Avalon Hotel

hi.. new member here... leaving toronto on april 22 for nyc with 2 girlfriends for a week long stay.

we have a suite at the vincci avalon, and i was wondering if anyone had any comments about the place.

i%26#39;ve read all the reviews available, some are good, some are not so good.

one of my friends has been to nyc several times, and she%26#39;s our ';guide';. we%26#39;re going to do the touristy things, and basically enjoy a week without phones ringing, work pressures, family issues and the like. ;-)

also, just thought of this.... i%26#39;m going to a show at feinstein%26#39;s at the regency on april 24. what%26#39;s the dress code there? what is the menu like? i know it%26#39;s expensive. ;-)

as for weather, i%26#39;m checking the 15 day forecast on accuweather.

thanks in advance,

karenLL

Avalon Hotel

People get dressed up at Feinstein%26#39;s. It%26#39;s one of the few places you could wear a cocktail dress and fit right in. But a nice pair of slacks and a pretty top would also work. Here%26#39;s a sample menu from their website

feinsteinsattheregency.com/download/SampleMe鈥?/a>

Avalon Hotel

Karen are you going to see Donny???? You lucky thing. I%26#39;m missing him by a week but I will see him twice in October over here in England.

I have 2nd row and am so excited.

Have a great time

Ann

hey ann... yes, i%26#39;m going to see donny. :-)

but he%26#39;s not the main focus of this trip. i had my dates picked out last october, and my plane ticket booked long before he announced these shows. he%26#39;s just a happy bonus to nyc. LOL!

are you a donny.commer?

karenLL

I sure am a Donny.commer. I post as Ann from Huddersfield.

I actually met the great man a couple of years ago and managed to get a hug. It was the best day ever. LOL Have a fantastic time and give him a hug from me.

Ann

The Morgan Library

In my first ever message on this forum posted this past Saturday (where I detailed my extensive (!!) pre-trip planning), one of the persons who posted a response was TravelingGuy from Kentucky. He mentioned that, in a recent trip to New York, he had visited the Morgan Library. My curiosity was aroused; I wasn’t quite sure if I had heard of the Morgan Library before or not although the name did sound vaguely familiar. Perhaps I had seen previous references to the Library on this forum. Anyway, I made a point of going to the Morgan Library web site the other day (www.morganlibrary.org) where I discovered that the Library houses an astonishingly impressive collection of original manuscripts and rare first editions, including the sole surviving manuscript of Milton%26#39;s Paradise Lost. The collection also boasts Dickens%26#39;s manuscript of A Christmas Carol, the journals of Thoreau, documents that were handwritten or signed by the likes of Elizabeth I, Sir Isaac Newton, Voltaire, Mozart, Marie Antoinette, and Napoleon, three (!) Gutenberg Bibles, autographed scores from Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, and Mahler, and a manuscript of Mozart’s Haffner Symphony.

What can I say but “Wow”. I have no idea why the Morgan Library didn’t appear on my radar screen before as part of my pre-trip planning but it’s definitely part of my NYC itinerary now.

It’s not clear to me if every item in Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan’s collection is on display for visitors all the time, but even if only a fraction of the collection is available to be seen at any one time I would still have to say that the price of admission [$12 for adults] is worth it.

You know, I had wondered what I was going to do after visiting the Empire State Building. I had planned on visiting the ESB first thing in the morning to beat the crowds [already bought my ticket online at the ESB web site] and I had a vague notion that afterwards I would head north and east to see Grand Central Terminal. Since the Morgan Library at Madison and 36th Street is just a couple of blocks north and one block east of the ESB it will be a great place to visit in-between admiring the ESB’s Art Deco splendor and reveling in the Beaux Arts glory of Grand Central Terminal.

Anyway, I just thought I would post this blurb in case any other first-time visitors to New York might be wondering what else there is to do and see in the vicinity of the Empire State Building. I would think that the Morgan Library deserves some consideration.

The Morgan Library

Johannes56, you are going to have a terrific visit to New York City....

I can just tell.....

I mentioned the Morgan Library in a post about something else. I%26#39;m impressed that you took that, researched it, and discovered something else to visit in the city.

Walking into the private study of Pierpont Morgan was a bit like being ushered into the private office of.........say, GOD. You will enjoy it, I%26#39;m sure. I only wish I could have had more time there.

