Dear Kooth-ga,
Well, this has certainly been a challenge! I’ve lived in New York for
10 years now, and I know it quite well, but trying to create a
“best-of” for my city has been tough simply because there are so many
choices!
I’ve tried to fit in all of what you’ve asked for, though I’m going to
warn you that it is simply impossible to see all that New York has to
offer in such a short time. Because you want to do so much, I’ve
filled each day to the brim with as much as I could. Feel free to
spend more time at one particular activity and skip some of the other
ones I’ve listed. Even though I’ve listed this as a day-by-day
itinerary, I’ve added enough that you could easily drop some without
worry.
If you need more alternatives than what I’ve listed, go to Museum Mile
on any day that’s not a Monday, and treat yourself to some museums. If
you still need more alternative ideas, feel free to ask as a
clarification request.
Wherever possible, I’ve tried to give suggestions of activities that
either I myself have done or that a friend has done. I’ll admit that I
have not eaten at many of the restaurants that I’ve listed for you,
simply because I’m not a tourist in my own city. My favorite places
tend to be little hole-in-the-wall cafes that I find as I walk down
the street.
Here are two hotels which are minutes away from Central Park and the
Broadway district:
Newton Hotel
2528 Broadway
(212) 678-6500
Quality Hotel on Broadway
215 W 94th Street
(212) 866-6400
My parents and my roommate’s parents have stayed at both of these
places and thought that they were perfectly adequate.
In regards to TV show tapings, the most popular shows require that
tickets be ordered months in advance. Please see this web site for
more information about availability:
http://www.nytix.com/Links/index.html
A few words about transportation. New York City has a wonderful public
transportation system called the subway. Use it as much as possible to
get around. Avoid taxis whenever possible because they’re frequently
slower than the subway trains, especially during peak times! Buses can
be convenient on some routes, but slower than taxis on others. About
$21.00 should get you a “Metrocard” good for one week for unlimited
subway and bus rides.
Given this, keep in mind that it takes time to get from point A to
point B in New York City. It’s an enormous city, and its scale may not
be evident to you until you experience it for yourself. Also count on
the fact that you’ll get lost or a train may be late. If you’ve made a
reservation, don’t cut the time too close, or you may have a useless
ticket in your hands.
While New Yorkers are a friendly bunch, and most will be more than
willing to help you, I’ll echo journalist-ga’s comments about jewelry.
The fact is, you’ll almost certainly look and sound like a tourist.
New York is a safe place, but like anywhere else, thieves look for
easy opportunity. Easy opportunity is frequently spelled
T-O-U-R-I-S-T. So, use an ankle belt for your money, use credit cards
instead of cash where possible, and try not to flash your jewelry.
And, if it sounds too good to be true, it’s a scam.
For some of the items on the itinerary I’ve created, you would be well
advised to make reservations as far in advance as possible.
Unfortunately, this has the side effect of locking yourself in to
parts of the itinerary and making it inflexible, but otherwise you’ll
never get tickets to shows like The Lion King. Decide whether you want
flexibility or not. Keep in mind that you’ll be in the city during
peak tourist season.
I’ve included full contact information for many of the places listed
(along with alternate shows and times) at the bottom of this essay. In
other cases, I’ve left the contact information inside the itinerary.
I hope this provides you with the information that you asked for. Feel
free to ask for clarification if needed. New York is a great city, and
I’m happy to have had the chance to show you some of the things I love
about my home.
Search Terms Used: Due to the nature of the question, the information
was compiled from my own knowledge of New York City. Individual web
sites were found through Google searches for key terms.
/ephraim
***Saturday, August 9th***
General Itinerary:
MORNING: Stand on line for Shakespeare in the Park
LUNCH: Bring picnic lunch to enjoy on line.
AFTERNOON: Take walk in Central Park. See Metropolitan Museum of Art.
DINNER: Tavern on the Green (advance reservations HIGHLY
recommended as far in advance as possible!!)
EVENING: Performance of Henry V.
Detailed Itinerary:
(OK, I'm starting this day with a long essay about Shakespeare In The
Park. If Shakespeare holds absolutely no interest for you, skip down
to where I describe the museums and Central Park and alternatives for
the day.)
You're in luck. Your first day in New York City is also the last day
that Shakespeare In The Park's Henry V will be playing for the summer
season. Starring in this production are Liev Schreiber, Bronson
Pinchot, and Nicole Leach.
