New York...New York. Trip Report
Dec 9th, 2005 | 11:51 AM
#1
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 311
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New York...New York. Trip Report
Not quite sure how to adequately report our New York City trip other than to hit the strongest impressions in hopes it serves the purpose of this forum:
THEATER -- Two out of three is not bad. The Christmas show at Rockefeller Center was excellent, SPAMALOT was unbelievably great, but Dirty Rotten Scoundrels was average at best. I had a bad attitude going in when I saw that little sign saying Lithgow was not performing. Should have taken the offer of a credit and gone elsewhere...
Spamalot is just plain fun, even if you do not know the movie word-for-word. One of the best theater nights I have experienced. Highly recommend it.
GETTING AROUND CITY -- Easy, very easy to do. Subways are a breeze, if you read your maps (free from the MTA information booth folks) and cabs are plentiful. Despite generally moving only north and south (with the cross-town shuttle into/out of Grand Central and Times Square) the system is very efficient. London tubes go in all directions, but have a wider area to cover.
PEOPLE -- Used to be New Yorkers had the reputation of being rude, cold and generally unpleasant. Based on our five days in the city that is totally inaccurate. People we encountered were respectful, helpful and went out of their way to offer assistance to bewildered tourists trying to figure our directions. Heck, we had one guy on his lunch hour walking us a block out of his intended route to show us a particular location.
FOOD -- Expensive, yes, but the portions tend to be gigantic. For the most part, I did very well with a breakfast and lunch, and snack at night. Cheese cake at Lindy's is unreal (snack). Pot Roast at Brooklyn Diner is excellent (Lunch). For a reasonable Italian dinner before theatre, try Sofia's. And steak at Frankie and Johnny's was a major treat.
HOTEL -- We booked into the LaQuinta on 32nd Street, and I had misgivings going in. Rate was excellent, less than $200/night. Having spent four nights there, I would recommend it. Not fancy, but clean, good bed, available computer in business center, and an excellent location -- 500 yards from Broadway and entry into the Subway. Minor complaint (also voiced by others) is the slowness of the elevators.
We flew out last night, as New York's second winter storm of the week approached. This morning there is more snow on the ground and more predicted next week and temperatures getting into the upper teens. It will make for some raw walking conditions at night, particularly, but I think we'd go back in a heartbeat.
Maybe next winter....
If you're considering New York at Christmas, do it.
Jim
THEATER -- Two out of three is not bad. The Christmas show at Rockefeller Center was excellent, SPAMALOT was unbelievably great, but Dirty Rotten Scoundrels was average at best. I had a bad attitude going in when I saw that little sign saying Lithgow was not performing. Should have taken the offer of a credit and gone elsewhere...
Spamalot is just plain fun, even if you do not know the movie word-for-word. One of the best theater nights I have experienced. Highly recommend it.
GETTING AROUND CITY -- Easy, very easy to do. Subways are a breeze, if you read your maps (free from the MTA information booth folks) and cabs are plentiful. Despite generally moving only north and south (with the cross-town shuttle into/out of Grand Central and Times Square) the system is very efficient. London tubes go in all directions, but have a wider area to cover.
PEOPLE -- Used to be New Yorkers had the reputation of being rude, cold and generally unpleasant. Based on our five days in the city that is totally inaccurate. People we encountered were respectful, helpful and went out of their way to offer assistance to bewildered tourists trying to figure our directions. Heck, we had one guy on his lunch hour walking us a block out of his intended route to show us a particular location.
FOOD -- Expensive, yes, but the portions tend to be gigantic. For the most part, I did very well with a breakfast and lunch, and snack at night. Cheese cake at Lindy's is unreal (snack). Pot Roast at Brooklyn Diner is excellent (Lunch). For a reasonable Italian dinner before theatre, try Sofia's. And steak at Frankie and Johnny's was a major treat.
HOTEL -- We booked into the LaQuinta on 32nd Street, and I had misgivings going in. Rate was excellent, less than $200/night. Having spent four nights there, I would recommend it. Not fancy, but clean, good bed, available computer in business center, and an excellent location -- 500 yards from Broadway and entry into the Subway. Minor complaint (also voiced by others) is the slowness of the elevators.
We flew out last night, as New York's second winter storm of the week approached. This morning there is more snow on the ground and more predicted next week and temperatures getting into the upper teens. It will make for some raw walking conditions at night, particularly, but I think we'd go back in a heartbeat.
Maybe next winter....
If you're considering New York at Christmas, do it.
Jim
Dec 9th, 2005 | 12:15 PM
#3
Original Poster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 311
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Seetheworld, I suspect it was a credit toward a ticket for another night's performance. I really didn't linger very long at the will call window to ask details. Had she said I can refund your money I might have been tempted.
Unfortunately, she did not make that offer.
It was a good trip, absolutely. We hit chop off and on all the way back to Houston, so you could feel the strength and size of the storm heading toward the northeast. I do not miss that routine of taking off the hat, the gloves, the overcoat and the ear covers each time I go in a building and putting it all back on to go outside!
Jim
Unfortunately, she did not make that offer.
It was a good trip, absolutely. We hit chop off and on all the way back to Houston, so you could feel the strength and size of the storm heading toward the northeast. I do not miss that routine of taking off the hat, the gloves, the overcoat and the ear covers each time I go in a building and putting it all back on to go outside!
Jim
