Really Cool Affordable Food Tasting Event

Sponsored by the Village Voice and ';curated%26#39; by one of the ultimate foodies in NYC, VV food writer Robert Sietsema - at the Puck Building, March 11th - 30 restaurants you probably have either never been to or never heard of ;-)

http://www.choice-eats.com/

In recognition of the tantalizing and eclectic cuisine featured by resident food critic, Robert Sietsema, The Village Voice is proud to present our first-ever Choice Eats tasting event. We have scaled New York鈥檚 eclectic culinary landscape to bring together Robert鈥檚 tastiest picks from years of unearthing the five borough鈥檚 best-kept secrets. Set amid the backdrop of the historic Puck Building, guests will be invited to sample delicious treats that would otherwise require days of travel.

Featuring over 30 restaurants, and representing foods from many nations, this is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to treat your taste buds to a trip around the world. In addition, a portion of ticket sales will go to benefit The Academy of Hospitality %26amp; Tourism at Erasmus, a public high school group with a student club dedicated to studying the evolution of world cultures through the history of regional cuisines.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

6:30pm - 10:30pm

The Puck Building

295 Lafayette Street, NYC

Tickets $25 in advance, $35 at the door

Only guests 21 and over admitted

Really Cool Affordable Food Tasting Event

Wow! Great catch, LTT!

Really Cool Affordable Food Tasting Event

Isn%26#39;t Erasmus High School the alma mater of Barbra Streisand, among other luminaries?

And didn%26#39;t it once have a ';mini farm'; in it%26#39;s inner courtyard?

You are a font of info QB and absolutely correct! Many luminaries went to Erasmus including my MOTHER and Bubbles Silverman (aka Beverly Sills ;)

鈥ikipedia.org/wiki/Erasmus_Hall_High_School

bump - don%26#39;t miss this!

My work email blocked this, I think the web site name could be similar to other sites that don%26#39;t discuss food. Finding it another way, it seems like advanced tickets are sold out.

Unfortunately true! See below...

Please note advance tickets are SOLD OUT

A limited amount of tickets will be available for $35 beginning at the door at 5:30pm.

Located at The Puck Building,

295 Lafayette Street, NYC

la boheme

i wanted to carmen to be my first opera since i%26#39;m more familiar with their songs but unfortunately it%26#39;s not playing in the month of april.

the ff: are the showings for april in MET, w/c one would you recommend for a 1st timer.

la boheme,ernani, the gambler, satyagraha,un ballo in machera, le fille du regiment.

La boheme shows sold out in april, where can i get tickets and are there discounts?

la boheme

%26gt;La boheme shows sold out in april, where can i get tickets and are there discounts?%26lt;

Let%26#39;s see - if it sold out - probably means tickets are not available and sdiscounts would not apply, no?

WHEN do you want tickets for? Another time besides April?

la boheme

Of the operas being produced in April, if Boheme is sold out (and sold out means there are no tickets available!), ';La Fille de Regiment'; is probably the most ';approachable'; for a first-time. I would follow that with ';Die Entfuehrung aus dem Serail'; (Mozart%26#39;s ';The Abduction from the Serglio';), Verdi%26#39;s ';Un Ballo in Maschera';, and Verdi%26#39;s ';Ernani';, in that order. Anyone who had not been to the opera before would probably be better off skipping Prokofiev and Philip Glass as an introduction to opera

There are La Boheme tickets being sold on stubhub.com

You may be able to get standing room only tickets for the Met. I frequently did that as a student (some performances also have student rate tickets) %26amp; often was given a ticket stub for a good seat as many regulars leave after the first act. New York City Opera/Lincoln center is another option -- Candide is playing in April.

If you really want to see La Boheme, you should continue to check the Met opera website occasionally. Many of the Met tickets are sold to subscribers who have the option to turn their tickets back in to the box office if they can%26#39;t make a certain show. The box office then puts these tickets back on sale to the general public so you might see tickets become available between now and April. If not, I second the recommendation for the standing room spots. I%26#39;ve had a better view from the SR section than I%26#39;ve had with some Orchestra seats. You can even purchase these tickets online so you%26#39;d don%26#39;t even have to wait in line. They go on sale at 10:00 the morning of the show.

i checked out the price and stubhub and didn%26#39;t realize opera tickets were so expensive.

The standing room tickets suddenly sounds very appealing to me now.

and i guess that means i would be standing until someone goes home early? is the standing room in middle aisle of the orchestra?

where are the seats for the student discount?

also, does anyone know how much to rent the binoculars?

FWIW there is also City Opera in April, and IMO their Tosca and M. Butterfly are comparable to the MET productions. Butterfly may be better since there is not the MET%26#39;s empahsis on staging. You won%26#39;t get the big names, but it may be worth a shot...

http://www.nycopera.com/browse/season.aspx

Pjk

There are two types of standing room at the Met. Orchestra standing room is behind the last row of orchestra seats. You are assigned a specific spot to stand at a sort of waist-high red-velvet-covered bar that also has its own MetTitle screen to provide the translation. The other standing room is up in the Family Circle, but if you are going to stand, the only place to do it in my opinion is the orchestra. No one , of course, is ever allowed to stand in the asile. Officially, one is not supposed to take an empty seat if one has a standing room ticket, but if you spot an empty seat during the first act and slip into it at the end of intermission, I won%26#39;t tell.

There are no binocular rentals.

I don%26#39;t really understand the issue with the cost of tickets. It%26#39;s opera: You don%26#39;t need to be up close and personal. Family Circle and Balcony are very reasonable - cheaper than Broadway. Only the most prime seats are very expensive.

And I second the suggestion to check out the New York City Opera. It is not inferior to the Met and City Opera tickets are less expensive than the Met.

i was already seriously considering taking my unexcited husband to watch la boheme, his 1st opera. but now i%26#39;ve been reading that the story is like the broadway show ';rent';. He didn%26#39;t enjoy rent. does this mean he will probably not enjoy la boheme?

cartridge

flirt with someone

4 nights, 2 hotels?

