We are spending Thanksgiving Weekend in NYC.....advice on best way to get around? Top ten things to see? Subway hands down best? Uber over taxi? Are any of the "tours" worth it? Best pizza? Best bagels? We will be there in Turkey Day....suggestion on a place for a decent traditional meal without getting ripped off?
Thanks in advance. I know we have some NYC residents here or former ones
When we lived in Connecticut, we would go into NYC that weekend occasionally, and wife/kids always made that a stop. Make reservations ahead of time if this interests you at all.
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I just came back. I was born there and go at least once a year. That time of year NYC is crowded, don't worry, I mean that's part of NYC. Saying "avoid the crowds" is like saying go to Hawaii but avoid the beach because it will be crowded.
Weather can impact your plans. if it's nice you can walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and go to Grimaldi's for pizza. It always has a line so go around the corner to Ignazios, I think that's the spelling. Take the A line subway back. The bridge can be crowded but it's free, gives great but distant views of Statue of Liberty.
The Staten Island Ferry is free, goes close to Statue of Liberty.
Go to Saint Pat's on 5th Ave. It has the most amazing stained glass in the country-maybe the world. Great building, I always go and light candles.
A walk around Central Park is solid.
I saw, "Come From Away" this time. A great play/musical about the town of Gander in Newfoundland and how they welcomed and cared for people on dozens of planes that
were forced to land there on 9/11. Despite the subject, it's a fun, uplifting show.
Getting around? Subways. That can be a wild ride. Crowded, characters, confusing at times, but cheapest way to get around. Cabs charge while you sit in traffic, frustrating.
Get a map and a subway card.
If the weather is OK, the Gray Line tour around Manhattan- 3 hours-is touristy, and costs money, but informative and you see many things.
People go to NYC and embrace all that it is, or they're put off by it and waste their money. Understand it is different, crowded, but in all the years I've lived or gone there, I've never seen a fight, bullying, abusive cops, or really bad scenes. Be prepared for difference, crowds, people pushing and shoving at times-think subways.
I hope you have a good time and please post about it when you return.
We grew up in north Jersey but I left 36 years ago and really havent spent significant time in NYC since. My Dad commuted into Manhattan every day, worked for the old AT&T and was one of the original occupants (ie AT&T) of the WTC. Back in the '70's it was a somewhat dangerous place to be, but I understand it has improved.
We are staying just east of Grand Central Terminal....
Good location. Many subways at Grand Central Terminal-you're one of the few people got it right, "terminal" not "station".
You can get subways on Lexington. I usually stay two blocks north and one block east of Grand Central.
No comparison to NYC now and the 70s.
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And stay the hell away from Times Square, 5th Ave, ect. The amount of humanity will literally crush you.
Like most things it has been turned from a casual event to crowd-controlled tourist situation. Way of the world these days...
sit and watch the activities there. Get some of the workers there slightly inebriated. Ooops.
There would be 5 or 6 people others there, nothing to it. A nifty little New York City thing for up-late New Yorkers. Especially for those of us who wouldn't dare be seen at the parade itself.
Now it's just some nasty tourists destination, jammed with noisy onlookers who think they've discovered the Grail. Chased the New Yorkers away.
Now I know what the villagers feel like along the Cinque Terre each season.
Lower half has plenty to see and do.
Always something going on along the mall that leads to Bethesda Fountain/lake.
I hate animals, but best boutique zoo ever.
Great vantage points to get a better view of Manhattan.
Link: https://www.timeout.com/newyork/parks/central-park
If you get a recommendation for someplace you might like you should make a reservation. Opentable.com can be searched by date (ie Nov 22) and location (ie Manhattan) and will show which ones are open and have seating times available. I would reserve early.
As far as getting around, I always had good luck with the subway but that was most recently 6 years ago so maybe it has gone downhill.
I think a cab might be cheaper than Uber if Uber has surge pricing during the Thanksgiving holiday but I’m not sure.
I guess you could go to the mandatory Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Other places I have enjoyed are top of the Empire State Building ( but I heard it is more crowded with longer lines and expensive than when I went), Top of the Rock and Rockefeller Center, Statue of Liberty, Central Park. The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum could be of interest. I think they are closed Thanksgiving Day but should be open the day after. Of course there is always plenty of $$$hopping available.
Link: https://www.opentable.com/s/?covers=2&dateTime=2018-11-22%2019%3A00&metroId=8&enableSimpleCuisines=true&includeticketedavailability=true&pageType=0
Subway during daytime hours is generally fine and often fastest when there are crowds.
(You could just get the Thanksgiving Sandwich at Lenwich...it covers most of the Turkey day food groups for $10.49.)
If you like big fat bagels, Ess-a-Bagel on the East side. More old school NY is to go to Kossar's Bialy's on Grand Street. (Murray's bagels on 6th are good as are Leo's if you're down in FiDi.)
We've done the OpenTable thing but really stabbing in dark though they have a decent 5 star rating system
Appreciate the bagel suggestion....we had /noted Ess-a-Bagel as well
No problem paying $50-75/head for Turkey day meal.....the idea of paying $100-125 is a joke
Plenty of good options there, of course.
Celestine on 1 John Street in DUMBO (Down Under The Manhattan Bridge Overpass) just over east river in Brooklyn will give you a traditional dinner with a view of the bridge and the Manhattan skyline while you dine for $78/person they say.
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on your smart phone get MyMTA app - It's free and most helpful.
If it's late at night (and you're too drunk to stand) - Taxi/Uber
Pizza - subjective - "Johns Pizza" on Bleeker Street and 7th Ave (also on 44th street Theatre District) Across the street on Bleeker is "Keste' " for gluten free pizza or go to Harlem on 122 street and Lenox "Casa Sotto" for best Neapolitan Pizza. (gluten free too)
Turkey day dinner - From what I've heard (outside of my crib where I serve the best spread in the city) Crowne Plaza in Time Square - But I'm sure there are many, many other places in the city. Look up in the New Yorker (things to do section)
Top Ten things to see? Met Museum - Cloisters - Frick - would be on my list.
Best of luck
Too many tours. Not sure one needs to find tours as the city is chalk full of events - New Yorker zine or Time Out. or just walk around.
It's the only way to be sure.
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