You *have* to see a Broadway play in NYC (IMO!), but tickets are VERY expensive! But if you go to Half Price Tickets (a little booth in the V of Times Square), you can get them 1/2 price! If there's a particular show you want to see, you might not buy them this way since you never know what tickets will be available (they start selling them the day of the performance) and the seats might not be the best, but for a less expensive way to get to see a Broadway play, it's a great deal.

Ooooh, just found a link -- it's not Half Price Tickets, it's TKTS! Link below...

Here is a link that might be useful: TKTS

OH!! Something else.. I have done a Savory Sojourn food tour three times now. All of my tours have been with owner Addie Tomei (Marisa's mom) and she is just dynamic and charming and spunky! Each of my walking tours has been great and I've learned so much about the city's neighborhoods, architecture, and history-- stuff you learn only from someone with a love and passion for the city. (I believe some even tour homes in the city). I have done two reg tours and one custom tour .. all were worth every penny and every minute of time! I found some great little shops and restaurants that i'd never have found on my own... and each ends with a fantastic meal (and lots of nibbles along the way). Addie is just a bundle of fun energy and I highly recommend the tour.

Here is a link that might be useful: Savory Sojourns

We always try to hit Cafe Habana when visiting DivaD1.

It's in Nolita(?) at Prince and Mott. Luscious fried plantains and roasted corn with a savory lime-cayenne cojito topping... I'm salivating thinking about it. Put your name on the list and root around the little shops in the area while you wait. Elizabeth Street, headed toward Houston, is our hands-down favorite street for shopping in all of NY.

Also, hit the Young Designer's Market on Saturday at noon for great buys on good jewelry. It's 268 Mulberry. Bring cash and buy lots for big discounts. I keep a stash of bracelets and earrings for fun birthday and hostess gifts. They have funky clothes and bags, too.

And, if you feel yourself fading and need a cup of coffee, skip Starbucks and get the best cup of your life (for a dollar!) at Garden of Eden (23rd between 6th and 7th and
on 14th somewhere east of 7th)

Museums? Our favorite is the Frick.

Have fun!

WOW ! YOU guys are great !
funkyart: those look great. I don't have money but brother has buckets so maybe we can do that. He is on a much needed diet and I don't wanna' mess him up ...sigh.

hoosier: thanks for the ticket link. I am looking at plays/musicals to decide. Bro wants to go to one and still hasnot done that in the 2 yrs he has lived there.

jerseygirl...bro is loaded...so it will be his dime !

sue and tine: sounds like we like much the same thing.

kmcg: THANK YOU for the links, I think a bus tour is a great idea also. No after dark park ..I guessed that LOL.
Your suggestions pretty much match what my brother suggested too.

allison I wondered about Wicked...will check it out.

gk: thanks for the tip about the Statue...will see about him getting tickets. i wanna go up to the top.

OK anymore ideas ? You all are wonderful c

Wicked is AWESOME, Trailrunner! (At least the original cast was; I think I heard the current cast is as well.) I highly recommend it! Have a BLAST!

pecan we were posting at the same time. That food has me drooling too ! Notes made on that and the shopping. c

If you liked Abba at all back in the 80s, Mamma Mia is also a terrific show!

If you are going to be in NY before May 12, there is an exhibition at MOMA that sounds good. It's called Color Chart: Reinventing Color 1950 to Today.

Take heart if you do not get a chance to see the Statue of Liberty. I was born and raised there and I have never been to the Statue OR the top of the Empire State Building! LOL!It's hard to be a tourist in your own backyard! I've been IN the building many times, but never to the top! Beware, I have seen lines that wrap around the block to gain entrance! It is also a place where you should get tickets ahead of time. Even when I take my own family there, I have never gone. Having lived in an apartment building for my entire childhood, going to the top of a building didn't hold much interest for me. The 70th floor at the top of the rock is a little lesser known and the views are still spectacular! An insider tip is to visit the ESB during the off hours. It is open until 2 a.m. with the last elevator going up at 1:15!

