New York at New Year
May 4th 2008, 5:18 pm
#46
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 8,497
May 6th 2008, 1:34 am
#48
Playing the game
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Adelaide foothills
Posts: 336
Re: New York at New Year
Hey Pinkie, For New Years eve in New York find a nice restaurant or pub. Bars in New York City are open untill 4am. As I said earlier avoid Times Sqaure. When I managed a place there a few years ago the owners friend was a police Leiutenant and about 20 minutes before midnight he led me and two others passed all the people who had been waiting since that morning to watch the ball drop. It was a neat experience but I would not have stood there all day to experience it. I think your best bet is to try and find a package deal and not do theflight and hotel seperately. I was in Australia two years ago. Went to meet a guy that I had met online. Long story but Thank God it never went anywhere! That was in Melbourne and I also have friends in Sydney. I loved it and can't wait to go back!
Melbourne is great but Adelaide is better
If you are planning on doing a Broadway show and don't really mind which one, look for the TKTS ticket booths. They sell tickets for that day for up to 50% off, I'd queue up before they open as the line can get big, although friends have told me the South Street Port one is quieter. I've not personally used them as I wanted to see something specific and thought that tickets weren't that badly priced, but it's a great way to save money on the Broadway tickets though. I have loads of friends who use it.
If you are going to be here only for a few short days then decide do you want to do an in-depth visit to a particular area or a drive-by of the island? If a drive-by then take the bus tour. They are great. You pay for a full day's ride on a double decker tour bus (like your UK busses) and you can hop on and hop off at various stops of interest.
If you want the Christmas atmosphere go walking. Fifth Avenue from Lord and Taylors (39th? St) northward to Central Park. This walk will bring you pass Rockefeller Plaza and the tree. On the walk back go two blocks east and walk down Park Avenue (where I work). Lovely at night over the holiday season. The office building lobbies are decorated and the green island in the middle of the street is done up with trees and lights as well. You follow it through to the Metlife building and directly into Grand Central for a look at the much photographed central main room with its celestial ceiling and at the holiday season a laser light show at times.
If you want the Christmas atmosphere go walking. Fifth Avenue from Lord and Taylors (39th? St) northward to Central Park. This walk will bring you pass Rockefeller Plaza and the tree. On the walk back go two blocks east and walk down Park Avenue (where I work). Lovely at night over the holiday season. The office building lobbies are decorated and the green island in the middle of the street is done up with trees and lights as well. You follow it through to the Metlife building and directly into Grand Central for a look at the much photographed central main room with its celestial ceiling and at the holiday season a laser light show at times.
May 6th 2008, 1:42 am
#49
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Manhattan
Posts: 2,913
Re: New York at New Year
Hey Penguinbar, what restaurants would you recommend then? We booked in to a restaurant for this last new years eve in Adelaide and it was lovely but the other diners made it memorable - otherwise we could have missed a lot of atmosphere. Do you think that could happen there? We are doing this as part of a round the world ticket (cheaper than a return flight from Oz to UK!) so I'm booking hotels separately to try and get a better deal.
Melbourne is great but Adelaide is better
Thanks for the show links (and the touristy ones, even more stuff to paw through!). I don't know enough about shows to know which one we should see and even whether you could book them this far in advance? I just know it would be almost criminal not to see a show whilst we're there if we can. My friend recommended Avenue Q? I'd be happy to just see what was on when we got there, as long as we could still get tickets at that time of year.
We're definitely happy to do plenty of walking so thanks for that little route. The bus tours sound great too, I think a drive by of quite a few areas is all that will be possible so we can spend some time just enjoying the atmosphere and wandering round, there are bound to be things we totally forget about wanting to see until we get there anyway. Luckily we plan to head to Vancouver for a few nights on the way back down under so we can make the most of the days in NYC and recover in Vancouver
Melbourne is great but Adelaide is better
Thanks for the show links (and the touristy ones, even more stuff to paw through!). I don't know enough about shows to know which one we should see and even whether you could book them this far in advance? I just know it would be almost criminal not to see a show whilst we're there if we can. My friend recommended Avenue Q? I'd be happy to just see what was on when we got there, as long as we could still get tickets at that time of year.
We're definitely happy to do plenty of walking so thanks for that little route. The bus tours sound great too, I think a drive by of quite a few areas is all that will be possible so we can spend some time just enjoying the atmosphere and wandering round, there are bound to be things we totally forget about wanting to see until we get there anyway. Luckily we plan to head to Vancouver for a few nights on the way back down under so we can make the most of the days in NYC and recover in Vancouver
May 6th 2008, 1:47 am
#50
Playing the game
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Adelaide foothills
Posts: 336
Re: New York at New Year
Hi pinkie what type of place are you looking for? Casual or fancy? Most restaurants are not taking New Years eve reservations this early. Most also do a specila prix fix dinner as well. The prices are also jacked up o New Years. Do you want to go all out or just casual. Let me know and that will help me mke some recommendations. I'm sure Adelaide is great! As for Avenue Q I saw it in London. Very funny! It should be pretty easy to get tickets to as well since it has been running awhile.Let me know if you have found any hotels that you are interested in as well and hopefully I can tell you a bit about them!
Thanks for the hotel thing too, I couldn't get on this site yesterday (don't know if it was a general outage?) but Englishmum has very kindly sent me a password so we can try out those apartments she mentioned. If that doesn't work out I'll come back to you when I have a plan B......
May 6th 2008, 3:03 am
#51
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,017
Re: New York at New Year
Whatever you do...don't go to the Tavern on the Green. Expensive...nice location but crap food IMO.
