Monday, January 10, 2005

Fall 2005 New York trip plans? Discuss.

I'm opening this thread so BS, JK, and I can discuss plans for a Fall 2005 trip to New York, New York. If we post our thoughts as comments to this thread, we can keep all our thoughts in one place and avoid all the sifting through emails.

Specifically, I think we should start a list of sites we wish to see, so we can figure out a reasonable trip duration from that.

For my other readers, if you've been to NY and want to recommend some "not-to-be-missed" attractions (especially any that are off the beaten path and therefore likely to be overlooked) feel free!

Dates proposed by Brad:
9/15 to 9/18 (or 9/19)
9/22 to 9/25 (or 9/26)

21 Comments:

Blogger equipoise said...

Here's my initial list off the tip of my brain ...
1) Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island
2) Times Square
3) Gugenheim Museum4) Delmonico's (OK, this resaurant is special to me since it figured prominently in a great historical fictional thriller "The Alienist" by Caleb Carr)
5) A Broadway show
6) Empire State Building

3:27 PM  
Blogger equipoise said...

A coworker told me that discount tickets to Broadway shows can be had at http://www.hobokensynagogue.org/ (click on Marketplace, then Discount, then open the .pdf file which is updated monthly.)

5:27 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

JK: Either of those dates proposed by BS works for me. Is Phil cool on either of them? When we know this we can tell Lung the dates and invite him. I'm posting following comments that a co-worker who visited NY made I'll put my thougts in (): "We bought a Subway pass the first day there. I think you can buy them for 3 or 5 days.
1) Broadway Shows The shows were awesome. It was my favorite part of the trip.(I'm game on a show if price is right).
2) Staten Island Ferry/Statue of Liberty
The ferry is free. It just goes to Staten Island and comes right back. We just rode it to get some pictures of the Statue of Liberty. Good (yes)
3)Ground Zero/Wall Street
Very interesting to see(yes-i want a pic of us monkeying around on that bull by wall street).
4)Central Park
Took a carriage ride through Central Park.(no way in hell I'm interested in stepping foot in a carriage)
5) United Nations
I didn't have time to tour it. I wish I would have. (I'd like to schedule an appt with Kofi Annan - I'd like to ask for my tax money back that the UN squandered in any one of several corrupt programs...eg oil-for food-LOL).
6) Empire State Building
Cool view, but it probably took us over 3 hours to get to the top. There were tons of people.(Like to see the view but don't want to wait too long).
7) Shopping
FAO Schwartz, Macy's (What is the point? We have the Mall of America and every time I visit JD he insists on dragging me there.)
8) Bus tour through the different areas.
Soho, Chinatown etc. Pointed out the interesting buildings and other points of interest. I thought it was worth the money because you could get off at any of the stops and grab another bus when you were ready to go.(this sounds cool to me)
9) Just walking around was fun to see different things. (also cool but walking like with a purpose to get to attractions that we can walk to).
Trump Tower, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Times Square.
(I like Museums of things other than art generally speaking and would be game on them).
10) Any kind of restaurant you can think of.. We liked the small places better instead of chains like Planet Hollywood. Mom/Pop places in Chinatown, Little
Italy etc.(While I prefer to frequent "Mom & Pop shops" to give back to the local community, JD & BS always insist on going for the corporate chains like McDonalds...but hey, whatever works).
11) Tour of NBC
Very cool. They showed us where Saturday Night Live was filmed etc.
12) Cloisters (not sure of the spelling)
I didn't care for this. I wouldn't waste my time on this."
Last thought....the sooner we nail these dates down the better. JD sorry to hear you'll miss the next ski trip. Are you still coming next month?

3:04 AM  
Blogger equipoise said...

JK, thanks for posting your list of sights.

Too bad you're a dirty rotten liar. Just to set the record straight, I haven't set foot in Mall of America for years, and I'm no fan of chain restaurants - I'll take a mom/pop greasy spoon over a chain any day.

Another thing I really want to do is get tickets to see a taping of the John Stewart Show. I would say this is #1 on my list, actually.

Bus tour sounds cool. I'm not into shopping.

9:10 AM  
Blogger equipoise said...

Ideas from BS - I'm posting these for him, for the benefit of all ...

1. Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island
2. Times square
3. Boat ride around Manhattan
4. Wall Street
5. Coney Island (if it's not a serious headache to travel to.)
6. Would love to see a live show like: Late show with Dave Letterman. Jon Stewart show would be awesome and/or Sat Night live. I looked into getting tickets to these things and it does not appear to be that easy... most require a ticket lottery, which involves getting there mega early to try to get a ticket. This was the case with S.N.L. Phil was also down with this and like me would be willing to try to attend.
7. FAO Shwartz toy store/times square.
8. I really do not want to see a Broadway show yet this should not matter...as it is a do what you want vacation. I may consider seeing a classical orchestra in a cool theatre of something similar if people are
game on that.
9. China town.
10. Empire State Building.

11:53 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yeah, all right.
I would like to set up some cardboard to act as a stage in order to display my old school breakdancing moves in the City that it started in.
Here I come New York...watch me dance and watch me shine. If I can breakdance there I can make it anywhere.

1:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

JK: I'm posting Phil's comments for the benefit of all:
"I think we should leave on Wednesday the 14th and get back on Sunday the 18th. This way we can check out the city during the week and weekend. If we leave Sunday, then we have time just in case we get delayed comming back. I am up for anything really. Let me know what all of you think. Type to you soon.Mike"
JK: Looks like Phil favors 3 full days there and that seems perfect to me given all we've talked about doing. Phil & BS both propose returning on 18th...I'm fine with that unless JD has an objection that is what we'll do. Final thing we all need to agree on is date departing...I'll go with Phil's date of 14th...so as soon as BS & JD agree to this or propose something else...we'll have the dates set in stone.

