Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] NYC
Alan & Brenda Leonard
1/15/03 00:49:
question.
I have made a decision. (Don't laugh. I'm not good at this at the best of
times, and my dh is away, which makes it harder.) I'm coming back to the
states in March for this conference that's March 26-30.
I wanna go play tourist in NYC either before or after that, for about 4-5
days. Is there anything I should know? I'd like to avoid things like large
festivals (St. Patty's day?), parades, etc, that bring huge numbers of extra
people to your fair city. It's populated enough there without help.
Liza, can you (or anybody else who's out that way) tell me anything? (I
don't imagine the weather will be much different either way....) Thanks in
advance for advice.
brenda
p.s. to anyone who remembers me stressing about childcare for my son with my
controlling, anti-vegetarian parents for this conference:
I told my parents to forget it, and figured I'd cope. And my in-laws just
decided this week that they'd like to fly out and take care of Tim at the
hotel, with me. Bingo! Problem solved. Happy brenda.
> (if you do not live in NYC, you may notAha! Liza lives in NYC. I knew somebody on this list did. I have a NYC
> understand why people don't run out to do the laundry)
question.
I have made a decision. (Don't laugh. I'm not good at this at the best of
times, and my dh is away, which makes it harder.) I'm coming back to the
states in March for this conference that's March 26-30.
I wanna go play tourist in NYC either before or after that, for about 4-5
days. Is there anything I should know? I'd like to avoid things like large
festivals (St. Patty's day?), parades, etc, that bring huge numbers of extra
people to your fair city. It's populated enough there without help.
Liza, can you (or anybody else who's out that way) tell me anything? (I
don't imagine the weather will be much different either way....) Thanks in
advance for advice.
brenda
p.s. to anyone who remembers me stressing about childcare for my son with my
controlling, anti-vegetarian parents for this conference:
I told my parents to forget it, and figured I'd cope. And my in-laws just
decided this week that they'd like to fly out and take care of Tim at the
hotel, with me. Bingo! Problem solved. Happy brenda.
Mercedes <[email protected]>
--- In [email protected], Alan & Brenda Leonard
<abtleo@e...> wrote:
After a quick trip to NYC this past summer two things:
1. Staten Island Navy Lodge http://www.navy-
lodge.com/united_states/new_york/staten_island.html - we just
stopped in and weren't able to stay there as they were booked but
great location and a kind of "oasis" feel.
2. Half-price theater tickets available in Time Square - we saw Les
Miserables and it was the best theater experience I've ever had -
kids really loved it. (17yods and 11yodd)
Mercedes - LONG time lurker, daily reader of this list - thanks for
the GREAT insights. . . . .
<abtleo@e...> wrote:
> 1/15/03 00:49:anything? (I
>
> Liza, can you (or anybody else who's out that way) tell me
> don't imagine the weather will be much different either way....)Thanks in
> advance for advice.Brenda,
>
> brenda
After a quick trip to NYC this past summer two things:
1. Staten Island Navy Lodge http://www.navy-
lodge.com/united_states/new_york/staten_island.html - we just
stopped in and weren't able to stay there as they were booked but
great location and a kind of "oasis" feel.
2. Half-price theater tickets available in Time Square - we saw Les
Miserables and it was the best theater experience I've ever had -
kids really loved it. (17yods and 11yodd)
Mercedes - LONG time lurker, daily reader of this list - thanks for
the GREAT insights. . . . .
[email protected]
In a message dated 1/15/2003 2:02:46 PM Eastern Standard Time,
mulwiler@... writes:
the city. Clean. Simple. Cheap. Typical military! <G>
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
mulwiler@... writes:
> 1. Staten Island Navy Lodge http://www.navy-We stayed there once when we went. Great parking and a "quick" Ferry ride to
> lodge.com/united_states/new_york/staten_island.html - we just
> stopped in and weren't able to stay there as they were booked but
> great location and a kind of "oasis" feel.
