Trip Recap and Thanks!

Trip Recap NYC

August 23-26, 2005

Tues-Fri

Thanks first to Trip Advisors MaidstoneNic, BettinaNYC, and queensboulevard to name a few. Your advice and queens’… wit are so appreciated. Hope this itinerary rundown is helpful to future NYC visitors.

Drove to NYC from north of Boston. Took four hours. Arrived at Travel Inn, 515 West 42nd Street. Parked for free in their garage. If you are a little claustrophobic than this is the garage for you. Spaces were tight, but thankfully my husband was chauffer this time around. Trade-off was worth it … spent money on something other than parking. Hotel was clean, had nice outdoor pool. Sufficient accommodations, nothing plush, great price.

Had no solid plans so went walking to Times Square as starting point. WOW! I thought I was a sophisticated city girl having grown up in Boston, but NYC is huge, overwhelming with all the sights and sounds. Much to my daughter’s demise I kept uttering, “this is so cool, this is so overwhelming, this is unbelievable.” But hey, I was on sensory overload and loving it. Checked out TKTS booth electronic bulletin board, which recaps tix on sale and at what discount. Thanks to suggestions went for lupper (lunch supper) at Carmines at 3:30; had made a reservation, seated right away. By 4 p.m. place was filled. Loved our garlicky chicken parm over spaghetti (6 cutlets split between three of us). Would not go to this restaurant if with just one other person or with less than flexible eaters, because of oversized-family style-food portions, you need to have a consensus on what to eat.

Walked over to ticket booth around 5ish. Took no time to get through line. Tried for Dirty Rotten…tix but only had rear mezzanine so decided to skip it. Advice—check out theater seating plans before you go to TCKTS booth because unlike box offices they have nothing to show you and you need to make a split second decision and secondly, if you are picky as to where you sit, purchase available discounted tickets using codes from www.playbill.com, or www.broadwaybox.com We purchased orchestra seats for RENT prior to our trip and it was comparable in price. Decided to check out more of the city in an unorganized fashion, big mistake-feet get tired- headed over to NBC Studio store, Radio City, Bryant Park, Chrysler building, Grand Central, ESB (from afar-pooped). Moral of the story, having an itinerary is a good thing.

Day Two-Thanks to your suggestions prepurchased tickets to SOL-first trip. Hopped on subway having bought Metro card day before. Remember to ride on FIRST FIVE TRAINS to Battery Park for security reasons. About 20 people in line at 7:45 and then the line continued to grow. When gate opened headed right over to Will Call table (on the right). Little bummed out that the Observatory tickets had been sold out, but alas it did not matter because when we got to the SOL the nice ranger said not to worry didn’t matter what ticket you had-promenade or observatory-today every one would go up. Enjoyed the ranger presentation and ‘museum’. Great photo ops. When you are up on the observatory, look down on the side you see the shadow of the SOL. Nice picture. SOL-One of my favorite stops. Took 10:30 ferry to Ellis Island next. Also, enjoyed a humorous ranger presentation, but losing steam here. Had done research at home with various websites including www.ellisisland.org so decided not to spend overly long here. Loved the cool flag that depending upon what angle you looked at it, you could see hundreds of faces. Hopped on ferry. Walked past Wall Street Bull, WTC, St. Pauls. Very moving, incredibly sad. Some politician pledging something. Don’t know what. Popped in to Century 21, but felt almost disrespectful to do so after the two previous sights so decided not to shop. Met many nice New Yorkers, or New York transplants who were extremely helpful. One man who worked for the metro, took us to the station we needed to get to the Second Avenue Deli. Loved our corned beef sandwich and cole slaw. Waitress Diane was quite a character. Worth the trip. Walked to Washington Square. Saw some of NYU, headed back to hotel. Rest, revive, then RENT. Third time seeing it. First for 16 year old daughter. Loved it. Such talent! Wandered over to the Times Square Brewery and had dessert since we were still stuffed from lupper. Great waiter, nice atmoshphere. Back to Times Square where we happened upon a taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live. Enjoyed watching and laughing at Howie Mandell jokes. Went back to room and saw “live” show on tv.

