Everything & Anything New York City

phatbear

willstewart wrote: »

Where are the Star Wars bits at? Toys r Us, FAO Swartz, Madam Tousards (sp?) etc?

Going to find the Flatiron building this time. Never seen it in all the times I've been to NYC.

Theres not a great deal to see at flatiron, apart from the building itself, until recently there was "event horizon" in the immediate area so it was cool to pop along and try and see all the sculptures on roof tops etc. However one thing in the area is madison square park which is a nice little park for a sit down and its houses the busier of the two shake shacks, however it tends to be a mecca for dog walkers so it can get quite busy for a small park.

tiff wrote: »

We would also like recommendations on where to eat out, I know there are loads of options!

Where do you get the subway metrocard, is it just in the subway?

Blimey where to eat out, depends on lots of things, budget likes/dislikes, two staples we always have to eat at on our trips is stage door deli, near the world trade centre for their pancakes and bacon and virgils for their steaks and train wreck fries.

your metrocard is best bought in the subway that way you know they will be legit

whatusername

tiff wrote: »

Where do you get the subway metrocard, is it just in the subway?

Yes, some machines only do single trip cards or cards to top others do the unlimited so be carefull which one to use. I always found them in the Subway close to the turnstyles. NY subway is something else I have to say, enjoy the entertainers

whatusername

willstewart wrote: »

Century 21 is a bit like TK Maxx in my opinion. Never found anything of real interest last time I was there, but then again, I'm male and most of it is dedicated to women's clothes and shoes.

Spot on 100%, the selection of male clothes was very poor IMO

lisadolphin

Hi Claire, thanks for that brilliant review - very detailed.

Can you tell me what time your flight was leaving LHR and returning? Was the returning flight in the morning or afternoon?

When I contacted AA they said the earliest I could check bags was 4 hours before my flight, so hopefully I can do the check before that.

northernlass_2

Good morning all, once again you have got me amazed at the expertise of you regular NY visitors but also got my head mashed with reading thru this forum again lol, so im gonna ask my question and hope you can help me unmash my brain....

We fly out on 25th Oct getting to EWR at 1300, we are staying at Columbus Circle and leave 2130 on the 29th Oct..we want to visit everywhere we can comfortably fit into our time but not sure in what order to do it

ESB
ToTR
Central Park
G C Station
SoL
Chrysler Building
Time Square
Brooklyn Bridge
Ellis Island
Century 21
Ground Zero
Madame Tussauds
Statton Island
Coney Island
Tribecca
Have i missed anywhere important?

We are not shoppers but would like to if possible visit Tiffany's, Macys and Blomingdales, i would also like to see the Plazza Hotel, just for a look...

Can anyone put these into any order for us, it wll be most appreciated

Thank you

claire80

lisadolphin wrote: »

Hi Claire, thanks for that brilliant review - very detailed.

Can you tell me what time your flight was leaving LHR and returning? Was the returning flight in the morning or afternoon?

When I contacted AA they said the earliest I could check bags was 4 hours before my flight, so hopefully I can do the check before that.

we left heathrow on the 8:05pm flight dropped bags off at around 4:30 ish id say - again we had allowed extra time getting to heathrow incase of traffic problems (can you tell i panic about missing flights lol )
arrived at jfk at about 11pm nyc time give or take 10 mins

we left jfk at 9:25pm i think dropped bags about 5:30 ish arrived in the uk at 8:30 am uk time which was a bit of a killer tbh as was like middle of the night for us then a 2 hour drive home but was the best flights to maximise our time away and still be back to pick up kids from school etc.

lisadolphin

Thanks Claire

I leave on the 18th November, if all goes well - booked flight and hotel already but haven't been too well, so hopefully by then I will be ok.

I'm going from Heathrow too, luckily its only about half an hour drive from me, so I will be getting a cab. The flight is 8.30 am so will get to the airport by 6am. I can't wait.