We have spent many a Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve at the Chart House in Weehawken...New Jersey...directly across the Hudson from the Empire State Building. There is a ferry across the Hudson but it's quite a way to the Chart House. The view of NYC is breathtaking...you can also see the fireworks from Times Sq and the Lady Herself (Statue of Liberty).
We have spent many a Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve at the Chart House in Weehawken...New Jersey...directly across the Hudson from the Empire State Building. There is a ferry across the Hudson but it's quite a way to the Chart House. The view of NYC is breathtaking...you can also see the fireworks from Times Sq and the Lady Herself (Statue of Liberty).
May 6th 2008, 3:42 am
#52
Playing the game
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Adelaide foothills
Posts: 336
Re: New York at New Year
Whatever you do...don't go to the Tavern on the Green. Expensive...nice location but crap food IMO.
We have spent many a Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve at the Chart House in Weehawken...New Jersey...directly across the Hudson from the Empire State Building. There is a ferry across the Hudson but it's quite a way to the Chart House. The view of NYC is breathtaking...you can also see the fireworks from Times Sq and the Lady Herself (Statue of Liberty).
We have spent many a Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve at the Chart House in Weehawken...New Jersey...directly across the Hudson from the Empire State Building. There is a ferry across the Hudson but it's quite a way to the Chart House. The view of NYC is breathtaking...you can also see the fireworks from Times Sq and the Lady Herself (Statue of Liberty).
I like the idea of being able to see everything from a distance, it's just as Denzil75 said, I am worried about going too far away from where we're staying and struggling to get back after midnight. Plus I'm not sure I don't want to go against advice and stand in Times Square for 8 hours to see the ball drop!!
May 6th 2008, 3:48 am
#53
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 4,792
Re: New York at New Year
Whatever you do...don't go to the Tavern on the Green. Expensive...nice location but crap food IMO.
We have spent many a Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve at the Chart House in Weehawken...New Jersey...directly across the Hudson from the Empire State Building. There is a ferry across the Hudson but it's quite a way to the Chart House. The view of NYC is breathtaking...you can also see the fireworks from Times Sq and the Lady Herself (Statue of Liberty).
We have spent many a Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve at the Chart House in Weehawken...New Jersey...directly across the Hudson from the Empire State Building. There is a ferry across the Hudson but it's quite a way to the Chart House. The view of NYC is breathtaking...you can also see the fireworks from Times Sq and the Lady Herself (Statue of Liberty).
Reg. Frank R.
Ps. 87f here today, manana 90f.
May 6th 2008, 3:52 am
#54
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,017
Re: New York at New Year
Tavern on the Green? Why does that ring a bell? I could cope with crap food for a decent location but not sure I can swing 'expensive' past my frugal OH
I like the idea of being able to see everything from a distance, it's just as Denzil75 said, I am worried about going too far away from where we're staying and struggling to get back after midnight. Plus I'm not sure I don't want to go against advice and stand in Times Square for 8 hours to see the ball drop!!
I like the idea of being able to see everything from a distance, it's just as Denzil75 said, I am worried about going too far away from where we're staying and struggling to get back after midnight. Plus I'm not sure I don't want to go against advice and stand in Times Square for 8 hours to see the ball drop!!
LOL Frank...is that spare room of yours free yet?
May 6th 2008, 3:57 am
#55
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 4,792
Re: New York at New Year
Tavern on the Green? Why does that ring a bell? I could cope with crap food for a decent location but not sure I can swing 'expensive' past my frugal OH
I like the idea of being able to see everything from a distance, it's just as Denzil75 said, I am worried about going too far away from where we're staying and struggling to get back after midnight. Plus I'm not sure I don't want to go against advice and stand in Times Square for 8 hours to see the ball drop!!
I like the idea of being able to see everything from a distance, it's just as Denzil75 said, I am worried about going too far away from where we're staying and struggling to get back after midnight. Plus I'm not sure I don't want to go against advice and stand in Times Square for 8 hours to see the ball drop!!
May 6th 2008, 4:00 am
#56
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 4,792
Re: New York at New Year
Friend in NYC, offered us her 2 BR apt (BPC River views) FOC, 4/22 - 5/2, we could not arrange at short notice. Annoying, hotels are getting expensive.
Reg. Frank R.
May 6th 2008, 4:02 am
#57
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,017
Re: New York at New Year
The best & the cheapest New Years eve I ever had in NYC, was in Central PK. Mayor Giuliani opened all the main parks, so that families with children, had somewhere to go, we went to the Wolman Ice ring, ice skating at midnight. Fantastic, most magical thing ever, fireworks in the sky, live music, her at home, the boy wonder & me. WOW!
May 6th 2008, 4:16 am
#58
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 4,792
Re: New York at New Year
Worst time to be in FL "Christmas", now thats really really boring.
Reg. Frank R.
May 6th 2008, 4:27 am
#59
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,017
Re: New York at New Year
Yep, sure can be bitter cold. Snow & bitter cold can kill the thrill. As most of the regulars know, I am not a big fan of smelly NYC, but Christmas - New Year, is probably the best time to be in Manhattan. Worst time "Black Friday", just got heart pain thinking about it.
Worst time to be in FL "Christmas", now thats really really boring.
Reg. Frank R.
Worst time to be in FL "Christmas", now thats really really boring.
Reg. Frank R.
May 6th 2008, 4:39 am
#60
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 4,792
Re: New York at New Year
Hi Jersey, we also had a cold Xmas, in Nth FL about 5 or 6 years ago. I'm not talking cold, I'm talking 85f & Xmas, does not feel very Chritmassy, especially, when we are on the beach.