Category: Travel

10 Places to Eat Near Times Square

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

I’ve created several lists to help Tony plan his trip to New York City this fall but I hadn’t come up with recommendations for places to eat until today.

Since Tony plans to return to the same Times Square area hotel he stayed at before, I’ll focus on the restaurants in the 9th Avenue corridor, arguably one of the best areas to dine in the city.

What I love about this area is that the ethnic diversity of New York City is reflected there. There’s Italian, South African, Indian, Thai, Mexican, Caribbean, American, Middle Eastern, African – you get the drift.

Another thing I also love is that you can have a delicious meal for under $20 per person. And if you only want to have a drink, you have a choice of bars and pubs there as well. So, if you’re in the Times Square/Port Authority area, the only reason for you to be hungry is if you’ve run out of money.

Tapas

  • Five Napkin Burger: It’s no joke, you will need five (or more) napkins to wipe your face and hands while you eat at Five Napkin Burger. The restaurant is always full so make reservations or try to get there outside of dinner and lunch hours. 630 9th Ave, 212-757-2277
  • Ollies: Ollies (Sichuan) has another location near Lincoln Center which I used to go to before I went to this one. I feel the food’s better here. 411 W 42nd Street, 868-6588
  • Chenab Indian & Pakistani*: London is well known for its Indian restaurants. I’d love to hear what Tony thinks of Chenab. 540 9th Ave, 212-947-3282
  • Sergimmo Salumeria*: I rarely order lasagna when I go to an Italian restaurant but I did here and loved it. 456 9th Ave, 212-967-4212
  • Tehuitzingo Deli & Grocery*: Ignore the set-up and just go to the back and order your tacos. You won’t be disappointed. 695 10th Ave, 212-397-5956
  • Thai Select*: There are several good choices on their menu but if you want to stick with the usual, they make a good pad thai. 472 9th Ave, 212-695-9920
  • Meskerem 47*: Ethiopian – Any of their stews, some couscous and injera will be enough to fill you up. No utensils needed. 468 W 47th St, 664-0520
  • El Papasito*: Dominican – I was introduced to this restaurant by a Dominican colleague and have been going there for over 10 years now. The food is tasty, fresh and filling. Love their chicharron de pollo (fried chicken), mofongo (mashed plantains), tripe soup and lemonade – 346 W 53rd Street, btw 8th & 9th Avenues, 212-265-2225.
  • Churrascaria Plataforma: Because I don’t buy or eat much beef, I’m always surprised to see beef so proudly displayed, as you’ll notice at this Brazilian all-you-can-eat steakhouse. Thankfully, beef isn’t the only thing on the menu. It’s a little pricier than the restaurants I’ve listed above but it’s worth experiencing. 316 W 49th Street, btw 8th & 9th Avenues.
  • McQuaids: My pub experience in London didn’t leave me very impressed so I’m introducing Tony to a New York pub. I’ve not been to McQuaids but two friends have recommended it. I hope Tony’s able to go and tell me what he thinks. 589 11th Ave, 582-6359

* $10 Entrees available.

Bon Appetit!

5 Off-Broadway Plays Worth Seeing

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

In continuing to help Tony, my blog buddy, plan his fall trip to New York City, I promised to suggest 5 Off-Broadway plays that I think he should consider seeing.

As we no doubt know already, New York has no shortage of venues to watch good quality theater productions. Personally, I love supporting Off- and Off-Off-Broadway shows. For one thing, you never know whom you’ll see on stage. I’ve recognized many television and movie actors, usually playing against type, and watched plays written by several as yet undiscovered playwrights. Another thing is that the price is usually not as high as what you’d pay on Broadway.

Blue Man Group, photo courtesy timewarnercablearena.com
Blue Man Group

So here are 5 suggestions for that Tony and his teenage kids can check out when they’re in New York City.

