Thursday, April 8, 2010

Trip to Brooklyn July 2006

My husband and I are staying at the New Brooklyn Howard Johnson%26#39;s hotel in July for two weeks. The address is 599 Utica Ave., any info on the area would be great. do they have a subway station close? What kind of neighborhood is it? Any good clubs or bars for 49 years olds that feel 39? :)





Thanks, Janene



Trip to Brooklyn July 2006


Can I ask you what made you decide to stay here?



Trip to Brooklyn July 2006


I have to be honest, this would not be my to choice of location for a



hotel.





Again, any special reason, visiting family or something?





2 star hotel in an inconvenient area.




This is a very, very odd place for most out-of-town visitors to choose.





I know the area as the 67th Precinct, which -- while not the absolute worst of the 76 precincts in the city -- is certainly considered a ';busy'; house. This is a black community, made up in part of black people of American background, but probably a higher percentage of West Indian immigrants, especially Jamaicans. Utica Avenue is a major bus route, but the subway is at least a half mile away. I do not recall any particularly nice places to eat dinner in that area, or anywhere close. I am afraid that this is not one of the safest parts of the city. I most certainly would not advise you to even think of going to any bars or clubs in that area. Indeed, I really would not advise persons who appear to be obvious strangers and who do not seem to fit into the neighborhood to be walking around on the streets here after dark.





I think you might find your visit to New York City much more pleasant and less stressful if you stayed in a different neighborhood -- indeed, just about any other neighborhood you could find.








Thanks for the info, but we already booked the place for two weeks.



We found it online for $89.00 a night, so we grabbed it. I hope we don%26#39;t regret it. We rented a car, because we plan on going out on long Island and Queens to search out some neighborhoods. We are moving here in about 4 years, my husband is Islandic, and I am from Oklahoma. My husband likes the rockaways, we are thinking about living out that way. He is a college professor and I work for a cal government agency. I want to find somewhere we will fit in. We love New York and we like to stay for a few weeks, so we try to find name brand hotels at discount rates, I hope we will be okay where we are going to stay.




You%26#39;re staying there AND renting a car? Hmmmm....don%26#39;t want to alarm you, but you%26#39;ll be very out of the loop. Not a good place to stay for a tourist. I%26#39;d strongly recommend trying to cancel and find something else.




I am pretty sure that you will indeed regret it.





Is there no way to change your booking? I really do suggest you reconsider.




By the way, when you say ';Islandic'; do you mean ';Icelandic';, or do you mean ';from the islands'; -- that is, the West Indies?






can you suggest a place in Queens, Brooklyn, Long Island, close to the water and subway that wouldn%26#39;t be outrageously priced since we are staying so long.




Try these in Queens:





The Pan American in Elmhurst





La Quinta in Sunnyside





Comfort Inn in Long Island City





All are low budget and no frills, and the neighborhoods are also ';not touristy'; , but they are safer, better, all close to subways, better for tourists.




Thank you, and I meant to say my husband is from Iceland, not Island.

Times Square hotels

Usually we stay at Crowne Plaza in Times Square. Looking for something less expensive this time. Just me and my 15 yo daughter so the area has to be safe - any recomendations for other Times Square hotels?



Times Square hotels


Located at 6th Ave., and 39th St. - Residence Inn Times Square. It is a Marriott



Times Square hotels


I have not personally stayed at these places but know people who did %26amp; were very pleased:





Marriot Marquis



Novotel



Hotel 41




Also Doubletree Suites.




Just stayed at Comfort Inn Midtown. Location can%26#39;t be beat and price was great.




The Marriot Marquis is, in my experience, quite expensive. Unless they do advance deals, in which case NCLindaB, it would be worth checking out what they have to offer.




You should consider bidding on priceline. Go to www.betterbidding.com and ask the moderator how to bid. You just give them your dates, star level and tell them times square area. I would definitely bid 4* as anything lower can be hit or miss .

reliable / affordable car service laguardia to time square

Hello to all who have been so helpful in planning this special 13th birthday for my daughter - we leave tomorrow morning and it has occurred to me that I have yet to arrange for a pick up service. I%26#39;ve taken the shuttles a couple of times before only to be dropped off on a corner somewhere in Manhattan waiting for a van to drive us to our hotel - we stand on a corner and wait wait wait - once for more than an hour). I want to try a car service this time and would appreciate info from someone who has done so before. I would expect this will cost $50 or so us dollars but I want to make sure I won%26#39;t have to wait wait wait anywhere. Is there one better than the other? Thanks!



reliable / affordable car service laguardia to time square


A taxi would work well for you, but if you prefer a car service, I use Carmel %26amp; have had success with them (others have not). Just know that each car is independently owned %26amp; operated.





www.carmelllimo.com





THey usually have discounts coupons, also.





Have a great time with your daughter!!



You are arriving just when the lousy weather we are having is breaking, the forecast looks good.



reliable / affordable car service laguardia to time square


Thank you NYCgirl. I ordered the sun well in advance! Can you tell me where I would find these discount coupons? Thanks again Cyd




http://www.carmellimo.com/Coupons.shtml

NYC Hotel Hint

I need your advise for a Hotel in New York... It will be my first time in the US (6 days in NY and 8 days in Cleveland). I want it to be perfect and ... not expensive. I%26#39;ve been looking for a good deal but didn%26#39;t find any, from an European point of view. I just need it to be nice, decent enough to take my wife and still continue married, close to metro stations ( I was told it can take us any where). My flight to NYC is scheduled to October 30. Thanks in advance.



NYC Hotel Hint


what is your price range?

Building Question.

Hey, gang. Can anyone tell me the name of the building that is just off from Empire State Building? It sticks out among the skyscrapers. It%26#39;s currently red, white and blue like the ESB.



Thanks a bunch. Sorry I am not more descriptive. I think it has a gold tip.





Building Question.


I think you are referring to the New York Life Insurance Building.



Building Question.


Thanks for your response but I looked up the building and that is not it. The gold tip is smaller than the one on the insurance building. Any other ideas?




I was just checking some pictures, and the two I can find with gold tops are the Metroploitan Insurance Building which has a larger gold spire and a clock, and the New York Life Insurance Buiding which has the smaller top. Any good?




Metropolitan -----wish you could edit these posts as it would be so much easier for my clumsy keyboard use!




Hey, great! That%26#39;s exactly it. Thanks. :)




Useless trivia for the day: The old Metropolitan Life Insurance tower at #1 Madison Avenue was the tallest building in the world when it opened, and it was modeled after the bell tower of St. Mark%26#39;s Cathedral in Venice. Its architect was Napoleon LaBrun, who also did the Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul in Philly, and lots of firehouses all over Manhattan -- including the fantasmagorical one at White Street. Originally, the building was much richer in detail, but in a ';modernization'; in the late 1950%26#39;s, it was all scraped off, which is a pity...

Need advice on itinerary of a fourth day in NYC

Please advise if this will work (Friday):





Walk from condo to HARBORSIDE LIGHT RAIL STOP (07302)(On HBLR Hoboken to 22nd) $1.75/$.85 each way 07:42 AM



Arrive: LIBERTY STATE PARK LIGHT RAIL STOP (0730 07:52 AM Walk a short distance on Jersey City Blvd





Arrive at Circle Line Ferry 45 minutes before departure time for 8:45a ferry.





If ferry goes to Ellis Island first, stay on or get another to Liberty Island first to ensure we are there for our 8:45-11:45 SoL tour time.





Statue of Liberty





Take ferry to Ellis Island





Ellis Island Immigration Museum





Take ferry back to Liberty State Park.



Take Hudson Light Rail back to Condo.





Rest for a few hours.





Walk to PAVONIA PATH





Depart: PAVONIA PATH (On Path Journal Sq-33rd St) 04:55 PM



Arrive: 33RD ST PATH 05:11 PM





Stay underground and walk to the 34 ST-HERALD SQ terminal and take subway N, Q, R, W uptown and get off at 42nd St.-Times square.





Transfer to train 7





Depart: TIMES SQUARE - 42ND ST.(On NYC subway 7 05:45 PM



Arrive: WILLETS POINT - SHEA STADIUM 06:15 PM





After game take reverse trip back to Jersey City.





Please let me know if I%26#39;ve chosen the correct transportation for the above and allowed enough time. Thanks!



Need advice on itinerary of a fourth day in NYC


are you on holiday







frightening the way you are so timed



Need advice on itinerary of a fourth day in NYC


On game days, the Long Island Rail Road Port Washington line from Penn Station stops at Shea Stadium. It costs a few dollars more than the subway, but it is quicker and far less crowded. You may want to consider that as an option. (This would mean that you would walk over to Penn Station from 32nd and Sixth -- the main entrance of Penn is 32nd and Seventh.)




I love the wonderful suggestion of the train! I hadn%26#39;t even thought of it. We will also get to enjoy the scenery above ground! I





s it safe to assume there is also a train back to Penn Station when the night game is over?




It is reasonably safe to assume that, but you may want to check with the LIRR.





It should be noted that the #7 train is an elevated -- so lots to see from there, too (indeed, more can be seen from the 7 than from the LIRR...)


  • good toner
  • Chelsea Art Galleries

    Am I correct that most Chelsea art galleries are open Tuesday - Saturday, 11-6?



    Chelsea Art Galleries


    Pretty much, check this:





    http://westchelseaarts.com/



    Chelsea Art Galleries


    Hi



    Also, info on photo galleries (citywide) can be found at this site:



    www.photography-guide.com/l_ex_nyc.html

    Beware of Royal Luxury Limos!!!!!

