Rockefeller Center Observation Deck

I recommend to any person visiting New York to add Top of The Rock on their must things to do while visiting the big apple

this newly attraction opening the doors on November 1st has a state of the art 55,000 sq ft facility with the best views on Manhattan because its 3 levels. You can purchase tickets online at: www.topoftherocknyc.com

You can choose the exact arrival time and make the best of your visit in the city ...and ONLY $14

Rockefeller Center Observation Deck

Gatovil, Do you work for Top of the Rock? Every response you have is about it no matter what the question.

Rockefeller Center Observation Deck

Well spotted, Ken!

Come on, gatovil - give it a rest - you%26#39;ve been outed.

gatovil - if it%26#39;s good people on here will post about it - we already tell people that it%26#39;s opening without you blantently plugging it. Just remember to make sure your staff are friendly (friendly than the ESB staff) - why not check out reviews on the ESB maybe you can learn from their mistakes and take tips on making the rock wonderful!???

I am afraid you got confused with my replies

I am a retired gentleman that was lucky to be at the old observation deck when it was opened back in the mid 30%26#39;s

for us New yorkers iaa great think that this place is re-opening finally

the placed was closed for 20 years

It means a lot fo urs and apology if it sounded different but it is a big news in NEw York. I just wanted to share it

Thanks

It%26#39;s always giood to know exciting nes likr this...here%26#39;s a little more information...

The grand Art Deco observation decks of the Rockefeller Center, closed for two decades, will reopen to the public November 1.

Closed since 1986, the renovated Top of the Rock now includes three observation decks on the 67th to 70th floors, with open-air views that can hit 80 miles on a clear day.

Tickets are $14 for adults; $12 for seniors and $9 for children. They are reserved in 15 minute intervals to cut wait times, and you can buy them online and print them yourself. Or call (877) 692-7625 or (212) 698-2000.

A ticket also gets you access to three stories of multimedia exhibits exploring on the history of Rockefeller Center, including artifacts from the 70-year old complex and storied construction workers who built the skyscrapers in the 1930s.

The Rockefeller Center decks will be open every day of the year from 8:30 a.m. to midnight. The last elevator will go up at 11 p.m.

Location: 30 Rockefeller Plaza, entrance on W. 50th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues.

I%26#39;ve never been, so I%26#39;ll plan to go!! Thanks gatovil for the info

The views are fantastic up there (I used to eat my lunch up there waaay back when...it was sad when it closed) - so nice to hear it%26#39;s reopening. Thanks for posting this.

Credit where it%26#39;s due. The reopening of 30 Rock%26#39;s Observation Deck was first revealed on this forum by NYCgirl on April 11 this year (tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k112923-鈥?/a>)

If anyone should be thanked for this piece of wonderful news then it is she!

And Gatovil, since you have been around the City for awhile, why don%26#39;t you add some of your other knowledge to this forum?

Thank you NYC 10025..,same zip code for me

I would say that a good place to have memories of old New Yor is visiting the Museum of New York on 5th Avenue....., small and curious with plenty of original pictures and old artifacts from the people that came from all voer the world to make this city so unique

Sports

I%26#39;m trying to understand the MLB standings. As I see , it there are 6 divisions. Am I correct in thinking that the winners of each of the 3 divisions in a Leage along with the best placed runer up will compete in the LEague semi-finals?

In this case, Yankees seem to need to pick up 2 games on the Indians in order to clinch teh American league spot?

May not be the best place to ask but responses here are generally excellent.

And while I%26#39;m at it, Can someone explain the NCAA ';Final 4'; in Basketball?

How does a team get to the final 4?

Thank you

Sports

.

nail polish

Bad Time in NYC toay

I went to the city today and it was the worst time I have had.

I was walking across the street and a couple bumped into me and instead of saying sorry or even giving me a chance to say a polite i%26#39;m sorry they called me a moron, fat and told me ';tourist go home';

not sure ehat was up with them or why they did this to me, but I can see why they say New Yorkers are not nice.

Bad Time in NYC toay

From my experience your experience today sounds very unusual. If indeed this happened to you please do not generalize and judge all New Yorkers by the two people you encountered.

Bad Time in NYC toay

Agree with above poster, sorry this happened, but I have had unpleasant experiences in lots of cities I have visited but I don%26#39;t generalize about the entire population.

You just happened to run into TWO very rude %26amp; inappropriate people, there is no excuse for this kind of behavior.

Also, who knows where these people are from, they could be from Long Island or New Jersey, Westchester, wherever.

mama, I have been to Portland an the people there where all very nice, very much liked the resturant that was a school.

While I agree with both of you that it is not always right to generalize about cities and the people who live there, every time I have been to NYC there has been some type of rude behavior.

NYCgirl i%26#39;m sure you are very nice but not so much the rest of your neighbors :(

there are rude people everywhere

not just NYC

Did you at least pickpocket them?

Sorry you had that experience. I%26#39;ve never encountered rudeness like that in NYC (to be told ';Tourist go home';)...or anywhere else come to think of it. Obviosly a very bad day for those who said it!

And by the way QB...you%26#39;ve given me my first good chuckle of the day!!!

I can only hope those rude people were also tourists, and that they%26#39;ve gone home by now.

But you know, there are something like 15 million people in the metro NY area, so there are bound to be a few who aren%26#39;t so nice.

They were Canadian. It%26#39;s the problem with the accent. I%26#39;m sure they were trying to say ';madam, I want t%26#39;just go home';. They were probably Quebeckers. Happens all the time in Toronto.

kidding, kidding, before I get attacked! I LOVE Quebec!

but yes, unfortunately, there are rude people everywhere.

Yeah, I read in the local newspapers about these things happening here in Edinburgh too although I haven%26#39;t encountered it either, thank goodness. (and we from the east of the country are supposed to be the posh ones!) It happens everywhere.

Q for Ange (and any other NY bride who transported a...

Hi there

Today I found my wedding dress (Yey!). I found it creased easily even just transporting it to the dressing room! Ange - how did you pack your dress? Can anyone suggest how I can pack it easily and safely? I will have 5 days in NYC before I wed for it to %26#39;drop%26#39; but want to make sure it%26#39;s not an absolute crumpled mess when I arrive at the Hotel.

Many many Thanks as always

PS for those of you who would like to view it you can do so here debenhamsweddings.com/jv/鈥?/a>

Q for Ange (and any other NY bride who transported a...

Hello!

Congratulations on the dress. I traveled with my dress from New Jersey to San Diego, CA and actually just folded it up into a big duffel bag and carried it on. When I got to the hotel I had it steamed by them... it was back in 4 hours...worked out great but was a bit nervewracking.

I also heard that if you call the airlines they may put it into the first-class or captain%26#39;s coat closet for you, to minimize wrinkles.

Good luck!

Q for Ange (and any other NY bride who transported a...

Hi Jenny

That sounds like a good idea! I guess even if I put in in a suit carrier which folds down in half this would be okay also.

Many Thanks for the suggestion :o)

Hi Kerry,

Great dress, it%26#39;s really lovely. I would definately take it in a suit sack and see if you can hang it - i%26#39;m sure the air hostess will be able to hang it somewhere safe for the journey.

Are you letting Ryan see it before the big day?

Speak soon

Cathy

Hi Cathy

Thanks! It%26#39;s all ordered, having it delivered to me at work, lady in the post room is going to give me a hollar when it arrives so I can sneek it in my car quick without any of my friends seeing! This secrecy thing is exciting!!!

Ry has seen the pic, I needed his approval, he%26#39;s always honest with me when it comes to clothing! He loved it but that%26#39;s all he%26#39;s seeing until the big day, I%26#39;m so excited I cannot tell you!!!!

That%26#39;s a good idea asking one of the Cabin Crew to hang it for me, thanks for that!

xx

Bump... sorry but I think there is a problem with my postings!?

Kerry,

Think it%26#39;s cause it%26#39;s in the New York Bit and not New York City,

so that%26#39;s why you%26#39;re not seeing it on the NYC Forum.

It must be really exciting for you, there is nothing like keeping a secret. Hope you get in it the car without anyone seeing it!!

Graham came up with an idea for transporting your dress - wear it!!! he said it won%26#39;t get creased, but be careful with your dinner!!! He was joking, he had been drinking - but he had a serious face!!

Cathy x

Thanks Cathy, I hadn%26#39;t even noticed there was a %26#39;sub%26#39; forum! Doh!

Ha ha at Grahams suggestion! If I didn%26#39;t have a great desire to keep it in mint condition ahead on the 5th I would wear it! Cannot wait to be walking around Manhattan wearing it!

You can always get the wrinkles steamed out once you arrive, if all else fails.

Thanks smdnyc. Do you know of a dry cleaners near 95th Broadway?

TIA :o)

Well my dress has arrived, but it%26#39;s not quite the colour I was expecting (the downside to Internet shopping!). It%26#39;s more of a light goldy colour, in fact it%26#39;s v.similar to the colour your text appears on when you submit a post here! Maybe that%26#39;s a sign!

