re-reading the posts it does look like the 6th of October is THE date. Now I hope to make it work.

We are available Oct. 6. Cocktails sounds a lot easier than dinner, especially if it is at 5:30 or 6. We are going to go to Grand Central at some point, so cocktails at Campbell Apartment would work. If not, we are staying in Chelsea, so if someone knows a nice spot with cocktails and munchies, we can be there, too.

((H))

Too bad we'll miss you; we have a concert by the Mariinsky Orchestra at Carnegie Hall that night, preceded by dinner. Enjoy, but beware of spotty service at Campbell Apartment.

As stated, any place that serves a decent drink and snacks is fine with us.

((H))

Maitaitom, just caught your post regarding NYC, after some nice exchanges with you on Christmas in Paris.

We know that there have been many responses here, as there are so many choices in the Big Apple. We really like NYC, and thought we'd offer a few places which we've enjoyed. A lot depends on your activities and the areas in which you find yourself.

A few restaurants: Not too far from Rockefeller Center:
St. Andrews 120 W 44th street
www.standrewsnyc.com
Nice, casual atmosphere;
Good for lunch or just drinks;
Open for dinner also.

Across from Rockefeller Center:
Brasserie Ruehlman-sounds German, but
it's a nice little French place. You're
in the action of Rockefeller Plaza, but
in a nice conversational atmosphere.
We've gone there several times, twice
after attending St. Patrick's Cathedral.




In the theatre district: good before
plays:
Thalia's Restaurant
828 8th Ave @ 50th St.
212-399-4444
Upbeat atmosphere; NYC feel; moderate
prices; advance reservations suggested.

Latanzi Ristorante on "Restaurant Row"
46th St. bet. 8th & 9th St.
347-748-1157
Great little New York Style Italian
Restaurant; classy; a notch up in cost
but still moderate by NYC standards if you
make selective menu choices. Definitely
recommend reservations.
www.lattanzinyc.com



FAVORITE DELI:
Stage Deli 834 7th Ave.(bet. 53rd & 54th)
NO reservations. If possible, avoid the
prime lunch time, or be prepared to wait outside in line. But they move it in an efficient way. WARNING: Portions are large; great place to split things in order to enjoy soup, Reubens, and NYC cheesecake. A real NYC experience!

If you're up in the area of the Stage Deli for dinner (Carnegie Hall is around there), for dinner we like:
Rue 57
60 W 57th St. 212-307-5656
Suggest reservations & request to sit
on main floor (not downstairs)

Before a performance at the Lincoln Center:
Fiorello's is convenient and nice.

If you like jazz: A nice little classy jazz club, on 44th right in the theater district is:
Birdland Jazz
www.birdlandjazz.com

On-line tickets are @ 25.00.
There's an early show at 5 PM,
surprisingly crowded. Seating is
on 1st come basis, so get there
early. We saw Tommy Igoe and really
like his group. We just got appetizers and
drinks-($10. pp. mininum) and had
dinner later.

There's so much going on in NYC. Something for everyone. Just strolling in Central Park, along 5th Ave., playing it by ear as the days go by if fun. One play we saw that has a lot of energy, singing and dancing from beginning to end, and an underlying current social theme is MEMPHIS. Didn't see AMERICAN IDIOT, but BOOK OF MORMON sounds interesting. Lots of choices!

Again, we hope you have a great time with some nice fall weather. And, oh yes, we think that on a clear day you'd enjoy the view from the Top of the Rock. Purchase tickets for timed entrances.

We'll look forward to your trip report on NYC!

tomarkot, Thanks so much for the info!!! We are really looking forward to NYC (and Paris). Hopefully we'll mess up enough for a fun trip report, although that never seems to be much of a problem with this foursome.

((H))

I have Oct. 6th on my calendar for cocktails and fun! Looking forward to meeting you all! Actually heading to Los Angeles over New Years so will be looking for some advice.

Maitaitom, A serious PS to our previous message: In light of the anniversary of 9-11, we'd probably visit the memorial. We plan to travel to NYC in the spring, and will include this among our other activities. We visited the area not long after 9-11, and it was quite impactful.

For getting a good overview of NYC, and getting around to spots located all around the city, we found that that the Hop On/Hop Off Bus is a convenient mode of transportation, at least for a day. (Book online ahead to save time.) If you do take advantage of it, you can stop near the 9-11 Memorial.

Also forgot to mention the John Lennon "Imagination" Memorial in Strawberry Fields in Central Park, Upper West side between 71 & 74th. There's a HO HO bus stop near there. And, for lunch, if the weather is nice, walk across Central Park from the John Lennon Memorial to the Boat House Restaurant at 72nd St. & Park Drive North. (Signposted in park) We'd try to call ahead if possible: 212-510-2233. On nice days, it gets pretty crowded. However, the area is a beautiful place to get a drink and amble around if you have to wait.

Again, enjoy!

For your comedic entertainment, walk through Times Square a couple of times. You won't be disappointed!

I am really sorry to say that I have had to re-route my tentative trip to the east coast. I just can't swing it this year. I do hope I coincide with the area Fodorites another time not too far away! Sounds like you will be having a grand time! Sorry to miss it!

Hope to see you some other time Linca. Right now we are not planning any new trips to Espana.

i may fly back through there late May. we'll see. Have a great time, everyone!

Has anyone tried Piccolo Angolo at 621 Hudson Street? I had a client who said he had a nice meal there, and it seems to garner some rather stellar reviews on YELP. Thanks.

((H))

Just noticed this thread, so I had to chime in with a couple of suggestions. (I live in CT and my daughter lives in DC, so we sometimes meet for a play day in NYC...)

