|
NEW YORK CITY
A TOUR GUIDE FOR OUT OF TOWNER’S<=
/o:p>
By: Ralph Freda
<=
/span>
=
CONTENTS
=
- LINKS
TO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
NEW YORK CITY
A TOUR GUIDE FOR OUT OF TOWNER’S<=
/o:p>
Introduction
New York=
City is
an amazing place with so many sites to see and things to do that itR=
17;s
not difficult for the occasional visitor to get swallowed up in the she=
ar
magnitude of the city and its attractions. This doesn’t mean you sh=
ould
avoid making a trip to New York, it simply means you should be prepared
before you go. This guide=
is
intended to help you make the most of a short visit and will point out =
some
items of interest that may be helpful or off the beaten track for the
occasional New York tourist.
If you&#=
8217;re
in New York City during the Christmas season, which in my opinion runs =
from
the day they light the Christmas tree in Rockefeller center (late Novem=
ber
or early December) to New Years Day, this guide will help you focus on =
the
things that make New York special at Christmas.
In the c=
ontents
section you will find “Links to Additional
Information”. These=
links
will give you more detail information about the things and places I talk
about in this guide. There is also a link for midtown hotels and
another for restaurants. I suggest you use the Internet Links abo=
ve
or get a guidebook of New York City from a local bookstore (“Trip=
le
A” if you’re a member) to supplement the information
provided in this guide. Frommers’ “The Unof=
ficial
Guide To New York City” would be a good guidebook choice.
Most of =
the
information contained in this guide comes from my own personal experien=
ce
and point of view; however, I used the Internet and Frommers’ gui=
de
extensively to update prices, schedules and other details. At several points along the to=
ur I
provide additional information and/or advice that I feel may be interes=
ting
or helpful. This informat=
ion
will be indented and in uppercase bold print to set it apart from the b=
asic
tour.
=
REMEMBER
THAT NEW YORK CITY IS REALLY MADE UP OF THE FIVE BOROUGHS OF BROOKLYN,
QUEENS, THE BRONX, STATEN ISLAND AND MANHATTAN. HOWEVER, MOST PEOPLE REFER TO
MANHATTAN AS “NEW YORK CITY” OR “THE CITY”.
=
NEW YORK
STREETS CAN GET CONFUSING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, HOWEVER, IN MIDTOWN THE
STREETS BASICALLY FORM A GRID; WITH THE AVENUES RUNNING NORTH AND SOUTH=
AND
THE NUMBERED STREETS RUNNING EAST AND WEST. BROADWAY IS THE EXCEPTION, RUN=
NING
ON A DIAGONAL ACROSS SEVERAL AVENUES.
=
=
=
THE
NORTH END OF THE CITY IS UPTOWN, THE SOUTH END IS DOWNTOWN AND THE MIDDLE IS MIDTOWN. EAST OF 6TH AVENUE =
(ALSO
CALLED THE AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS) IS =
THE=
EAST
SIDE AND WEST OF 6TH AVENUE IS THE WEST SIDE. YOU REMEMBER THE SONG “E=
AST
SIDE WEST SIDE ALL AROUND THE TOWN…...” THE BLOCKS RUNNING BETWEEN STR=
EETS
(NORTH/SOUTH) ARE SHORT WHILE THE BLOCKS RUNNING BETWEEN AVENUES
(EAST/WEST) CAN BE AS MUCH AS FIVE TIMES LONGER.
The most
convenient place to stay would be midtown Manhattan, preferably on the =
west
side between 40th and 60th streets. There are a good number of qua=
lity
hotels in this midtown area and you will be within walking distance of =
many
sights. The downside is t=
hat
rooms can get expensive in this area and many of these hotels may fill =
up
early, especially during the Christmas season. My recommendation is that you =
search
the Internet for deals and book the room as early as you can. An alternate to staying in mid=
town,
would be to stay in New Jersey and make day trips to New York. This option is discussed later=
in
this guide.
&nb=
sp;
&nb=
sp;
&nb=
sp;
&nb=
sp;
&nb=
sp;
&nb=
sp;
New York=
is not
a place you should go to “just to see”. Try not to get caught up in the
“sites” to the point where you miss the
“experience”. New
York is as much about people as it is about places. A multitude of people of every
ethnic and racial background…rich, poor, gay, straight; even the
homeless play a part in making New York one of the most diverse and
interesting cities in the world.
Another =
point to
keep in mind is that you don’t need to go to expensive places and=
eat
at expensive restaurants to have a good time and to get good
food in New York. Th=
ere
are scores of small ethnic eating places with good food at fair prices.=
In addition to the obvious, so=
mewhat
touristy, places in China Town and Little Italy there are local places
scattered throughout the midtown area; you simply have to muster up the
courage to try something different.&nb=
sp;
At some point you may want to get a hot dog, slice of pizza, hot
pretzel or a cup of coffee and a bagel at a small shop or street vendor=
and
enjoy the New York experience much like New Yorker’s do.
BACK
=
=
GETTING AROUND
=
;
This guide is basically about walki=
ng
tours but there will be times when you have to travel a distance that is
not practical to walk so you need to know how to get around.
