steviegene

Hi there,

Posted earlier about going away this weekend for my husband's birthday somewhere in the Northeast. BUT.......it looks like its going to rain pretty heavily on Sunday. A bunch of the places we were considering traveling to (VT, Newport, Annapolis, ME) just don't seem like they'd be much fun in the rain. Since there are always lots of places to visit and things to do, we are thinking of 2 nights in NYC.

We are not really city-people, though we live only 1.5 hours away. We've done all the typical tourist stuff (Statue of Liberty, Time Square, Met, Top of the Rock, etc) and aren't all that interested in "touristy" sightseeing, shopping or crazy nightlife. We want a low-key, romantic, relaxing weekend with a lot of time for chatting, etc. Looking for suggestions on any special events, interesting exhibits, romantic spots, a cozy bar where we could kill a rainy afternoon, etc.

Thanks!!

SueNYC

Open House New York. Too late for the tours that you need to register for in advance but there are plenty of spaces and places to explore.

http://thestarryeye.typepad.com/expl...eers-2012.html

I will post again later today or tomorrow about my planned itinerary. On Sunday, in between my Public Theater tour and Brooklyn distillery tour I will probably be exploring the open studios in the Brooklyn Navy yard.

nytraveler

There are dozens of smaller museums and indoor activites - from the Frick to the NY Historical Society to the main branch of the Library or a tour of Grand Central Station. (Check out the Campbell Apartment - which is an upscale cocktail lounge up on a mezzanine with great views. Also consider dining in the Oyster Bar on a lower level.)

Also suggest you check out the website of New York magazine, which has an events section with hundreds of listings - by date and type. And Time Out New York site has info on musical events all over the city.

emd3

My advice: Make reservations now for brunch on Sunday morning at Robert, atop the Museum of Art and Design on Columb Circle. Call and see if you can get a wondow table as it has an incredible view of the corner of Central Park. Food is good, and there is a piano player. It is lovely, even in the rain.

I just checked and they have spots available on Sunday a.m.

http://robertnyc.com/

On Sat. when it isn't raining: Have you ever done a walking tour of Central park? It should be nice this time of year. We did that on our last trip and loved it, walked ahnd in hand a lot of theway...so many things to discover and so much history we weren't aware of.

For drinks, have you thought of going to one of the "speakeasies" in NYC? We have been to 2nd floor on Clinton (that's the name of the place) and it was intriguing, romantic, and cozy, and the drinks, while pricey, were great and unusual. We loved it.

http://www.2ndflooronclinton.com/

There are so many great romantic restaurants in NYC. Where are you staying?

emd3

Not sure if you'll enjoy this but we did. Burlesque in Tribeca:
http://www.duaneparknyc.com/

pollybenedict

Special Events: You might want to check out "Discovering Columbus" - an artist built a house around the top of the statue, so you can essentially hang out with Columbus in his living room. I haven't been yet, but my friends loved it.

http://www.publicartfund.org/view/ex...ering_columbus

While there, check out the Time Warner Center - right behind the statute (Columbus Circle). Not for the glitzy shopping, but for the spectacular views on second floor and higher. Not sure what your budget is: there are bars, restaurants, a few clubs (Dizzy's Jazz) with dazzling Central Park backdrop. And it's right next to the Museum of Art and Design, suggested above.

Enjoy!

steviegene

Thanks for all your suggestions everyone! I appreciate it!

emd3

Oh an d the weirdest part of Central Park that we didn't expect was the roller skating disco dancing area. It was beyond unexpected. We spent an hr. watching grannies and buff guys doing disco dance moves on skates, w/a DJ and disco music.

EmilyPost

The Royalton Hotel, on West 44th, has a great lobby bar; very cozy and atmospheric. The gas fireplaces are always going, it's dark and sexy all day. The martinis are served very cold. Love it.

biztravfod

you know - I hope -- that New York City is one of the few places in American where you can find almost everything that might be suited to your most personal interest. By that I mean you can go to the Film Forum and see the perfect movie, or you can go shopping at Pearl River for delightful Asian pajamas, go indoor rock climbing, or go for a wine tasting, bonsai lessons, or a personalized spa session for 2. If you or your SO has ever said: "You know what I'd like to spend all day doing sometime?", chances are you can do it in New York. Google or Yellow Pages or NYmag listings.