Hi Greg,

The first place that comes to mind is the Milford Plaza. It's a 3min walk to the Port Authority and right in the middle of the Theater District. It's a no-frills big hotel.

All hotels in NYC are outrageously expensive. But since it's only one night and she will be staying alone, I think a big (and it's definitely no-frills, and therefore on the less-expensive side) hotel that is as close as it is to where she needs to be early the next morning, is really your best bet. Here's the info:

The Milford Plaza Hotel
700 8th Ave
milfordplaza.com
(888) 352-3650

Let me know if you need any further recommendations!

-Roseanne

Hello,

I will be traveling to NY...next week (June 15th-19th), so excited! My cousin and myself will be staying at the Pod hotel one night and for the rest of the nights we will be staying at the Paramount Hotel. I am taking the bus to NY so I will be getting there quite early, 6am-ish. My cousin doesn't arrive till 4 so I have all day to do what I want. I am really into thrift shops. I like to shop and find cute unique vintage handbags for cheap and cute vintage clothing for cheap, do you recommend an area where I can find thrift shops? Also, we are celebrating my cousins b-day and we wanted to go to a lounge. We don't want to party with young crowd I'm 25 and my cousin will be 28, so preferably an older crowd 25 and up. We like a mix of hip-hop and pop. Oh and we prefer the crowd to be stylish and dressy. Do you know any places in mind?

Also for the other nights, do you know of any rooftop clubs or great stylish bars that specialize in great martinis and cosmos?

Also, I am into fashion, I know there is a fashion district but not sure where this located and what is actually included in the fashion district? Are there stores, museums, etc. do you have any recommendations of good places to check out?

Look forward to hearing from you,

Lucretia

Hello again,

I forgot to ask, my cousin is arriving at LaGuardia airport in Queens and she needs to get to our hotel in Manhattan on 230 East 51st street. Do you have any recommendations on what is the best transportation that she should take that won't cost her an arm and a leg? She isn't familiar with the subway system so maybe preferably a shuttle or taxi ride? Not sure how much this will cost her though.

Lucretia

Hi Lucretia!

As far as THRIFT STORES go, they really can be found all over NYC. You can head to Chelsea if you want more trendy/funky (The Family Jewels Vintage Clothing is one of my absolute faves, located @ 130 W 23rd St b/w 6th & 7th Avenues, [www.familyjewelsnyc.com]; others in this area include Angel Street Thrift Shop @ 118 W 17th St b/w 6th & 7th Avenues & a couple doors down you'll find Pippin Vintage Jewelry which has some great accessories such as handbags, etc. @ 112 W 17th St), and head to the Upper East Side if you want more upscale designer (Spence Chapin Thrift Shop is my favorite for cool designer dresses, located at 1473 3rd Ave b/w E 83rd & E 84th Streets; others in this area include the Arthritis Foundation Thrift Shop @ 1430 3rd Ave at E 81st St & a little pricier but you'll definitely find designer labels at BIS Designer Resale @ 1134 Madison Ave b/w E 84th & E 85th Streets).

LOUNGES with a mature, stylish crowd, leaning toward the hip-hop/pop playlists include:

The Anchor, 310 Spring St near Greenwich St, amazing music (Afro-beat, hip-hop, salsa, 80s, rock, soul, disco, house, electro and mash-ups...really, they get some of the best DJ's here and it just a little bar/lounge!), a very friendly staff, and a stylish local crowd ready to get down;

Zanzibar, 645 9th Ave @ W 45th St, mature crowd, mostly hip-hop & rock being spun, pretty swanky look/feel, they also have a full Mediterranean food menu.

Top of the Standard [Hotel] (formerly known as the Boom Boom Room), 848 Washington Street @ W 13th St, this is really like the go-to place these days, very upscale & fashionable crowd, the cocktails are expensive but worth it, and the views are amazing (it is on the top floor of the Standard Hotel with unobstructed views in all directions), spinning like remixed 80's & 90's music.

ROOFTOP LOUNGES include:

Hudson Terrace, 621 W 46th St b/w 11th & 12th Avenues, upscale, great views;

Latitude, 783 8th Ave b/w W 47th & W 48th Streets, $5 cosmos during happy hour (5-8pm);

Ava Lounge, 210 W 55th St b/w Broadway & 7th Ave (Penthouse of Dream Hotel), 80's pop & contemporary hip-hop, small location, beautiful view.

And a couple of OTHER NOTABLES:

Milk & Honey, 134 Eldridge St near Broome St, this place is like a private speakeasy with drinks literally made to order; they come to your table & ask you what you feel like drinking, palate-wise, and then concoct a drink based on your preferences. This is a very laid back yet very fancy hang, with quiet booths, and low-key jazz playing in the background. (reservations required, reservationsny@mlkhny.com)

Onieals in SoHo, 174 Grand St @ Baxter St, a bar that specializes in cosmos;

The West 79th St Boat Basin, W 79th St @ the Hudson River, just keep walking as far west as you can walk along 79th St, enter Riverside Park, follow the path toward the West Side Highway and descend the stairs toward the riverfront, there you'll find fun, casual riverfront dining (and the cocktails aren't too bad either!); this is my absolute favorite spot for casual summer outdoor meals. Go at sunset and watch the sun go down over New Jersey. Just a really nice, locals (I never see tourists here) hang.

Regarding the fashion district, 7th Ave becomes "Fashion Avenue" from W 33rd to W 42nd St. This is the heart of the Garment District and is home to countless wholesale showrooms, fabric stores and the Bead District. You can start at Macy's (151 W 34th St), work your way west and north, weaving through the side streets, and maybe happen upon a sample sale or two!