That%26#39;s where good planning comes in.....

The Morgan Library

The Morgan Library is a great place to visit and one that I have tried to get individuals interested in on the forum and elsewhere but with out much success. All of the manuscripts you mentioned and more are on display and the building itself is impressive. However, it is very much off the radar. One reason may be that it was closed for years for renovation and expansion. The other is that it is not of interest to everyone.

Visiting the Morgan Library is a great idea. Be sure to go before May 6th so that you can see the ';Victorian Bestsellers'; exhibit, which is small but very interesting. And just looking through the books in the library itself is fascinating: I only went for the first time very recently, wandered into the library, and the first thing I saw was Schopenhauer%26#39;s copy of Kant%26#39;s *Critique of Judgement*!

On this same day (as long as it%26#39;s not a Monday), you could also visit the main branch of the New York Public Library, on 42nd and 5th. (It%26#39;s known as the Humanities and Social Sciences Library.) The reading rooms are gorgeous, and the collection itself is incredible. They too have a Gutenberg Bible (but alas, only one!), as well as two copies of Shakespeare%26#39;s first folio, one of Jefferson%26#39;s copies of the Declaration of Independence, a copy of the Bay Psalm Book (the first book printed in North America), Newton%26#39;s Principia, Nathaniel Hawthorne%26#39;s passport (!), and all sorts of other strange and wonderful things. Not all of it is only display all of the time, unfortunately, but it%26#39;s worth a trip for the building alone; going there after or before visiting Grand Central would give you a chance to compare two of the greatest Beaux Arts buildings.

If you do go to the NYPL, I recommend taking the free tour, which starts at 11am or 2pm. Here%26#39;s the page for more info on that:

nypl.org/research/chss/services/tours.html

Also, I know your schedule is already deliriously jam-packed, but if you do get up to the American Museum of Natural History and you see their current exhibit of Audubon%26#39;s mammal paintings, you might also visit the New York Historical Society, which is just a block south of the AMNH. They hold 435 of Audubon%26#39;s watercolors, and they%26#39;re currently displaying 40 of the paintings he did for *Birds of America*. Seeing AMNH%26#39;s mammal paintings and NYHS%26#39;s bird paintings back-to-back is an interesting experience. Plus, the NYHS has an ongoing exhibit on slavery in New York that is absolutely tremendous. Here%26#39;s their site:

www.nyhistory.org

My wife and I went to the Morgan Library for the first time last fall and we loved it.

I think that the original rooms of the Morgan Mansion are worth the price of admission alone.

Thise is a character note from the novel Ragtime, one of the best re-creations of NYC, by E L Doctorow

J. Pierpont Morgan

An actual historical figure who made millions of dollars in steel and finance, Morgan is presented in this novel as a mystic who believes in the occult. In his urgency to share his enthusiasm for Egyptology with a peer, Morgan arranges a meeting with Henry Ford, the automobile magnate, but Ford is a practical, simple man who does not understand Morgan%26#39;s complex theory. When reached at sea about Coalhouse Walker%26#39;s demands while barricaded in the Morgan library, Morgan tells the police to ';Give him his car, then hang him.'; Morgan spends a night alone in the great pyramid of Giza, hoping to absorb its mystical energy, and later dies of a cold contracted there.

Pjk

You might also like to take a look at the J. P. Morgan building on Wall Street.....it%26#39;s only one story high ! I once read that Mr. Morgan wanted to show just how wealthy he is by building only a one story building on the most expensive pieces of real estate location in the world. Every other building towers but he make his statement in extravagance by under -building. But, if you do go to Wall Street, be careful.....it%26#39;s a ';Den of Thieves';.

Thanks for posting this Johannes, I had no idea about the Morgan Library. I%26#39;m not sure how I missed it if it%26#39;s been mentioned before but it is now on the ever expanding to-do list!

The Morgan Libray is indeed a treasure and better than ever now that its expansion is complete. Sadly, not all treasures are on display at all times (as is the case with most museums and libraries); however, at any given time a nice, if limited, selection, is on display, along with any special temporary exhibitions.