Here is a link that might be useful: ESB

sue I made a note of Mama Mia thank you.
jerzee_ nope arrive on the 13th later in day.

kmcg: that is a great tip...my brother and I are night owls anyway. Thanks c

I have not done this yet but plan to on my next visit to NY. I hear it is great.
http://www.foodsofny.com/greenwichvillage.php

OK, resident grump here...everyone has given wonderful suggestions but, um, this topic has absolutely NOTHING to do with decorating. OP didn't even put in a courteous 'OT'. Shouldn't it go over to the Conversations side?

Harumphily,
Ann

lyban THANK YOU...I ll check it out.

Ann: I'm SORRY! I was so excited that I forgot to put OT...mea culpa...the conversation side sees so little activity. Again I am sorry. THANK YOU for all your helpful suggestions. Let this pass on now. :( c

pecan, please tell us more about the Young Designers Market. Why only Saturday at noon? It sounds great and I don't want to miss it. (We're going to NYC in 2 weeks.)

A must see for the decor minded tourist in NYC...

Here is a link that might be useful: ABC Carpet and Home

A tip about geting to the top of the Statue of Liberty (which you shouldn't miss): There are NO SHORTCUTS. Yes, the elevator takes you up to the 16th floor, but you can't go any further from there. If you want to get to the top, you'll have to hoof it by stair from the bottom. It's really not a bad climb because the line will be so long that you're not really climbing more than one or two at a time. But it's a different experience on the way down! Everyone is moving fast, and there's a whole lotta folks in line behind you down a narrow one-way staircase, so there's no stopping to rest. I took our son back in '90, and by the time we got to the main floor I practically collapsed! My knees were knocking! But then, if you do it (and you should!), it'll be your story to tell!

And yes, do go to Mario's and Daniel's restaurants. They're nothing short of phenomenal.

Oh heck, trailrunner, even a curmudgeon like me can't stay sour after a response like that-have fun in NYC!

Ann

Go to the Empire State Building at night. I had someone visiting from Atlanta and we went on a Monday evening at about 8 and there were no lines. AS we were breezing through I realized that it would be really bad if it were crowded - it can take the ENTIRE day just to get to the top. The city is beautiful at night.

What Street does your brother live on? I work right on Columbus Circle across from the park, not much to do there but the Time Warner Center does have some high-end shops and a Whole Foods.

I would check out Carmine's in Time Square for some great Italian food with huge portions. Tao is great place if you like Sushi (everyone in NY does) and Molyvos does some great greek food. 9th Ave by the theater district has a lot of little restaurants. Wicked and Mama Mia are good but I loved the Lion King - amazing set, costume and choreography. I saw with my DD. SOHO is nice for trendy boutique shopping but the village is my personal favorite.

ABC Carpet and Home is a lot of fun. If you like sports, you can take a subway ride to the Bronx to see the NY Yankees or check out MSG for the Knicks.

Tons of museums but The Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Natural history are the most popular. Have fun!

jyyanks...800 block of 7th Ave. I love Italian and Greek. Everyone says ABC so I will try to do that. Museums for sure. The Yanks are there w/ a double header with the Boston Red Sox...15th and 16th. will try that too. I am going to the Blue Note to see Steve Tyrell for sure , I love him. I had already heard that the best time for the ESB was late so that convinces me.

Ann..thank you...I am sorry. Very gracious of you :)

oofasis: that sounds way too much like the Leaning Tower of Pisa...it was a nightmare...late night visit for sure.

Thank you everyone. My list is HUGE.

I second ABC Carpet, which is a wonderland, and the Greenmarket in Union Square, especially on a Saturday. It's awesome. If you love food, there are a lot of great gourmet food stores to check out, even for the diet conscious: Fairway and Zabar's (which has low prices on high-end kitchen wares upstairs), Dean and DeLuca, where you can sit at stools and eat what you just bought. And, for great local and imported cheeses, Murray's. Come to think of it, if you go to Grand Central Station they have a nice selection of gourmet food in their marketplace on the main floor. It's a cool place to visit in any case.

SInce you're a nightowl, I'd recommend Times Square at night, bustling as if it were midday....

There are a lot of parks, for running or sitting, so don't limit yourself to Central Park, altho it is the biggest and most convenient for you. Here's a site for walking trails.