<=
/span>
DRIVING:
<=
/span>
The last thing you want to do is br=
ing a
car into New York City. T=
raffic
is heavy and tricky to navigate and even though parking lots and garages
are expensive they fill up fast and it’s often hard to find an op=
en
space. Parking on the str=
eet is
out of the question unless you’re from New York and know all the
rules. Parking in the wro=
ng
place at the wrong time can result in your car being towed away with the
cost of the ticket and towing running into hundreds of dollars.
<=
/span>
TAXI CAB:
<=
/span>
Taking a cab is by far the preferre=
d way
to travel in New York City, especially if you have luggage or a lot of
packages from shopping.
It may seem a bit expensive but you can get from one place to th=
e other
without knowing how to get there.
If you are at the airport or bus station you will usually be
assigned a cab by a dispatcher at a taxi stand, from a hotel the doorman
will hail you a cab (hand him a dollar or two for this service), and fr=
om
the street you simply hold your arm up as high as you can and yell
“taxi!”. Keep=
in
mind that it is almost impossible to get a cab in midtown Manhattan on a
rainy day.
For short hops just get in the cab,=
tell
the driver where you want to go and take what comes. For longer trips (to and from =
the
airport or midtown to downtown) it’s a good idea to ask what the =
fare
will be before you get in the cab and make the trip. You may be able to negotiate a=
fixed
fare but even if an exact amount cannot be given an estimate will minim=
ize
any surprises at the end of the trip.&=
nbsp;
It is also a good idea to give your specific destination includi=
ng
street or address if known.
This gives the cab driver reason to believe you know where you a=
re
going and less opportunity to extend the route.
Contrary to popular belief, most cab
drivers in New York are honest and helpful. They will take you where you w=
ant to
go the best way they know how and may even be able to give you informat=
ion
about the place you are going or other places of interest. They may not speak the best En=
glish
but if you grab a cab with a Medallion on the roof (the lighted sign) a=
nd a
pictured driver’s license, meter and automatic receipt machine
mounted on the dashboard you should be ok.
<=
/span>
<=
/span>
<=
/span>
NEW YORK YELLOW CABS ARE LICEN=
SED
AND REGULATED BY THE “NEW YORK CITY TAXI AND LIMOUSINE
COMMISSION” AND HAVE THE MEDALLION (ILLUMINATED LIGHT) ON THE
ROOF. YELLOW CABS CAN ONL=
Y BE
HAILED IN THE STREET OR DISPATCHED FROM A TAXI STAND, THEY CANNOT BE CA=
LLED
TO PICK YOU UP AT YOUR HOTEL OR OTHER LOCATION. OTHER CAB COMPANIES ARE AVAILA=
BLE
FOR THIS SERVICE. ASK AT =
THE
HOTEL, WHICH COMPANY YOU SHOULD CALL TO SCHEDULE A PICK-UP WHEN NEEDED.=
=
The easiest way to have a problem w=
ith a
cab is to use an independent private car or limo, also referred to as
“Gypsy Cabs”. These
drivers may approach you to offer you a ride that will avoid the long w=
ait
at the taxi stand or at a better rate than the regular cab fare. You may get a good deal or you=
may
be surprised with some hidden cost at the end of the ride. The problem is these driv=
ers
are not regulated by any commission or agency and you are on your own if
you’re not happy with the service or price you get. So bottom line is,
stay with the clearly marked yellow or medallion cabs, cab services
recommended by hotel personnel or limo companies that you call in advan=
ce.
<=
/span>
SUB WAY:
<=
/span>
It’s hard to believe that und=
er all
the buildings, streets and plazas of New York City is one of the largest
subway systems in the world.
This maze of tunnels has almost 700 miles of track that effectiv=
ely
gets millions of people around the five Burroughs every day. To a first time visitor the su=
bway
may seem a little overwhelming and it does takes some time and effort to
study the route maps and stops; so I still recommend the taxi cab as my
first choice of travel. <=
o:p>
However, walking down the stairs and
experiencing the smells, sounds and crowds in this underground city und=
er
the city is definitely a New York experience that you may want to
take. If you travel the m=
ain
lines between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. you should have no more problem with
safety than you do on the streets during business hours. I suggest a trip from Midtown =
or
Central Park to Downtown or Battery Park. Simply go underground at any o=
f the
street level stair entries in the area and ask for a map and guidance at
one of the fare booths. T=
he
trains also have conductors that can assist you with where and when to =
get
on and off. Keep in mind =
that
if you travel during rush hour (7 to 9 a.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. on weekdays)
things might move a little quickly and it may be more difficult to get
attention and help.
<=
/span>
BUSES:<=
/span>
<=
/span>
Not recommended unless it is a slow
traffic day on a weekend or it’s late at night and you can’t
get a cab. Like the subwa=
y you
have to know what bus is going where so ask the driver when you get on =
if
you are on the right bus for your destination.
<=
/span>
GETTING FROM AND T=
O THE
AIRPORT
<=
/span>
The three major airports serving Ne=
w York
are LaGuardia, JFK and Newark.