The library is a nice, if overlooked, gem in New York. It%26#39;s free on Fridays from 7 - 9 pm.

http://www.morganlibrary.org/

Thanks to everyone for the additional information regarding the Morgan Library and thank you especially to Crans for reminding me about the May 6th deadline for seeing the ';Victorian Bestsellers'; exhibit.

Most of the New York guide books I’ve consulted do tend to give the Morgan Library only a passing reference. Certainly, as nyc10025 has noted, the fact that the Library building was closed for a number of years for renovations doesn’t help to keep the Library and its collection in the public mind. But I think nyc10025 is also right about the fact that its collection is not necessarily going to be of interest to everyone. As someone who majored in history at university, however, the Morgan Library Collection contains exactly the type of documents that excite me! I can still remember the time I first visited the British Museum and looked at original handwritten letters signed by Henry VIII and Sir Thomas More; I was in seventh heaven! :-)

I also want to thank Crans for the detailed and very useful information about the New York Public Library, the American Museum of Natural History and the New York Historical Society.

The New York Public Library was definitely on my list of possible sites to visit but then seemed to fade away from my thoughts as my list of potential places to visit and things to do kept growing and growing! :-) Being reminded of the NYPL’s treasures is just the sort of stimulus I needed to get it back on my “to do” list.

I have a feeling that what I do during my week in New York may be determined to a certain extent by what the weather is like. If there are more rainy days than sunny days I may well spend most of my time inside places that I might not otherwise have made time for, such as the New York Historical Society. If the opposite is true and the sun shines brightly and at length during my sojourn in Manhattan, I may be tempted to spend more time outside, walking streets and exploring neighbourhoods.

I just hope that it doesn’t rain on the Monday that I’m in New York since everything seems to be closed on Mondays! I guess the two exceptions are the Museum of Modern Art (closed Tuesdays) and the American Museum of Natural History. Well, if it rains on the Monday that I’m in town at least I know where I’ll be going and what I’ll be doing!

What are the pros and cons of hosting the Olympics in a city

Food & Wine names top chefs - Spotted Pig wins!

If you haven%26#39;t eaten at The Spotted Pig make a point of going - it%26#39;s as great as this award indicates. April Bloomfield is among the stars in this city.

2007 F%26amp;W Best New Chefs

April Bloomfield The Spotted Pig, New York, NY

Gabriel Bremer Salts, Cambridge, MA

Steve Corry Five Fifty-Five, Portland, ME

Matthew Dillon Sitka %26amp; Spruce, Seattle, WA

Gavin Kaysen El Bizcocho, San Diego, CA

Johnny Monis Komi, Washington, DC

Sean O%26#39;Brien Myth, San Francisco, CA

Gabriel Rucker Le Pigeon, Portland, OR

Ian Schnoebelen Iris, New Orleans, LA

Paul Virant Vie, Western Springs, IL

Food %26amp; Wine Magazine鈥檚 Best New Chefs 2007 Biographies

April Bloomfield, 32, is the executive chef and co-owner of The Spotted Pig, a gastropub specializing in seasonal British and Italian food using the best local ingredients. A native of England, Bloomfield began her career at London鈥檚 Kensington Place, then moved on to the city鈥檚 Bibendum and River Cafe (where Jamie Oliver got his start), before landing a spot at Alice Waters鈥檚 Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California. She opened The Spotted Pig with Ken Friedman in 2004.

Food %26amp; Wine names top chefs - Spotted Pig wins!

Good to know.

Next trip....

Food %26amp; Wine names top chefs - Spotted Pig wins!

Yummmmm. Their blue cheese burger is fantastic. Seating is a little cramped, but a lovely place if you can get there when its not too busy. I plan to return in June.

The menu looks lovely. Its on the list!

Best way to get to Brooklyn from Manhattan

I will be going to NY April 20-21. Our first stop is going to be the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. We will then be spending a little time in brooklyn before heading back to the hotel to check in and get ready for dinner/theater.

What is the best way to travel? Grayline, subway, cab? I have never been on the subway and I am afraid of getting myself (and my nervous mother) lost.

I also considered taking the grayline tour but I think from other reviews that will just lead us to be frustrated.

Any thoughts or tips for the subway? From what I%26#39;ve researched, taking the 2 subway from Times square/42nd street is the way to go but it has about 10 stops before we get to BBG.

