Growing shrubs in a pot can be challenging! While those are handsome pots, I can see several problems you will have. The narrow base will make them more prone to tipping over when there is wind with the arborvitae on top. You have a quite restricted amount of room for roots, width-wise, and since the bottom part of the pot is filled with rocks and styrofoam, there isn't much root depth. The less soil and the narrow pot means that temperature and moisture will fluctuate more than with a bigger pot. If I were you, I might try getting a wider (& as deep as possible) pot and filling it with potting soil, not garden soil, and replant your surviving arborvitaes. Garden soil tends to be more dense than potting soil, and without enough air spaces, the plants' roots don't get enough air. (In the garden, soil gets aerated by worms, moles, etc as well as having organic matter constantly added from on top naturally.) Also, potting soil is lighter in weight than garden soil if your situation has weight limits. Water deeply when the soil feels dry when you stick in your finger to the first knuckle. Since some of your plants get more sun than others, you will have to check each plant separately. Too much water for your shady plants may be what killed them. Also, in general, arborvitae are sun plants, so will want at least 6 hours of sun to grow really well and full, though they will grow with less, just not as densely. They won't be happy in full or almost full shade. I am assuming that you are planting to block the view beyond your railing or to give some privacy. If you decide your conditions aren't good for arborvitae, some other plants that are tall enough and full enough to help give you a green wall and are tolerant of living in pots include ornamental grasses (there are some quite full, tall grasses, though they will need sun), bamboo, and vines on an obelisk or trellis (some clematis will tolerate part shade, and there are many annual vines, though most of those like sun.) I've also heard of folks fastening bamboo screening to a fence, which lets in some air, but provides some privacy, and then planting in front of it. Since the plants don't need to be quite as dense to ensure privacy, you will have more choices. There are container and balcony garden forums here on Garden Web where you may get more info. Read their FAQ's (if they have a set) and search for arborvitae and evergreen. See what info you can get just from reading a bunch of posts, and then ask for information that you still need. You can also find books and magazines in your local bookstore or library that will have photos to inspire you with a variety of choices. Researching roof gardens will probably help give you ideas as well. Just remember that whatever you plant should be about 2 zones hardier than where you actually are if you want them to survive the winter in pots. Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.

Sounds like a great trip - we are likely do the same trip this year. My concern is keeping DH entertained. Two of our boys live there. DS3 has lived on Mulberry St going on 1.5 yrs - it is a wonderful neighborhood no matter what time of year. He was on 58th for 2 yrs, next door to One Columbus and a block down from the Hudson (fun to look at, have a drink, not my taste to stay there). DS1 moved there 1.5 yrs ago - first year .3 mi east from brother on 58th (midtown and near shopping) and now in Hells Kitchen (Lots and lots of restaurants). That is the west of the Times Sq area. I encourage you to find maps on line or Barnes and Noble and look at the neighborhoods. It might influence where you stay. I sometimes stay with the boys, sometimes in hotels very near where they live. (found on line) I would also plan some alternative activities....the weather may impact what you do. Also google places and print them out - it will help you get organized and recognize it. An fyi - Top of the Rock and Empire St Bldg viewing areas are COLD and windy, no matter what time of year, I did Empire in Feb, ....we were almost the only ones there and could only be in the outdoors for a minute or two without warming up inside. Worth doing, but do dress for it. Top of the Rock was freezing in August. Street food is fun in midtown around Rock Ctr - DS1 works in 50 Rock and knows which are the best carts, I can never remember but skip the ones that don't have a big line. Funny though, DS3 won't touch street food....his loss. A few things that haven't been brought up: The Campbell Apt in Grand Central Station. Go for a drink...look it up on line - very historic, most tourists would not find it. Grand Central Station is interesting even if you don�t find the Apt. Eataly on 5th, amazingly fun - google it. La Crepe at 51 Spring in Nolita (DS3 in between Prince and Spring on Mulberry) - OMG good. Last summer I happened upon NY Cake at 56 w 22nd, the most amazing store for baking supplies - it is overwhelming....very fun store. And it was chance I found it, I was trying to get to Home Depot that is a block up, Yes there is a HD in Manhattan ... they just dont cut wood - they cant handle the dust). Go through the Time Warner Center shopping and check out the huge Whole Foods downstairs, fun for lunch just for the experience. (Columbus Circle - 59th st) From there walk up to Lincoln Center - host to so many events - including Fashion Week shows. There is a cute place called Rice to Riches down in the Mulberry - Nolita area - a block from La Crepe that is only Rice Pudding....about 20 flavors, all delicious, fun containers....I was in there once and had just ordered when a tour guide actually brought a huge group in there to see it. In Flatiron, try L.A. Burdick, the most amazing Hot Chocolate ever.. you could hit art galleries in Chelsea then have dessert.it is at 5 E 20th. Great on a cold day. Fun store for house wares: Gracious Home up in the Lincoln Center area. Also not to be missed: ABC Carpet and Home at 888 and 881 Broadway at E 19th - a wonderful old building and 10 floors of wonderful / interesting things to look at....it has been in business since 1897. I have seen it mentioned on this site from time to time. The Apple store on 5th (near the opposite side of the park - maybe 60th and 5th) might be hit with your kids - it is a big clear cube and you go down to shop. Thinking of engineering and architecture, one interesting thing about NYC is that it is so old and yet they adapt through the times and generations - stores that have small store fronts easily has three huge floors all underground. I live in SoCal and don't go anywhere with my car here....in NYC I ONLY take cabs....if I am with the DSs I will do the trains but give me a cab anytime. DS3 is a cab taker too..faster, easier, you see the lay of the land. I can and do the subway to get anywhere (except going to /from the airport) in London but I find the NY subways dark with not great signage and harder to figure out. I also walk and walk and walk and walk. Keep your eyes open when you are there, you never know who you will see! Yellow cabs are a good thing, pass on the Black Cars - not subject to the same regulations. Just get out there and wave one down - the lights on the top of the cab will indicate if they are on duty (or not). You will feel like a native! Sorry to be so wordy, and easily with nothing you are interested in ..... seems I am in a NY state of mind.......

The only unusual thing about our nearest bookshop is that it is for sale. A wonderful opportunity for someone with the readies, I think ã150,000 for shop and living accommodation above. If only I was about 50 years younger with no other ties I would snap it up. The trouble is, if I were to run it I probably wouldn't actually allow any of the customers to buy the books. Here is a link that might be useful: The Forest Bookshop Could Be Yours. This post was edited by veer on Sun, Oct 26, 14 at 6:20

Chisue, my previous library was part of a large county-wide system where we could request books from any branch and have them delivered to the branch most convenient for us. That service was free. Interlibrary Loan, on the other hand, was a fee based service, since it can be expensive for the library itself. I never used that. There are only three branches in my current library. I live within walking distance of the largest one, so I have not investigated the possibilities here. I'm not actually complaining about my new library or if so, only a very little. Mostly I am just surprised. In the past I have always been able to find books I wanted to read even in much smaller libraries than this. I'm beginning to think that the issue is with me, not with the library itself. It is possible that I already have most of what I want on my bookshelves here at home, at least, as far as nonfiction goes; and that I am finding most of the new fiction I want to read in book stores. The library ultimately benefits from this. I keep any books I enjoy enough to want to read again (I am a lifelong re-reader). The others I donate to Friends of the Library used book sales, which are fundraisers for libraries.