There were 2 dresses in my size in white in the store but both were shop soiled, they offered me 10% discount but then I%26#39;d have to fork out up to 拢50 to get it dry cleaned, bit annoyed :o(

Restuarant near Neil Simon Theatre for family?

Hi

Back again for some more advise, am slowly putting itinery together and have now booked tickets for %26#39;Hairspray%26#39; using all the ifo I got from you guys, discounted of course!

Anyone recommend somewhere nice to eat beforehand boys 12 and 16 years, not to expensive. and would i need to book beforehand . show stars at 7.30pm i think so how much time should I allow for restaurant.

we will be staying in the doubletree suites is this close to the theatre. Anyone know a good room to ask for at the doubletree?

Thanks Cathy

Restuarant near Neil Simon Theatre for family?

I think the show starts at 8PM. If you want pizza, I would suggest Johns PIzza, on W 44th Street between 7th *%26amp; 8th Avenues, then you would have a 8 block walk to the theatre. I would go at 6PM, leaving you plenty of time to eat and then walk over to the theatre.....everything is relatively close.

Enjoy the show, it is lots of fun.

Restuarant near Neil Simon Theatre for family?

If you are seeing a Tuesday show, the show starts at 7pm.

All other evening performances is 8pm.

Maria Pia is close to the theater and has pretty good Italian food at moderate prices.

www.mariapianyc.com

places to eat near affinia 50 hotel?

does anyone know of any good restaurants near the affinia 50 hotel?

places to eat near affinia 50 hotel?

Cafe St. Barts on Park Ave. for breakfast, lunch or early dinner

Ess-A-Bagel across the street for breakfast (or lunch)

More ideas in these 2 previous threads

tripadvisor.com/鈥?201148

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k148583-鈥?/a>

places to eat near affinia 50 hotel?

鈥itysearch.com/profile/鈥ffinia_50.html

Look to the bar on your left titled: Things to do nearby. Click on Restaurants and you鈥檒l have a full list of things near by to choose from. You can search for specific kinds of food, price ranges and 鈥榖est of鈥?within that list.

Agree strongly with nywhiz%26#39;s recs. Also like Sip Sak, a Turkish restaurant on 2nd Ave between 50th %26amp; 49th.

hey thanks guys! I%26#39;m going to look up those websites right now. You guys are great!

where to eat near hotel pensilvania

im staying at the hotel pensilvania and have read the reviews that its not that nice to stay there so i would like some recomendations on where to go to eat cheap near by.

where to eat near hotel pensilvania

First of all, why dont you make your own mind up about how you rate the the Hotel Pennsylvania.

I%26#39;ve stayed there many times over the years (20+) and found it to be convenient, clean and reasonably priced.

As for restaurants, if you go out the front door of the HP and take a right onto the first side street, you%26#39;ll find several Irish pubs, catering to the working class, nothing fancy, offering good food, drink and great ambiance.

So, let us know how YOU liked the Hotel Pennsylvania, thanks.

where to eat near hotel pensilvania

On W33rd between 6th and 5th, just around the corner from you is Jack Dempseys. An OK pub with canny food and if it%26#39;s available, they have a VIP pass which gets you up the ESB free of charge and at top speed...all for the price of a meal. It%26#39;s not expensive either

If you want to take a little walk go to 9th Ave %26amp; 38th St to Heroboys/Manganaroes. They have the BEST italian sandwiches, mozarella sticks %26amp; other italian food. It%26#39;s reasonalbilly prices as it%26#39;s more of a take-out style then sit-down. But they do have tables if you choose to stay %26amp; eat there.

Boy do I miss working in mid-town, becuase I could go for that right about now. ;o)

Korea town is nearby at 32nd and 6th Avenue. Some cheap eateries there. There are also all sorts of fast food places around there as well. Take a walk over to Ninth Avenue - there are more interesting small restaurants there that are very cheap and good.

NYC weather

I%26#39;m from Texas and will be visiting NYC during Spring break. I read that the weather at that time would be 48 degrees. Understand that I am an absolute wimp when it comes to the cold. So can anyone tell me if this is accurate? If so, is it windy? I understand it%26#39;ll be a different 48 degrees there than it is here, I%26#39;d just like to know how different. I mean, will I need earmuffs? (don%26#39;t laugh)

NYC weather

Lol...when is your Spring Break?...if it%26#39;s early March, you might want to pack the earmuffs.

NYC weather

When is your spring break? A couple of years ago it snowed 2 feet the first week of April. So, if your trip is before that I鈥檇 bring a coat for sure. You can buy things like scarves, gloves and ear muffs very inexpensively from street vendors if you鈥檙e still cold.

Spring Break is usually during March and March is usually pretty cold. It can easily snow. However, we might have a heat wave and get all the way up near 50 degrees, who knows. Pack the earmuffs, .......and spring jacket.

Also, I%26#39;d ask again closer to when you%26#39;re packing, unless you really like to get things done and are doing that now.

Check the baseball schedules. If you are here during opening day at Yankee Stadium, it will probably snow.

Our previous visit was 14th-18th March 2003. We couldn%26#39;t believe our luck because the weather was great. There had been loads of snow the week before we arrived but it changed and became really warm. We were walking around with short sleeves. You never can tell eh?

Here%26#39;s a good page for average weather and some other stuff...

http://www.city-data.com/

so for Manhattan, would be:

www.city-data.com/city/New-York-New-York.html

It can be much colder of course, especially if you are here in early March. I would check closer to the date? Though, if high 40s, you would not need earmuffs...

Thanks for everyone%26#39;s input. I may just go in May, not sure yet. Looks like I would definately need the earmuffs and some of those snowski goggles....and a ski mask.

iddev,

These are great web sites. We arrive in New York on 24th September and go to Longboat Key in Florida on 1st October. I can check them both out before we leave. Thanks a lot. Jackie

nail polish

food question

looking for a place that serves good fettucine alfredo not to pricey

food question

This yummy dish is sooooo bad for you... many places have stopped serving it.

Try http://simplypastanyc.com

food question

You might try ';Alfredos'; near Rockefeller Center. Supposed to be the original recipe for fettucine alfredo. It was very good, but I can%26#39;t remember the price. They may have a website.

What%26#39;s in it that makes it so bad for you?

who cares how bad it is its sooo good and where i lve you can%26#39;t get a good dish of it

should have been where i live typing to fast

Go to menupages.com and select ';find-a-food'; search Select the neighborhood you want and type in fettucine alfredo and you%26#39;ll get a list of places that have it on the menu. ;)

The sauce is basically cheese, butter, and cream which = fat and cholesterol. Its great if you don%26#39;t eat it every day.

thanks nywhiz will be in the city sept 23-25 can%26#39;t wait its my 1st visit

what's the deal!!

I can%26#39;t find a 4 star hotel at a reasonable rate in the city for Dec 2-4. The cheapest I%26#39;ve seen is over 450. Any ideas for a nice hotel at 300-350 a night??

Thanks so much.

what's the deal!!

the hotel roger williams is in a convenient-enough spot and it%26#39;s 3-star, should be around 350. there%26#39;s also carnegie suites; you can see reviews in the hotels section on this site.

what's the deal!!

DM---Are you willing to stay downtown? If so, check out the Millenium Hilton. We%26#39;re staying there in about 2 weeks. When we booked, rates were starting at $305/night. Of course, that%26#39;s the nonrefundable rate and for a lower floor with a Jersey view. If you want a rate that%26#39;s cancelable within 24 hours of your trip, it%26#39;s about $30/night more. Plus, it%26#39;s a 4-diamond property and very near several subway lines.

hotelclub.net appears to have the NY Helmsley for $205/night for those dates. I found out about that site from other posters here but haven%26#39;t used it myself. I do think they buy up blocks of rooms at certain hotels. That price appears to be less than half of other websites. It%26#39;s almost too good to be true. ;) No the hotel is not glamorous but that%26#39;s an amazing price for any hotel on those dates. I%26#39;d grab it.

if downtown is ok check out embassy suites too, it is a hilton brand hotel...well same group we got it for half the price of uptown ones...saved heaps for december!

Try crasigslist. It is a classified ad website that has a section on vacation rentals, apts., short term sublets, etc.

You can post an ad for free.

www.newyork.craigslist.org

Also, Village Voice classifieds:

www.villagevoice.com/classifieds

Definately give the Roger Williams a try its in a great location and better than a lot of 4* hotels I%26#39;ve stayed in.

This is in response to NYwhiz... and whover uses hotelclub.net.

Hotelclub.net does have The Helmsley listed on thier site but I have found out by experience that you must pay attention to the the red/blue %26#39;book%26#39; notation. Red means it is ACTUALLY available. Blue means they will take your credit information then send you a confirmation by email should a room become available.

I didn%26#39;t quite realize this as I was giving out my info and after 10 days (and no confirmation) I noticed there was a message on thier site for me saying that nothing was available. I had to scramble all over again to find a decent rate for Oct.

I%26#39;m sure it is a reputable site... just read ALL the instructions! ;)

Aisling,

Thanks for that info!!!!