  • Blue Man Group – A crowd favorite. This three-man performance art group which combines music, comedy and multimedia. Oh, and they’re dressed head to toe in blue.
  • Love, Loss and What I Wore – If clothes could talk, my, the stories they’d tell. Love, Loss explores the memories that are triggered by clothing and accessories.
  • Lost in Yonkers – Following their mother’s death, two young boys go to live with their stern grandmother in Yonkers. Written by Neil Simon
  • The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs – The CEO of Apple brings us irresistible gadgets that we can’t stop buying. This one-man performance examines the man, the products and how they’re made.
  • Sons of the Prophet, A Lebanese family in Pennsylvania deals with family crises with a sense of humor.

Tickets to Broadway shows can be pretty pricey but there’s one place I know that you can always score up to 50% discounted tickets on the day of the performance and that’s at the Theater Development Fund’s kiosk in Times Square.

Matinee tickets are sold the day before at their South Street and Brooklyn locations. They accept major credit cards, cash and travelers checks.

Enjoy!

 

5 Must See Broadway Shows

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

This series of posts about New York City is intended to help my blog buddy, Tony Newboult, and anyone else, plan a visit to the Big Apple. This fall, Tony will make a return visit with his two teenage children.

Since seeing a Broadway show is usually a top priority on most people’s list, I’ve decided to make a few suggestions for Tony.

For the last few years, it seems as if all the productions that make it to Broadway are musicals. Musicals are fun ways to draw the audience into a story. They also send them home with a song on their lips and leave them in an upbeat mood even when the story has a not-so-happy ending.

Since Tony’s a music lover, I’m guessing he and his children might appreciate seeing one of the following shows. I haven’t seen all of the ones I mention below so, unfortunately, I can’t offer any personal comments. But they’ve gotten rave reviews and some have won a few Tony Awards:

Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark – This big box production created quite a stir when several actors were injured during rehearsals and had several problems with the original staging. The revamped production has been getting good reviews.

Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark, Times Square
Spider-Man

The Book of Mormon – The big winner with nine Tony Awards, this religious musical satirizes the story of two Mormon missionaries in Uganda.

The Lion King – I saw this one a few years ago and I really loved it. The energy, the costumes and the story make The Lion King a must see. It’s won six Tony Awards, including for Best Musical.

War Horse – This production uses puppetry to tell the story of Joey, a beloved horse that was sold to the cavalry during World War I.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert – Three drag queens in the Australian Outback. If this production stays true to the movie, it should be make for good fun. Won Tony for Best Costume.

For Monday, I’ll post my pick of 5 Off Broadway shows Tony should check out.

Enjoy!

New York Morning Shows – Your Chance to Get on TV

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

When NBC relocated their Today Show studios to the ground floor of Rockefeller Center in 1994, it began drawing scores of people curious to see for themselves what the rest of us were watching on our television sets at home.

Soon the other morning shows on the major networks – The Early Show (CBS) and Good Morning America (ABC) – followed suit.

ABC Window, Time Square
Spectators outside ABC's GMA window in Times Square

Watching how these three windows have been shaped by individuals’ interactions with them have been interesting. People bring signs, celebrate major milestones or just show up for a chance to be noticed on national television. They are the cheering section, the studio audience that producers don’t even have to worry about booking.

Showing up and watching the shows have become a major draw for visitors to New York. On days when there are free concerts, people gather from 4 and 5 in the morning just to get a good spot. But usually, getting there any time before they start broadcasting at 7:00 a.m. is fine.

If you’re planning a trip to New York City and are interested in watching one of the morning shows, here’s where to find them. The good thing is, they’re all free and it looks like a lot of fun.

  • ABC – Good Morning America, 44th Street & Broadway, Times Square, New York.
  • CBS – The Early Show, 524 W 57th Street, New York
  • NBC – Today Show, 30 Rockefeller Center, New York

All three shows start broadcasting at 7:00 a.m. Get there early to ensure a good spot. Have fun and enjoy!

Other Places to See in New York City:

You can combine a trip to watch Good Morning America with a visit to Toys “R” Us, the world’s biggest toy store at 47th & Broadway and Madame Tussauds wax museum, which is located a couple blocks away at 234 W 42nd Street. Tickets start at $36.

