?

Have you been to the Frick? I would have to check the hours to see when they open on Sundays, but it's small and quite lovely.

I know! I know!

A tour of the Radio Center Music Hall!
Morning tours start at 10am

http://www.radiocity.com/tours.html

I had never taken the tour over the years but our friends had "won" tickets at a school auction. I was kind of "meh" before the tour but it was FABULOUS! I think your mom would really enjoy it and it's an easy walk from your hotel.

The architecture in interesting but there's more. The design of the stage was absolutely fascinating. The tours of the private rooms and apartments and the photos and signatures of famous people through the years was really neat. Plus you get to see Rockette costumes close up and meet a Rockette. It's now one of my favorite tours of all.

After the tour, you could go down to the food court on eye level with the skating rink and watch the skaters for a while. There's a Starbuck's there (and other vendors, including ice cream, etc.) There are a few table just on the other side of the full glass windows and it's a warm place to sit for a few minutes to watch the skaters.
https://www.rockefellercenter.com/food-and-drink/
https://mommyp-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/IMG_4421.jpg


That would be a fun way to spend your time on the Sunday morning.

Another option would be to attend a church service. I took my mom (a million years ago) to a service at St. Pat's. It was wonderful sitting there for a service. I have a favorite Methodist church on the UWS that's not far from the subway. No matter where I travel (NYC, Paris, etc.) I always try to attend a church service and it doesn't matter if it's my denomination or not. That may not be of interest to you but just an idea.

http://www.saintpatrickscathedral.org/

I was also going to suggest the Frick. The Boathouse in Central Park is closed on Sunday and would have been nice for brunch before the Frick.

I three for the Frick :-) Or the Neue Gallerie (for Klimt), although I don't know its hours on Sunday.

If you like contemporary art, you might consider a trip to the New Museum on Bowery. It's within walking distance of the Tenement Museum, and there are often Groupon or other discounts (it's for-profit, so you do have to pay admission). There's a new-artist exhibit coming up in about a week that sounds interesting.

And, yes, Economy Candy is a must-visit if you like older-style candies, especially brands famous in the 1950s,'60s, and '70s (Beemans gum, Pop Rocks, etc.)that you may be surprised are still around. It's not for cutting edge chocolate. In general there are a lot of interesting stores now on the Lower East Side, including some cutting-edge fashion. Some are good just to browse.

And Il Laboratorio del Gelato is also nearby. It's well worth a visit after your light lunch.

And if you want to continue in the same vein as the Tenement Museum, you might want to pop into the Eldridge Street Synagogue, which has an interesting museum. It's also a beautiful synagogue.

I like the Frick too, if you go the museum route. It's small and intimate with incredible art. Good choice.

Some more suggestions - flea market
Either the GreenFlea or Hell's Kitchen market
http://www.greenfleamarkets.com/
http://www.annexmarkets.com/hells-kitchen-flea-market/

I'd be at my very favorite store in the city (and just about anywhere) -
Fishs Eddy -
http://www.fishseddy.com/