Best way to get to Brooklyn from Manhattan

If you%26#39;re going from Times Square to the Botanic Garden, then yes, take the 2 to Eastern Parkway, which stops right in front of the BBG. Here are more details:

http://www.bbg.org/vis2/directions.html

Be sure to read poster GreenWhiteBlue%26#39;s wonderful Idiot%26#39;s Guide to the Subway:

tripadvisor.com/鈥?444514

Best way to get to Brooklyn from Manhattan

Don%26#39;t be fearful, the subway is the best way to get around the city. And if you are unsure about anything, ask the nearest person on the street.... don%26#39;t wander around ';wondering'; what to do. There was a recent trip report of someone who walked for miles because the subway entrance they headed for was for the wrong direction. It would have been easier if they had just asked anyone on the street, who could have directed them to just cross to the other side of the street.

Grayline is not a good option for transportation. The subway is the best way to travel between Manhattan and Brooklyn. If you go to hopstop.com you will get step by step directions for walking to/from the subway station etc.

There are several different Grayline tours. The hop on/off tour can be time consuming. In order to see well, you must sit upstairs in the open air. If it%26#39;s not perfect weather, it can be uncomfortable. If you want to consider an overview tour, nypartyshuttle.com and kingofnyc.com are well regarded and even do a half day option.

In addition to the #2, you can also take the #3. Both stop at the station, which is called ';Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum';. The station is also very convenient for seeing the Brooklyn Museum , which is literally next door to the Garden. Disregard the station on the Franklin shuttle called Botanic Garden -- it should NOT be named that, as it is NOT at the garden!

After you finish there you might either hop back on the subway, or perhaps walk down Eastern Parkway, away from the Museum, past the Garden and the Library, to Grand Army Plaza, where you can admire the handsome arch and the ';To Brooklyn'; fountain. There is another stop for the 2 and 3 at Grand Army Plaza, on the side of the arch away from the Library.

Take the 2 or 3 back towards Manhattan to Clark Street, and Explore Brooklyn Heights, including the wonderful Promenade.

Thanks everyone. I think you have convinced me to use the subway. after the BBG, I would like to go to the DUMBO area and walk over the bridge towards Manhattan. will the 2 take us there?

I did look at hopstop and have started my itinerary.

thanks!!

Sweetshe - just to clarfiy, DUMBO is near the Manhattan Bridge, and Brooklyn Heights is near the Brooklyn Bridge. They are close together, but it%26#39;s not the breeziest to walk between the two. (There%26#39;s a highway and other large streets inbetween, etc. Two summers ago, we biked on Furman Street, and then zig-zagged around - really interesting and beautiful urban industrial landscapes, but I wouldn%26#39;t reco walking it.)

I%26#39;m guessing you want to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. If so, take the #2 or #3 train towards Manhattan to Clark Street.

If you want to go to DUMBO, you need to get the F train to York Street, or the A train to High Street.

Map of DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights, showing subways:

www.brooklynnow.com/waterfront/map.html

I don%26#39;t have a Brooklyn bus map in front of me, but I%26#39;m sure that%26#39;s a better way to get from the BBG area to DUMBO.

http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/busbkln.pdf

BOTH the # 2 AND the #3 will take you to Clark Street, which is the best station for Brooklyn Heights, and a good one for the Bridge.

Directions to things in Brooklyn Heights (including the entrance of the Bridge) can be found here:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k866178-鈥?/a>

From Times Square take the #2 or #3 train Downtown/Brooklyn. Get off at Eastern Parkway stop. Trip will take around 30minutes

Who are you NY?

No, this isn%26#39;t an online version of CSI, well not really. I started this thread on the London forum (being a Londoner it seemed a good place to start) and it got quite a good response. So as this is an American website and New York is it%26#39;s biggest city, I thought I would start a thread here. Here%26#39;s how I started the thread on the London forum.

As we are all %26#39;talking%26#39; to each other online, I thought it would be a good idea if we give each other a little bit of background about each other. Feel free to give as much info or as little as you please just so long as it%26#39;s not a complete autobiograohy, just a little bit of who you are, where you come from (including any links back to Britain or Europe as far back as 1492 for our American friends), what we do etc. etc. etc.

