NYC at Christmas
 

We will be going to NYC for just three nights next week - we have seen most of the main sights of the city on other visits so I am making plans to see mostly holiday sights. Suggestions? we will be staying in midtown east and will be mostly walking (weather dependent of course) and maybe taking the subway a bit as well. Thanks!

hi suec1,

i'm afraid i can't contribute as i'm going to NYC on the 18th ... but i'm bookmarking your thread for reference! tks!

Try to see the most elegant Christmas tree in NYC at the Met Museum.

There are two outdoor holiday markets that are interesting, one at Union Square the other at Bryant Park.

Try to get a copy of this little guidebook - <i>"New York Holiday Guide, The Best Places to Eat, Drink, Shop and Celebrate"</i> by Charles Suisman. Its been around for awhile, but is awfully good for the holidays. I've used it often.

http://www.amazon.com/New-York-Holid...0206823&sr=1-1

Rock Center with tree, decorations and St Pats
Incredible Christmas windows starting at Lore & Taylor (Fifth/38th) and heading uptown, across 57th and over to Bloomies
Other best trees are at the Met and the Museum of Nartural History (origami)
Nutcracker at Lincoln Center (or Christmas Spectacular at Music Hall if you prefer)
Several Christmas markets - Union Square and Bryant Park being the best
Skating at Rock Center or in Central Park or one of several other places

Check the web site of New York Magazine for your dates - they list a tone of special events

Also look at about a hundred posts below telling people what to see/do

The windows at Macys' are wonderful this year, you should stop by and write a "letter to Santa". Also Lord and Taylor and Saks have special windows and usually Bloomies does a great display as well.

Just walking up 5th Ave the windows are so pretty this year.

There are 2 more holiday markets that you might want to see at Grand Central Station and Columbus Circle.

There are a few holiday trees to see as well.

Met Museum
Museum of Natural History
Lincoln Center
City Hall
South St. Seaport
2 Broadway

I'd also say The Cloisters, though there isn't a tree it is decorated beautifully for the holiday and well worth a trip uptown if you have never been there.

Here's a link to the current NY Magazine Xmas guide. You'll come in on dining but other links are on the bottom.
http://nymag.com/guides/holidays/62346/

Thanks from me too, I will be going soon also and appreciate this information.

I live in the neighborhood (midtown east) and will be happy to offer my opinions about eating if you tell me/us a bit more about your taste and budget.

Thanks ekscrunchy - for dining I am looking for restaurants with an ambience and price like you find in a modest family run restaurant in France or Italy. I've been looking for restaurants in mid-town east, alot of them seem to be very pricey. I've found some in other parts of the city but I'd prefer not to have to go too far so suggestions are welcome. I like French, Spanish, Italian, Greek cuisine. Maybe around $75 for dinner and less than that for lunch.

Wander Lexington South of 40th Street - you'll find a lot of interesting ones and there's a temporary structure that has been set up as a bar and restaurant on the North East Corner of the rink in Bryant Park that looks like a lot of fun.

I agree with SueNYC -- wander Lexington. We used to stay in that area and there are tons of little places with sidewalk ambience and delicious food. Probably none listed in guidebooks, but great all the same. A cozy little casual French place that we like is <u>La Bonne Soupe</u>, 48 W. 55th St. www.labonnesoupe.com We used to slip in there a lot pre-theater. Althought the address is WEST, its really not very far west. Just off of Ave.of the Americas. Althought not on the East Side, we also love <u>Pomaire</u> (Chilean) on Restaurant Row, 371 W. 46th St. Great food and wine and a cozy fireplace. www.pomairenyc.com And one of my favorite places is <u>Vince and Eddies</u> for the lamb with cherry sauce. Yum! 70 W. 68th St.

I would also sugget strolling down 3rd Ave from the 39th on down to teh 20's. There are TONS of restaurants in that area as well that would be right on traget.

One of my favs in the area is Rio Grande. Tex/Mex and VERY good.

I have to respectfully disagree with the suggestions to look for good eating along Lexington and Third AVenues with the possible exception of one or two Indian places further south on Lexington.

While it is true that there are many restaurants on these avenues, they are probably not of the quality, nor are they the type of chef-driven places that you may be looking for based on your travel experiences. I do suspect, however, that I am a harsher critic than most.

For a good meal for less than $75 for two you might consider one of several Turkish places on Second Avenue....let me think about this a bit more and I will come up with a couple of other suggestions. Also on SEcond, Zarela is popular for Mexican but I am not a big fan, based on long ago experience.

It may give you some insight when I tell you that I almost always leave the area for dinners out.

Ekscrunchy - I've come to the conclusion I will eat better if I head out of midtown east. So give me some ideas - I can do the subway - we will be at the W near Lexington so if possible make the restaurants easily accessible from the subways heading out of there. I'd like to find a French place - not too fancy, Les Halles? Thanks!

Actually a branch of a very well known french place Le Relais de Veniise L'entrecote just opened a few months ago around your hotel - it's not homey, but it's an experience. It serves one thing - steak frites. Here's the NY Times review.
http://events.nytimes.com/2009/11/04...trecote&st=cse

For homey French, you could take the E train from Lex and 53rd to W. 4th St., (about 12 minutes) get off at the front of the train, walk down 6th Avenue past to where Cornelia street branches off, to Le Gigot, at 18 Cornelia St. Very homey, good french food, kind of a quintessential W. Village place
http://www.legigotrestaurant.com/

in fact that whole block has some sweet places - Pearl Oyster Bar, Cornelia St. Cafe, Le Gigot, and a cuban place I forget the name of. Cornelia street is charming - one of the few streets in Manhattan that is only one block long.