Hi, this will be our first time in New York and I have a strange question for you experts. We have narrowed down our hotel search to 4 and they are so expensive that we are wondering if it is wise to pick 2 of them, so as not to ';put all our eggs in one basket';, just in case we made the wrong choice.

Here are our 4 choices: Waldorf Astoria, New York Palace, The Plaza and Four Seasons. If we stay 2 nights at the Waldorf(it is cheaper than the others)which hotel is the closest to it, so we could check out and walk to another one, if possible...

We usually like the older, character type of hotels like the Waldorf, but it isn%26#39;t rated very high on trip advisor.

Thanks so much!

4 nights, 2 hotels?

Are you saying you%26#39;d make a backup reservation and if you%26#39;re happy at your first choice, cancel #2 and stay? Or are you intending on staying in 2 places regardless?

I hate packing and unpacking so I%26#39;d think it would be crazy to move. What I don%26#39;t get is WHY don%26#39;t you believe the reviews on this website? The Waldorf is a lovely old hotel with grand public space (lobby, restaurants etc.) but the rooms are very dated and nothing special. That%26#39;s why it%26#39;s so much less expensive. It%26#39;s also not a terribly convenient location imo for much of anything.

It%26#39;s pretty easy to plot the 4 hotels on a map. The Palce is nearest the Waldorf. The Plaza and the Four Seasons are not far from each other but all 4 are basically in midtown east.

The Plaza rooms will START at $1000/night. Are you prepared to pay that?

4 nights, 2 hotels?

Thanks for the information! I did not say, however, that I did not believe the reviews, I simply ackowleged that the reviews were not that great and so we were prepared to stay at another hotel for the other 2 nights.

I do know the price of the Plaza and the other hotels on our list and are prepared to pay that if we decide against the Waldorf.

You are right though, the thought of packing and unpacking might make our decision for us!

By the way, we have stayed in some hotels that were not that highly rated on trip advisor, like Fairmont San Fransisco and just loved it, so I do tend to read the reviews with a grain of salt, and if the majority of people have a complaint about the same thing, I usually know it to be true!

Thanks again!

I know the press, here in NYC said that the Plaza starts at $1000. Last night I went to their website.

http://www.fairmont.com/theplaza/Index.htm

I feed in random dates. --In April, May and July. Except for the few days right before Memorial Day, I was able to get rooms for less than that.

I suggest your try.

I also agree that to change hotels in the middle is time-consuming and to double book is wrong.

You might check on luxurylink.com and skyauction.com Sometimes they have good 3 or 4 night packages at some of the top hotels. You just have to make sure the hotel will accept the pkg. on the dates you want BEFORE you buy or bid for it.

Since you seem to like older classic hotels, I%26#39;m surprised you haven%26#39;t mentioned the St. Regis, the Peninsula, the Pierre, the Carlyle or the St. Moritz. These are all much more classic than say the 4 Seasons (which is a wonderful hotel, but very very modern). The Palace has magificent historic public rooms but the bedrooms are actually in a modern tower built above this landmarked property.

I was considering St. Regis but seemed even more expensive than The Plaza and The Pierre will be closed due to renovations the time of our visit. Basically I was so overwhelmed by all the choices that I wanted a shorter list to work with! We have stayed at the same chains before like Four Seasons and Plaza(Fairmont property)so I guess I was going with something familiar.

We will be going September 2-6 so I suppose that is still high season.

With all the great places to visit in the world, this will probably be our only time to New York and didn%26#39;t want to make any bad decisions with hotels so I am starting my research early!

I think I have decided though, only to stay at one hotel!

Thanks for the help!

Matlock

I never have enough time in Manhattan, although I visit for 2 weeks every year. That said, I would pick a hotel and stay there for a visit. Time wasted packing and unpacking is precious time. As for which hotel, I%26#39;ve stayed at none that you mention. But all seem nice if the price is right for you.

Stay at 1 hotel. You listed some of the most expensive hotels in the city, there are others that may be cheaper and really just as nice. NY Whiz and some other experts can give you better advice on hotels than I could.

Sept 2-6 is not ';high season'; but not low season either. We all like different things in a hotel. In NYC, I would consider having a Central Park view a wonderful luxury. The Ritz Carlton Central Park, Trump, Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, the London, St. Moritz, Sherry Netherland and some others would have that. The Waldorf is really nothing much imo unless you stay in a suite in the Waldorf Towers.

If you really don%26#39;t think you%26#39;ll ever be in NYC again, perhaps the Plaza is a good idea. What would concern me is where the hotel rooms are located in the building. I%26#39;d assume the best views will be in the private apts. not the hotel rooms.

Then there%26#39;s the question of staying in the nicest room of a lesser hotel vs. the lesser room at a nicer hotel....

thanks NYwhiz for the suggestions. The view is important to me, but not as much to my husband...

This might seem odd, but we are more concerned with the overall ';feeling'; of the hotel when we walk in. A beautiful lobby area, lounges, other public areas, are probably more important to us than the room itself! Although we do not want to be stuck in the basement with NO views outside! A really grand entrance area really wows us!

I will look at the Ritz like you suggested and might put that on our short list. I might take off Four Seasons because, like you said, it is so modern and you can stay at those anywhere...

Although you do not care for the Waldorf, I guess we were thinking it was very ';New Yorkish'; and would have so much history, etc...

Think it is down to Plaza, Waldorf, New York Palace and perhaps Ritz Carlton Central Park.

Thanks again everyone for your help!

Best & Most Affordable Food - Roosevelt Ave, Queens

Courtesy of GOOD Magazine...

Roosevelt Avenue, Queens

On Roosevelt Avenue between 62nd and 82nd Streets, rice is the common language, and its preparation varies as widely as the languages spoken on the 7 train, which rumbles above the adjacent neighborhoods of Jackson Heights and Woodside. From stores, supermarkets, carts, stands, and trucks, the cuisines and cultures of Latin America and Asia intersect. Treat Roosevelt Avenue as a 20-block destination; it requires several return visits to truly appreciate.