The good news is that the show is free. It's played in The Delacorte,
a small wooden outdoor theater, surrounded by Central Park and with a
small pond and Belvedere Castle in the background. In previous years,
most of the sets have taken advantage of the fact that they're in the
middle of a huge outdoor park. In addition, the play usually starts
before sundown and ends after nightfall, so the atmosphere of the
setting changes as the sunlight dims.
I haven't actually seen this year's show yet, so I can't comment on
it. I'm probably going to try later this week.
Now that I've (hopefully) piqued your interest, I'm sure you're
wondering "How do I get tickets to a free show?" Depending on your
likes or dislikes, this will either make or break the show for you.
Tickets are distributed outside the theater starting at 1:00P on the
day of the show. There are a (variable) limited number of tickets
available each day, so you need to be on line early enough to beat
everybody else who may want a ticket. I would most certainly advise
getting on line by 9:00A, and since it's the last day of the show and
a Sunday, you may want to get on line even earlier than that. It's
your choice how early you want to wake up in the morning and get on
the line...the earlier you are, the greater your chance for obtaining
tickets. (Two years ago, you needed to get on line 24 hours early.
This was the exception rather than the rule. Last year, there were
days when you could get on line at 11:00A and still get a ticket.)
Note that there's no benefit to being the first person in line. Seat
locations are assigned almost randomly. If the line of people
stretches pretty far out, I'd advise asking people at the theater what
your chances are for getting a ticket that day.
Once you've got your ticket (shortly after 1:00P), you have about 6
hours until the performance to see the park and some nearby museums.
I'll give details further down.
You might be asking yourself why I'm suggesting standing on line for
an entire morning. Part of your question asked about soaking up New
York City culture and atmosphere. This is most definitely one way to
do it. Speaking as a New Yorker, the experience of waiting for and
attending Shakespeare In The Park is a highlight of my summer each
year. If it's a nice day, you get to spend the entire morning sitting
in the park, possibly enjoying a picnic breakfast & lunch, people
watching, and chatting with everybody else standing around you who may
be locals or may be tourists. Frequently, street performers show up
near the end of the wait, and they may entertain you with some music
or something else. Definitely bring a book and either a blanket or
light chair to sit on.
If you want to see the show, but standing on line in the park isn't
your cup of tea, ring the Public Theater and ask if there are any
seats available that night for the $100 "donation" they list on their
web site. Since this is technically a donation, I don't know if you'll
get a refund if the performance is cancelled due to rain.
If the weather forecast has a good possibility for rain in either the
morning or evening (or you just don't feel like waiting on line for
the show), seriously consider the alternative options that I'll give
below. The show may be cancelled if it rains that evening, and your
tickets will be completely useless and worthless.
After getting your tickets (or if you’ve followed my morning
alternative below, continue here), walk behind the Delacorte theater
(to the right after you get your tickets), and walk up the stairs into
the area known as Shakespeare’s Garden. This is a nice, peaceful place
where my friends and I love to have picnics. Directly above
Shakespeare’s Garden is Belvedere Castle, a small nature museum and
weather tower. From Belvedere Castle, you have a great view of the
Turtle Pond and the Great Lawn to the north.
(To the west of Shakespeare’s Garden is a Marionette Theater.
Unfortunately, it’s closed on Saturdays in the summer. Come back
Tuesday or Wednesday at 10:30A or 12:00P for a show.)
Walk south from Belvedere Castle through The Ramble and pass The Lake
on your right. Cross the Bow Bridge, and keeping The Lake on your
right, walk past Cherry Hill and round the corner of the lake so that
you’re walking north again. Around 72nd Street, you’ll pass through
Strawberry Field, named for John Lennon’s song of the same name (he
lived in the Dakota building across the street when he was killed).
Continuing north, you’ll pass Azalea Walk on your left. Continue north
on one of the pathways until you’re back at the Delacorte Theater. To
the side of the Delacorte is the Great Lawn, a huge open space in the
middle of the park. Keeping Turtle Pond to your right, walk east. A
monument to King Jagiello will be on your right, the Obelisk on your
left, and Greywacke Arch in front of you.
(A bit of advice about the park: it’s huge, and my description doesn’t
do it justice. I haven’t even listed 5% of what you can find inside.
I’ve listed a website below with detailed maps and descriptions. I
suggest you browse the site or get a good map before exploring inside.
Be spontaneous and wander off the course I’ve set for you!)
Past the arch is The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The entrance to The
Met is on 5th Avenue. The Met is the premiere museum of Art in the New
York area, and one of the largest collections in the world. You can
spend days exploring The Met, so plan your time inside accordingly.
