In the next couple months I'm going to be planning a vacation to NYC with my 2 older sisters. I wanted to solicit any suggestions on 2 things ( and I may post this again as I get closer to making a purchase). hotel and then what streets or stores for good shopping for my sisters. they are middle class moms with kid in school and mostly out of school. so i was thinking what great interesting boutiques would be good places for them to find fun different stuff at good prices. (that question sounds dumb now that I typed it but maybe someone knows a place). For hotel I'm looking at Expedia and if I book the Edison Hotel near broadway I can get a suite with a queen bed in a room and a hideabed couch in the next room for me and that runs about $2100 for hotel + flights for the 3 of us. which is not bad. and for over 3K I could book us at the waldorf astoria but that is pricier and further away from the shows.
I"m going to be considering 2 nights at a cheaper place perhaps (maybe edison or other) and then our last night, Saturday night, get a nice place to stay just one night it. anyway, any of you in the know comment or email.
great day off today. I don't know if I mentioned before about my best friend in high school, J, who my whole senior year we took turns taking each other to school and went to Sunday night church group stuff together and would always go together to the other side of town where all our friends or "clique" hung out at this one guy's house. He started on the basketball team even though a Junior. he was a grade lower than me alhtough our birthdays were only 4 months apart , but that's beside the point. Thing is I was pretty insecure in high school (yeah yeah yadda yadda) and he was my first best bud guy friend. man that meant everything to me 'cause I felt so normal, finally. great guy and great friend, we had a lot of fun and I played it pretty cool of course and I remember first time i got drunk he followed me home and another time he was drunk and started throwing up and had to reach over me to get out the window and I was helping feel better etc. another time he was so mad at his step dad and about to cry and I could only listen etc.. something really nerdy is I remember getting him a pair of black converse for Christmas and he got me a swatch calendar I wanted ( oh man how gay is that now looking back!, I dunno....) ha
well I got into some trouble with my mouth and had a bit of a gossip problem now and then, I told his girlfriend or someone he liked (I dont' remember it's been a few years) something that made him mad, we quite talking, he wrote me a note that was pretty hateful and called me some names and all that etc.. and that was that, we never spoke again. I remember taking it really hard, sort of like a break-up. but it was more of a hero worship than a gay thing. you could say bromance as far as we were always together at the stuff we did with friends. but anyway, i never had a crush on him at all, I remember he wasn't great looking and was a little too hairy. ha but a great sensitive hearted guy. he also played baseball, wasn't all that tall and was pretty average sized guy. but still I only felt friends for J. The sort of brother I never had (I was never close to my older brother). well all this to say, I messaged him a few days ago on facebook. I worded it very succinctly and had trouble even hitting the send button. Basically I told him that I hoped I never embarrassed him and that I was always proud to be his friend. told him I'd heard over the years about his kids and this awful wreck he'd had and then apologized for being such a gossip. then wished him the best. he responded this morning saying good to hear from me, and no worries about the past and not to feel bad about anything. then take it easy. So anyway, I was pleased that sure enough past is in the past and now I don't have to feel weird running into the guy in OKC someday.
I still thank God for all the guy friend I made in college though definitely. those have really lasted a while. ok hope all are having a good week. ready for the weekend!
6 comments:
Read TripAdvisor reviews on Hotel Edison--mixed reviews, but lots of postive ones. I have never stayed there but know the location well (PERFECT location BTW). Seems like it really depends on what room you get and what your expectations are. I can highly recommend the Marriott Marquis a block away (for a splurge)--very large rooms for a Manhattan hotel. BUT, I wouldn't recommend spending more than you need to--after all, you're not there to sit in your hotel room and order room service. Also wouldn't recommend switching hotels for one night because it will be a hassle and you usually have to do it in the middle of the day. Finally, you need to get tickets in advance and see "Book of Mormon." I haven't seen it, but it has gotten the best reviews in a long, long time for a musical. Then take pot-luck another night at the TKTS booth a block away. Finally, if you can give the sisters the slip, go see the Friday night late show (10 PM) of "Naked Boys Singing" just a few blocks away. TKTS usually has 1/2 price tickets. It actually is quite funny.
