Ideas for New York at Christmas time

[greyhammer90]

Hey fellas, me and the lady friend are going to be taking a trip to New York in mid December. We will be staying in Manhattan and be seeing Hamilton while we are there. She's been several times but I never have. There are some obvious things I want to see, but for people who are more experienced than me what would you recommend in general? Anything in particular you would recommend at Christmas time?

Don't worry about posting something obvious, I'm quickly discovering there is so much to do that I'm probably forgetting some obvious stuff.

 

[Ndaccountant]

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Buy a plane ticket to Florida?

 

[NorthDakota]

Hey fellas, me and the lady friend are going to be taking a trip to New York in mid December. We will be staying in Manhattan and be seeing Hamilton while we are there. She's been several times but I never have. There are some obvious things I want to see, but for people who are more experienced than me what would you recommend in general? Anything in particular you would recommend at Christmas time?

Don't worry about posting something obvious, I'm quickly discovering there is so much to do that I'm probably forgetting some obvious stuff.

I was just there a couple months ago. Mind has still not fully registered all the stuff there is to do/see there.

 

[koonja]

You're getting engaged aren't you?

 

[Ndaccountant]

You're getting engaged aren't you?

 

[IrishLion]

You're getting engaged aren't you?

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vWyPfvAbUOQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[greyhammer90]

You're getting engaged aren't you?

Yes but that's next weekend. This is just a trip for fun.

 

[dshans]

Try to avoid anything with the word Trump on it.

It might not be easy but could lead to some delightful "side" trips.

Eat, drink and be merry.

Tip your hat to my grandfather's grocery (whatever it might be today) at 107th and Amsterdam.

 

[ND NYC]

what's your tentative plan as of right now?
how much time do you have?

ps you should definitely see Hamilton if you have tix (very hard to come by and pricey)

 

[gkIrish]

Walk through Macy's (the department store). They will have cool decorations up and you will feel like you are in the movie A Miracle on 34th street.

Rockefeller plaza is a must. Wollman Rink in Central Park is a fun, couply thing to do. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is amazing and free (don't be fooled by the prices they are actually just a recommended donation price) and is adjacent to Central Park. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is also spectacular.

Before Hamilton, find a nice restaurant and do a prix fixe meal. A lot of restaurants in that area will do specials before shows. You will enjoy some good food and not break the bank.

Check out Grand Central Station considering you have never been to the city before. The main room is pretty amazing.

I would strongly encourage you to try and attend either a Knicks or Rangers game depending on who is home when you are there. The MSG is a wonderful place to watch a game and it's got a lot of history. There is not a bad seat in the house. I will leave it up to you to convince the lady.

 

[greyhammer90]

Walk through Macy's (the department store). They will have cool decorations up and you will feel like you are in the movie A Miracle on 34th street.

Rockefeller plaza is a must. Wollman Rink in Central Park is a fun, couply thing to do. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is amazing and free (don't be fooled by the prices they are actually just a recommended donation price) and is adjacent to Central Park. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is also spectacular.

Before Hamilton, find a nice restaurant and do a prix fixe meal. A lot of restaurants in that area will do specials before shows. You will enjoy some good food and not break the bank.

Check out Grand Central Station considering you have never been to the city before. The main room is pretty amazing.

I would strongly encourage you to try and attend either a Knicks or Rangers game depending on who is home when you are there. The MSG is a wonderful place to watch a game and it's got a lot of history. There is not a bad seat in the house. I will leave it up to you to convince the lady.

Thanks for all the tips. Definitely want to catch a game in the Garden if I can do it without spending all my trip money to do it. I don't think it would be too difficult to convince her to go. If I tell her its an historic/famous stadium she'll be in it for the experience.

 

[greyhammer90]

what's your tentative plan as of right now?
how much time do you have?

ps you should definitely see Hamilton if you have tix (very hard to come by and pricey)

Arriving in the morning, staying for four nights and leaving on the fifth day. Have tickets to Hamilton in the bag already. (Those were the hardest things to come by ever, but I ended up spending only 100 over face which is insane.)