I prefer and recommend Newark, it is better organized and less
intimidating than JFK or LaGuardia.&nb=
sp;
The easiest way to get from Newark Airport to New York when you =
have
luggage is a taxi or limo. The
travel time from Newark airport to midtown Manhattan will be about 35 t=
o 50
minutes.
Taxis at Newark Airport are dispatc=
hed
from a taxi stand. When y=
ou
tell the dispatcher you want to go to midtown Manhattan, he will hand y=
ou a
slip of paper with an estimated fare; which presently is $30 to $38
depending on the exact location in Manhattan. The total cost will be this fa=
re,
plus tolls ($4.00) plus tip (15%) or about $40 to $48. If you have two or three peopl=
e in
your party, this may not be so bad.&nb=
sp;
There are also express buses that w=
ill
take you from Newark Airport to the Port Authority bus terminal in midt=
own
Manhattan for about $13 one way.
Olympia Airport Express provides service every 15 to 30
minutes. You can then tak=
e a
cab from the Port Authority to your hotel. There is a taxi stand just out=
side
the door of the port authority at the 42nd street ground lev=
el
exit.
A limo (sedan not stretch) will tak=
e you
from Newark Airport to midtown Manhattan for about the same price as a
cab. You can make arrange=
ments
before you leave home and have a limo driver waiting for you at the air=
port
when you arrive. This is =
a good
option when you can schedule a firm pick up time before you leave and do
not have to be spontaneous.
Ask when booking, what the fare will be and if you can use a cre=
dit
card to pay for the ride. Keep
in mind that there may be waiting charges tacked on if the driver has to
wait an excessive amount of time for your plane to land.
A limo would be a good option to ge=
t you
from your hotel back to the airport also. However, if you decide to take=
a cab
you should know that New York cabs can’t pick you up at Newark
Airport and New Jersey cabs can’t pick you up in New York, theref=
ore,
the return trip will be a bit more expensive. The New York cab fare back to =
Newark
Airport will run about $50 to $60 including the tip. =
<=
/span>
<=
/span>
RUSH HOUR
<=
/span>
Rush hour in New York is the period=
of
time generally from 7 to 9 a.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. on weekdays, when 8 mil=
lion
people try to get from one place to another all at once. In addition to the vehicle bac=
k ups
and crowding most of us are familiar with at home, New York’s rush
hour crowding extends to foot traffic on the streets and in the subways=
and
can be quite an experience for someone from out of town.
If you happen to get caught up in t=
his
stampede of humanity, you may get to better understand one of the reaso=
ns
New Yorker’s are viewed, by many outsiders, as non-caring rude pe=
ople
who won’t stop to give you the time of day. It becomes evident quickly tha=
t the
flow of this crowd depends on everyone moving together and that stoppin=
g to
find out “the time of day” would be difficult and
disruptive. After going t=
hrough
this routine day after day and week after week, the people that make up
this crowd become somewhat like a swarm of bees focused on their
destination with little time for distraction.
So give these New Yorkers the benef=
it of
the doubt. Understand tha=
t they
may be more “focused” than “rude”. Trust that they will be unders=
tanding
and helpful if you have a question or a need and don’t be afraid =
to
stop and ask, just don’t do it during rush hour.
&nbs=
p;
BACK=
&nbs=
p;
&nbs=
p;
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p;
&nbs=
p;
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p;
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p;
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p;
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p;
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p;
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p;
MIDTOWN (42ND STREET TO CENTRAL P=
ARK)
Our tour begins at the Port Authority bus terminal
located between 8th & 9th Avenues from 40th
to 42nd Street. If
you take a bus from out of town it will most likely bring you to the Po=
rt
Authority. If you drive in
through the Lincoln tunnel you will exit the tunnel at the Port
Authority. If you stay at=
a hotel
in Manhattan you can pick up the tour at any point but I suggest you go=
to
the Port Authority and travel the full route.
If you get to the correct Port Authority location =
you
will be on 42nd Street and 8th Avenue. Walk east down 42nd
Street toward 7th Avenue.
THIS SINGLE LONG BLOCK
BETWEEN 8TH AVENUE AND 7TH AVENUE IN THE HEART OF=
MIDTOWN
MANHATTAN HAS GONE THROUGH MANY TRANSITIONS OVER THE YEARS. FOR A GOOD MANY YEARS IN THE
70’S AND 80’S THE STREET WAS TAKEN OVER WITH PORNOGRAPHY AND
PROSTITUTION TO A POINT WHERE A DECENT PERSON WOULD HAVE A DIFFICULT TI=
ME
WALKING DOWN THE STREET WITH THEIR FAMILY. THE CITY FINALLY DECIDED THAT =
IT
WOULD RE-CLAIM ONE OF ITS PRIME LOCATIONS AND ATTRACTIONS AND MADE A
CONCERTED EFFORT OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS TO CLEAN UP THE STREET. THIS LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORT WAS
SUCCESSFUL AND RESULTED IN THE RETURN OF MERCHANTS AND SHOWS INCLUDING =
THE
RE-OPENING OF THE NEW AMSTERDAM THEATER BY THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY THAT
PREMIERED THE STAGE VERSION OF WALT DISNEY’S “LION KINGR=
21;
IN JUNE OF 1997.