Here are alternatives for the morning of a rainy day, if you just
don't feel like waiting on line for tickets, or if the line is too
long. Note that if the entire day is rainy, skip the walk in the park,
catch the M79 bus across to 5th Avenue, and spend more time at the
Metropolitan Museum of Art and one of the other museums located nearby
on Museum Mile.
MORNING: American Museum of Natural History + Hayden Planetarium
New York Historical Society
LUNCH: Picnic lunch to enjoy in Central Park’s “Shakespeare’s
Garden.”
In case of rain, chose a local café.
AFTERNOON: Take walk in Central Park. See Metropolitan Museum of Art.
DINNER: Tavern on the Green (advance reservations HIGHLY
recommended as far in advance as possible!!)
EVENING: Alternate performance. Consider the Mostly Mozart Orchestra
I’ve listed under Lincoln Center below. Also consider Chicago
City Limits.
Near the entrance to the park at 81st Street and the Delacorte Theater
are two museums worth checking out. One is the American Museum of
Natural History. It’s a science museum with a planetarium theater and
show that many find spectacular. In addition, on the weekend you’ll be
there, AMNH has a free Godiva chocolate tasting at 1:00P, if you’re a
chocoholic. AMNH’s web site describes the Hayden Planetarium as
follows:
“The new Hayden Planetarium is unlike any other such facility in the
world. In the top half of the Hayden Sphere, the most technologically
advanced Space Theater in existence will use advanced visual
technology (including a customized, one-of-a-kind Zeiss Star
Projector) to create shows of unparalleled sophistication, realism,
and excitement. With this high-definition system, the Hayden
Planetarium is the largest and most powerful virtual reality simulator
in the world.”
The other museum in the immediate neighborhood is the New York
Historical Society. This museum contains exhibits on New York history
and art.
From here, follow my instructions above about visiting Central Park
and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I’d recommend enjoying a picnic
lunch in Shakespeare’s Garden below Belvedere Castle. It’s a pleasant
spot that’s usually quiet and one of the favorite locations for my
friends and I can enjoy a picnic.
***Sunday, August 10th***
General Itinerary:
MORNING: Go to MOMA in Queens.
LUNCH: Go to Lower East Side. See below for ideas.
AFTERNOON: Walking tour of LES and a tour of the Lower East Side
Tenement Museum. Chinatown & Little Italy, if time permits.
DINNER: Second Avenue Deli
EVENING: The Strand Book Store, Blue Note, Blue Man Group,
or other in Greenwich Village
Detailed Itinerary:
Your original question stated that you really wanted to see the MOMA
(Museum of Modern Art). Due to renovations, the MOMA isn’t in
Manhattan any more. It’s currently located in Queens, and therefore
may be a little out of your way. I’ve included the contact information
and directions for the MOMA below. I haven’t personally been to their
new site in Queens, so I don’t know how long it takes to get there or
back. To maximize your time in the museum (and to make sure that
you’re on time for your afternoon tours), I’d recommend trying to get
to the MOMA for its 10:00A opening time.
Returning to Manhattan, take the 7 train to 5th Avenue and transfer to
a downtown F train to Delancey Street. You’re now on the Lower East
Side. While this neighborhood may not be known worldwide as a major
tourist destination, this is the neighborhood where Jews, Italians,
Chinese, and many others settled after getting off the boat at Ellis
Island. It may not be a physically attractive area, but the immigrant
history here runs thicker than just about anywhere else in the city.
My heart also lies firmly planted right here. I used to walk down the
streets of the Lower East Side with my grandfather and let him tell
stories about who and what used to be here.
The Lower East Side Tenement Museum offers walking tours of the
neighborhood (frequently run by local history graduate students).
According to their web site, the tours are offered at 1:00P and 2:30P
on Saturdays and Sundays only. In addition, the Tenement Museum’s main
feature is an old tenement (apartment building) which was closed for
60 years until researchers went in and explored it in the same way
that archeologists might examine the ruins of Rome. They offer guided
tours of this building where they’ve recreated the rooms in the styles
of the many immigrants who passed through it. If you want to get a
taste of how real people lived in old New York, this is the place to
do it. I’d recommend scheduling a tour of the building that starts
shortly after your walking tour finishes. Note that you CANNOT enter
the building unless you are on an official guided tour!
Given that you’re arriving in peak season and some of these tours are
for a maximum of 15 people, I’m quoting the following disclaimer from
their web site:
“Do I need reservations?
