Oh, no, is the East Coast ever going to recover? Why so soon after the Washington DC invasion?

Brooklyn Bridge - yes, definitely worth it, if you have the time. Suggest early morning on a weekend. It's colder in NY than it is in LA and additionally there's quite a stiff cold breeze that blows across the water.

If it's a choice between the Cloisters and the Frick, I'd suggest the Frick by a long shot. The Cloisters, as its name suggests, is mostly European medieval religious art whereas the Frick is truly a gem of a museum. I especially love the small bronzes there. Get at least one headphone set for the narrative, it's worth the added dollars.

Alas! It is a difficult choice - get headphones or another maitai...

There is no charge for headphones at the Frick, even during Sunday morning pay as you wish hours

Has no one mentioned The Bronx Zoo?

Walk around the West Village - meaning, west of 7th Avenue. Small streets, totally neighborhood. Get you out of the tourist zone.

Midtown - (6th ave between 40 and 42nd streets) Bryant Park is a great place to lounge around in. Small park behind the NY Public Library with chairs on the grass, eating shacks, even rocking chairs now. Really, really lovely. I remember when I growing up here in NY that this park was only for drug addicts. Wow, what a change in the last 10 years. It's gorgeous, relaxing.

Just renewing my membership in the Restoration Project and found this info on the rest. in Fort Tyron Park:

http://www.nyrp.org/About/New_Leaf_Restaurant_Bar

My husband and I enjoyed drinks in the Campbell Apartment bar in Grand Central about a year ago. It is a beautiful room. Drinks were a little pricey, but good.

We have eaten twice at a restaurant in Greenwich Village called Fish. Really tasty fried Ipswich clams-the "belly" kind, not the fried rubber bands. Very reasonable prices.

Also enjoyed a dinner at a Southeast Asian restaurant in Greenwich Village called Cafe Asean. We had good curry dishes there.

On the LES, we ate at Kampuchea and really enjoyed our meal there. It's Cambodian and again, very reasonably priced.

Have a great trip!

Agree with easytraveler. If you are an art buff, Frick is a magnificent home and gallery. Mr. Frick had an eye for art, and the fortune to make the best of it!

I've recently been on a mission to visit noteworthy (read fancy) bars in New York whenever I visit. So far I've been to the Oak Bar at the Plaza, the Bull and Bear at the Waldorf Astoria and Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle -- still waiting on Old King Cole at the St. Regis. Of the three I've visited, I greatly prefer Bemelmans. It is decidedly upscale but not pretentious and has a wonderful intimate atmosphere. The singer/pianist performing on the night I was there was fantastic too. One of the nicest things was that the actor Stanley Tucci was having drinks with another person at the table behind us, and no one went up to him to ask for a photo or autograph.

I like your list of must-sees. I go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art every time I visit NYC; the newer section with Greek and Roman art is fabulous. I'm not a huge fan of modern art, but even I appreciated the Museum of Modern Art, in its somewhat new location. If you have time visit the Library (with the famous lions) and Bryant Park (with the carousel) behind it. For a great view of the Empire State Building go to the Top of the Rock; you can see all of Manhattan too, of course. I thought the Museum of Natural History was very interesting, but it takes a while to see the whole thing. You can also take a tour of Radio City Music Hall if you happen to be at Rockefeller Center.

I love reading your trip reports and will look forward to this one! I've taken notes from the "Central" Europe report as I hope to visit Croatia and Montenegro fairly soon -- have to visit the Buza bar.

"As it happens, I have a friend staying at Chelsea Pines as we speak. I've not been inside but will be checking it out in the next week or so.."

mclaurie, did you get a chance to check it out?

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Here are a few more places we are thinking about visiting in the Fall. Opinions appreciated.

Fraunces Tavern/Museum - History and drinking in one place? Sounds good.

South Street Seaport/Museum - thoughts?

Washington Square - I always liked the Village Stompers song of the same name.

Also, I see the Brooklyn Bridge is to undergo a renovation. Will that affect walking across the bridge?

and mclaurie...see post above.

Thanks.

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The seaport is a mall with two undistimguished ships.

The food is not good at Fraunces Tavern but it is a somewhat interesting place.

Washington Sqaure Park. The eastern half is closed for renovations. I have not seen the Village Stompers there is 40 years.

