In mid-business trip in late July, I'll have a weekend in the city. Maybe I've seen too many movies, but I have a yen to walk across Brooklyn Bridge. So -- where do you start that? Travel to and from? How much time to allow? I'm assuming security concerns have not stopped walkers there...

I'd love to see Shakespeare in Central Park, but I'm pretty clueless about it. Can you get tickets on the day, and is capacity limited? Arrive how early to get a good view? Do I need a blanket to sit on? (Obviously won't be bringing a beach chair on a business trip!) Can you buy food there, or do you bring a picnic?

Thanks for the help!

Go to
www.publictheater.org
& click shakespeare in the park for info on tickets etc. They're available day of performance at 1pm at the delacorte theater in the park or from 1-3pm at the Public theater downtown. They're reserved seats so no blanket required.

Haven't done the Brooklyn Bridge walk but many here suggest taking the subway to Brooklyn & walking from there to the city for best skyline views. (If you walk the other direction the city's behind you.) Do a text search here for brooklyn bridge AND walk for more details.

Thanks for the speedy answer, Mclaurie -- I should have thought of a search for BB first. Tons of good info out there.

Good info on the Shakespeare in the park site -- but it looks as if there is no performance on the Saturday I'll be there (that would be the only one, go figure!) Have to go for Sunday instead, I guess. Do weekend performances sell out -- if box office opens at 1, do I need to be on line way before that?

I would say yes. I've often taken bike rides thru Central Park and saw long lines already at 10AM.

Seeing that it's free, you can figure on Shakespeare in the Park being "sold out" every performance.

The website for Shakespeare in the Park only lists performances for the first few days of August ... does anyone know if it continues through August? We will be there the last weekend in August.

Hello,
I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge in March. We took the subway over to Brooklyn and then just walked back to the city. It was great--the views are magic! Make sure you take your camera. When you come out of the subway station, you'll see signs to help you get to the bridge, if I remember correctly.

I also heard there's a great pizza place over on the Brooklyn side, very close to the bridge--I wish we would have gotten directions to that. I'm sure there are posters here who could tell you more about that. Have a great trip!

The pizza shop is names Grimaldi's and I believe it's on Front Street if I remember correctly. To get to the Bridge, take the A or C train to the High Street, Brooklyn Bridge station, and walk towards the bridge. The entrance will be underneath by Washington and Jay Streets. You should have no problem walking across the bridge from there. Grimaldi's is closer to the water, on your left side as you walk towards the bridge.

Shakespeare in the Park ends on August 10. If you plan to go to Central Park, I would bring a blanket and try to get online before 10 am. You might be able to get tickets by walking up around noon but it's always dicey. I believe it's easier to get tickets at the Public because it's not as desirable a location to wait on line (no trees and grass), so you may be able to go there around 12:30 and get tickets.

If you can't get to the park, try Shakespeare in the Parking Lot -
http://www.ludlowten.org/shakes.html

You can walk the Bklyn Bridge, get a meal in Chinatown and catch the show.

okay, here's one of my great walks that I treat my out of town guests to.

Take the #2 or #3 subway train to the first stop in Brooklyn (Clark St.) From there you can walk along the beautiful old neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights. Go along the Promenade for great views of Manhattan and Statue of Liberty.

See Brooklyn Bridge and go to it...you'll find the walkway to the top. Walk the Bridge to Manhattan noting, well everything!

When you arrive in Manhattan, there will be a park right in front of you (forget the name). Go through the Park to the Woolworth Building. It used to be the tallest in the world back in 1905? or something. Go into the lobby and check it out...pretty amazing. From there, walk north parrallel the park and turn right to the Municipal Building (the big imposing one). Then turn left past the court houses (pretty cool). Make a right at the second court house and then left through China Town. (I hope you'll have some kind of map).

When in China Town, I like going to Mott st. Take Mott St. thru Chinatown (take your time...you may feel as if your really in another country) and eventually you will come to the corner of Mott and Spring St. It should be about 1 pm if you get a decent start in the morning. Perfect time to rest and to eat. For lunch (right on the corner of Mott & Spring) go eat at Lombardi's Pizza (arguably the best pizza in Manhattan and on par with Grimaldi's- debatable- which was posted above, but now youre back in Manhattan.) You're now on the edge of SOHO. Turn left out of Lombardis and walk all around soho

You're now completely exhaused and most likely sweating to death. go home and sleep for an hour or two.

Regarding Shakespear in the Park, good luck...tickets really hard to come by and you may waste valuable time waiting in line to see the show. However, the are frequently free outdoor events at Lincoln Center, or have a drink (early evening) on the roof of the Art Museum...pretty cool.

Good luck!

the park tskobo refers to is City Hall Park (the City Hall building is right there). I also am a fan of the Woolworth bldg. His 'tour' looks like a good one!

Thanks to all for the very helpful advice -- Fodorites rule, as ever!

Grimaldi's is on Old Fulton Street on the south side of the Brooklyn Bridge, just a block or two from the river and water taxi to Manhattan.

(Its precise, I mean *precise*, location has been discussed to death in another thread about NY pizza.)

As a resident, I just wanted to clarify how to get to the Brooklyn Bridge walkway from the subway in Brooklyn...

Take the A or C train to High Street/Brooklyn Bridge. Exit towards the back of the train...the Henry Street/Cadman Plaza West exit. As you get to the top of the stairs you will see a park across the street. Cross the park and veer left, under the bridge, where you will see a stairway on the left leading up to the walkway.