Public tours: No. However, public tours sell out quickly. You should
purchase advance tickets if you want to ensure space on a tour.”
Buy your tickets well in advance and save yourself the headache of
finding all the tours full when you arrive. Obviously, this also means
that you must leave plenty of time to get from the MOMA to the Lower
East Side, especially if you’d like to have lunch down there.
And what about lunch? Well, the LES has quite a few unique places. The
Lower East Side Tenement Museum has some good suggestions at
http://www.tenement.org/faq.html , but I’m going to highlight a few of
those here. Most of these are more snack than a full sit-down lunch,
but what’s wrong with snacking the afternoon away?
Kossar’s Bialys, 367 Grand Street (near Essex St.). What’s a Bialy?
It’s sort of a cross between a bagel and a roll. Kossar’s Bialys isn’t
a restaurant or a café, it’s an outlet bakery that supplies bialys to
places all over New York. Walk in and grab a bialy, hot and fresh from
the oven. If you really must have something with it, grab some cream
cheese from any corner store.
Kadouri & Sons, 51 Hester Street, off Essex. Lots of fruits, nuts, and
candies. If you ask nicely, the owner might let you have a free taste.
Guss’ Pickles, 87 Orchard Street. This place is an institution. They
sell more different varieties of pickles than you can imagine. The
pickled sweet red pepper is incredible. If you don’t mind trying
something that requires an acquired taste, ask if they have any
pickled watermelon available (they usually don’t, but it’s worth
asking).
Russ & Daughters, 179 East Houston Street. Lox, smoked fish, caviar,
herring, cheeses, and lots more. Look at
http://www.russanddaughters.com . If you’re looking for stuff to put
on that fresh bialy, this is the place to get it.
If you manage to catch the earlier walking tour at the LES Tenement
Museum, you should have some time to explore Little Italy and
Chinatown, mostly found to the west of the museum. Some of the folks
at the museum should be more than happy to point you in the right
direction.
You could try catching dinner at a place in Chinatown that catches
your eye, but otherwise consider the landmark Second Avenue Deli. One
way to get there is to catch the M14A from the corner of Grand and
Essex to 2nd Avenue and 14th Street, and then walk down to 10th
Street.
If you’d like to see a string of slightly bizarre shops and people,
walk from here to St. Marks Place (8th Street), a small street which
more often than not has some…unique…shopping. From St. Marks, you can
poke around Astor Place (and possibly get tickets for Blue Man Group
for their 8:00P show…theater is nearby at 434 Lafayette, phone number
for tickets is (212) 254-4370). Otherwise, continue walking south and
you’ll find yourself in the Greenwich Village area with lots of music
clubs around. I’ve given a listing below for Blue Note, which has two
shows tonight. If it’s not what you’re interested in, feel free to
wander around and pick something that suits your fancy.
Also, there’s a book store called “The Strand” at 828 12th Street at
Broadway, which is just a few minutes walk away from Astor Place. I
think this may be the bookstore you’re looking for. Its phone number
is (212) 473-1452.
***Monday, August 11th***
General Itinerary:
MORNING: Statue of Liberty, Guggenheim Museum
LUNCH: Plaza Hotel
AFTERNOON: 5th Avenue, Grand Central Terminal, Empire State
Building, Macy’s.
DINNER: Picnic in Bryant Park…bring your own.
EVENING: Romeo and Juliet (movie) in Bryant Park.
Detailed Itinerary:
Monday is a weird day in New York City. For some reason, most museums
and many exhibits are closed on Mondays. In addition, there’s less of
a selection of evening shows available. For those reasons, I’ve tried
putting together an itinerary for the day that takes you to places
which are usually open.
If you want to see the Statue of Liberty, but not Ellis Island, you’re
probably right: Helicopter is the way to do it. Since the Statue of
Liberty is all but closed to visitors, it isn’t worth taking a ferry
all the way to Liberty Island, if you aren’t also going to Ellis
Island.
All New York Tours offers a 5-7 minute helicopter flight over the
Statue of Liberty. It departs at 9:00A, 11:00A, 1:00P, and 3:00P
Monday – Friday. Obviously, I’m suggesting the 9:00A tour for this to
work with today’s itinerary. Flights depart from the Downtown
Manhattan Heliport, located at Pier 6 and the East River. I’m not sure
exactly where this is. My suggestion would be to take a subway train
to somewhere in SE Manhattan, and catch a taxi the rest of the way.
