boxer12

I am convinced to buy theater tix ahead of time, i will use the link suggested..thanks. That will save time. Is there an elevator to the top of the city view that is glass so I don't feel so claustrophobic? I really want to stand on top of the ESB, but don't think I can handle the ride up. (It's a long story...but I was trapped in an elevator once)

panhandle

St. Paul's Chapel is located on Church St. between Fulton St. and Vesey St.
They do welcome visitors inside and often have flowers etc. around the church outside. Its really a moving place and they did a great job putting together photos and letters from children around the world that were written to the police and fireman as a memorial.

isabellasu

I highly recommend the Top of the Rock, at Rockefeller Center for your view of the city. You will have to take an elevator up, but it's a fun ride, they do a presentation on the way up & down, you can see the inner workings of the elevator shaft, w/ flashing lights and all, it'll take your mind off of being in an elevator. The view from the top is spectacular, and the best part is...no waiting to get to the top like the ESB. Was just in NYC for my 1st time this past weekend, we got an extra added treat at the Top of the Rock, a fashion photo shoot for Harper's Bazaar...the model, actress Drew Barrymore!

isabellasu

Here's the website for Top of the Rock.
http://www.topoftherocknyc.com/ODTStatic/site.htm

We did the Grayline double-decker bus tour of Lower Manhattan, pricey, but a great way to see the city when your feet no longer can do the work for you!

boxer12

thanks Isa, all. A few more ques, are there VIP passes to nightclubs like in LV? Can anybody recommend a good limo service? How far 'out of the way' is the financial district? Has anybody stayed in the Millenium Hilton 'ground zero view' rooms?

lizziea06

The equivalent of a VIP pass in New York is to get on a list at a club. Unless you know the party promoter or the manager at the club, you probably won't be able to do this.

The financial district is definitely a "destination", meaning you won't stumble across it if you are walking around midtown. But I wouldn't call it out of the way. You can get there very easily on the subway - most lines in Manhattan have stops right on Wall Street. It's also not a bad cab ride if you avoid rush hour.

I'm curious about Palm One - what kind of celebrities do you think you'll see there?

emd

The Millenium Hilton advertises ground zero view rooms? How incredibly tacky.

lizziea06

Another difference on the "club scene" that I should note. The vast majority of clubs in New York are geared towards the very young. You'll find girls aged 19-24, and the guys are generally older. I'm in my mid-20s, and I feel too old most of the time when I go out to clubs. I think a couple in their late 30s would probably have a better time at a lounge than trying to fight your way through a long line.

I can give you some recommendations if this sounds like something that might be interseting

doug_stallings

Here are a few random thoughts from me.

You aren't likely see any celebrities at The Palm except in the caricatures on the wall. But you will need to make reservations for a weekend night. For a top restaurant, think one month in advance, so you should be making your restaurant reservations this week.

If you are truly going on a once-in-a-lifetime trip, then make it truly special, and The Palm isn't that. Nor is Stage Deli. Katz's is certainly a NYC-only type of experience, and it's the kind of deli restaurant I'd recommend.

For your brunches, Balthazar is a good recommendation, but consider Asiate as well; it has extremely good food as well as a killer view of Central Park from the top of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel (it's also an excellent dinner choice). Make reservations for either. Tavern on the Green .... please no, I beg you.

For dinner, Spice Market is definitely a top trendy spot and might have a celebrity or two, as is kittichai (at 60 Thompson). You can probably still get a reservation at one if you call in the next few days. If you want a truly special meal, do try Le Bernardin; though expensive, it's also one of the most welcoming of NYC's top fine-dining restaurants.

Asia de Cuba and Mercer Kitchen aren't trendy anymore, I'm afraid, and the food isn't so good at either one; you'll see more office drones from NJ or Long Island out for a night in Manhattan than anyone else. Dos Caminos is a local chain, though with decent food and certainly not even remotely trendy, even in SoHo.

You don't need a limo to do nightlife in NYC, just cabs, which are plentiful. Nor are there any VIP passes that I know of. For drinks, you might want to try the bar at the Gramercy Park Hotel or the roof-top bar at the Dream Hotel. I just don't do the club scene, so I can't really give you any advice there, but I agree with the poster who said that NYC's club scene skews a bit younger than late 30s. (And many of these places have so-called "table service" where you have to shell out $300 for a bottle of vodka.)

And do the Brooklyn Bridge walk ... that's a very good idea.

cdbooth1

Pilot - Please tell me about the Harlem Gospel Tour. Did you like it? Did you have the brunch? Was it a really interesting cultural experience?

Thanks

boxer12

A NY lawyer friend of mine says that lots of ballplayers eat at the Palm, and I might see a Yankee or two. That was an easy sell to me and I was able to make a reservation on the net. I am not interested in seeing The Donald...but, Derek? That would be special. The same friend recommends the Stage Deli. I know everyone has their favorite. Who can trust a lawyer's advice, anyway? LOL

As for the ground zero rooms at MH, I am not sure if they are advertising them or warning you about them...its just in the room description. That would be too depressing. So our hotel choice seems to stand based on location and price, but I can't decide on Park view or City view. Maybe we will get ambitious and change rooms one day.