    Had a really bad experience with them just last week.



    I had arranged a special evening at the River caf茅 for my parents anniversary and wanted to treat them to a limo ride to the hotel afterwards. I contacted the above named company and advised the restaurant my parents would be picked up at 23.30 Past midnight,both the restaurant staff -who were really helpful- and my parents were parading the streets around the River caf茅 looking for the limo, which didn%26#39;t show up.





    Next day, as I phoned them to check what had happened, the person who attended the phone -who was rude to me even before i had a chance to say hello- said they had been waiting on a street adjacent to the restaurant because cars were not allowed to stop with the cabs (surprisingly enough, there were 3 limos parked outside at different intervals and no one at the restaurant seemed to mind) I asked why the driver hadn%26#39;t come up to the restaurant and advised they were waiting somewhere else and he said I was an ignorant and that drivers never do that (I guess non-efficient drivers don%26#39;t) I took a deep breath, still in a concilliating mood, and asked him if he would mind giving us a half hour ride since he had already charged me for a full hour and waited only for 30 minutes as he had admitted himself before (at this point i started doubting he had turned up at all)





    This man named Chris was really mad at me, yelling and insulting me telling me he ';gave no free rides to no one, we were all sick in the head if we thought he would work for nothing...';



    Well I could go on for a few more lines telling you all the obscenities he said but I just think it%26#39;s not worth it.





    I%26#39;m warning you against this company as I think it is no serious company at all. I even doubt it exists as a real company. I checked their website and realized they have no address and no e-mail just a toll free phone number to make reservations and a form where they askfor your credit card details. If anyone knows them or has the address I would be really grateful as I%26#39;d love to contact the owner (if there happens to be someone behind this nasty man) and explain the situation to him/her.



    Never in my life have I felt so ill treated and insulted -as well as robbed.



    Thanks for reading.



    BB





    Beware of Royal Luxury Limos!!!!!


    up



    Beware of Royal Luxury Limos!!!!!


    up




    up




    up




    bbcn





    I%26#39;m so sorry to hear what happened to you with this rogue company. Unfortunately, I can%26#39;t help re locating the company but have you considered contacting your credit card company as they may be able to refund some of your money or do you have such a thing as a Trading Standards dept in NY? Here in the UK it%26#39;s where people contact if they have a complaint about a trader or service. Good luck!




    bbcn





    Have you had any luck with tracing the limo company or getting a refund from your credit card company?




    3 months and still no return...visa is still fighting the dispute...




    Don%26#39;t give up hope!

    drive to niagra falls

    how long of a drive is it to get to the falls? i have a car.



    drive to niagra falls


    About 420 miles from midtown NY. Trip will take 7 to n 8 hours with a couple of pit stops.



    drive to niagra falls


    It%26#39;s quite far. NYC to Niagara Falls is about 8 hours. As an alternative Flights on JetBlue are quite cheap.

    where would you go after a week in new york for an extra

    was thinking of boston any more ideas want to have 2 weeks





    vacation but def a week in new york







    help please





    where would you go after a week in new york for an extra


    On our first ever trip, we went to Boston for our second week and it was great. I personally would recommend that, Washington DC or perhaps Chicago. If you want to go further afield, I%26#39;d go for San Francisco for the first stop and then go to NY ( only because the flight back from the West Coast is an absolute killer for me!)



    where would you go after a week in new york for an extra


    We had the same amount of time but did it a different way - we left Manchester on Wednesday and flew to New York where we stayed for a few days, in the Murray Hill area. We then took a flight on the Saturday down to Charleston, South Carolina and from there went on to Hilton Head Island where we stayed for a week flying back the following Saturday (I booked that flight well in advance and it only cost 拢60.00 return and takes 2 hours) and had a few days more in New York staying this time on the Upper Westside, before returning home one the Tuesday. It worked out very well, mixing the city and the beach.




    Washington DC is a great place to spend a week. Plenty to see and not too expensive. All the Smithsonians are free (even the National Zoo) and it is a nice city to walk around in or the metro is a great public transport system. Depending on your party, I think it would be an enjoyable, relaxing way to spend a week.




    Cape Cod, Massachusetts is a good choice too. Beautiful scenery, dunes, ocean, and quaint seaside towns, plus it%26#39;s close by to NYC.




    A lot depends on what time of year you%26#39;re coming over. Autumn in New England is gorgeous. I wouldn%26#39;t combine Boston with New York as they%26#39;re both city holidays. There are many beautiful country inns throughout New England. The Berkshires, in Western Massachusetts, are particularly beautiful.




    where are you from? what time of year are you visiting?





    do you only want to explore cities?




    lovelylynda - since I just spent 4 days in Philadelphia, I highly recommend that city. A short train ride from NYC, it offers superb attractions, some of the country%26#39;s best museums and restuarants and a rich history.





    Not to be missed - the best art museum in the US - the Barnes Foundation!




    I cant imagine spending more than 2 days in Boston. I%26#39;d vote for San Francisco or a combo DC/Philadelphia trip... Or for something completely different - Jet Blue from NYC to Savannah or Charleston or one of those charming southern places I%26#39;ve never been to...




    Im going to throw Las Vegas into the mix! Depends on if that is your %26#39;scene%26#39; or not. We went to NYC %26amp; Las Vegas last Oct/Nov.





    The flight home was a killer though. We went with Continental, done NYC first then LV.





    Wish we had taken in San Francisco as well though :o(





    Whichever you choose, enjoy.

    6 days itinerary - please comment

    Myself and a friend are coming to New York at the end of September. I have a few things planned but wanted some expert advice before I actually book stuff. This is my planned itinerary. Our hotel is in the Broadway district by the way.





    Friday - arrive by train around 5pm



    Friday night - go to the Empire State Building Observatory for sunset. We fancy the 102nd floor. Is this better than the 86th floor? Or just higher?! Obviously can%26#39;t pre-book 102 which is a bit of a niggle. Will the queue be worth it?





    Saturday morning - go to Battery Park for the Liberty Island/Ellis Island ferry. Get a monument pass for liberty from 10.45-1.45. then go on to Ellis Island. Do they do tours for Ellis and is it worth booking one or is it just as easy to do it on your own?





    Saturday afternoon - Either visit Ground Zero or go on a tour of the UN building. Which would be easier in terms of proximity to Battery Park?





    Saturday night - Booked tickets for the Producers





    Sunday - open to suggestions. Fancy a mooch around Central Park at some point. Probably do a bit of sightseeing. Any places you would recommend?





    Monday - shopping! Thinking about Woodbury Common. Is it worth it or can you get cheap gear just as easy in the city?





    Tuesday morning - 3 hour harbour cruise - 10-1.





    Tuesday afternoon - anything we missed (Central Park, Ground Zero, UN building) plus any other suggestions you may





    Wednesday morning - on the train to Washington





    Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We want to fit loads in,hit the ground running and basically be asleep on the train when we leave! Not like we can come back next week.



    6 days itinerary - please comment


    You don%26#39;t have any museums on your list - and there are spectacular ones in the City ... Metropolitan should not be missed, as well as Natural History, Moma, etc.





    Ta. MMM!



    6 days itinerary - please comment


    Yeah, I remembered after I sent the post that we want to go to the met! Not too sure about the other museums you mentioned but will look into them now. Thanks for the tip.




    Some comments:





    Your hotel is ';in the Broadway district';? Where is that? There is no ';Broadway district'; in New York City. Broadway is a street that begins nearly at the southern tip of the island of Manhattan and runs for the full 12-mile length of it before crossing into the Bronx, where it keeps on going to the Yonkers border and beyond. Do you perhaps mean the area northo of Times Square, where the ';Broadway theaters'; are clustered?





    Friday -- The difference at teh ESB is that you may go outside on the 86th floor, but not on the 102nd, from which you peer out through small windows. Frnakly, I would skip the ESB observation deck altogether, and instead go to the Top of the Rock -- much nicer, roomier, and no lines.





    Saturday -- If you like lots of info about what you are seeing, with explanations of how things were done/used/etc., take the tour. If you don%26#39;t care about all that, see it on your own.





    Sunday -- There is no reason you cannot do both of these on the same day. The WTC site is a ten minute walk from the Battery, but both of those are about three miles from the UN.





    Monday -- I have never been to Woodbury Common in my life, and I don%26#39;t feel the loss. I was amazed when I first learned that people who come all the way to NYC from overseas would actually spend a whole day going to a run-of-the-mill outlet center like Woodbury Common instead of doing something more interesting.





    If you are a fan of architecture, just stroll around midtown -- especially Rockefeller Center, and up Fifth Avenue to the park.





    Downtown around Wall Street and the old part of the city is also worth exploring.

    Trip to Brooklyn July 2006

    My husband and I are staying at the New Howard Johnson%26#39;s in Brooklyn at 599 Utica Ave. What kind of neighborhood is this, and is there a subway station close.



    Trip to Brooklyn July 2006


    Jane, there are subways close, but this is absoultely not a nice area. Change the reservation if possible.



    Trip to Brooklyn July 2006


    A few years ago I would say, no don%26#39;t go there. But the Howard Johnson has only been opened a short while now, less than five months ago. The neighborhood seems to be making a turnaround for the better. it is predominantly Caribbean Americans who live in the area so there are many shops restaurants with a caribbean flavor.