You can make a reservation via their web site at
http://www.allnewyorktours.com/Body.asp?Page=TourDetails&tour=NYC-H0002
or you can call them at one of these phone numbers: (888) 609 – 5665
or (702) 233-1627. After the tour, ask them the best way to get to the
Guggenheim Museum on 5th Avenue at 89th Street. I haven’t personally
ever used this company, and all I know about them is from their web
site.
The Guggenheim Museum is one of the few museums actually open on
Mondays. Therefore, it’s a good choice for the morning. If you finish
looking at the place with time to spare, wander around the
neighborhood a bit. This is one of the most expensive and exclusive
neighborhoods in New York City, especially as it borders Central Park.
Keep in mind, though, that even though you’ll be on “Museum Mile” for
the morning, most of the other museums will be closed.
Catch one of the downtown buses (probably M1, M2, M3, or M4) to the
corner of 59th Street and 5th Avenue. (You could also walk, if you
have time and you’re inclined to do so…it’s about 1.5 miles/3 km.)
You’ll see the FAO Schwarz store on the east side of the corner. I
hope you like toys, because this is one of the most amazing toy stores
in the world. Go in and feel like a kid again.
On the NW corner of 59th and 5th is Wolman Rink. It’s used for ice
skating in winter time, but I’ve heard rumors that there may be an
exhibit there in August. Check it out, if you wish. On the south side
of 59th Street is the famous palace of luxury known as the Plaza
Hotel. This is where the movie Home Alone was filmed. Walk inside and
take a peek. If you don’t mind the prices, try having lunch at one of
the restaurants inside. Pretend you’re a guest and walk up to the
concierge to ask for information about local shopping. (I’ve no idea
whether or not reservations are required for lunch inside.)
Exit the Plaza Hotel and continue walking south along 5th Avenue. If
you didn’t have a chance to sample Godiva chocolate at AMNH on Sunday,
there’s a Godiva store along this strip. 5th Avenue has some of the
most exclusive shopping in New York. Enjoy the window browsing.
Once you’re sick of all the stores (or spent all the money in your
wallet at the stores), walk or take a bus to 42nd Street and 5th
Avenue. Turn left, and walk towards the huge building known as Grand
Central Terminal. (If you look up as you’re walking around here,
you’ll see some truly enormous buildings. One of these is the Chrysler
Building, and the top of it has round sculptures which look like hub
caps on car tires.) GCT is the train station for commuter trains from
upstate New York and Connecticut. Look up in the main hall, and you’ll
see constellations above you. There’s something that’s not right about
them. Try to figure out what it is. 
Tours are available from GCT. Unfortunately, there’s no free tours on
Mondays. According to their web sites, you can pay for a private group
tour, if you book it far enough in advance. Use the contact
information at the bottom of this answer to see if you can book a
private tour for yourself. Pick up some food to go for dinner on the
lower concourse of Grand Central, and walk west along 42nd Street. At
5th Avenue, you’ll see the New York Public Library. All you’ll see of
its architecture today is the outside, because it’s closed on Mondays.
As you walk west past the library, you’ll see Bryant Park. Pay close
attention to whether anybody is already putting out blankets and/or
chairs for tonight’s show. The web site for Bryant Park says that
people can begin to stake out a spot starting at 5:00P. Plan the rest
of your time accordingly.
If you do have time, walk/bus to 34th Street and Broadway (a.k.a.
Herald Square). The large store here on the corner is Macy’s, one of
the largest department stores in New York. Walking east out of Macy’s,
along 33rd Street, is a neighborhood known as Little Korea. This might
also be a good place to pick up dinner to go.
Be back at Bryant Park in time to stake out your place on the grass.
Make sure you’re comfortable. My recommended activity for the night is
watching a movie on the grass with a few thousand New Yorkers in the
audience around you. Bring a blanket if you can. Try making friends
with the locals. The movie is scheduled to start around sunset or
8:00P. The movie scheduled for tonight is Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968
version of Romeo and Juliet starring Leonard Whiting and Olivia
Hussey. (No, I’m not trying to overwhelm you with Shakespeare. It just
so happens, that’s what’s playing tonight.)
Assuming the movie started on time, you should have plenty of time
afterwards to make your way to the Empire State Building at 34th and
5th, and get to the top for a view of the New York skyline at night.
(Last elevator to the top is 11:15P.)
***Tuesday, August 12th***
General Itinerary:
MORNING: Times Square, bus tour.
LUNCH: Depends on bus tour schedule.
AFTERNOON: Continuation of bus tour.
DINNER: Marriot Marquis Hotel or other Broadway café.
EVENING: Broadway show.
