New york - new york!
NEW YORK _ NEW YORK! My wife and I are planning our first trip to New York (April 16 - 27, 2018) and we wanted to make the most of it.
I had recently read "New York", a 862-page historical fiction by Edward Rutherfurd, which is similar in style to that of my favorite author, James Michener. I love to read and I was not disappointed with Rutherfud's novel. In 862 pages he made the 350-year history of New York City come alive for me as I felt it grow from an Indian village to the world's greatest multicultural city. By the time I finished I was planning a trip.
Rutherfurd, like Michener, does meticulous research and one feels like they are "killing two birds with one stone". I am a student of history and after reading "New York", I feel an emotional attraction for the city and will the trip will be similar to a homecoming.
Second to history, I loved my geography courses and for $50 Canadian I bought a 900+ piece New York 4D Cityscape Time Puzzle from Amazon. It took 10 days and 25 delightful hours to complete. Once again I "killed two birds with one stone" and finished with the feeling that I knew Manhattan as it grew from a sparsely populated island into the "Big Apple". I may be a farm boy from a homestead on the wide Canadian Prairies who always thought of New York as the Centre of the World. It would be a thriving, multicultural city of skyscrapers and bright lights, but we now knew the streets and buildings, and would not get lost.
Thanks to the 4D Cityscape New York Puzzle I now know what will be on my Christmas lists for grandchildren and myself. Roger Humbke in Edmonton, Alberta
Please feel free to comment with regard to 'not-to-missed sites' and 'memorable dinning" while visiting New York!.
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"DrTad" hit a lot of the highlights. The statue of Liberty, Times Square and a show should also be on your list. Having said all this, too bad you aren't going to see the biggest part of NY and that is what we call upstate. It's simply beautiful.
I grew up in NY and while it's nice to visit the city for a day, you couldn't pay me enough to live in NYC. When we tell people where we're from, we always distinguish that we are from UPSTATE NY NOT to be confused with NYC which a such a tiny part of the state.
You will have a great time though. There is much to see and do. ENJOY!
~Debbi
Thanks for the suggestions. Any recommendations for a show? Will have to visit Upstate NY on a future trip.
Regards,
Roger
Roger, I would like someday for you to experience the fireworks in Manhattan on Independence day. It's so spectacular!!! There are so many things you can do while in NYC, see Metropolitan Museum of Art, Metropolitan Opera, NY Philharmonic, Guggenheim museum, United Nations, Rockefeller Center, etc. Book tickets early. It's a City that Never Sleeps.
I've lived in this city for most of my life. From what I understand it's not like any other city on earth.
For many years, it was grungy and not terribly safe, but all of that has changed over the last 20 years or so. Whole sections have been revamped and revitalized, including Times Square and South Street Seaport - you should see both.
If you are staying on the West Side - then you would enjoy The HIghline. It's a very long, skinny park that runs about a mile from 14th Street to 34th Street. It's free and has great views.
Try to see the 9/11 memorial it's a very important part of this city's history and from there you can gaze at the new Freedom Tower which is breathtaking in size and scope.
Many restaurants below 14th Street are still pretty reasonable. Especially the East Village. There are amazing, inexpensive authentic Indian restaurants along First and Second Avenues below 5th Street. If you go a little further south past Houston Street then you will hit Chinatown where the dining is very reasonable.
I have a favorite Turkish restaurant called Sahara on East 23rd Street and Second Avenue. Great food and atmosphere and very reasonable.
Restaurants are required by NYC law to post their inspection ratings in their front windows. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT eat anywhere that does not have at least an A rating displayed where everyone can see it. If their rating is not displayed at all - don't go in.
Violent crime has dropped, a lot, but be cautious. Do your best to look like you know what you're doing. Do not wander around deserted areas at night. Keep your money and ID on your person in a front pocket, sock, whatever, not in a purse or bag. We do have a lot of pickpockets from all over the world - who keep an eye out for unsuspecting tourists.