    The subway is not that far off. If you like walking it would be a 15 minute walk to the subway otherwise take the B46 bus and it willtake you to the Eastern Parkway subway station where you can get the #3 or #4 train to Manhattan.


  • good toner
  • WooGo news

    If you%26#39;ve been following ibdkb%26#39;s efforts to expose WooGo%26#39;s practices, you may be interested to know that the Associated Press published an article last week on the illegal hotels controversy.





    Tourists as well as longtime tenants have been caught in the cross hairs, but thanks to ibdkb%26#39;s web site, WooGone.com -- as well as the involvement of dozens of other concerned people -- WooGo is beginning to get the negative publicity it deserves.





    Here%26#39;s a link to the Associated Press story. Crain%26#39;s New York Business has also written on the topic. More press coverage is likely to follow:





    鈥etro.us/metro/local/ap/NY_Hotel_Scams.html







    You can help keep up the pressure on WooGo. Go to WooGone.com and scroll to the bottom of the site. There, you%26#39;ll find links to the NY Attorney General%26#39;s office, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and other authorities who are in a position to crack down on WooGo.





    File a complaint and make your voice heard!



    WooGo news


    Thanks for posting the link--very informative!

    Day 2 Itinerary - please help

    I%26#39;m trying to make the plans for our trip later this month. We arrive on Saturday the 22nd and I have nothing special planned after our noon arrival. (We%26#39;re staying in Times Square and will probably just explore the area between Times Square and Central Park.) For Sunday the 23rd, I%26#39;ve got a full day planned.





    8am: Arrive at Battery Park



    845: Already have tickets to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Pleanning to do both





    Question #1: How much time will it take to get there from the Doubletree Times Square if we take the subway? What route do we take?





    Next stop - Brooklyn. We%26#39;d like to go to Grimaldi%26#39;s and then the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory for lunch and then walk back over the bridge.





    Question #2: What%26#39;s the best way to get to Brooklyn from Battery Park? Assuming it%26#39;s the subway, what route? How much time will it take? We were thinking about taking the water taxi - but not sure if you can go from Battery Park to Brooklyn. (It doesn%26#39;t look like it.)





    Question #3: I was thinking about introducing some shopping... possibly going to Century 21. Is this really out of our way? Would it be better to do this before going to Brooklyn or after we walk over the bridge? Is there other shopping in the area that we should try?





    Question #4: What subway route gets us back from the Manhattan side of the bridge back to Times Square?





    Thanks so much for your help!



    Day 2 Itinerary - please help


    #1 - the ride is around 20 minutes, but I don%26#39;t think the service is that frequent at that time, so leave ample time. Take the 1 train from Times Square southbound to South Ferry station - make sure you are in one of the six front cars.



    Day 2 Itinerary - please help


    If you are going to both the SOL and Ellis Island, you may be ready for lunch out there - can%26#39;t imagine getting through both in much under 3 and a half to 4 hours with another hour for travel to and from - so if you do some Century 21 shopping after your touring, you%26#39;d be getting to Brooklyn around 3 or 4 in the afternoon. May want to do Brooklyn section on another day ... it will also quite probably be hot, hazy and humid - as it usually is at that time of year, be sure to have light, loose clothing, sunglasses and hats with visors - and pack some bottles of water with you. Ta. MMM!




    MMM - based on your input, I think I%26#39;ll skip Century 21. Since we have the girls with us (ages 13,15), I don%26#39;t think we%26#39;re necessarily going to linger a lot at either the SOL or Ellis Island. How long will it take to get from Battery Park to Brooklyn? Is there a single subway route that goes that way or will we have to change? I might consider a taxi if it%26#39;s too much hassle.




    The subway to use to get to Brooklyn depends on whether you want to go to Grimaldi%26#39;s, or just the Brooklyn Bridge.





    If you just want to go to the Brooklyn Bridge, then you should take the R from Whitehall Street to Court Street, or the 4 (or 5, if it is running past Bowling Green) from Bowling Green to Borough Hall. Borough Hall and Court Street are in fact the same station, and from there just follow the directions given here:





    tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k508533-鈥?/a>





    If you want to go to Grimaldi%26#39;s first, this will not be the right subway to use. Instead, take the #4 or #5 uptown from Bowling Green (enter in FRONT of the Custom House/Indian Museum.) Ride in the second or third car, and get off at Fulton Street (Why the 2nd or 3rd car? Because it makes the transfer even easier.) At Fulton go downstairs and take the C or A towards Brooklyn. (Ride in the last car.) Get off at High Street Brooklyn Bridge, and exit near the back of the train. When you go upstairs, you will be on Cadman Plaza West. Turn so that the park across the street is to your RIGHT. Walk down that street (whose name will soon change to Old Fulton Street) to the end -- Grimaldi%26#39;s is almost at the end of the street on the right.

    safe in Brooklyn?

    Why is the area of 599 Utica Ave. so unsafe, is it just during the night, or is it not safe to walk to the subway during the day either?



    Everyone says not to stay there, what is up with the area????



    safe in Brooklyn?


    Janene, if you %26amp; your husband have a gun, bring it. The area is in one of the impact Precincts of NYPD, these areas have the highest crime in the whole city. Trust me, you do not want to stay here.



    safe in Brooklyn?


    I have to pass this place when I go home and trust me if it was as bad as Braveheart or anyone else is making out I wouldn%26#39;t even travel there. As I said I wouldn%26#39;t recommend it a few years ago, but believe me Utica Avenue is a very busy street and it is not that easty to commit a crime and get away with it. Besides there are more cops around there than there is any other part of Brooklyn. Like anywhere you go in New York be careful with your handbag and stay alert.





    I do admit that it is a weird place to have a hotel located because there isn%26#39;t anything to do around there but get on the bus to get to the subway.




    Janene i want to thank you for asking this question. my son has a soccer game in brooklyn this summer and we were thinking of staying at the howard johson hotel at 599 utica. we needed a review of the area and now we have one from travelers and a local resident so we are better prepared to make the decision whether to stay there, which i think we are not. whew! that was a close one. thanks again. Go Sooners!




    Janene i want to thank you for asking this question. my son has a soccer game in brooklyn this summer and we were thinking of staying at the howard johson hotel at 599 utica. we needed a review of the area and now we have one from travelers and a local resident so we are better prepared to make the decision whether to stay there, which i think we are not. whew! that was a close one. thanks again. Go Sooners!

    NYC Hotel Hint

    I need your advise for a Hotel in New York... It will be my first time in the US (6 days in NY and 8 days in Cleveland). I want it to be perfect and ... not expensive. I%26#39;ve been looking for a good deal but didn%26#39;t find any, from an European point of view. I just need it to be nice, decent enough to take my wife and still continue married, close to metro stations ( I was told it can take us any where). My flight to NYC is scheduled to October 30. Thanks in advance.



    NYC Hotel Hint


    If you don%26#39;t want it to be expensive, you have to look for specials on try your luck on Priceline. Since your flight is already booked, you cannot wait at the very last minute so maybe Travel zoo would be more up your alley. Presently, they only have the specials for summer time, but eventually summer will end and the autumn specials will appear.





    You could try the economy chains like Clarion, comfort inn, la quinta, red roof, econo lodge. They usually have clean hotels but no frills.



    NYC Hotel Hint


    ';Not expensive'; by New York standards is completely different from many other destinations. Especially Cleveland.





    If you are able to find a deal for $200 a night or less, you have pretty much hit the jackpot in New York. There are many places for less, but I wouldn%26#39;t say they would often be romantic get-away type places.





    A few I have mentioned here in the past that I have either stayed at or have been told by friends are great, and are very affordable by NYC standards are:





    Hotel Wolcott on 31st St is only a few blocks from the Empire State Building. Doing a quick check they seem to have rooms for $180 per night. www.wolcott.com





    Herald Square Hotel right near Empire State Building seems to have rooms at about the same rate and is also centrally located to Midtown. www.heraldsquarehotel.com





    Portland Square Hotel in Times Square is decent.





    Second Homes on Second Avenue is located in the edgier East Village which I am a huge fan of. And the rooms can%26#39;t be beat for the price. secondhomesecondavenue.com





    Personally, I recommend to anyone Abingdon Guest House in the West Village. It is my favorite area of the city (and home) and the rooms are inexpensive yet very charming and well kept. www.abingdonguesthouse.com




    The Newton Hotel is on the Upper West Side on Broadway and 95th Street. It gets good reviews, especially for value. It is in a safe residential neighborhood with close by shops and good moderately priced restaurants. It is one block from the subway which can get you to midtown in 10 minutes and most anywhere in Manhattan in 30 minutes.





    http://www.thehotelnewton.com/index.shtml





    tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60763-d112039-鈥?/a>

    Trattoria Trecolori-Closed and Moving

    According to their Web site, Trattoria Trecolori, a nice moderately priced Italian restaurant, is closed and will re-open in September in a new location at 254 W. 47th St., between Broadway %26amp; 8th Ave.





    This has always been a good alternative to Olive Garden, we%26#39;ll see what happens.



    Trattoria Trecolori-Closed and Moving


    I%26#39;ve never been but it%26#39;s always been well reviewed.



    Trattoria Trecolori-Closed and Moving


    I weaned my in-laws off Olive Garden in favor of Trattoria Trecolori so I hope they will re-open in the fall. It%26#39;s not easy getting folks who are terrified of Times Square to change. (The folks only come in on bus trips to go to the theater.)

