No, just a night in New York City.
FM is running in the NYC marathon in November and we’ve put off making plans to go since I didn’t know if I would have the energy to join him. Thankfully, the iron supplements seem to be working so FG and I will tag along. I LOVE being in a big city when a marathon is going on because they close down the streets and we non-runners can roam freely until the first place runners start coming in ~ usually gives us a couple of hours. FG and I walked down the middle of some of Rome and Berlin’s busiest streets when FM ran those marathons. Kind of surreal.
The end of the NYC marathon is in Central Park and most hotels near the park require a three night minimum stay. And if we wanted to go “on the cheap” and stay out near the airport, the hotels were still over $200.00. I must have spent two or three hours researching every last hotel that was remotely close to the finish line and finally found one! Unfortunately, the hotel room leaves us no $$ for food or entertainment 😉 How I wish there was an AFRC (Armed Forces Recreation Center) in the city! The New Sanno in Tokyo is an AFRC and was the only way we could afford a week in downtown Tokyo.
I’ve never stayed overnight in the city although I used to visit frequently when I was in High School. We lived in Connecticut, my dad worked at Rockefeller Center and it was so easy to take the train in. The last time I was there was only for a day in 1989 when I flew up from Memphis for a job interview. I got the job which was in Hawaii. I’m excited to see what it’s like now and can’t wait to see FG’s reaction when she looks up at all those TALL buildings.
Does anyone familiar with New York have some advice for our visit?
Christy
Thanks for all the helpful hints for our upcoming trip to the city. Barbaresco Restaurant will be a good call for Saturday night so FM can load up on carbs before the marathon.
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I was just in NYC this past spring and here are a few suggestions:
–Take the Staten Island Ferry (Free) to the island & back for a great view of the city & the Statue of Liberty
— Check out the NYC Public Library
— It may be too early, but the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular is well worth the money
— FAO Schwarz is tremendous fun
— And, while you’re in the vicinity, Tiffany & Co is just down the street with some of the biggest diamonds I have ever seen on one of the upper floors.
— I didn’t get a chance to do it, but I have heard that a walk accross the Brooklyn Bridge is a good thing to do
–Have dessert at Serendipity 3, 225 E.60th Street…but make a reservation (212) 838-3531
–Stop at Dylan’s Candy Bar, 1011 Third Ave…their retro candy is fun to look at, and their cupcakes are wonderful & shareable
–We had dinner at a great Italian restaurant called Barbaresco, 843 Lexington Ave. between 64 & 65 St., if you wanted a reservation their # is 212-517-2288
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Heidi: Those ABBA songs do have a way of repeating in my head for hours after I’ve heard them 🙂 Unfortunately, no DC trip for me ~ between the medical issues and $$ for NYC, it’s not looking good.
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Oh my I can already hear FG singing those ABBA songs! Too bad the hotels are so expensive . . . you will be glad you did it! Are you getting the group in DC for the ATM?
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Teresa ~ Thanks for the advice.The harbor tour sounds great IF the weather cooperates. Since we’re going to be there for such a short visit, we’re starting to narrow down what we want to see. Part of the fun of NYC is “wandering” around so I plan to leave free time.
KBG: We plan to head over to Rockefeller Center EARLY in the am and see if we can get our mugs on the Today Show 🙂 Plus, I have to show FG where her Grandpa used to work.
Kathy: I know I could have saved lots of money if I waited until the day of to buy broadway tickets but since we don’t have a lot of time, I went ahead and bought tickets for “Mama Mia”
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What about a Broadway show? You can go to TKTS (42nd and Broadway) and get tickets half-price for the shows playing that day. We took the girls to Beauty and the Beast, got great seats, and the girls (me too) loved it! I remember going on a Sunday. The line opened at 11 a.m. and it took about 30 minutes. Take cash, no credit cards accepted.
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You’ll still be too early to see the tree lit up, but it should already be put up by then – you can probably check into it and find out when they put it up. It is a really BIG tree. We took the kids up to see it while we lived in DC – so fun for the kiddos. And of course, with a child in tow, there’s no was to avoid going to FAO Schwarz. That’s fun no matter your age. And they have such yummy – albeit expensive – sundaes in their cafe. Good coffee too. And besides, at FAO you’ll get a flashback from the movie “Big”.
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Hi Patty and John!
Mike and I stayed in NYC in March and loved it! Our hotel was only a few blocks from Central Park. We stayed at the Dream Hotel (55th St & Broadway)and it was great!! The food in NYC is expensive for sure. There was an Irish Pub that had a great atmoshpere and great food too that was a few blocks from our hotel (on the corner of Broadway). I spent quite a bit of time at Central Park and the zoo since Mike was at a conference. If you have time one of the harbor tours are a great way to see a lot of the sights.
Aunt Teresa
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