There are so many good museums, from the Metropolitan on down to small ones like the Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side. The Museum of Natural History is, of course, great, and there's a newish exhibit there, the Anne and Bernard Spitzer Hall of Human Origins, that I've been wanting to get to since it opened. (Yes, Elliott Spitzer's parents donated the $$ for it.) Check out: museums of NYC

My feeling about the statue of liberty is that the lines are way too long, and it's a lot more interesting to see it from a distance than to actually be there. You can take the Staten Island Ferry for free and get a great view of it and the Manhattan skyline.

OH! Here's a great idea! Walk (or run) across the amazing Brooklyn Bridge to Brooklyn Heights, which is an upscale neighborhood with cafes and whatever, and a killer view from the Promenade. You can subway back if you want a quick return trip.

We like to eat at an Ethiopian restaurant, no one in particular, and get a mixed vegetarian platter. It's cheap, we love the food, and it's unique.

Tune in WNYC, the local public radio station, 820 AM or 93.9 FM, from 10 a.m. on, for some of my favorite shows (intelligent interviews and/or call-in shows.)

Whatever you do, you'll have a good time. Just follow your instincts -- you can't go wrong.

egganddart: My brother just e-mailed me. He is actually 4 1/2 blocks from the park. He goes to the Green Market in Union Sq every saturday he says.

He definitely wants to go see the T-rex and the new planetareum. I am rethinking some stuff as I don't have $$. Your suggestions about the Statue sound good. I am going to go to the Bookstore and look at books on doing NYC on a shoestring !!

Love Ethiopian food and Public Radio !!

Would like to do one of the Apple Bike Tours...ride on a Sunday evening across the Brooklyn Bridge is one of them.

Should I get one of the NewYorkCity Pass deals? They were on sale thru 4/4 20% off. Worried I won't see enough in the 3 day one....what do think? THAnKS

I go to NYC frequently for work - here's my 2 cents worth:

1. Don't actually go to the Statue of Liberty UNLESS you get down there early and get on the very first first boat of the day. The crowds aren't worth it, in my opinion, if you go later. A trip to Ellis Island is very worth it and I prefer going there as opposed to the Statue of Liberty. If you know anything about your family's history, and know when/where they immigrated to the US, Ellis Island is awesome.

2. NY is a walking city. Avoid cabs and subway, if you can as you don't see things that way. I'm a big one for taking walking tours. The Downtown Alliance Walking Tour is absolutely great for the early history of NYC and it's free! It's in lower Manhattan/Wall Street area. Big Onion Walking tours offers many, usually 2 or so hrs long, they focus on specific neighborhoods and they are inexpensive, too. We take a tour, and then just continue exploring the neighborhood we're in. http://www.bigonion.com/schedule/

http://www.downtownny.com/?sid=48

3. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge. Tons of people do it and you'll be able to look around at the skyline if you are walking (instead of riding a bike when you should be looking ahead!!)

4. I'd so going to the top of the Empire State Building and instead I agree about going to the top of the Rockefeller Plaza. In my experience, the crowds are much less at the Rock and you get about the same view.

5. My absolutely favorite museum in NYC is the Frick Collection on the upper east side. It's housed in the mansion of Henry Clay, a very wealthy entrepreneur from early 1900's. While I very much enjoy the Met, to me the Frick with it's smaller size is much more manageable. The Museum of the City of NY, again on the upper east side, is good too. Both of those can be done in 1 day if you have rain. They're both right up 5th Ave.

6. If you are a gardener, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is wonderful. You can get there by an easy subway ride.

7. The United Nations is worth a visit as well and tours are offerred there.

You've gotten great suggestions about restaurants. You really can't go wrong eating in NY. Have a great visit...and it is very possible to do it on a budget!

I second a free trip on the Staten Island ferry. The views are absolutely amazing. Once you get across to the Staten Island side, just exit into the terminal and get right back on the boat. The trip takes about 30 minutes each way.

Don't forget to check out the Whitney and Frick museums.

Although you don't like shopping, give serious consideration to Century 21 downtown near the site of the World Trade Center.