Hopping off the 7 train at 61st Street, your first treat is about 35 paces away. Grab a toothsome pollo verde tamale from the friendly Mexican man under the station stairs, and then hoof it seven blocks to El Sitio, the venerable Cuban lunch counter, for ropa vieja, delicious fork-tender skirt steak stewed in tomato sauce. Next, try Asian chicken three ways: Experience the global evolution of fried chicken and Korean fast food at Unidentified Flying Chicken, hit the Little Manila fave Krystals for chicken adobo, and then, last but not least, is the authentic pad kra prow鈥攁 traditional dish of saut茅ed ground meat with basil sauce (get it with chicken, naturally)鈥攁t the Northern Thai standout Zabb Queens.

It%26#39;s worth returning for a nighttime pilgrimage to Little Colombia, which begins around 75th Street, to visit the Arepa Lady%26#39;s small cart on Roosevelt Avenue. Her crispy, cheese-oozing Colombian corn cakes鈥攐nly available after 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays鈥攈ave inspired devotees to erect a MySpace page in her honor.

Don%26#39;t Miss!

AREPA LADY Roosevelt Avenue between 78th and 79th

Try the: Cheese arepas

EL SITIO 68鈥?8 Roosevelt Avenue

Try the: Ropa vieja

UNIDENTIFIED FLYING CHICKEN 71鈥?2 Roosevelt Avenue

Try the: Chicken wings with soy garlic sauce

ZABB QUEENS 7128 Roosevelt Avenue

Try the: Pad kra prow

Best %26amp; Most Affordable Food - Roosevelt Ave, Queens

Big ups to Unidentified Flying Chicken. Man, that stuff is good... anyone know if they have their liquor license yet?

Best %26amp; Most Affordable Food - Roosevelt Ave, Queens

Ugh...';Little Colombia'; would actually be Northern Blvd from 82nd - 90th....with much better restaurants. That area on Roosevelt is a South American mixed bag. Would it kill these food critics to actually venture more than a block away from the train to earn their supposed ';street cred';...?

Thanks a lot, LTT!! Now I%26#39;ll have to weave and dodge map-weilding tourists there, too! ;o) I%26#39;m sure cbcito is thrilled.

Anyway, great info, if I do say so myself.

Thanks LTT! Here%26#39;s a vote for a TA meetup at one of the Queens Thai places.

Oops, spoke too soon!

Zabb is a bit disappointing. Where are all the Thai people and why aint they eating there ? Explanation ..... small portions and a bit pricy for this area of Queens. Zabb is Isan cuisine similar to Laos

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isan

..... their best dish is actually %26#39;larb%26#39; ..... gorund pork bolied and then mixed with roasted rice, chili and mint

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larb

Kra Pow is actually very easy to make yourself at home.

Ate in Zabb several times ..... it%26#39;s definitely a miss in my opinion ..... but it does stay open till late at night.

Don%26#39;t get me wrong...I love Roosevelt. However; the better food is not located there. (But for nightlife...and loud latino culture it cannot be beat.)

The Arepa lady also strikes a chord; and I%26#39;m somewhat of a regular there. She%26#39;s set up right outside one of the gay clubs, and I think the presence of said gays have made it chic. It%26#39;s quite a scene to behold obviously, and makes for great conversation. But the reality is that they are just arepas, comparable to most in Jackson Hts.

I also don%26#39;t understand the love of Zabb. If you want world-class Thai, go to Sripraphai, it%26#39;s a few blocks away. If you want nice neighborhood Thai, go to Rice Ave. If you want weird southeast Asian, go to Burmese Cafe.

I also generally hate the foodie obsession with carts. Especially the ones on Roosevelt. Where TF are you supposed to eat your taco? Carry it home and wait for it to get cold? Eat it under the stinky, noisy 7 train deafening you every three minutes? Drop your taco fixings on the street as you try to juggle it with whatever else you%26#39;re holding?

No thanks. I%26#39;ll get my Mexican food at Coatzingo (76th and Roosevelt) and fire up the Norteno jukebox, or get my Colombian food at that bakery place on 37th and 80th or so. Or get my Peruvian food at Pio Pio. Or Papa%26#39;s Empanadas. No overhead trains involved! And they have heating!

I%26#39;ll second the vote for UFC though.

I got a greeter!

Yippppeeee. I got a greeter for my Easter trip to NY. Cant believe Ive been lucky enough to get a second go.

I selected Greeters Choice, and can%26#39;t wait to see what my greeters part of NY is. My last experience still stands out as one of my best NY mornings.

Thanks so much to all who volunteer for this service.

I got a greeter!

Maybe this is dumb, but what is a greeter?

I got a greeter!

Good for you!!!!

Big Apple Greeter:

www.bigapplegreeter.org

Good for you. I wish I was still a Greeter - it was a fun job to do!

Congrats! I%26#39;m keeping my fingers crossed that we%26#39;ll get one when we%26#39;re there over Memorial Day weekend. It truly is a great service!

That%26#39;s great!

I am also planning on applying for my next trip - it was such a great experience the first time around. :)

Mez

That%26#39;s Great,

I have asked for one for our October holiday-will keep my fingers crossed!!!

Please remember that although this wonderful service is completely free to you it is always polite to make a donation (direct to BAG)to preserve the service.

Enjoy

M

Fab!

Looking forward to hearing how you get on. I always think it would be great to end up with one of the BAGs that post on here as a coincidence.

Question: With you having been to NYC so many times, do you feel guilty at potentially having taken away a BAG from a first timer? I did a little bit with our second Greeter.

Ange

I%26#39;ve used the NYC and Chicago Service before and like you I do for a split second think that it is perhaps unfair to ask again.

BUT! We all fill out our on-line forms,comb our hair and put on our best wide-eyed pleading look when we press that send button, then it%26#39;s all in the lap of the Gods (and the BAG guys of course!).

They do a fantastic job but they do have THE Worlds Best City to work with!.........

M

Congratulations - we were lucky enough to get a greeter on our first trip last year. He was the nicest guy and meeting him was one of the highlights of our trip.

can someone explain what a greeter is to me please sorry if this is a stupid question? many thanks toni

Itinerary Help please :)

We are leaving late Thursday night, driving from VA to NYC for a weekend stay - my husband, myself, and my 9-year-old daughter.

