Hi, I'm a major detail person, but I fear I'd bore most of you to death. So I'll give you the highlights of my trip, and if you want more details, let me know and I'll fill you in! I was in Manhattan for 5 days, stayed at the LondonNYC for 3 nights, the Hotel Elysee for 2 nights. They were both great, altho I preferred the Elysee....more of a boutique hotel, whereas the London was more of a huge modern business hotel. I mostly walked and did the subway. I ate at Balthazar's in Soho (loved it), also ate at Il Palazzo in Little Italy. Other than that, I ate street food and drank champagne. Speaking of champagne, I didn't specify what KIND of champagne I wanted (at Bemelman's Bar at the Carlyle), so I ended up with a $28 dollar of champagne which was deliciously magnificent, but was also one of the reasons I ate mostly streetfood thereafter. (live and learn) I took the 90-minute recommended Lower East Side walking tour (from my Eyewitness NYC travel book), and I loved it. (altho that 90-minute tour took me 7 hours). I did the tenemant museum, Yonah Schimmels for a fried latke, Russ and Daughters, Katz Deli, Chinatown, the Buddhist Temple, and Little Italy. I did a bit of shopping and browsing both in Soho and the Upper West Side. Went to the Easter Sunday service @ St. Thomas Cathedral on 5th Ave, enjoyed the Easter Bonnet Parade afterwards on 5th Ave., had a less than $28 glass of champagne at the Rise Bar at the Battery Park Ritz-Carlton 'cus I felt I needed to see Lady Liberty, spent a couple hours in Central Park, walked through Union Square after stopping at Max Brennen's chocolate shop for a banana and nutella crepe, and then walked through the Flatiron and Gramercy neighborhoods on my way back up to Midtown to the Hotel Elysee. Great trip, loved NYC, and thanks to you Fodorites, did many of the activities that you recommended! Thank you!! Colette

Colette....

Wow! What a great trip you had!! You really did a lot...thanks for sharing.

My dh and I are going on our 2nd trip in early June...can't wait.
I do have a question: what is Russ and Daughters?

Thanks again for your trip report
Shadow

Packed a lot into your trip Colette!
Nice report!
Shadow: Russ & Daughters is a great store on the lower East Side.

Russ and Daughters is a 3rd generation-owned food/candy store.....not penny candy...whatever that is .... but good chocolates, including chunks of Halvah! Lots of varieties of fish, roe, spreads, jellies, salads, flatbreads, etc. The main reason I stopped there was to get an egg cream (my guidebook said they made them), but the guy told me they were out of seltzer, so no egg creams. He directed me to the Gem Spa on St. Mark's Pl and 2nd Ave, but I was heading south for my 7-hr tour of the LES, so didn't make it there. Guess my search for the perfect 1970's egg cream will have to be saved for my next NYC adventure. (Since my return, I did a search on this forum for NYC egg creams, and several places were listed, including the Gem Spa). I just re-read my orig. post, and Bemelman's Bar in the Carlyle was a very cool "Madeline-themed" bar and tea room (from the children's books.....and recommended by fellow travelers from this forum), but I don't think I made it clear in my post that my single GLASS of champagne was $28 (without tax and tip) yikes!!! I could go on and on about NY, but I won't, but again, if you want more info, ask away!Shadow, I envy you going in June.....I think the weather will be great then! It was a bit on the cold side in March, altho I can't complain because it was sunny every day....I went last year in March, and the weather was the same...30's & 40's, but sunny every day. (I'm sure due to the fact that I packed my umbrella....so my advice is: weigh down your suitcase....it'll ensure good weather). Colette

Reah and Colette...thanks for the info. on Russ and Daughters!

Shadow

Opps!! Make that Rhea58!! Sorry!
Shadow