Slow start next day, feet hurt but worth it! By chance husband found book in lobby with coupons with savings for theater shows. Went straight to Hairspray box office at 10 a.m. and got center orchestra seats for $60 (not discounted would have been $100). And of course since bought directly, paid no fees. Woohoo! Went happily off to see the Yankee vs. Toronto game. Won’t tell you who I rooted for, but let’s face it I am a Bostonian so you could guess. Took the D train rather than B; that way we did not have to get off and switch. Yankee fans were quite nice. Food nothing to write home about but you could charge it which is nice. Husband disappeared for a while which made me nervous, but he later explained he was watching a Minyan (prayer group) right at Yankee stadium. Wow!

Enjoyed, but felt bad for, groundskeeping crew who had to do the YMCA on the field. Back to subway, smooth ride, got off at Rockefeller, walked around a bit more. Went to Ellen’s Stardust Diner for dinner where the waiters sing, dance, and serve food. Yes its hokey with average food, but if you let yourself go, you will enjoy it. Our waiter just graduated from Boston Conservatory. Lots of talent there. Great place to go for a family.

Off to Hairspray which was an adorable show. Again, with first class talent. Times Square, Thursday night after the show, crazy (in a good way), again so many sights and sounds. Enjoyed watching people peddle the rounded, red, five person bike. Looked like fun. Back to Travel Inn. Rest.

Friday, last day. Have so much more to see. Must return to NYC. Got up early and headed to Bryant Park for GMA Summer Concert series. Today, Avril Lavigne featured. In a line around the block at 6:30, moved quickly when line allowed to move. You go in to a cordoned off area in front of the stage to make it look like its crowded for the camera and the folks at home, even if it is not. (after a while could not see behind me so do not know how full it was). No communication from GMA people at all for at least an hour so chat with fellow tourists. If you want to be on camera, when facing the stage to the right, some folks were pulled out of the crowd. Concert consisted of 2 lackluster warm up songs, and then 3 songs for the camera. Fun to do, but disappointed that Avril had no connection with the tired audience (she was on when the cameras were on, but that was it). Saw Emeril, Robin, Tony the weather man. Headed past New York Public Library, Times Square, and then back to Travel Inn. Goodby NYC. Will miss you and hope to see you again soon.

Trip Recap and Thanks!

Mahj...loved your report...will you be posting the pictures especially the SOL shadow?

I love the atmosphere of a game at Yankee Stadium, and the groundsmen doing the YMCA is one of those family friendly things that made by childrens day the first time they saw it...Have been to Fenway as well, and LOVED the GreenMonster...Go Redsox!

Trip Recap and Thanks!

Great report, Mahj - my feet are beginning to hurt just reading it! You certainly packed a lot in to your short stay and I loved the way you described those little extras (TKTS tips and SOL shadow) which sets a great report apart from the merely good!

I%26#39;m sure it will be very useful for other visitors.

Nic (Patriots fan for 25 years but whisper it around these parts!).

Thanks again folks! Hooked on Trip Advisor. Where to go next???

Enjoyed your report, even though you are a Red Sox Fan....just kidding, glad you had a great time!

a hint from this avid theatregoer about knowing seats at TKTS

except for a few odd theatres, the Vivian Beaumont and Mitzi Newhouse at Lincoln Center to name two, any seat in the center is generally 100s. The sides are 1,3,5,... or 2,4,6,...

that way you won%26#39;t have to memorize any seating plans

Great report, adn glad you had a good time. Thanks for the compliments! I%26#39;d love to hear what you think of me when I actually answer a question of yours directly.

Thanks for your honest take on GMA - for the life of me, I don%26#39;t get the draw, but that%26#39;s just me.

Go Sox!

(I%26#39;m from Queens, and partner%26#39;s from ';Bedfuh'; - near CAHn-curd)

A minyan at Yankee Stadium?!? How very strange, I%26#39;m curious what that was about.

Sounds like you had a wonderful time!

Thanks for the great report. My FIRST NYC trip is coming up end of Sept/first of Oct. I%26#39;ll also have only a few days and am seeking advice and information on what to do and see. This trip will very likely be the only time I%26#39;ll get to see the Big Apple and don%26#39;t want to miss the ';important'; things. Anyone with advice, please reply. I%26#39;ve taken note of the deli/restaurant info, but am interested in that as well as site/show/taping info.

There is a regular minyan at Yankee Stadium, usually in the afternoons (mincha?). Meet at the kosher hot dog stand. (I am NOT making this up.) A friend of mine participated in it during the year his father died. (Whether or not he should have been at a Yankee game is another question...)

Thanks, QB. It reminded me of one of my collection of ';Haikus for Jews'; --

Quietly murmured

at Saturday services,

Yanks 5, Red Sox 3