The suggestion of Le Gigot is a good one--we have had many excellent meals there. Their crab cakes are legendary. Be sure to book several days ahead if possible. But you cannot eat there for $75 for two unless you forego wine and order very carefully.

Another place I like a lot is Aldea on West 17th Street, in more or less the same price range as Le Gigot and mentioned on another current thread. More trendy and less homey than Le Gigot but with stellar food.

Although I usually leave the area to dine, I did actually eat around here last night. We had a surprisingly good dinner at OBAO on East 53rd Street. This is the new venture of a fairly well known Vietnamese owner/chef. The meal for two was $50 before tip and with only tea; unfortunately this is considered reasonable for NYC, especially for this area. It is NOT, however, authentic Viet food. If you do end up there, try the eggplant appetizer which really was wonderful.

My current favorite in an adjacent neighborhood is Convivio, which for my money is currently probably the best Italian in the city and certainly the best southern Italian. You can have a fabulous meal of pasta (the chef's strong point) and perhaps a glass each of wine and keep it in budget. Advance reservations essential although they do have a few tables near the bar that host walk ins.

At which hotel will you be staying?

Two unusual places in midtown are:

1. Sakagura. Japanese, located in the basement of an office building, similar to such locations in Japan:

http://www.sakagura.com/index.php



2. TaamTov. Bukharan/kosher. Located in an office building in the diamond district, considered vaguely off the beaten path and therefore kind of hip; cheap; open only until5pm.


NYTimes review:


http://events.nytimes.com/2007/02/07...ws/07unde.html



A good bet for inexpensive middle eastern are the several outlets of Hummus Place and a restaurant called Taim; see this article:



http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/07/2...&itemNo=594335


In the financial district, this place is much loved. I have never been so cannot give first hand comments:


http://www.alfanoose.com/index.html



There is a good lunch deal at the venerated Motorino pizza restaurant at 349 East 12th Street in the East Village---excellent pizza plus soup or salad; I think the price now is $12. Put it on your list. Around the corner on 14th STreet, Artichoke Pizza is also out of this world but there is often a line and very few seats.

topping this for posters who are asking about eating in NYC

Ek and others-- my office is on third avenue between 41st and 42nd-- we often do lunch at Osteria Laguna (42nd between lex and third)and have always found it to be quite good (for dinner as well). Also- not sure if its been mentioned, but Docks (3rd ave and 30th or 40th). Large seafood (think Oysterbar). A little on the pricey side but love their cold seafood salad and friend anything

ALSO-- and how could I forget Dont miss Pommes Frites- a storefront on secondave between 7th and 8th (or 6th and 7th)- youll see the lines. Frites only in three sizes with a choice of about 30 amazing sauces. Double cone is $7.75. The best!

LB: I had a friend (a professional chef from San Francisco) in town last spring. She stayed on Park Avenue South and had dinner one night at Da Ciro on Lexington. She had good things to say about their "baby" chicken roasted in a wood burning oven, and their signature focaccia with robiola cheese.

Have you ever been?


http://www.daciro.com/index2.htm



(On that same visit we did a south Brooklyn food jaunt and dropped in at L&B Spumoni Gardens and Royal Crown Bakery-----if you ever need Italian pastries and some of the best bread in the NYC area, that is the place to go!


http://www.royalcrownny.com/

No! Have never been to da ciro but would love to try it--but GREW UP eating at Spumoni Gardens!! (I'm originally from Brooklyn).
If we're on Brooklyn- how about Frankies 457 (on Court Street). We stumbled on it last summer- very cool ambiance and really good Italian.
Re pastries-- Veniero's on 11th between 1st and 2nd (Manhattan) in Manhattan is among the best in my opinion. Always packed, overwhelming choices and among the best Sicilian cassata I've ever had. Have never been to Royal Crown (where is that?).
Was in Bay Ridge at a party last night and bemoaning (as I do every year) the demise of Alba's on 18th avenue in Bensonhurst.

BTW - To eat in an authentic art deco diner with Jewish/Polish food in the Theater District on 47th Street between Broadway and 8th Ave, think "Cafe Edison" also fondly known as the "Polish Tea Room". Delish food at very reasonable prices. Not fine dining by any means. Huge portions - you can share.

LB: Royal Crown is a NY institution! Some of the best bread and pastries you could imagine!
It is off New Utrecht in Bensonhurst. I think they have the best baguette in the city, but they are more famous for other breads.

I've only been to the Frankie's in Manhattan--very cute place; good food and not too pricey..they've opened up at least one new place in Brooklyn I think.

I think Veneiro's is good, too. I will make it a point to buy a slice of cassata next time...

But I like Madonia on Arthur Avenue even more..if you have not been to that area lately you have to go! I only wish I had a bigger freezer!

How did I ever miss Royal Crown?? I actually grew up i Bensonhurst!
Love Arthur Ave too-- we just dont get over there often enough- at least one spectacular place for cannnolis that comes to mind.
If you do get to Veniero's, try to get an "end". Its back in a giant slab with sprt pf almost a cookie/shortbread crust- the combo of that with the filling is amazing. Not that I have to tell you this, but the cassata is not to be confused witht their sicilian cheesecake, also sold in slabs but I think a little eggy. ALSO- this time of year they sell giant homemade torrones- sublime

A great little sushi restaurant, called Umi at 31st and Park. So little atmosphere, it has atmosphere if you know what I mean . . . very inexpensive and attentive service. The specialty rolls are imaginative. One is even called the Christmas roll. This place will definitely keep you under budget.
Kate
www.moonfun.net

LB: That is a great tip! I will have to make a trip to Veneiro's soon. Should I ask for "the end of the cassata?"

I have to admit that i am a bit leery of inexpensive sushi places..I wonder what kind of fish they are serving..

Lol-- yes-- or a "corner".