<=
/span>
<=
/span>
As you walk this long block from 8th Av=
enue
to 7th Avenue you will see Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum,
The New Amsterdam Theater and a whole variety of novelty shops, fast fo=
od
and sit down restaurants and more.&nbs=
p;
Hopefully you will find a street vendor selling roasted
chestnuts. Yes they reall=
y sell
chestnuts roasting on an open fire right in the streets of New York and
even if you don’t like chestnuts, the smell and the smoke on a co=
ld
December day can help give you the feeling of Christmas. In any event you are in the he=
art of
the city. Look
around….see the sights&#=
8230;..=
see the
people.
THIS STRETCH OF 42ND
STREET BETWEEN 8TH & 7TH AV=
ENUES
CAN BE A FUN PLACE TO FIND NOVELTIES AND OUT OF THE ORDINARY ITEMS,
HOWEVER, YOU SHOULD BE CAREFUL BUYING ANY EXPENSIVE OR BRAND NAME ITEMS
SUCH AS A ROLEX WATCH AT A REAL GOOD PRICE. CHANCES ARE GOOD THAT IT’=
;S A
FAKE OR DAMAGED IN SOME WAY.
THE SHEAR NUMBER OF TOURISTS THAT COME TO NEW YORK MAKES IT A
FEEDING GROUND FOR CON ARTIST AND CROOKS. SOME ARE ON THE STREETS AND SO=
ME ARE
IN THE STORES. SOME MAY E=
VEN
TELL YOU THE ITEM IS “HOT” (STOLEN) JUST TO MAKE THE LOW PR=
ICE
SEEM REASONABLE. BE
CAREFUL AND DON’T GET TAKEN BY TOO GOOD A DEAL.
<=
/span>
After walking one long block, you will be at the c=
orner
of 7th Avenue and 42nd Street. Turn left (north) and you will
immediately walk into Times Square, which is where 7th Avenue
meets Broadway and forms a triangle – not a square.
As yo=
u walk
into Times Square and look back, you will see the triangular shaped
building that the famous New Years Eve ball sits atop as it descends on=
New
Years Eve. This is “=
;One
Times Square” and used to be the New York Times building (appropr=
iate
for a place named Times Square) but now I’m not sure who owns the
building or what it’s called.
<=
/span>
DURING WORLD WAR II HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE WOULD GATHER AROUND THE TIMES BUILDING EVERY DAY TO GET THE LATE=
ST
NEWS FROM THE LIGHTED MOVING HEADLINES THAT TRAVELED AROUND THE
BUILDING. AT THE END OF T=
HE WAR
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE CELEBRATED IN TIMES SQUARE AS THE HEADLINES ANNOUNC=
ED
VICTORY IN EUROPE (VE DAY) AND 3 MONTHS LATER VICTORY OVER JAPAN (VJ DA=
Y).
<=
/span>
<=
/span>
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/span>
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/span>
<=
/span>
<=
/span>
<=
/span>
There=
’s
a good deal to see in Times Square in the way of stores, clubs and plac=
es
to eat. There’s eve=
n a
place to get discount show tickets and a place to enlist in the militar=
y. If you come across a kosher de=
li and
you like pastrami or corned beef, you may want to stop and get the best
sandwich you ever had.
=
;
If you stay to the left and walk up town you will =
see
some of the Broadway theaters in the “Theater District” whi=
ch is off to the left (west) side of Broadway from 44=
th
to 53rd Streets. To
walk all the way to Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall you wa=
nt
to turn right (east) at 50th Street, cross back over 7t=
h
Avenue and walk to 6th Avenue “The Avenue Of The
Americas”. Radio Ci=
ty
Music Hall is at the corner of 6th Avenue and 50th
Streets.
=
NOTE: 6TH AVENUE WAS RE-NA=
MED
“THE AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS” A WHILE BACK, BUT MOST PEOPLE
STILL REFER TO IT AS 6TH AVENUE.
=
5TH AVENUE IS THE
SHOPPING STREET ALSO REFERRED TO AS “WINDOWS ON THE
WORLD”. SACKS,
TIFFANY’S, AND OTHER FINE STORES ARE ON OR NEAR 5TH
AVENUE.
RADIO CITY/ROCKEFELLER CENTER AREA
· &=
nbsp;
RA=
DIO
CITY MUSIC HALL – CHRISTMAS SHOW
Radio City Mu=
sic
Hall was built in 1932 and was completely restored in 1999. It is a magnificent auditorium=
with
old world architecture and décor. It is the nation’s large=
st
indoor theater and home of the world famous Rockettes dance team. For many years the theater wou=
ld
show first run movies together with a stage show for the price of one
admission. I saw the movi=
e epic
“Ben Hur” with a live stage show, featuring the Rockettes, =
for
a total cost of $1.85 a few years back. Now the theater doesn’t =
show
movies any more and is dedicated to stage shows and concerts at
significantly higher prices.
