I forgot to add. We would also like to tour the Statue of Liberty, but have “heard” there is a year’s waiting list. Anyway to get around that???
You may want to post your question to the NY message board.
I know we have quite a few NYC freepers, but they may miss your post.
I’ve spent a lot of time there and worked in Jersey City for several years. BE CAREFUL!!!
try google and tripadvisor.com
Google is your friend.........
FWIW, I go to the city and stay in mid-town a lot...walking is easy and cabs are cheap (and safe) especially when you have 3 to share the fare.
If you’re going to be sightseeing and are going to be using a lot of public transportation, the unlimited metrocard is a great deal. (Well, as great a deal as one can get in NYC, anyway.) The one you want will depend on how long you plan to be there. They have one day, one week, and one month ones if I remember correctly.
No need to buy it in advance. They have them at every subway station.
YES and ABSOLUTELY highly recommend it! We did the 72 hour pass from Grayline.
http://www.grayline.com/Grayline/destinations/us/newyork.go
We almost skipped the night tour, but were so glad we didn't! It was fantastic.
We got off the bus at the Statue of Liberty, and while there was quite a wait and an extensive security check, we had not made reservations in advance. That was in June 2002 so I'm sure it was much worse then than it would be now.
Enjoy your trip! NYC is a great place to visit.
Stay at the Sheraton at 53d street and 7th Ave. You’ll be in the heart of Manhattan.
The Hop-On/Hop-Off bus is great! Sit on the top and make sure you hop off at Chinatown.
Pick a hotel beforehand and see if they have had any bedbug problems.
NYC is a great time, and very safe compared to most other large cities (at least in Manhattan). The subway pass is definitely worth it.
So mimi — are you going to come back and converse with those that have offered help at your request?
I was there in December of 2008, did the hop on, hop off. It was great, great guide, great details. We did not go to the Statue of Liberty since we all had been there before but did go to Ellis Island. Glad we did.
My first time during December and it was the best. Four women in one hotel room. Great stories.
I live in NY. You can buy an MTA fun pass for $7. a day to use on any bus or subway. Re the weather, October is a great month here (the only really good month).
I recommend the Circle Line boat trip, if it’s still running. I also recommend the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim, as well as all the art galleries on 10th Ave in Chelsea. And walking across the Brooklyn Bridge if you’re up for it. The Broadways shows are by and large terrible — there was a good production of “Our Town” playing at a small theater in Greenwich Village — get a copy of Time Out NY & The New Yorker and read the reviews of Off Broadway & Off-Off Broadway plays and go to one of them.
There’s wonderful jazz at Jazz Standard, on 27th St btw Park & Lexington, and they also serve fantastic barbebue (it’s a Danny Meyer Retaurant). You can get good Indian food at a restaurant called Ghandi on Eaast 6th Street & 1st Ave. There’s a gospel brunch in Harlem on Sunday mornings.
One of my favorite restaurants in NY is Rosa Mexicano, on Columbus Ave right near Lincoln Center.
There’s a wonderful farmers’ market in Union Square on Saturdays. I recommend Cafe Dante on Sullivan St in Greenwich Village for an espresso — it’s a classic Village Italian place that’s been there forever. Best pizza is Arturo’s on the corner of Sullivan & Houston.
I have never been to the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State building — NYers don’t go there — Have a wonderful trip.
If you look up Judy Richheimer (that’s with 2 H’s) she’ll give you a great guided tour. Very knowagaeble, very charming — of course politically like the rest of NY>
Eat at Parma.
Some of my favorites...
E 6th St, Indian curry houses
If doing the natural history museum or anything on the upper west side, Artie’s Delicatessen on broadway between 82nd and 83rd. Or Zabar’s which is diagonally across the street.
‘Little Italy’ no longer exists, but a place across from Ferraras called Il Palazzo has good food. 151 Mulberry St.
Really important — check tripadvisor.com ahead of time and see if the hotel has bedbug problems.
As was mentioned above, the broadway shows are generally horrible, but if you plan on going, the same nyc tourism website has twofer one tickets to shows. Or head to the Tkts booth the day of the show... http://www.tdf.org/TDF_ServicePage.aspx?id=56
If heading to the upper east side, this website is tops for local info... http://www.uppereast.com/
My family used to have an office in Chinatown, however i have no idea what the Chinese joints are called. On mott St, try Amazing 66 and then across the street Big Wong.
ML/NJ
Be sure to check the schedule of our Dear Leader. He, unfortunately, seems to have developed a fondness for NYC and has been tying up sections of the city with his Exalted Presence almost regularly for several weeks now. You'll want to not be anywhere near where his is, probably for a variety of reasons.
ML/NJ