1:32 AM  
Blogger equipoise said...

I'm fine w/the 14th-18th if that's the consensus. I don't have a strong preference for dates, so I'm willing to go w/the flow.

9:55 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow, this blog thread is super lame in every way, shape and form.
I wonder why Howser is not more organized when it comes to dates and trips? He should obtain a planner to keep him focused on all he has planned. I also wonder when he will get back to us on the new possible October dates so Daddy can buy a ticket on the cheap.

8:02 AM  
Blogger equipoise said...

Due to some schedulin problems in Sept, BS and JK are proposing we push the trip back into October, like 12th to 16th or 19th to 23. School (college/grade schools) is in session and tourism should be lighter
based on what BS has read, which may equal a better deal on flights and hotels. Not to mention less fools to put up with at the tourist sites.

Everyone still really likes Philcat's Weds to Sunday idea of being in the city during the week and weekend. The weather should be fantastic, not too hot and well before winter. Good walking weather I say.
What say we all go on the 12th to 16th asks BS?

9:15 AM  
Blogger equipoise said...

I'm fine with either of those October weeks. Cause I'm the most flexible cat around ... sometimes. We just need input from Philcat now ...

9:17 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Shake: Phil? Are you there ? Are you cool on 10/12-16?

2:32 AM  
Blogger equipoise said...

I think Phil accidently sent his response to just me, instead of to the group ... here's what he said:

"I don't mind an October date. I was hoping it would feel like summer by the time we go, but I'm sure the weather will still be warm.Meow"

10:02 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sometimes I like to call my friends and use my vocal cords/calling card to indicate things.
Yesterday after getting back from Discount City, A.K.A. Walmart I called everyone and recommended we fly out together. Told Howser, he should consider flying to Milwaukee and meeting up with us or just driving to my hood and riding with me. Hopefully he enjoyed my super long voice mail I left, which featured baby Sasher yelling in the background. Further told Howser he is gonna get nailed hardcore for solo cab fare and cackled into the phone after I said it. He is a fit dude so maybe he plains to run/swim to the hotel, pretending it is a mini triatholon or something.
Shake, is Mr. Flexible and is pro Milwaukee Midwest Express and Phil has not gotten back to me yet.
The flight is cheaper today, 2/1/05 than last week.
Midwest Express Flight # YX3 Leaves Milwaukee at 1:30 pm, arrives N.Y. at 4:29 pm, just in time for hotel check in.
#YX4 Leaves N.Y. 11:20am, just in time for check out and arrives back in WI at 12:40 pm.
Round trip, direct flight for $248.00 bucks is awesome said Brad while alone in the office. I probably saved that much at discount city yesterday. They treated Camry with love as they changed it's oil, wipers and air filter for the trip North next week.
Midwest Express is 800-314-7125 if you good people are game.
Right on then.

8:26 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Shake: I am proud of Bradley for a great many things...of late, most notably I'm proud he has embraced JD's fantastic blog and become a frequent contributor. Just bought my fare and snapped up the final of "our 4 seats" (my presumption being Phil & JD have the other 2 - I know BS has a seat already)...so full speed ahead on NYC '05. Big Apple Here we come. JD: If by chance you know someone who wants to buy my lift tix for Luzen....I'd sell them. Thanks. See y'all soon!

2:30 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

BERAD20: Thanks for the kind words Shaker. They were not without sarcasm but hey, it's cool. Your right, I have taken to this blog thread like moth to flame yet without phone calls or email Phil would never have been up to date with the planning stages.
Man, I really went through a lot of work (note to self...pat on back needed) getting that flight info out, planning flights with common hotel in and out times and have not even heard from Howser if he is flying with us? How rude. On the other hand it looks as if he has already done a super job of getting us a serious ski hook up so maybe I should not complain.
Maybe some secret stalker bought up the last ticket to get closer to me and Howser plans to fly out via MN? Guess time will tell. I hope my secret stalker is an attractive 28 year old Asian girl who likes video games, cheap dudes.

10:53 AM  
Blogger equipoise said...

Have no fear friends, I'm still alive. I haven't booked a flight, as I've been too busy biking, hooking up with hot chicks and training to be a cage fighter. BERAD - thanks for the flight info. I will most likely fly out direct from Mpls but will look into the flight options you proposed as well.

11:14 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

BERAD20: Great to hear Howser is Among the Living and checking in on his blog. Shaker claims to have got the last ticket yet according to Howser he has not booked a flight yet. Weird Shake? How can this be? My confirmation number is FNYKET. Maybe I really do have a secret stalker. Hope he or she buys me drinks/gifts in the big city.
Phil appears to have one reserved as he called me a Jerk for getting the window seat, which I deserve. Just called Shaker to repeat this info in case he does not read the blog today.

11:36 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Shake: All right. Sounds good. Full speed ahead on NYC!

11:45 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Everyone sucks but me.
Funny, Microtell in Madison fills up pretty quick as well...because the Government rents rooms for those in need of a place to live, which effects the availability of rooms.
Maybe this dive in New York is like the Microtell of the East Coast.
Word to your mothers.

3:32 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thinking that making a hotel reservation is going to be impossible until Howser secures his flight and lets us know if he will be in NY before or after we land. The first person to check in must be the one who secures the room with C.Card. It's been my hotel experience that they swipe the card prior to checking in and out.
Unless J. is willing to chill somewhere (airport)in the event that we arrive later than him. I brought this up last weekend.
Does anyone read this thing anymore?
Shake, that Marriot Marquis place looks awesome and gets great reviews in some of the new books I got this week. Later on.

7:59 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home