From the CBS studios, you can visit any number of stores around 57th Street – from well known toy store, FAO Schwarz (founded in 1862) to high end stores like Prada, Louis Vuitton, Bergdorf Goodman, Chanel, Hermes and Bulgari.

If you’re at NBC, don’t leave without checking out Top of the Rock (tickets required) for a sweeping view of New York City, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Saks Fifth Avenue on Fifth Avenue. While at Rockefeller Center, take a photo of the Prometheus sculpture and when you leave St. Patrick’s, take a look at the statue of Atlas, which is right across the street.

New York is a walking city, so bring comfortable shoes and wander around. Because the streets are numbered, it’s an easy city to figure out — take it from me, my friends say I’m directionally challenged. The only times I get lost in the city is when I venture down to Lower Manhattan, which is all named streets.

Getting around New York City:

Public transportation’s pretty inexpensive — $2.25 will get you on the bus or subway. It also gets you a transfer so you go from one to the other. My suggestion: buy a 7-day unlimited pass for $29. Up to three children who are no taller than 44 inches ride free when accompanied by a paying adult. There are also reduced rates for seniors.

Getting to the airport:

New York Airport Service operates buses from Grand Central, Penn Station and Port Authority to the major airports – JFK, LaGuardia and Newark starting at $12. There are also several shuttle buses as well as AirTrain service which connects via subway to JFK for $7.50.

Enjoy New York City!

12 Must See New York City Buildings

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

As you can imagine, many New York City buildings have their own rich histories. Even though I’m partial to the old classic styles, I still love some of the new buildings. And I’m thrilled when I notice the way the sun highlights a color that makes a building I’m used to seeing look new and exciting. If I have my camera and I’m not in a hurry, I usually stop and take a photo.

Central Synagogue, New York City
Central Synagogue, New York City

I’ve been fortunate to have visited many, worked in a few and pass by a number of them on my way to and from work everyday. Here are some of my favorites.

  • The Chrysler Building. At 1,047 feet, this Art Deco building, located at 405 Lexington Avenue, was the world’s tallest building from 1930 when it was completed, to 1931 when the Empire State Building edged it out. It is now the second tallest building in New York City after the new Bank of America Tower and the world’s tallest steel supported brick building. No workers died during its construction despite its four floors a week building pace. Although it was built for the Chrysler Corporation and served as its headquarters until the 1950, the Chrysler Building was a project for Walter P. Chrysler’s children. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a U.S. National Historic Landmark.
  • Grand Central Terminal: Built and owned by the Vanderbilt family, Grand Central Terminal opened in 1871. Located at 89 E 42nd Street, it spans 48 acres and is the largest train station in the world by number of platforms: 44. It serves commuters from Connecticut and New York’s northern counties as well as subway riders. Over 750,000 people pass through Grand Central every day, more than 1 million during the holiday season. The main concourse (275 feet long, 120 feet wide and 125 feet high) houses the information booth. With its four-faced opal clock, estimated to be worth between $10-20 million, is a popular meeting place in this very busy station. Following a 12-year restoration, a beautiful ceiling decorated with constellations of stars was revealed and is now one of the terminal’s attractions. Grand Central Terminal is a New York City Landmark, a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Continue reading “12 Must See New York City Buildings” →

15 Interesting Facts About New York City

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, a few weeks ago, I offered to help my blog buddy, Tony, plan his latest trip to New York City. Since then, I’ve been doing a bit of research on the city that’s been my home for the past 11 years.

