View Full Version : New York...
Alryt guys and gals.
Am off to the big apple in 386 days :D :D and looking for advice/tips from people who have been there before.
So far we know the following.....
dates...... 20th - 27th dec 2011
Staying... The London NYC hotel
and we want to go shopping (well, she does) lol
what things are a MUST SEE/DO when we are there? anything to steer clear of?
obv we want to do the usual, central park, statue of liberty, ground zero,
anything else??
needless to say, i CANT WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stay well clear of casinos or you will come home empty handed[lol]
Stay well clear of casinos or you will come home empty handed[lol]
haha, yeh will be nowhere near them. Not with the shopping list she has :lol:
haha, yeh will be nowhere near them. Not with the shopping list she has :lol:
[lol]!!! Find the local boozer while she shops,homer simpson style DOH!!
Corrigall51
02-Dec-10, 12:13
Go to the Ground Zero Museum Workshop by photographer Gary Susson. It's amazing. A very small museum but he was the only photographer allowed on site during the rescue/clear up following 9/11 and there are some truly amazing images and artefacts from the site in there.
http://www.allnewyorktours.com/body.asp?tour=NYC-TKT01&page=TourDetails
If yours mrs is a fan of TV shows like Sex and the City - the bus tours are a must.
View from the top of the Rockerfeller centre is amazing at night :)
And do a comedy club if you get the chance, maybe not your thing, that was how I felt, but thoroughly enjoyed it and would HIGHLY recommend. :)
You'll LOVE it :)
Go to the Ground Zero Museum Workshop by photographer Gary Susson. It's amazing. A very small museum but he was the only photographer allowed on site during the rescue/clear up following 9/11 and there are some truly amazing images and artefacts from the site in there.
http://www.allnewyorktours.com/body.asp?tour=NYC-TKT01&page=TourDetails
If yours mrs is a fan of TV shows like Sex and the City - the bus tours are a must.
View from the top of the Rockerfeller centre is amazing at night :)
And do a comedy club if you get the chance, maybe not your thing, that was how I felt, but thoroughly enjoyed it and would HIGHLY recommend. :)
You'll LOVE it :)
Hmmm, the museum workshop sounds like it might be worth a visit, not normally my kinda thing but i suspose it gota be done.
TV shows, ERM YES, but kinda fancied doing "our own tour" if ya get me, at our own pace, or are the bus tours decent?
rockerfeller centre, as in views like this??
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_EDjq5kPpsiY/SWjta2qc5BI/AAAAAAAADsE/VJ2j0BKxMls/IMG_0543.JPG
and as for comedy club, that kinda like the things you see in the films, some pub with comedyens all nyt?? sounds good to me
Corrigall51
02-Dec-10, 12:26
Yeah, honestly, the 9/11 site was rubble when we were there, so saw nothing, but was so glad we visited that museum, it really is brilliant. Its one of the top rated tourist attractions in NYC.
Yeah that'll be one of the views from the top of the rock - amazing!
We did the SATC tour - thought it was brilliant. Cant comment on the other ones tho that do like the friends 'building' (outside shot as friends want filmed in NYC)
Yeh, we went to The comedy strip live - you can have food and drinks while you watch the acts and it is really funny!
i cant wait, its going to cost a fortune, but its a once in a lifetime so money isnt going to spoil it!!
just need to get a lil more clued up on NYC, i know like nothing about it lol
Corrigall51
02-Dec-10, 12:34
As long as you have a street map its easy to work your way around.
You have plenty time yet to get clued up :)
You're right tho, make the most of it, it is fantastic!
Apparently the rent is too damn high
http://cdn0.knowyourmeme.com/i/000/078/353/original/RentJMmf.jpg?1287541907
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rent_Is_Too_Damn_High_Party (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rent_Is_Too_Damn_High_Party)
went into a bar on broadway near our hotel and the barman was from thurso
caithness-chicky
02-Dec-10, 13:20
http://www.newyorkpass.com/ is worth a look
We bought the Philadelphia version when we were across 2 years ago after seeing it advertised on the back of a bus over there, but unfortunately by the time we realised there was a New York one it was too late!
orkneycadian
02-Dec-10, 13:38
Yeah that'll be one of the views from the top of the rock - amazing!
Top hint! Allegdely better than the Empite State building, as from the Top of the Rock, you get to see the Empire State, in all its glory! Less busy, so less queues. Security guards double as very knoweldgable guides about whats what, so don't be scared to ask them! Bit funny about cameras on tripods on top, so some subterfuge required for good night shots! ;)
Dunno how busy it is in winter, but in summer, you can save a load of queuing at Battery Park for a run out to the Statue of Liberty / Ellis Island by simply jumping on the free Staten Island Ferry. OK, it doesnt take you to Ellis or Liberty Island, but you get a good view of the statue as you sail past. If Staten Island is not your thing, simply jump on the next ferry back. You'll be back on Manhattan Island before the folk queueing at Battery Park have even got to the front of the queue!
Hop on/off bus passes are good value to get around, and find out lots of things. Guides usually come with good craic!
A helicopter ride is entertaining, but expensive, and they dont do anything than fly over the Hudson river and down to Staten Island. You probably get as good as view, for a lot less dosh, on the top of the Rockefeller Centre or the Empire State.
hardcore superstar
02-Dec-10, 14:28
the shops tend to open from 10am but stay open later so don't bother getting up too early as you'll be stuck for stuff to do.
i thought the empire state building was a bit of an anti-climax so i wouldn't recommend that.
china town is brilliant but it doesn't get going till the afternoon. make sure you haggle. have some bubble tea.