"South Street Seaport/Museum - thoughts?" There was a place to get tickets there (less busy than at Times Square) and we really enjoyed the museum about 9/11-recordings of people who worked on the water and what happened that day. Otherwise, it was not at the top of our list of things we'd see again.

Can't help with recent info about the others.

Besides The Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island (already have tickets), are there any other NYC places where advanced reservations are a must or come in handy?

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They help for Empire State Building - but the lines are still very long - so I would do Top of the Rock instead - and you can head in whenever you want - based on weather that day (but do reserve for the time you want that day).

Also, get broadway tickets in advance to avoid waiting on line at the TKTS booth - use broadwaybox.com. Also, if you want a Yankee game get tickets in advance for the best choice/prices.

We were told by some friends that we should reserve all our NYC restaurants a few weeks before we go. There are a couple of places I know I want to go to, so that would be no problem. However, should we plan on reserving all our restaurants? Thanks.

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It really depends on the type of place (popular, trendy, the night of the week, and the time of day. I virtually never make reservations, but I don't eat at the trendiest places, nor at the most popular times. I also refuse to wait more than five minutes—in my neighborhood (East Village) there are always more choices and my friends and I are usually happy to relocate.

I think that for your less important choices, a reservation made earlier in the day, or a day or two ahead would be adequate to avoid waiting or not finding a seat.

Bookmarking. :)

Thanks ellenem!

I can taste the martinis at the rooftop bars already!! Ira would be proud of me...I'm even taking a sport coat on this trip.


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Tom, it is some months since you originally posted and no-one has commented on Chelsea Pines . I stayed there for a week earlier on this year and was very happy with it. As you probably know there is no elevator if that is important to you. I was lucky enough to bag a room just one short flight up.The room had its own bathroom facilities but I think that there are some where you need to share the bathroom. The place is well maintained and breakfast is included in the price. The Pines is very close to a subway stop and very handy to restaurants and bars. The staff will recommend places for you and even manage to get you discounts. I left mention of the staff till last as they are what really makes the place. Always willing to help with enquiries and they are very knowledgable about New York and its attractions. They really made my stay special and the star attraction amongst the "staff" is Charlie Chaplin the house cat who came to my room each morning to check how I was. I can recommend Chelsea Pines and think you will enjoy your time there.Have fun!

Peteralan - Thanks so much for the comments. I'm looking forward to our stay there, and we'll say hello to Charlie for you.

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Of course there's Katz's Deli for the best pastrami sandwiches...an NYC icon. Great for lunch. It's very similar in layout to Philippes here in LA.

If you still are considering hotels, try the Salisbury. Rates are comparable with the Chelsea. We stayed there for 4 nights...the place was clean, efficient, and the location was great.

http://www.nycsalisbury.com/

Hi Tom, I'm headed to nyc in Sept and these are some things on my list in case some of them might interest you:

On the roof of the Met right now is Big Bambu through 10/31:

BB "is a growing and changing sculpture―a vast network of 5,000 interlocking 30- and 40-foot-long fresh-cut bamboo poles, lashed together with 50 miles of nylon rope. It will continue to be constructed throughout the duration of the exhibition."

"On the guided tours, held during regular Museum hours, weather permitting, small groups of visitors are able to walk along the elevated interior network of pathways roughly 20 to 40 feet above the Roof Garden. Tickets are required for the guided tours, and specific guidelines apply to those interested in participating". Sounds so cool!

Also there is a Matisse exhibit at MOMA through Oct. 11th that requires timed entrance tickets. I highly recommend MOMA and there is a nice bar/restaurant inside.

The High Line walk in combo with exploring the Meatpacking District, also Context, which offers great tours in Europe now does some interesting architecture/cultural/art walks.

A walk along the Brooklyn bridge is a great choice, also Morgan Library in addition to Frick is really interesting (Guttenberg Bible, Illuminations etc.) and exploring the Chelsea Market, which has my favorite coffee vendor inside (forgetting name now) best cappucino ever!

I have a page of restaurants to try every time I go to nyc, one of my favorites from last trip was Lupa in the village (west I think?). It's one of Batali's but very mellow, no fuss, great food.

Have fun, can't wait for the trip report.

DH and I went to the Empire State Building at night and it was empty. Views at night were good. We never made it to Top of the Rock. Is the ESB becoming like the Leaning Tower-too touristy? Hope you can go to both places in NYC.

Bookmarking.