<=
/span>
The Radio City
Christmas Spectacular is a great stage show in this huge theater with
moving stages, live animals, and full concert orchestra. Tickets range =
in
price from $40 to $85 and should be purchased far in advance of your
trip. An afternoon show (=
2:30
p.m.) after lunch at Rockefeller center would be my choice.
<=
/span>
<=
/span>
<=
/o:p>
· &=
nbsp;
RO=
CKEFELLER
CENTER ICE SKATING RINK AND CHRISTMAS TREE
Down the stre=
et
from Radio City Music Hall is a wide-open plaza with an ice skating rink
recessed below street level and a giant Christmas tree in December. The big gold statue is Prometh=
eus
and the flags of all nations of “The United Nations” are fl=
own
around the plaza. This is=
the
heart of Rockefeller center.
There are a
number of stores selling everything from French books to Swiss chocolat=
es
and souvenirs of the city.
Down at the ice level there are some overpriced but nicely decor=
ated
restaurants. One even has=
a
ginger bread house big enough to walk in, although they ask that you
don’t. You may want=
to
have lunch here just to say you did.
If you decide=
you
would like to skate at the rink, the cost in December for a one and
one-half hour session is $17.50 plus the cost of rental skates at
$8.50. Use the link in the contents section to
get more information about the Christmas tree lighting, ice skating,
eating, shopping and more.
<=
/span>
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/span>
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/span>
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/span>
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/span>
·
NBC
STUDIOS
<=
/span>
On 49th<=
/sup>
street between 5th and 6th Avenues (across from t=
he
“Today” Studio) are the NBC Studios. Since 1933, NBC pages =
have
conducted tours of the NBC Studios.&nb=
sp;
Some of these NBC pages have become famous including: Ted Koppel,
Regis Philbin, Steve Allen, Kate Jackson, Michael Eisner and Dave
Garroway.
If you feel t=
his
is something you would like to do, use the link in the contents
section for additional information.
<=
/span>
· &=
nbsp;
ST.
PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL
Just across t=
he
street from Rockefeller Center on 5th Avenue between 50=
th
and 51st Streets is St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the large=
st
catholic cathedral in the country and home to the archbishop of New
York. With a look much li=
ke a
fairy tale castle this cathedral was built in the 1880’s and is b=
usy
with spires, arches and stained glass.=
It has a huge organ with nearly 8,000 pipes.
If you visit =
in
the late morning or mid-afternoon you can avoid interrupting services.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> If services are in progress wh=
en you
visit you can still quietly walk through the back of the church. This is a beautiful cathe=
dral
worth seeing.
<=
/span>
· &=
nbsp;
FI=
FTH
AVENUE STORES- “WINDOWS ON THE WORLD”=
<=
/span>
Start at the
corner of 49th Street and head north toward Central Park and=
you
will see Sack’s Fifth Avenue, Tiffany’s, Christian Dior and
other notable stores. You=
can
check a map for exact locations of specific stores or simply walk up the
avenue and see a variety of stores with well decorated and often animat=
ed
window displays for the Christmas season.
· &=
nbsp;
F.=
A.O.
SCHWARZ TOY STORE
<=
/span>
World’s
greatest toy store for some unusual stuff, especially at Christmas, F.A=
.O.
Schwarz is located on 5th Avenue at 58th Street.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> When you enter the store you a=
re
greeted by a 3-story clock tower singing “welcome to our world of
toys”. The first fl=
oor
features FAO’s famous stuffed animals, some selling for thousands=
of
dollars. Don’t be
surprised if there is a line to get in.
· &=
nbsp;
SO=
UTH
END OF CENTRAL PARK – HORSE & BUGGY RIDES
If you make i=
t to
59th Street between 5th and 6th Avenue,
you’re at the south end of Central Park. Horse & Buggy or “Ha=
nsom
Cab” rides through Central Park start here. These buggy rides operate year=
round
and when it’s cold they give you a blanket to keep you warm. Rides are approximately $34 fo=
r a
20-minute ride and $75 for a 45-50 minute ride through Central Park. Longer rides are negotiable. Prices may vary, so be sure to=
ask
prior to boarding the carriage.
Up to 4 people can occupy one carriage.
If you’=
re
not interested in a buggy ride, you can walk in the park and forget
you’re in the city.
Novelty here is having a park of this magnitude (843 acres) righ=
t in
the middle of New York City.
There are several lakes, a zoo, horseback riding, bicycle and
jogging paths and lots of grass where they have free concerts in the
summer. Simon and Garfunk=
el
drew over 500,000 people to Central Park when they had their reunion on=
the
great lawn in 1981.
&=
nbsp;
<=
o:p>
BACK
<=
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<=
o:p>
&=
nbsp;
<=
o:p>
=
SIDE
STEPS
<=
/span>
CENTRAL PARK
You
will find a link in the contents section that wi=
ll
give you details of the park attractions along with maps and other
information.
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/span>
BROADWAY PLAY & SARDI’S
RESTAURANT
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/span>
If you
decide to see a play, I recommend a Wednesday or Saturday matinee (abou=
t 2
p.m.), followed by dinner at Sardi’s restaurant with 6 or 7 p.m.
reservations. Sardi’=
;s is
an old time celebrity stopping place and tourist attraction located in =
the
heart of New York’s theater district at 234 west 44th
Street.