I must admit, I hadn%26#39;t noticed that difference when I visited the website the first time. Personally, it seems a more than a little misleading. Instead of BOOK, it should say WAIT_LIST.

I bet more than a few people got taken in by that.

Interestingly Aisling, I was aware of the difference in color and thought red would mean maybe yes/maybe no and blue would mean it%26#39;s available. But you%26#39;re absolutely correct. It%26#39;s only red that gets ';instant confirmation';.

October Weather - what to pack?

Could anyone tell me what the weather is like at the begining of October? will i need to pack a coat or will a jacket do?

October Weather - what to pack?

Hi Dockers

I too am in NYC that week have been told that temps can top 22 degrees during the day but can get chilly late at night so a jacket should be suffice.

October Weather - what to pack?

Layers.

Jacket over sweater (jumper) over blouse/t-shirt, etc.

Wool pea coats are perfect.

Also, sunglasses.

You might need a golves and hat, but if you don%26#39;t want to pack them, you can buy them inexpensively.

Why will i need sunglasses?

I%26#39;m taking my sunnies - meant to be really sunny in October - here%26#39;s hoping!

Cathy

I hope it is i am looking forward to strolling round Central Park after a hard days shopping. Not long now.

We were there last october and the weather was brilliantly sunny - so pack those sun glasses. I only had a light jacket, which I only used at night as it could get chilly. During the day it was a shirt or t-shirt. Only day I felt cold there was the 1st day and I bought a scarf, but I think it was more jet lag that was making me feel chilled than the weather. The weather we have had in London/Essex for the last couple of days (excluding today) is what it was like in NY last Oct.

That is really good to hear! Thanks Angelica

Isn%26#39;t it just - we have a real dilema what to pack as after NYC going to New England - where the weather is going to be cooler - I was going to be good with my packing this year - think I%26#39;m going to have to change my mind!!

CathyC - remember the less you pack to go out the more you can come home with!! I%26#39;m planning on taking two pairs of trousers/Jeans and a handful of t-shirts for the 7 days we%26#39;re there for - however, if I dont buy anything you%26#39;ll be able to smell me from round the block!! So I guess what I%26#39;m thinking about packing and what actually goes in the case may be two different things.....lol

We were thinking about taking an empty case!

Will try not to take too much, (altho I probably will!) I have my eye on a new pair of trainers to buy before we go so that I can hot foot it around the city comfortably!

Leaving tomorrow. Please help with itinerary!

My wife and I are travelling to NYC for our first time to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. After doing a bunch of research on this forum, here is my draft itinerary. Everyone on here has been very helpful!! Please feel free to leave any advice, tips or suggestions. Thanks!!

Friday: Fly into LaGuradia and take a taxi to the Red Roof at 32nd st and 5th ave. Check in and walk around the neighborhood. Possibly go to Papaya King on 14th. I%26#39;ve prepurchased tickets for the ESB, so if it%26#39;s nice, go up around 4:30. Take the 6 Train to Dinner at Sparks Steakhouse at 7:00.

Saturday: If we don%26#39;t get a Big Apple Greeter, walk up to Times Square, lunch at ESPN Zone to watch the Buckeye game, more shopping (any suggestions?), back to the hotel to clean up and then take the N train to Vita on restaurant row for dinner before our show at Lunt Fontanne at 8:00.

Sunday: Take the R train to the Staten Island Ferry for pictures of the Statue of Liberty. While downtown, I%26#39;d like to also go to the World Trade Center and St. Paul%26#39;s, then take the 3 train into Brooklyn (possibly Grimaldi%26#39;s for lunch) and then walk back over the Brooklyn Bridge. Back to the hotel and then off to dinner for our anniversary. Maybe Meli Melo? Possibly back to Times Square to see it at night.

Monday: No real plans for the morning. (Suggestions?) Maybe take the subway to SoHo to walk around. Back to the hotel to change into our Yankees gear. Take the D train to Grand Central Terminal. Lunch at Junior%26#39;s. Continue on the D to Yankee stadium early enough to do Memorial Park. Watch the game in the great Yankee Stadium, subway home.

Tuesday: Possibly Central Park, Union Square, then taxi to LaGuardia for flight out at 7PM.

What do you all think? Thanks for all of your help!!

Leaving tomorrow. Please help with itinerary!

Congratulations on your wedding anniversary! A suggestion for Monday morning would be to walk from the East Village to the Lower East Side. Great people watching opportunities. The Lower East Side tenament museum is a small and informative stop too. Katz (the deli featured in When Harry Met Sally) is in the neighborhood as well, so you could get some great pastrami or chili dogs. Another cute area you might want to wander around would be the West Village - Hudson Street is just charming. Be sure to stop at Magnolia Bakery to get a cupcake if you%26#39;re down there!

A helpful website would be newyorkmetro.com, they have reliable restaurant reviews as well as a calender of events of things going on, ranging from sample sales to bands to cultural events.

Leaving tomorrow. Please help with itinerary!

Just a reminder, Papaya King is basically a hot-dog joint - real cheap eats, not a place to linger.

And if you are staying on 32nd St - Restaurant Row is on 46th Street. An easy 14 block walk-see some of the neighborhood.

For fillers on what to do, Macy%26#39;s is the world%26#39;s largest store. Check out their %26#39;cellar%26#39; section - worth the time.

Don%26#39;t miss Rockefeller Center - get up early and stand in the crowd at the TODAY show, maybe you%26#39;ll be on TV.

Other than that, have a great time.

The 3 train into Brooklyn is not running this weekend due to track repairs. On Sunday you can take the R train from Whitehall (one block from the Staten Island Ferry) to Court St in Brooklyn (1 stop). This will take you to Montague St. If you walk towards the water (approx 4 blocks) you will be on the promenade with fantastic views of Manhattan. Then walk down the promenade towards the Brooklyn Bridge (approx 1/2 mile). You will be at Grimaldi%26#39;s and the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. After you eat - walk over the bridge.

Also, if you want to watch the Ohio State Game - you should check with your alumni club to see where OSU alum watch their games. Most division 1 schools have a bar where their alum get together every Saturday to cheer on their teams. it is a lot of fun and can get quite rowdy.

Enjoy Sparks - it is my favorite restaurant. I recommend the Filet Mignon and Lobster combo (they have 3, 4 or 5 pound Lobsters).

If you are going from Grand Central and Juniors to Yankees Stadium - take the 4 train. It is located underneath GCT and is only 5 or 6 stops to the Stadium.

Have a great trip!

And the D train doesn%26#39;t go to Grand Central. From your hotel, you could walk over to 33rd St. %26amp; Park Ave. and get the uptown #6 one stop to Grand Central. And from there (as already noted), get the uptown #4 to the Stadium.

If you plan to explore Union Square, I%26#39;d go when the farmer%26#39;s market is there -- Saturday (the big market), Monday, Wednesday and Friday (or is it Thursday?). Also interesting in the area is the ABC Home Store on Broadway at 19th St. (and there%26#39;s a branch of the fabulous Le Pain Quotidien there, for excellent breakfasts and lunches. Lots of great restaurants nearby, too.

I didn%26#39;t know there was a Papaya King on 14th. Gray%26#39;s Papaya is on 6th Ave. at 8th St., and at Broadway and 72nd St.

Hi GoBucks

Make sure and wear your Buckeye %26#39;O%26#39; hat so I can recognize you - I%26#39;ll be waving at you in my maize %26amp; blue %26#39;M%26#39; hat... ;-)

(just a little college humor) Happy Anniversary...have a great trip.

Thanks for everyone%26#39;s help!! BrooklynNite, I%26#39;ll be looking for you! ;)

How's my location ?

Staying in apartment on West 58th between 5th %26amp; 6th Ave.

What%26#39;s good and bad round here just so I am armed with some local info.

Thanks people !

How's my location ?

Here%26#39;s an interesting perspective of the neighborhood...

newyorkmetro.com/realestate/鈥ellskitchen.htm

How's my location ?

It%26#39;s a great location. You can walk to many of the tourist sites, shopping and Central Park. It is also near subway stations. There is nothing bad about it.

It couldn%26#39;t be much more central. You%26#39;re a block from Central Park. You%26#39;re down the street from the Plaza Hotel (which is now closed and being converted to apartments). Would like to know through which company you found the apartment. The only negative I can think of is it%26#39;s more a businees area rather than a residential area but there are still plenty of places to eat and drink. I had a friend who used to live on that block. The Wyndham Hotel (which has closed or will be closing also to be converted to apartments) is on the block.

Le Pain Quotidienne on 7th %26amp; 58th st for breakfast or lunch.

Whole Foods market inside the Time Warner building at Columbus Circle for stocking your fridge and take away.

Angelos Pizza on west 57 st.

Kennedy%26#39;s Pub on west 57 st.

You%26#39;re set.

Walk the length of 57th Street. Classic New York.

Cheap Rental Cars

Any body know of a way to get a cheap rental car in New York? I am flying in to JFK and the rates for Budget, Enterprise, Dollar, etc ... are all extremely expensive. Since I my trip includes PA and D.C, I need to rent a car, so the subway is out of the question ... unless, you have a suggestion of taking the subway or taxi to some other palce to rent a car. Thanks much for any feedback.