Detailed Itinerary:
If you followed my itinerary to the letter yesterday, you should be
utterly exhausted today. (Especially if you actually walked everywhere
instead of taking the bus!) In order to balance things a bit, I’ve
tried to make today a little less walking intensive and a little more
sit-back-and-enjoy-the-ride.
Walk into the Times Square Visitors Center at 1560 Broadway between
46th and 47th Streets. The Visitors Center has lots of information
about the area, but also has a booking facility for Grey Line bus
tours. Look at the bus tour offerings and pick one that suits your
fancy. I’ll warn you that some of these tours may include things
you’ve already seen, so make sure to ask if it’s hop-on-hop-off at
your discretion. (One of the tours includes a helicopter ride as well,
though I can’t tell if it includes the Statue of Liberty.) The
Brooklyn tour could be interesting, and you might also enjoy visiting
Harlem. Also check my recommended itinerary for the next few days to
try and avoid too much overlap.
This web page lists Grey Line’s current tours. I’ve never been on one
of these, but another researcher at Google has told me that he has had
good experiences with this company.
http://www.graylinenewyork.com/sightseeing.cfm
Depending on what you purchase, you could make an entire day out of a
hop-on-hop-off bus tour. Therefore, I’m not going to recommend a place
for lunch since it’s at your discretion here depending on where you
go.
Either before or after the tour, take some time to explore the Times
Square area while the sun is in the sky (the area looks different at
night). There are a number of interesting stores (Disney Store), some
famous restaurants, and the Marriot Marquis Hotel on Broadway at 45th
Street can make for an interesting ride in its elevators. (The
restaurant in the lobby is also known as a decent place for brunch.)
At night, this is your chance to see a Broadway show. I’m going to
recommend either The Lion King or Rent. For either of these
(especially The Lion King), you must make reservations as far in
advance as possible. Note that The Lion King has the same music as the
Disney movie of the same name. If you hated the movie, you’ll hate the
show. If you loved the movie, you’ll love the show (which is honestly
much better than the movie, in my opinion).
Try using http://www.broadway.com to see what tickets are available
and to buy them in advance.
After the show, take a quick stroll around Times Square and night.
Interesting how the neon billboards make it appear so different than
daytime, isn’t it?
***Wednesday, August 13th***
General Itinerary:
MORNING: Lower Manhattan
LUNCH: Whatever catches your eye.
AFTERNOON: Lincoln Center tour, Tower Records, Imax (time permitting)
DINNER: Café Mozart
EVENING: Mostly Mozart Orchestra at Lincoln Center (details below)
Detailed Itinerary:
Unfortunately, I don’t know the street grid of the bottom of Manhattan
well enough to suggest a point-by-point walking itinerary for the
points of interest here. There’s also much more here than can be
reasonably be done in a morning, so pick and choose what interests you
here, and consider saving some for Thursday, if you end up staying an
extra day.
Some of the sites down here have a much more somber tone than other
highlights of the city. I still think they’re worth visiting.
Museum of Jewish Heritage
A Living Memorial to the Holocaust
18 First Place
Battery Park City
(212) 509-6130
10:00A – 5:45P, daily except Saturday. Open late on Thursdays.
This is a small museum which tells the story of the Holocaust and what
was lost.
Irish Hunger Memorial
Western edge of Vesey Street, on the river.
Small, but meaningful memorial to Irish who died of Starvation. May be
under renovation. You can get a good view of Jersey City across the
river. Walk through World Financial 4 across the street from the
memorial, and walk into an indoor area called the “Winter Garden.”
This was completely destroyed during the World Trade Center disaster,
but has since been rebuilt. From the Winter Garden you can get a good
view of the World Trade Center site.
South Street Seaport & Seaport Museum
East of Fulton Street
National Museum of the American Indian
One Bowling Green
(212) 668-6624
Wall Street & The New York Stock Exchange
Fraunces Tavern
54 Pearl Street
(212) 425-1778
George Washington slept here.
Lincoln Center is New York’s center of fine arts. Here, you’ll find
the Metropolitan Opera, Avery Fisher Hall, New York State Theatre, the
Julliard School, and much more. I would highly recommend a tour of
Lincoln Center. Afternoon tours are usually given at 12:30P, 2:30P and
4:30P, but you must phone the office to confirm this a few days ahead
of time. The architecture of some of the buildings is really amazing.
North of Lincoln Center on Broadway is a good-sized Barnes & Nobles
bookstore and a large Tower Records. Check with the Sony movie theater
at 68th Street and Broadway and see what’s playing at their Imax
theater. If you have time, go see it!