With
everything else there is to do, you might want to see a play at night
(usually 8 p.m. show time) leaving the daylight hours for other site se=
eing
adventures. In this case =
you
can try Sardi’s for a late lunch or early dinner before the play =
or a
late dinner after the play or skip Sardi’s and get a hot dog or s=
lice
of pizza on the way to the play.
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/span>
NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
<=
/span>
This
may seem like a strange attraction but if you’re in midtown Manha=
ttan
and you have some extra time, this library is worth seeing. Located on 5th Aven=
ue
between 40th and 42nd Streets, this majestic
building, flanked by the two famous marble lions, Patience and Fortitud=
e,
has been the heart of the New York library system for more than a
century. At the time it w=
as
built, in 1902, the library was the largest marble structure in the Uni=
ted
States. In addition to ro=
tating
exhibits, beautiful murals, a gift shop and its exquisite interior, the
real jewel of the library remains the vast main reading room with its
massive oak tables.
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=
34TH
STREET AREA
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/span>
If you
walk down 42nd Street to 7th Avenue and turn right
(south) you will be heading to 34th Street and the Herald Sq=
uare
area, which is also in walking distance from the Port Authority but in =
the
opposite direction from Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center.
<=
/span>
·
HERALD SQUARE
There is an o=
ld
song written by George M. Cohan with the lyrics “Give my regards to Broadway, remember me to Herald
Square. Tell all the guys=
on 42nd
Street that I will soon be there……..” Herald Square is south of Times
Square and is formed by the intersection of Broadway, 6th Av=
enue
and 34th Street.
Like Times Square it was named for the newspaper that once was
located here (the New York Herald).&nb=
sp;
Herald Square is a retail hub with its most notable attraction b=
eing
Macy’s.
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· &=
nbsp;
EM=
PIRE
STATE BUILDING
<=
/span>
The Empire St=
ate
Building is located at 350 5th Avenue between 33rd
and 34th Streets.
You will find a good deal of visitor information and history of =
the
building via the link in the contents section
including an explanation of the different colored lights used to illumi=
nate
the top of the Empire State Building on various occasions. These lights will be red and g=
reen
for the Christmas season.
Note: my first writing of this guide=
was
made before 9/11/2001. I =
left
the following the way I first wrote it for memory sake.<=
/b>
You
can go to the observation deck at the top of the Empire State Building =
or
you can go higher up at the World Trade Center. I prefer the Empire State
Building. It’s much=
more
romantic (remember “Sleepless in Seattle”). The World Trade Center or
“Twin Towers” is located further down town in the Wall Stre=
et
area.
The
Empire State Building is an old goliath with charm and history. The World Trade Center is defi=
nitely
taller. You can eat at the
restaurant at the top of the World Trade Center called "The Top of=
the
World” and actually look down at the Empire State Building. Just keep in mind that the pri=
ces
here are in direct relation to the height of the building.
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·
MACY’S
Opened in 185=
7 by
R. H. Macy, the Macy’s store in New York is t=
he
world’s largest department store, a registered New York landmark,
ending point of the famous Thanksgiving Day parade and where the real
Santa Clause can be found at Christmas (remember “Miracle =
on
34th Street”).
Located at 15=
1 w.
34th Street, the store has one million square feet of retail
space – that’s one solid city block of stuff. You can ride the old-fashioned
wooden escalator to the sixth floor to browse the stock of luxury linen=
s or
head to the basement-level for foods, baked goods, fancy condiments and
more.
<=
/span>
·
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN<=
/p>
Madison Square
Garden is currently located at 7th Avenue between 31st<=
/sup>
and 33rd Streets.
There were three Madison Square Garden arenas prior to the openi=
ng
of this latest one in 1968.
The original arena was built in 1879 at Madison Square on Madison
Avenue at 26th Street, thus the name.
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=
LOWER
MANHATTAN – DOWNTOWN
If you
don’t spend too much time in the 34th Street area, you=
can
take a train or cab to lower Manhattan to complete the day. It’s a bit too far to wa=
lk and
the streets start to get confusing as you head downtown. Once downtown you are within r=
each
of the following sites.
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·&nbs=
p;
BATTERY PARK (THE BATTERY)=
Ever
hear the song “New York, New York, it’s a hell of a to=
wn,
the Bronx is up and the Battery’s down”? The “Battery” refe=
rred
to is Battery Park, a 21 acre public park located down at the
southern tip of Manhattan. From
Battery Park you can look out at New York harbor and on a clear day you=
can
see the Statue of Liberty, the New Jersey shore line and the Atlantic O=
cean
off in the distance.
Ferries to the
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island leave from Battery Park.