Cheap Rental Cars

where in PA? Philadelphia?

even if it is not Philadelphia, you might want to consider taking Amtrak to whereever you are going in Pennsylvania and renting a car there instead

Cheap Rental Cars

Rental cars are very expensive in the NYC area. The main reasons are high insurance rates and no one (well, not NO ONE, but you know what I mean) owns a car. The best that I have done is about $45/day on Priceline. Normal prices are about $65-70.

Why do you need to have a car? If you only have two more destinations (as opposed to say 10), there are pretty easy public transport options (especially if PA means Philadelphia).

Didn%26#39;t think about the train ... great idea. Thank you both!! I think that will work.

Yes, it is true: outside of CA, people use other modes of trasport besides cars!! ;o)

www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer鈥?/a>

Also, if you%26#39;re determined to rent a car and have received the loan approval for gasoline, try Zip Car:

http://www.zipcar.com/

colon cleansing

New York documentary series...

Is on Sky Travel every night this week at 7.30pm. For UK viewers the channel is 139 or may be 140. Watched the first epsiode last night, is v.interesting.

Synopsis: - Series examining the evolution of the Big Apple, from its establishment in 1626 as a Dutch trading post to its continuing pre-eminence in the culture and economy of the world.

New York documentary series...

Hi Kerry,

Thanks for posting this, think I might be able to get near the TV remote, now Graham has no cricket to watch!!

This sounds really interesting

Don%26#39;t suppose you watched Departure Lounge on Friday teatime - they went to NY - meant to record it but we forgot.

Cathy x

New York documentary series...

Hi Cathy

No I didn%26#39;t know about that, shame.

Is Graham pleased about the Cricket? Ry said the players are all a little tipsy and aren%26#39;t making much sense in TV interviews!

Nice to see a pic of you! x

Kerry,

He is absolutely delighted - after seeing them get thrashed by the Aussies in 2002 (in Perth W.A.) he really enjoyed it, he went to The Oval on Saturday - he watched the highlights of the whole test last night - good job I spend all the time surfing, and like cricket too!

I%26#39;m not surprised they were a little tipsy - think I would be too!

Take care

Cathy

The Departure Lounge piece was about how to avoid jet lag. Basically the presenter arrived in New York but did not change his watch and kept to London bedtimes and breakfast times etc. Therefore he went to bed at about 6pm (NY time) and was getting up and having breakfast at 3/4am (NY time). He saw all the sights by lunchtime and then was just about ready for bed again. Apparently he didn%26#39;t get jet lag but he did feel like %26#39;billy no mates%26#39;. Times Square was errily quiet at 4am but at least he was the first person up ESB.

Don%26#39;t think I will be seeing New York that way!

mandarin oriental or four seasons???

My company is sending me on vacation to New York and are covering the Hotel. My best friend and I will be coming to New York for the first time and would like some advise on Hotels, Looks like the Four Seasons and the Mandarin Oriental are rated very high. Anyone have some advise on which hotel might be more exciting to experience.

mandarin oriental or four seasons???

Can I apply for a job with your company, please!!!

mandarin oriental or four seasons???

The Mandarin is newer (just opened about a year or so ago) and has a very nice view of Central Park (if you are on the Park side).

The Four Seasons, on the other hand, has surge protectors in all of its bedrooms. What this means is that if you%26#39;re working on a laptop in your hotel room and the hotel is hit by lightning, the computer will initially cut out, but will re-boot within about fifteen seconds of the lightning strike. Apparently, surge protectors are also useful in counteracting the effects of meteor showers ; but I would say the odds of one of these happening during your sojourn in New York would probably be at least a million to one.

If they%26#39;re only paying for a non-view room, I%26#39;d probably opt for a place with a view. Compare prices for park view rooms at the Pierre, Sherry-Netherland, Ritz-Carlton, Essex House. Or how about the St. Regis, where you get your own butler? Or the fabulous Carlyle?

Alcohol Laws in NY

What is the legal age to buy and consume alcohol? 21? Are 18 year olds allowed in clubs and bars if not drinking? What do we need to know about the alcohol laws in NY. (if we are not Lindsay Lohan...age 17). LOL

Alcohol Laws in NY

21+ very strict. There are 18+ clubs.

Alcohol Laws in NY

Here%26#39;s some additional info:

Bars open anywhere from 9 AM to 11 AM, and usually close around 4AM, and everything is open on Sundays.

You buy beer at corner stores/bodegas, grocery stores and supermarkets, but not liquor stores. You buy wine, hard liquor, etc at liquor stores. Some grocery stores and supermarkets are starting to sell wine, but it is not common. Yes, proprietors WILL ask for ID, so you better have a good fake (oops! Wonder if that will be edited...)

We have an ';open container'; law here- no unauthorized public drinking - meaning, you can%26#39;t walk down the sidewalk with an open can o%26#39; beer in hand. But some people still get away with drinking liquor out of Snapple bottles in paper bags.

(Around 1998, I once got stopped by a cop because I was drinking something out of a paper bag - because said drink was too wet to hold. It was about 4:30 pm on a Tuesday, and I was standing at a street corner staring into space trying to remember an address. I must have looked pretty spacey. It was orange juice. Cop was quite annoyed. Well, the Giuliani years of money-making - I mean, ';quality of life'; - tickets are mostly over, so not to worry.)

You also can%26#39;t smoke indoors in NYC (except in the streets, in designated hotel rooms and private residences.) But there%26#39;s plenty of outdoor space (back patios, sidewalk cafes, etc.) at venues - you can bring your drink with you.

However, if you go outside to smoke at the front sidewalk, you can not bring your drink outside with you.

Well, Citysearch came up with only five 18+ places:

newyork.citysearch.com/search鈥?/a>

Here%26#39;s the cut-n-paste:

Comic Strip Live

After Work, Open Mic, 18 %26amp; Over, Comedy Club, Clubs

World Famous Comedy... Say ';Citysearch sent me'; --%26gt;get 2 for 1 tickets!

Buy One Get One Free Specializes in Date spot

1568 Second Ave

(I think many comedy clubs and improv shows allow 18+)

Dillons Restaurant %26amp; Lounge

Cabaret %26amp; Revue, 18 %26amp; Over, Clubs

245 W. 54th Street

New York NY

Karma

After Work, Happy Hour, Lounge, 18 %26amp; Over, Romantic, Bars, Smoking Permitted

51 1st Ave

New York NY

Opaline

18 %26amp; Over

20 W 39th St

New York NY

Velocity

DJ, 18 %26amp; Over, Clubs, Dance Floor

3015 Stillwell Ave

Brooklyn NY

(this one seems too far away.)

Thank you for the information. It helps me know where I can go with my 18 year old daughter. In Indiana, under 21 not allowed in restruants serving alcohol unless there is a wall or railing around the bar itself. We get our beer at the liquor store, groceries don%26#39;t sell it here. No alcohol sold on Sunday unless you are at a dining establishment that serves it with a meal.

Those Indiana laws sound oppressive!

New York is great in that you can buy a 6-pack on any corner (usually with multiple choices of delis) at all hours of the night.

Plus we don%26#39;t have to drive home. That makes a huge difference.

Returning to jamaica - Can you help

I love Jamaica veru much. To me it is a unique, adventurous and exciting place. I spent much time in Jamaica in 1986 and went back alone several time in the following years. I stayed in Negril at Drumville Cove which was simple and rustic. Since then I have been to Ocho Rios on a cruise stop which I didn%26#39;t like at all and Boscobel Beach all inclusive with the family which was nice but far from the REAL Jamaica which I loved.

I am planning to return to Negril with my wife in June, 2006. She is a seasoned traveler but after reading the forum lately I am concerned about the level of hassle and poverty. It will not bother me and I think my wife can handle it I woyuld just like some advice on how to make her feel a little more comfortable. I want her to love the real Jamaice as much as me so that we can return many times in the future.

I love the cliffs but this time I am thinking 6 nights on the beach at Country, Country or Idle Awhile and the 6 nights on the cliffs at Sea Grape Villas. Are there any recommendations other than these hotels considering the hassle factor? Does anyone like these hotel choices or can you recommend others? I chose these because of the reviews and the pictures online made them seem simple yet pretty, modern and neat in the rooms. I am also looking to sit on our verranda at the beach and see the sunset. Is that possible? Are you hassled more at the beach than the cliffs? If we decide to stay on the cliffs for the whole time is it easy to get back and forth to the beach? How much is a taxi from the cliffs to the beach and back? Can you still walk along the cliffs road without fear of getting hit by a car?

I heard that there is more to do by walking at the beach than the cliffs. Is this so or are the cliffs still as wonderful as I remember? Can anyone help or give advice as to a place to stay where my wife may feel a tad more comfortable and hassled a little less (if that%26#39;s possibe)? I refuse to stay at an all inclusive! That is not the real Jamaica to me. I like simplicity but some place might be a bit to dumpy for my wife.

Jamaica is still my favorite exotic destination. IRIE!

