New York "Must Do's"

[littl_flier]

PS: Can't quite remember (and Facebook's "Trips" application is down ) but are you going to Toronto at all? I know you're going to Montreal, but not sure if you're heading anywhere else in Canada. I'll be in Toronto from 1-9th Dec.

No mate sorry, it's purely a NYC and Montreal trip at the moment but I'm hoping to get to Mont Tremblant and ski for a day but we'll see what happens. I even had a look at the airfares for a quick trip down to Toronto for dinner but we'll definitely have to catch up in Sydney. BTW, you manage to score the awesome jobs at work, J class and all. Maybe it's time for a division change for me. Enjoy mate, I'll only be a couple of hundred kms up the road if you wanted to join me for dinner but?

Hopefully we will see a trip report and I can use that to plan my trip there with mrssimongr next year

Seen as you asked so nicely Simongr and everyone has helped plan the trip, I'm sure I can put together a TR. (though I can't guarantee it will be up to your standard but I'll give it a go)

 

[Febs]

Century 21's the cheap place they mentioned on Getaway. Think "outlet mall", but with sizes that actually fit and styles that actually look decent! :!: Interesting thing was they didn't just have one or two of the usual "outlet mall" brands, but a huge range of brands - even saw some Paul Smith gear!

It's directly opposite Ground Zero. Well worth a look, but they say lunchtimes can be a bit crazy.

Loehmanns (sp?) is another good one. Smaller, but worth a look.

I haven't been up the top of the Chrysler Building, but the view from ESB was fantastic in the day, and the view from Rockefeller was great at night (got some fantastic long exposure photos. There's a few on my Facebook if you're keen to see what the view is like).

I'll only be a couple of hundred kms up the road if you wanted to join me for dinner but?

Hmm, well I will have a car, and did recently cover 9,000km across and through the US...so I'm not averse to a bit of a drive.
Actually, hoping to go skiiing that weekend (8-9th Dec), but haven't really looked into it yet.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[drron]

The getaway program was on Century 21.it can be a nightmare shopping there.Filenes,Loehmanns and Daffys are others and all 3 can be found close to Union Square.
As far as I am aware there is no viewing platform at the Chrysler building.It closed in 1945.
For your BAG it is usual to find out when you arrive-a message at your hotel.occasionally you will get an email before you leave.many however do miss out unfortunately.We did take a bit of Australiana for our BAG,you could also shout them lunch or a coffee but they will be a little embarrassed and really do not want anything out of their serevice.

 

[winetraveller]

I seem to spend half my time in NYC at the moment, so here's a few of my favourite eating (and drinking spots).

Momofuku, 163 1st Ave, downtown, +++ Welcome to MOMOFUKU RESTAURANTS +++, great pork buns, a must, was there on Wednesday for a late dinner, great fun, shared tables, great food, and great Sake.

Balthazar, 80 Spring Street, NYC, Balthazar Restaurant :: Home
traditional French cafe, great for lunch or dinner, seafood platters are good, although we are spoiled in Oz.

Pegu Club, for the New York occupation (coughtails Daaaling), Pegu Club Home Page 77 West Houston. Great original coughtails, also the nibbles are very good, especially the mini Duck Burgers.

BondST, Bond Street Downdown, sorry can't be more specific, but it was VERY late, this is without doubt the best Japanese food I've ever had, DO NOT MISS.

Avoid like the plague a restaurant called Arezzo, on W22nd, I got food poisoning there on Tuesday night. Bad Italian again.

 

[cssaus]

I seem to remember seeing Nat from Getaway doing a segment about bargain shopping in NYC, particularly a store that had substantial discounts on the brandname clothing and accessories. Is this Union Square, Century 21 or another?

It was Century 21.

You do realise that as far as hotel accommodation is concerned, you are going to be in NY at one of the most expensive times of the year. When I looked into this and asked a local about it, the response I got was because they are turning the lights on for the tree in Rockefeller Square and lots of people come to NYC for that event and to begin their Xmas shopping and view the city decorations.

 

[parsonstrish]

just a ps to what i and the others have suggested.

i was told at my hotel it was 5 miles from battery park to hotel at time, waldorf-astoria. it took a few hrs. to walk and that included stopping in little italy for lunch. it gets longer in time of course with all the crowds on the sidewalks, even trying to take less busy sts. the cold weather may make it a bit uncomfortable for bikes, this is a determined plan on the time you are there.

if you want to 'do' the staten isl. ferry, make sure you get there early as the line must have been a couple of miles the sat. i was there.

i booked my broadway 'jersey boys' thru. telecharge and the only problem i had was c.c. wasn't recognized maybe due to aussie visa but i put down my brothers usa add., ph. no and telecharge actually called him to verify. hope broadway is open for next wk. they say it cost us$5,000,000 a day in losses when broadway is on strike.

i stayed in the waldorf, grand hyatt, and hilton new york and found rooms more than comfortable and hotel staff helpful. tipping is a nuisance but that's the way it is here in us.

i asked a waitress in a chain restraunt her hourly rate and it was us$4.75 hr...

i was given a 20% discount voucher by sales person in macys the day i went shopping. you were suppose to pay us$5 but she just gave it to me as a visitor. the us$5 was going to a charity. i was able to get some summer clothes for my grandies that were great bargains. Too bad you won't be in long island, there is a great outlet mall. i got tommy hilfigger t shirts for us$10 and collar short sleeve shirts for us$20. I have seen them in Oz. $60 up. I also Tumi shop but chose not to go in, too much temptation.

