Our Vacation to NYC (from April 30th - May 4th), a journal!

Hi everyone!

We visited NYC from April 30th - May 4th and I kept a journal each day while we were there. I%26#39;ve started to post the journal on my travel blog and it would be awesome if you wanted to read about our trip! There are lots of photos as well that I took along our journey :)

We drove down to NYC from Ontario, Canada - day 1 of our trip is all about the road trip, with a stop in Scranton, PA along the way - we%26#39;re both huge fans of the show, The Office, and wanted to visit it%26#39;s ';home';!

On our trip in NYC, we visited the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens for the Cherry Blossom Festival, American Museum of Natural History, American Folk Art Museum, Central Park, and tons of restaurants (mostly vegetarian ones!), many shops and areas of NYC, plus more!

Here is the blog address:

http://poolieandloolie.blogspot.com

If it makes it easier for people, I can post the written parts of the blog on here for you to read - I don%26#39;t mind doing that! I just like how on the blog, I%26#39;ve matched the text up with photos from the trip, too :)

I%26#39;ve also posted all of my trip photos here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/laurenbeth

I%26#39;d love to hear your comments - feel free to comment on the blog or on the Picasa web album, as I don%26#39;t tend to check this forum quite as frequently.

BTW - we had a FANTASTIC time in NYC! :)

Our Vacation to NYC (from April 30th - May 4th), a journal!

Also - I%26#39;ve only posted the first day from the journal so far on the blog, with more to come very shortly - it takes a while to type up everything :)

The photos are all there on the Picasa though! :)

Our Vacation to NYC (from April 30th - May 4th), a journal!

Can%26#39;t wait to read the rest about your trip. The Cherry Blossoms looks gorgeous!

Thanks for sharing. Really enjoyed the layout of your Trip Report! At first I couldn%26#39;t understand how the entries went from Bergen to a cruise ship! Yeah, a bit slow. The ship looks great. So many pools! Never been on a cruise yet so found those entries fascinating. Looking forward to the rest of the NYdays.

Oh dear. It seems to end on a cliffhanger - you%26#39;re stranded in North Bergen, NJ! I hope you made it to NYC eventually.

haha...a bit of a cliffhanger, yes :) I have four more days of things to post! It is just a matter of finding the time to post it...as you can see, we got back on the 4th, and I just started posting about it now :) I hope to post the next journal entry sometime this afternoon or this evening!

Captain%26#39;s Blog Stardate 1313.5 .... the Enterpirse has left the Achilles Gallaxy and is now proceeding at warp drive to the Dunder Mifflin constellation in the binary star system of Scraton. Starfleet has ordered the Enterprise to investigate the peculiar behavior of the power-hungry sycophant Dwight Schrute who is attempting a mutinous rebellion (with the help of his female consort Angela) to overthrow the current maniacal leader Michael Scott. I have ordered a landing party to beam down and conduct field investigation to confirm the suspicion that the rebelion is being sponsored by Klingon saboteurs.

Captain%26#39;s Blog Supplemental ..... Spock has just informed me that his mother will be arriving from the planet Vulcan this weekend and plans to stay with us while Doctor McCoy removes a bunion from her big toe.

';Oh no ..... not your mother!!!';

';Now Jim, don%26#39;t do this. You know my mom is always welcome to stay with us.';

I have checked the Starship manual and it appears that Spock is within his rights but I have also sent an envoy to Starfleet command protesting the appearance of the %26#39;nagging hypercritical nit picker%26#39; Spock calls mom. I now suspect a mutiny and have put the entire vessel on %26#39;high alert%26#39; till the %26#39;intruder%26#39; returns to her home planet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjcHsnbZQ7A

I would think NYC would be a disappointment after seeing Scranton and Wilkes Barre!!

Captain’s Blog Stardate 1346.8 ..... unable to locate the Scranton system on our Starfleet’s ‘AAA Galactic Guide to the Galaxy’, the Starship Enterprise was forced to pull over at a rest stop on I 95 to ask for directions in a fill up station and to use the rest room facilities. Apparently we missed an exit ramp near the Adromeda solar system and were subsequently forced to abort the entire mission. I have sent an urgent request to Starfleet to install a GPS system in the Starship Enterprise at the next retooling station.