 

[gkIrish]

Thanks for all the tips. Definitely want to catch a game in the Garden if I can do it without spending all my trip money to do it. I don't think it would be too difficult to convince her to go. If I tell her its an historic/famous stadium she'll be in it for the experience.

Another thing I forgot was to check out the Comedy Cellar. They always have good acts and if you are lucky a really famous comedian may stop in for an impromptu show. You can make reservations online.

 

[ND NYC]

Arriving in the morning, staying for four nights and leaving on the fifth day. Have tickets to Hamilton in the bag already. (Those were the hardest things to come by ever, but I ended up spending only 100 over face which is insane.)

must do's:
9-11 Memorial and Museum (need tix for museum not memorial)
while there (get tix ahead of time) to go to Observatory at wtc tower 1. make sure go into the new path transportation hub its very unique wont take much time. this would be a full day especially the museum and memorial.

have kick ass dinner before or after Hamilton (so many great restaurants all in walking distance from theater). find a highly rated zagat rest and splurge.

MOMA (half day) (go in morning if you can sometimes school groups/buses show up in afternoon and its a zoo)

hit Rock Center (at night), tree should be lit, u can ice skate at the tree but its a big hassle! ok to hit "top of the rock" for a drink. nice midtown views. hit the Christmas show at radio city music hall if you can swing it $ (do these events all together everything is real close-RCMH, Rock center tree etc)

do the romantic central park thing (be the ultimate tourist and go for the horse and carriage ride, she'll like it). beefarino!

not a big fan of hitting macys, but it is pretty cool that time of year.
like the idea of a knick/ranger game. best bet is play it by ear and stubhub your tix close to game time. they will be more than your $100 Hamilton tix!

if time allows:

Guggenheim (if a cool exhibit there it will be worth it)

sort of touristy but take a circle line cruise around manhattan at night, you'll see the city all lit up and great views up close to statue of liberty, ellis island. (such short stay may not have time to hit them up close so the cruise would check that box). that time of year can be cold but most ppl go outside then back in to get warm if its real bad. she'll dig it.

have to get back to work more later

 

[FDNYIrish1]

Pretty touristy, but if you can catch the Christmas spectacular at Radio city, definitely do it.
Highly recommend walking over the Brooklyn bridge for a slice of Juniors cheesecake. The lady will love the walk, views are awesome.
Head out to Don Pepes on Lefferts Blvd near JFK or hit up Lugers. Cash only in both spots. Grab a few darks at McSorleys, I think it's Thursday's they have corned beef. Great sandwiches. Hit up Katz for a pastrami as well.
Don't be afraid to venture up to Arthur avenue or other spots in the outer boroughs or even Long Island for the wineries. Grab a slice at Difara on avenue J or head to Coney Island and Totonnos and Nathan's. There's much to do that's relatively inexpensive, let me know if I can help.

 

[Irish#1]

Head out to Coney Island on the subway and eat at Nathan's.

 

[calvegas04]

stay away from these two, they are active around Christmas time

 

[GoldenDome]

I would skip Macy's. It is a waste of time, the place is a zoo, hot and stuffy, and a 10 deep line for the men's bathroom. If you want to see store decorations, just walk down 5th Ave and look at the window decorations, and it is on the way to Rock Center where you can see the Christmas tree and ice rink. Careful, during Christmas I have seen many people eat it looking around instead of watching their step. Cold hard cement = ouch!

If shopping, head to SOHO. If you get hungry, grab a chicken rice from a halal cart or a dirty water dog.

My trips to NYC tend to be food and shopping related because I have done the touristy stuff far too many times. I would however recommend hitting MOMA.

Maybe a stop in Little Italy. This is very touristy, and since you have never been, you may want to have one of those cliched red checker table cloth dinners at one of the restaurants. I find all of them pretty ordinary, food wise.

My must eats (especially for first timers):
1. Peter Lugers (cash only) - get the porterhouse for two, slab o bacon, German fried potatoes and dessert w/ schlaag.

