balthazar is yummy. i agree, times square sucks for food but the great thing about nyc is the subway so you can easily get anywhere and you have lots of options for food.

Gotta try Petrossian's Chocolate Chunk Pecan Cookie....I know, it is just a cookie but it is THE BEST around!

Originally Posted by MaruBaby

Gotta try Petrossian's Chocolate Chunk Pecan Cookie....I know, it is just a cookie but it is THE BEST around!

Have you tried levains??? Lol

Originally Posted by gymangel812

Have you tried levains??? Lol

No! But I will!

Originally Posted by Stephy

I am going in july, Should i skip woodbury outlets since I am going for 3 nights only.....

If you go you are probably losing a whole day so it depends on what you are looking for. Woodbury is ok during the week and very crowded from Friday to Sunday. I always find really great deals on denim but not much else. IMO, you can try your luck at any Century 21 store or TJ Maxx store in NYC before heading to Woodbury.

Originally Posted by love2shop_26

Hi, So my coworker and I plan to go up to NYC next week. We're looking for a place to eat (not too fancy/expensive) around Times Square, and we can go for seafood, steak, or Italian. I googled it already but it's overwhelming! Was hoping for some suggestions. TIA

How about Becco on 46th? http://becco-nyc.com/. I've eaten there several times was never disappointed. It can get very crowded so I would make a rez. There is also Trecolori. http://www.trattoriatrecolori.com/menu.html. Or take the train to Eataly (23rd & 5th) or Puttanesca (56th & 9th). If I had to choose it would be Puttanesca. I have also wasted countless hours in Eataly LOL!

If you are into Brazilian food (steak...yum!) there are a ton of restaurants on 46th street and Plataforma on 49th. You can also try Bobby Flay's Bar Americain on 52 & 6th. I always bring my clients here and they just love the place.

Anyone got any favorite bookstores they've visited that aren't major chains?

Originally Posted by love2shop_26

Hi, So my coworker and I plan to go up to NYC next week. We're looking for a place to eat (not too fancy/expensive) around Times Square, and we can go for seafood, steak, or Italian. I googled it already but it's overwhelming! Was hoping for some suggestions. TIA

Check out my friend's place, it's called Da Marino, it's on Broadway and 50 or 49, not sure... It's just next to the Chicago musical.

It's nice Italian place, nice wine, and live singing if the owner is in the mood.

It's also co owned by this guy Mr. Big from the Sex and the city, forgot his name. So he's often sitting outside smoking and drinking

Originally Posted by harlem_cutie

If you go you are probably losing a whole day so it depends on what you are looking for. Woodbury is ok during the week and very crowded from Friday to Sunday. I always find really great deals on denim but not much else. IMO, you can try your luck at any Century 21 store or TJ Maxx store in NYC before heading to Woodbury.

Ok thanks for your reply, I guess I will just skip it then!

Originally Posted by Oogolly

Anyone got any favorite bookstores they've visited that aren't major chains?

Strand is a very famous independent bookstore just off of Union Sq.

I also like St. Marks Bookshop at 10th & 3rd.

Also, I don't know the name of it, but there is an amazing store at 37th and 7th with fashion magazines from all over the world.

Would you consider rush hour in NYC to start at 4:30 pm? I'm about to book flights and there is one that leaves LGA at 6:15. Just trying to figure out if that's a bad idea because of rush hour in the city. I imagine we would have to leave to leave the mid-town area around 4? WE plan on using a car service like Dial 7. There is another flight that leaves at 4:30, but we were trying to maximize our time in the city.

Originally Posted by sandc

Would you consider rush hour in NYC to start at 4:30 pm? I'm about to book flights and there is one that leaves LGA at 6:15. Just trying to figure out if that's a bad idea because of rush hour in the city. I imagine we would have to leave to leave the mid-town area around 4? WE plan on using a car service like Dial 7. There is another flight that leaves at 4:30, but we were trying to maximize our time in the city.

IMO, rush hour is a lil less intense in the summer, except on Fridays when everyone is leaving town. Coming from Manhattan, LGA is much easier to get to than JFK since it is right over the RFK bridge. Leaving at 3:30-4:00 would be perfect since you will have a built in time cushion in case of extra traffic.

I've arranged a short weekend trip to NYC. I'll be taking the bus down to NYC on Saturday and returning on Monday. Arrive at 6pm on Saturday & leaving 12 noon on Monday. Wish I could stay longer, but at least I have 1 full day on Sunday and staying in the city, so hopefully that will give me more time!

Originally Posted by gymangel812

balthazar is yummy. i agree, times square sucks for food but the great thing about nyc is the subway so you can easily get anywhere and you have lots of options for food.

I'm thinking about the truffle and lobster risotto I had there last December and I may or not have drooled on my keyboard...

Originally Posted by sandc

Would you consider rush hour in NYC to start at 4:30 pm? I'm about to book flights and there is one that leaves LGA at 6:15. Just trying to figure out if that's a bad idea because of rush hour in the city. I imagine we would have to leave to leave the mid-town area around 4? WE plan on using a car service like Dial 7. There is another flight that leaves at 4:30, but we were trying to maximize our time in the city.

If it's an international flight, I'd be at the airport earlier, about 2.5 hours ahead unless I travel business or 1st class, in that case 2 hours ahead is enough.

I would leave NYC at 3pm, just to have enough time for the traffic and the security check with the TSAs.

LGA is much closer to the city and I personally prefer it over the JFK. It's more organized.