    Fishing In Niagara Falls Area

    I will be in the Niagara Falls area the last of July and would like to do some fishing.. Does anyone know where I could charter a fishing boat in this area? Also does the restaurant at the casino allow you to take your children there for meals like they do in New Orleans?



    Fishing In Niagara Falls Area


    all 3 casinos let you take your children in their restaraunts to eat.





    for fishing charters i found this website: www.erie.gov/hotspot/charter_captains.phtml





    were lucky here, we have lakes erie and ontario, the niagara river and many inland streams. it looks like most charters go out of areas on the niagara river. if your unfamiliar with the area, try using googleearth to familiarize yourself with where these places are all located. niagara falls is about 5 minutes to grand island, 10 minutes to tonawanda, 20 minutes to buffalo.



    Fishing In Niagara Falls Area




    For all fishing info - including licenses, areas, and charter contact info............









    www.niagara-usa.com/fish/fishniagara.html


  • good toner
  • Deciding between Lake george places to stay

    I have it narrowed down to marine village, georgian resort, and julianna. Can someone tell me which they would recommend of the three and why? Thank you very much



    Deciding between Lake george places to stay


    Well all three I have only heard positive things about, so let%26#39;s try to narrow it down to what you are looking for. Do you want to be in town or outside of town? Keep in mind $1.00/hr parking if you visit town. Are you travelling with kids? ages? What do you basically want out of the vacation? Beach time, fun time or quiet?



    Deciding between Lake george places to stay


    We do want to be close to village. We are travelling with a 14 year old and 5 month old. I just want to make sure there is room enough for all of us and that the rooms and area are clean. I know that the georgian and marine village are basically next to eachother and I think they are pretty close to the village. Do you have any reasons to choose one over the other. Thank you so much for your reply. I need to book this today.




    I know the Georgian better, it is right in the village, while Julianna is quite a drive out of the village. The georgiann has amazing food and is a very popular place for weddings in Lake George, which I think says alot for how nice and clean it is. To make your life easier and know you%26#39;ll have a safe, clean, nice place right in town so you%26#39;ll save on parking, pick the Georgian.




    Thank you so much. I guess my one question is it seemed like the georgian doesn%26#39;t offer water activities but marine village does. Do you know anything about that as the marine village does offer water activities.




    Honestly you are on the lake regardless so you%26#39;ll have plenty to do as far as water activities. tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g48016-d9326… That%26#39;s some reviews of Marine Village. There are good and bad, sadly as a local I mostly hear the bad about that one. Dirty smelly rooms, you have to pay full up front, don%26#39;t get your money back if you leave early even if its due to being unhappy. The Georgian is right on the lake also, and they do have their own beach too. The place is clean, friendly and I have only heard positive feedback on it for several years. I have to say its worth the visit just for the food!




    I appologize for at first saying that I had heard positive of all three, I read the name wrong, there is another Marina, so I had them confused. Just thought I should add that to clear up my two different views.. Sorry! Im pregnant I swear I lost part of my mind when I conceived.




    No problem about the confusion. I am still undecided but leaning towards the georgian. Since I said I had it narrowed down to 3, I just wanted to see if you had any other recommendation other than those. The only real criteria is we want to be on the lake and have stuff to do for our teenager. It is nice to be close to village but not a necessity.




    And one other last question-do you know anything about canoe island lodge?




    I honestly have never heard anything about canoe island, sorry. It is further out, again you%26#39;ll have to pay for parking if you come into town and there is more to do with a teenager in town. I%26#39;d say your best bet would be the Georgian with its location, activities, cleanliness, but mainly location. There are others on the lake that have great reputations and activities, such as Lodges at Cresthaven, further up on 9 away from town, Thunderbird Marina and Resort which has a marina next door also out of town, and The Boulders. All of which are out of town, but on the lake as requested. All of them have great reputations for being clean and enjoyable. Hope this helps!

    How is the Tahoe?

    I just booked a 3 night stay and then read some awful reviews on TripAdvisor. According to the resort they had the rooms redone over the winter so I was suprised to read the poor reviews. Let me know if anyone has some REAL info on the place. Thanks.



    How is the Tahoe?


    Well as a local who spends most of my summer at the lake, I hear plenty, also I used to be a hotel manager in Lake George a couple years ago. If you want a place on the lake, be prepared for it to smell like the lake. These rooms do tend to smell damp, well you are on the lake and most people who stay in rooms on the lake swim alot, so that explains that. I recommend two things: bring your own bedding and an air freshener if you dont mind covering up the issues yourself, I recommend Lysol and/or febreeze. If you are picky about cleanliness and want perfection, stay at another hotel. Sadly I have seen alot of summer hotels who don%26#39;t change the bedding often enough. They%26#39;ll freshen up the sheets most every day, or atleast between groups after checkout, but blankets honestly are usually done at the beginning and end of the season unless visibly soiled.

    TKTS and dinner before the show

    My girlfriend and I are going to New York tomorrow, and we’re planning on using the TKTS booth to get tickets for a musical. We don’t have a major preference about which show to see (although recommendations are welcome!), and we’re on a tight budget, so we thought TKTS would be our best bet. We’ve never done this before, so does anyone have any tips on using the booth? What time should we get there? How long is the wait usually? Any tips on how to get the best seats available? (I know TKTS is slim pickings, but we’d still like to get the best of what’s there.)





    Also, we’d like to do dinner somewhere nearby before the show. Something moderately priced but with great food and a romantic/stylish setting would be great. Any recommendations? And if we’re buying tickets at the booth, will we have time to go back to our hotel (in Times Square) to freshen up before going to dinner and then the show?



    TKTS and dinner before the show


    Since you can waste a great deal of time on the TKTS line why don%26#39;t you go to www.broadwaybox.com and look at the discount shows available. The discounts are about the same as TKTS but you can get your tickets in advance and then pick them up at the ';will call'; window at the theater.



    TKTS and dinner before the show


    Thanks for the tip. I checked out broadwaybox, and I like that we can pick our seats and everything. Now, of course, I can’t decide what we should see, and my girlfriend is out of town so she can’t help! I think our top choices are Drowsy Chaperone (sounds right up our alley, but about $20/tkt more expensive than the rest and the site won’t let us know exactly what seats we would be in, just the section (which is huge), so it’s more of a risk…is it worth it?), Rent (we saw the movie and loved it), Spelling Bee (sounds funny), and Avenue Q (also looks hilarious). Anyone seen any of these and have suggestions? Also, having never used broadwaybox before, I’m a little nervous. Has anyone ever had trouble using this site for will call tickets?




    Hi. I have never used broadwaybox.com, so I can%26#39;t help with that. However, I have seen Jersey Boys, Ave. Q, Rent, Spamalot, The Producers, Les Mis, and Chicago on Broadway and can HIGHLY recommend them all. I am going to see the Color Purple tonight, so I%26#39;ll post about that later.





    Jersey Boys is great b/c of the rapport and ';interaction'; with the audience and the music is phenomenal.





    Rent is great as well b/c of the music and the storyline.





    The Producers is great if you want a something funny.





    As for dinner, NYCgirl, left the following post for me which was VERY helpful (see below). Good luck and have fun! (PS - the special offer for McCormick is a Prix Fixe pre-theatre dinner for 29.95).





    Maria Pia is nice Italian



    www.mariapianyc.com





    McCormick %26amp; Schmick - very good seafood:



    1285 Avenue of the Americas



    They offer a special from www.playbill.com (free to join)



    playbill.com/club/…591.html




    Don%26#39;t worry about using broadwaybox.com. Broadwaybox.com is a public site for sharing discount codes, and you%26#39;re actually ordering from the exclusive ticket agent for each show (usually telecharge or ticketron).




    Thanks for the tips, everyone. I definitely think you’re right, broadwaybox is the way to go. So I looked into Drowsy Chaperone (our first choice), and the best seats I can get would be in the very last row of the orchestra, but in the center. (The theatre just has orchestra and mezzanine.) Can anyone who’s been to the show or the theatre give me an idea of how good/bad these seats would be? It’s our most expensive choice, so if they’re not good seats I think we’ll go with Avenue Q.




    Did you try for front mezzanine? See what is available, otherwise go for Avenue Q.





    Either choice will be great.




    Thanks, NYCgirl. Yep, I tried for the best seats available (the site wouldn%26#39;t let me choose the section). I guess Chaperone is out. One last question, I promise! At Avenue Q we can get seats in the third row from the back (21 rows from the front, so it’s several rows closer than Chaperone), but at Spelling Bee (and for $20/tkt cheaper) we can get floor seats literally in the front row. Spelling Bee actually has tons of good seats available. This sounds too good to be true. Is this just because it’s a theatre-in-the-round, or is it that unpopular? Are “floor seats” (right up front) somehow worse than orchestra seats (right behind the floor seats)? If I have the choice, should I go for orchestra instead? Any advice?




    The only one of the shows you mentioned that I have not seen is Spellling Bee. It gets very good reviews and most people love it, but I understand that it is not a ';typical'; show in the Broadway sense, but fun nonetheless (according to those reviews on this forum).





    My preference is a few rows from the front, I hate sitting too close, you have to look up and I find it very uncomfortable. This is a personal preference.





    Again, what about front mezz for Avenue Q? This is the one show that I would advise you to be a bit closer for, because of the puppets.





    Again, any of these would be a good choice, don%26#39;t drive yourself crazy about it.




