[Closed - see new thread] New York Q&A

shudd1967

Loveabargain

Stayed at casablanca in June and thought it was fantastic, a great place to stay.

You can get a taxi from the airport out on the ranks, don't go to someone who just aproaches you and if its too much for one of their normal cars there are MPV's around that they will pull in for you.

loveabargin

Thanks Shudd1967 Im please to hear that the hotel is gonna be good. I booked it after looking at the reviews on tripadvisor. So I wont need to book a car there will be taxi's that will take 4 persons and luggage.

namur

Thanks markymoo for the fabulous advice. Going to NY 20 Aug and this has been so helpful.

namur

Markymoo - any tips for eating out with two vegetarian teenagers?!!

M4RKM

most restaurants have a menu on the outside, so you can check before you go in. menupages.com will give you a menu (no guarantee it is up to date) of your chosen restaurant if you want to do some research, and you can book a reservation through opentable.com if you want to make sure you have a res at your preferred restaurant before you go.

there are PLENTY of choices, so get searching to give yourself some ideas!

alexjohnson

namur wrote: »

Markymoo - any tips for eating out with two vegetarian teenagers?!!

Nothing specific but go to the East Village generally and the area on St Mark's Place (which, confusingly, is what East 8th St is called over there) between 1st and 2nd Avenues. Lots of quite inexpensive interesting food which will be a cut above beanburgers.

alexjohnson

markymoo wrote: »

I've been saying that for the whole of this thread.

As a tourist, I find Tribeca is much more of a real NYC Experience, mainly because there are a lot less tourists around the area.

alexjohnson, maybe you can help us out and give us a short list of some of your favourite restaurants..

No, I'm still smarting from your complete sense of humour breakdown...

Seriously, my favourite place shut down but the really well-known brunch place is Bubby's. It is (cringe alert) a 'sleb hangout, or it was way back when. Hudson and Moore, and:
http://www.bubbys.com
There is always a queue.
Better I think is the Odeon, on West Broadway, just a bit south of Canal (which is the huge almost-dual carriageway of a street). There is also the Empire Diner, also on Hudson, and nearer Canal Street. It is the one with the Statute of Liberty crown. Neither of these will stretch any normal budget (though do remember tips are 18.5%, round up...).

A bit fancier is the Harrison, at Greenwich and Harrison.

If you're really pushing the boat out, there is the original Nobu (sushi). That should be enough to be going along with before you want to go somewhere else...

One last recommendation. If you want fun, go to Tortilla Flats on Washington at W 12th in the West Village. The food isn't awesome, it's loud, and you could do better. But it has a great atmosphere, and on Wednesday's they (used to) have a hula-hoop contest. With a jug of margaritas it's a good time that will definitely not break the bank.

M4RKM

alexjohnson wrote: »

No, I'm still smarting from your complete sense of humour breakdown...

my sense of...wha? no.. i don't have one of them....

alexjohnson wrote: »

(though do remember tips are 18.5%, round up...).

Up? UP? dammit.. tips seem to be getting more and more these days...

alexjohnson

Three shopping suggestions.

1. Discover lower 5th Avenue, south of 23rd, going down to 14th. It has all the same shops as everywhere else (Gap, banana Republic blah blah), but they are bigger, classier, and much less crowded than (for example) around Herald Square. It even has a Daffy's Bargains, which is what New Yorkers think of when you think Century 21. I am an expert in neither... I suggested for electronics you could go to Best Buy; it is also handy for this area. If you like Mac computers or want an iPod or every iPod accessory you've ever thought of, of course you will make a bee-line for the Apple Store. But check out Tek-serve on 23rd and 7th (very close to Best Buy) for an experience almost as cool yet as different as it could be.

2. The ladies are probably all over this one, but there is a ghastly place called Woodbury Commons which my friends used to tell me was the best place for bargains ever. It is out in New York State but you can get a coach from the Port Authority (8th Avenue at 42nd). Although the Port Authority bus terminal is, like you would expect, not in a very nice area, the bus station itself is pretty respectable. Having been once I would never, ever go again, but if shopping's your thing...

3. What's the deal with Macy's? Everyone always wants to go there. Yes, it's very big. It's owned by the same people as Bloomingdale's (60th / Lex) which means the prices for everything bar towels and linens are the same, and Bloomingdales is a much nicer shop. I am the first to admit I don't get the love of shopping thing, so if you need to go to both just because they're there, well then you do, but don't be thinking you'll be saving any money.

steviehud37

Hi

Am going in September (cant wait!!)and i was wondering if they is a web site for Whats on on an evening in New York? ie Broadway shows,Entertainment etc

Thanks

Stevie