Subways are busy round the clock and pretty safe, however if you find yourself in a deserted subway car, get off at the next stop and get into a more crowded car.
Enjoy your trip. And remember millions of people live here. So if you decide to gaze at a landmark - step out of the path of pedestrian traffic. Do not just stand in the middle of busy sidewalks - or you will get bounced around and cursed at. New Yorkers have no problem pushing pesky tourists out of the way. We are friendly, but very busy people with places to go LOL.
Thanks so much Wendy for all the information, especially about eating places. Will definitely take in the Turkish, Indian and Chinese restaurants. What is known a New York meal or is there such a thing?
We are staying at an AirB&B at 92 Grove Street, which is close to the restaurants you mentioned.
Will visit 9-11 Memorial, Natural Museum and the other sites you suggest. Thanks again!
Roger & Fanny
Another excellent art Museum is the Whitney, and it's right on the west side on 14th Street. You will not have time to see everything in the Museum of Natural History - but do see a show at the new Rose Planetarium - they are breathtaking.
I cannot recommend a New York meal because there really isn't such a thing anymore. A lot of famous places, including delis have closed, and what's replaced them are over priced tourist traps.
Since this city is such a vast melting pot - our favorite restaurants are Indian, Italian, Chinese, Turkish, Ethiopian, etc. Everyone has their favorite neighborhood eating spot, and then favorites when they wander into Manhattan.
Sounds like it will be a real adventure and I am looking forward to a great couple of weeks.
I have been to many cities around the world,but New York holds as a special place in my heart ❤️. I think the New Yorkers are feisty no nonsense type of people and they have a terrific sense of humour
Friends have told me that you have to go there to get that special feeling of being in the center of the world. Looking forward to it.
I've lived in the suburbs of NYC for most of my life. Spent lots and lots of time in the city over the years. I have no doubt you'll have a great time. Just don't forget to bring as much $$$$$ as you can. Not saying it's impossible to have a good time in NYC without $$$$$. But.......well, let's just say good times come easier to those with the $$$$$. Have fun!
Plan to take in a Toronto - Yankees game on Sunday, and hockey if they are in the play-offs.
It was really relaxing and a nice break from the computer. Will be doing it every time I visit a city that has a 4D puzzle made of it.
Check out Katz's Deli in Lower Manhattan. It's the one featured in "When Harry Met Sally". FYI, the sandwiches are huge! Leftovers guaranteed. We try to do that every time we're in New York, like every fall for the Affiliate Summit Conference.
We go to Katz's almost every time we are in NYC. And if you like Deli go by Zabar's on Broadway around 78 st I think.
Don't miss going up to the top of the Empire State Building a tourist musts along with, of course, Times Square preferably after mid-night. It's always hopping!
Times Square is indeed always crazy. Not my favorite place, but I do like the revolving restaurant at the Marriott Marquis Hotel. Pricey for sure, but we just went for dessert and paid the cover charge and it was great! Amazing view of the city!
It sounds like Katz's is the place to go and that there are a number of them. Will be sure to take them in.
I would imagine there are a number of rooftop restaurants in New York. What range do you mean by pricey?
For us to have dessert and a drink, with the cover charge, it was about $100 + tip. What makes this one special is that it is a revolving restaurant. You sit at your table and the world below moves around. Pretty fun!
Jeannine is right it's easy to drop $100 without even thinking in NYC. But there are a lot of great things to do that are free as well.
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I live in Ct not too far from NYC. I love New York City. I like cities in general, but especially NYC. I have an 18 year old neice and she and I go once a year. If I ever win big in lotto or earn millions at WA(lol), the first think I would do is buy a pent house there. I don't want to live there but I want to be able to go there whenever I want to. The book also sounds good. I will have to look it up. Reading your blog makes me want to hop on the train and go there right now. Oh well not today.
Appreciate your reply and it encouraged me to do some more research on possibility of Yankees and Rangers games during the time I am there.
It seems that so many unique organizations and events take place in the city, and my research keeps expanding.