    Ok, I lied, that wasn’t my last question. But this one is, I hope. NYCgirl, thanks to your tips I think I’m going to go for Spelling Bee. Avenue Q really doesn’t have any closer seats, and I think Spelling Bee sounds fun. The question: The cheaper rate I found is on playbill.com, not broadwaybox. Is playbill a reliable source for tickets, too?




    Absolutely no problem with using Playbill.





    Enjoy, and we would love a review of the show (I need to see this one!!!).

    Bridge Advice)

    I will be in NYC for the Christmas holidays with my parents, wife and children and would like to walk across as many bridges as possible. I have walked the Brooklyn Bridge and will probably do it again. However, this time I would like to also do the QB,MB,WB and the GWB. In addtion, I would like to at least see the Verrazano/Narrows. I would appreciate any advice or suggestions. (GWB.especially from you as I find your posts most informative)





    Thanks





    Scott









    Bridge Advice)


    The easy way to cross the WillyB and the Manhattan Bridges are to take the subway!!





    The J and M trains go over the Williamsburg Bridges and the B, D, N and Q lines go over the Manhattan Bridge.





    If you want to walk these bridges, the WillyB is the better of the 2. Take the F train to Delancey St. Walk east on Delancey toward the bridge. For the Manhattan Bridge, take the #6 to Canal. Walk east on Canal to the bridge.





    Make sure you bundle up! The cold, icy wind really whips at you on the bridges. Might be unpleasant, actually.





    I know it is possible to walk across the George Washgton Bridge, but I have no ideas about it. Check with our local bicycling and pedestrian advocacy group, Transportation Alternatives, for tips. They even have an entire webpage dedicated to walking/cycling the bridges!!





    http://www.transalt.org/bridges/index.html





    Here%26#39;s what TransAlt says about the Verrazano:





    ';Currently there is no way to cross the Verrazano under one鈥檚 own power, no opportunity to stop and savor the kaleidoscope of city, sea and sky. There are two brief notable car-free exceptions: the annual 5-Boro Bike Tour allows bikes on the lower level, Staten Island-bound, and the NYC Marathon allows runners the top and lower level, Brooklyn-bound.';



    Bridge Advice)


    HI, SCOTT





    Looks as if this Fiboro Bridges website was designed with you in mind :-)



    http://transalt.org/bridges/




    Cocklecove - great site!




    Looking at that website, CC, makes me wonder - is there some engineering or historical reason why all the bridges (except the GW) are on the east side, and just tunnels on the west side?




    Oops, I just noticed that the URL I gave is the same one queensblvd had provided minutes earlier -- I got a phone call as I was typing %26amp; didn%26#39;t refresh my screen before posting so didn%26#39;t realize it was going to be a duplication.





    Warmwinds, I think the bridge/tunnel difference you observed is because of the Hudson River%26#39;s role as a shipping lane; unlike bridges, tunnels don%26#39;t interfere with maritime traffic.




    Cocklecove - thanks for giving props. Great minds think alike!





    Why bridges on the East River? Let%26#39;s face it: Queens and Brooklyn deserved more majestic connections to Manhattan than New Jersey.





    There are also legitimate technological, geological and political reasons for bridges vs. tunnels. Here%26#39;s a history of the Queens-Midtown tunnel (an East River below-ground crossing) that explains some of the background.





    www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1371068





    Includes links to other tunnels and bridges, too. Enjoy!




    Why bridges on the East River? Let%26#39;s face it: Queens and Brooklyn deserved more majestic connections to Manhattan than New Jersey.







    Hey, we former and current New Joisians resemble that remark!




    QB and CC, thanks for the info and the website. We have come as a family for the last three years and this trip over Christmas could be my last for a while (parents getting older and children screaming for Disneyworld) I really want to see as many bridges as posible and any other architectural ';wonders'; in case I%26#39;m staring at Minnie Mouse next year. I really appreciate the help and if you guys can think of anything else (bridge related) let me know



    \



    Thanks Scott




    FYI, if you%26#39;re a ';bridge person'; you should read David McCullough%26#39;s book, '; The Great Bridge'; about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. amazon.com/gp/鈥?/a>




    Great websites. Thanks for sharing.



    What%26#39;s the easiest way to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge? When we were there last, we really had no idea how to get to the bridge to walk across, short of grabbing a taxi and having him drop us off at the bottom. Is there a bus/subway that stops right by the bridge? I really don%26#39;t want to walk across, just half-way to get a glimpse of the awesome views from the bridge and then walk back. Any ideas?

    cheap and close to the village

    Ok, so I am going to be celebrating my 21st birthday next weekend and I am looking for a cheap motel to stay in for a couple nights. Idealy, I would like it to be as close to the village as possible so I do not have to walk very far. Even if I cannot get as close as I would like, walking distance is preferable. Can anyone help me with this? Thank you very much :)



    cheap and close to the village


    www.lakegeorge.com is your best bet, I%26#39;ll give you a quick list of hotels to check out that are affordable but not run down. Affordable doesn%26#39;t have to mean dirty. Happy birthday by the way!! I%26#39;ll mention some great places for you to celebrate after the hotels. Prospect Aire, on Mohican, about a block up from town, cute starting at $59.00/night but clean enough last I knew. The villager starts at $73/night, its closer into town right on the main strip (Canada Street aka route 9) it%26#39;s also next door to DJ%26#39;S the best Happy 21st bday place to go. I%26#39;ll gi into details about that in a sec. The Windsor also on main street but farther away to walk, older motel that looks like it was left over from the days of Elvis but ok enough, starts at $69/nt. Ok start there let me know if you need more. As far as places to celebrate if you want to drink and have a good time... DJ%26#39;S is the best place to start in my opinion, as long as you like dance music. It%26#39;s in the main street, next to the Villager Hotel, keep in mind they are open til 5am or so, if you are an early to bed kinda person you may want to go elsewhere if you need quiet. There is an outside deck to sit on with its own bar, grill, bathroom and waitresses do come out. The dancefloor is inside, with a tv so you can watch everyone on the floor or they can watch you. Three bars I believe total, 2 grills last I knew, bouncers at the entrance and near the dancefloor, you can see the dj from the floor and make requests, tables to sit at outside and inside that are off the dancefloor area so you have room. Buy your waitress one shot, half of them will drink with you and be well toasted hours before their shift ends, and trust me they earn it. Neptune%26#39;s is the other dance place, on the lake itself, can%26#39;t miss it on the boardwalk just to the right outside of the Village Mall past Christie%26#39;s. You can sit on the deck and enjoy the breeze off the water, the bar up there is usually quieter with less line. Food for lunch and dinner, music varies from dj to live bands. This place is huge, I have gotten turned around and lost more than once there, I blame Captain Morgan. There are two stairs atleast that head upstairs one on each side of the building. Downstairs is pretty big, bouncers outside checking id and keeping everyone in order, nice place overall but I prefer DJ%26#39;S. Christie%26#39;s on the lake as I mentioned before is also a decent place to stop into. No cover that I have ever known of, sometimes there is a cover at Neptunes sometimes not, dj%26#39;s I think almost always has a cover which is one downside. Christie%26#39;s on the Lake is the actual name, runs alongside the Village Mall, is half outside under a tarp, decent lake breeze, half inside which is hotter obviously. Good luck trying to get to the pool table, also where the tiny bathrooms are, but you can try to wait in line. Usually just live bands entertaining I%26#39;ve never heard a dj there. Duffy%26#39;s is higher up closer to Shepards Park, its an irish pub place, was mainly an older crowd but not bad. Guy downstairs out front checks ids. Usually bands too, sometimes radio/cd entertainent. John Barleycorn is another Irish pub/restaurant I have heard is fun at night, i%26#39;ve only been there to have corned beef myself. Live bands that I know of for entertainment, no cover that I have ever heard of, Good food. I had a couple friends come one summer from Ireland, they practically lived there at night, other than bouncing to the other places when the rest of us were off work. Try to get your drivers license updated before you come if you can, otherwise you may have to point out several times you are turning 21 while you are here. Hope this helps, have a great 21st!

    Bus Question please

    Maybe a few stupid questions... but need to clarify:



    For example...



    Looking at the M42 bus schedule at mta.com. Appears as if it only has 6 stops. Hopstop tells me I can get on at W. 42nd and 10th but it%26#39;s not listed as one of the 6 stops. Are there other stops besides what is listed in the schedule?



    Next ?: In order to get off at one of the listed 6 stops, you don%26#39;t have to push/pull bell or anything do you? How about if there are other stops besides those listed in the schedule?



    Also, looks like there are buses every 2-3 minutes in the morning, every 5-7 minutes thereafter. Does that sound about right?



    Finally, I%26#39;m sure I%26#39;ll see it when I get there, but just want to verify that there are bus stop signs/locations on the side of the sidewalk?



    Thanks!



    Bus Question please


    I just looked at my bus map and it does not seem to be a limited bus route. Some routes have the regular one and a limited one. That means the limited one (like the M5) runs weekdays at rush hour time and does not stop everywhere. The bus signs on the streets are very vell indicated and you cannot miss them. If you see a limited sign, that means it only runs at certain hours of the day.





    I don%26#39;t think that%26#39;s the case of the M42. I%26#39;m pretty sure there is more than six stops on the whole circuit from east to west and back.





    You have to signal your intention to get off by pushing or ringing (don%26#39;t worry you will see it very clearly, it cannot be missed) because you cannot step in front of the white line that%26#39;s beside the driver. They are really strict about it in NY. I live in Mtl and not a driver says a thing when you get in the door before the stop and out of habit I do it in NY and the driver always tells me to step back and to push the thing to make the bell ring. Most of the drivers are super nice in NY and you can ask them any questions and they will answer. People always ask me when coming on the bus if it stops at a particular street and they always answer.





