NYC Weekend Trip`

[immo]

The wife and I are doing a weekend trip to NYC. Anything that is non tourist that we should see or do? Good Places to eat, etc....

[300MAG]

I always like to take vistors to see Times square at night, if you like italian food(family style), you can try Carmines on 44 street a few blocks from time square.

[vip300cINC]

Visit to NY the Big Apple always promised a great adventure.Times Square, Empire State Building.
If you like BBQ .Here is the best place you can go
Dallas BBQ 241 West 42nd Sreet New York 10036
Between 7 & 8 Ave

[Lanzz]

It's a bit touristy, but the Top of the Rock has an amazing observation deck - the view is superb, and the location is better than the empire state bldg. You can reserve a time slot online, so you don't have to wait in the rat maze in the basement of the ESB.

Portofino Grille on First Ave at 63rd St is a great non-touristy Italian restaurant. It's close to where I live, so I go there a lot. Always good - tons of food, and lots of room inside, you won't be packed in like sardines.

Old Homestead Steakhouse - down in the meat packing district. Not as "businessy" as the midtown places, and the food is every bit as good, if not better.

As vip300 mentioned, Dallas BBQ is really good - the 42nd St location can be really crowded, but it is the newest one, so probably best to go to that one. Not expensive and not fancy, but always good and easy on the wallet.

Divine Bar - two locations - East Side and West Side - The food is too fancy for me, but if you like to try different wines, they have hundreds of them by the glass. They have a nitrogen tap system, so they even do expensive wines by the glass. Not a bad beer selection. The Easy Side location does not serve liquor, only the West Side one does.

For a goofy piano bar place, there is Don't Tell Mama - This is a little touristy, but can be fun on a cold night - always busy, but good service from waiters so you don't have to fight the bar. A little ***, but women tend to like this place.

If you are down for one of those all you can eat Brazilian places, try Churruscaria Plataforma. The one in midtown gets packed, so make a reservation. The one in Tribeca is less crowded, and the newer location. You won't leave hungy.

The best dive bar in town is still Smith's on 8th Ave - a bit rough for a lady, perhaps, but fun and not expensive. Reminds you of what the Times Sq area used to be like.

Have fun - and leave your 300 at home - every garage in Manhattan sucks, they all beat up your car.

[immo]

This trip was for my wife's birthday. Here is a quick summary of this past weekend.

We took the Acela Express from DC to NYC. What a great experience! No fighting traffic or paying for parking if you drive. No fighting security lines if you fly. Plus the Acela Express is a high speed train. It runs at speeds between 75 mph and 150 mph depending on track conditions. The trip only took 2 hours and 45 minutes...

We stayed at "The Muse" hotel in the theater district. It is a little boutique hotel owned by Kimpton Hotels. We stayed at the San Diego Hotel Solamar (same owners) last year and really liked it. A friend recommend The Muse and I booked it not knowing it was part of the same group. I think you get better service at boutique hotels, plus the rooms are always very unique. I do travel for work, and really enjoyed the change.

We got in late Friday night, so we just took a cab from Penn Station to the hotel and went to sleep. On Saturday, we got up and had breakfast at a little bagel shop around the corner. We then just walked around Times Sq looking in the shops til lunch time.

I made reservations at Carmine’s for lunch. Carmine’s was great, but you really should go there with at least 4 people with the HUGE portions (Family Style Italian). I think the Italian food chain Buca di Beppo borrowed a few ideas from Carmine’s, if you have ever been to Buca. The food was very good, but after being in Italy just a few months ago, it’s hard to measure up.

After lunch we had tickets to see Wicked (Which was a great show!). It is loosely based of the Wizard of Oz.

I made dinner reservations at Nobu Fifty Seven (A great sushi place).

After dinner, instead of birthday cake she insisted on going to get cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery. It was about a mile walk from Nobu, but man was it worth it. These were by far the BEST cupcakes I had ever eaten. Well worth the walk!

We ended the night with a trip up to the Observatory deck at the Top of Rock. It was cold, but clear. What a view!!!!





We had a great time, but most importantly the wife has a great birthday memory.

Thanks for all your input!!!!

[frankieo]

I Am Glad You And Your Wife Had A Great Time Here In Nyc.its A Great City To See,thats Why They Call It The City That Never Sleeps.YOU TOOK SOME NICE PICTURES OF THE CITY AT NIGHT

[Stefan Tapp]

One of my favourite food places is the Tick Tock Diner underneath the New Yorker Hotel on the corner of 34th/8th when I visit NYC.

I also love Grand Central Station, just to drink coffee and people watch!

Stef

[yubyub]

I don't think any of these are touristy.

_Great_ Japanese if you want to open your wallet - Megu.
Great bar - DBAs (1st Ave, between 2nd and 3rd st).

Sightseeing - take the Staten Island ferry to SI and back (DON'T STAY IN STATEN ISLAND - COME RIGHT BACK). The ferry ride is nice, and free.

Sightseeing - Take the R train one stop into Brooklyn, and walk down to the Prominade. It's a great walk along the edge of the Hudson that looks towards South Street Seaport.