First timer - Need help!

[Bubble06]

Hi all

Ive had a quick browse through the site but need some help please!

I am visiting New York in March of this year for the first time and am very excited. The main things that i would like to do is: Go to the top of Empire State building, go to Bloomingdales, walk accross Brooklyn Bridge, Go on a bus tour and the other stuff that i dare say everyone does. Id really like to go whilst out there to a nice restaurant, not too pricey mind, with a nice view at night so we can look out and see a nice view with all of the lights accross the city. Can anyone recommend any and if so, the address of restaurant too.Also a couple of good bars would be great.

Would love to come home with a few clothing bargains, which are the best stores please? Be extremely grateful for any help any regular visitors can give me, thanks a lot! ;)

[LonelyRoad]

Hi there,

I am a newbie on this board as well. Unfortunately I can't help too much as I've only been to NYC once for a long weekend to see Paul McCartney's Madison Square Garden concerts last year (2005:) ).

Anyway your plans sound great! I didn't do any of those things your planning. I didn't even go to Central Park. I saw it and drove by it but I didn't have the time. I MUST go back.

Not sure on restaurants. I did go to a couple of bars before my concert that were by MSG. I'm 19 and had no problems:D .

As for clothing goes I bought 3 IheartNY tshirts for $10. :p Ok maybe that's no what you were thinking. I think I saw a better deal then that later.

If you have time I heard the tour of MSG is really great (by more then one person). Also there is of course Time Square to check out. Rockafeller Center is great. Radio City Music Hall, Ed Sullivan Theater (ahhh Beatles!!!) and Rupert G's hello deli. I ate there and to my suprise Rupert was there working (I don't know why I thought he wouldn't be). I also walked around Broadway after starting out on 4th and Bowery. There are a lot of cool little things to see and there are tons of people checking things out. There were tents with various shops and one was a massage place. I got a 10 min massage for $10 (you got a better deal the longer it was but I didn't have the time). I basically just wandered when I wasn't at MSG (where I was most the weekend. Also make sure you have plenty of time to get to your airport (if your flying). It took me about 2.5 hours to get from 96th street to Newark airport. I was lucky I left really early. I had no idea.

Have fun!

[Bubble06]

Thanks for that. Yes we will be flying as we are from the UK. 8 hour flight, will be my longest yet, so hope its ok!

[mgp]

Bubble06 - It sounds like you have most of the basics planned out for your trip.

I might suggest the observation deck at Rock Center over the Empire State Building. I think the view is as good (if not better), and it is much more wide open and less crowded...also don't have to wait in line.

If you walk over the brooklyn bridge, you should consider eating lunch at Grimaldi's. A brooklyn pillar, this is some of the best pizza in NYC.

I'm not too sure about the restaurant with the view. You might want to try the restaurant at the top of the Marriott Marquis (in Times Square). It is a rotating restaurant - (I believe it is called "the View"). I've never been so can't vouch for the food, but it's not overly expensive ($60.00 prix fixe).

I'll defer the shopping question to someone else...

Enjoy New York.

[Edward]

Restaurants with a nice view tend to be expensive. The View (http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7186303/new_york_ny/the_view.html) on top of Marriott - nice view, but food not so great. Consider having a dinner at some good restaurant - without a view, but with a good food - and then going for drinks and the view.

Another restaurant - Rainbow Grill (http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/36628499/new_york_ny/rainbow_grill_restaurant.html). Same here - come for the drinks.

[Bubble06]

Thanks for the tips. Ive looked up the Rainbow bar, looks good so thanks.

Were staying at Salisbury hotel on W57th St so its quite a good location. Any ideas on cheap clothing?

[ManhattanKnight]

Restaurants with a nice view tend to be expensive. The View (http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7186303/new_york_ny/the_view.html) on top of Marriott - nice view, but food not so great. Consider having a dinner at some good restaurant - without a view, but with a good food - and then going for drinks and the view.

Another restaurant - Rainbow Grill (http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/36628499/new_york_ny/rainbow_grill_restaurant.html). Same here - come for the drinks.

The bar at the Rainbow Grill used to be a classic and wonderful NYC experience, the one place where I would always take first-time visitors. Not so a couple of months ago: terrible service, ridiculous prices, overcrowding and a long line on the ground floor before even boarding the elevator (no reservations taken at the bar). The views are better a few floors above the Grill at Top of the Rock, and reservations can be booked online.

