mrbally
Mar 28, 01, 10:33 am
Not very exotic (I define exotic as never having heard of the airport code!) but great fun none the less. Upgraded roundtrip ORD-LGA on United for $46 each thanks to a couple of "summer from hell" coupons; on time arrival, even! Stayed at the Waldorf (for free thanks to that insane "one Hilton point for every UA mile flown" promotion). Got an upgraded corner room with bedroom, dressing room, and step up bathroom - really neat. Hilton has done an great job restoring the Waldorf's splendor. Only complaint - believe it or not you can't get a Waldorf salad on the menu at any of the hotel restaurants. They'll make one special for you though.
Anyway, it was a realy nice day so we walked down Park to 47th and then cut across to Sixth through the diamond district. A few doors south of Central Park South we called in at Angela's Rock and Roll Deli for sandwiches; ate them on a rock in Central Park. By the way, the pond is undergoing restoration and is drained; it should be done by fall and the pictures look great.Stopped in at the Plaza to check on Eloise and to pick up some of their neat chocolates in the tin that looks like the Plaza. Did a little shopping (NYC does not charge sales tax on clothing purchases under $110 in an attempt, apparently successful, to compete with the Jersey malls) then down to the Garden for the Knicks-Nets game. The game sucked - the Knicks looked terrible - but coffe and cheesecake at Lindy's eased the pain.
Saturday the "3 Pier" antique show was going on at piers 88, 90, and 92. Lots of neat stuff. Also took a tour of the NASDAQ market site. Took the shuttle to Grand Central Station (another wonderful restoration) and then went down to the World Trade Center for dinner at Windows on the World. They have a 3 course prix fixe menu, called Sunset Dining, that at $40 a person has got to be one of the culinary bargins of New York.
After breakfast Sunday (by the way, we had lox and bagels each day at the New York Luncheonette on 50th Street; quick, clean, and, by New York standards, cheap) we went down to look at the Flatiron building and then did a roundtrip on the Staten Island Ferry. Walked across the park to Bowling Green then took the #4 up to 86th and walked over to 5th and then up to the Guggenheim. After that strolled down Lexington (running into the Greek Independence Day Parade) back to the hotel.
Saw the Producers that night - really a funny musical although I'm still not sure why they felt the urge to remake the classic movie.
The next morning (get away day) it was actually snowing! Took a cab to LaGuardia expecting huge delays; the plane actually boarded on time but left about an hour late. We did arrive at ORD only 15 minutes late however.
New York looks great, much cleaner than Chicago. Everyone was really friendly and at no time did we feel the slightest concern for our security. I did grow up there, and come back at least once a year but I highly recommend it to anyone that wants a wonderful time.
Anyway, it was a realy nice day so we walked down Park to 47th and then cut across to Sixth through the diamond district. A few doors south of Central Park South we called in at Angela's Rock and Roll Deli for sandwiches; ate them on a rock in Central Park. By the way, the pond is undergoing restoration and is drained; it should be done by fall and the pictures look great.Stopped in at the Plaza to check on Eloise and to pick up some of their neat chocolates in the tin that looks like the Plaza. Did a little shopping (NYC does not charge sales tax on clothing purchases under $110 in an attempt, apparently successful, to compete with the Jersey malls) then down to the Garden for the Knicks-Nets game. The game sucked - the Knicks looked terrible - but coffe and cheesecake at Lindy's eased the pain.
Saturday the "3 Pier" antique show was going on at piers 88, 90, and 92. Lots of neat stuff. Also took a tour of the NASDAQ market site. Took the shuttle to Grand Central Station (another wonderful restoration) and then went down to the World Trade Center for dinner at Windows on the World. They have a 3 course prix fixe menu, called Sunset Dining, that at $40 a person has got to be one of the culinary bargins of New York.
After breakfast Sunday (by the way, we had lox and bagels each day at the New York Luncheonette on 50th Street; quick, clean, and, by New York standards, cheap) we went down to look at the Flatiron building and then did a roundtrip on the Staten Island Ferry. Walked across the park to Bowling Green then took the #4 up to 86th and walked over to 5th and then up to the Guggenheim. After that strolled down Lexington (running into the Greek Independence Day Parade) back to the hotel.
Saw the Producers that night - really a funny musical although I'm still not sure why they felt the urge to remake the classic movie.
The next morning (get away day) it was actually snowing! Took a cab to LaGuardia expecting huge delays; the plane actually boarded on time but left about an hour late. We did arrive at ORD only 15 minutes late however.
New York looks great, much cleaner than Chicago. Everyone was really friendly and at no time did we feel the slightest concern for our security. I did grow up there, and come back at least once a year but I highly recommend it to anyone that wants a wonderful time.