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NYC trip help/itinerary (long)
Dh and I are coming back to NYC! This is our 2nd trip (did trip report for first trip). Again, its mostly about cousins (big American/Irish wedding on LI over the weekend) but we will have 3 days in Manhattan on our own and 1 dinner in the West Village with one cousin and his wife. I think I need some "tweaking" on our itinerary or your thoughts. Here goes:
Arrive: Tue. June 3 into EWR at 5:30pm (from LAX) Staying at Comfort Inn-46th St. (we loved it last time...shhh..good little secret...haha) Q-I am thinking that taking a car service such as Dial 7 would be better than the Air Train/NJ Transit since we will have luggage? Q-dinner first night? Eating out is a big deal to us...one of our favorite things about traveling...so, I put a lot of thought into this...I'm stuggling! Never has to be fancy (but sometimes that is ok) but we just like good food! Here is what I am thinking about.... Vice Versa, Trattoria Trecolori, Brooklyn Diner...also, husband loves seafood, I would love a good bowl of Pasta Boulanaise.... Wed. June 4 Going to the Mary Manning Walsh Home (Nursing home) to visit yet another cousin who is a resident (1339 York Ave. at 72nd street). Then, walking to Buttercup Bakery (141 W. 72nd St) to try a cupcake or 2 (yeah, I'm a cupcake freak...and yeah, Magnolia Bakery sucks...tried it last time...I could make better at home)...but its a "hobby" to try new cupcakes! Then, here goes the flaming....my dh wants to try Tavern on the Green...yeah, we know its horrible...he just wants to be there once!! On their website it mentions "afternoon tea" has anyone tried that? We could just do that... could a cucumber sandwich be that bad? (yeah, probably, huh?). We were thinking of just doing a picnic, we might still do that...not sure. Then, take a walk through Central Park for awhile. Tkts booth later in the afternoon....no big deal here...just to see if there is anything we might want to see... We've done TOR, ESB, Met Museum...so, if no play we might pick an area and go hang out there....and have dinner in that neighborhood, and if we go to the theater need a restaurant nearby...or, my SiL loved Il Campanello (136 w. 31st) but that is not near our hotel, etc. Thur. June 5 Ellis Island-first thing in the morning, spend a few hours there. Katz Deli (really want to go there at somepoint this trip) Subway to Brooklyn Bridge and walk back. Meet cousins around 6:00pm in West Village at a Thai dinner place they love. Friday, June 6 Would love to spend morning getting hair styled (not cut). Any ideas for somewhere nice but won't break the bank..not too far from hotel (129 W. 46th St.) Cab to Penn Station Penn Station for LIRR to Roslyn (have that infor.) Roslyn is where we're all staying for the wedding. We're all set after that....after the wedding we are going with another cousin to Stamford, Conn. to spend 4 days and see Conn. (mystic, Berkshires, etc.)...so, can't wait!!!! Q What kind of subway tickets should we get for 2 full days, 3 evenings and one 1/2 day? Any ideas/thoughts/help appreciated. Thanks so much, Shadow |
Just a comment or two:
The Berkshires are not near Stamford or Mystic. They're is western Mass. I prefer a car service, especially with luggage. Do you know that 141 W. 72nd is not near Mary Manning Walsh Home which is on the east side? The bakery is on the west side. The walk is very doable through Central Park, but it is probably 35 minutes or so. |
Centralparkgirl,
Thanks for the response! I did know about the Berkshires...we will be there for 4 days so one of those days we might be taking a long ride!! Sorry, I should have stated Mass. in my message! I'm glad to hear about the car service...we did it in London and it worked out great so good to hear the affirmation! Thanks! Had not figured out that about the distance of MMW Home and the Buttercup Bakery...I can only hope we'll have enough time! Thanks for the help! Shadow |
I mentioned in another thread about cupcakes that are not far from the Walsh home if you're interested. The bakery is Crumbs on Third Ave between 78th and 79th Sts. Most of the cupcakes are not regular, simple ones - these are large and embellished and quite rich, but a lot of people like them and there is a pretty big variety (blackout, snickers, oreo, mocha to mention a few)
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Centralparkgirl,
I had read your post about Crumbs...however, I really am a fan of the simple cupcakes and the Buttercup Bakery might work time and distance wise...thanks though! I am keeping it in mind for another trip! Shadow |
Instead of Tavern on the Green why not eat in the Boathouse in Central Park? Also great atmosphere - but the food is much better.