We%26#39;re staying at the Lombardy Hotel Friday and Saturday night and we%26#39;ll be parking our car with them so that%26#39;s covered - I think $31/day.

Is the traffic really bad in the morning? We%26#39;re trying to plan accordingly, I think it%26#39;s about a 7-hour drive for us and I%26#39;m trying to figure out what time we should plan to arrive so as not to get caught up in a lot of traffic.

Friday - AMNH - exhibits, planetarium, etc.

FAO Schwartz, Build-A-Bear, World of Disney

American Girl Place - shopping and dinner at 7:30

Saturday - WTC Memorial, Radio City backstage Tour, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, possibly NBC Tour

Sunday - Central Park

We aren%26#39;t going to a show this time since I will already be using my free pass with my husband at the American Girl Place. ;)

Does this sound ';doable'; or should I switch anything? The only thing I can%26#39;t change is our dinner at American Girl Friday night - I%26#39;ve already paid.

Thanks for your help!!

Itinerary Help please :)

You don%26#39;t want to arrive at rush hour. Could take you 2 hours to go 5 miles. Either leave earlier to get in really early Friday or later and get in past 10 Friday.

I think your plan is doable, busy but doable.

Itinerary Help please :)

Not many folks on this forum stay at the Lombardy so I hope you%26#39;ll write a trip report after your visit. ;) A friend of the family used to have an apt. there so I have fond memories of the place.

I don%26#39;t know where in Va. you%26#39;re starting, but 7 hrs. sounds a bit long. Have you tried looking on maps.google.com ? If you%26#39;re leaving on Thurs. night, will you stop on the road to sleep? Rush hour here starts around 7:30am so if you can arrive before then or after 9:30 it would be better.

You may not get everything on the list done on Fri. but whatever you don%26#39;t get to can either wait til another day or another trip. WTC Memorial is all the way downtown and your other stops on Sat. are midtown within walking distance of the hotel. Why not consider doing WTC Sun. morning (when the city is quiet), have some breakfast or brunch downtown and then head to the park?

Thanks BobbyC and nywhiz -

We%26#39;re coming from the Virginia Beach area and mapquest quotes 6 hrs and 45 minutes. I think we%26#39;ll plan on getting in after 9:30.

I using a company apartment at the Lombardy (I%26#39;ve never stayed in it before). It looks really nice on the website.

We%26#39;re going for my daughter%26#39;s 9th birthday - she turns 9 on Friday so we%26#39;re having a birthday dinner at her favorite place in the world - American Girl Place in NYC. :)

You%26#39;ve given me advice before nywhiz - when I planned my first trip with my daughter and mother-in-law. I%26#39;ve gotten great advice from these forums. Our last trip was magical.

I will change our stop at WTC to Sunday. This is my husband%26#39;s first trip and that%26#39;s a top priority on his list.

Thanks again for your help! Here%26#39;s to hoping this trip will be just as magical!

Something different

Am going to new york soon for the 5th time,cant wait, taking my teenage daughter with me, have done all of the usual touristy things and will spend a day or two shopping, any suggestions on some new things to do would be helpfull, we will be there for a week so have plenty of time.....thanks in advance

new york lover!

Something different

I%26#39;m in exactly the same boat right down to the number of times I%26#39;ve been.

I walked round Brooklyn last time and went to Coney Island as well. So, like the original poster, I%26#39;d be keen for any suggestions.

Something different

I know exactly what you mean, it was really nice to take a day off and go to Woodbury this time (even uf it did bucket it down, but I did buy a great tUMI umbrealla though)

If you have the cash Greyline do day trips to Philedelphia, Washington and Niagra (first 2 by train and last one by air)

They%26#39;re not pennies but we%26#39;re looking at them when we come back at xmas

Have a look on their website

Thanks all, will give brooklyn a try and maybe niagara falls too!

We had a blast at formerly the Musuem of Television %26amp; Radio and now the Paley Center for Media www.mtr.org

A few things on the list for my next visit are the Tenement Museum, the Cloisters and seeing the NYC panorama up at the Queens Museum.

If you do a search on any of these on the TA forums you%26#39;ll get more info.

Also, on my last visit I did the NY Accomplice experience - a great and unusual way to spend an afternoon in NYC.

Mez

From the FAQ

YAWN, I%26#39;VE DONE ALL THE TOURIST SITES, NOW WHAT? A collection of posts for repeat visitors and those in search of interesting places OFF THE BEATEN PATH.

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k976302-鈥?/a>

YO, WHAT ABOUT BROOKLYN? Fuhggedabouddit! Here%26#39;s a collection of posts about our ';Fourth Largest City in America';, where 1 out of 7 Americans can trace their ancestral roots.

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k884862-鈥?/a>

a trip to Brooklyn,walking around Park Slope,Pratt,Prospect Park,and Brooklyn Museum;the Cloisters;backstage tour of the Met/Lincoln Center..some of recent things we%26#39;d done (me,50+ mom,with 19 yr.old daughter ..after many,many NYC visits)

Spend some time in the ';neighborhoods.'; Here is a walking tour of the Upper West Side.

www.nytimes.com/ref/travel/TOUR-WS.html

same here...(50+mom and daughter,19) our fourth trip will be in May. We will be there six days,thinking about Brooklyn for one day and lots and lots of wandering on other days!! Wanted to find a day trip someplace ...Hudson Valley maybe....I don%26#39;t know!!Any ideas along those lines??

Different day trips by train.

http://mta.info/mta/destinations.htm

Different neighborhoods in the city, off the beaten path.

forgotten-ny.com/NEIGHBORHOODS/neighborhoodh鈥?/a>

java

2nd time visit - in 3 weeks

Hi

As part of a multi centre trip we will be returning to NYC - my favourite place in the world - for 4 nights on 29th March, giving us around 4 1/2 days due to a late flight home.

We have a 12 yo son and a 8 yo daughter.

