JenniM

I'm going to NY next month and want to see the Jon Stewart Show and the studio is located in an area I'm not familiar with - 733 11th Ave. Is this a safe neighborhood? Are there any hotels nearby?

I booked the Algonquin (historical tourist) but don't think it's within walking distance or even near the Comedy Central studio (1.7 miles). Are there casual, vegetarian restaurants in this area? I think Zen Palatte might be nearby but wondering if there are others. I don't care for the Time Square atmosphere. Do people walk around the Algonquin area/Rockefeller in the evenings? Or is this just a daytime area?

I am thinking about just staying at the Algonquin just one night when we go to a Broadway musical and moving to the West Village or Upper West Side for neighborhood ambience, and easy access to casual vegetarian dining. Any suggestions?

Thanks for all the great info and advice on NYC at this forum!

mudcat

We did the Stewart show two years ago. It's not the best neighborhood, nor the worst. Be prepared for a long wait on the line and a strange admission procedure, but the show is worth it, as you know. Sorry, can't help with restaurants or hotels.

ellenem

No reason to stay near the studio. Get dinner afterward on Ninth Avenue nearby, which has many restaurants and varied cuisines. Most will have some vegetarian offerings.

You can walk from the Algonquin--to a New Yorker 1.7 miles is not that much, just slightly more than half an hour. It is a safe area, never mind that the show will be done taping by 7pm, hardly the middle of the night.

The Algonquin/Rockefeller area will have people around at not, mostly tourists like you, perfectly safe. The side streets might seem somewhat deserted, but directly around Rcoefeller Center there are plenty of people.

JenniM

Thanks for the info!

We'll do a sightseeing walk to the Daily Show and walk to 9th Avenue afterwards. Found my favorite Zen Palate there!

I'm an advocate of historic preservation and am excited about staying at the Algonquin. I followed its restoration, along with the history of its change of owners, and have experienced some trepidation after the last changing of hands.

I preferred the period wallpaper and other decor after the 2004 renovation to the current decor. The New Yorker wallpaper is a bit over-the-top and I wonder what Dorothy Parker would say about it. But otherwise, the current decor is not bad and the lighting is beautiful.

Then I recently read the mixed opinions at Trip Advisor, and in a slightly dated newspaper review, which saddened me and created some concern about staying there. But after reading that Viggo Mortensen stayed there recently and after McLaurie's recommendation at this forum, I am no longer apprehensive, and so glad to support this wonderful historical and cultural hotel that continues to be a literary mecca and provides inspiration to writers and other creative people -- not just in NY but throughout the US and the world.

Fascinating how the Round Table mystique continues to resonate.

Thanks again for the info --I have a better sense of the distance proportions now. We'll bring books to read and some bottled water, while waiting to see Jon Stewart.

LindaS123

Have you bought your tickets, yet? If so can you tell me how much it costs? Thank you

ellenem

Tickets? If you mean for Jon Stewart (Daily Show), tickets are free.

JenniM

Linda,

Go to the Daily Show Comedy Central website. There you request tickets for a certain date. Up to 4, I believe. Then you must go to the studio on that date and stand in line to get inside -- that's the challenging and costly part -- in time. First come, first served. Then you have to wait in the studio. There's supposed to be a warm-up act. The entire amount of time it takes up to four hours, I've estimated.

mdn

It can get quite windy on 11th Avenue. So, if it's cold when you'll go make sure you have plenty of clothes, hats, gloves etc to keep you warm, esp if you'll have to wait to go inside.
In addition, the size of the blocks on the far west side is huge, so even though a walk from 11th Ave. to 9th Ave is technically 2 blocks, in reality, it's more like walking 4 blocks. Finally, you choice of hotel is fine. You don't really want to be close to 11th Ave for your hotel because that may put you close to the show but far from everything else.