Captain’s Blog Supplemental ..... Lieutenant Spock has just blatantly ignored one of my standing orders and has now been confined to his quarters in anticipation on Starfleet disciplinary action. A disagreement arose over ship personnel that escalated into a possible conflict of galatic dimensions.

“Jim ..... who’s Gary?”

“Gary is just some guy I used to know from the Starfleet Academy.”

“Ah ..... then why is Gary’s number on your private tri-corder Captain?”

“Well I had to call him last week .... ah ..... to discuss ..... ah ..... recent developments in Klingon military tactics.”

“Oh yeah ..... then tell me Jim. How come I also just found Gary’s phaser stashed behind the molecular transporter ‘thingy’ ..... and it was still set to ‘stun’?”

“Okay .... so I’m busted. Me and Commander Gary met last week to discuss military tactics .... and then one thing lead to another and we had a couple of beers ..... but that’s it. I swear!”

“Just some guy huh ..... Klingon military tactics right ..... well I don’t know WHAT to believe anymore Jim”

“But Spock he’s just some guy.”

“Jim you monster ..... I hate you ..... I hate you ..... I hate you!!!!”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyhhFzE5O5U

I now suspect a possible mutinous uprising in the making on the USS Enterprise and have relieved Spock of his duties. I have also placed ‘Sulu’ as %26#39;Second in Command%26#39; until Spock comes back to his senses and apologizes.

If you wanted to visit %26#39;The Office%26#39; home, then you would need to go to Slough Uk ;-)

I would advise you NEVER do that.

Okay, Day 2 is now posted with pics! :) No more worries about being stranded in Scranton or New Jersey... we%26#39;re actually in NYC now :D Our ';Day 2'; of the trip involved lots of shopping %26amp; visiting Soho/Greenwich.

Hope you enjoy reading it! I%26#39;ll be posting the rest of the days shortly!

http://poolieandloolie.blogspot.com

clear up black spot

Steakhouse for Anniversary dinner?

I%26#39;ve posted asking for restaurant suggestions for our anniversary dinner in the past, but after looking at menus, the wife is a little too fussy for a ';fancy'; meal ;)

She would like a nice steak dinner, I%26#39;ve looked up some past posts but would like current suggestions.

We are going to Avenue Q at 2pm on June 28th and would like to do dinner some time after that. What is a decent spot where we won%26#39;t be rushed out? I am looking towards Wolfgang%26#39;s or Del Frisco%26#39;s - one that would be better than the other or somewhere else completely, keeping it mind it is an anniversary dinner?

Also, do either take reservations?

Thanks for your help again! This should be the last dinner question ;)

Steakhouse for Anniversary dinner?

Yikes, my first post was oddly spaced, hard to read, so let me try it again.

I no longer eat beef, but Delmonico%26#39;s was my favorite for a special occasion steak house. Historic building, classic ';old time'; NYC atmosphere, very comfortable seating, tables spaced more widely apart than in most NYC restaurants so you%26#39;re not unwittingly eavesdropping on your neighbors%26#39; conversation, attentive service without being intrusive or fawning. Judging from the recent reviews on, e.g., it%26#39;s still well regarded and perhaps about to be even more so: Rick Laakkonen -- former chef at, e.g., the River Cafe -- was just recently hired.

mybestnewyorkny.com/Delmonicos_Restaurant_Re鈥?/a>

http://www.delmonicosny.com

www.zagat.com/Verticals/PropertyDetails.aspx鈥?/a>

Steakhouse for Anniversary dinner?

I%26#39;ll take a look at them as well, Thanks!

Also looked at Luger%26#39;s however, it doesn%26#39;t look like a date night type of steakhouse, although the reviews are spectacular.

Looking at Delmonico%26#39;s menu - and I noticed it on a few other NYC Steakhouse menu%26#39;s - Double Porterhouse and Double Rib Chop.... does that imply for two? Some other spell it out as Steak for Two, I don%26#39;t want to assume!

Delmonico%26#39;s is only open Mon-Fri - so that is no good, looked great too!

Other suggestions?

Have you considered Strip House?

http://www.striphouse.com

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k1811773鈥?/a>

www.zagat.com/Verticals/PropertyDetails.aspx鈥?/a>

Bump up!