We love brunch at Balthasar, but recommend a reservation. It's nice to breeze past the line out front! The other great thing about Balthasar is its location in Soho, not far from Chinatown and Bowery for some interesting walking. Oh, and just round the corner from Balthasar is a terrific clothing store in case the ladies want to shop (silly question, right?) It's called Uniqlo (Japanese chain, and the only US location) selling casual and very stylish threads for men and women, at very good prices. Really.

In the same part of town, we had a memorable and delicious meal at Aquagrill: made especially memorable because we were seated next to Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson, who were deep in a discussion of politics and music biz. (It's a small place, so you can't help hearing a bit of the conversation! we just played it cool.) ;-)

If you want to pretend you are in England for an hour, try a cream tea at Tea and Sympathy: TINY place, but very good scones with the proper fixings, just the thing to fortify you for a night on the town.

Have a great trip!

I wanted to try one of NYC's famed steakhouses, but I also have to think about my retirement savings. Harry's Cafe & Steak in the Financial District looked good, and the prices didn't faze me too much. Would that be a good place, or do you have other suggestions? Thanks. It's getting close. My team of doctors is on standby, but i think we'll make it this time. Thank you all for your comments.

((H))

SB

It is better you did not speak with Lou Reed, I have friends in the music industry and he is quite the nasty fellow.
________

Maitai

You might want to check out the Strip House.
http://www.striphouse.com/new_york

Thanks adu, Now I can finally take Tracy to a Striphouse and not get in trouble (unless we run in to Lou Reed).

((H))

Glad I can be of service.

Another good steak house is Ben Benson's in Midtown.

And don't forget the hashed, smashed and mashed!

One more suggestion is Craft, it's not your typical steak house, but what I enjoy are the sides offered are more varied than the usual hash browns/creamed spinach:

http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.c...viewing-craft/

It's a bit pricey, but if you share, you can really keep the costs down.

The other place that gets raves for steak is Minetta Tavern down in the Village.

We had dinner Saturday night at Minetta Tavern. It's a very tough reservation (call at 9 a.m. four weeks to the day). It was the Village scene: three deep at the bar; ear-splitting noise; very cramped tables; average age, mid-twenties.

The food? Each couple shared the côte de boeuf for two ($118! not atypical for NYC), which came with huge portions of marrow-filled bones. Frankly, though we like Keith McNally's other places, such as Morandi, Balthasar, Odeon, Cafe Lux and others, we've had better steaks elsewhere (such as at the aforementioned Ben Benson's). The Pommes Anna were good, however. A reasonably (by NYC standards) priced wine list. Unexceptional desserts: four of us shared five minuscule pieces of Jacques Torres chocolate.

Sorry, that's "Balthazar."

Thanks for the suggestions. My arteries just hardened after reading about all that red meat.

((H))

Thanks for savings us some money Burt by your review of Minetta. Odeon and Balthazar have been cruising along on reputation for a long time. Neither is bad by any measure but neither live up any where to its name. (Though the Balthazar curiosuly cramped bakery is excellent.)

Tom, when do you arrive? Hope to get some kind of CTG going

owlwoman, we are in town next week. Staying in Chelsea. We'd be happy to meet somewhere for a cocktail. I think NYC is pretty spread out for a GTG. All our dinner reservations (so far) are 8 o'clock and after, so we'd be happy to meet for a cocktail (or two). I guess you'll be out in So Cal in December for that one, too.

On another subject, I was looking at a place called Tre Dici Steak in Chelsea. Any comments on that place?

((H))

I was looking at a place called Tre Dici Steak in Chelsea. Any comments on that place?

___

Not one that would not get me thrown off Fodor's.

adu, I would guess that would be a "No" Correct?

((H))

I do not know Tre Dici, nor uno or due.

Hi again, I have not personally eaten at Tre Dici but a friend of mine went once and thought it was good, not great.

I could meet you any time next week. You indicated you would be around the Grand Central area one day, which would work the best for me as that's where I commute from. I leave work at 3:30, so the earlier side would be fine. If you wish to e-mail - [email protected] would work. Thanks!

I have been off the board so long- I am glad to hear you are doing so much better & can't wait to see your NYC trip report!

We made it back from NYC alive. Weather was amazing, people were terrific, sights were wonderful, the hotel great, the restaurants were mostly good and we weren't arrested once. Even a rather bizarre, golf club-wielding patron dispensing stock advice in a bar on our last day could not put a damper on this trip. Plus, we exceeded our goal of 1,000 Stairs A Day.

Trip report next week after a business trip back to Atlanta later this week.

Thanks to all who helped us coordinate our latest adventure.

((H))

Glad to see you did not make the evening news while partaking of the Big Apple! :)

Safe travels to Atlanta!

Glad you guys had a wonderful time in that great city. We were in Quebec City and New England, but thinking of you in NYC. It's on our list for this spring. Will look forward to your trip report.

You really lucked out with the weather! Sorry we didn't get a chance to meet, but sounds like you survived well, will look forward to the trip report.

owlwoman, yes the weather was great. I think the entire city was out and about on Saturday, perhaps knowing this might be their last chance at a sunny and warm weekend. Great vibe everywhere, and all the people we met were pleasant and helpful. I didn't see your second email until Thursday night and knew Friday was out. Sorry we missed crossing paths.

((H))

Maybe we'll catch up in California over New Years, I think we're going to go to Palm Springs for a few days after the Rose Bowl festivities, it is between Palm Springs (never been there) and the Santa Barbara area (which we have been to before), so any advice will be most appreciated.

And, yes, us NYer's are a lot nicer than many make us out to be :) Good to know all worked out.