Returning to jamaica - Can you help

I love Jamaica too but, I think you are on the wrong site...this is New York City forum. No problem mon!!

Yet another random question from me!

Right I want shoes.....not designer tho (can%26#39;t afford them!) - now this to any %26#39;normal%26#39; woman is not a major problem except I have big feet - a UK 9, Euro 42 and US 11/12 - I hate going in shoe shops picking out shoes to find that they dont do them big enough or when they come back and say %26#39;we have it in a 7%26#39; - well that%26#39;s fine then I%26#39;ll just chop my toes off!

Anyhow - does anyone know where I can get reasonable priced (max price would be for shoes about 80usd and for boots 120 usd) ladies shoes in this size - specifically I want a pair of Knee High Boots (are they called Tall Boots there?) and that%26#39;s where the other problem comes in as my calfs are about 16-17'; and no where in England seems to do them wide enough!!!

Can anyone help?

Yet another random question from me!

Please....I can%26#39;t be the only woman out there with big feet.....oh I feel unloved and abnormal....:(

Yet another random question from me!

LOL -- I have the opposite problem, I wear 5 1/2 -- and the department stores start at 6. Every now and then I stop by the shoe dept. at Lord %26amp; Taylor, Macy%26#39;s, Bloomie%26#39;s, etc., and complain, but no luck yet.

I know there are shops that carry large sizes, I%26#39;ll try and scout some out for you.

Thanks you%26#39;re a star :) - if you ever fancy sailing on the lake in Central Park let me know and I%26#39;ll lend you by sneaker to use as a boat ;)

First, I%26#39;ve just been looking on some online websites that specialize in this sort of thing and they say a European 42 = a UK 8 and US 10??? So if you%26#39;re a UK 9, that sounds like a US 11. Size 11 is available here in some ';regular'; shops but for size 12 you need a specialty store. The challenge will be to find what you want discounted. Here are some thoughts.

DSW is a discount shoe store on 14th st. They say they carry some ';special sizes'; on their website dswshoes.com, which they define as

';Do you stock special sizes?

DSW considers special sizes for women to be 5-陆 and below, 9-陆, and 10-陆 and above. Special sizes and narrow widths are identified with yellowish-green stickers on shoeboxes. Wide widths are identified with orange stickers.';

I would say it%26#39;s worth a trip and not far from there is Loehmann%26#39;s at 7th ave %26amp; 16th st. This is a discount clothing store that also carries shoes. They may have some 11s. Also near there is a TJ Maxx that may have some 11s.

But to be sure to find your size, I think a plus size clothing store like Avenue or Lane Bryant may be your best bet and those won%26#39;t be discounted.

For a boot, I%26#39;ve seen a number of suede or ultrasuede stretch boots that adjust to larger calve sizes.

I also know there%26#39;s a specialty store that carries large sizes but just can%26#39;t seem to find it right now. They advertise in the NY Times.

If you%26#39;re interested in having a look, here%26#39;s a directory I found of lots of websites that have special sizes.

dmoz.org/Shopping/鈥?/a>

I%26#39;ve found lots of websites that carry these but I guess that doesn%26#39;t help.

There is a large size shoe store on 35th st just off of 5th avenue. I don%26#39;t know the name of it, but I work right around the corner, so I will pop over there and report back later on today.

As for you Bettina... have you ever been to Giordano%26#39;s behind Bloomingdale%26#39;s on 2nd ave? They specialize in small sizes. A good friend of mine is a very small size 5 and was basically barefoot until that store entered her life.

Here%26#39;s the website... http://www.petiteshoes.com/

I have very wide feet (paddles!), so I hear you sister.

DSW carries larger sizes. Esp. check their clearance racks. amazing!

This is their website:

http://www.dswshoe.com/store_locations.jsp

If you are in Tribeca, go to Anna%26#39;s Place. Worth it.

Anna%26#39;s Place

149 Duane Street

New York, NY 10013

Telephone:

212-267-8069

Here is her website:

鈥ahoo.net/shoelady702-store/bootsandshoes.h鈥?/a>

Yes, that store on 32nd is great, too! But I%26#39;m never in that part of town, so I can%26#39;t remember the name either!!! Sorry!

Eureka!

Claro Wide Width Shoes

3 W 35TH St

New York, NY 10001-2204

(212) 594-0310

Glad you were able to get some help.

I%26#39;m laughing myself silly though over the rowboat line. I used to have a friend who wanted to hang a pair of my shoes from his rear-view mirror. Another wanted to bronze them.

Everyone%26#39;s a comedian!

ljg, have you tried American sizes before? I wear a US size 10, but I wear a 42 Euro. Some of the sizing charts I%26#39;ve seen say that a 42 is equivalent to a US size 12! If you can get into a 10, you won%26#39;t have an easy time finding shoes, but it will be much easier than if you wear an 11 or 12.

Crickey so many responses - thank you all so much :)

When I was in NY last time I managed to get some cheap shoes from TJMaxx - I have a pair of 10w, and a pair of 11%26#39;s. So I think if they%26#39;re wide I can get in a 10....if not I%26#39;d need an 11. I will write down all those shoe shops tho - I%26#39;m determined to get myself some nice shoes whilst I%26#39;m there.

I love you all - not in THAT way in a you guys are great kinda way ;)

radio city christmas spectacular

Hi does anyone know roughly how long this show lasts? If I have tickets for the 5 show and tickets for top of the rock at 8, do you think i%26#39;ll have time for skating between, I know its a bit ambitious but i%26#39;m only in new york for2 and a half days and want to squeeze in as much as I can, also how does top of the rock compare to esb? thanks for all your help

radio city christmas spectacular

Two hours, and you will not have time for skating between, especially because there is usually a line.

Can%26#39;t comment on your second question, because Top of the Rock is not open yet.

radio city christmas spectacular

I don%26#39;t think that it lasted as long as two hours last year. There was no break when I went to one of the first performances in November. Maybe I am missing something but if you are in at 5 and lets say it is out at 7 then you are next to it so it depends on how long you want to skate for. If you need to eat in between then that%26#39;s different but get some popcorn in Radio City so you will be fine till you have been to Top of the Rock.

Re the difference between ESB and TOTR then obviously you will be getting a very different view as you are looking from further up Manhattan. If you are limited for time and you will be in the TOTR area for the Christmas Show then I would do it but ESB is great too. It should be very pretty especially if it is when the Christmas decoration are all up, which I suspect will be the case.

Leee

Meant to say that even if you can%26#39;t fit in skating it would be great just watching the other skaters and taking in the ambience of the area on your way to TOTR. When we went we intended skating but not being very good took fright when we say how good some of the others were and all those people watching.

Skating in Rock Center is overated and overpriced. Go and take pictures of others.

I agree with queensblvd. skating at Rockafeller is too expensive. %26amp; they have sessions. If you really want to ice skate then go to Wollman rink in Central park where you an skate from open to close for 1 price. (that is if you don%26#39;t get tired 1st).

colon cleansing

When does Fall arrive in Central Park

Trying to find a good time to come to NY next year. I have been for Thanksgiving and this time I would love to come a little earlier, when the evenings are a little longer and NY is not so busy.

I was thinking of maybe the end of September and I would love to see central Park in Fall with all the beautiful trees before the leaves fall and I was wondering is this too early or would I need to wait till maybe mid October. Thank You.

When does Fall arrive in Central Park

Actually, for full Fall color, it%26#39;s more toward late October and early November.

Late September is usually really nice in NYC, but you won%26#39;t see the leaves change color at that time of year.

When does Fall arrive in Central Park

In a couple of weeks, this site should have a foliage alert:

http://iloveny.com/main.asp

Check this site for the foliage report, too:

www.foliagenetwork.com/reports/northeast_us/

Mid-October is still too early for Central Park but if you took a day trip north about 50 to 100 miles the colors would be at their peak.

Driving to Jersey Gardens

Just wondering if it is difficult to get to Jersey Gardens by car from Manhattan. I know the bus is cheap and frequent but there is also a big Toys r Us and a Walmart and an Ikea nearby that I wouldnt mind seeing if it was possible.

Driving to Jersey Gardens

Very very easy... Lincoln Tunnel, NJ Turnpike, Exit 13A

Driving to Jersey Gardens

There is a bus that takes you from the Port Authority to the Ikea in Elizabeth, NJ for free on the weekends. It leaves every half an hour, it鈥檚 a very quick trip and you can鈥檛 beat the price. If you can avoid renting a car it鈥檚 going to save you lots of headaches.

ikea.com/webapp/鈥?/a>

I think the Walmart you%26#39;re talking about is the one in Harmon Meadow in Secaucus which is accessible by bus #320 from Port Authority.

There isn%26#39;t any reason to rent a car when the buses work just as well and are less expensive.

If you are going to be hopping from store to store with bags in tow, a car would make sense then.

PLEASE!...Experts advice needed for first timer planning NY...

Am planning to take my hubby for a suprise trip to NY from UK, end of November and so far have the following criteria;

Have decided to buy Essential New York pass (48 hours) as it would great to hop off and on as we please and covers all the main attractions, so would like to know where is a good place to stay near our pass pick up point which is Gray Line Visitors Center, 777 8th Avenue, between 47th %26amp; 48th Street, New York.........any ideas anyone??