I am working on the reservations. I will check out Balthazar, Le Bernardin, Butter, Daniel, Jean George, or Spice Market. (Sounds like a lot of phone calls to make...I better get on it!) Asiate sounds nice but I might have the same view from my hotel room.

A roof top bar sounds good. Hotel Gansevoort or Dream. So does brunch at Sant Ambroseus.

Thanks everyone! It will be memorable, I'm sure. Let's hope for blue skies and safe travels.

Why do I still see 'smoking or nonsmoking' in restaurant reservations? I thought all of NY was nonsmoking now! Ugh, another factor to consider??

boxer12

Holy cow, I just printed this thread and its 12 pages long! New Yorkers love to chat, don't they! YEA! ILNY

boxer12

OK, the restaurant reservations came together pretty well. I had to consider location. This will prob resemble someone's proposed trip itin (I will look later to see who came closest.)

On Friday we will take a walk in CP to Strawberry Fields and visit the Met followed by 5th Ave shopping if we have time. Fri night is Spice Market in the Village before walking the Brooklyn Bridge and painting the town red. Saturday we will take a double decker bus tour, Top of the Rock and leaving plenty of time for browsing. Sat night is early dinner at Le Meridian in Midtown before the theater and Times Square, then we will look for a romantic place for dessert with champagne. Another walk in CP followed by Sun brunch at Balthazar's in Soho before WTC memorial, St. Patrick's, and browsing other landmarks or places of interest, saving time for a ride on the Staten Island Ferry.

There is one big snag in our plans, and that is what to do with our luggage after we check out of our hotel on Sunday. We might have to rent a cab for the day, or take them to our hotel in NJ before brunch. That will break up the day. Maybe we can do that and catch the ferry from NJ. We are disappointed that most NYC restaurants are closed on Sundays, because we wanted to check out The River Cafe and Sun would have worked well as we relocated to NJ for business on Monday. I hope Soho isn't all shuttered on Sundays. That would be a shame.

panhandle

I have found that most hotels are very agreeable to letting you store your luggage at the desk for the day. Sounds like a great plan BTW. Make sure and let us know how it goes!

boxer12

The prob is that our hotel is up on Central Park. I'm thinking maybe we should just move hotels on Sunday am, to across the river, then take the ferry back over for brunch, and go to my meeting on Mon am at NJ Med School. Is that a good plan, or maybe we should stay on NYC side near the tunnel so we can just head out to NJ on Mon am? Something like Embassy Suites near the tunnel...or Millenium Hilton. What about that? Which is a better idea? (My meeting on Mon is at 10 am sharp.)

marginal_margiela

Restaurants:

Balthazar
Babbo
Chantarelle
Blue Ribbon
Asiate
Mary's Fish Camp
Pearl

ggreen

boxer, I saw something on another thread this evening about the Hotel Pennsylvania being amenable to checking your bags with their Bell Desk even if you don't stay there; it's located across the street from Penn Station. (Sorry, am too tired / late at night to find the thread right now!) Also, you could try and find out whether you can check bags at the Amtrak counter in Penn Station - there have been mixed comments on this board as to whether or not they now require an Amtrak ticket to do so...

Your trip sounds great!

nelsonian

Just been reading this thread, Pilot your itinerary sounds great for us, even though our trip is still 6 months away.I like the idea of eating breakfast at Grand Central Station while everyone else is going to work. The sheer size of it might freak us out a bit coming from a samll town in New Zealand. We are also into listening to jazz so some recommendations as to great places to go would be appreciated. Thanks

ilovetotravel29

Ok, here is my list...I visited NYC only 1x before, and for a short time and I plan on visiting it again soon

for once in a life time...visit and/or do the following

1. WTC memorial...
2. Have an authentic slice of NY pizza
3. The Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Natural History Museum
4. Visit the Statue of Liberty
5. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge
6. Take a stroll down 42nd street
7. See a broadway musical
8. Eat at a NYC landmark restaurant...

pilot

Hi Nelsonia,

I love your country! Besides NYC it's in my top 3 destinations.

As far as jazz in NYC there are many venues with differing styles etc. I'm also a musician so I like it all.

A good time is the Mingus Big Band - I think they play on either Tuesday or Thursday night. That would be a good one to research.

Anything at the Village Vanguard is top notch but it's more of a serious listeners venue - talking while performing is frowned upon.

Blue Note, BB King's, Birdland are more touristy but just fine if who you like is performing that night.

There are other small venues as well. One of my favs was Cleopatra's Needle which has expanded since I lived there - great food, great music and an intimate atmosphere. It's a neighborhood place that's easy to get to from anywhere in Manhattan. It's on the Upper West Side.

The Iridium is also a nice place but I remember that as being spendy -but it is NY so...

Here's a good website - http://www.ny.com/clubs/jazz/

If you have more specific questions just let me know.