    If you are in town for a couple of days, you should buy an unlimited metro card. They sell them in subway stations and certains delis. The first times I went to NY, I was always searching for 2$ in change but now I buy the metro card. You save money and it is more convenient.



    Bus Question please


    another tip: sometimes when the bus driver opens the door to let people on/off at a stop, the back door doesn%26#39;t always open. i mean, 99 percent of the time it does, but if you%26#39;re trying to get off and the back door is not opening, don%26#39;t panic. just yell ';BACK DOOR!'; and the driver will open it. :)




    Since the schedule handouts would be very long %26amp; cumbersome if they included every stop (often just 2 blocks apart), the MTA%26#39;s bus schedules only indicate some of the stops along a route to give one a general idea of time in transit.





    I predict you%26#39;ll do just fine :-)




    I forgot to say that it is the best way to see Manhattan north to south and east to west for not much money. I don%26#39;t take cabs since I buy a metro card. You will save a lot of money, and contrary to Montreal, the buses are climatised (not sure about the expression, because my first language is French) so you don%26#39;t suffer the terrible heat in July or August!!!! It can get really hot in summer time in NY and it is a nice way to escape the heat.




    The M42 does indeed stop at 42nd and 10th in both directions. The stops are approximately one block apart, but as they are avenues the blocks are quite long.





    Port Authority is the busiest stop on 42nd and 8th. During morning rush hour going east the bus gets quite full there and in the evening rush hour going west ,many people get off. There is also traffic from Grand Central Station, the Javits Center if there is a big show, and The Circle Line, Intrepid and Ferry service.





    Are you staying at the Travel Inn?




    Crosstown buses stop at every corner and so far as I know so does the M42. Forget the bus schedule since most buses arrive later than the scheduled time except in the dead of night when there is little or no traffic.




    Thank you all! Yes, I think we%26#39;re staying at Travel Inn for at least part of the trip. Going with my Mom who thinks walking to 7th Avenue is W-A-Y too far! :) Was hoping to take a bit of the walking off of her. And yes, was planning on a 7 day pass - seems the best economical deal of the trip! :)




    Yes - do plan on the 7 day unlimited stop metro card for you both - it makes travel on bus or subway so easy. And bus travel, either cross town (East to West to East) or up/down town (North to South to North) is a super way to see the city. And yes, buses are A/C%26#39;d - however - if it has made a lot of stops with a lot of opening doors - it may not seem to have much AC.



    Enjoy your trip. Ta. MMM!




    And bus travel, either cross town (East to West to East) or up/down town (North to South to North) is a super way to see the city





    GWB, are you reading this thread? :)




    I was away for the holiday, and just read it this minute.





    One thing that confuses some people about the bus and subway schedules is the problem cited, and that CockleCove answered properly. Because a bus route may be quite long (think of the B41 running ALLLLL the way down Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn!!), and there is a bus stop every two or three blocks, it would be impossible to give a manageable-sized schedule that lists every stop. Instead, what you are told is the ';headway'; between buses (so you know whether you have to wait two minutes or twenty minutes until the next one), and you are given major streets along the route to give you and idea of how long it should take you to get from point A to point B. If The schedule says, for example, that it takes 50 minutes to get from 14th Street to 125th Street, and you are travelling from 12th to 120th, you can calculate the difference based on that.





    You should also keep in mind that north-south (Avenue) traffic in Manhattan is always faster than crosstown (street) travel. A bus that is travelling one mile north on Third Avenue, for example, will probably arrive at its destination sooner than a bus travelling across 50th Street for only half that distance.





    What this means is that it could make sense to sightsee along a north-south bus route, but an east-west (Manhattan) bus route may just be frustrating in heavy traffic.


  • good toner
  • Help on Itinerary

    My family is going to NYC for 2 days in August. I was wondering if this is too much to fit into 1 day:


    Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island


    Madame Tussaud%26#39;s Wax Museum


    NBC Studio Tour


    Empire State Building



    Thanks



    Help on Itinerary


    That%26#39;s a lot for one day. Possibly cut out Madame Tussuad%26#39;s and go to Top of the Rock instead of ESB because you don%26#39;t have to wait on line.



    Help on Itinerary


    On top of which, Top of the Rock is in the same building as NBC. Besides, Rockefeller Center is worth seeing for itself, you have St. Patricks to be seen directly across the street, and you can stroll up Fifth Avenue past the interesting shops to the southeast corner of Central Park in ten minutes.





    The most direct way to get from the Battery to Rockefeller Center is to take the #1 train from South Ferry station to 50th Street station (which on the #1 is at the corner of 50th and Seventh Avenue.) Walk across 50th to Sixth, then another half block towards Fifth -- and there you are.




    WHOOPS sorry - it is at 50th and Broadway, but since this is just above Times Square Broadway is just a few yards from Seventh -- walk as above from 50th and Broadway to 50th and Seventh, and then continue as above.




    Thanks this is all helpful!

    NYC to Niagra Falls

    We are wanting to travel independantly from NYC to Niagra Falls (3 adults and 1 child) Have been previously on an organised day trip but thought doing it ourselves would be much cheaper - intend to fly Jet Blue from JFK to Buffalo - would like to know how easy it should be to get a taxi from Buffalo to the falls and if any paperwork (other than passports) are needed as we intend to go to the Canadian side



    NYC to Niagra Falls


    We only needed passports when we entered Canada from the US last year. Are you going back into the US for your flight home? If so, ask if you can keep your Visa Waiver form (you%26#39;ll need to show your airline ticket), and it%26#39;ll save some time on the return( I speak from experience of NOT having it for the return!)



    NYC to Niagra Falls


    Hi Yankies - Just go to the search line at the top of the form and type in Niagara Falls in the blank space and press GO. You will find lots of helpful advice on going to Niagara Falls from NYC. You might have to wade through a few posts but I remember reading about the best way to get to the Falls from the airport in Buffalo, etc. There are a number of options. Have fun!




    It%26#39;s about a 30 minute drive from Downtown Buffalo to Niagara Falls, an easy drive though not sure about in a cab.





    Passports is all you need. We found it more difficult coming back into the USA !





    Make sure you visit Cave of the Winds when in Niagara. It%26#39;s on the US side, on Goat Island. It was the best Niagara attraction and the cheapest!





    Barbie




    Thanks for the advice we will certainly visit Cave of the Winds - can I ask - what did you mean about having problems getting back into the US?




    No problems, they just asked a lot more questions. But that%26#39;s the Americans I guess.





    They wanted to know where we were going and why - ';our hotel, cos that%26#39;s where are stuff is!';





    We did take the confirmation of our return flight as we%26#39;d heard they%26#39;d check this kind of information to make sure you%26#39;re gonna leave but they never checked any of it, just the passports.





    On the same holiday we also did a day trip into Mexico and it was easier to get from Mexico to the US than it was UK to US or Canada to US.





    You%26#39;ll be fine!





    Barbie




    Just the Falls? ... A taxi can work, but you should price out a rental. I often do rent there as I fly into Buffalo and get a car to visit friends and family on both sides.





    However, there are nice places to visit downstream. I like Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario and Fort Niagara, New York. They are opposite of each other where the Niagara enters Lake Ontario.





    I%26#39;ve crossed the Niagara River for almost sixty years and always point friends to the other features I mention. In fact, I was just there in May and convinced friends to do just that in addition to visiting the Falls.





    I%26#39;ll admit to spending two weeks in Great Britian and not driving because I worried about driving on the ';wrong'; side. It was easier getting around with public transportation there than you will find in the Niagara area.

    Happy Independence day

    Sending my best wishes from ';across the pond';, to friends old %26amp; new. Have a fantastic day, enjoy whatever you may do!





    Nets



    x



    Happy Independence day


    Nets...very poetic! Sending greetings from Sunderland as well. Hope you all have a good day, and for those of you who might see my baby, say Hello!



    Happy Independence day


    Happy July 4th guys - have a good one =)





    Louise xx




    happy 4th of july folks- hope you have a fab day :o)




    enjoy your day!




    Wow! Thanks folks for your greetings - this NYer really appreciates your warm wishes. I%26#39;m going to meet some folks for brunch and then visit with some other folks for a Scrabble fest. In the evening, I%26#39;ll be home, away from crowds, and watch the fireworks on TV. It%26#39;s going to be a hot, hazy and humid day in NYC, so all my plans include AC! Ta. and many thanks. MMM!




    Karen is Helen still in NYC?




    She is Nets--- she leaves on Thursday evening.




    Lucky lady... what i would give to be there today, or any day.. lol





    Is Bettina playing hostess with the mostess?




    Believe it or not, they only managed to meet up last night as things had conspired against them. I%26#39;m hoping they had a good time, it was Dan%26#39;s first time at Carmines!




    I%26#39;m sure they had a fantastic time! I am still green with envy!

    See NY by bus tour or make our own arrangements?

    Hi all,



    My husband and I have three or four days to see NY in early September. We%26#39;d like to get a taste of the %26#39;real%26#39; NY, as well as see the mandatory tourist spots such as the Statue of Liberty, ESBuilding etc. Are we better just making our own way around Manhattan via foot/subway, or doing one of these one day bus tours to see all the sights?