During our first visit 2 years ago we crammed in so much during our 5 night stay:

Visited the ESB twice 鈥?during the day and night

Went to the Guggenheim and Natural History Museum

Posed with the rich and famous at Madame Tussaurds

Strolled around and had a rickshaw ride around Central Park

Went to the zoo

Saw The Lion King

Went on 3 bus tours

Went on the Circle Line boat tour 鈥?saw the Statue of Liberty

Ate at delis, including The Carnegie - wonderful!

Visited the WTC site and Century 21

Walked across the Brooklyn Bridge - amazing

Explored China Town and Little Italy - a little

Rode in a limo - back to the airport

Had manicures and massages - so cheap compared to UK!

Shopped and shopped some more

Walked and walked some more

This time I have requested a BAG but haven%26#39;t heard anything yet - still hopeful though.

We are also going to go to the top of the rock instead of the ESB and we definately want to return to Central park for the kids to climb and get stuck on the rocks again! - It%26#39;s 5 mins from our hotel.We want to explore Grand Central Terminal and eat lunch somewhere there one day and also go to South Street Seaport and possibly pick up some theatre tickets - what is suitable and likely for a family?

What do you recommend this time that we didn%26#39;t do last - we would happily do all these again but I know that there%26#39;s so much we missed as I think you tend to do the obvious on your first trip. We would love to see some sport but Baseball tickets will cost nearly $1000 because it%26#39;s the opening game and we cannot justify that!

I used this forum so much last trip and have a little this trip but used the search far more too.

Please help if you can.:)

2nd time visit - in 3 weeks

Hi snowwhite!

You must try Serendipity3 smallish eaterie but the kids would love it! It%26#39;s on 225 E.60th and reservations are on 212-838 3531. The food is fantastic, decoration eclectic and always a chance of celebrity spotting (see their website for details)

www.serendipity3.com

Enjoy

M

2nd time visit - in 3 weeks

1) You didn%26#39;t mention the Met Museum and it%26#39;s one of the greatest in the world. Try to time your visit with one of the free highlights tours geared to families. The entry to the museum is pay what you wish. It%26#39;s closed on Mondays.

metmuseum.org

2) Consider the Tenement Museum, a very popular and interesting place. It%26#39;s located on the lower east side which you may not have visited (nearish Chinatown and Little Italy though). You should book in advance. You can find self guided walking tours of the area online too. (There are guided tours on Sundays but they don%26#39;t start til April and I don%26#39;t think you%26#39;ll be here for a Sun. in April)

http://www.tenement.org/

3) For theater, Grease, Hairspray, Legally Blonde, Mary Poppins, South Pacific on Broadway.

Off Broadway, Blue Man Group, Stomp, Altar Boyz. You should be able to find discounted tickets for most of these on Broadwaybox.com and I would suggest you buy those in advance to avoid wasting time once you arrive. You can phone and speak to a live person. Get a good seating plan of whichever show(s) you pick before purchasing tix.

You mentioned having visited the zoo, but which zoo? There is a small zoo in Central Pk, and there is an amazing world class zoo in the Bronx. The children might like to visit the Bronx zoo if you haven%26#39;t already.

Take a tour of Radio City Music Hall or Rockefeller Ctr. Or try to get tickets to a TV show taping.

I haven%26#39;t done this, but I%26#39;ve read about visiting Harlem churches on Sunday for the gospel choirs - sounds really amazing!

All good ideas - Thank you.

We intended to go to Serendipity last time but didn%26#39;t - will try again!

Will put the Met down along with Central Park - i actually thought it was just an art gallery - but it should be great for the kids if they have the run around before!

We have seen Grease and Mary Poppins in London during the last year but the others sound ok so thanks again, My daughter would enjoy hairspray.

Will also research the tours - I know we will end up at Nintendo world and American Girl Place so this will all go together nicely too. I like to be tidy and put things together!

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New Yorkers - Please help

Hello,

I would really appreciate your help. My husband and myself are flying to New York (Newark) arriving on a Saturdayin November,and staying at the Time Hotel. I would really be grateful for any help you could provide on the following:

How much can we expect to pay for a taxi from the airport to the hotel?

Does anyone know if there is an evening mass at St Patrick%26#39;s cathedral (on Saturday) and if so what time?

Any recommendations for a good restaurant (my husband want to try a great NY steak)close to our hotel?

Sadly only one night in NY - next day we need to be at Cape Liberty to board our ship - please could you tell me how long this journey will take (approx) how much we can expect to pay and also do you recommend any particular taxi companies?

Finally......I believe the rate for tips is 15% or 20% for really good service - if this is incorrect please let me know, I would hat to insult anyone as a result of my lack of knowledge.

Also any advice at all would be most welcome.

Many thanks in anticipation of your replies.

Anne

New Yorkers - Please help

Here is the Mass schedule for St Patrick%26#39;s:

saintpatrickscathedral.org/service_schedule.鈥?/a>

As you can see, there is a 5.30pm service.

There is lots of good steak in New York. Check out the menus online for BLT Steak, Wolfgang%26#39;s and Morton%26#39;s.

Tips of 15-20% are average/ expected tips - good sevice is more like 25% upwards.

If you want to book a car service, have a look at Dial 7, but I would recommend just hopping in a yellow cab on the street. There are thousands and you won%26#39;t have any trouble getting one unless it%26#39;s raining and it%26#39;s post-theater! :)

New Yorkers - Please help

Yours are common questions.

Have a read through the FAQ ';sticky'; at the top of this forum. Answers most of your questions.

Also, you can enter phrases like ';best steak'; in the search box and see previous discussions.

Also, be patient - you posted identical posts 8 minutes apart.....just wait, you%26#39;ll get plenty of advice.

If Cape Liberty is the port in Bayonne, it shouldnt take you more than a 1/2 hour to get there on a Sunday morning, but I would leave an hour to be safe. Especially later in the day when all the Jerseyites who were in the city for the day drive out.

You%26#39;re probably better off arranging a car service than hopping in a yellow cab - if they will even take you to NJ, they will charge a lot more than a car service.

