Going to New York!

newbie · #1 06-03-2002, 02:25 AM

Hi!

As an amazing graduation present from one of my family members, I'm off to NYC in a few weeks! Are there any particular places or shows I should definitely see there? Also, how should I dress there (i.e., how's the weather in mid-June)?

BTW, some background info about me -- I love going to art museums and theatres, as well as shopping malls, amusement parks, and sporting events. Unfortunately, I probably can't see a Yankee game while I'm there!

Thanks for any info!

aephi alum · #2 06-03-2002, 08:34 AM

There is sooo much to do in NYC that I hardly know where to start.

If you're into art, you must visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There is also the Frick Collection - this is a relatively small collection that can be easily viewed in a morning.

Visit the Museum of Natural History if you can... this is my favorite, but then, I'm a science geek

Weather in mid-June can be pretty variable... it's often hot and humid, but it can still get a little chilly at night. You may want a sweater and/or light jacket for the evenings, but otherwise, you should be fine with lighter clothes. Check the weather forecast a couple of days before you go.

Enjoy!

dzrose93 · #3 06-03-2002, 10:18 AM

Go see "Cabaret" on Broadway.... DO NOT MISS IT!

greeklawgirl · #4 06-03-2002, 10:30 AM

Car,

One of my very favorite days in New York City goes like this: spend your morning at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, eat lunch in Central Park at the--I think its called--the Park View Cafe (I'll check on that for you), and then walk across to the other side of the Park to the Museum of Natural History. Both museums are absolutely incredible. You will be completely exhausted by the end of the day, but its so worth it.

If you love to shop, then no trip to New York is complete without a stroll down Fifth Avenue. Its a shopper's mecca!

If you walk on 5th down to the 50s, you can hop over to see St. Patrick's Cathedral and Rockefeller Center, which are also must-see landmarks.

Don't forget downtown, either. Chinatown and Little Italy are fun places to spend an afternoon. Its also fairly easy walking distance to City Hall, the government buildings, TriBeCa and Ground Zero if you want to pay your respects.

Or, if you head in the opposite direction from Chinatown you could hit Soho and Greenwich Village.

There are about a million things you can do! Have fun!!!

PM_Mama00 · #5 06-03-2002, 10:51 AM

You guys are forgetting one place that newbie should visit..... FAO Schwartz!!!! I'm sorry but I'm a child at heart and absolutely loved that place when I went there! There's a glass elevator and when it goes up it looks like Superman is pushing it....so cool

TigerGirl52 · #6 06-03-2002, 11:13 AM

OK...I've never been to NYC before but my mom has been twice. She absolutely loves Broadway shows and has seen several on both trips. Her last trip she saw Aida and Thoroughly Modern Millie and loved them both. She especially loved Thoroughly Modern Millie...she said it was really cute plus it's supposed to be great (it won Best Musical last night at the Tonys).

Other than that...I'd just go see the regular tourist sites. Have a great time and hit 5th Avenue for me a couple of times!!!!

Allison

DeltAlum · #7 06-03-2002, 11:19 AM

New York may be the greatest city in the world -- with the possible exception of London. I'm not sure which I like better.

Natives will probably scoff at this, but I had probably been to NY twenty or thirty times on business, and finally decided to just "go tourist" and take the Gray Line double decker bus tour of the city. It was fun, and a way to see a lot of places quickly. Some of them you will want to visit again. Your ticket is good for 24 hours, and you can get off one bus and catch the next one (or one later) if there is somewhere where you want to spend more time. There are several tours from which to choose. Just a thought. After I finally took the NY tour, I did the same thing in London. It was fun.

In terms of shows, I hope you watched the Tony (Toni?) Awards last night. Seems the hot shows (at least according to the Theatre crowd) are "Thoroughly Modern Millie" (although I didn't find it interesting), another revival "Into the Woods" (Sondheim is always outstanding and this is a great show), Urintown (haven't seen it), and Mama Mia (if you like ABBA music). Other good shows still playing: Don't miss Les Miserables (my all time favorite), Aida, Rent (maybe my second favorite), Cabaret, and even Lion King and Phantom of the Opera. There are lots of others on and off Broadway, but these are the ones that pop into my mind.

Also, someone mentioned Rockefeller Plaza. Check to see if SNL is in production at NBC while you're there (Studio 8H at 30 Rockefeller Plaza -- although tickets must be gotten way in advance). Also, you might try David Letterman which also broadcasts from Manhattan. Again, tickets well in advance. If you're an early riser, you can watch one of the network morning shows. I like TODAY, but that's because I worked for NBC for many years. I wouldn't do that, but people seem to enjoy it.

I agree with the comments on the museums made above. So take your walking shoes! Manhattan is a wonderful place to walk around -- and it will save lots of cab fare! There are lots of great restaurants!

