4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[BarbaraJ]

We are very lucky to be going next june for our 25th wedding anniversary. Hubby suggested we go as i've wanted to for ages and i sort it all Anyway have booked flights, we go for 8 days and i have booked a converted brownstone/hotel in Chelsea as we couldnt afford nearer to centre as way too expensive (used to florida prices)

I have done alot of online browsing at things to do there and hope to get http://www.bigapplegreeter.org/ for our first day.

 

I'd love for a hints of thing not to miss? i have the obvious in mind like Empire State but like to find unusual things to do

[stoice]

We went in feb this year (Joint 30th birthday pressies amoungst a group of us) so it was snowing - HARD.

As a result our highlight was iceskating in central park (plus snowball fights!)

But we also loved the SATC tour as you got to see a lot of the city you wouldn't normally find. (Tickets bought this side of the pond)

I'd been before and visited Lady Liberty so wasn't fussed when we were snowed in and couldn't re-visit, although I'd have loved to have visited Ellis Island. (Statue was was very cramped and crowded - not for the claustrophobic, plus I'm not sure you're allowed inside anymore)

I loved finding the piano in the floor from the film 'Big' on the 3rd or 4th floor of FAO Schwarz, great fun.

Empire state was good. Freezing though! They had scaffolding all over it though which spoilt the look of the art deco foyer.

Canal street is great for cheap shopping, if you don't mind dubious authenticity!

In little Italy i recommend a pizza place called Sals. Pics of SO many celebs on the wall that have visited. Very authentic place.

Flat iron building is great for a photo op.

As is Broadway by night.

 

Have a great time. It's exhausting but great fun.

[Olly]

OOh, lucky you -

 

I strongly recommend getting a two or three day bus ticket, not only do they do guided tours (very cold in December when I went, but probably fun in June!) but you can also use them just to hop on and hop off and travel around, they are good value.

 

Even if you don't think you want to shop, go to Bloomingdales or Macys or Lord & Taylor just to see what they're like.

 

Ellis Island is really interesting, but you have to queue for ages for the trip because security is so tight, and tickets for the Statue are limited and sell out quite early. To be honest I preferred to see the statue from outside rather than go up it, so didn't bother.

 

Central Park is a must, although I'm not sure I'd bother with the horse-drawn buggy again! And FAO Schwartz, mentioned above, is the fabulous toy-shop, worth just going for a look. Tiffany's, just so you can say you've been ... and Grand Central Station.

 

Sorry, nothing out of the ordinary above but I loved my trip there, as you can probably tell!

[Old Speckled Hen]

 

I did the helicopter trip round Manhattan and the open topped bus (in November brrrrrrrrrrrr and boy was it cold)

If you want camera gear B&H at 9th Ave. @ 34th St. is THE place, closed Saturday. I stocked up lots of Nikon

 

Anything

Apple

 

 

at 767 Fifth Ave.

 

US iPods play louder than UK ones

 

All the above is mucho cheaper than here

 

See if you can get to a soul brunch and drink bloody mary for breakfast

 

Have a great trip and remember NY is eminently walkable.

[BarbaraJ]

brilliant so far thanks, we were going to get a 7day tube ticket.

Restaurant help is great

i have seen people say, to go up another building (forget which one)

OOh, lucky you -

 

I strongly recommend getting a two or three day bus ticket, not only do they do guided tours (very cold in December when I went, but probably fun in June!) but you can also use them just to hop on and hop off and travel around, they are good value.

 

Even if you don't think you want to shop, go to Bloomingdales or Macys or Lord & Taylor just to see what they're like.

 

Ellis Island is really interesting, but you have to queue for ages for the trip because security is so tight, and tickets for the Statue are limited and sell out quite early. To be honest I preferred to see the statue from outside rather than go up it, so didn't bother.

 

Central Park is a must, although I'm not sure I'd bother with the horse-drawn buggy again! And FAO Schwartz, mentioned above, is the fabulous toy-shop, worth just going for a look. Tiffany's, just so you can say you've been ... and Grand Central Station.

 

Sorry, nothing out of the ordinary above but I loved my trip there, as you can probably tell!

to take pics of the Empire state rather than up it itself ?

Aww i was looking forward to ride around central park, why did you not like it?

[AMO]

How exciting!!

 

1) Make sure if you shop at Macey's or Bloomingdales you get your 'Out of Towners' discount card for more savings (even off sale prices). You get them from the customer service dept.

 

2) Go to Ess-A-Bagel for breakfast or lunch - there are two (359 1st Ave and 831 3rd Ave). There are zillions of fillings to choose from and about 14 types of bagel! You'll never want a bagel in the UK again!

 

3) Go on a Harlem Gospel service tour - BRILLIANT!! Even if you are not religious the whole experience gives you a lift - remember to take change cos' they'll make sure the collection box goes round before you leave. The tour takes you round Harlem and gives a history of New York and how it grew to what it is today.

 

4) See a show on Broadway - many to choose from, but, The Colour Purple is still playing and is excellent. There is a discount ticket booth on Broadway (nr Times Square) so buy your tickets on the day for great discounts (we ended up centre stage three rows from the front for one show and paid £75 for 2 tickets).

