Gekko

I'm not questioning any super-American's inalienable "right" to do anything. In these United States, we all have the right to do any number of stupid, tasteless, boorish, moronic things, so by all means have at it. Those of you who put on the fannypacks and head down to "experience Ground Zero," I hope that makes you feel better.

SaraLM

A the time of the quadruple tragedies I wanted to take an ad out somewhere that told the people of New York that first of all you are not the only people who felt the pain. Certainly those of us who had ever been there felt it and even those that had never been there.

I also knew that NYorkers would be sensitve to tourists who came to 'gawk'. So my second comment in my 'ad' is that many (I wish I could say all) people who come to 'gawk' are there to share and to grieve and please don't get upset at those people. You live with daily reminder(s), we don't so please allow us to come and share the grief and understand that is what we are doing and not just being jerks. I haven't been back to the east coast since the tragedies but when I do I hope there is a place as respectful as the Vietnam Memorial for all those who died in NY as well as the others.

As for those people selling junk and behaving go ahead and be nasty to them, but also know that some of the people there are truly saddened and need a place to be grieve.

So there is my 'ad'!

shaya

I am so confused by all the venom in these postings...
It would seem if someone feels they should visit the WTC site for closure and/or to pay their respects they should be able to without being called "tacky."
If it bothers the native New Yorkers they (NYers) should probably not visit the site, buy trinkets or take picture there.
The AM of 9/11 not one person in this country felt safe. We all waited for the next plane to drop out of the sky, for the next target to be hit. We became acutely aware of our own vulnerability, as individuals and as a country. I wept as I watched the images coming from NY and DC and certainly felt a deep connection to all the victims. No, I may not have worked with them or known them. But I mourned for them and their families.
My sister-in-law perhaps best expressed her inability to "get over" 9/11 best. Her husband is a banker in Bethesda MD - no where near any of the 3 sites. But, she says, "They killed Nick. They might not have taken HIS life but they took so many lives, of people like him. People at work, with families and stories to tell, people who should have been around for another 40 years."
That is what I think about when I think about visiting the WTC site. That I'd like to bow my head and pray for all the people like my brother-in-law, like my friends, like my family.
It isn't an attempt to harrass you or take advantage of you. It is an attemp to take a moment to remember the event, its victims and its impact.

highbay

We went to NY for the first time ever (other than to change planes) 7-24 thru 7-29 this year. We walked about 10 miles each day that we were there, and ended up at the WTC site, without that being a specific "place we have to see whiole in NY." I cannot explain the emotions that I felt when I realized just where we were. I was so choked with emotion, and cryed like I did that fateful day. I don't think that it is in any way tacky to memorilize the people that lost their live that day. Some people may need to purposely set out to find that spot to set their soles free. Just reading this has made me teary eyed.

hc317

What a coincidence, you posted this at exactly 9:11. how eerie and spooky.

cfc

Something weird happening -- a bunch of posts are missing and while some were very nasty, there was a nice one from Cassandra about the fact that Ground Zero belongs to all Americans (or the world for that matter since people from many countries died there) but reminding us that people died elsewhere too. Don't know why that should have been cut but PCHsmiles's nasty "you can't tell me what to do" comments can stay.

soccr

cfc, remember that this forum managed in New York. Did she tread on some toes?

cigalechanta

Cassandra's post was very important I thought.. Why some of you pretend you live in Ny and give false names bewilders me. See what you want don't rely on other posters. Better still get a guide book and you will have more of an idea that is too your tastes. Some of us will disagree on so many great restaurants, so it's foolish to argue. I was at tavern on the green years ago and it was a great time dancing under the stars and the waiter took us to the Cafe Madrid when he got off work. True the food was not great but back ten the ambiance was lovely, Death is never cheesy so visit any monument or cemetary. I hear that stay away from"
ön the Europe forum. Don't buy it. Even times square it worth going to for the first time.
I hope you two have a great time.

Marilyn

Let's get back to Rocco's. I only saw one episode of the show, but I was apalled at what a terrible manager Rocco was, how badly and unprofessionally he treated his employees, and OMG that chief manager of his should be working for some oppressive dictatorship somewhere.

I was kinda hoping NYCFoodSnob would review the food.

djkbooks

That you're inquiring for your "friend" is a bit curious.

Your friend probably ought to do her own research and planning on this Forum and with the enormous resources available within this website, not to mention the amazing "www".

One can only wonder whether your "friend" wishes to avoid to know the "cheesiest" tourist trap in NY?