Anders
i was going to see "book of mormon" last time i was in NYC but opted not to...i just didn't want to spend the money to hear a vulgar assault on a church (i'm not mormon). several friends who saw it recommended it VERY highly. i'm definitely going. not so sure it would be something your sisters would enjoy.
thanks dan for sharing the story about your h.s. buddy. that must have been very, very painful. you did the right thing and i'm glad you got a happy ending.
cheers!
Nice story about you, J, and the power of FB.
Dan,
I have traveled to NYC for biz several times..the company always books me at a hotel called "The Apple" it is on 46th i believe.. very close to times sq..good service.. rooms are nice..i have never been in a suite like you have mentioned but they might have that option. I do not know what it costs there..have breakfast included...fruits..cereals..yogurt.. coffee/tea/juice..bagels/donuts..just another choice to look into. I am going to be up there later this month and they have me booked there again. As far as shows i have heard great things about "Mormon" but if you do not like south park humor then do not go...If you want a great show go see "Warhorse" at Lincoln Center.. i did.. great piece..buy tickets in advance though.. not at TKTS.
Dan,
I live in Manhattan, so here are a few pointers from my experience living here for the last 15 years.
Book the hotel is soon as you have your dates firm, as NYC at Christmas is the most expensive time of the year. The rates will only go up between now and then. Priceline is really the best way to get a little bit better of a deal, but even the Hampton Inn in Chelsea or the Best Western in Hell's kitchen will be over $200 a night in December. If you do decide to stay one or more nights in a better hotel, keep in mind that Saturday night in December is the most expensive. You will get a better rate on Sunday, or Monday night.
There is a Christmas Market in Union Sq that is very popular...its out doors and cold...but has things you wont find in Macys etc...There is also a green market there all year round and at Christmas you can find a lot of artisanal jams and honeys and hand made items that people come to sell from upstate.
There is a great little hard candy store on Broome Street, called Pappabubble. Its from Barcelona, and the one in NY is the only one in the states...all hand made and in cool little jars and test tubes...very cool.
Since your a teacher, and you like designer things, Marc Jacobs, (head designer for Louis Vuitton and his own labels) has a whole row of shops in the West Village. One of them is BookMarc, and they sell cool pencils, journals, and other quirky stuff for cheap prices...once again an only in NY thing. He has a couple of other shops close by, one sells city T-shirts that make good souvenirs for about $30.00 bucks each...
In Soho is the famous Dean and Deluca, which is the mother of high end food shops. It is expensive, but you can find tons of cool small things there at Christmas, that you wont find any where else. Cool Chocolates, great modern spice tins, Jams, Vinegars, honey, etc. Just around the corner is Balthazar. Its a really nice French Brasserie, kind of expensive. But the best thing about them is that they have a bakery section that has a separate entrance...awesome pastries, warm croissants etc for a really quality meal, without having to pay the prices of the restaurant. Its take out only.
Let me know If I can help with more...I could go on and on...as part of my job as a corporate meeting planner, I am a licensed Tour Guide here, and love this place...
Have fun planning your trip!
Thanks for the blog, I enjoy reading it.
Gregg
Ps, I saw "Book of Mormon" opening week...its great...very irreverent...but not in a mean way...and makes some great points...its a very very entertaining show...but your sisters should be able to take lots of the "F" word etc if you go see it. After the Tony awards this weekend it will be even harder to get tickets.
Two good and cheap hotels in NYC:
1. The St. James Hotel in Times Square: http://www.thehotelstjames.com/gallery.html
2. St. Mark's Hotel in the East Village: http://www.stmarkshotel.net/index.html
Both of these places are clean but no frills. The idea being you'll spend more time seeing NYC than sitting in your room. And, both are located in key areas of the City close to shopping and entertainment.
As far as what shows to see and given your sisters ages, you can get took tickets to see Phantom of the Opera (a really great experience) or Wicked (a tale on everyone's favorite story) or Mama Mia (the Broadway show is 100 times better than the movie). Billy Elliot is also wonderful.
I hope this helps!
Bo
Post a Comment