A few observations

Each year we visit New York City with Christmas and Thanksgiving being our two favorite times. I try to treat each visit as my last. The only problem with this is my “next time” list just gets longer. I find that the more trips I make, the further off the beaten path I find myself. And it’s here that I continue to find things to add to the list. Our first trip was spent in and around Times Square and if you don’t believe in the theory of evolution, then check this out. My first beer in New York was at the TGI Fridays on 42nd street and my first snack was chicken wings at a KFC in Midtown. . During our trip last week, I drank a Brooklyn brewed beer and ate half of a Peruvian chicken in Queens. We did so much that I could never find the time to include it all. I have only included highlights (at least to me they were) and some general observations and opinions. In addition, I had the “opportunity” to once again hang out with Lotuspath. Because that experience is so unlike everything else I did, I will touch on it in a separate report. I also had the opportunity to see New York from a runners view. I went on two long runs (10 and 7 miles) and will post on these separately for you runners out there.

Hotels- We spent the first 4 nights at the Grand Hyatt adjacent to Grand Central and the 5th night at the Fairfield by Marriott in Queens. We have stayed at the Hyatt 3 other times and love the location. The Fairfield in Queens continues to be a great option for us as well. They provide a very convenient shuttle service (free of charge) to the nearest subway and also LaGuardia Airport. I personally feel the Fairfield is a great option for those on a budget. The rooms are clean, complimentary breakfast each morning, free shuttle and just a few blocks away from some good ethnic restaurants.

Subways – My favorite way to get around. I will say that some stations smelled a bit poorly. That’s right, kind of stinky in places but that’s OK with me. Lets me know that I’m back. Heck, if I wanted to spend 6 days smelling lilac flavored potpourri, I’d hang out in the bathroom at Linen N Things in a shopping mall in North Dallas and save a lot of money.

Went to see the tree at Rockefeller Center Christmas night. If I ever fight a crowd like that again to see a tree, it better have money growing on it.

Can’t stress how much I love the metro card. Used it to ride the subway close to 40 times and also the tram ride to Roosevelt Island and back. A steal at 25 bucks.

We visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art. What a great place!. Unless you have a week, select those areas of interest to you and focus on them. Again, outstanding and glad I went.

Family (wife, son 10 and daughter 16) saw Shrek. They loved it. Wife and daughter also saw Hairspray and really enjoyed it.

Wife and I saw the NY String Orchestra perform at Carnegie Hall. We really enjoyed it. Very talented young kids and just to be in Carnegie Hall gave me chills. Wow!! What an incredible venue!

Pastries, Pastries Pastries… - I ate black and white cookies from Zaros in Grand Central Terminal every chance I got. Also visited bakeries in Little Italy, Chinatown and in Little Egypt in Queens. In addition, breakfast each morning consisted of toasted bagels, coffee and people watching in Grand Central . I can’t think of a better way to start the day.

Staten Island Ferry – This was a first for us and I can’t recommend enough. What a steal. Incredible views on a boat for free. Wow! If you have the time its one of the best deals in town.

Lower Manhattan – I love Federal Hall. It’s rarely mentioned here but it’s a really cool place. Also Stock Exchange was decorated nicely and I’m sure appeared more cheerful outside than in. In addition, Trinity Church may be one of the prettiest churches in the United States. And….I really hate to admit it, but me and my son really get a kick out of doing bad things to the Broadway Bull (boy that was hard to type)

Bridges – Each year I try to walk across a couple of the bridges in New York. This past trip, I had the opportunity to cross the Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queensboro bridges. The QB bridge was a first for me. What a great bridge! My daughter and I walked it our last morning there. It was very cold and she’s still mad about that (woke her up at 6:15 am to walk it). Imagine being 16 years old and your dad skipping across a bridge belting out a really bad rendition of the 59th st Bridge song. At that point she wasn’t feeling very groovy. Also wanted to add, I have crossed the Brooklyn Bridge many times and this was my second trip across the Manhattan. In my opinion, the Manhattan Bridge is the most underrated of them all. Everyone wants to walk the Brooklyn. With the Manhattan, you get great skyline views (both Brooklyn and Manhattan) but most importantly one of the best views of the Brooklyn Bridge you will ever find. In a perfect world, walk the BB from Manhattan into Brooklyn and then return via the Manhattan. And if you can, walk them all.