Do you realize you%26#39;ll get out of the matinee around 4:15? I don%26#39;t think you want to have dinner at that hour. I think you either need to plan on going some place for a drink or maybe do something fun like a cruise.

As for a restaurant, steakhouses in NYC are the least romantic places I can think of. Strip House is one of the less testosterone fueled options but the decor is early bordello. Kitsch but not particularly cozy imo. When you say your wife is too fussy for a fancy meal, what do you mean?

I%26#39;d head to the lobby lounge of the Mandarin Oriental for a drink (or some other nice drink place) and then I%26#39;d go to Cafe des Artistes where she can get steak or most other things. It%26#39;s historic, it%26#39;s romantic, it%26#39;s pretty and you can book it on opentable

opentable.com/rest_profile.aspx鈥?/a>

Do you realize you%26#39;ll get out of the matinee around 4:15? I don%26#39;t think you want to have dinner at that hour. I think you either need to plan on going some place for a drink or maybe do something fun like a cruise.

As for a restaurant, steakhouses in NYC are the least romantic places I can think of. Strip House is one of the less testosterone fueled options but the decor is early bordello. Kitsch but not particularly cozy imo. When you say your wife is too fussy for a fancy meal, what do you mean?

I%26#39;d head to the lobby lounge of the Mandarin Oriental for a drink (or some other nice drink place) and then I%26#39;d go to Cafe des Artistes where she can get steak or most other things. It%26#39;s historic, it%26#39;s romantic, it%26#39;s pretty and you can book it on opentable

opentable.com/rest_profile.aspx鈥?/a>

Thanks for the reply nywhiz - Cafe des Artistes was my original choice but thought it wouldn%26#39;t do - I just booked it.

What is the in place at the Mandarin Oriental to have a few drinks? MObar?

No, the lobby lounge has a lovely view and on a Sunday at 4:30 or so shouldn%26#39;t be too crowded. There%26#39;s also the View at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square near the theater or the bar at the Renaissance hotel I think is also open now and has a view.

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g60763-c67171/New-Yor鈥?/a>

A pleasant walk? Or just take a taxi?

We%26#39;ll be going from our hotel in the Times Square area to the NY Waterways pier at 38th street for a 3:00 pm cruise. The distance is manageable, but wondering if it%26#39;s a nice enough walk? Any suggested routes? Just take a taxi?

A pleasant walk? Or just take a taxi?

I would not describe that walk as pleasant, but that%26#39;s not to say you shouldn%26#39;t do it. You might find it interesting.

You might trying walking down 42nd and making a left just before you get wet.

A pleasant walk? Or just take a taxi?

I%26#39;d take the bus, either the M42 or the M34. Nice street view, cheap, but it%26#39;s very slow.

I think that%26#39;s easily walkable. But take a cab if it rains. As far as route, it%26#39;s all about the same. So, I don%26#39;t have any suggestions.

I%26#39;m pretty sure that NY Waterways has a free bus service to the pier. Check out their website.

Desperate housewives shopping in SOHO

What street or areas in Soho can you recommend for

shopping? We like Cold Creek and Jones of New York style lines. But are open to new lines of clothing.

Desperate housewives shopping in SOHO

At the bottom of this page are links to shopping maps, including Soho:

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g60763-s405/New-York-鈥?/a>

There%26#39;s also http://artseensoho.com/map.html.

Soho and Nolita shopping is a bit ';younger'; and more urban than Coldwater Creek and Jones of New York. (Sorry to say, but we have a legal limit on pastels in NYC, and I believe there%26#39;s only 1 Coldwater Creek in Manhattan, 1 in Staten Island and 1 in Queens...)

You might like the Soho branch of Bloomingdale%26#39;s and Vera Wang.

Otherwise, I%26#39;d steer you toward Loehmann%26#39;s, Macy%26#39;s, Barney%26#39;s, Bloomingdale%26#39;s, Brooks Brothers, Lord and Taylor, Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor%26#39;s LOFT, and maybe Talbot%26#39;s.

Desperate housewives shopping in SOHO

Macy%26#39;s has a lot of Jones... Its what I buy for business travel because it never wrinkles...even if some man puts his briefcase on top of the jacket in the overhead bin. (The black suits QB - pastels dont touch this body!)