Del Frisco%26#39;s steak house is right by your hotel. It is very good. Other Great steak houses are Strip House and Ben %26amp; Jack%26#39;s (very similar to Peter Luger%26#39;s. 15% is good for tips. I usually just double the tax.

From Newark airport, I would order a car service (cabs in NJ are not yellow, btw). You can see the prices on the website

dial7.com

There will be an additional toll of about $8 from Newark I think. Tip the driver 15-20% on the fare (not including toll).

You should also book a car service to the port since it%26#39;s in NJ, a yellow taxi that you hail could charge double the meter, not a good idea. I think Dial7 would also do that trip. The length of the drive depends on the time of day. I hope it%26#39;s not during rush hour. I think there may be a way to get to Cape Liberty by ferry from Manhatan but I%26#39;m not sure. You might want to post that question on cruisecritic.com

I agree Del Frisco is a good place for steak near the Time hotel.

Many thanks for your replies. i will book a car with the company you have suggested. I%26#39;m sure that I%26#39;ll have lots more questions over the coming weeks and hope that you will once again provide me with help and advice.

Poppa - sorry about the identical posts, it was not done out of impatience as you thought, I just wasn%26#39;t sure whether or not I had sent the first one.

I really cannot wait for our trip to New York!

15% is actually considered chintzy- usually 20

5 is the minimum average tip.

We have car services, but not taxi companies per se.

I would take one of the many van services from the airport. You can ask about them when you get in, at the information desk.

Hi

Does %26#39;chintzy%26#39; mean cheap? Sorry but it%26#39;s not an expression I%26#39;ve heard before.

I really don%26#39;t want to insult anyone on my trip so any tips, do%26#39;s/don%26#39;t do%26#39;s would be much appreciated.

Many thanks.

For steak:

Agree about Strip House, it%26#39;s amazing.

Also, Old Homestead is incredible.

Walking distance from your hotel (well, in ';New Yorker'; terms of walking distance) is Quality Meats, which is incredible. It%26#39;s on 58th street.

Weekend out of NYC

My husband and I will be returning to NYC for our third time in mid May. This time we would like to take a weekend trip out of the city. We are willing to rent a car or take the train. We would be interested in must see sights, scenic coastal areas, golf, shopping and good food.We have been to Niagara Falls on a recent trip to Toronto.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Weekend out of NYC

Yours is a popular query. I put ';getaway outside NYC'; in the search box and got these, with great recos:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k873745-鈥?/a> Short_Luxury_Getaways_from_NYC-

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k1545940鈥?/a> Early_Winter_Late_Fall_Getaway-

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k598727-鈥?/a> OK_NYC_people-New_York_City_New_York.html

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k1485390鈥?/a> Resorts_or_deluxe_hotels_3_hours_from_NYC-

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k929787-鈥?/a> -2_3_nights_out_of_Manhattan-

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k1475764鈥?/a> -Girlfriend_Getaway_Outside_of_the_city-

To get away from the city, many NYers have gone ';to the mountains'; for decades. That%26#39;s the Catskills, The Shawangunks and the Woodstock area.

But, we do have beaches, too. Scenic coastal areas to research:

Jersey shore

Cape Cod

Mystic, CT

Rhode Island

Newport, CT

The Hamptons

Montauk

But, they might be empty or partially closed. Also, it still might be chilly. The season doesn%26#39;t really start until Memorial Day weekend.

Weekend out of NYC

The Culinary Institute in Hyde Park near Poughkeepsie is one idea for good food.

http://www.ciachef.edu/restaurants/

There are some of the beautiful mansions in the Hudson Valley along the way including Kykuit, the Rockefeller Estate. Kykuit also houses Stonehill at Stone Barns restaurant. I think you could easily pass Woodbury Commons outlet mall along with way if you%26#39;re interested.

The Hamptons/Montauk on Long Island is another option and in mid May would not be high season. There%26#39;s a public 9 hole golf course in Sagaponack and an 18 hole public course in Montauk. Boutique shops, some decent restaurants... and lovely beaches. There%26#39;s also an outlet mall in Riverhead which could be on the way to or from for shopping.

Spring Lake, NJ and another option. Charming Victorian village on the ocean. There%26#39;s also some outlet shopping on the way there as I recall.

Here are 2 popular weekend destinations from NYC, both would be good if the weather is decent, but not as good if you have a colder, wet weekend in May. Either one would be about a 2-1/2 hour car ride from Manhattan.

1. Eastern Long Island including East Hampton, Sag Harbor, and Montauk. Although this area peaks as a tourist destination in July and August, May in the Hamptons is less crowded and can be great for a weekend of shopping, golf, great food, and beautiful beach strolls, although the cold water temperature will mean you%26#39;ll need a sweatshirt for the beach. If money is no object, stay at the Maidstone Arms in East Hampton, which is a beautiful country inn on the edge of the village of East Hampton, a town famous for high end shopping and restaurants. Other nearby towns to explore by car which are less pretentious include Montauk and Sag Harbor. All are very scenic coastal towns with lots of atmosphere and good shopping.

2. Coastal Eastern Connecticut, including Mystic and Stonington. This is a much more affordable alternative. Stay at the Steamboat Inn, right on the harbor in the village of Mystic. Mystic is a small quaint village with several interesting restaurants and some shopping, although it is quite a contrast to what you wil find in high-end East Hampton. Area attractions include Mystic Seaport, Mystic Aquarium, and nearby golf. There are also 2 casinos within 20 minutes by car, in case you want some night life: Foxwoods ad Mohegan Sun.

The North Fork of Long Island also offers a nice, truly outside-the-city experience: a drive through the area will include pretty scenery and good dining options - not to mention wineries!

Keens, Strip House or BLT Steak?

Which would you recommend??

Keens, Strip House or BLT Steak?

All of them. ;)

Keens, classic old world, historic.

Strip House faux old world bordello style.

BLT Steak modern sylish.

Keens, Strip House or BLT Steak?

I%26#39;ve only been to Keen%26#39;s on your list but quite enjoyed it. The food was very good and the atmosphere is fabulous - it has retained it%26#39;s charm IMO. Keen%26#39;s has been here a long time - my great-granfather used to be a member and eat there back in the day when it was a gentleman%26#39;s club.