You should also visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Collection (1000 5th Ave @ E 82nd St). This is one of the finest art museums in the world with over 35,000 costumes & accessories in the Costume Institute's permanent collection, spanning 5 centuries from all over the world! If you're into fashion (and the history of fashion), then check out this amazing collection at the best museum on New York's "Museum Mile!"

I realize this is a pretty exhaustive list! I hope I've answered all your questions! Have a FANTASTIC time while you're here in NYC!!!

All the best,
Roseanne

Oh, and PS, on the transportation from LGA thing, a taxi to her hotel will actually be really affordable, like around $25, totally worth the door-to-door service, if you ask me. Tell your cousin to find the taxi line when she gets out of baggage claim, she'll be at her hotel in no time! And Happy Birthday to her!

Have fun!

=)

The corner where Carrie Bradshaw and Mr. Big met (SATC), can anyone confirm?
Posted by: Marco (bas17-toronto63-3096725217.dsl.bell.ca)
Date: June 07, 2011 01:36PM


Some time ago I read that the corner where Carrie Bradshaw and Mr. Big met (her purse had fallen, revealing her makeup and, er... prophylactics) was Broadway and Park Place, across from New York City Hall Park. Can anyone confirm this? I just saw episode 1 of Sex and the City and there's definitely a park across the street.

You can find screencaps here:
[www.fanpop.com]
[www.fanpop.com]

Thank you!

Hi,
I'll be staying with 4 kids, ages 8-15 on West 11th between 5th and 6th Ave and was wondering if it is worth taking public transport, and how to do it, up to the MET and upper East side, the park etc? Any thoughts?
Kate

Good question, Kate. It's actually a piece of cake. If you think you can handle corralling four kids onto the subway, then that is your best option. Your closest subway stop is probably the BDFM line around 6th Avenue and 14th street but to get to the MET, it would require a couple of transfers and it can get complicated. Instead, I suggest taking the ten minute walk east over to Union Square (14th street and Park Ave) and jumping on the 4 or 5 express trains (green line) and taking it straight up to 86th street. You could also take the 6 local train which runs along the same line but that will obviously take you longer. The total time on the express train from Union Square to 86th should be around 10-15 minutes. Once at 86th, hop out of the subway and head 3 blocks west. You'll be at the MET. As for getting the kids to hang out at the MET for more than 20 minutes without getting antsy, that's a different story.

Hi,
My sister and I will be traveling to New York City in July. We will be staying at the Jewel right in Rockefeller Plaza. I have read about these "hop on hop off" bus tours and I was wondering if they are worth the money. I am mostly interested in the hopping on and off rather than an organized tour. Is it better to figure out the subway to get to and from my destinations?
Also, do you recommend a cab from LGA to our hotel and back or should we take the subway?
Thanks so much for your help

perfume
Posted by: Nicole_7885 (cpe-67-247-57-154.nyc.res.rr.com)
Date: June 19, 2011 06:47PM


I'm looking for the Sex in the City Perfume called lust. My friend got it for me for Christmas and i'm out. She can't remember where she bought it, but it was definitely somewhere in Manhattan. I bought some off the street today, but it was fake. Where can i buy it?

Thanks!

Hi Brittany,

I've never actually taken one of the hop on/hop off tours so I can't really speak to it one way or the other.

As for the subway, yes figuring it out and using it will make life MUCH easier for you during your time here. The subway can get you pretty much anywhere you need to go (especially within Manhattan itself) and can often be faster than a cab depending upon your route. That said, I would recommend a cab from LGA. There is no subway that links directly to the airport so if you wanted to take the subway route, you will first have to take a bus. After a long flight, that type of hassle can be a bit of a pain in the neck. The cab will probably cost you about $30-$40 from the airport to your hotel but it's one of the few instances I might recommend it over the subway.

Have fun and enjoy our great city!

-Gary

Hello,

My teenage daughter wants me to bring her to SoHo, Chinatown, and Little Italy this July for our 2 day mother/daughter outing. I've never been to NYC and am, quite frankly, daunted at the prospect of doing this alone with her. However, she loves to shop and eat and wants this to be "our" time together, so I'll move beyond my comfort zone. My budget is limited and I am very safety-oriented, any suggestions as to where to stay, to eat, how to get around safely, etc? I appreciate any and all advice.

Johnna

Hi Brittany,

Well, I have to say that I do love those hop on and off buses. You get a GREAT overview of the city, and Brooklyn if you choose, and when you see a cool spot, you can take some time to explore at your own pace.
The subway is a totally different experience though, and in my opinion, necessary for exploring New York. It's how we get around every day, and it's the cheapest and most efficient way of traveling around the city. Perhaps doing the hop on hop off tours for a day, jotting down your favorite locations, then grabbing a subway map and making the next day a "native New Yorker" day of taking subways.
As far as taking a cab from LGA, I think that all depends on how much you want to spend. It's certainly easier than taking the train with all your bags, but it'll cost you. It also depends on what time you're arriving to New York. If it's at rush hour then the traffic will bump your fee up quite a lot, as LGA cab drivers,as opposed to JFK cabs, usually just do a meter fee rather than a set fee.
With that being said, taking a cab can be a lot less stressful! It's a great feeling to tell someone where to take you and they do! You can now even pay for cab rides with your credit card. Ahhh, technology. How did we ever get along before you?
Another alternative to both the train and cabs is Super Shuttle. It's like a shared van situation that will take you to your destination at a cheaper price.

I hope these answers were helpful, and have a FABULOUS time in NYC!

xo,

Amy