I'm flying with AA too.

phatbear

northernlass wrote: »

we want to visit everywhere we can comfortably fit into our time but not sure in what order to do them in


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My top tip is go and make yourself a googlemap and it will become obvious where to go in what order, however never over plan try and be flexible, its pointlesd rigidly deciding to do totr on a certain day and going up when visibility is bad.

claire80

northernlass wrote: »

Good morning all, once again you have got me amazed at the expertise of you regular NY visitors but also got my head mashed with reading thru this forum again lol, so im gonna ask my question and hope you can help me unmash my brain....

We fly out on 25th Oct getting to EWR at 1300, we are staying at Columbus Circle and leave 2130 on the 29th Oct..we want to visit everywhere we can comfortably fit into our time but not sure in what order to do it

ESB
ToTR
Central Park
G C Station
SoL
Chrysler Building
Time Square
Brooklyn Bridge
Ellis Island
Century 21
Ground Zero
Madame Tussauds
Statton Island
Coney Island
Tribecca
Have i missed anywhere important?

We are not shoppers but would like to if possible visit Tiffany's, Macys and Blomingdales, i would also like to see the Plazza Hotel, just for a look...

Can anyone put these into any order for us, it wll be most appreciated

Thank you

i did alot of the stuff you mentioned if you check out my iteniery above but as someone else mentioned and its good advise - plot it all on a googlemap or on your guide book and just aim to do stuff near each other to minimise your travelling.

johnnyroper

arrived back from NYC late last night so thought i would post about what i did while there.

Wednesday 6th oct

flew LHR-JFK on AA flight 105 flight left on time at 12.00ish the flight was very good indeed chose row 41 online some months back seats c,d and f in the centre section.leg room was very good the IFE was sort of on demand every 20 minutes in standard cattle class full on demand in first and business.All in all i can recommend AA in my opinion the service on their 777 fleet is better than virgins.

Arrived JFK 14.40 breezed through immigration and bag collect etc was in cab by 15.35.got to the MAve hotel madison avenue on corner of 27th in the flatiron district, the hotel was very nice there was not a bar or restaurant on site but it was modern and clean inside.the room size was very good for NYC.Good location for access to everywhere i wanted to go with the subway close by.
had a walk around the local area as my 2 year old was getting tired quick bite to eat at maccy d's of all places and a look at madison square park.

Thursday

up really early as my daughter was wide awake by 4am,ended up getting showered and dressed and walking to times square where it was strange to see it so empty, breakfast in a deli on 7th between times square and central park.had a walk round the park but it started to rain so scrapped going to the zoo that day.ended up having a brew in starbucks and then a look in some shops before having lunch,afternoon once sun was out went to TOTR.

Friday

Subway to brooklyn had breakfast and then walked to battery park for liberty island and up to the crown,well worth doing the views are amazing out of the crown windows.in the afternoon walked through financial district to the WTC site then went in to century 21 not my thing the trouble and strife was looking at clothes while i occupied myself playing games on iphone.in my opinion century 21 is an awful place.in the evening went to times square for eats and drinks in the brooklyn diner and a walk round some shops.

Saturday

ESB in the morning then central park zoo in afternoon,looked in some of the shops on 5th while walking back not abercombie as the queues were massive going right round the building and security only letting people in as people were coming out.
in evening had a walk round the flatiron district and had a meal in a place called almond by madison square park.

Sunday

Got on the path over to new jersey went to the newport centre mall so my daughter could go in disney store,spent most of day there only just managed to get back to manhattan in time for the imagineocean show at 3.00.Broadway was closed to traffic on sunday because there were a load of street stalls set up as part of columbus day celebrations so we had a walk down there and took in the atmosphere.

Monday

Times square in morning very busy because of columbus day saw jerry springer doing some sort of speech in the middle by armed forces recruitment booth,not sure what about as he is not my cup of tea so did not waste my time.
back down to financial district in afternoon street stalls from sunday were now down there.another more thourough walk around the WTC site took some piccies from WFC buildings over road.
evening went to times square again and had another look in toys r us aswell as m&m's shop,it started to rain so got on subway about 8ish back to hotel.

Tuesday

early get up at 4.00 to get flight home at 8.30 although never left until 10.15.

Did not go to all the touristy places as i did most of them in 2007 when last there.

sorry for long post but may be of interest to someone?