New York with Children
 

Hi Everyone. <BR>I am looking for some suggestions for evening entertainment for myself and my child. She is 9. We are going to be in NYC for a week...during the day she will be dancing and in workshops for a production about children that she will be performing in. I am looking for something fun to do after she has finished her rehearsals, after 7 pm. We are seeing 2 shows and I have checked out places like Jekyll and Hyde and Mars 2112 but i have a few more evenings that i need to fill. Any suggestions would be great. <BR>Thanks for the help. <BR>

The Natural History Museum & Metropolitan Museum both are open late on Fridays & Saturdays (to 8:45pm & 9pm respectively) - MOMA & Guggenheim also keep late hours on some days. Natural History also has live jazz on Fridays. <BR> <BR>If you like ice skating, Rockfeller Center's rink keeps late hours as does Wollman Rink in Central Park (Wed-Sun last year) and Chelsea Piers (indoor skating - 8-9:30pm on Mon & Wed). Chelsea Piers also has bowling alleys which stay open. <BR> <BR>My family likes the restaurant America on 18th St between 5th Ave & Broadway; Cowgirl Hall of Fame in the West Village; O'Neals near Lincoln Center; Golden Unicorn in Chinatown; Cub Room Cafe, Jerry's or Zoe's in Soho or splurge for the ambiance at Tavern on the Green. And walk around those neighborhoods if it's nice enough out (except Central Park). <BR> <BR>Go see an evening performance of Big Apple Circus if they're still around when you are (through Jan 6). I don't know what shows you're seeing but the New Victory Theater on 42nd St and Theatreworks on Seventh Ave are good children's theaters.

Hi Bridgett...I recommend dinner and (definitely) dessert at Serendipity on East 60th Street - it's the home of frozen hot chocolate and other fabulous desserts...you may even recognize it's interior from movies and tv (the big clock)...also, The American Festival Cafe at Rockefeller Center gives you a front row seat to watch the skaters...then there's the Imax Theater at the Museum of Natural History on Central Park West at 77th-78th Streets or the Sony Wonder Technology Lab at 56th Street and Madison Avenue (212)833-8100 - I think it's still there - anyway, it has an interactive lab where you can try your hand at making a music video or performing surgery...not sure about the hours but there's also the Children's Museum on West 83rd Street - they're hosting a Curious George exhibit...you mention in your post that your child is dancing - see what is at the Joyce Theater or Lincoln Center.

Some other evening ideas if you are here during the coming holiday season... Radio City's holiday show with the Rockettes, New York City Ballet's Nutcracker (the girls who see this show get very dressed up!) and A Christmas Carol at Madison Square Garden. <BR> <BR>Also the Bronx Zoo is open at night from Thanksgiving to New Year's. They have a light exhibit that's wonderful. But one thing I'm not sure about is how visitors would go there. We drive, but I don't know if I would recommend taking the subway there at night (during the day is fine). <BR> <BR>Oh and the restaurant at Rockefeller Center has changed their name from American Festival to Rock Center Cafe. Probably similar food. And if you want to see an IMAX movie, you can not only see one at the Natural History museum, but also at the Loews (formerly Sony) Lincoln Square Theatre on Broadway and 68th St. <BR> <BR>Have fun - and if you're coming to New York at a different time, let us know.

Thank you all for your ideas...We are going to be there the Friday before Thanksgiving until Thanksgiving day. We are seeing Aida and the Radio City Christmas Show. I really like the idea of the resturant by the skating rink. The Sony lab sounds really great too. <BR>Of course we are going to see the Thanksgiving day parade and try to get out to see the inflation of the balloons. Gosh when i think of her schedule hers is pretty much full...i guess now i need to work on mine...i get to enjoy the entire day while she is dancing...any suggestions on what I should do all day??? <BR>Thanks again. <BR>Bridgett

Bridgett, <BR> <BR>What a wonderful opportunity for you and your daughter! <BR> <BR>Have you considered trying to get half-price tickets to a Broadway show? You and your daughter could take in a show other than Aida, or you could go to a matinee while she's busy. There's a half-price booth right in Times Square. You can get information about it at http://www.tdf.org. <BR> <BR>If I had days to spend in New York, I'd walk and I'd do museums. Just walking around Greenwich Village, and up and down Fifth Avenue, and the perimeter of Central Park, is great. I'm sure you could even find a walking tour. <BR> <BR>If you like art, first go to the Frick. It's a small collection in Frick's mansion, centrally located. Then of course there's the Metropolitan, which would easily absorb me for most of a day. I don't particularly like modern art, but MOMA does have a great collection. And slightly outside the city is the Cloisters, the Metropolitan's medieval exhibit. I recently went there for the first time and just loved it. We drove, but I believe you can get a bus there. <BR> <BR>Check out http://www.timeoutny.com/cityguide/ for more ideas on what to do during the days. <BR> <BR>Will there be other parents you'll meet and possibly hang out with? <BR> <BR>I hope you both have a wonderful time!

Thanks Penny. I do plan on spending lots of time walking around and shopping. I do want to get to the Cloisters as well, I have heard that it is wonderful. I do want to spend time in each community like the village, chinatown, little italy, dont exactly know what there is to do in each community but I want to absorb the atmosphere. I do also want to see the public Library, St. Patrick's...I guess there is just so much to do that I dont want to miss anything. Thanks again for the suggestions. <BR>Bridgett