One of the most impressive buildings in New York remains the Empire State Building, but sadly you can't see it from there. But you can see it from Top of the Rock. I think that's one of the things that actually makes the view from Top of the Rock better.

I hate to quibble, but I'm confused by the repeated "never eat at a chain" then a recommendation for both Gray's Papaya and Nathan's. Aren't those both MAJOR chains? What am I missing here?

I agree with the recommendations for Red Cat -- there's just something about that place. It seems so upscale and the food is always really great, but yet the prices don't seem to rise to the heights that somewhat similar places have.

I hate to quibble, but I'm confused by the repeated "never eat at a chain" then a recommendation for both Gray's Papaya and Nathan's. Aren't those both MAJOR chains? What am I missing here?
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Yes, I know how you hate to quibble. You rarely do it.

Gray's the MAJOR chain has three locations.

Nathan's still makes good franks. The french fires are only as good as the kid who makes them and the one in Coney Island, the original, has the ambience of being the original.

I also think the Belch chain Le Pain Quotidien makes some fine bread and spectacular brownies.
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BTW, Payard is opening a new bakery on Houston Street near Sullivan Street in the next few weeks.

Tom: don't know your time frame for visit, and don't even know if you are a theater fan, but Vanessa Redgrave and James Earl Jones are starring in a limited run of "Driving Miss Daisy" on Broadway beginning early October. Sounds fabulous to me...

Thanks Auduchamp for clarifying --in other words you meant "never eat at ANY chain except those I suggest". I missed that part.

And thanks for giving me the laugh about MY never wanting to quibble, as opposed to you!

But once again I'll say it and mean it -- thanks for a super and wonderful list of inexpensive eats in NYC. It's great.

You are welcome Neo, and I hope you have time to enjoy some of them.

I always eat at the biggest chain in NYC, Duane Reade because I buy my cookies there.
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I went to public school with Nathan's granddaughter, when there were only three or four places, all owned by her family. And I went to high school just a few blocks from the original.

Years ago I think Hershey's wanted to buy Nathan's but they thought the name was too "ethnic." and the family would not sell. And then I guess they sold to those alchemists the Reise Brothers who turn food into s--t without it passing through the alimentary canal. The franks are still good. But when we were kids the french fries were bliss. Crisp on the outside and moist on the inside. They had a group of old man working the fryers who knew to the moment and brownness when they were perfect.

And actually I had Nathan's cater our tiny wedding a thousand years ago. To us old Brooklynites it is more than a chain.

I think my last stay in NYC was the first one ever without a trip to the Coney Island Nathan's. It's just something I love to do. But when the temps were hovering around 3 degrees in January, it just wasn't in the cards!

Understood.

There used to be a sign at the Stillwell Avenue subway stop (the main one for Coney Island) a remnant from WWII that read, "You Are Not in A Bombing Zone." It came down during the rennovation about 12 years ago.

One more question: We have the earliest reservation for Statue Of Liberty/Ellis Island Tour (8 a.m.) Would we also have time for the Tenement Museum that afternoon at 3:45? Thanks.

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Yes. You'll spend an hour and a half at the SofL including museum and maybe two hours at Ellis Island with it's museums.
It will be a full day but it's possible to do all.

I think so, Tom...unless you really want to linger at Ellis Island. Of course that is possible if read every single placard and do several name searches.

Thanks HT and Jim,

Appreciate the input. Full days our are life! And Jim, thanks for the heads up on Katz's Deli. I have gone to Philippes since I was a little kid, so this should make a good stop for us on our whirlwind NYC trip.

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One of the restaurants on my list is Lucien at 317 W 4th St. Does anyone know about this restaurant, and should I make reservations two weeks out? From what I read, it is casual, but just want to make sure. As always, thanks for your input!

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Bookmarking

Hmmm the only Lucien I know of is on 1st Ave and 1st Street in the east village - Aduchamps stomping grounds

http://www.luciennyc.com/

good reliable neighborhood place.

That is Lucien I know and years ago we had a little 50th birthday gathering there.

I too have never heard of the one on West 4th and googled it. Besides not finding another there were strange entries for Lucien.

I went on google maps and I do not think there is any restaurant at that address.

You are correct (14 1st avenue). I had the wrong address (not even drinking yet today). mp and adu, have you dined here, and do you like this restaurant? The menu looked good upon first look, and the prices seemed in line with what we would like to spend. Thanks.

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