The first time I ever went to NY, I was a sophomore in college (1967) and found it to be a very intimidating place. I found the people to be very unfriendly. That has all changed. The people are wonderful and there's not much you can't find to do. And, the cabs hardly honk anymore. Everyone else does, though.

It's just a great city. There is so much going on. I've really just touched on part of Manhattan. You're very lucky. Take advantage of it.

AlphaChiGirl · #8 06-03-2002, 03:57 PM

How long will you be there?

newbie · #9 06-03-2002, 06:13 PM

Thank you everyone for all your suggestions

. Boy, I don't know how I'll fit everything in!

AlphaChiGirl, I'll be there for four days and four nights. Too short! But I'm sure it will be four amazing days

.

Maria, I really want to go to Ground Zero, to pay my respects. My question is, does anyone know if there are restrictions as to how close we can stand?

greeklawgirl · #10 06-03-2002, 06:22 PM

I know that there is a viewing platform for the public, and you can get a specific time slot to go to Ground Zero to pay respects. I'm not sure where you go to get passes, but I will ask my cousin in NYC. He will be sure to know.

cash78mere · #11 06-03-2002, 06:31 PM

*******Madame Toussauds--don't miss it. think it's 42nd and 5th. unreal experience*******

Museum of Natural History

Central Park

forget FAO---go to the new big Toys R Us. i think it's on 40th not sure. absolutely unbelievable in there.

can't get too close to ground zero to see anything. viewing platform will take the whole day. just walk past it. you honestly can't see anything from the platform. see my thread about ground zero if you want a detailed description of what it looks like.

empire state building--nice to see but don't waste a day on it

that's it for now

Peaches-n-Cream · #12 06-04-2002, 12:03 AM

Everyone has given you such good suggestions. Here are my contributions.
Go to 59th Street and Lexington Ave. and you'll visit Bloomingdale's! Walk to 57th Street and keep walking. Some of the best (and most expensive) stores in the world are on 57th including Bergdorf Goodman and Tiffany & Co. You can pretend that you are Audrey Hepburn.

The Russian Tea Room is also on 57th Street. Try to take a carriage ride through Central Park which begins on 59th Street. Check out the zoo although it isn't as good as it used to be.
The Empire State Building has the most incredible view. On a clear day you can see for miles.
Go downtown and take the Circle Line to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Wear comfortable shoes because you will climb stairs for half an hour if you want to reach the top.
The Bronx Zoo!
The museums and theatre in New York are world class. The Producers, Les Miserables, and Cabaret are still hot tickets. The Guggenheim, Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), and the Metropolitan Museum of Art should not be missed. Also visit Lincoln Center.
I'll try to think of some more places.
Regarding wardrobe, June can be brutally hot so be prepared. If you will be in doors, most places are air conditioned and can feel like the Arctic. I guess it isn't that different from Southern California.

juniorgrrl · #13 06-04-2002, 02:53 AM

When my mom and I go to NY, we always try to get standyby tix to Letterman or Conan. Call the studios or check their websites for info about how to do it. The way we did it was wait in a line for awhile to get standby tickets. Then, you come back at the end of the day, and if people with regular tickets don't show, the standby people get in. The earlier you get there, the sooner you'll be in the line and therefore have a better chance of getting in.

Somehow, I don't know how Toys R Us could EVER compare to FAO Schwarz. The singing clock tower is just fabulous. Its just so incredibly magical. Better than Disney in my opinion.

I would seriously reccomend seeing Into the Woods. Its my all-time favorite musical, and Sondheim is an absolute genius. I have a tape of the original production and every time I watch it, I get a new perspective on it. Its a totally amazing show. Another good one is Ragtime. Beautiful sets, beautiful music - really moving.

You can hit Chinatown for all the wonderful fake goods that your friends will love. Make sure to get a $5 rolex and and a "fake spade." My dad had a "rolex" from there that ran for many years - no one was the wiser!

Have a great trip! I *heart* NY!

cash78mere · #14 06-04-2002, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by juniorgrrl

Somehow, I don't know how Toys R Us could EVER compare to FAO Schwarz. The singing clock tower is just fabulous. Its just so incredibly magical. Better than Disney in my opinion.

you know, i didn't even want to go in the big toys r us when my cousins came to the city to visit me. i HATE toys r us. but oh my god! it was absolutely amazing. they have a working ferris wheel, an ENTIRE floor of all different kinds of candy, a full size barbie house and every kind of crazy toy you could want!

the atmosphere was 100 times better than FAO, and you could actually afford stuff there! and the store is huge.

i'm going to take all my friends who come visit there from now on! it really is that great.

BearyCuteAPhi · #15 06-04-2002, 08:53 PM

You have to go to a broadway show!!! Central park is awesome too. Radio City Hall is cool too. And of course you must go to Liberty Island!!!

Ronnie