Here’s what I discovered:

  • New York City was the capital of the United States from 1785-90.
  • The first president of the United States, George Washington, was inaugurated at Federal Hall, 26 Wall Street, in 1789.
  • Federal Hall, was the site of the first Capitol Building
  • At just under 19,000,000 residents, New York City is one of the most populous cities in the U.S. with just under 19,000,000 people who live in five boroughs: Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island.
  • The Holland Tunnel, which connects New York to New Jersey, which was built in 1927, was one of the first ventilated tunnels in the world. It has been designated a National Historic Landmark.
  • The New York City subway system is the largest mass transit system in the world. It has 468 stations and 842 miles of track.
  • The New York City subway runs 24 hours a day.
  • Musicians who perform in the subway go through a very competitive audition process.
  • There are more than 4,000 food vendors in New York City.
  • Central Park, which was opened initially in 1857, spreads 843 miles.
  • 25 million people a year visit Central Park
  • Times Square, formerly Longacre Square, was renamed in 1904 when the New York Times moved its headquarters to the Times Building.
  • The first ball was dropped in Times Square on December 31, 1907.
  • The Empire State Building is 102 stories. Including the spire, it is 1,454 feet tall.
  • For 40 years, from 1931, the year it was completed, the Empire State Building was the tallest building in the world. It lost that designation with the construction of the North Tower of the World Trade Center in 1972.

How many of these facts are you aware of?

Questions to Answer As You Plan Your Trip

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

My blog buddy, Tony Newboult, who blogs at A Wobbly Rotten Neutron, is planning to visit New York City this fall with his two teenage children. It’s not their first trip to the Big Apple but the first one that I’ve promised to help him plan.

I asked him a few preliminary questions when he told me but once I started making a list of things they should do when they’re here, I realized I needed a bit more information. The list I came up with below is one I think a travel agent would probably need but it can be used by anyone who’s planning a trip.

Here are some questions I came up with:

  • Where do you plan to go?
  • When do you want to go?
  • What’s the purpose of your trip?
  • How long do you plan to stay?
  • How many people will be traveling with you? What are their ages?
  • What type of accommodation do you prefer? Hotel, Guest House, Villa, Bed and Breakfast, Hostel, etc.
  • Will (name of place) be your primary destination or will you be traveling around?
  • If you’re planning to travel to other places, do you want to fly, go by train, bus, car, etc.?
  • What do you like to do when you travel?
  • What’s on your must see list?
  • Is there anything you don’t want to do/see?

Although it’s not listed above, one of the most important considerations is budget. How much Tony or anyone has to spend will determine what kind of trip he will have.

Since Tony’s British, he won’t need a visa for the U.S. He also won’t need vaccinations.  But he should consider getting travel insurance and bring any medications he needs. If he or any of his children has food allergies or is a vegetarian, he should disclose this to the airline so other arrangements can be made.

With answers to these questions, it’s easy to plan your own trip or one for a friend.

What do you think? What other questions would you include?

An Art Walk in Harlem’s Historic Strivers Row

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

The Strivers Art Circuit (SAC) is a free, self-guided walking tour that will take place on October 8th and 9th, in the Historic Strivers Row area of Harlem (130th street to 145th street, 5th Ave to St Nicholas Ave).

The Circuit allows participants to view some of Harlem’s visual and craft artists at work in their galleries and studios.

The Strivers Art Circuit was created to develop a hub of arts activity and thereby gain increased visibility and exposure for SAC participants.

Strivers Art Circuit

Opening reception: Friday, October 7th from 6:00 p.m.

Tour Dates: Saturday, October 8th and Sunday, October 9th from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The event is free to the public. However, if you plan to attend, click here to RSVP. Strivers Art Circuit Participants

The Harlem Arts Alliance is a sponsor of the Srivers Art Circuit.

 

 

Harlem’s Cotton Club

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

I heard about the Cotton Club long before I moved to Harlem. It was one of the places I knew I wanted to see. But the Cotton Club I saw was not the one of legend.

The old club was located at 142nd Street and Lenox Avenue, the site of the Club De Luxe, which was owned by the black boxing champion, Jack Johnson. Owney Madden, a well-known mobster and bootlegger, bought the Club De Luxe in 1923 and renamed it the Cotton Club, an interesting name given the kind of clientele the establishment would serve.

Continue reading “Harlem’s Cotton Club” →