agree with bokchoy. hudson is a nice hotel and fun too. the bar there is a pretty cool local hangout. any of the ian schrager (sp?) hotels would be along your taste I think. the mandarin is good too but it is quite expensive. how about the dream hotel? last i saw, they had some deals. the muse hotel is another although really not in the same category as the ones mentioned above.

in any case, congrats and good luck! that's so romantic!

oh, and since it's NY, something to think about. Have you seen that movie "Serendipity"? It's a love story about 2 people fated to be together. Anyway, Serendipity is also a dessert place (cafe/restaurant) in NY (on 72nd near central park). How about watching that movie together, and setting it up to pop the question there after dinner? I bet if you call the restaurant, they can arrange to do something special for you like premake a certain dessert she likes and have the ring somewhere on the plate?

...sorry, a bit of a romantic, can't you tell?

Good luck and be sure to let us know how it turns out.

P.S. Check out the Dream Hotel.... (http://www.dreamny.com/)

or less obvious, get her friend to watch the movie with her before your trip?

....so exciting!

p.s.s. here's a link to serendipity
(http://www.serendipity3.com/)

NY PALACE!!!!!
Absolutely exquisite!!!

Jliven - Congrats, you must be very excited! Just one quick note - please be aware that Daniel is in no way "hip and trendy." Amazing, beautiful, lovely, yes. But NOT trendy. That said, I think it would be a lovely place for your Friday dinner (since I really think that most women would prefer romantic to trendy on their proposal night). Perhaps head downtown for a trendy dinner on Saturday night, when you are basking in the glow of being engaged? Depending on what kind of food you are looking for, hot tables right now include Sascha (not 100% that they are open to the public yet, but will be in a few days), Buddakan, Morimoto (not worth the $$, IMO, but a cool space), Thor...

Dear Jeremy,

God it nearly killed me not being able to get back onto this site last night and check if you answered. Similarly this morning!!!!
Sounds like you are doing a wonderful job so far and you hardly need any advice. HOWEVER, being an Aussie I can't but help myself and give an opinion.... so here goes. Don't be tripping over yourself to ask her. Let it evolve over the course of the day / evening or whenever you plan to ask her. I'm guessing she is far from lacking in insight so I'm sure she will know its coming, but hey good things come to those who wait. And trust me its worth waiting. If you blurt it out at the beginning the magic is a bit lost, let it build a little - the tension is everything.... Pick the place in your head and then just RELAX and let yourself have a magical wonderful day. This is an important day for you as well. Most importantly tell her WHY you want to marry her. She will remember those words for the rest of her life.

Oh, and one last piece of big sisterly advice, - nope two, 1. the whole getting down on one knee is (I think) mandatory (I'm sure other Fodorites will disagree) and 2. If you make the proposal in a specific place ie, in Central Park, Outside Tiffany's or wherever, take your camera, take a photo, then secretly keep that photo for 10 years and give it to her for your 10th wedding anniversary.

I wish you all the luck in the world. What an incredibly lucky woman she is.

Oh, oopps I can't help myself, one last bit, as I said you only get to do this once, so if you spend more than your budget - you wont remember that in 2, 5, 10, 20 years - BUT you WILL remember what you did on this day for the rest of your life. So chill about how much it costs - you will work it out in the long run.

Can you be in the sedan right with the champagne, proposing to her right then? I think that would be a big surprise--very romantic, private, and an awesome kick-start to a romantic whirlwind weekend. Otherwise, you and your girlfriend will both have an element of stress until you pop the question.

You all are awesome! My damn job is getting in the way of my planning for this big event, but I am online now! Also at [email protected].

I will definitely do the one knee proposal, absolutely. I am going to go flat broke on this trip but I really don't care. She deserves it so much that everytime I think I need to tone it down, I find myself doing something to make it better five minutes later!
I looked at the ring a dozen times last night!!!

Anyway, I am totally open to attractions and even good restaurant options, and even something that would go in place of Daniel (I realize it isn't hip or trendy but I hear the overall ambiance is tough to beat, as is the food.) That said, I am open to anything!

I have thought about asking her in the car on the way, but I really want to do it in New York...which honestly holds no special place for us, but the way I see it, New York soon will!!!

Wantsomesun...you are correct, the Fodorites totally came through and will be acknowledged as such on the train back home on Sunday.

And jjah, don't worry, I totally realize my budget is meaningly. I really have saved for a lot of this, including most of the ring, so I am ready. Regardless of where my budget ends up, we will be shopping for a new outfit for her for our trendy Saturday night. Something that looks good next to, oh I don't know, DIAMONDS!

And Maria_so...thanks for the reminder about Serendipity...frozen hot chocolate is on the list of things to do for certain!!!! We watched Better of Dead last night, not Serendipity, but still a little Cusak (i think his second best after "Say Anything.")

And for anyone who didn't see above, I got a room at the W Union Square and I spoke to them again today about doing some special things in the room. They have been very accomodating.

Now for the toughest (and in someways the easiest) planning of it all!

I owe you all one...if you ever come to DC or head out to Tucson, I am very knowledgeable about both. Thanks again!!!!

Jeremy

Personally, I'd stick with Daniel for Fri, although Bouley might be slightly more intimate.

Ooh, since you are staying at the W in Union Square (which I love, btw - small rooms but very stylish and great service) I have another suggestion. Sat morning is the Greenmarket in US. While she is in thw shower, step out and pick of Greenmarket brunch - cheese, fruit, bread, etc and a bottle of champagne. If it is nice, hop a cab for a picnic in Central Park. If not, picnic in your hotel room!