Given the planned evening activity, I think it would be perfectly
appropriate to have dinner at the nearby Café Mozart (154 W 70th
Street). Make sure to order a dessert as well as a main course…some of
them are incredible. In addition, in the one in 365 chance that this
is your birthday, let the waitress know, and you may be in for a
pleasant surprise.
My recommendation for an evening show is the Mostly Mozart Orchestra
at 8:00P in Avery Fisher Hall. The schedule for the evening is:
Emmanual Krivine, conductor.
Midori, violin.
Prokofiev, Symphony No. 1 in D major.
Saint-Saens, Introduction and Rondo capriccioso, Op. 28
Saint-Saens, Havanaise in E major, Op. 83
Mozart, Symphony No. 39 in E-flat major, K. 543
Given that Midori is a rather well-known violinist (which could make
this another treat), I’d recommend buying tickets in advance, if
possible.
PARTIAL LISTINGS:
====
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West at 79th Street
Open daily, 10:00A – 5:45P.
(212) 769-5100
B C trains to 81st Street.
M79 M10 buses stop nearby.
http://www.amnh.org/
====
Blue Note
131 West 3rd Street (between 6th Avenue & MacDougal Street)
(212) 475-8592
A E C F trains stop nearby (West 4th Street)
http://www.bluenote.net/newyork/
--August 9th & 10th--
8:00P & 10:30P Joao Bosco
--August 11th--
8:00P Hank Jones Birthday Celebration
--August 12th & 13th & 14th--
8:00P & 10:30P Frank Sinatra Tribute
====
Bottom Line
15 W 4th Street (4th & Mercer)
(212) 228-6300
http://www.bottomlinecabaret.com/
A C E F train to W 4th Street
6 train to Astor Place
--August 9th--
7:30P & 10:30P Jorma Kaukonen (described as "a compelling blend of
rock, blues, folk and country influences")
--August 13th--
7:30P & 10:30P Caitlin Cary (probably contemporary rock?)
====
Bryant Park
42nd Street and 6th Avenue
B D F V train to 42nd Street.
7 train to 5th Avenue.
http://www.bryantpark.org/calendar/aug.php
--August 11th—
8:00P Romeo and Juliet (1968 film with Olivia Hussey) (be at Park
shortly after 5:00P)
--August 14th—
12:30P Broadway in Bryant Park (selections from Chicago, Rent, Aida)
====
Central Park
http://www.centralpark2000.com
This web site is copyrighted, so I cannot legally copy the entire
thing verbatim into my description above. I’d recommend familiarizing
yourself with the site before going into the park, and printing some
of the maps.
====
Chicago City Limits Comedy Improv Theater
1105 1st Avenue (at 61st Street)
Wednesday & Thursday 8:00P. Friday & Saturday 8:00P & 10:30P. Sunday
7:00P.
(212) 888-5233
Not near any subway lines. Take the 4 5 6 trains to 59th street and
catch a taxi from there.
====
Empire State Building
34th Street & 5th Avenue
9:30A - midnight (last elevator 11:15P)
M16 or M34 Bus
B D F Q N R V and W trains stop a few blocks to the west (34th Street
/ Herald Square).
6 trains stop a few blocks to the east (33rd Street / Park Avenue).
http://www.esbnyc.com/
(You can order tickets online from the web site.)
====
Grand Central Station
42nd Street (near Park Avenue)
open early morning until late for train service
4 5 6 7 S trains stop here.
http://www.grandcentralterminal.com/
Free walking tours on the following dates and times:
Saturday & Sunday 11:00A. Meet at information booth in center of GCT.
Limited to 50 people.
Wednesday 12:30P. Meet at information booth. Call (212) 935-3960 for
more information.
Group tours are also available for a fee. You must book them in
advance (3 weeks recommended) by calling (212) 340-2347.
====
Guggenheim Museum
1071 5th Avenue (at 89th Street)
Saturday - Wednesday 10:00A - 5:45P, Friday 10:00A - 8:00P. Closed
Thursdays.
(212) 423-3500
M1, M2, M3, M4 buses stop nearby (downtown). Stop one avenue east for
uptown.