Go figure, the lines are the very longest at the "cheesist" of places everywhere on the planet.

14VK8SHN

Back to Tavern on the Green, I remember my first trip to New York. It was at Christmas. First row seats to the Rockettes! (I even noticed one of the girls had nail polish on, while all the others didn't!) Ferry to Statue of Liberty in a gale! Top of Empire State Building while snowing! The bustle of Times Square! Ice Skating and big lit up tree at Rockefeller! Walking all through Central Park! Tavern on the Green? Man what a dissapointment! Great layout, fantastic decorations/lights, but the food and wait staff? What was up with that! I didn't know if the food was more stuffed or the waiters! I guess the trap is the decor/history? Did the food USED to be good?

lena3

On a recent trip to NYC we viewed the WTC site. My husband lost two friends that were in one of the planes. It is a very sad and solemn experience and he felt it was important to see and never forget what happened on that day.

NYCFoodSnob

I took my parents to Tavern on the Green in the early 80's to celebrate their wedding anniversary. The Ohio guests, none of them sophisticated eaters, loved the place and my Dad said it was the best Prime Rib he's ever had. Of course, I bit my tongue through the entire meal and smiled like a good girl should.

In the last 20 years, Tavern has had a tepid run. It's a shame, too. I always thought their special location deserved better.

olivia

Touring the Statue of Liberty. Flying over it on the way in was plenty for me.

E

When we went to TOG, we knew in advance that the food would be only OK (that's too bad, but seems to be the way it's been for some time). Anyway, with our expectations managed, we thought the Crystal Room was lovely, and were very happy to have seen it; we would even go back, perhaps during the holidays. The trick is not to expect TOG to be the crowning dining event of your visit to NYC--treat it as a casual meal in a landmark setting (albeit one for which you will have to make reservations months in advance). (BTW, we found the service to be average, not awful.)But I do agree with FoodSnob--given its location, TOG could be sooo much more.

hc317

djkbooks-

i'm inquiring for a "friend" who is flying in from ireland. she lives in the countryside where she still uses an outhouse. needless to say, she doesn't have a computer to do all this research. she's one of those people that "loves to save the world, conserve energy, etc.."

so that's my reason for creating this forum so that I can show it to her once she gets here.

thanks all for putting in your two cents!

andreaac

To wrap up the WTC issue, I think many poeple totally misunderstand the point that Brookyngal was trying to make.

Also, in my previous post I was not implying that visiting the site was gaudy. In fact, there were many visitors who were humbly paying their respects. Many people bought notes of well-wishes for the victims & families and taped then to boards at the site, which was very nice. Some were offering prayers in their own ways, etc. I think anyone interested should definately make the trip to ground zero!

What I viewed as gaudy were the tourists who were there "striking poses" while smiling no less and taking group pictures. You would think they were photographing the Eifel Tower! It just struck me as very inappropriate behavior since it was only a few weeks after the collapse while extractions of remains were still in progress.

As to the poster who indicated that the events do not affect NYer any differently than others...you are definately wrong! While we are not the only ones who share the pain of 9/11, it does make a BIG difference if you used to work there, shop there, etc. Hadn't my company relocated to mid-town Manhattan, I could have easily been a part of it.
Regards to all.

GoTravel

What Not to do in NYC:

Please do not walk down the sidewalk three people or more abreast.

Please do not stop in the middle of the stairwell of the subway station.

Please do not stop in the middle of the sidewalk.

Please wait for me to exit the subway car before you run me over trying to get on.

Please remove your huge backpack while on a crowded bus or train.

ziggy

Maybe you should post a new thread that could exclude references to the WTC.

You want to know "what NOT to do in NYC" - cheesiest tourist traps in NYC. Somehow that evolved into a referendum on the tragedy of 9/11.

It's with some justification that New Yorkers consider the WTC disaster as their own personal event. Even while realizing the imput of the rest of the country is heartfelt, it isn't as personal as their own reflections.

And you've got to realize that those who use the loaded phrase "gawking at" (RE the WTC) instead of "looking at" or "viewing" is like the conservatives always using "throwing money at" when they know "spending" would work just as well - when refering to the government's spending money for a project. The word, gawking, just seems to imply that if anyone, other than a true New Yorker with personal involvement in the disaster, is just there for something like a sideshow exibit. - That is sad!

rockinrep

Sorry, here's the link for the 9/11 exhibit in Cleveland:

http://www.cleveland.com/living/plai...3159146930.xml