 

5) When you do the open bus tour, remember that the loop over to Brooklyn stops around 4pm, so do that loop early or you might get stuck in Brooklyn!

 

6) Visit the food hall below Grand Central Station - never seen so much food in my life and it ALL looks soooo good!

 

Have a great time!

[Redwing]

The open top bus tour has a special evening trip over to Brooklyn where you get a great view of the skys"Ooops, word censored!"ers from across the water

 

The top of the Rockefeller centre is a must, you can see the Empire state building from the top - a view you cant get FROM the Empire State!

[fluffyfeet]

My sister went last year and loved it.

 

She didn't bother with the Empire State Building but went up a different one - well known but I'm having a blond/senior moment and cannot remember for the life of me what it was. Anyhow, it overlooks Central Park and the views are breathtaking.

 

She also did the SATC tour and said it was fab. Another thing she did was went to the street where all the designer shops are (no price tags, only three things on a rack) and walked in, and even had the front to try a cute little jacket on, which was half price (she likes a bargain) but was still over £300.

 

Got it - it's the Rockerfeller Building.

 

I'll ask her if her pic's are on-line anywhere so you can have a nosey.

 

Dawn x

[fluffyfeet]

Cross posted with Tash - great minds eh?

 

Dawn x

[Sam Palmer]

You want to go to Top of the Rock in the Rockerfeller Center to get the best view of the Empire State building and everything else. We found it a much preferable experience (timed tickets, a couple of viewing levels) to the Empire State (3hrs queueing and packed like cattle and unable to see anything).

Radio City Music Hall is across the road - a beautifully restored art deco theatre with fantastic guides showing you around.

The Guggenheim Museum - an impressive building to visit, never mind what the current exhibition is.

Circle Line Cruises do day and night time cruises around Manhatten. We did a sunset one out under the Brooklyn Bridge. It was light going out, then the whole city was lit up on the return journey. They also do a speedboat trip out to the Statue of Liberty with 'Mad Dog' and 'Crazy Horse'. That's an experience not to be missed!

We bought a 2 day New York Pass - you can get them for 3 and 7 days too. http://www.newyorkpass.com. They cover entry for loads of places, including the ones I've mentioned and you get good discounts at Planet Hollywood in Times Square, where we collected them from, after buying them here first.

Enjoy your trip, it's a brilliant place - I'm most envious!!!

[BarbaraJ]

oh i knew it was the place to ask lol its amazing that you can come on here and find out anything

 

We will be getting the 7 day pass but its good to see others use them and see they are good.

 

Food is already making my mouth water

[Hens@HalfMoonLane]

A New Yorker friend to us to the Hells Kitchen area for a cheap good meal just north of Time Square - definately worth a visit. An afternoon in the cuban bars of Grenwich Village is a nice relaxing day - we went to look a few music shops and spent all day in the bars instead.

 

If we went back Coney Island would be up there on ,y list of things to do. Have a great time.

[DebC]

I'm realy jealous. I love New York and have been twice, once with my OH and once with the girls to celebrate the fact we were all having our big birthday within a few months of each other!

 

Sounds like you will have pleny of time to do things. It is getting expensive with the exchange rates. But there are things you can do for free. The first time we went you couldn't actually get to the statue of Liberty so we took the Staten Island Ferry a couple of times to get a good look. It used to be free, I don't know if it still is.

 

Central Park is lovely to walk through, but there is never really a time when you get it to yourself.

 

And of course it doesn't cost to go window shopping! but I would start saving for spending money!

 

Have fun

[Olly]

I did enjoy the buggy ride round Central Park, but you know it's like a lot of these things, they're actually cuter to watch than they are to sit in! It didn't last long, and afterwards we agreed we'd probably have been better to save the money and go for a walk round instead - but I don't want to put you off, if that's on your wish-list then go for it.

[deejmum]

I have been to NY many times as my mum and dad lived there for quite a while. Top of the rock is miles better than Empire state, but if you have time do both, the Empire state is kind of more iconic, you cant go and not do it!

 

Busses are really easy on the grid system and I prefer them to the subway. You can go uptown or down town, and getting across town is really easy on foot if you dont mind a bit af a walk. A walk is never dull in Manhattan. The busses also run across town too.

 

Central park is glorious at all times if the year.

 

Century 21 is a great discounted labels dept store next to ground zero downtown. I havent been to ground zero for a few years and dont know how they have developed it in recent years. Last time I went it was impossible to come away without feeling very emotional, really poignant.

 

I think it goes without saying that Times Square is a must!

[Old Speckled Hen]

 

I havent been to ground zero for a few years and dont know how they have developed it in recent years. Last time I went it was impossible to come away without feeling very emotional, really poignant.

 

I think it goes without saying that Times Square is a must!

 

Two years ago the area was fenced off and you could see twisted melted foundations but things are up and running now with completion scheduled for 2012

There's a webcam here

http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/groundzero/

[deejmum]

 

 

Two years ago the area was fenced off and you could see twisted melted foundations but things are up and running now with completion scheduled for 2012

There's a webcam here

http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/groundzero/

 

Wow that earthcam website is amazing, I just spent ages looking at times square in the rain, and I still wanted to be there!