NYC March 19 through 21: What is on top of the to do list??
 

I am looking for recommendations for this time frame. I am thinking of a schedule as follows:

19:
Arive at hotel around 1:00pm. Check in or at least check bags. Then subway to china town/little italy for lunch, exploring, and cannolis. Back to hotel, refresh, then dinner, maybe music in village? (recommendations?)

20: Met, Gugenheim, then central park. back to hotel, then dinner and opera.

21: Open for advice, but will depart (via bus) at 7:30 (should be there by 6:30).

Thanks for your help.

Hi Bob. I went to NY for the first time last October, so I'm not an authority like many that may respond, but your second day seems over-scheduled. We spent a whole day in the Metropolitan Museum. Perhaps you could go to the Met, have dinner and go to the opera.

Have you been to NYC before or is this your first trip?

Bob, I agree with Claire, it would help to know if you've been here before and how you came to this itin. and where you're staying.

I'm just mystified why everyone comes to NYC and then heads to Chinatown and Little Italy. Little Italy is 2 short blocks filled with tourist trap restaurants. Chinatown is mass chaos filled with people hawking illegal merchandise. Yes, there's some good Chinese food and some good food markets if you're a cook. But otherwise....?

Go to TOp of the Rock for a great view when you arrive. Seasonofsavings.com has a coupon for a discount. I agree you've got too much planned for the 20th. Go to the park on the 19th and/or maybe the Guggenheim. Save the 20th for the Met and also check out the Frick.

For music in the village, go to bigapplejazz.com and see who's playing where. If you want to eat and have some jazz, La Lanterna or the Garage are good.

I have been to NYC quite a few times, but not in a while. I know that the Met can take weeks to go through, but I was figuring on a few hours for one or two exhibits. The Gugenheim would be more of an if-time-allows kind of thing. After all, I want to leave plenty of time to get ready for dinner and the opera.

I am a cook, and it would be great to get some nice asian stuff in Chinatown, and I am hoping to pick up some cheap (although I remember them as pretty-looking) dishes and saki sets. Little Italy is just right there, so why not take a walk through there?

I was hoping to get dinner and see some jazz in the Village that first night. The last day is completely open, and we leave at 7:30pm from port authority.

I appreciate your help, and I hope this helps you help me. :)

Weather permitting...

I have been to NYC a few times, this last time I did an open air bus tour (you can get on and off as much as you want). It was awesome. I recommend doing it on the first day. Then you can decide where to go after!

Weather permitting, top of the empire state building, Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, 911 Memorial, Times Square.

8-)

I actually think you would have a lot of fun going to Chinatown, keeping in mind that on a weekend the crowds are pretty dense.

My boyfriend and I (we both live in NYC) went to Chinatown a few weekends ago, and had a great time. We did a little research beforehand to find the best dim sum places (there's one that's absolutely massive--like a huge reception hall-- and really interesting and fun to go to -- it's called Jing Fong and I believe it's on Elizabeth Street), as well as a few famous bakeries and markets. As long as you know where you're going, Chinatown is a really fun and unique place to visit.

Enjoy your visit!