2. Pastrami Queen - pastrami on rye

3. Domonique Ansel - DKA

4. Prince St Pizza - Spicy Spring

5. Katz - pastrami rueben or brisket sandwich, also hot dogs are great too

6. Carnegie Deli - just for kicks, you can just walk by and look at how enormous the portions of food are.

7. Dough - for excellent doughnuts

8. Minetta Tavern - Black Label Burger, pricey yes, but easily the best burger I have ever eaten in my life.

Enjoy, if you need more food rec's, LMK. Oh, and one more thing, get familiar with the subway map if that is your primary mode of transportation.

 

[BoredIrish]

Watch the Irish play in the pinstripe bowl

 

[koonja]

Watch the Irish play in the pinstripe bowl

About died.

 

[greyhammer90]

Watch the Irish play in the pinstripe bowl

 

[calvegas04]

Whats up with this Hamilton everyone keeps talking about?

 

[T Town Tommy]

Take the 2 subway to Clark Street in Brooklyn Heights and walk down to the Brooklyn Promenade. Check out the nice brownstones along the way and then find a bench on the promenade for a tremendous view of lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. Museum wise, I found the Museum of Natural History and the Frick Museum to be worth the trips as well.

 

[NorthDakota]

Take the 2 subway to Clark Street in Brooklyn Heights and walk down to the Brooklyn Promenade. Check out the nice brownstones along the way and then find a bench on the promenade for a tremendous view of lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. Museum wise, I found the Museum of Natural History and the Frick Museum to be worth the trips as well.

Hit that shit up on it's own. One of the most incredible views I've ever seen. Great photo opportunity as well for the lady.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Hit that shit up on it's own. One of the most incredible views I've ever seen. Great photo opportunity as well for the lady.

True. The walk across is the bridge is amazing.

 

[Irish YJ]

Buy a plane ticket to Florida?

While I agree with BBG, if you do go, make sure you hit some local joints with some flare... Suggest try making reservations for Rao's (need to do it now) or Umberto's Clam House. Check out the history on both. There's several joints in Little Italy that are must eats... Raine's Law Room is another interesting place to have a cocktail. Juliana's Pizza while kicking around DUMBO is a good afternoon. Metropolitan and like 3T says, the Frick (never been but my friends have raved).

 

[ND NYC]

forgot to ask--did u get your hotel yet?

 

[greyhammer90]

forgot to ask--did u get your hotel yet?

I did. We are staying at the Row NYC. It was really cheap and I had some friends that had stayed there before recommend it.

 

[PLACforever]

Hey fellas, me and the lady friend are going to be taking a trip to New York in mid December. We will be staying in Manhattan and be seeing Hamilton while we are there. She's been several times but I never have. There are some obvious things I want to see, but for people who are more experienced than me what would you recommend in general? Anything in particular you would recommend at Christmas time?

Don't worry about posting something obvious, I'm quickly discovering there is so much to do that I'm probably forgetting some obvious stuff.

I got you bud:
Rockefeller Center / ice skating is cool, but I'll warn you, it's PACKED. Imagine the bookstore on GameDay times 100. If you want to ice skate, Bryant Park is good (next to the NY public library) and the line is shorter.
Right down the street from Rockefeller there is St Patrick's Cathedral, beautiful church if you are interested.
Cool way to see Rockefeller is Top of the Rock, but there will be a line for sure 20-90 minutes depending on when you go.
The Plaza hotel is a cool place by Central Park. Good place to grab a coffee.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of my favorites, you could spend a whole day just there. For a smaller art museum with some really legit art, check out the Frick Collection, right on Central Park East, the history of the house and family is pretty interesting.
The museum of natural history is very cool as well. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the Guggenheim, and less of MOMA.
The most solid recommendation I can give you for a couple's dinner is La Birreria. It's on the roof of a building downtown. The first floor is this big fresh market, it's a really cool place to walk through.
That's off the top of my head, but it's NYC, anything you could want or want to do, you'll be able to find.