Paging NYC divas and other divas for ideas

[Bookworm]

We stay in Midtown all the time, unfortunately at the Hilton. It's awful; however, there's an old hotel we stayed at once- Cary Grant used to live there. Called The Warwick. I liked it because it's a few blocks from Central Park. Since it's old, the rooms are on the smaller side.
And New York is such a great city; you can walk everywhere. People are nice and it's safe

 

[Tvan]

We are headed to NYC in a few weeks for my performance at Carnegie Hall. (Before everyone runs to the CH site to book tickets… its a closed event sponsored by the School for Strings in NYC which is hosting its 50th anniversary celebration/Suzuki graduation concert and there will be 175 cellists and 750 violinists performing. I’m graduating from my Suzuki study, having completed all the books in the repertoire. Its a big deal for me, but not noteworthy in the broader world of music.)

Anyway, we are staying in mid-town at the Park Central Hotel…near Carnegie. We have ticket to see “The Play that Goes Wrong”, and dinner reservations at Bocca di Bacco in the theater district. Probably not much help in your trip planning, but I loathe the subway and everything we are doing is within walking distance of everything else.

 

[RachelV]

We are headed to NYC in a few weeks for my performance at Carnegie Hall. (Before everyone runs to the CH site to book tickets… its a closed event sponsored by the School for Strings in NYC which is hosting its 50th anniversary celebration/Suzuki graduation concert and there will be 175 cellists and 750 violinists performing. I’m graduating from my Suzuki study, having completed all the books in the repertoire. Its a big deal for me, but not noteworthy in the broader world of music.)

Anyway, we are staying in mid-town at the Park Central Hotel…near Carnegie. We have ticket to see “The Play that Goes Wrong”, and dinner reservations at Bocca di Bacco in the theater district. Probably not much help in your trip planning, but I loathe the subway and everything we are doing is within walking distance of everything else.

That sounds amazing, congrats! Not to get this thread totally off topic but if I could go back in time to the 80s and get my parents to do one thing when I was a kid it would be Suzuki, any instrument. You're once again planting the seed in my head that I should impulse buy a digital piano and start now.

Citibike offers ebike rentals now - get an e-citibike and do the loop in the park, would also be walking distance and lovely from where you are (provided the weather is good).

 

[Tvan]

That sounds amazing, congrats! Not to get this thread totally off topic but if I could go back in time to the 80s and get my parents to do one thing when I was a kid it would be Suzuki, any instrument. You're once again planting the seed in my head that I should impulse buy a digital piano and start now.

Citibike offers ebike rentals now - get an e-citibike and do the loop in the park, would also be walking distance and lovely from where you are (provided the weather is good).

Never too late... I started cello seriously at age 50.

 

[Christy]

@NewEnglandSkier makes a great point. I've never had a visit where I didn't have great stuff within walking distance, and also long train rides (to a Mets game, the Cloisters, etc).

 

[santacruz skier]

Reaching out again -
We have booked the Sofitel for our stay.... now would love some restaurant recommendations. We know the good restaurants are in other areas and that's fine. We like places with outdoor or rooftop seating, good food, casual dining, preferably spots with good fresh food, yes I'm from CA so we do like farm to table too. Like all kinds of food, Italian, French, Asian, etc etc. No need for fine dining or hotel restaurant food... So far we have one restaurant recommendation - Balthazar.

As far as things to do, we are planning on museum, broadway, Highline, maybe Hudson River cruise, Brooklyn Bridge, shopping but not necessarily department store shopping (we can go to SF for that)...

Thanks everyone!

 

[marzNC]

As far as things to do, we are planning on museum, broadway, Highline, maybe Hudson River cruise, Brooklyn Bridge, shopping but not necessarily department store shopping (we can go to SF for that)...

Consider taking the Staten Island ferry. Great view of the Statue of Liberty. It's free.

Have you considered seeing the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island?

 

[santacruz skier]

Consider taking the Staten Island ferry. Great view of the Statue of Liberty. It's free.

Have you considered seeing the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island?

Last time I was in NYC (20 yrs ago), think I did a cruise on the Hudson and saw it all.

 

[VickiK]

coming here to say, @RachelV -- do it!
otherwise sounds like a fab trip!

 

[DebbieSue]

I liked the Greek place right near Sofitel, Kellari Taverna. For shopping, interesting foods etc, consider Chelsea Market. Could combine with Whitney museum and walking Highline. None of that was there 20y ago.
Ferry from Battery Wharf to Gov Island is fun summer excursion.!

 

[santacruz skier]

Citibike offers ebike rentals now - get an e-citibike and do the loop in the park, would also be walking distance and lovely from where you are (provided the weather is good).

This is a good suggestion. Any chance they have non E bikes as that's my preference and what I like to ride...

 

[santacruz skier]

I liked the Greek place right near Sofitel, Kellari Taverna. For shopping, interesting foods etc, consider Chelsea Market. Could combine with Whitney museum and walking Highline. None of that was there 20y ago.
Ferry from Battery Wharf to Gov Island is fun summer excursion.!

Thanks. I was just talking with my sister and told her that there's a good Greek restaurant next door so we will do that our first night as arriving around 4:30 pm at JFK....
BTW, I'm so envious about your August work/ski plans !

 

[santacruz skier]

We are planning on meeting up with diva @RCL for happy hour one night at a place with views of Brooklyn and Manhattan bridge I think !

 

[teppaz]

Reaching out again -
We have booked the Sofitel for our stay.... now would love some restaurant recommendations. We know the good restaurants are in other areas and that's fine. We like places with outdoor or rooftop seating, good food, casual dining, preferably spots with good fresh food, yes I'm from CA so we do like farm to table too. Like all kinds of food, Italian, French, Asian, etc etc. No need for fine dining or hotel restaurant food... So far we have one restaurant recommendation - Balthazar.

As far as things to do, we are planning on museum, broadway, Highline, maybe Hudson River cruise, Brooklyn Bridge, shopping but not necessarily department store shopping (we can go to SF for that)...

Thanks everyone!

I did this architecture cruise in June and it was well worth it. We did the one that goes all around Manhattan and lasts 2h45. The guide was very good and the boat extremely pleasant: a little old fashioned (though brand new), not too big and with seating inside and outside. I highly recommend it — I live in NYC and I love doing touristy things!

Citibike has both regular and e-bikes.

 

[santacruz skier]

I did this architecture cruise in June and it was well worth it. We did the one that goes all around Manhattan and lasts 2h45. The guide was very good and the boat extremely pleasant: a little old fashioned (though brand new), not too big and with seating inside and outside. I highly recommend it — I live in NYC and I love doing touristy things!

Citibike has both regular and e-bikes.

That looks awesome... Thank you !

 

[marzNC]

Last time I was in NYC (20 yrs ago), think I did a cruise on the Hudson and saw it all.

They cleaned up the Statue of Liberty perhaps 10 years ago. Looks much nicer than what I remembered.

 

[santacruz skier]

@teppaz I may be pm'ing you for more stuff !

 

[POC]

Also consider whether you'll be out and about late at night. Some of the boutique hotels don't have nighttime staff. Since I'm a morning person, I love staying up by Central Park, whereas if I'm there for a play, I'll stay within a short walk of the theater.

 

[skibum4ever]

Somewhere between 14th St. Union Square and Greenwich Village might be best. Lots of great walking and great restaurants in the Village. I recommend El Rincon de España.

 

[santacruz skier]

Somewhere between 14th St. Union Square and Greenwich Village might be best. Lots of great walking and great restaurants in the Village. I recommend El Rincon de España.

I just looked up El Rincon de Espana and it's closed..... Too bad as sounded so good.