I had no clue we have a Cold Creek here....

You cant imagine the shopping we have here! Certainly look in Soho - there is a weird mix of designer and American Eagle type stuff now.... But, check the discounters like Loehmann%26#39;s, Filenes, Century 21 (if you have patience - I tend to look only at the new racks of brands - not the jumbled end of season stuff they shove together on racks by sizes). Loehmanns and Filenes normally have a lot of Jones NY and Jones Sport. And, if you have time for Woodbury Commons (outlet center, but it takes a whole day) there are several Jones stores there.

French Connection, Club Monaco and Anthropolgie have stores in Soho (but also in other locations in Manhattan) and might have some things you%26#39;d like. Look at their websites. I think you may do better in some of the dept. stores (like Lord %26amp; Taylor) in midtown but Soho is fun for looking for accessories and the odd top etc.

Help with a quick/cheap place to eat near YMCA W63rd St.

We are traveling to NYC June 25th with our Girl Scout Troop (10 girls 16 years old) and will be staying at the West SIde Y. By the time we get there it will be lunch time. I am looking for a place close by to grab a quick bit to eat. We will have been awake since 5:00am (coming from Raleigh, NC) so food will be important before we begin our exploration. Any help would be great as far as sights/restaurants/tours, etc. We have tickets to see Billy Elliot on Friday night! I am so excited...

Thanks

Help with a quick/cheap place to eat near YMCA W63rd St.

Le Pain Quotidien, perhaps:

menupages.com/restaurants/鈥?/a>

Help with a quick/cheap place to eat near YMCA W63rd St.

Thanks that looks like a great place, and close too!

If the weather is nice and you want to splurge, buy some pastries at Bouchon Bakery or the Whole Foods at the Time Warner Center (a high-end shopping mall and office) at Columbus Circle.

http://www.shopsatcolumbuscircle.com/

Oops, didn%26#39;t finish my thought...

...and you can enjoy your pastries outside in Central Park.

That sounds yummy too! Maybe one day there as well! Thanks so much I really do appreciate the advise.... 10 - 16 year olds - what was I thinking!

cheap accommodation for a mother and daugher

Hi all

Here comes trip number 3 to NYC and it looks like being in late August 09. Would like to know if the weather is prohibitive heat wise at this time of the year? Also this timne will have my 11 year old daughter and looking toi find accommodationa t around $120 per night? any suggestions?

Many thanks vanoist

cheap accommodation for a mother and daugher

Hi

Not knowing your exact dates i did a quick look on quickbook and they have a special close to your range at The Time hotel. If you stay 2 nights or more it%26#39;s 15% off

http://www.thetimeny.com/

http://www.quikbook.com/

You should book something that you can cancel some place just as this and then you can always see what new specials come up on travel zoo.

http://www.travelzoo.com/

Other New york city reasonable places to look is and maybe a few bucks more.

Radio city apts

The pod

best western seaport inn

Here is info about weather

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g60763-s208/New-York-鈥?/a>

cheap accommodation for a mother and daugher

If you really want to stay within or near your budget, you could consider some of the hotels in Long Island City or the part of Queens that isn%26#39;t far from Manhattan. They are usually near the subway or bus routes that will get you into the middle of Manhattan in around 20 minutes. Okay looking hotels are Howard Johnson Express Queens, Days Inn Long Island City and the Pan American Hotel.

We just got $139 a night on hotwire for Manhattan Crowne Plaza in Times Square. Not my favorite location-wise to stay, but this is a last minute trip and it looks fine. I%26#39;d book something cancellable and then look at last minute deals later

Thank you all for the replies, I%26#39;ll check out the leads!

Hi!

I bid on a room through Priceline and got the Grand Hyatt (next to Grand Central Station) for $115 for 6 nights in June. Maybe that麓s something you麓d want to check out.

zits

dog hair

Breakfast suggestions?

Hi

Could you please suggest a decent, cheap breakfast within a 5-10 minute walk of Crowne Plaza Times Square (Broadway %26amp; 49th).

Thanks

Breakfast suggestions?

Edison Cafe, Cranberry Deli.