I%26#39;ll start. Believe it or not I%26#39;m not the King of Siam despite all the etcs. above (please watch King and I if you don%26#39;t understand). My name is Michael (hence the mick) and I was born in 1967 (hence the 67 thus making mick67).

I am a Londoner born and bred and in particular South London. Born in Southwark, raised in Battersea and now living in Mitcham. My family%26#39;s background though is from Ireland (Co. Kerry and Co. Kilkenny) as my mum was born there and all my grandparents were from Ireland. For my sins I work for a major UK bank in the City of London which pays me a wage that allows me to travel around the world.

Hopefully this gives you an idea but feel free to participate or not and add however much or little as you want.

Well, that%26#39;s me and before anyone asks I will be visiting NYC for the first time in November, my first day will be Thanksgiving, so no doubt I will have more questions nearer that time. One other thing, a commomn theme in the london thread was what pets people have and also an interesting discussion on Muffin tops (think women wearing tops with stomachs showing and you%26#39;ll get the idea).

Who are you NY?

Sorry, should have said that if any of you have a spare hour or so to read the London version of this the link is:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g186338-i17-k10540鈥?/a>

Who are you NY?

hi Mick I posted on the london one so of course will support this one!!

first of our next trip to nyc is the week before xmas and I am buzzing now everything is booked! we were sad when we left nyc before as we didnt know when we would be back however when we go in december it wont be so sad leaving as we will be back in June for my brothers wedding!!

right...I am Helen, I am 33 married to Jay who is a london policeman and have 4 kids Natalie 16, Taylor 11, Jordan 9 and Jennifer 2 (will be 3 in nyc). I have been running a small craft based business on the internet but have more or less stopped that now as I have just landed my dream drop at heathrow, working for an international airline in customer services...which of course means weekend trips to nyc all the time yippeeeeeeeeee.

We live in Esher Surrey which is south west london, not far from heathrow etc. I have always lived around heathrow/surrey.

I travelled to many places as a kid as my dad worked for BA and always adored America. We never made it to nyc as my dad was and still is dead against it as he recalls comments of yesteryear and refuses to believe us. I hope to show him wonderful new york when we all come over June 06!

If I could trade my house for a park ave appt I would! I am disillusioned with london and the uk in general and would love to try something new.

Congrats on your new job, pinkfluffy! I actually got offered a job with Virgin, from an old boss who now works for them, but i live in the furthest reaches of North London so i had to turn it down :-(

Anyway, i%26#39;ve also replied to this thread in the London forum, but i thought i%26#39;d reply here too!

I am Tracey and i currently reside in North London and work in Covent Garden, which is a great area to work if it wasn%26#39;t for the hordes of school kids always in the area on trips out! *lol* I love travelling, esp in the USA, and have so far been to Las Vegas, NYC, Orlando, Miami, Clearwater Beach. I am going over to NYC next weekend for a short break with my best friend, and i hope to go to Orlando later on in the year to visit some friends. The next BIG trip on the horizon after that will be a trip to Australia at some point next year, and maybe a trip to Dominican Republic for a friend%26#39;s wedding!

I love London, i am, after all, a London girl through and through, and i enjoy the whole social side of living in the big smoke. I do have a 5 year plan however, in which i hope to purchase some property in the sunshine state and make all the British tourists that frequent the area, work for me, by renting it out until i%26#39;m old enough to retire and enjoy it!

I love NYC, fell in love with the place as soon as i arrived for the first time in Jan, and i plan to visit many more times in the future!