    Thanks,



    OzTourist76



    See NY by bus tour or make our own arrangements?


    The bus tours really are wonderful and give you an overview that you can%26#39;t get yourself in just a few days. But I%26#39;d also suggest making your own arrangements for other spots as well - ESB or Top of the Rock or both, Central Park and a couple of museums. Especially the Metropolitan.



    Have a great trip. Ta. MMM!



    See NY by bus tour or make our own arrangements?


    I%26#39;d do one of the tours --either NY Party Shuttle or Marvelous Manhattan. Then you can go back to those places that interest you on your own. I think one of them drops you at the Empire State building at the end of the tour. That and the Statue of Liberty are very time consuming to do and wouldn%26#39;t make sense as part of the tour.





    nypartyshuttle.com



    kingofnyc.com




    i would book a big apple greeter as they are wonderful.



    before our trip, we did plenty of reading and then wandered around on our own with the use of a metrocard



    www.mta.info/metrocard/mcgtreng.htm#unlimited



    for your trip, i%26#39;d suggest a 1-day fun pass for US$7/day each day.



    have fun.




    Can sometime tell me how the Big Apple Greeter principle works and how we organise it ?





    Thanks



    Peter




    You can do one of the bus tours to get an overview of the city. It may give you ideas of what you%26#39;d like to go back and explore on your own.



    NYC is very easy to et around by Subway, busses and taxi%26#39;s.



    Taxis are easy to come by most times of day.



    The one day fun pass only makes sense if you will use it more than 3 times in that one day.



    sometimes the best suggestion is to just get a metro card and put about $10 or $20 on it. For every $10 you get an additional $2.



    This gives you 6 rides between you and your husband. You can share the card and use it one after the other. It is also good for transfers between busses and trains. If you were to both use it to enter the Subway one after the other it would then remember that you had to transfers if you were to switch to a bus.



    The unlimited ride cards may only be used by one person (it will not let you swipe it immediately after it has been swiped) and only make sense if you will indeed be rideing the Subway a great deal during the day.




    It is a nonprofit organization that pairs visitors with volunteer ';greeters'; who show various neighborhoods, or show you how the subway works, or just gets your oriented to the city. It is totally free, you must have a hotel reservation to apply, and unfortunately, not every applicant gets a greeter, it is the luck of the draw.





    Check the website for more information:



    www.bigapplegreeter.org





    Is it worth it? Absolutely.




    sorry, that would be two(not to) transfers. I wish this had spellcheck.




    Just to clarify the above info transfers are good if used within 2 hours of initial swipe, from bus to bus/ subway to bus/bus to subway but not subway to subway.




    There actually are a couple of subway locations where you can make a subway-to-subway metrocard transfer.




    Iddev:





    Did not know that, do you know which ones?





    Good info to know.

    Kitesurfing on Lake George

    Hi,


    We are planning a weekend getaway to Lake George next week. We are looking for places that will have a kitesurfing rentals for begginers, who are interested in this new sport.


    Any suggestions?


    Thanks




    Kitesurfing on Lake George


    http://www.adkwaterski.com/index.php http://www.daggettlake.com/waterski/ www.visitlakegeorge.com/sports_r.cfm… The first 2 are places that offer skiing, the third is a site for all different types of sporting attraction companies in our area. Hope that helps!



    Kitesurfing on Lake George


    Thank you for information, and if there is anything else, keep me updated.

    NYC to Boston

    Would like to know how easy it is to travel by train from NYC to Boston - would like to spend a day there time permitting - would like to know approx journey time and from which station - Penn or Grand Central - any help appreciated



    NYC to Boston


    Hello



    My boyfriend and I did this trip last year but we were just travelling from Boston to NYC for the second half of our trip. It took 4 hours 10 mins with the Amtrak cheap ticket (you can go express and its 3 hours but more expensive).





    Pesonally I would want to spend a night in Boston or something to make the journey less strenuous - we stayed at Jurys and it was amazing so would recommend there if you do stay. The stations you want are Penn St (NYC) to Back Bay (Boston).





    Hope that helps



    NYC to Boston


    If you have travelling with 2 or more people, Amtrak offers a couple of discounts for you. Don%26#39;t know which one would work best for you, so do your online reservations search twice, using promotion code V383 the first time and then H620 the second time.





    You enter the code at the bottom of the ';Select Train'; page, which is the page which opens after you put your departure %26amp; arrival cities and dates of travel in the Fare Finder box%26#39;s on Amtrak%26#39;s home page.



    http://www.amtrak.com





    Another day trip to a destination historic interest -- but closer and less expensive than going to Boston -- would be Philadelphia. Those same promotion codes should work for that trip too.




    For fraction of the cost you could try the Greyhound from Penn Station or the ';Chinatown buses'; Fung Wah Bus or Lucky Star bus. They are $15 each way ($30 RT). Can%26#39;t beat the price...less than gas. It will take about 4 to 5 hours with a rest stop depending on traffic.




    I honestly can%26#39;t recommend taking a bus to Boston, especially one of the Chinatown-based ones, to vacationers who can afford another alternative -- be that Amtrak, flying via JetBlue or the Delta shuttle, or the Limoliner -- especially if you%26#39;re traveling with a child. But for a full airing of the topic, see this discussion on the Boston forum earlier this year:



    tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60745-i48-k477091鈥?/a>




    I honestly can%26#39;t recommend taking a bus to Boston, especially one of the Chinatown-based ones, to vacationers who can afford another alternative -- be that Amtrak, flying via JetBlue or the Delta shuttle, or the Limoliner -- especially if you%26#39;re traveling with a child. But for a full airing of the topic, see this discussion on the Boston forum earlier this year:



    tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60745-i48-k477091鈥?/a>




    I took the Acela from Boston to NYC last week and it took just over three hours. Amtrak goes into Penn Station in NYC and the South End station in Boston. The trip was extremely easy- just showed up a half hour before the train was to leave, someone was available to help me with my luggage, and even gave me a suggestion as to where to sit for the best view. Unless you leave on one of the early morning trains, you aren%26#39;t going to have a lot of time to look around. As another posted suggested, you might want to spend the night to have more time to enjoy the day.




    CockelCove,



    You are consistently very adamant with your recommendations against the bus, but have you had a personal experience riding the bus? I have travelled by all modes from NY to Boston, mostly by car. Recently I tried the Fung Wah and Lucky Star since my destinations are very near both stops (South End and Tribeca) and was very pleasantly surprised.



    The feedback are overwhelmingly positive from all those that I know to have taken them and none of them are starving students nor ';wierd';. There is perhaps higher percentage of Asian passengers on the ';Chinatown'; buses.



    Granted, it is not anywhere luxurious, but it%26#39;s clean (but I wouldn%26#39;t go into the bathroom), Fung Wah bus I was on was new, drivers were excellent, and the ride only took 30 minutes more than the Acela. Of course, you must time the travel well so that you don%26#39;t have to deal with packed bus and rush hour.



    If money is no option, go with the more comfortable plane or Acela, but it%26#39;s a nice option for anyone who wants to save $150 bucks off the round trip Acela price. And for those who want to end in Penn Station, Greyhound has lowered its price to $15 as well.




    All Amtrak trains (i.e., intercity as opposed to suburban commuters) to and from New York use Pennsylvania Station ONLY. Grand Central Terminal is now used only by the Metro North Railroad.





    There are two different stations in Boston that you might use, depending on where in Boston you are going. Those two stations are Back Bay and South Station -- with South Station being the terminus of most trains that go to Boston, and Back Bay being the stop just before it.




    bluesky, I%26#39;m glad you were pleased with your bus experiences even sans a bathroom visit and can fully appreciate why you%26#39;re happy to leave the driving of that trip to others, I-95 is a PIA. Having posted the link to the lively Boston Forum discussion so that people could see the wide variety of opinions -- pro and con -- voiced there, I%26#39;m not going to rehash here my reasons for why another mode of transportation is preferable for those on holiday.





    I would like to note, however, I was *not* the one who opined in the Boston Forum that the Chinatown buses were full of ';starving students'; and ';weird'; people as your post could suggest to others I did.




    While in NYC, we were thinking of taking a daytrip to Salem. We visited Salem year before last and absolutely fell in love. However, I%26#39;m find the rental car policies in NYC to be troublesome! They want to put a hold on $400 on my card and that%26#39;s just not something I%26#39;m willing to do as I need all the spending money I can get while in NYC. I don%26#39;t think the train would be a very good idea either. I remember you can take a little commuter train from Boston to Salem but once we get to Salem, how would we drive around and sightsee? Anyway, can anyone think of any ideas? Know why the policies are so much more strict in NYC? I wonder if taking the train to Boston and then renting a car in Boston would be better? I think that sounds too time consuming though.


  • good toner
  • tickets for a mets game?

    can i find tickets a couple of days before a game or do i have to close them weeks in advance? i want to see them play the cubs at the end of july. which seats are close enough to see well but not extremely expensive. i don%26#39;t really understand the seating numbers.



    tickets for a mets game?


    Can you find tickets? It depends on whom they are playing, where you want to sit, and the day/hour of the game. Of course, this year the Mets are red hot, but in more dismal years in the past, I have walked up to the box office twenty minutes before the game and gotten tickets...



    tickets for a mets game?


    alexia05,



    Here%26#39;s a link to the seating/price info for the Mets games: 鈥lb.com/NASApp/鈥eating_pricing.jsp





    (The dates they play the Cubs are considered SILVER games, so keep that in mind when checking out the prices.)