Would like to have a nice (easily accessible) romantic dinner and take in a good comedy show on night of hubbys birthday (30th November).......any recommendations, happy to pre-book if necessary

What sort of journeys would I be looking at from the main NY airports assuming we got the hotel location we wanted, what is the best way of getting their (taxi I assume?!)and what sort of dollarage are we looking at??!!

Thanks sooo much ..........really looking forward to hearing from y%26#39;all

PLEASE!...Experts advice needed for first timer planning NY...

Some hotels in the area:

Belvedere

Novotel

Travel Inn

Hotel 41

Doubletree

Portland Square

I would see what is available, this is a very popular time of year, hotels are getting booked. Also, do a search on this forum for additional suggestions.

Comedy Clubs in that area - Ha! or Carolines

www.gothamcomedyclub.com

www.hacomedynyc.com

Taxi - from JFK - $45.00 flat rate plus toll %26amp; tip - about $60.00

Or use private car service such as Carmel or Tel Aviv from either Newark or JFK.

www.carmellimo.com

www. teleavivlimo.com

Will leave others to suggest restaurants, not my forte.

PLEASE!...Experts advice needed for first timer planning NY...

Hi: I agree with the previous poster, all great suggestions. Another one would be the Comedy Celler - it%26#39;s located in the West Village / SoHo area, great restaurants there too - I%26#39;m a little biased, I feel that although you can get great food anywhere in the city the West Village offers more opportunity to go to the smaller, non-franchised places. I recommend going to newyorkmetro.com for a reliable restaurant review section, or picking up a Time Out NY. Have fun!

For romantic meals that are not too expensive, I would suggest:

Candela

Meli Melo

Le Zie

Search their names in www.menupages.com

also, search this forum for previous posts on travel from airports (nywhiz is the whiz on this topic.)

NY has gotten very expensive in general b/c of the high demand for hotel rooms and is especially pricey end of November which coincides with our Thanksgiving holiday. The holiday is Nov. 24 and there%26#39;s a parade that goes down Broadway (the next street over from 7th ave) making the hotels in that area even more pricey. This also marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. Since there%26#39;s a good transit system, you%26#39;ll find much better hotel prices staying elsewhere. You only have to pick up the tickets once ;) After that you can get on the bus from any of their stops.

I would stay on the upper westside for best value. I see the Belleclaire available for $199/night Nov 27- Dec 2 (last night the price goes up). The Belvedere which is in the area you describe is $240 at that time (both on quikbook.com--you may find a better price elsewhere).

Best way to travel depends on where you stay. Express buses to major drop off points cost $15/person. Taxis from JFK cost about $65 ($45 plus tip plus toll). There%26#39;s train service too but doesn%26#39;t always make sense depending on where you%26#39;re staying and how much luggage you have.

There are comedy clubs in the theater district and also some uptown and downtown. Here%26#39;s a list

www.theinsider.com/nyc/fun/3comedyclubs.htm

Going back to Negril - can you help??

I spent much time in Negril in 1986 and loved it. Sure it was poor and different but that%26#39;s what was exciting about it. I syaed at Drumville Cove alone. I plan to return in June, 2006 with my wife. She has been to Ocho Rios with me on a cruise and we stayed with family at Boscobel Beach. I preferred by far experiencing the real JA. This time I also want her to experience the REAL Jamaica and to me that is Negril. I read many comments on the Forum lately about how the hassle factor is up and poverty is at an all time high and I don%26#39;t want her to be turned off. She is a seasoned traveler and I think she will cope. I would just like to make her experience at little easier and more comfortable.

I thought we%26#39;d stay 6 nights on the beach at Country, Country or Idle Awhile and 6 nights on the cliffs at The Sea Grape Villas. Online these places seem to be a little more modern and pretty, especially the rooms. I do not want anything fancy but I do not want to take her to a dump either. I thought that Dumville Cove was a little too rustic. It was great for me alone but I think with my wife I would like a tad more. I love the cliffs, but I understand there is more happening on the beach. Will we be hassled more on the cliffs or beach? Will we feel more or less threatened on the beach or cliffs? Can anyone recommend other places to stay that might make her feel more comfortable? Maybe a place where there may be less hassling on the beach if there is such a thing. I refuse to go to an all inclusive in JA. That is just not experiencing JA as far as I%26#39;m concerned.

Lastly, if we decide to stay full time at the cliffs, how easy is it to get to the beach? How much is a taxi from the cliffs tro the beach? Can we walk along the cliffs road without getting hit by a car? Are you hassled less at the cliffs? I love Jamaica. It is still my favorite exotic destination! Thanks.

Going back to Negril - can you help??

I think you may have forgotten to change the TA forum page after posting your other question. Hopefully someone on the Jamaica forums will be able to help.

Going back to Negril - can you help??

You seem to have posted this to the wrong board. You might want to try reposting to the Jamaica board.

Many people say Negril is not as good as it used to be, but ok for basic Carribean food. Here is a review:

鈥itysearch.com/profile/7104899/new_york_ny/鈥?/a>

Re: Jamaica: Now that the AirTrain stops at Sutphin Boulevard, and they improved the LIRR connection, I like it a lot better. But the Jamaica LIRR station itself still leaves a lot to be desired.

http://www.mta.info/mta/airtrain.htm

QB - you absolutley make my day - LOL!

Queens,

If I had stitches they%26#39;d be bursting! As the say in some parts of Scotland %26#39;Geez a brek%26#39;. In other words %26#39;Give us a break%26#39;. That would be the west of course not the east . (just joking....)

I always thought Negril was the name of a drug designed to relieve inflammation of the inner ear. But perhaps it is simply one of those words with multiple applications.

Insightful - the only connection I can think of between the word ';drug'; and the word ';Negril'; is ganja, as in ';pass de spliff, mon'; ;-)

Sea Grape Villas, Negril

Has anyone stayed at the Sea Grape Villas in Negril? If so what do you think? Are they as they appear online? Can you share your experience with me including the surrounding neighborhood, walking on the road, places to eat, distance from Rick%26#39;s walking, food and views or the sunset. I love Jamica and I can%26#39;t wait to go I am planning to go mid June, 2006. Thanks

Sea Grape Villas, Negril

You have to change from New York City Forum to Jamaica forum to get more answers to your question.

Sea Grape Villas, Negril

I want what he%26#39;s drinking.

Sopranos tour

Was thinking of booking a ';Sopranos'; tour as a surprise for my boyfriend as he%26#39;s a big fan of the show - was checking out the itinerary and it includes a visit to ';Badabings';, the lap dancing club.

Just wondering if the club is ';in full swing'; on the tour - I%26#39;m a nice girlfriend, but not that nice!

Sopranos tour

*bump!*

Do you recommend this tour or no?

Any info appreciated!!!

Sopranos tour

Cara, both my son and I are big Sopranos fans but we passed on this tour after reading reports here. People suggested that it was about 3 hours too long and drifted through fairly nondescript areas of New Jersey. I don%26#39;t believe that ';Bada Bings'; is quite as racy in reality as it appears on the show by the way!

I bet they just drive by the strip joint and not go inside since it is a real strip joint (with a different name) and would be open for business. Plus, the inside you see on TV is really a set that%26#39;s in Queen%26#39;s Silvercup Studios, not really inside there.

However, this is just a guess since I%26#39;ve never been on the tour.

My wife and I are addcited to the show, but spending any time in the badlands of New Jersey is just too much to ask ;-)

(That%26#39;s the stretch of land we use to get to Philadelphia, right?)

Re Badabing%26#39;s - It%26#39;s actually called Satin Dolls. The women are scantily dressed rather than topless. In New Jersey, nudity is banned in bars selling alcohol.

Here%26#39;s a good article from The Guardian...

鈥uardian.co.uk/activities/鈥?0.html

Cara, you might like to visit a USA Today review of the tour usatoday.com/money/鈥?001-05-17-bcovthu.htm

Here%26#39;s what they say about Bada Bing: ';Satin Dolls greets visitors with the sign: ';AKA the Bada Bing.'; Some tourists are bummed to find that, unlike their HBO counterparts, the Satin Dolls dancers don%26#39;t dance nude. And there is no photo-taking allowed inside the club.';

We did the Sopranos tour last year and really enjoyed it.

Yes, it was a long day but the guide knew his stuff and we saw all the locations in the show, including having a drink in the Bada Bing.

The club was open for business as usual and the dancers were not topless. It was still felt cool for me as a Soprano fan to drink in Tonys club!

Only down side, as I said, was that it was a long day.

Thank a mil for all your helpful replies. I think I%26#39;ll try to get tickets for the NY Rangers/Montreal ice hockey game instead, as we both like sports as I%26#39;d love to go to Madison Square Garden.

......also a useful bargaining tool when I pitch my plans to see a broadway show!

colon cleansing

In NYC with kids on 9 and 12 years

We are a family coming to NYC for 5 days staying in Brooklyn. Any advice for kids stuff?