When I was a kid, taking the S.I. Ferry was something we would do for fun! You get a drop dead gorgeous view of the city. The Seaport is not far from there. I would go to the Ferry mid morning, AFTER rush hour. Then go to the Seaport for lunch and sights. Then walk to Wall Street. Another Museum? The Guggenheim! Save those for a rainy day. DO get a Metro card and keep it in your pocket. If you get tired you can always hop on a bus. The bus stops are every other block, unless it is an express. Get maps and bus info so you know which bus goes where. You can always ask. NYer's REALLY are helpful. We get a bad rap sometimes, but most are VERY down to earth. As we say, "good people". Once you've made your list of sights to see, group them by area. Much more manageable. It is a big place!

Pat , Deb and Kmcg...you guys are really helpful. I was feeling so overwhelmed but I am narrowing it down and have really studied a map and I think I am getting a better feel. I am probably going to stay 2 weeks instead so I can do more. Bro wants me to stay a month...may even do that. Nice to have choices. Thank you everyone for the GREAT assistance.

Talk about "good people" this forum has bunches of you !!

I grew up on Staten Island and the ride on the ferry is as they say, priceless. Kmcg is also right, do it post rush hour, it is more relaxing that way.

If you are really, really adventurous, when you exit the ferry, take the bus (it used to be the #1), I'm not sure what the number is now. It is a local bus that makes its way up 6th avenue (Avenue of Americas). You actually get to see a side of NY most tourists do not see. Post rush hour, it probably takes about 45 minutes to get to mid-town.

Alternatively, post ferry ride, exit the terminal and head left towards Battery Park and make your way to the beginning of Broadway AKA, the Canyon of heroes and head north. You will see the famous wall street bull and again and this is the area where all the ticker tape parades are held. If you continue North on Broadway, eventually you will be moving toward the World Trade Center, Century 21, Wall Street, Church Street, essentially downtown area.

Have a great time!

I forgot to mention that the Metropolitan Museum of Art's fee policy is that you may pay anything you want, but you must pay something. They have a suggested donation, but you can put in 50 cents if money is tight, and nobody will say anything. I'm not sure if other museums have this policy.

deborah good idea...more and more I am thikng about less traveled things to do.

egg..yes I knew that about the fees. Also Friday afternoon a lot of them are free for about 4 hrs.

THANK YOU guys you are so good to do this for me. c

So everyone has covered food and touristy places, but what about great spots for shopping?

*Has anyone done the flea markets? Are there good prices and neat finds there?

*What about ~reasonable~ antique stores? Or unusual Kirkland's (but better) type stores?

*OH, and fabric stores! -Decorator fabrics and cotton quilting fabrics. Looking for good deals and things I won't find at a JoAnn's.

Unlike Trailrunner, I would survive on making sandwiches in the hotel room if I could find some great shops with different things.

Funny, after posting here the other day, that radio station I mentioned interviewed a guy who wrote a guide to "experiential travel in NYC". It was about doing things that offer an experience beyond what you get just seeing the sights. One caller recommended going to the Flower District along 6th Ave between 26th and 29th streets. I've heard it's a feast for the eyes.

paint chips, those are very good questions and, living nearby, I wish I knew the answers. I was having an impossible time finding upholstery fabrics recently and kept thinking, I KNOW there must be a huge selection with great stuff in the city, I just don't know where!

This website looks helpful -- Scroll down it. Also, fleamarket list. The Village Voice is available all over the city and will have a lot of this info in it, or you can check out their website: VillageVoice

FLOWERS....oh now you have done it . I LOVE flowers...gardens...we lived in The Netherlands and I never tired of the flower market and the open air gardens and markets. I can see where my BP rises when I read the suggestions and those are the things I am going to try and do.

Egg...can you remember anything else he suggested? A copy of the Guide??? Thank you....Caroline

Once upon a time there were a ton of fabric stores on lower Broadway and Canal with the best being P&S. But most of them are gone now. P&S closed 1 or 2 years ago. Zarin's is a big place on the corner of Grand and Allen on the 2nd floor.
The Lower East side was formed by immigrant communities whose cultural influence can still be seen today. Orchard Street was a Jewish Wholesale center with many fabric, dress and notion shops. It is still the best place to get a pastrami or brisket sandwich on jewish rye or pickles out of a barrel or fresh baked bagels and bialys. Katz's Deli, 205 East Houston, is the oldest and largest deli dating back to 1888. Definately worth a stop on your list for an authentic, old world NY experience! Also, in that area is the Lower East Side Tenemant Museum.