    A Subway question!

    Hi Everyone!



    I%26#39;m trying to plan out my days in NY. I want to know how much travel time on the subway to allow for between certain sights %26amp; was hoping someone would be able to help me out.





    We have a helicopter ride booked for 9:00am which will be taking off at W.30th %26amp; 12th Avenue...I wanted to know if 40 minutes will be enough time to reach our next destination...Pier A at Battery Park for a 10:00am cruise.





    I tried hopstop which is a great website, but wanted to confirm the travel times it mentions...any help would be great!



    A Subway question!


    Well, you are way on the west side, there is no subway very close, I would take a taxi right down to Pier A at Battery Park!





    Don%26#39;t think you would make it via the subway.





    Better idea - can you make your cruise a little later? What if you get stuck at the heliport, or there is a delay, who knows?





    You will be stressed thinking about your next activity instead of enjoying what you are doing that moment.





    Choice is yours, but think about it.



    A Subway question!


    Thanks for the advice...





    Luckily, the cruise happens every hour %26amp; you don%26#39;t have to book in advance...if we don%26#39;t make it on time then we%26#39;ll just hop on the next one @ 11:00am and explore the financial district %26amp; Battery Park instead.




    If that is the case, then I would walk along the west side, they have made the waterfront so pretty, with paths %26amp; restrooms, this may be an enjoyable walk for you if you are not in a hurry.





    You will pass Chelsea Piers, The Meatpacking area, Greenwich Village, the World Finanancial Center, with great views of SOL.





    What route did hopstop give you, by the way?




    If you get a cab at the heliport you should make it to Battery Park with ease. It would be touch and go if you went by subway. The subway station you can use is either at 34th and 7th Avenue or 28th and 7th avenue. You would take the #1 train to the last stop, South Ferry.




    Your problem here is not really the subway, but getting to it or from it.





    The closest subway station to Pier A is Bowling Green, but that is on the Lexington Avenue line, and you cannot get there easily from Pier 70. The second closest is South Ferry on the #1, which you would get at 34th and Seventh. Now, 34th and Seventh is just about one mile from the North River (a.k.a. the Hudson) and Pier 70. How would you get there? Would you walk? That would be about twenty minutes right there. Would you take the bus? Again, hardly a time saver. A taxi, maybe? Well, if you are going in a cab already, why not continue downtown?





    Furthermore, it is a ten minute walk from South Ferry station to Pier A -- so there you have thirty minutes of walking, without any time given for waiting for the train, or riding it!





    It seems to me that taking a taxi from Pier 70 to Pier A is the only sensible way to go. Just make sure you are able to tell the taxi driver where Pier A is (West Street and Battery Place, no?)




    These directions are off hopstop.com:



    Start out going East on W 30th St towards 12th Ave



    Turn left onto 8th Ave



    Entrance near intersection of W 33rd St and 8th Ave



    Take the A train from 34 Street - Penn Station station heading Downtown/Far Rockaway



    Pass 14 Street



    Pass W 4 Street - Washington Sq



    Pass Canal Street



    Pass Chambers Street



    Get off at Broadway - Nassau



    Transfer



    Take the 4 Train from Fulton Street station heading Downtown



    Pass Wall Street



    Get off at Bowling Green



    Exit near intersection of Beaver St and Broadway



    Start out going South on Broadway towards Bowling Grn



    Turn right onto Bowling Grn



    Turn right onto Battery Pl



    Total travel 3.45 miles 55 mins





    Is this pretty accurate? I think if we%26#39;re in a rush then we%26#39;ll take a cab...it%26#39;ll be less stressful, but if making the first cruise is not a big deal then we%26#39;ll take our time...maybe take that walk along the waterfront!





    Thanks




    Those directions are largely correct, as far as they go. You do not have to take the A from 34th and Eighth, though -- you can take the C as well, and it is easier getting to the downtown C platform from some entrances than it is getting to the ';island'; platform used by the A.





    The transfer to the 4 (OR 5; it makes no difference) at Broadway Nauseous (as transit cops call it; it is not an attractive or user-friendly station) can be somewhat complicated and confusing, and it involves several flights of stairs. If you do this, make sure you are climbing towards the platform of the DOWNTOWN 4, and not the uptown train. The exit advice is very incorrect -- you want to walk towards the front of the train and exit to the kiosk at State Street south of Battery Place; that would be very much easier than going downstairs and then coming back up to Beaver Street.





    For fewer stairs and no transfer, you could walk one more block initially and take my suggestion for riding the #1 train to South Ferry instead.





    It is still about 2/3 of a mile walk from the river to Eighth Avenue, and then the trudge down Battery Place . Meanwhile, Twelfth Avenue/West Street is a direct route from Pier 70 to Pier A. While I almost always recommend subways, I think in this instance you are better off taking a taxi.

    Great NightClub/ Bar

    Me and 3 of my friends wil be going to New York City September 2-5. We are used to the usual Boston bars/pubs-nothing really trendy-but want to go to some great places during our stay. I%26#39;ve obvisouly heard about Bungalow 8 but seriously doubt we%26#39;d get in. Any other suggestions? A place w/great music and great people-so sick of the Boston frat bars. Even suggestions on a a place to have a small dinner and drinks would be great



    Great NightClub/ Bar


    It is possible to get into Bungalow 8. Though your chances are much greater on a weeknight and/or by 10pm. You are probably smart to avoid the places like Bungalow or the new Pink Elephant unless you know someone.





    If you want big, huge clubs with house music and the like, The Meatpacking District and Chelsea areas are where you want to be.





    - Pacha NYC is the new club of the European franchise fame.





    - Nest is new and hot and one I actually recommend for people looking for the scene.





    - The Gansevoort Hotel has a trio of hot/hip bars to work with. There is the rooftop bar that has been around for some time. There is G-Spa %26amp; Lounge which might require a miracle to gain entry unless you are staying at the hotel, and Garden of Ono which is a very cool new spot.





    -Earth NYC is a pretty great club/lounge that always has an attractive crowd.





    - Avalon shouldn%26#39;t be too difficult to get into - It%26#39;s in the old church that was once the infamous Limelight.





    - Around 27th St %26amp; 10th Ave you will find tons of clubs - Home, Guest House, Quo, Marquee, Stereo, etc.





    One recommendation I would make - APT is still a great place to hang - upstairs is set up like an apartment, downstairs with a small dance floor. Call for a reservation ahead of time and you won%26#39;t worry about getting in. It%26#39;s tough to find as many of these places are. No sign - just a blue door on a warehouse barren street.





    In the Lower East Side, Element and BLVD are the biggest and hottest of the LES clubs, making them less of an issue than Chelsea clubs to get into, but get there early. The line still gets long. Try RSVPing for BLVD online before hand. There%26#39;s also Crash Mansion right near the legendary CBGBs as an option.





    I live in the West Village and Movida and Level V are hot and great places. Level V is pretty manageable for entry.





    A couple of notes: The first i can%26#39;t stress enough: Bring women. If you are able to bring a number of girls (At lease one per guy) your chances increase infinitely in getting in quickly. A few of the clubs charge a steep cover - up to $30. Luckily most places like APT do not. This doesn%26#39;t mean drinks will be cheap. Because the hotter the club, the more pricey the booze.





    Good luck and have fun!



    Great NightClub/ Bar


    I heard about a new place called The chill Lounge on Lexington near 38th if I%26#39;m not mistaken. That%26#39;s the time to go to a bar, when it is not toot rendy that you cannot get in. I heard that stars go there!

    Taxi for 5

    Mom, Dad and 3 kids age 6,9,11.



    Will we be able to take a taxi with 5 people in Manhattan?



    Are there laws restricting drivers from picking up that many people?



    I know we could easily seat one adult up front and the other in the back with 3kids but will this work?



    I%26#39;m thinking not but if anyone has experienced this type of dilema, please share.



    My other option is to rent a car from the airport and keep for duration of our trip but I really dread the thought of driving and parking around town.





    Thanks in advance!



    Taxi for 5


    From the airport the chances are you will not be able to get a taxi to take you unless it is a van. It is illegal for more than 4 riders to be in a taxi, so most drivers will not go for it. Get a van taxi (luck of the draw), or call a car service like 212-777-7777 and see if they have van transportation.





    Taxi for 5


    The taxi laws say four passengers only but allows for a child under 7 to be held on an adult%26#39;s lap. For comfort, you might want to wait for one of the minivan taxis - don%26#39;t worry, there are a few of them. Else, book a private car service. Here are some companies often mentioned on this board:





    carmel http://carmellimo.com



    crown http://1800mycrown.com



    tel aviv http://telavivlimo.com





    nyc.gov/html/鈥?




    The information given above is incorrect.





    The law does recognize the existence of five-passenger taxicabs in New York City, although they are not common and most taxis are four-passenger. Furthermore, since you have children travelling with you, it is possible that one of the children is young enough to allow you to have five people in any cab: if a child is under seven that child may ride as a fifth passenger even in a so-called four-passenger taxi, provided the child sits on the lap of an adult in the rear.





    Here is the actual regulation the drivers must follow [Rule 2-43 (a) of the NYC TAxicab Drivers Rules]:



    ';A driver shall not permit more than four (4) passengers to ride in a four (4) passenger taxicab, nor more than five (5) passengers in a five (5) passenger taxicab, except that an additional passenger must be accepted if such passenger is under the age of seven (7) and is held on the lap of an adult passenger seated in the rear.';