In NYC with kids on 9 and 12 years

Can you be a little more specific? Dates you%26#39;ll be here, tastes and preferences, where in Brooklyn...?

For starters, here is a great (long) trip report by vikingtim about touring NYC with kids:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k249494-鈥?/a>

In Brooklyn, check out

Prospect Park and the Prospect Park Zoo

http://www.prospectpark.org/

www.prospectpark.org/dest/main.cfm?target=zoo

Park Slope (one of the neighborhoods that%26#39;s next to Prospect Park) is lovely for strolling, people-watching and shopping.

This interactive map shows what%26#39;s on each street.

smalltownbrooklyn.com/parkslopeN/PslopeNhome鈥?/a>

smalltownbrooklyn.com/calendar/kids/kids.html

Brooklyn Museum - If you%26#39;re here on the first Saturday of the month, the museum is free and open late from 5 - 11 pm. Great kids activities.

http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/

Check what%26#39;s playing at Brooklyn Academy of Music. This might be a little serious for young kids...

http://www.bam.org/

I haven%26#39;t been to the Brooklyn Children%26#39;s Museum in years, so I can%26#39;t review it, but here is their website:

http://www.brooklynkids.org/

Here is a good general site about Brooklyn

http://www.hellobrooklyn.com/

Good luck!

In NYC with kids on 9 and 12 years

Thank you very much for your suggestions. They look all very interesting.

Just for the information - we are staying in Mid October and I am looking for events a little different from the usual ones like Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, UN building. Something where the children could take an active part - like the museum suggested (Brooklyn%26#39;s Children Museum) - so thank you for that one.

The Whispering Gallery is a 5 minute diversion to check out while you are in Grand Central. On the lower level, right outside the Oyster Bar two walkways intersect. This intersection forms a square %26#39;room%26#39;, with an arched ceiling. If you stand in the corner (facing the wall), and whisper, a person in the diagonal corner can hear you, as if you were standing right next to them. Fun for all ages, and just takes a minute to do if your already there to see Grand Central.

has anyone used hotelpronto.com before?

Just wondering if anyone had used hotelpronto.com to book any hotels. They have a great rate on the affinia 50 and i%26#39;m just wondering if it could be too good to be true. thanks

has anyone used hotelpronto.com before?

Hi, I have used hotelpronto.com before but for Milan, didn%26#39;t have any problems at all. Hope this helps

Planning for a group in NY, looking for sporting events

Is there helpful site that does everything? i%26#39;ve been on the knicks site, the yankees, the jets etc.. but some are unclear, others are away :o(

just wondered exactly what was on? between the dates of 28.09 - 02.10

any help appreciated :)

Planning for a group in NY, looking for sporting events

or bands/groups :oD

Planning for a group in NY, looking for sporting events

Try looking at Ticketmaster.com. That will give you sports or any other events concert in any area you choose. It won%26#39;t have everything but it will have quite a lot to choose from.

NY Rangers on 29th at Madison Square Garden

Paul McCartneys concert at MSG the following two nights

NY Giants in NJ on the 2nd or NY Rangers v NJ Devils at MSG

You just pick up the tickets when you get there from their ';will call'; office.

To find live bands and music, buy a copy of Time Out New York magazine when you get here. Their listings are very thorough.

Or, check out The L Magazine. A free booklet-mag available in orange street corner boxes.

www.thelmagazine.com

Assuming you like rock, not chamber music...

Manhattan has loads of places. For example, Don Hill%26#39;s is just one.

http://www.donhills.com/

Two great places for live music in wonderful Park Slope, Brooklyn:

Southpaw

www.spsounds.com

barbez

http://www.barbez.com/shows.html (more acoustic stuff and shows end at 11 pm sharp due to residential nabe.)

In uber-hip Williamsburg (maximum two stops out of Manhattan) go to

Pete%26#39;s Candy Store

http://petescandystore.com/home2.html

Galapagos

http://www.galapagosartspace.com/events.html

North Six

http://www.northsix.com/index.html

General Brooklyn nightlife:

http://brooklyn.about.com/od/barsnightlife/

(Guess where I used to live...)

That is the end of baseball season - unless the Yanks can rally to win the AL east, they%26#39;ll be on the road even if they make it into the playoffs as a wild card.

I think your best bet would be football as the Giants are home that weekend. Giants tickets, however, are not that easy to come by, especially for big groups wanting to sit together. How big is your group?

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/scoreboard?w=4

Have you tried ebay or stubhub.com?

Definetely go to Top of The ROck , the new observation deck at the Rockefeller Center

www.topoftherocknyc.com

IT is the coolest thing in Manhattan

No waiting lines and easy to get tickets online. If your group is larger than 20 they offer discounts

REgular ticket $14

Legends! Can%26#39;t beleive how helpful you guys are

we are a group of 6, im gonna check some of the info given, cheers!

www.ticketmaster.com/event/00003B04DD30BF22鈥?/a>

id this correct? that seems really cheap!

that top of the rock looks good, can you book when there? only cause of concern is getting tickets to the UK on time? and also if we book it for a bad visibility day, might be best to go when there?

those links are great, seems that NY is big on live events. is there any clubs such as UK ones, dance music and laid back bars with good music? we are all under 25 so we are looking for something a little upbeat!

Johno TDi

Yes, that is a good price to see a few bands. We saw Jet last year at House of Blues in Orlando. I thought they were great. Bear in mind that it is outside in October in New York.

If you book through ticketmaster you will be able to pick the tickets up on the day(at Will Call window) or if you are nervous about that then you could probably pick them up the day before or the day you arrive. Remember to take the credit card you booked with and ID with you when you pick up the tickets.

I missed that concert when I had a look through. I know that a lot of artists well known in UK are not too big over in US so it is easier to get tickets and can be a lot cheaper.

Re the top of the rock - I have not done it yet but sounds like I need to do it next time I visit NY. I would probably take my chances in being able to book at the NY end as you don%26#39;t know what visibility is going to be like and you may have other things you need to fit round it.

Have a great trip.

cheers for that - will take a look and see how i go

really, really want to see oasis, but i fly back 9pm on the 2nd so its cutting it a little fine :o(

hi John, this is a two day concert? Just wondering when the Oasis part would be, but think you can catch a lot of the Sunday show.

Carnegie Club

Has anyone been here or know if it%26#39;s ok? It%26#39;s almost next door to where we%26#39;ll be staying.

Carnegie Club

I haven%26#39;t been. Gets good reviews here

鈥itysearch.com/profile/35684110/new_york_ny鈥?/a>

It%26#39;s on 56th b/w 6th %26amp; 7th. Did you say you%26#39;re on west 58th b/w 5th %26amp; 6th or was that someone else? It would be 3 blocks away. Sounds good.

Carnegie Club

nywhiz,

We%26#39;re staying at 200 West 56th St so it%26#39;s within staggering distance!

curry

anyboby now of a nice indian resturant near to the sofitel (need a curry fix in ny)

curry

Utsav is just a few blocks away 46th b/w 6th %26amp; 7th. Jewel of India is on the same block as the hotel! Both have great bargain lunch buffets. I%26#39;ve found Utsav expensive for dinner, esp. if you want shrimp.

curry

Good lad!!

valid question, Don%26#39;t think its gonna be the same without my pint of cobra though!

This might help-

newyorkmetro.com/search/鈥?/a>

johnno tdi

I%26#39;m a lassie not a lad!!

I%26#39;ve been to NY a few times and I%26#39;ve yet to find a curry that matches what you can get in the UK. It has got a lot better over the years, but I don%26#39;t bother anymore, especially as there so many great restaurants in NY.

If you want a fix have one before you go and one when you get back.

But, if you have to have one try you might want to try http://www.bricklanecurryhouse.com/

Ooops ! sorry! :op

I actually agree with Grimoor. The Indian here is not as good as the UK. There%26#39;s a newish place called Devi downtown that%26#39;s supposed to be excellent. Midtown, Amma (51st b/w 2nd %26amp; 3rd) is very good. The places I gave you originally are closer to your hotel.

a little further away, but the absolute best indian in the city, i would reccommend Tamarind. It is delicious, a wonderful atmosphere, and portions surprisingly large for both Indian cuisine and New York. Make sure to listen to the specials, and order their award winning fish (you%26#39;ll see it on the menu).

by the way, Tamarind is located on 22nd between Park and Broadway.

Advice on which resturant!

Staying at the Southgate Tower (opposite the Garden) for 3 nights in October and want to take the girlfriend to a really nice restaurant (something abit classy and funky!). Don%26#39;t really have a budget to stick to and not bothered if we have to take a cab! l wont have a jacket with me, although will be reasonably smart!

Any suggestions really appreciated.

Advice on which resturant!

I%26#39;ve never had the pleasure of eating at the Biltmore Room, but can vouch for their incredible cocktails. (I highly recommend their ';Way of the Dragon'; martini. Expensive, but incredible.)

http://www.thebiltmoreroom.com/

It%26#39;s been incredibly popular since opening a couple of years ago, so tough to get a prime reservation.

You can see the menu (including the cocktail menu) on their web site.