<=
/span>
=
FIVE
MONTHS AFTER BEING DAMAGED IN THE 9/11 ATTACKS, FRITZ KOENIG’S
“THE SPHERE”, WHICH ONCE STOOD OUTSIDE THE WORLD TRADE CENT=
ER A
FEW BLOCKS AWAY, WAS REINSTALLED AT EISENHOWER MALL IN THE NORTHERN SEC=
TION
OF THE PARK. ALONG WITH AN
ETERNAL FLAME, IT SERVES TO MEMORIALIZE THE VICTIMS OF 9/11.=
<=
/span>
·&nbs=
p;
GROUND ZERO – WORLD TRADE CENTER SITE<=
o:p>
The former Wo=
rld
Trade Center Twin Towers area now know as “Ground Zero” is
roughly rectangular in shape and bounded by Barclay Street on the north,
Church Street on the east, Albany Street on the south and West Street on
the west. For much of the=
early
recovery period, this area was off-limits to everyone except recovery
workers. The perimeter of=
the
area is now open to the public and a tribute center located at 120 Libe=
rty
Street, directly across from Ground Zero, gives tours around the
perimeter.
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·&nbs=
p;
STATUE OF LIBERTY
Ferries for t=
he
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island leave from Battery Park every 20 min=
utes
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. One
round trip ticket costs $11.50 and includes visits to both locations. Due to security regulations af=
ter
9/11, visitors are no longer allowed inside the statue itself. You will see the statue up clo=
se and
be allowed to walk out onto the statue’s observation deck to see =
the
views of New York City and the harbor.=
<=
/span>
I=
FEEL
THE STATUE OF LIBERTY IS BEST SEEN FROM A BOAT AS YOU PASS THE ISLAND.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> GOING TO THE STATUE CAN BE A L=
ONG
AND TIRING EXPERIENCE CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT MAKE THIS
TRIP. A RIDE ON THE STATEN
ISLAND FERRY OR A CIRCLE LINE CRUISE THAT PASSES THE STATUE WOULD BE MY
RECOMMENDATION (SEE CIRCLE LINE CRUISE BELOW)
=
· &nb=
sp; =
ELLIS
ISLAND
=
From 1892 to
1954, Ellis Island was the largest port of entry and inspection point of
immigrants to the United States. Ellis Island is a great place to explo=
re
American immigration history and trace family roots. Ferry service to the island is
included in the Statue of Liberty fare.
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CIRCLE LINE CRUISE=
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/span>
Circle Line
Cruises offer a variety of ways to see the Statue of Liberty and other =
sites
along the river. Brunch, =
lunch
and dinner cruises sailing during the daytime, twilight and nighttime h=
ours
are some of the options. =
Prices
and duration of cruises vary and should be checked at the time of your
trip.
I recommend t=
he
Battery Park Harbor cruise or the 1.5 hour New York Harbor cruise which
currently costs $26.95 per person.&nbs=
p;
This cruise sails year round on a daily basis and will offer
beautiful views of: the Manhattan skyline, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Isl=
and,
South Street Seaport, Brooklyn Bridge, United Nations, Chrysler Building
and Empire State Building.
A more ambiti=
ous
trip would be a 3-hour full island tour that goes around the entire isl=
and
of Manhattan into the East River.
This cruise sails daily except Christmas Day and New Years Day a=
t a
cost of $35.95 per person.
<=
/span>
For complete
information, schedules and pricing on all the Circle Line Cruises go to=
www.circ=
leline.com
or call 888-880-9108.
<=
/span>
·
STATEN ISLAND FERRY
This
old-fashioned traditional ferry service runs between Manhattan and Stat=
en
Island. The trip ta=
kes
about 25 minutes each way and offers good views of the Statue of Liberty
and lower Manhattan. You =
do
have to get off and re-board for the return trip. These are good-sized ferries c=
apable
of carrying up to 6,000 passengers and 40 cars. Refreshments are available on =
board.
Up until the =
mid
seventies the fare was five cents and was considered the best buy in
town. The fare was raised=
to 50
cents for a number of years but now it’s free which makes it even=
a
better buy. Definitely ta=
ke
this ride if you’re looking for something relaxing to do on a mild
day with clear skies.
No vehicles a=
re
currently allowed on the ferry until further notice. Parking is available at the te=
rminal
at a cost of $6.00 per day. The
ferry leaves Manhattan from Whitehall Terminal located at 1 Whitehall S=
treet
at South Street.
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=
OTHER
SITES AND CLOSING REMARKS
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/span>
There
are many sites you may not get to see on a short trip that I did not co=
ver
in detail in this guide. =
China
Town, Little Italy, Soho, the Diamond District on Canal Street, Greenwi=
ch
Village and Washington Square Park, The United Nations, The Museum of
Natural History, and others.
Use the link to “Areas and Neighborhoods of Interest in New
York City” in the contents section to get =
the
locations of these other sites
<=
/span>
I
suggest you don’t try to see too much on a short trip to New
York. The midtown area of=
New
York during the Christmas season should be a fun experience with plenty=
to
do and I would be certain to spend enough time here even if I did nothi=
ng
else. Stop to experience =
the
chestnuts roasting on an open fire and the people dressed like
Eskimos. They can be
surprisingly friendly this time of year, and many….like you....wi=
ll
be from out of town.