Let me know if you need suggestions for the Sat night dinner, and what kind of food/atmosphere/location you are looking for.

As for the shopping, luckily EVERYTHING goes well with diamonds!

Love that idea....I will definitely think about it, although on Saturday morning she might not want to shower alone

I am 100% open to Saturday dinner....this will be the night where we get dressed up in our new clothes from the day, head to a cool bar nearby or in the hotel for a pre-dinner drink, then to a fun, hip, trendy restaurant that we will read about in Page Six regularly. Also, Saturday dinner should be late right? Like 9 or 10pm? Then off to a cool lounge or two for the rest of the night. Cuisine isn't as important on Saturday as atmosphere is. Something that could best be described as FUN.

Thanks again!

Jeremy -

It all sounds so wonderful...very thoughtful and considerate.

My husband proposed to my at the Four Seasons in Austin - we were visiting. I was in the bathtub when he came in and proposed. A little weird, but a very unique memory nonetheless. It makes a good story - he had me trapped and I couldn't run away....

I'm not much into the restaurant proposal - it's too done.
I know you will know the perfect moment when you feel it...wait to feel it...then ask her.

BTW -

Same guy, my husband, was recently in NYC and had the best meal in his life at Gilt. I think it's in the Palace. He's a chef (was there doing a pvt dinner) - I'd take his recommendation if you can fit it in...

Since you are staying at the W I would suggest dinner at the Union Square Cafe, which is still one of the best restaurants in the city, and just down the block from the hotel.

And for the proposal. How about in Central Park, in front of the Bethesda Fountain, and then take a ride on the CArousel. The fountain will always be there, and you can come back and remember your special day there.

For a nice dinner I would also suggest one of my favorite restaurants called Pomodoro, it's on Columbus Ave around 70th St. The food is excellent, and the service is as well.

HOw about a concert or Opera at Lincoln Center (www.lincolncenter.org)

If you need a contact for rings, let me know.

Jeremy-

Recently, there is a thread here about where to propose inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art. If your girlfriend is into art, that would be a wonderful place...

Here's the link to the thread:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34716754

Okay...after careful thought and the advice of many of you, I decided I am not going to do it at dinner, but rather during the day Friday in New York so we can enjoy our fancy Friday, and trendy Saturday with no pressure and just the enjoyment of it all! So, I am going to be hunting for Friday, March 31st options. You all have seriously helped shape this entire event. Thank you again!!!

Saturday I definitely wanted to go to Budakkan after reading about it but the earliest dinner is 10pm, so I think I will keep searching for something at least at 9pm!

Jeremy

We just booked the Doubletree (not the Times Square one) for under $300- might be worth checking out!

The W is a nice hotel, rooms on the smallish side, and the lobby is quite nice and a hip bar that overlooks Park Ave.

I still say you might check The Palace as it is a spectacular hotel and in the heart of everything.

I had another thought on your proposal, the Temple of Dendur at the Met Museum, if you don't mind other people looking on, is centuries old and has endured, so see the connection,,, There is a beautiful reflecting pool, and it overlooks Central Park. After your big surprise, head up to the top of the museum to the cafe to celebrate with a glass of champagne and look out at the Park.

I'm sure we'll all keep thinking up great suggestions for you, so stay tuned.....

Honestly, if you can get the 10 at Buddakan, I'd grab it. Have a snack during the day, cocktail at 8:45, dinner at 10, go out at midnight (remember, bars in NY stay open until 4).

As for your pre-dinner Sat night drinks... Underbar is in the W, and is OK. Park Bar on 15th and USW is one of my fave bars in the city, although it is teeny tiny and gets really crowded on weekends, so might not work in this seeting. Cibar on Irving and I think 17th is a good choice, call to see if you can reserve a table. Stay away from Coffee Shop at all costs unless you like clueless wanna-be models pouring your drinks. On Park Ave btwn 14h and like 20th there are many trendy-ish restaurants where you could have a drink (Sushi Samba, Barca 18, Barbounia, though).

Pepper, that is interesting to hear about Gilt. I ADORE Liebrandt, but have been reluctant to try his new place bc the reviews have been so mixed and the place is SO expensive. Personally, I think on an important weekend like this you are probably better sticking with the tried and true of Daniel, although Gilt is definitely on my list.

OK, as for fun and trendy Sat dinner if you don't go with Buddakan... Da Silvano isn't new or anything, but still figures prominently in Page 6. Spice Market is a good space, but kind of past its prime on the cool factor. I believe Freeman's has reopened, that could be fun for a more casual dinner (they have a kind of Lower East Side hipster hunting lodge vibe, if you can inmagine that). I like Stanton Social a lot, again Lower East Side. Or Thor, also on the LES. (Can you tell I am way over the Meatpacking District?)

I'll keep thinking...

Dear Jeremy,

Just want to clear something up, I really didn't mean to insinuate that you were being tight with your budget, just that if you go over it - to relax about it because in a few years time you wont remember that part. Having said that I think you are being very generous and are going out of your way to think of great things.

What about having the room filled with her favourite flowers prior to arriving? (you can just say its a congratulation gesture for the job).

Don't worry about going over the top - I don't think you will get any of it wrong.
But you had SO BETTER TELL US HER ANSWER !!!!!!

J.