The walk through Central Park is easy and fun - as lomg as the weather is good. If not - just hop on the 72nd St crosstown bus. |
Shadow - you're on vacation; you should eat exactly what you want - including cupcakes!
A great Italian restaurant on 43rd is Esca - but expensive. www.esca-nyc.com |
instead of subway to Brooklyn. Try the water taxi from the south street seaport. The TKTS booth is also there and much less crowded. The water taxi is cheap and when you get off, the view is great. There is a yummy ice cream shop right there. Walk up the hill to eat at Grimaldi's pizza yummy. Ate with new york city firefighters. Walk up the street to get to the brooklyn bridge and walk back into the city. If you can do it at sunset, it is gorgeous. We did it around lunch and still loved it.
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If I may add two more cupcake places to your (future) list: Two Little Red Hens on the UES, Second Ave just south of 86th Street; and Mitchel London's cupcakes at the Fairway Cafe on the UWS, Broadway & 74th St.
Also, if you do go to Buttercup for cupcakes but someone else prefers chocolate chip cookies over cupcakes, my fave ccc are close to Buttercup - at Levain Bakery on W 74th St, just east of Amsterdam. It's below ground level. |
Re. subway tix, depends on how much you'll be riding the subway. Unlimited one-day tix are $7.50 and a single ride is $2, so if you'll ride more than four times a day, get the unlimited ride.
I like the idea of taking the water taxi at South Street and eating pizza at Grimaldi's (almost as good as Lombardi's - some would say better). The views are the same that you'd get from the Brooklyn Bridge, but it's true that it'd be a better TKTS experience for you, and unlike the Times Square TKTS, you can get next-day matinee tickets at South Street. Have fun! Mike Travel blog: www.stricklandia.com |
Centralparkgirl: thanks again, I am really looking into Esca...sounds like a great place for us! Gosh, so many restaurants, so little time!
poolqueen822:love the idea of the water taxi and so did dh!! So, we'll do that pizza and all and maybe go to Katz' the first night! totorofan: thanks for the info on the Two Little Hens and the Levain bakery! RaymondluxuryYacht: the idea of the TKTS book at SouthStreet Seaport is good since we would not want tickets unti the next day anyway! I will check into their hours...thanks!! Shadow |
nytraveler: the Boathouse is a good alternative...as with so much else, I am up in the air about it...still wondering about the tea at Tavern on the Green...
anybody? thanks, shadow |
Boy, laundry ain't getting done nor dishes either around here....I'm having too much fun planning our time in NYC again!!
However, phooey, if I am reading the info. about the water taxi's from South Street Seaport to Brooklyn, it appears they only run on the weekends and we'll have gone on to LI for the wedding by then. Dh and I were both looking forward to that...oh well, back to sq. one and take the subway! Unless someone knows something I don't? I could have it wrong! ??? Shadow |
Here is some tweaking being done:
Arrival night: dinner will be at Il Campanello (www.campanello.com)136 W. 31st St. (btw. 6th and 7th)...ok, my sil/bil have eaten here and loved it and well they are really wanting us to try it. We really like the menu! On Wed. we are set with the MMW Home and then Central Park then the Tkts booth....would sure LOVE to see South Pacific but don't want to spend hundreds to see it!! I hope it stays awhile and I could see it another time??? Thur. will be Ellis Island, then subway to DUMBO, walk around, have lunch, then walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, later meet cousins in the West Village for dinner. Friday...still need a place to have my hair done...not too far from hotel...(on 46th between 6th and 7th)...just washed, and blow dried...I have "Kennedy hair" and am challenged to tame it!! LOL Then, cab to Penn St. then LIRR to Roslyn!! Q: When should I make the Dial 7 reservation for the day of arrival? We will arrive the evening (5:30pm if on time!!) of June 3....now?, next week?, a day before? Again, thanks for any help!! Shadow |
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