Advice on which resturant!

That%26#39;s a great suggestion within a walk of your hotel. Another idea is going to the meatpacking district. Here are a list of places there and reviews

thestrongbuzz.com/belly/belly_search_results鈥?/a>

I wold go the Hell%26#39;s Kitchen area (West 40s and 50s, 8th to 10th AVenues)

I would recommend Vynl - 824 Ninth Ave at 54th St - it is very quirky and hip. And affordable!!! It is mostly vegetarian and Pan-Asian, but also serves chicken, meat, fish, etc. Not your typical ';romantic'; place, but very fun!

http://tinyurl.com/8j65x

鈥itysearch.com/profile/鈥ponsorTop

Here%26#39;s a general list of restaurants in the W 40s%26#39;

www.menupages.com/restaurants.asp鈥?/a>

and W.50s

www.menupages.com/restaurants.asp鈥?/a>

Good luck!

Also, if you request the ';Hippo-style'; portions in Vynl, they will bring you substantial plates of food for an extra $10 a head. Under no circumstances, however, should you opt for the Hippo plates unless you%26#39;re used to guzzling large quantities of food at a single sitting.

If you%26#39;re looking for classy AND funky, two come to mind, and on the same street. Check out WD50 or 71 Clinton Fresh Food. Both located on Clinton street on the lower east side, they each offer very unique cuisine in a sheik, funky environment. WD50 is a little more out there, so if you%26#39;re feeling adventurous go for it. They are both food funky and decor funky, so i don%26#39;t know if that%26#39;s what you%26#39;re looking for, but they%26#39;re defanitely different.

colon cleansing

Better late than never - photos 9/1 - 9/5

My trip report is now 5 or 6 pages back, but at Maidstone Nic%26#39;s urging, I had my husband teach me how to create an album. Here are just a few of my many pics. I hope you enjoy them.

http://photobucket.com/albums/b347/NYCforMe/

Better late than never - photos 9/1 - 9/5

Some very nice pictures. Post more! T2 at FAO Schwartz could have been at the Museum of Natural History or the Bronx Zoo.

Better late than never - photos 9/1 - 9/5

You look just like J. Lo in Central Park!! ;o)

Great pictures, NYCforMe! Your suite at the Affinia looks like it was really spacious.

Lovely pictures. Loved the family shot...I was thinking of all of you getting your tattoos.

Can%26#39;t view these at work but will do at home tonight!

I was told yesterday that FAO Schwartz went bust and has therefore closed, is this true??

Hi Kerry

Not according to their website - they%26#39;ve just remodelled and it was closed for a time (late last year). I can%26#39;t find anything on the internet to say that it has shut since.

Louise

Jolly good! We want to play Chopsticks on the giant Piano as Tom Hanks does in BIG!

Thanks Louise :o)

Great photos. I was kind of hoping for a picture of your tattoos too.

enjoyed the pictures i was thinking the same as bettina the girls im going with want to get a tattoo i have one already but might get another one .less then 2 weeks to go before our trip.

FAO Schwartz is now going strong and is not closing.

Christmas Time in New York

I%26#39;m from the UK and my and my boyfriend are planning to go to New York on the 22nd December for 5 nights.

What is NY like around Christmas? Does everything stop on Christmas day?

Any help would be great

Thank you!

Christmas Time in New York

I spent the past two Christmas%26#39;s in NY and have to say it is the ONLY place to really enjoy the holidays. There is plenty to do on 25/12 - only the larger shops close. Lots of places open especially around Times Square. I would highly recommend the Christmas Show in Radio City Hall. You should book this before you go. I would also advise you to book a restaurant for Xmas Day as everywhere gets very busy. Is there anything else you need to know?

Christmas Time in New York

Many thanks for your reply!

We are thinking about booking to stay at the Novotel or Doubletree in Time Square, where have you stayed?

Could you please recommenced any places to eat on Christmas day and how would I book it from here ( the uk?) do you have any websites address?

Thanks again for your help x

As far as restaurants go I am using menupages.com its got the menu of every restaurants menu so you can use it to find the kind of food and area you want. Alot of them you can book using opentable.com but on menupages it has the phone numbers anyway so you can phone to check they%26#39;ll be open and make reservations

My favorite place to stay is the Helmsley or Roosevelt - they are really Christmasy! The hotels located in Times Square can be noisy and the rooms very small.

Most restaurants are open so just browse the sites for contact numbers or email addresses.

Another must ';to do'; is to go Ice Skating in Central Park on Christmas Day - its amazing!

Have a great trip.

Brilliant Thanks xx

Where are you staying in NY?

Personally Ilike being around times square just to be close to a wide range of restaurants and all the general touristy things. Im staying in the belvedere. If you check the reviews section of hotels in this site itll give you a good idea of what the hotels are like

brill thanks again x

Christmas is my favorite time in Manhattan. Dress warm, walk Central Park, see the lights, stroll the city. Christmas Day plan a lunch/early dinner and later step on out to see a play or be part of a club.

Amtrak to Niagra?

Hi,

I%26#39;m exploring how to get from New York to the Niagra falls by amtrak. Got some tips from a similar discussion in February05. I would very much appreciate further comments and advice on how to get to the falls by amtrak.

thanks,

Amtrak to Niagra?

Well, I need a little more information to help you. Were are you in New York State? And were exactly do you want to get off? Buffalo? Niagara Falls NY? Or Niagara Falls Ontario? Are you staying on canadain side? Or american? If you just tell me that I can glady help you :-)

- Gecko

Amtrak to Niagra?

i wouldnt use amtrak if i were you, easier to fly or drive. amtrak form nyc to niagara falls isnt on the acela line, totally a waste of time bothering with it.

I am not sure what the acela line is-but I have taken the train from New York Penn station to Niagara Falls and while it is a long trip (I think it was about 8 hours) it is still better than driving-that is just my opinion-and I like a train ride-

I had someone waiting in Niagara falls to pick me up-I am not sure what the cab fares would be from the station to the hotels.

However, having said that, Jet Blue has a low cost one way fare to Buffalo, and sometimes even the major carriers discount this route-it pays to check online.

If you rent a car and drive from NYC it will take around 8 hours and it is probably the best bang for the buck. Plus it really does make sense to have a car when you visit this area, there is so much to see and do that is off the beaten track, and getting around it really easy.

Thanks so much for all your inputs.

The Niagara falls trip is a side trip from our visit to New York. So I guess we will leave from the rail terminus in NY. We will be staying on the US side, so i guess it would be most convenient if we could take the train upto the Niagara falls station.

If I fly to Buffalo, how long a drive will it be to Niagara falls? I would really love to avoid driving as much as possible, time is not an issue with us.

Will very much appreciate further comments, thanks.

Midas

You won%26#39;t have any problems-The train station is really convenient to downtown and depending on where you are staying they may have a shuttle.

Enjoy your stay.

Midas,

I forgot to answer your question:

It is about a 20-25 minute drive from Cheektowaga (where the airport is located) to Niagara Falls.

It is a very easy drive-we do have the typical rush hour traffic early in the morning and at the quitting hour, any other time of the day or on weekends the traffic just moves along.

The advantage to having a vehicle is that we have so much to offer and it is nice to be able to set your own pace.

However sometimes it is just nice to let someone else do the driving-either way you will have a great time.

Midas, I flew into Buffalo with two godsons in July and we caught the Metro bus to Niagara Falls - $5.50 in total for fares and it took about 90 minutes. The downtown bus leaves from just outside baggage collection - ask for a transfer slip. The bus drops you one block from the downtown bus depot and then the Niagara Falls bus leaves from there - it was so easy with 9 and 11 y.o. and what a great saving - I had been quoted $30.00 per person for the shuttle and $65.00 plus tip for a cab.

Thanks so much for your inputs, and especially the bus tip, Helen. We won%26#39;t be lugging around too much luggage, so if we do decide to fly in, we will definitely make use of the bus, thanks a tonne!

january in the big apple

hi guys - just booked my flights for 7th january - first time visit to new york so what are the must dos in january apart from the usual sightseeing - all advice appreciated will the xmas decorations still be up in shops and town?

january in the big apple

How long are you going for, Juicylady? There%26#39;s a heck of a lot to do and see but you may be just too late to see the Christmas decorations. I%26#39;m sure Bettina will give you more information on this subject, %26#39;though.

january in the big apple

Just one warning, I%26#39;ve lived here my whole life: 31 years-January weather can be painfully cold and unpredictable, dress for the elemets.

long johns, thermal vest, ear muffs, down jacket and wool please. As long as you are warm you%26#39;ll have a great time, but then there%26#39;s the dilemma of being too hot once you get inside, hmmm....

It will depend how much time you will have , a week? , 3 days?

DEfintely you should check a financial tour or visit Wall street during the day to see all crazy people running and working .There is a lot of energy.

Don%26#39;t forget that we will be having great sales all over the city

Visit the Cloisters !!! a great surprise of an amazing secret north Manhattan. Easy to get there by subway

I recommend ice skating at the Rockefeller Center and afterwards visitng Top of The Rock

You should also consider a tour at the UN