Any New Yorkers?

[PizzaDrone]

Am thinking of planning a girly trip to New York at some point. I've been once before, but was on a planned and regimented thing, not just with friends. It may not happen for a very long time yet, but is always nice to have ideas for where to go, what to do, where to eat and drink etc.

Over to you! A big thanks to anyone who can help.

[AdminAssistant]

I'm assuming you're wanting to go to NYC?

Museums. Tons and tons and TONS of museums, many of which are very cheap or free. If you decide to go the the Great White Way (Broadway) for a show, get your tickets at the TKTS booth - much cheaper there.

[PizzaDrone]

Yeah. Also any recommendations about where to stay and for how long. I really am clueless lol! Museums sound great and free is always good. Thanks AA!

[AdminAssistant]

Well, I've only been to NYC once for a church trip, so I don't know much about hotels, other than they're expensive, especially in Manhattan.

[Greenday]

Two of my friends and I were thinking of spending a couple days in NYC during the first week of March. Though I was really thinking of just a day trip. My friend is nuts if he thinks it's cheap to stay in NYC.

What kind of food would you want to eat? Some good pizza? Italian?

[AdminAssistant]

One thing that might help is the Food Network and Travel Channel websites. Rachael Ray used to do a show for Food Network called 'Forty Dollars a Day', and I know she did a few NYC episodes. And I'm reasonably sure Anthony Bourdain has done at least one NYC 'No Reservations' episode.

I'd really look for places that locals frequent - and be sure to get out of Manhattan for at least a little while. There's a ton of cool stuff in Brooklyn (and GREAT food). We went to this pizza place...I think it may have been on 5th Ave (Brooklyn - Lower Park Slope). It was called Gio's. Great stuff.

If you plan on going in slightly warmer weather Coney Island might be fun... But at least get one hot dog from a street vendor and some real NYC pizza.

[Monica]

I was there 8 years ago. I went to a restraunt which I think was called Jekyll and Hydes. Good food and I loved the atmosphere. I would also recommend going to the top of the empire state building, which has amazing views.

[Jester]

If you are a book nut (as I am), you simply MUST take some time to shop at Strand's on Broadway. Oh. My. GOD! Amazing. One of the two best bookstores I have EVER been in. (The other one is Powell's in Portland, Oregon.)

Also, if you are looking to eat on the cheap, don't worry about going to this place or that place....get pizza from the average dive anywhere, and pretzels and hot dogs from street vendors. It's cheap, and it's AWESOME.

Hotels? Expensive. Look online for deals, but understand that some of the cheaper hotels are going to be the kind you DON'T want to stay in!

[katie kaboom]

I was there 8 years ago. I went to a restraunt which I think was called Jekyll and Hydes. Good food and I loved the atmosphere.

I've been there, that place is awesome. I highly recommend it.:)

And you can't plan a trip to NYC without planning on having their pizza and their bagels. I could live off of nothing but NYC pizza and bagels.:D

[Jester]

I forgot the bagels. Pretty bad for a Jewish boy with New York roots to forget New York bagels, huh? But DON'T forget the pretzels and hot dogs. To quote many people in here, "NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM!"

[Evil Queen]

Rachael Ray used to do a show for Food Network called 'Forty Dollars a Day'
And left approximately .25 as tip. Always. I'd be embarrassed to travel with her.

Dear, welcome to Destination 360 (http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/new-york/nyc/free-things-to-do-in-new-york-city.php).

[Jester]

EQ, not so sure about that. I didn't watch Forty Dollars very much, but the few times I did, I am pretty sure the tip (which they included as part of the forty bucks) was 15-18%, NOT a quarter. That is something that I, as a server for years, definitely noticed.

[AdminAssistant]

Well, I highly doubt RR tips that little when she's actually out and about, especially as a former waitress. (Yes, I'm a big RR fan! I think she's great.) I don't ever remember her tips being too skimpy. And even if they were, it was just for the purposes of making the $40 budget. In other words, if the producers felt the waitstaff may have been stiffed for the purposes of the show, they would've opened up their own wallets.

I can't believe I forgot to mention this but...if you want a truly unique theatrical experience go to La Mama, ETC. They're always doing weird and crazy shit, and Mama is still there, she's been in charge of it since it's founding in the late 60's. I have no idea about ticket prices though. But if you do like theatre, be sure to check out the Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, and off-off-off-off-off-Broadway stuff. It's bound to be cheaper than the $100/ticket they charge for some Broadway shows and in my opinion bound to be of higher quality. If you DO want to see some Broadway, as I said, the TKTS booth in Times Square is the way to go. Shows that have been running longer are generally cheaper. I think that you can get tickets for RENT for $20 or so. If you're lucky, you may catch something in previews, which also means it will be cheaper.

I went to the top of the Empire State Building. Eh. If you've got a lot of time, then yeah, you should it is kind of cool. But it's a very very long wait in line to get there (there are only two elevators). Oh, and if you're claustrophobic, don't, because they pack you in the elevators in a way to make sardine factories cringe.