4 5 6 trains stop at 86th Street and Lexington Avenue (10 minute walk)
http://www.guggenheim.org/new_york_index.html
====
Lincoln Center
Broadway @ 66th Street
(212) 875-5456 (customer service)
(212) 875-5030 (Avery Fisher Hall)
(212) 875-5050 (Alice Tully Hall)
M5 M10 M20 M7 M11 M66 M104 Bus
1 9 train (66th Street)
http://www.lincolncenter.org/default.asp
The following are Lincoln Center events going on during the days you
will be in New York. Some of these events require advance reservations
for tickets. Others are free events for which no ticket is necessary.
Since I don't know your taste in music or fine arts, I'm presenting
this list as-is with the Lincoln Center box office information above.
Many of these would be great choices for a rainy evening or as a
substitute for one of my other evening suggestions. Personally, I
suspect that the Julliard String Quartet would be a real treat. Note
that Lincoln Center is a huge complex with many different theaters and
buildings. Make sure to confirm the exact location of any show you
wish to see. Its' buildings include some incredible architecture (one
of them was patterned after a jewel box) and are worth seeing for
themselves. Daily tours are available at 10:30A, 12:30P, 2:30P, and
4:30P. THESE TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND CANCELLATION. Please call
them directly to make a reservation and confirm availability: (212)
875-5350.
Note: There is a Bob Hope film festival at Lincoln Center, showing
films from early afternoon through late evening on most days you are
in New York.
--August 9th--
2:00P The 20th Annual Roots of American Music Festival
2:00P Mostly Mozart: Green Eggs and Hamadeus
4:00P Mostly Mozart: Green Eggs and Hamadeus
6:30P The 20th Annual Roots of American Music Festival
8:00P Mostly Mozart: Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra
--August 10th--
2:00P The 20th Annual Roots of American Music Festival
5:00P Julliard String Quartet
6:30P The 20th Annual Roots of American Music Festival
--August 11th--
8:00P 60th Anniversary Celebration Screening of "Casablanca"
--August 12th--
6:30P Chamber Music of the World: Ulali (A Capella)
8:00P Great Dance in Damrosch: Paul Taylor Dance Company
8:00P Mostly Mozart: Il Re Pastore
8:00P Mostly Mozart: Mostly Mozart Orchestra
--August 13th--
6:30P Chamber Music of the World: Ethel
8:00P Great Dance in Damrosch: Paul Taylor Dance Company
8:00P Mostly Mozart: Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra
--August 14th--
10:30A Just for Kids: Umoja (African dancing & drumming)
12:00P Sonic Forest (until 10:00P..."interactive sculpture")
5:30P Divine Divas of Oriental Dance
8:00P Mostly Mozart: Il Re Pastore
====
Lower East Side Tenement Museum
90 Orchard Street
(212) 431-0233
F train to Delancey Street
J M Z trains to Essex Street
(From subway station, walk 2 blocks west to Orchard Street, turn left,
and walk one block south to Broome Street.)
http://www.tenement.org
====
MOMA (Museum of Modern Art)
33 Street at Queens Blvd
Long Island City, Queens
(NOTE: This is NOT in Manhattan! The MOMA in Manhattan is under
renovation until 2005.)
Thursday - Monday 10:00A - 5:00P, Friday 10:00A - 7:45P. Closed
Tuesdays & Wednesdays
(212) 708-9400
7 train (local only, not express) to 33 St, Queens.
====
New York Historical Society
2 West 77th Street at Central Park West
Tuesday - Sunday 10:00A - 6:00P. Closed Mondays.
(212) 873-3400
B C trains (81st Street)
M10 M79 bus
====
Second Avenue Deli
156 Second Avenue (at 10th Street)
7:00A - about midnight
(212) 677-0606
====
Shakespeare in the Park (Henry V)
Delacorte Theater in Central Park
(walk into the park at 81st Street and Central Park West)
(212) 539-8750
B C train to 81st Street
http://www.shakespeareincentralpark.org/
ONLY AVAILABLE UNTIL AUGUST 9th !!!
====
Tavern on the Green
Central Park at W 67th Street
(212) 873-3200
http://web.tavernonthegreen.com/
B C train to 72nd Street
1 9 train to 66th Street (walk east to Central Park)
====
Times Square
42nd Street & Broadway
1 2 3 7 9 A C E N Q R W S trains all stop at 42nd Street / Times
Square.
B D F V trains stop nearby. (42nd Street / 6th Avenue)
http://www.timessquarebid.org
Note that the Times Square Vistor's Center has an office where you can
get information and buy tickets for shows and tours. The Visitor's
Center is located at:
1560 Broadway
Broadway between 46th and 47th Streets
8:00A - 8:00P
http://www.timessquarebid.org/visitor/index.htm
==== |