>
the city. Clean. Simple. Cheap. Typical military! <G>
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 1/15/2003 7:14:04 PM Eastern Standard Time,
mulwiler@... writes:
The day we were there, we had to choose between Oklahoma, Lion King,
Cats, The Sound of Music, and Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk in three
days. We had a blast! We ate out every meal---his favorite was breakfast at
the diners! What great memories!
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
mulwiler@... writes:
The day we were there, we had to choose between Oklahoma, Lion King,
> Les Mis, and a few others. It was tough. If we ever get theCameron and I went years ago when he was 11. We went to Beauty and the Beast,
> opportunity to return, we'll try to go to a show every night!
Cats, The Sound of Music, and Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk in three
days. We had a blast! We ate out every meal---his favorite was breakfast at
the diners! What great memories!
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Liza Sabater
On Wednesday, Jan 15, 2003, at 05:44 America/New_York, Alan & Brenda
Leonard wrote:
www.nyc.gov for that kind of information.
Now, I need to know a few things:
1) What are your kids ages?
2) Are you renting a car?
NYC is probably on of the most car and kid unfriendly places in the
world --unless you know where to go. So, depending on the ages, I can
give you more information.
For general stuff, some rules of thumb:
1. Never rent a car EVER unless you want to go out of NYC. It is not
only incredibly expensive but, if you do get a deal you will be screwed
with what it costs to pay for parking ($14-20/hour at most lots in
Midtown). Even downtown lots will cost you about $9 and hour. Unless
you want to spend 4-5 days looking for a parking space, good luck
trying to find one.
2. If you do not want to pay out the nose for lodging, stay away from
midtown Soho, Midtown and the Upper East and West sides (up to 95th
Streets). That is about most of Manhattan. Harlem may have affordable
bread and breakfasts. You certainly want to look into Brooklyn. At the
low end, expect to pay between $90 to $125 a night. You may find
something for $75 a night in Brooklyn or even Harlem.
I would stay away from Staten Island, especially if you have small
children and do not have a car. It is as suburban as you can go in the
NYC area. There is not much to Staten Island unless you consider the
Fresh Kills Landfill a top sight-seeing place. Snug Harbor Cultural
Center does have some interesting things but it can be all done in
about 1 day (www.snug-harbor.com).
3. If you are going to go whacked out traveling from one place to the
next, the best thing to do is to get an unlimited rides MetroCard. It
is $16 and it lasts for a week.
I live in the East Village. It costs me $11.50 + tip to go to 86th &
Amsterdam. On any given day you could easily spend $30-50 just on
taxis. You certainly want to focus on mass transit. At the NYC website
you can get maps to the train and bus systems.
4. Try not to eat in the Midtown area. Most places suck and are their
prices are ridiculous. Stay especially away from the delis with buffets
(big rip-offs). The place to look for decent food at affordable prices
is down here in the Village. From East to West you can find places
where you can spend anything from $5 to $50 per person. In midtown the
average is $20.
5. The AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY has an exhibit about
Einstein. I still have to go see it but I have been told it is good.
I'm going next week.
Most museums in NYC are private like the AMNH but THE METROPOLITAN
MUSEUM OF NEW YORK is actually publicly funded. Never, EVER pay the $10
suggested entrance fee. That would be $40 for a family of four. No real
New Yorker ever does :-)
6. TKTS is a non-profit organization that 'harvests' first class
tickets to Broadway and Off-Broadway shows and sells them half-priced.
Before you get excited, please note that to see a show like OKLAHOMA!
(which is fantastic and I highly recommend), it would cost you $100 for
orchestra tickets. So for a family of 4, instead of $400, we are
talking about $200. This is just the show --no food, no drinks, nothing.
Most people make the like at Times Square. The other booth was at Tower
#1. After 9/11 they moved just off South Street Seaport. If you take
the M15 bus it leaves you a half a block away. You have to go and buy
tickets either for the 8pm show of that day or the 3pm (if there is any
matinee) of the next day. They only accept cash --no traveler's checks
of any kind.
Depending on your interests I can give you more specific information.
It would take at least a year to really see NYC. This is a small space
made huge with the diversity of activities you can find. Tell me what
you guys would like to do so I can help you better.
Best,
Liza
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Leonard wrote:
> 1/15/03 00:49:Is it a homeschooling conference? Which one?