Here is a link that might be useful: Zarin Fabrics

For lighting, chandy's, lamps and the like the downtown Bowery area is great. One long street of lighting stores that sell everything. I warn you, your neck will start to hurt after awhile from looking up because most of the stores are crammed.

For fabrics, trims etc. you can try the garment district although I warn you, it is best to talk with someone who really knows the area and the stores. Some are to the trade and wholesalers only and others let you browse and buy.

Eggs is right about the flower district, it is just to die for!

Kmg or Jersey girl, do you recall when the arts festival begins in the Washington Square area. That is always a fun and cool thing to do. Not sure if it will be going on during the time of your visit.

My only other shout out re shopping would be 8th Avenue in the village. It used to be the mecca for great, funky and different shoes. Not sure if that is still the same.

The one thing we haven't told you to do and that is to cop a squad in front of one of the buildings such as St. Pat's or one of the office buildings in midtown, grab lunch and people watch. Most do it during lunchtime if the weather is nice and it can be very entertaining.

One final thing, please do NOT buy any food from the vendors on the street. You may want to be authentic but trust me, those carts are not stored in the most sanitary manner and I have seen too many "Eyewitness News" report on those things to last me a lifetime. LOL

Just don't miss the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and one play, walk a lot, it's a nice place to walk. Your brother will know where to walk and what to see. Taxicabs, any mode of transportation (well, it's kinda like flying), you miss the best parts.

I know everyone's covered so much it makes me want to make a trip there, too! Since you'll be there for a couple weeks, maybe if you take in the Today show as suggested by Kcmg you can get ambushed for their Friday makeovers--not that you need one, but I thought that sounded fun! It looks like those chosen carried big or unique signs to get picked. Might be worth a try for something different. I haven't actually watched it on TV, but saw this link.

Here is a link that might be useful: Today Show 4th Hour Friday Makeovers

kmcg: I have a dress that has had a button off since 1971!! I am not a sewer but the Tenement Museum sounded good.Katz's sounds heavenly.

deborah: thanks for the warning about street food...I grew up in N.O. and never had a Lucky Dog LOL. The people watching is at the top of my list. And walking and eating.

I agree Paricia...slow but sure is the way to go!

sujafr: I could use a makeover :) but am not big on the crowd thing...so will probably pass on that. Looks fun though.

Thanks for everyones' devotion to this , ya'll are amazing. Caroline

I was in NYC two years ago and they are no longer letting anyone go up in the Statue of Liberty any higher than the platform she sits on. I think that's been the policy since 9/11...?

Shopping-wise, if you're at all interested in knockoff handbags, etc., you should definitely make a visit to Canal Street.

If you think you'll be doing many tourist attractions, I'd consider purchasing the City Pass. It pays for itself after just 2 or 3 of the attractions. Have fun!

Here is a link that might be useful: City Pass

yes I had asked about the pass. The "timer " starts when you first use it so I am not sure that I will see everything in 3 or 7 days. They had a 20% off sale that just ended. I think I will wait and see. Bro says there are lots of sales on prices. Thanks for the tip about the Statue ...c

The Statue didn't reopen until 2004 after 9-11 and as Karen stated, you can no longer go all the way up to the torch.

Check out Big Apple Greeters if your budget is limited. This is a volunteer group of New Yorkers who are matched with visitors according to language, neighborhoods requested and interests.
NYC is a WALKING city. Don't waste time (or money) taking taxis, though a trip on the subway, if you've never been is an experience in and of itself!
There is a lot of free and inexpensive places to visit and things to see in NYC: Walk the Brooklyn Bridge, visit South Street Seaport, Times Square, Little Italy, Greenwich Village. Take the ferry around the island. If you do the Brooklyn Bridge by foot, stop at Grimaldi's for a pizza then grab a great tasting cone at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Company and sit by the river for a unbelievable view of the skyline and the bridge.
If you visit ESB do as others suggest and go "off hours". The Met is incredible. Check out the main public library (5th Ave) then stroll up the avenue to see the beautiful St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Babs yep those are all on the list. I gotta get shoes ! c

There is a Whole Foods store across the park at Union Square opposite of where the fresh market is, you can grab a take out and sit in the park steps to eat it.

