Awww...mclaurie, I'm blushing! :-]

Thanks for the compliment..and we do try to have a good time when we travel. We're very fortunate that we travel really well together.

LCI - great photos - you, your mom and nyc!

mclaurie - thanks for the link. I can finally enter the 21st century!

what great photos, LCI! Loved it; gave me a thrill as if I was blazing through NY myself. You two looked like you were having a great time....and the food pics, wow. Can't wait to try them out; I'm hungry now. You have a great eye for photography....loved the pics in Central Park, especially the mall.

Thanks for all the good info!

I am thinking about going to NYC between now and Christmas. I've traveled extensively, but the last time I traveled as a "single" was in the 1970s. Is it possible to have fun in NYC if you are on your own? Safety isn't so much the issue as is the idea of sitting in a nice restaurant at a table for one. Dining out has always been as much about the conversation and kinship as it has the food. Is it worth springing for a really nice meal if you are going to eat it by yourself? I eat out here, but it's always someplace familiar and relatively inexpensive. Is there any way to meet up with other professional singles? Not for a date but for a nice meal and good conversation. I don't have any problem doing the galleries and window shopping by myself. Any suggestions?

Some may or may not agree---but I personally like eating solo at the bars of nice(r) restaurants. I like chatting up the bartender and I often end up talking with someone on either side of me.

You might want to start a new thread looking for specific solo suggestions for New York City. There are also many solo travelers in our Smart Travel Tips forum--if you select "Solo Travel" from the pull down menu in that forum you can browse some of the recent posts. Dining is often the topic. You'll get a lot of NY specific recommendations in the U.S. forum too.

Lots of NYers are single diners - it's quite the thing to eat at the bar - most upscale places serve at the least a bar menu or even the the full menu at the bar.

There are also quite a few great places that have communal tables - Boqueria, Pylos, Le Pain Quotidian, db Bistro Modern are a few that come to mind right now.


here's a link to the list of NYC restaurants that have ining at the bar, from NY mag - 881 places!
http://nymag.com/srch?t=restaurant&N..._sort_name%7C0

Thank you Katie H and MP! I did post a new thread and will check back to see if I get any responses. I will definitely be hitting the bars. : )

I didn't think to ask. Do you make a reservation to sit at the bar?

LCI: Your NYC photos are terrific. I just spent a weekend there, and I sort of take NYC for granted, since we live only 1.5 hours north. You make it all come alive so delightfully. Many thanks.

taconictraveler,

Thanks for taking the time to look at my pics.

I grew up in NJ and worked in NYC for a few years shortly after college graduation, at that time I took alot of what NYC had to offer for granted. Now that I've been away from that area for 16 years I realize some of the things I miss! :)

Lowcountry,
Was the $90 at Roberto Passon for the two of you? That sounds quite reasonable...........I may try it this weekend.

Bettina22,

Yes, the $90 at Roberto Passon was for the two of us...we thought it was very reasonable and the best meal of the weekend! :)

Thanks for the great report. I am putting the backstage at the Met tour on my next NYC to do list.

Good news: Southwest is going to start flying to La Guardia!! This will make me prowl the SW boards for great fares.

That is good news about SW flying to LaGuardia. I'll have to check into that for our trip this summer.

LowCountry,
We went to Roberto Passon's last night and loved it.
I had the portabello mushroom and salmon.
My husband had a chicken special.
Thanks for your input!

Bettina...

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed Roberto Passon! I'm drooling just thinking about that salmon! :)

I loved your trip report. It sounds like you had a great time. I know what you meant when you wrote about Gypsy. I tend to prefer more upbeat musicals and was a little disappointed with it. Patti Lupone's performance was wonderful but the show itself had some gloomy aspects to it.