>
> > (if you do not live in NYC, you may not
> > understand why people don't run out to do the laundry)
>
> Aha! Liza lives in NYC. I knew somebody on this list did. I have a
> NYC
> question.
>
> I have made a decision. (Don't laugh. I'm not good at this at the
> best of
> times, and my dh is away, which makes it harder.) I'm coming back to
> the
> states in March for this conference that's March 26-30.
> I wanna go play tourist in NYC either before or after that, for aboutSt Pats is around the 17th so you won't have a problem. I'd check
> 4-5
> days. Is there anything I should know? I'd like to avoid things like
> large
> festivals (St. Patty's day?), parades, etc, that bring huge numbers of
> extra
> people to your fair city. It's populated enough there without help.
www.nyc.gov for that kind of information.
Now, I need to know a few things:
1) What are your kids ages?
2) Are you renting a car?
NYC is probably on of the most car and kid unfriendly places in the
world --unless you know where to go. So, depending on the ages, I can
give you more information.
For general stuff, some rules of thumb:
1. Never rent a car EVER unless you want to go out of NYC. It is not
only incredibly expensive but, if you do get a deal you will be screwed
with what it costs to pay for parking ($14-20/hour at most lots in
Midtown). Even downtown lots will cost you about $9 and hour. Unless
you want to spend 4-5 days looking for a parking space, good luck
trying to find one.
2. If you do not want to pay out the nose for lodging, stay away from
midtown Soho, Midtown and the Upper East and West sides (up to 95th
Streets). That is about most of Manhattan. Harlem may have affordable
bread and breakfasts. You certainly want to look into Brooklyn. At the
low end, expect to pay between $90 to $125 a night. You may find
something for $75 a night in Brooklyn or even Harlem.
I would stay away from Staten Island, especially if you have small
children and do not have a car. It is as suburban as you can go in the
NYC area. There is not much to Staten Island unless you consider the
Fresh Kills Landfill a top sight-seeing place. Snug Harbor Cultural
Center does have some interesting things but it can be all done in
about 1 day (www.snug-harbor.com).
3. If you are going to go whacked out traveling from one place to the
next, the best thing to do is to get an unlimited rides MetroCard. It
is $16 and it lasts for a week.
I live in the East Village. It costs me $11.50 + tip to go to 86th &
Amsterdam. On any given day you could easily spend $30-50 just on
taxis. You certainly want to focus on mass transit. At the NYC website
you can get maps to the train and bus systems.
4. Try not to eat in the Midtown area. Most places suck and are their
prices are ridiculous. Stay especially away from the delis with buffets
(big rip-offs). The place to look for decent food at affordable prices
is down here in the Village. From East to West you can find places
where you can spend anything from $5 to $50 per person. In midtown the
average is $20.
5. The AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY has an exhibit about
Einstein. I still have to go see it but I have been told it is good.
I'm going next week.
Most museums in NYC are private like the AMNH but THE METROPOLITAN
MUSEUM OF NEW YORK is actually publicly funded. Never, EVER pay the $10
suggested entrance fee. That would be $40 for a family of four. No real
New Yorker ever does :-)
6. TKTS is a non-profit organization that 'harvests' first class
tickets to Broadway and Off-Broadway shows and sells them half-priced.
Before you get excited, please note that to see a show like OKLAHOMA!
(which is fantastic and I highly recommend), it would cost you $100 for
orchestra tickets. So for a family of 4, instead of $400, we are
talking about $200. This is just the show --no food, no drinks, nothing.
Most people make the like at Times Square. The other booth was at Tower
#1. After 9/11 they moved just off South Street Seaport. If you take
the M15 bus it leaves you a half a block away. You have to go and buy
tickets either for the 8pm show of that day or the 3pm (if there is any
matinee) of the next day. They only accept cash --no traveler's checks
of any kind.
Depending on your interests I can give you more specific information.
It would take at least a year to really see NYC. This is a small space
made huge with the diversity of activities you can find. Tell me what
you guys would like to do so I can help you better.
Best,
Liza
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]