I love the Strip House. Great strip steak and bone-in rib eye, and the creamed spinach is incredible.

I should have asked, I take it you can wear jeans to all 3...we don%26#39;t really want to get dressed up!

Broadway day trip help please

I am taking my elderly parents to see Jersey Boys for the day from CT. I want to know if once we take a cab from Grand Central to the theatre on West 52nd St, what is a short walk that we can do (ie. 5th Ave stores, St Pats Cathedral, etc). Also would like to have lunch before the show so where would be a good place to get sandwiches/salads-either can cab it or walk if not too far.

Also does anyone know of a good car service from CT for the day if we end up not taking the train in?

Thanks

Broadway day trip help please

It might make more sense to walk to St Pats from GCT as it isn%26#39;t a long walk...how able are your parents?

For walking distances and times you can use www.hopstop.com.

dog

Stewart International to Manhattan?

Hoping to avoid renting a car, is the train the best way?

Stewart International to Manhattan?

Compared to walking? Yes. Keep in mind, though, that you still need to get to the train. This can be done a number of ways, including taxi, bus, and ferry.

Stewart International to Manhattan?

Oy, ya%26#39;ll need a sticky on this.

Lilac...great rates from skybus from Columbus. Do a word search...the little empty box above these posts, not the one in green on left. Lots of discussions on this, options, routes, etc. recently.

Lilacgirl,

If you do a search on this forum for Stewart Airport you will find plenty of info about getting to the train and into the city. This subject has been discussed on this forum many times since Skybus started flying there.

I%26#39;m actually taking this route in May and plan to use Leprechaun Lines shuttle bus from the airport to the MetroNorth train station, which takes you right into Grand Central. Check out leprechanunlines.com for weekday schedules. They just announced they have begun wknd shuttle service but their site does not list this yet, at least not when I last checked.

Of course getting a taxi might be a little easier than taking a bus to the station if you can%26#39;t catch the shuttle at the scheduled times. Have fun!

Lilacgirl and anyone else interested...........Leprechaun Lines now has their wknd service schedule posted on their site at leprechaunlines.com. It says ';effective March 1-30'; however so I%26#39;m not sure if the times will change after then.

Anyone been to The Boathouse Restaurant for Sunday Brunch?

Am having some difficulty deciding between the above or Norma%26#39;s....tho quite fancy Stanton Social tho it doesn%26#39;t really fit into our plans for the Sunday we are in NYC!

Anyone been to The Boathouse Restaurant for Sunday Brunch?

the boathouse is nice but make a reservation (if you can!) Waits on Sunday can be an hour or more! Norma%26#39;s has great food and you can make a ressie on opentable.com

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Whoa Spitzer!

check out the news now!

3,2,1 - delete

Whoa Spitzer!

Just saw it, he is so DONE!

Just goes to show, you can never judge a book by its cover.

Whoa Spitzer!

? Elliott?

???????????? I must be slow today...

And the jist of this is.......

I got nothing on the news just now ;o)

Ok I get it now - CNN LOL

It%26#39;s at www.nytimes.com

Think that could be it for him!

OMG! -The higher and holier the harder, etc.

There are 6 of us in my office w/CNN on - huge story!!

Amazing that he could be so dumb in this day %26amp; age of 24/7 media.

LTT will you keep us posted? The only TV here is in the Publisher%26#39;s office.

I%26#39;d like to know what makes it worth $5,500 an hour???

I just asked my politically connected friend if she thinks he%26#39;s potting soil, but she didnt even know about this yet! tied up raising $ for HRC I guess...

So we went to Grimaldi's in AZ...

Last week we went to the one in Old Town Scottsdale. When we opened the door, we were hit with that familiar smell of pizza baking in a coal-fired oven. I could have sworn I was in NYC (well...maybe Hoboken since that was the Grimaldi%26#39;s we went to instead of Brooklyn). The decor was similar to the Hoboken one but the place was bigger. Plus we found out it was very child-friendly. The hostess let us leave the stroller by the door and the waitress brought the twins some pieces of dough to play with.

We started the meal with some antipasto which was excellent--high quality fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, salami, black olives and green olives. Then we had 2 pizzas--one plain cheese (for my husband and me) and one pepperoni and garlic (for my daughter and her SO). I have to say that the pizza is just like what we had in Hoboken. It had that coal-fired oven char and flavor. We all liked it. My daughter and her family want to go back for more! Even the twin that%26#39;s a picky eater liked it! And, yes, it will be hard to go back to eating what passes for pizza here in VA :-( !!

So we went to Grimaldi's in AZ...

Thanks SueFee now I%26#39;m hungry!

So we went to Grimaldi's in AZ...

Sue,

As always, enjoyed your post. Wife and I were actually discussing a return to Grimaldis Dallas just yesterday. Glad your experience in Az was good.

chipper

Interesting that this appears right above the post regarding cheap knock-offs.

I%26#39;m just sayin%26#39; is all...

Thanks, Chipper! You%26#39;re lucky to have one nearby. I wish they would open one here! And, mom, I%26#39;m getting hungry just thinking about it LOL!

NYE dinner

We%26#39;ll be in NY 26th dec till 1st january.We (that is brother %26amp;sister 50+and a young couple 25).

Can anyone recommend a restaurant for NYE dinner.

We just want a good dinner and then up to the fireworks.We will be staying at the Salisbury.

Yes it may cost but not be overprized.(betw.150-200$/person)Beeing European that%26#39;s what we would pay here (even more because of special day etc).Suggestions more than welcome.

NYE dinner

What kind of food do you like? That will make a difference. And do you want an early seating or a midnight seating?

NYE dinner

This thread from the FAQ at the top of the forum will give you lots of ideas:

HOLIDAY MEALS: Where can we eat a traditional American Thanksgiving Dinner, a Christmas meal or a special meal on New Year%26#39;s Eve?

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k312227-鈥?/a>

Thanks both of you .I already took a look at the FAQ.

