New York Intin. help

Sparks steakhouse for a gangster steak !!

Fully endorse this beautiful steaks and sit facing the door as you don't know who's coming in and with what in their hands , I met the dad from Amercian Choppers in there on my last visit Paul Senior. My mrs never had a clue who we was

I now need to add in a shopping trip.
Probably going to go to the Outlet in New Jersey rather than Woodbury.

I now need to add in a shopping trip.
Probably going to go to the Outlet in New Jersey rather than Woodbury.

Woodbury common is good but a bit of a trek

I now need to add in a shopping trip.
Probably going to go to the Outlet in New Jersey rather than Woodbury.

Woodbury common is good but a bit of a trek

Yea & with so many shops I dont really want to waste a whole day.
I done Vegas Outlet in 2 hours, but felt I could have had a few more hours. However I still spent more than I planned in them 2 hours!

Looking at the New Jersey outlet, it covers most of my brands anyway. Tommy, Lacoste, Polo, etc. - just no Diesel store

Im not looking to spend £100 on Jeans because they are reduced from £300.
I would rather be looking to spend £30 on a pair of £100 jeans for example.

bit off topic, but I remember one store had a great sale during march madness.. buy 1 item, get 2nd item half price. Buy 2 items & get 3rd item (cheapest) for free & the savings stacked! Ended up with 2 pairs of Hilfiger Jeans & a Jumper for less £50!

I made a note of Brandy's a few months back from the post on this forum. Here for the second night of our trip. Amazing! Recommend it to all!

For me no trip to NYC is complete unless I visit Katz's Deli.

This, all day long..! Amazing place and a real gem - this is what NY is all about IMO, its not really a 'tourist' spot and locals eat there.

If you have time I would advise hitting Coney Island and riding the Cyclone, bit of a trek out, but worth it.

When you visit Grand Central I would go to the Oyster Bar - it only adds 10 mins, but is great if you want a glass of champers and some lunch! Also, the whispering gallery is there and that is worth the 2 mins it takes to explore, but brilliant.

Washington Park is a personal fave, you get a great view of the Empire State through the arch too, great photo op...

Also, don't forget whilst in Central Park to walk to Columbus Circle - when anyone talks about the distance to NY, this is the spot they measure it by.

Wow, forgot how much I love NY - might have to get booking for another trip!

Another vote for TOTR. Also I love the Highline - high level garden walkway from the Meatpacking District certainly to 30th and they are working to take it round to the Hudson. It's maybe easier to do a search and see details than for me to try to explain it.

+1 The Highline is a fantastic walk and can be incorporated in getting you from A to B

TOTR at night to see the lights on ESB (unless its cloudy) if you want to do Brooklyn Bridge then get the subway or the boat across the other side and walk back across the Bridge for better photo opportunity.
Fab place to eat is the The River Cafe Restaurant Brookyln just below the Brooklyn Bridge if you are over that side - its the one usually shown in all the films with a view back to Manhattan, great views at night, have to book it early though, has a dress code.
If you want to 'do' Central Park, get subway up to Cathedral Parkway or 103 Street and walk back through the park rather than the other way around. If doing the 9-11 Memorial buy tickets on-line to avoid the queue and don't forget to see the Church there as well - very moving experience.

Having just read a feature in the Sunday Times Traveller magazine, there are a couple of interesting things I thought I'd share here:

1. Observatory at 1WTC is now open, so maybe go up that as an alternative to TOTR and/or ESB?
2. The Whitney Museum (recently relocated) - it gets great reviews on Tripadvisor
3. It also reminded me of the Gansevoort Market, which is not far from the Chelsea Market. Having been to both I think I prefer the former.
4. There's a mention of the Rubin Museum of Art, which has free entry on Friday evenings after 6pm where the cafe turns into a bar!

Hope this is of use to someone I've certainly added a couple of things to my list for next June

The new Whitney is indeed a good visit - much better than it's old home in an upturned concrete bunker - and lots of outside terraces to look at the views of the city.

When I was there in July it was so new I could still smell the paint!


re 9/11 to avoid any confusion the memorial (i.e. the park and the two pools) are free and it is the museum that is charged for. You don't have to visit the museum to visit the park.

As to queues they look worse than the actuality because there are separate ticket lines for different groups - pay to enter / relatives of victims etc and people with various tourist passes so it looks like a long snake but isn't. I found the queue moved very quickly and when I joined the line to actually enter that moved equally quickly up until the security check-point where like airports so many people weren't ready for screening.

As to my review of it - I was very impressed with the design of the building and the various exhibits and whilst aspects were very moving it was not as mawkish as I thought it might be.

Having just read a feature in the Sunday Times Traveller magazine, there are a couple of interesting things I thought I'd share here:

1. Observatory at 1WTC is now open, so maybe go up that as an alternative to TOTR and/or ESB?

I done all 3. I would not bother with ESB.

TOTR gives you views over Central Park which ESB does not (lets call that North view). East & West views are the same as ESB & the 4th view (South) is of ESB.
The view ESB gives that TOTR does not is that of down to the financial district (the South View), but you can see the same view from 1 WTC North View, the East & West views are different than from TOTR & the South view you can see liberty island, ellis island, Staten island, new jersey, etc.

Also, the lift & video wall is an amazing experience. Just a pity the lift goes to quick so you cant take it all in.

I would advise paying the extra to fast track if your short on time. Even arriving early, the queues can be quite lengthly.