You will have a great time no matter what you choose to do. Make sure you get one of those hand maps (the kind that open up like an oragami). Those are priceless since you will be doing alot of walking. Good for getting in shape and the cabs are a fortune.

Don't forget to check out Soho for shopping and eating! Have a cocktail at The Hudson Hotel, 356 West 58th. This may sound crazy, but the meatloaf at The Hudson is better than any homemade I've ever had! Also, if you enjoy jazz, don't miss Birdland, 315 W. 44th St.

I love NY, but bring your big pocketbook. Not a cheap city to visit even doing the minimum. HAVE A GREAT TIME and don't leave your comfy shoes at home!

As a perpetual tourist (I live here), here's my take:

1) STATUE OF LIBERTY.
This is an all day trip. Go early. Book your tickets ahead of time on the Internet.

Pack a lunch. The kind of food they sell on the island is the kind that gets you sick on the ferry going back.

You can go to the highest point, the crown, if you go on the first boat of the day. But it's not worth it (tiny little room, tiny windows, crappy view, horrific climb up corkscrew stairs to get there).

The rest of the day, you'll go to the base, which has a great view. There is also a fantastic museum IN the Statue.

You can buy combo tickets for the Statue and Ellis Island, but even if you whiz through the Statue, you will end up with about an hour to spend on Ellis Island--if you are really interested in Ellis Island, think about making it a separate trip.

2) I third the STATEN ISLAND FERRY.
Here's what I usually do with my guests.

Find out when sunset is (check the paper's weather page or the Internet).

Make sure that you are in the waiting room for the Staten Island Ferry 15 minutes before that time.

Get on the ferry. Watch the sunset of the Statue of Liberty.

When you get to Staten Island, get off the ferry and get on the next one going to Manhattan. If you are in the front of the boat, facing Manhattan, you will get a postcard view of downtown Manhattan all lit up.

Did I mention that this trip is FREE???

As I think of more, I'll post more.

Caroline, the book is called "IDEO Eyes Open: NY" by Fred Dust. Here's a link to the podcast of that segment of the show: brian lehrer show, which you can listen to while you're on the internet doing something else. Here's a description of the book: about the IDEO book

Fred Dust mentioned their website, where people can contribute their own ideas -- it looks interesting: IDEO website

You might want to check into these before buying the book, to see if it's up your alley. I have a feeling this is the kind of stuff that seems really great to some people and really boring to others!

BTW, you have to go to the flower district very early in the morning.

Debbie

Mitch my brother shops there after he goes to Green Market. Thanks !
Labmomma: nephew is sending his to me. I had looked up the Hudson and the cafeteria sounds very good and has a great rating. Yes DH said go to Birdland too ! I am going to print lots of money :)

Jane thanks for the tips !! Sunset sounds perfect. And had already planned to skip going inside Statue. No big crowds for me.

Debbie that is so funny, I went to the bookstore to just see what was available and I saw that book !! I love the pictures. I saw it on Amazon and plan to get it. Very nice, thank you. c

Take me with you!!!!!

You can get a ticket from N.O...me and my bro were raised there so you are like family...meet me in NYC...we can party like N.O. c

Well, I can report on NYC since we were just there last weekend. We saw a show called "Jump!" at Union Square Theater that was so fun! A little audience participation along with martial arts, gymnastics, and comedy. Very funny. Alice's Tea Cup (3 locations in NY) is a really cute place to get breakfast or lunch (we had both, over the course of our weekend). I don't think anyone else has mentioned Little Italy, but we had lunch there one day, at a table on the sidewalk, and it was wonderful. We went to a small flea market around 6th Ave and 26th St (approx) which was kind of neat -- lots of Asian stuff, some vintage jewelry, etc. According to the NY tourist book I had, there was supposed to be a larger mkt. around there but it seems to be gone now. There was also a larger flea mkt. on Columbus, I think, around 78th St., that was much larger but we noticed it while we were rushing elsewhere, so we didn't go in.

Oh Caroline,

You better not ask me twice or you will wonder who that stranger is tagging along with you on all of your outings!!! Though I do feel like family!!

Shannon