What does it mean midnight seating?Does it mean you enter at 10pm and stay till after midnight.

As for food we like it all!Fish,meat,shellfish,Mexican ,Italian.

Here you enter at let%26#39;s say 8pm and leave after midnight.It is not unusual for us to be sitting and enjoying for 3-4 hours.

Thanks a lot

Some restaurants have 2 seatings, an early one where those people leave by say 10 or so and it costs less and a later one when you stay til midnight. If you want to watch the fireworks at midnight, you need the early seating and then leave to go to the park. If you go to a later seating, you%26#39;ll miss the fireworks.

For a place near the fireworks in the park, look at restaurants in the west 60%26#39;s,70%26#39;s and 80%26#39;s on menupages.com

You can chose by cuisine and read reviews. Rosa Mexicano might be fun %26amp; festive for NYE.

thanks a bunch.Now I know what to do and where to go.

sound with linux

Read before you eat...

How the rising prices are impacting restaurants...here%26#39;s a blurb...from the Wall Street Journal

鈥sj.com/article/SB120493352022320755.html鈥?/a>

';Pampered diners at New York%26#39;s Blue Water Grill sit in plush fabric seats, surrounded by yards of pressed white tablecloths. But in the cramped stainless-steel kitchen, a sous chef engages in some culinary penny-pinching, cleaning up a piece of beef he has just cut from a slab of tenderloin. The trimmings, left after slicing the tenderloin into center-cut filet mignon steaks, used to be eaten by the staff. Now they go to a sushi chef for the $12 chipotle-marinated beef roll.';

Read before you eat...

I%26#39;m puzzled. What, exactly, is wrong with controlling food costs? It%26#39;s not like they%26#39;re picking it up off of the floor or from leftovers.

Read before you eat...

As long as the food is handled properly, then I don%26#39;t see that there is a problem...

accomodations near yankee stadium

we are planning quick to NYC to say good bye to yankee stadium, focus will just be going to two games, with one day of game to do something else. can anyone suggest a clean, safe, no frills hotel that would be the most convenient. will be driving from ohio, but just as soon subway once we park the car. thanks!

accomodations near yankee stadium

There are no hotels immediately near Yankee Stadium, and there is no reason for you to stay nearby- the subway will take you there easily.

How much are you looking to spend?

accomodations near yankee stadium

You don%26#39;t want to stay in the Bronx where the stadium is so probably best to stay in Manhattan and take the subway up to the games. The Newton is a hotel on the UWS that%26#39;s usually affordable (but the more we recommend it to all the folks who are doing the same thing, the pricier it may get ;)

Iconparking.com co. will have some garages nearby and you can reserve a space online and know exactly what it will cost.

The Travel Inn is the only hotel in NYC with free parking so you could take a look at that too. They also happen to have a pretty rare outdoor pool if you%26#39;re coming in summer with kids.

You will not want to stay at any hotel near Yankee Stadium. Turn your focus toward finding budget accommodations in Manhattan. Or you may want to consider hotels in New Jersey; they may offer free parking.

If you search where it says ';Search in New York City, New York forums'; you may find suggestions for outside the city. When exactly are you visiting? That may factor in to what you should expect to pay.

I agree that there%26#39;s no point in searching for a hotel near the stadium, but that%26#39;s mainly because there AREN%26#39;T any within easy walking distance. Enough with knocking the Bronx, folks.

Yours is a popular question, and as you can see, you should not stay near Yankee Stadium.

I put ';hotels near Yankee Stadium'; in the search box, and got these helfpul previous posts with good suggestions:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k1234420鈥?/a> Nice_Hotel_near_Yankee_Stadium-

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k1354222鈥?/a> Yankee_Stadium_from_Manhattan-

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k1789080鈥?/a> Hotel_up_town_weekend_to_include_yankee_stadium-

thanks for the suggestions everyone. we will be going June 19 %26amp; 20th, havent gotten into specifics yet as waiting for my son to make up his mind! sounds like we will find a place in manhattan, would like to hold it to $200 a night (I know I might not be able to) but we%26#39;ll just be crashing there so no need for ammenities, just clean and safe and walk able to subway. parking is an issue although since we will be driving in. I will check out the web site suggested here.

Parking isn%26#39;t all that much of an issue, as you will be parking your car in a garage when you get here, and you will not be using it again until you leave. It isn%26#39;t as if you will be driving around the city during your stay, or (just imagine!) DRIVING to Yankee Stadium!!!

Hi Kim, I am also driving out to NY for a Yankees game (from Michigan) and got called a nut job... How are you splitting up the drive? Are you stopping anywhere for a night or just sucking it up and driving straight through? Just wondering how other people plan it.

Thanks!

Ramada inn east side is fairly cheap and has a decent breakfast.

Lily, its about an 8 hour drive for us, more with a few rest stops, so not so bad. whats crazy is we are die hard Indians fans, which of course makes us anti yankee, but my guys really want to see a game in Yankee stadium before it falls. now if I could just keep them from wearing all the indians gear in yankee stadium we might make it out alive, but doubt that will happen. (the clothing part not the coming out alive part)I hope this doesnt mean you helpful NYC people will stop making suggestions??

Phototrek Tours

Husband %26amp; I will be traveling to NYC over Memorial day Weekend for the first time in celebration of our 1st wedding anniversary. Has anyone ever used Phototrek tours? Looks like a great way to see the city and also have some pictures of the two of us (instead of all those photos with just one of us or really close up as we try to take the picture ourselves)? Just looking for anyone who has used this company or heard anything about them? Thanks!!!

Phototrek Tours

A lot of people have recommended them. Here is one report:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k1477616鈥?/a>

Labor_Day_2007_PhotoTrek_Christopher_St_ESB_Day_1_LONG-New_York_City_New_York.html#8952996

Phototrek Tours

Thanks Kateoz! Yes - I loved Phototrek tours and I highly recc. Here%26#39;s a link to some of our photos share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome鈥?/a>

You can tell which ones Phototrek took and which ones we took very easily by the fact that we are both in the photos Marc at Phototrek took.

Hope you have a wonderful time!

Cheers!

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