ALL 5 Boroughs – Rode a ferry to Staten Island, crossed a bridge into Brooklyn, stayed 4 nights in Manhattan, one in Queens and took a morning trip to Fordham Univeristy in the Bronx. Glad to have finally added the Bronx to the list. Did get to see the new Yankee stadium. Not sure if that was cool. Kinda like the old one myself.

Restaurants – Disclaimer: WE ARE NOT FOODIES (although I think foodies are cool people J )

We had really good Thai food on 9th avenue (2Q Thai) and also on 56th (Thai Topaz) We chose Johns on Bleecker for pizza again this year (its our favorite) and also ate at a Mexican place in Queens (Luna de Juarez ) our final night. Margarita was incredible and the food was really good. Also, had the chance to visit a Peruvian chicken place in Queens. This was very cool J Great crowd and wonderful food. Not sure what it was about the place, but I’m ready to return! Had lunch at the Shake Shack…Not sure how they do it, but what an incredible experience! I can’t begin to describe it…It should be on everyone’s bucket list. In addition, I had my first knish and drank beers from Thailand, Peru and Brooklyn.

In closing, I will say that once again, New Yorkers continue to be some of my favorite people. I look forward to hanging out with them each year and hope that this wasn’t my last trip. Just wanted to say thanks to everyone that helped make this a wonderful trip (You know who you are) and I look forward to next time.

chipper

A few observations

Loved the trip report and your observations.

';If I ever fight a crowd like that again to see a tree, it better have money growing on it.';

Too funny! :) Looking forward to the rest of the reports.

A few observations

Always enjoy your observations and insights. Glad it all worked out and you had another successful trip.

What a fun trip report. I%26#39;m sure your daughter will look back at your bridge antics fondly. :)

haha....she might...but it will be a LOOOONg time from now!!!!

Glad you had a great trip.....looking forward to reading about your meetups!!

Hope to make NYC in the early summer a yearly event myself!! Just not sure about the whole winter thing!!

Great observations Chipper. I know you%26#39;ve been back awhile but your report gives the impression that you are still under the influence of that New York ';buzz';. Not from the assorted beer but from the great energy of the city.

I agree with your Manhattan bridge comment, it was the first one I walked and I did it just to get some photos of the Brooklyn Bridge and the skyline beyond.

I%26#39;m currently trying to work out the logistics of a father/daughter trip with my girl so your story made me grin. Mine is slightly older than yours but she still requires a darn good reason for getting up at ';the crack of dawn';.

';...kind of stinky in places but that’s OK with me. Lets me know that I’m back.';

I couldn%26#39;t agree more and it reminded me of a favorite Fran Leibowitz quote: ';When you leave New York, you are astonished at how clean the rest of the world is. Clean is not enough.';

Thanks for being observant.

Possibly my favourite trip report ever.(althuogh I did love the rat one!!)

Just wondering if your QB and runners reports will turn up on this forum or should I be looking somewhere else?

Kath

(yesterday kinda proud of myself for walking Brooklny Bridge, now wondering how to fit in the Manhattan one)

Possibly my favourite trip report ever.(althuogh I did love the rat one!!)

Just wondering if your QB and runners reports will turn up on this forum or should I be looking somewhere else?

Kath

(yesterday kinda proud of myself for walking Brooklny Bridge, now wondering how to fit in the Manhattan one)

Thanks, Chip - wonderfully succinct and amusing to boot!

I have now added the Manhattan Bridge to the itinerary although I think I will be quite happy for my cab driver and the Roosevelt Island tram to traverse the QB rather than using Shank%26#39;s Pony!

What food did you eat the time you walked the GWB - I seem to remember that was fairly exotic too?

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Very nice, Chip, and glad to hear you%26#39;ve been allowed back inside Linens N%26#39; Things.

Enjoyed your report

I am looking forward to the runners

report.

My hubby and I were both astounded at the amount of rats we saw on the sub way grooosum.