Short Trip Report from a Local with Out of Town Guests

Had family in town for the holidays so I just wanted to report on some of the tourist things they did and the successes and less than successes of the trip. It was me, my Aunt, and 3 girl cousins age 16-23.

They wanted to see the Statue of Liberty and visit Ellis Island. So per TA advice I booked a reserve ticket for all of them the day before. They were booked for 11:15am boat which would have permitted them time to visit Liberty Island, Ellis Island and museum but not the museum at the statue. Museum tickets for the statue were sold out anyway.

December 26th--We arrived around 10:30am and the line was HUGE. But my aunt didn%26#39;t have to wait in any line to pick up the reserve tickets. She just ran in to Window 1 and was allowed to get the ticket without waiting. She could have printed them out online as well but hit the wrong button and didn%26#39;t do that. Anyway we then found the flagged entrance for ';Reserved Tickets'; a few feet from the entrance to the security tent. It was not well marked (i.e. no flags telling you which direction or where to enter, but a marked flag at the entrance only). At 10:45am they let the 11:15am reserve boat people in. And they were on their way. No waiting in the huge line either. Perfect. I went to TKTS to wrangle some theater tickets for that night (and then went to work). TKTS line was about 35-40 minute wait at South Street Seaport at opening time. But lots to choose from. Got 5 tickets to Hairspray with Harvey Fierstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur.

Met them after their day was complete at the Statue. I think they ended up getting off the boat around 5pm. So it is really a full day adventure. Took them all to Vynl for dinner figuring it was in the theme of Hairspray kitsch. They loved it and were all starstruck by one of the choreographers from So You Think You Can Dance who was eating at the next table. They loved Hairspray and decided to wait at the stage door after for autographs. I kindly said my goodbyes and headed off to the Oak Room at the Algonquin for Andrea Marcovicci%26#39;s show of Movie Music. Fun for me. I highly recommend her shows if you want to learn about cabaret music. She does a nice job of telling the story behind the music/artist etc...as well as then performing it.

The family meanwhile waited an hour for the cast to come out and then despite my excellent subway directions did not wait on the correct train platform so struggled to make it home. But they made it eventually. Day one I consider a tremendous success even with the subway snafu. Like a well-oiled machine we were!

Day two sadly not well orchestrated. Saturday the 27th all they wanted to do was go to FAO Schwarz and see the Big piano and see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. I warned them it would be VERY crowded, bordering on miserable but that%26#39;s all they wanted to do. I wanted to gouge my eyes out with forks but for the love of my family I went. FAO Schwartz had a long line but it moved quickly. The store was very hot and crowded. And the Big Piano seemed to be only for kids. Maybe they let grown-ups in but there was a line for that too and no one cared THAT much. We enjoyed watching the Rubik Cube demonstration guy who managed to complete it in 48 seconds in front of us. Next stop Disney Store. Then we headed for the tree. I thought I might die in front of Saks Fifth Avenue. The crowd was packed like sardines, no one moving and yet everyone pushing. The barriers prevented people from falling into traffic but also meant people were literally corralled like cattle and getting pressed up against the fence. It was SCARY especially if you are short like I am. Eventually people jumped the barrier. There was no explanation for the hold-up or why it was so packed. I think a combination of the crowd trying to get to the windows and the people coming and going to the tree--Just confusion and crowds. The area around the tree was a lot less crowded. Although they force you to enter from 5th Avenue (where we were) and exit around the center. Fine for us but if you went the wrong way to start I imagine it was a hassle to get around. We stopped in Dean and Deluca for warm beverages and a snack and the staffer there led us to the OTHER D%26amp;D around the corner which wasn%26#39;t crowded at all. So we found a quiet nook to relax. Afterwards we went to the NBC store. Walked to Times Square to visit the M%26amp;M store and Virgin Megastore. Then home for dinner and to rest tired feet.

Certainly they got to see NYC in its holiday glory and enjoy it with a couple million other people. And I believe I have earned the right to say, I am never doing that again.

:)

Short Trip Report from a Local with Out of Town Guests

Thanks for posting. ;) Sounds like a good time for them.

Short Trip Report from a Local with Out of Town Guests

Yeah Whiz I hope they had fun!

Oh I should also add we got 5 seats center orchestra for Hairspray which were great. And all the scalpers walking around were telling people that TKTS only sells bad seats.

I knew that wasn%26#39;t true but it was funny I had to listen to them say this as I walked away with these great seats. Don%26#39;t listen to the scalpers and for god%26#39;s sake don%26#39;t buy from them.

THe crowds are indeed insane, glad you braved them.

I saw Hairspray last week as well, it was my second time and I loved it, too bad it is closing on Sunday.

All in all, sounds like you had fun, but the crowds....

I think I was one of the sardines you referred to. The crowds this year seemed much more overwhelming than my Christmas trip in 2006.

I really enjoyed your report

chipper

I enjoyed reading your report. I%26#39;m just now starting my research for a July trip to NYC.

How much time do you think you need to allow to visit Liberty Island, Ellis Island and museum and the museum at the statue? All of these are ';high'; on my ';must do%26#39;s'; in NY list.

Thanks!!

Tallulah you have my sympathy. I absoluetly dread having to show people around town. When my sister in California sends here children here they always drag me around town. I would probably make the worst %26#39;Big Apple Greeter%26#39; on the planet. So please don%26#39;t ask me for NYC travel advice ..... how the heck do I know ..... I just live here.

Teacher--the statue cruises websites advises which boat to get on depending on what you want to see.

www.statuecruises.com/schedule-options.aspx

To do everything they recommend 5.5 hours and the last possible boat to do this is the 10:30am from Battery Park.

Assume it%26#39;s a full day out there.

Thanks TallulahB for your reply and the website. I can%26#39;t wait to check it out. Trip planning and research is always such a thrill for me!! :D