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SEEING NEW YORK WH=
ILE
STAYING IN NEW JERSEY
<=
/span>
As I stated earlier, the most conve=
nient
place to stay when visiting Manhattan is the midtown area. However, if you can’t ge=
t the
room you want at a price you can afford, you may want to consider stayi=
ng
across the Hudson River in New Jersey before deciding not to go at
all. There are Hilton,
Marriott, Ramada and other good quality hotels in the East Rutherford a=
rea,
not far from Giants Stadium and the Lincoln Tunnel. These hotels are not cheap but=
they
usually have better availability and pricing than the midtown hotels. <=
o:p>
Busses go into New York on a regular
basis from the Park Ride lot at the Vince Lombardi Rest Area, located on
the New Jersey Turnpike, to the Port Authority Bus Terminal on 42n=
d
Street. Most of the quali=
ty
hotels in the area will run shuttle service to the Park Ride or you can
drive there if you have a car.
The trip into New York takes about 30 minutes and because the bu=
sses
have dedicated lanes through the Lincoln Tunnel they will do better tha=
n a
cab or car during rush hour.
The biggest downside to not staying=
in
the midtown area is not being able to stop by your hotel to drop off
packages or to just take a short break during the day. If you don’t see this as=
a
problem, making day trips to New York from New Jersey may be an option =
for
you.
Having a car and staying in New Jer=
sey
offers a variety of other options such as: visiting the Statue of Liber=
ty
from the New Jersey side (Liberty Park), which is quicker and easier th=
an
form New York, driving to the Jersey Shore and Atlantic City, visiting =
the
water front city of Hoboken to see the skyline of New York
(something you can’t see when you're in New York).<=
span
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>=
BACK<=
/p>
ABOUT THE AUTHOR <=
o:p>
<=
/span>
I’m
not a writer, publisher, travel professional or food critic. I have never written a book or
travel guide. So what am I
doing writing this guide and why should you spend the time reading it?<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> My credentials for writing this
guide rest with my first hand experiences growing up in the New York ar=
ea
and the time I spent on the streets of Manhattan that gave me the
understanding and appreciation for what this city has to offer to the
people that visit.
I was born on June 28, 1945 at St Mary’s Hos=
pital
in Hoboken, New Jersey. H=
oboken
is located on the Hudson River across from and to the west of midtown
Manhattan. With the Holla=
nd
Tunnel located directly south of the city and the Lincoln Tunnel direct=
ly
north, Hoboken, is ideally situated for a short commute into the heart =
of
New York City.
My mother was born and raised in Brooklyn, New
York. She never had a
driver’s license and never drove a car but her knowledge of the N=
ew
York and New Jersey public transportation systems was second to none. Buses, trains and ferries would
carry us to places in and around Hoboken and throug=
h the
five Burroughs of New York City.
I remember many days when my mother and I would tr=
avel
through the Lincoln Tunnel on the #63 bus to the New York Port Authority
Bus Terminal. I would tak=
e my
mother’s hand as we walked down 42nd Street and through
Times Square on our way to Radio City Music Hall where, for just a few
dollars, we would see a first run major motion picture and a live stage
show featuring the world famous Rockettes dance team. Repeated visits to Radio City =
Music
Hall, Rockefeller Center, The New York Museum of Natural History, Centr=
al
Park, Coney Island, and walks down 5th Avenue, rides on the
Staten Island Ferry and even visits to my grandparents grave site in
Brooklyn, would all contribute to my early knowledge of and appreciation
for New York City.
As I got older, it was not uncommon for a group of
friends to shell out 25 cents each to get on the bus and go to New York=
to
kill some time. It may be=
hard
to believe, with the price of things today, but when I was growing up t=
here
were a good number of things to do in New York that were inexpensive or
free. We could go to a
television game show like “Beat the Clock” or “The Pr=
ice
is Right” absolutely free, watch as they taped maybe two or three
shows, get some door prizes and then watch the shows on TV several weeks
later. We could ride the =
Staten
Island Ferry for 5 cents a trip.
We would stay on the ferry and go back and forth several times a=
nd
as long as we weren’t causing any trouble they would usually let =
us
stay on.
One night we went to Central Park to listen to one=
of
the free open-air concerts they would have throughout the summer. We listened to a singer who wo=
uld
become one of my favorite vocalist but whom I was not very familiar wit=
h at
the time, named Barbara Streisand.
With the drinking age in New Jersey at 21 and New =
York
at 18, New York became the place to be on Friday and Saturday night for=
the
18 to 21 year old group. =
We
would spend time at the bars and clubs on the upper east side of Manhat=
tan
and make an occasional visit to Greenwich Village to mingle with the
hippies…….keep in mind that this was 1964.
As I got older, I became more interested in Broadw=
ay
Plays, clubs like the Copa Cabana and Basin Street East, fancy dinners =
and
other more sophisticated activities.&n=
bsp;
For more than 40 years New York was my playground. Since I was basically a visitor
myself, and not a resident, I feel my perspective of New York is more in
tune to how a visitor sees and experiences the city.
Many things changed over the past 40 years in New =
York,
the most striking being the construction and subsequent destruction of =
the
World Trade Center Twin Towers. However, for all the things that have
changed, so much has stayed the same.&=
nbsp;
The sites, sounds, feel and magic of New York City is much the s=
ame
and definitely worth the trip.
BACK=
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