SATC tour was great ... but probably only if you like SATC.
if you like rock music, go to Arlene's Grocery as they do rock karaoke on a monday night with a live band.
Lucky Cheng's drag queen restaurant is fantastic. make sure you're not going with someone who's allergic to drag queens though as that can spoil things.
if you want to see a broadway play, you can get cheaper tickets from the TKTS Discount Booth at Times Square. they sell unsold tickets on the day of the performance for much cheaper.
get a 7 day metrocard for the subway and buses.
see an ice hockey game at madison square gardens.
walk across the brooklyn bridge to brooklyn and back again. great views and it's free.
if somebody accuses you of stepping on their drugs ... don't believe them and don't pay up.
nearer the time, do an internet search for free stuff to do. by doing this, i discovered bill bryson was doing a book signing while i was there the last time, so i got to meet him and got a book signed.
there's meant to be a Dans Le Noir restaurant opening in March 2011. the dining room is completely pitch black and all the food servers are blind. you don't know what you're eating till afterwards. i've been to the one in London and it was an amazingly bizarre experience.
ice skating at the rockefellar centre.
the M&M shop at Times Square is pretty cool. Dylan's Candy Bar is another really good sweet shop. buy a Cadbury's chocolate bar. Hershey's are the company that actually manufacture it in America but it's manky. Interesting to taste the difference though.
keep an eye out for the naked cowboy.
have breakfast at tiffany's.
Remind your wife about the American sizing...a 10 over here is a 6 in america!
Might save you hours sitting outside dressing rooms:lol:
There again if she fits in things 2 sizes smaller going by the label maybe not!
Well we did a bus tour but thought we were getting a bargain by getting a 4 day pass but actually it takes ages so fine at first when ur seeing everything for the 1st time but after that id say Subway for sure, which is really easy 2 work. Id also reccomend Commedy Club we went 2 1 in Times Square and it was fab! If your going to do a Broadway Show they sell reduced price tickets in Times Square. We did all the usual touristy thing but also went to a place called Body Rocks which was a museum of bodies with real specimens was really interesting! We did both Empire State and Rockerfella Centre but did Empire State Building through the day and Rockerfella at night was lovely 2 see the skyline all light up! Central Park is huge so maybe a rickshaw through it? All in all u will have a fab time id go back for sure!
Some years since we visited NY, a visit to the United Nations is worth it.
Take loads of photo's and see if you can avoid the grinning Japanese guy
in the background
candycanegirl
02-Dec-10, 15:27
Magnolia Bakery for the best cupcakes in the world- was in SATC.:D
The Village Vanguard for jazz. Mondays are good.
The Strand Bookstore - 18 miles of books they claim - their tote bags and book bags are instantly identifiable.
One lesser known fact about New York is the honey. People keep bees on top of the high towers. Recently there was a huge fuss because the New York Bees invaded a candy factory which got them drunk and ruined the honey.
The Museum of Natural History is a treasure beyond compare for those of us interested in science. (The Ben Stiller movie A Night at the Museum is great fun).
Of course New York is the place to see movies. The best New York movie I have seen this week is The Extra Man with the great Kevin Kline.
Last year around this time we went to see City Lights in this tiny rep. theatre in the Village and found ourselves sitting next to novelist, Phillip Roth. New York is packed with celebrities.
A walk across Brooklyn Bridge is mandatory.
If you go to the crater left over from the terrorist attacks you will find yourself near one of the great, cheap, clothing outlets - Century 21 - go there first to stock up on socks and underwear for your husband.
I would recommend that you start reading the New York Times (free!) on the internet. New York Magazine is good too as is the venerable New Yorrker.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/strand-book-store-new-york
George Brims
02-Dec-10, 22:00
Remind your wife about the American sizing...a 10 over here is a 6 in america!
Might save you hours sitting outside dressing rooms:lol:
There again if she fits in things 2 sizes smaller going by the label maybe not!
Shoe sizes are different also - I'm a size 9 UK and 10 US, but I think the women's shoes are TWO sizes different. A lot of the shoes are made in the Far Easy anyway, so they often have US/UK/Eur sizes on them.
George Brims
02-Dec-10, 22:01
central park
NOT after dark!
I don't know if what you've booked includes airport to hotel transfers, but if you're taking a cab into the city or back out to the airport, there's a flat fare, which you should ask for. The cabbies won't volunteer that information because if you're on the meter and you're a stranger to the city, they can take you the not quite shortest route, and make a fair bit more money.
Other advice: the hot dogs are safe. And cheap.
WOW, thanks guys for all the info. a lot more already than i expected. im even more excited now than i was before, and starting to think 7 days aint enough lol.
Pics will be taken by the thousand. Will be on the hunt for a new camera soon so i can get used to it, might even take a few lessons.
thanks guys, keep the info/tips comming
:)
skinnydog
03-Dec-10, 08:41
You have to go to Grand Central Station for a look, it is cool, you must go for a cocktail to the Marriott Marquis on Times Square, the cocktail lounge is only on the 9th floor but you can go up to the 49th floor on a glass fronted lift - not for the faint hearted but amazing in the dark. Oh and a trip round Central Park is good. There is the most awesome sushi bar, the Minado, it is so big it covers the length of one whole block........You will have a blast....
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