There's always Central Park, very cool, and Times Square at night is pretty much mandatory. As is Ground Zero. I have no idea how things work there now (when I went in 2002 it was just a temporary platform), but you should definitely go there.

ETA: Thanks for the confirmation, Jester. I didn't think she skimpily tipped.

[Jester]

I went to the top of the Empire State Building.

But it's a very very long wait in line to get there (there are only two elevators). Oh, and if you're claustrophobic, don't, because they pack you in the elevators in a way to make sardine factories cringe.

Not if you go at NIGHT, as The Brit and I did. We were almost alone up there. Very cool.

There's always Central Park, very cool...

Especially if you are a cyclist and go cycling there. I had a BLAST!

ETA: Thanks for the confirmation, Jester.

De nada.

[Evil Queen]

EQ, not so sure about that. I didn't watch Forty Dollars very much, but the few times I did, I am pretty sure the tip (which they included as part of the forty bucks) was 15-18%, NOT a quarter. That is something that I, as a server for years, definitely noticed.

I watched just about all the episodes. "Tax and tip" averaged approximately $2 each time.

[BookstoreEscapee]

Hey, maybe when you go we could arrange a NY/NJ/PA-area meetup. I'm only about an hour and a half from the city (depending on traffic). :)

You might want to try PMing SteverinoNY, if he doesn't pop into this thread on his own...he lives in Manhattan.

[PizzaDrone]

Thanks all so much for your help. The site was really helpful, as was the advice about food. Good food is always a must.

As for accomodation, I wouldn't really mind paying a bit more, as last time I went, we stayed in a hostel and it was awful lol. Funny what experience does to you!

It does depend on time off work for me and a friend. Will let you guys know how the planning goes! And huge thanks again!

[BookstoreEscapee]

You might consider staying slightly outside the city (somewhere with easy rail access). It would involve a bit of extra travel each day but might be considerably cheaper.

[DesignFox]

ooooh I love visiting the city. My personal recommendations:

If you like nuts, visit the Nuts 4 Nuts cart. It is a MUUUUST every time I go to the city. My favorite street cart food vendor ever!

I second the idea to visit Central Park. It is beautiful!

Also, if you go during a week day, the Empire State Building isn't as crowded. I recently went for the first time (squee!) and the view was amazing. Be forwarned, when I was there a couple months ago, they were doing some major indoor restoration and only 1 elevator was in service. I think it was worth the wait (because we went on an off day, it wasn't bad at all, and if we felt like taking the stairs UP the wait would have been shorter).

If you can afford a Broadway show, and dig the theater, that's amazingly fun. I think if you do a daytime during the week thing, it's not expensive.

Jekyll and Hyde's is an awesome theme restaurant. I've been there myself a couple times! Like one of the other poster's said- it rocks!

There are a TON of museums, but so far my personal favorites are the Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They are HUGE. There is a TON of awesome stuff to explore. You will in no way finish all the exhibits in even one of those in a single day. They also tend to have special pay for exhibits that are phenomenal. If you do the Museum of Natural History- go to the last hour showing of the paid exhibits- they are generally less crowded at that time.

Rockefeller center is cool to see. It is expensive to ice skate there....if you like ice skating you can do that in Central Park for less. (don't recall the exact cost)

hmmm. what else can you do in NYC.... there's all sorts of shows that get hosted in Madison Square Garden- so depending on how you plan, you could go to a concert or comedy show or sporting event....

The Museum Of Modern art is also cool if you're an artsy person...

Dropping by Times Square is certainly interesting...

Ok. that's all I got off the top of my head. :) Have a great trip!

[draftermatt]

If you are planning on a day trip then plan on parking in Staten Island and taking the ferry into Manhattan, just make sure you don't run out of time (ferry runs till 11 PM or Midnight). That ferry takes you past the Statue of Liberty.

If you wish to stay a few days then I'd recommend the Sheraton Hotel in Weehawken, NJ. (www.sheratonhotels.com)

It's right on the Hudson and has a ferry dock in the parking lot. It was $25 per person per trip so plan your coming and going to the hotel carefully.

It's a lot cheaper to stay in Jersey and take the ferry than staying downtown. Plus this way you don't have to drive in Manhattan, and the skyline is right across the water.

If you want to see a Broadway show http://www.broadway.com/. We saw Wicked, it was really good.

As others have said Times Square & Rockefeller Center are cool, if you like History go to Ellis Island. You pass the Statue of Liberty on your way over. Don't bother with Liberty Island. You're not allowed past the feet anymore, and it's normally a 4 hour wait just to do that.

The World Trade Center site is basically just a hole in the ground with a lot of construction equipment, but can still be moving to see.

Of course there's always the Empire State Building.

If you go to Rockefeller Center go and see St. Patrick's Cathedral.

When in Times Square slip into a little shop and buy a map showing all the landmarks.

If you like baseball take the subway (cabs are expensive for long rides) to the Bronx and see Yankee Stadium before it's gone, and see the New Yankee Stadium. Be sure to wave to my crews erecting the bleachers,etc at the New Yankee Stadium.

If you're going to take the Subway anywhere make sure you get a map of the subway now and study it.