Okay so here is an American gonna respond. I am Rebecca, 23 years old and I just moved to NYC 6 months ago. I reside in Morningside Heights (which is between upper west side and Harlem... but still a safe neighborhood ;) my parents made sure of that *lol*) Anyhow, I just graduated college and now work in public accounting. I went to college (university to you Brits) upstate (about 1.5 hours SE of Niagara Falls) and moved here for my job. I lived upstate for most of my childhood but moved to Southern California for 8 years (NEVER send your child to a SoCal HS they will be dealing with the reprocussions for years... but I am coping well:) at least I think I am others may not agree). I have no children, no pets (no dogs in the building :( and not particularly a cat person). So pretty much a boring typical single girl living out her dreams in NYC. I don%26#39;t care what anyone says I love London. I studied there and lived for 7 months working at the Starbucks on Dover St by Picadilly (in Mayfair). I love the British, my boss is British and I love your sense of humor. My dream is marry a Brit and move back to London for a couple of years.... We can all dream right? Anyhow, compared to NYC subways the tube is amazingly clean now granted I haven%26#39;t been in 2 years so my memory may have faded but I don%26#39;t recall a rat problem like in NYC. I lived and worked in Central London so the outside stations may be a different story. Each city has its own charms though! I love killing time at work on this forum and have gotten great ideas about where to take my visitors as well as restaurants to try myself. I feel I learn more than I contribute but oh well what can I do? So please fellow NY%26#39;ers and fellow Americans lets hear what you have to say! :)

Well, Here goes... I am Diane. Been a New Yorker for 9 years. Currently living in Hoboken, NJ. Originally from Orlando, Florida but have lived all over the US. I have also travelled all over the US as a stage manager on a national touring broadway musical many moons ago.

My job is as a talent agent. I represent Actors, Directors, Choreographer, composers, lyricists, Screenwriters and Playwrights. I represent many actors in those broadway shows you come to NYC to see!

I am a travel freak. Have been every state in the US and every major league baseball stadium in the US(except the Arizona one, they messed me up!) My favorite cities to visit in the US are San Francisco, Nashville, Boston, Washington DC, Chicago, New Orleans, La Jolla, Lake Tahoe and anyplace in the Florida Keys. International faves include, London, Paris, Galway and Dublin.

Diane...when are you coming to visit us in the Detroit area?? Remember, I owe you a behind the scenes tour of something! :)

Ok, this sounds fun! I am jenny. I just got back from nyc 3 weeks ago. This was my second trip there, as i was 15 the first time, (33 now) I love it there! I am a single mother of a 6 almost 7 year old son, and manage to spend my income tax check on a vacation every year....for myself.

I have been to europe, me and my 2 best friends went there 8 years ago, backpacking for 2 months. I loved bruges, prague, venice, lauterbrunnen, and just all of italy.

This last year, i have been to hilton head island (south carolina) Vegas, and grand lake colorado, where i lived for 8 years. Wanna go back bad, just need to get on my feet a little!

UMMM what else?...........i DO NOT wear muffin tops, and i am a claymate.

redhairgirl, since you%26#39;re a claymate, you might want to know that he%26#39;s performing at the Ohio State Fair August 9th. It%26#39;s not that far from you! Tickets go on sale May 7th. I%26#39;m not actually a claymate, but I like his voice and plan to go to the concert. Maybe I%26#39;ll see you there!

Actually I think I read the London Forum on this subject, very interesting, once in a while I dream of going there.... Someday, For now NYC...

I%26#39;m 44, married for 23 years with 5 children- 21, 19, two 16 year olds and a 10 year old. I used to be an ER clerk HA HA in our small 50 bed hospital in our small town of NW PA. Now I%26#39;m a secretary, I love it. NO nights, no holidays and no weekends anymore; I did love the excitment of the ER though, Great people to work with too.

Our town is 60 miles south of Erie and 100 miles north of Pittsburgh. We do travel almost weekly to Erie for shoping. Buffalo and Pittsburgh for plays and concerts. Erie too. We are in a very small town of about 6,000 people. This is a funny red neck story (hi-pockets said she went to a red-neck bar in NYC) On my way home from Erie (shopping) one 1st day of deer hunting season, I hit a deer with my car (this happens alot in our area, because we have many country roads) I pulled over to check the damage. A pick-up truck pulled over behind me and ask first if we were ok, then 2nd if I didn%26#39;t want the deer could he have it? Of course he could have it, and You all know what he would do with it don%26#39;t you???

I love to travel, my husband would go to ';Porchview'; every year if I didn%26#39;t plan our trips';. We have been many, many places in US and a few in Canada. As for coming from other countries, both my grand parents on mother%26#39;s side came from Poland. Legerski was their name. My fathers grandparents named Carigan, Bly and McDowell came from England and Scottland. All by way of Ellis Island. I have been successful in finding a couple of them though the website. Big reason for touring Ellis island, of course.