 

[BiziBB]

just a ps to what i and the others have suggested.

...i was given a 20% discount voucher by sales person in macys the day i went shopping. you were suppose to pay us$5 but she just gave it to me as a visitor. the us$5 was going to a charity.

...Too bad you won't be in long island, there is a great outlet mall. i got tommy hilfigger t shirts for us$10 and collar short sleeve shirts for us$20. I have seen them in Oz. $60 up. I also Tumi shop but chose not to go in, too much temptation.

Thank you all for this useful guide. I have a few tidbits plus some questions re. the info above!

September visitors: During Fashion Week (and maybe at other times?) late Aug/early Sept, fashion is sales tax-free, which was great given we stocked up at Century21 and some mainstreet retailers.

Another shopping question (I also need to avoid Tumi's outlet!)
Q. re. the Long Island outlet - is it practical to visit as a stop to or from JFK?

We're on track to visit around 4 July - may need to move dates of our 'CMB-JFK Good Deal' if this is too busy a time.

I'd be very intrested in this as an AFF NYC travel guide!

 

[Febs]

I'm sure you've got accommodation sorted by now, but if not we stayed at the "Dylan Hotel" on 42nd St (between something and Madison) and it was great. Rate worked out to be about $260AUD/night (flexible rate) using our corporate discount (you can just call and book directly).

Zuji had it for ~$450AUD/night, pre-paid, non-cancellable!

Great location and a pleasant little place.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[drron]

Re outlets in the USA.We have been to nearly every one.Look up Welcome To Outlet Bound - Online Guide To Factory Outlet Stores & Outlet Centers for locations throughout the USA and directions to them.The Long Island one is not really convenient to JFK.Closer to NYC is Jersey Gardens near EWR.The large NY outlet is woodbury Commons north on the NY thruway.Busses run from the Port authority but I believe it is better to hire a car and drive so you can visit some of the Hudson valley attractions such as Kykuit-the Rockefeller home,a Vanderbilt mansion and Hyde Park-FDR's home.However no point wasting a day if you are only in NYC for a short time.

 

[moa999]

I would also mention that Woodbury Common is not that close.
The direct bus take almost an hour.

That said it is an awesome outlet centre.
Because it is in NY State rather than Manhattan the taxes are also much lower, even on full priced stuff (of which there is not much)

 

[winetraveller]

I found a pretty good hotel, well my girlfriend did, just off Columbus circle.

It's full of pretty young things, the only downside was that the noise insulation wasn't great in the room she was in. It was however pretty well appointed.

. : THOMPSON HOTELS : Hip luxury hotels in NYC, LA at the official Thompson Hotels site :.

 

[parsonstrish]

re sales tax on clothes in new york. i was advised if either item or total is less than us$110, no sales tax.

oz. dollar continuing to drop, .87 cents today compared to .92 either early last wk. or wk. before. still nothing to sneeze at compared to what we've had past few yrs.

i'm abt. to leave states next wk. after 8 wks., i have been blessed to get so many bargains for my family at a good $rate.

just read that all of broadway may be operating 24/11 but still in the air. site was warning people not buy premium seats from sellers on the st. for all 3 plays i attended, i had very close seats to stage and didn't have to pay premium.

if you want to advoid lines to esb, purchase ticket on line, does save the first step of purchasing at venue.

for all coming over here anyday, you are coming at a great time.

 

[winetraveller]

re sales tax on clothes in new york. i was advised if either item or total is less than us$110, no sales tax.

oz. dollar continuing to drop, .87 cents today compared to .92 either early last wk. or wk. before. still nothing to sneeze at compared to what we've had past few yrs.

i'm abt. to leave states next wk. after 8 wks., i have been blessed to get so many bargains for my family at a good $rate.

just read that all of broadway may be operating 24/11 but still in the air. site was warning people not buy premium seats from sellers on the st. for all 3 plays i attended, i had very close seats to stage and didn't have to pay premium.

if you want to advoid lines to esb, purchase ticket on line, does save the first step of purchasing at venue.

for all coming over here anyday, you are coming at a great time.

Spot on with the sales tax, so if you want to avoid tax stay under $100.

 

[littl_flier]

Spot on with the sales tax, so if you want to avoid tax stay under $100.

Wow, that's a great tip. So the key is multiple purchases under $110.

oz. dollar continuing to drop, .87 cents today compared to .92 either early last wk. or wk. before. still nothing to sneeze at compared to what we've had past few yrs.

Yeah, maybe I'm the bad luck. Sorry Trish. Fortunately the analysts are predicting it to move back toward .90 after the worry with US lending credit eases on Friday NY time. It'll be interesting to see but I am lucky that we have locked most of our cash in already at 0.92.

Great point regarding the Rockfeller Christmas tree. I googled it and it's being lit next Wednesday night (28th) so this will be a great experience. Thanks for the hot tips.