[Freebird]

Bubble as for the shopping tips......Try Century 21 down by Ground Zero. Its very similar to our TK Maxx and in fact had some of things I had bought from TK Maxx for my last trip (October) in there went I went in...cheaper of course. The main thing to remember is that you have to add tax on your purchases...this sometimes throws you because you think something is a bargan then get to the tills and see that its not really. I cant remember the percentage maybe someone else on here can advise you.
There is also a fabulous place called Steve and Barrys where you can get loads of tshirts, sports tops and brilliant jackets if your into sports especially american college type stuff, everything is under ten dollars and its brill...I got some football shirts to wear in bed......Old Navy is similar to our Gap, but so much better, it does everything literally and you will spend loads in there. I w ould avoid Macys and the bigger stores, go take a look but youll soon see the prices are the same if not more expensive than back here. Anywhere on Fifth will be expensive, go look because its so pretty up there (and as a Gucci/DKNY fanatic myself) you may want to see how spectacular it can be, but if you buy you are richer lady than me!!
The Village has fantastic little shops. Vintage stuff, gorgeous jewellery, as I can see whilst typing...;) and a really nice feel to it. Little boutiques. China town is your place for handbags and Chinese dresses (buy one they are beautiful) and eat food down there as well. Very nice, just looks a bit scarey but its fine really. 34th Street and Avenues off have loads of brilliant shops, just check before you get too excited that they allow retail...some are wholesale only.
My biggest piece of advice for a first timer is this......dont bother taking too much...you will buy. Dont take loads of shoes especially high heels...you WILL NOT wear them. Get yourself some CAT boots or very comfy trainers, you will need them. Dont be surprised if you are completely overwhelmed when you get there, it take a day or so to get the vibe, but once you understand, you will, as I have, fall in love with the most amazing city in the world.
Oh and go and read Ten things to Do in New York Thread. Its spot on. Remeber you cant do everything, plan but make yourself as fluid as possible so that you can feel the atmosphere of the place.
Enjoy. Im so jealous.

[Bubble06]

Wow, thanks for all of that!

Where i would find this shop then Steve and Barrys? Would mind a hooded sweater for those cold nights back in UK! I knew id end up wearing trainers everyday, dont wana go all that way and then complain all day long about the pain of my feet! Can you recommend a place to get some trainers out there as mine will need replacing shortly.

Not into sports clothes that much so hopefully i will get some girly bargains too.

[Freebird]

You cant miss Steve and Barrys. It in one the of the Malls by Maceys (Im sorry I have actually forgotten which one now...I know them really well and I just head to where I need to go...its by Daffys....) Shoes/trainers you are best off going to somewhere like Footlocker, I dont really do sportwear myself, but the trainers are cheaper as long as you avoid buying from the shops in Soho (can be very expensive compared to home)
I forgot to add something else last night (sorry it was so long I could write for hours about most aspects of New York, especially when home and missing it so much...) they have the most fantastic chemists...think Lloyds Chemists combined with Walmart and thats pretty much what most Duane Reades are like. Not just boring stuff like we get here, you can get so much stuff in a Duane Reade shop its ridiculous. Makeup is the particular bargain worthy of noting here. Stuff that you would normally have to go to Debenhams/Beatties/Selfridges for...its all there - posher makeup, nice makeup, loads more choice of makeup and SOOOOOO much cheaper.

Hope this all helps.

[Bubble06]

Thanks very much, ive heard about the Duane Reed, i need to buy some straighteners from there as soon as we get there as ive been told mine wont work as good in NYC due to the current of electric compared to the UK. I'll find one easily enough i take it? I did go on there website but obviously ive not been before so looking for a particular address could prove tricky.

Appreciate all the help so thanks for that, any more you can offer will be appreciated!

[antinimby]

Worry not. Duane Reades are ubiquitous.

[Bubble06]

Great - thanks!

So is it safe to take a camera around with you? Theres loads of tourists there i know but just wanted to check, just becareful i suppose as you would anywhere else.

I heard its best not to take a bag out during the day due to snatchings etc? Id like to take a bag out at night though! Any views on this?

[Edward]

You would look suspicious without a camera. There are no snatchings in New York.

[Bubble06]

What about going dancing one night, what sort of places is there to go? and where can you all recommend

[antinimby]

There are no snatchings in New York.This would've been unfathomable 20 years ago. Remember the constant fear of being mugged?

[lofter1]

But make sure you hold your iPod close...

[ryan]

Lofter, don't feed the hype. There's been a number of ipod's stolen, but how many more wallets? How many cars? Makes a good news meme, but it's perfectly safe to carry an ipod or a digital camera around in plain sight. Especially in tourist areas. No one's going to snatch anything.