We are coming to NYC in Mid June, I do try to find something for everyone, My husband is thrilled that by chance the Yankee%26#39;s are playing the Pittsburgh Pirates.

I hope this isn%26#39;t too long, but it is interesting to read. One thing that we are so different and yet so much alike...

Forgot to add that NY Chick you are soooo brave...

Trip Report Part 4: Uptown loop, Times Square and more!

Day 6 March 23rd 2007

Got up and headed to Ottamanellia Bros (where else?!) for a bagel and to H%26amp;H Bagels for a bagel for me. Got the subway into Times Square to find where we would get the Uptown Loop for the tour. Navigated it well and found it easily and there was a bus waiting right there. Got on the bus and it filled up quickly and we were off.

This time our guide was George and he lived on the Upper West Side. He was a really good guide, he always was telling us some sort of story and had lots to say and told us lots of his own personal stories. Really enjoyed the uptown loop because I wouldn’t have seen Harlem, the UES and museums otherwise. And learned a lot of information! When we went through Harlem there was a man sitting outside a shop giving us the finger and swearing at us, very nice! Everyone else was really nice, so many people waved up at us and shouted “welcome to New York”. Which was nice!

After that we went back down to Times Square to do some more shopping. Stuart was hungry so we popped into Applebees for some random reason. We both had the lunch combo with Tomato Soup and Oriental Chicken salad. Yuck! But we live and learn so yeh don’t even contemplate Applebees!

After that it was done to 34st to take in the shops there. Well in the whole afternoon I managed to go into 3 shops! Speant ages and a fortune in American Eagle, Forever 21 and Sephora. We had to rush back up to the hotel with all our bags and get ready for our night out. We were to meet our friend at her work to collect tickets to a show. We had wanted Beauty and the Beast but she was unable to get them so we got Producers. She wasn’t there and left a note for us to meet us in a bar afterwards as she went to Drowsy Chaperone with her family who were visiting.(They told us afterwards the show wasnt as great as they expected).

It was getting near 8 and we hadnt eaten yet so we just grabbed a hot dog from the street yum yum! Really enjoyed the show, our seats were 3 rows from the back but right in the middle so we had a great view. Such a funny show, wasn’t what we expected it was better. We were kept laughing the whole time.

Afterwards went round to meet our friend and another girl I used to work with who is interning in New York at the moment, and our friends parents where there too. It was a bit surreal, all these people from home sitting in a bar in New York! We went to a small Irish bar for a while then moved onto our friends work for the rest of the night. Had a great night, we celebrated the arrival of Stuarts birthday in the early hours, the barman brought him a little bit of chocolate cake with a candle on it and the whole bar sang happy birthday to him. It was great. We ended up getting back to our hotel at 7am the next morning. We met many interesting people, and it was funny to see Times Square with nobody in it!

I may be coming to America for the summer to work, so I may be back in New York sooner than expected. Im glad, because writing my trip report has made me miss it so much!

Trip Report Part 4: Uptown loop, Times Square and more!

Ok, 7AM???? Wow.

And someone flipped you the bird? Now you know you are in NYC!!!

HAHAHA, just part of the experience.

SOunds like a great time!!!

Trip Report Part 4: Uptown loop, Times Square and more!

Great report, Odile. Just for the record, I always wave at folks on the tour buses. NYCGirl, is your parrot on the loose again?!?

Yes, on the loose!!!!!

ROFL, Bettina!

Great report odile,

Lucky Stuart getting a fancy little birthday cake, with a candle too!

It sounds unbelievable to be walking through TS when it%26#39;s deserted, just amazing.

I hope you weren%26#39;t winding up towards the end though.... I%26#39;m not quite ready to read the end of your report yet!

Oh and Mum, I was traumatised enough by THAT parrot the first time around. Let%26#39;s not bring it back up (NYCgirl, I think you are to blame for this!!!)

Haha yeh I thought it was hilarious, and the guy looked so proud of himself to be giving us the finger. As I said to Stuart, what a legend! But round the corner there was this sweet old man sitting on his stoop who waved really enthusiasticaly at us, so I had to wave back.

Times Square looked great with nobody in it, reminded me of that terible Tom Cruise film Vanilla Sky and he runs up an empty Times Square. Next part is on its way!

sebum

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