New York City is our all-time favorite city, and we are fortunate that it is closeby. We can drive from our home to Manhattan in less than 1.5 hours, so we visit often (although not as often as we would like!). It is our goal to retire there someday!
Below are synopses of each trip, including hotels, restaurants, and activities. To see more about a particular trip, click on the link. The new page will include links for the hotels and restaurants that we visited on each trip.
View more hotels in NYC and worldwide here.
View more restaurants in NYC and worldwide here.
View more Broadway shows and concerts here.
Suggested restaurants and favorite things to do are listed at the end.
2020
-
2020/02/15 - 02/17 (2 nights for Valentine's Day/President's Day Weekend)
Hotel: Homewood Suites Midtown Manhattan Link - 2020/01/18 - 01/20 (2 nights for MLK Weekend)
Hotel: Sixty LES Link
Restaurants: Llama Inn Link, Contra Link, Dos Caminos Times Square Link, Prune Link, Katz Deli Link
Activity: Museum of Food and Design (MOFAD) Link, City Reliquary Link, Jagged Little Pill Link
- 2019/11/02 (Day Trip)
Restaurants: Nizza Link, Daniela Trattoria Link Activity: Slave Play Link - 2019/10-20 - 10/21 (1 night for Glenn's Birthday)
Hotel: Hilton Times Square Link
Restaurants: SoHo Park Link, The Palm West Side Link, Atoboy Link, Esca Link, Daniela Trattoria Link
Activity: The Book of Mormon at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Link, Betrayal at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre Link - 2019/09/11 - 09/12 (1 night for MSKCC before Baltics)
Hotel: Hilton Times Square Link
Restaurants: Boqueria Midtown Link, Mercado Little Spain Tapas Bar Link
Activity: Mets Game at CitiField Link, The Vessel at Hudson Yards Link - 2019/08/10 - 08/11 (1 night for Melissa's Birthday)
Hotel: Hilton Times Square Link
Restaurants: Ortzi by Jose Garces at the LUMA Hotel Link, Aureole Link, Il Punto Link
Activity: Hamilton at the Richard Rodgers Theatre Link, Beautiful the Carole King Musical Link - 2019/07/13 (Day trip)
Restaurants: Wolfgang's Steakhouse Link, Gleason's Tavern Link
Activity: Pretty Woman Link - 2019/03/27 (1 night for MSKCC)
Hotel: Doubletree Metropolitan Link
Restaurant: The Smith Link - 2019/03/02 – 03/03 (1 night for Atomix)
Hotel: Hilton Garden Inn New York Park Avenue Link
Restaurants: Her Name Is Han Link, Atomix Link, Second Avenue Deli Link
Activity: Morgan Library and Museum (for JRR Tolkien exhibit) Link
- 2018/12/01 – 12/01 (1 night to visit Lauren and Mark)
Hotel: Hilton Fashion District Link
Restaurants: Mercury Bar Link, Southern Hospitality BBQ Link, RARE Rooftop Bar Link, Park Avenue Winter Link, The Breslin Link
Activity: The Band’s Visit Link - 2018/11/21 – 11/22 (1 night Thanksgiving Day Parade)
Hotel: The Viceroy Central Park Link
Restaurants: Kingside Link, Gazala’s Link, Dead Poet Link
Activity: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Balloon Inflation Link - 2018/10/20 - 2018/10/21: 1 night (Glenn’s 50th Birthday)
Hotel: Ritz-Carlton Central Park Link
Restaurants: Masa Link, The Office Link, Rosie O’Grady’s Link, Toloache Link
Activity: Wicked Link, School of Rock Link - 2018/08/22 - 08/23 (1 night for MSKCC)
Hotel: Hilton Garden Inn Manhattan East Link
Restaurants: Monkey Bar Link, Loeb Central Park Boathouse Link, Serendipity 3 Link
Activity: Roosevelt Island Link - 2018/06/25 - 06/27/18 (2 Nights for Lauren and Mark's bachelorette/bachelor party)
Hotel: The London Link
Restaurants: The London Pub Link, Remi Link, Brooklyn Diner Link, Oldcastle Pub Link, Barbuto Link, The Roof Link, Kodama Link
Activity: Yankees Game Link, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical Link - 2018/0519 - 05/20 (1 Night for Iceman Cometh)
Hotel: Hampton Inn Times Square Central Link
Restaurants: Schnippers Kitchen Link, Wolfgang's Steakhouse Link, DaDong Link
Activity: The Iceman Cometh at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (Denzel Washington) Link - 2018/04/30 - 05/01 (1 Night for MSKCC)
Hotel: Doubletree Metropolitan Link
Restaurants: Crimson and Rye Link - 2018/04/21 - 04/22 (1 Night for Storm King pivot and ticket lottery)Hotel: Hilton Midtown Link
Restaurants: Danji Link, McHale’s Link, Halal Guys Link, Nobu Fifty-Seven Link
Activity: Angels in America Parts I and II at the Neil Simon Theatre Link, Escape to Margaritaville at the Marquis Theatre Link - 2018/03/24 – 03/25 (1 Night for DC pivot from
Cherry Blossoms)
Hotel: Hilton Times Square Link
Restaurants: The Aviary Link, Zest Szechuan Link, McGee’s Pub Link
Activity: Gulliver’s Gate Link, Spyscape Link, Kinky Boots (with Wayne Brady) at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre Link - 2018/02/07 - 02/08 (1 night for MSKCC)
Hotel: Doubletree Metropolitan Link
Restaurants: Gyu-Kaku Link, Met Bar, New York Luncheonette Link - 2018/01/26 - 01/27 (1 night for MSKCC)
Hotel: Hampton Inn Financial District Link
Restaurants: Dead Rabbit Link, Fraunces Tavern Link, Scallywags Link
-
2017/12/09 - 2017/12/11 (2 nights for Christmas)
Hotel: Hilton Garden Inn Central Park South Link
Restaurants: Gabriel Kreuther Link, Kappo Masa Link, Hide-Chan Link, Shun Lee Link, Iguana Link
Activities: Neue Galerie Link, Central Park Link - 2017/08/12 - 08/13 (1 night for Melissa's Birthday)
Hotel: Financial District Millennium Hilton Link
Restaurants: Osteria della Pace Link, Jungsik Link, Khe-Yo Link, Irish American Link, Fraunces Tavern Link
Activities: Eataly Downtown Link, Oculus at the World Trade Center Link, The Battery Link, Battery Park Link
· 2017/02/18-2017/02-20 (2 nights Lower East Side
for President’s Weekend)
Hotel: Indigo Lower East Side Link
· 2017/01/14 - 2017/01/16 (2 nights Murray
Hill/Midtown East for MLK Weekend)
Hotel: Gansevoort Park Avenue Link
2016
· 2016/09/24 (1 night SoHo for Glenn’s birthday)
Hotel: Hampton Inn SoHo Link
Restaurants: Piora Link, EN Japanese Brasserie Link, City Winery Link, Lupe’s East LA Kitchen Link, Blue Fin Link
Activities: Distinguished Gentleman's Ride Link
Theatre: An American in Paris Link
· 2016/08/13 - 2016/08/14 (2 nights Financial
District for Melissa’s Birthday)
Hotel: Millennium Hilton Link
· 2016/08/02: (Day Trip to
Mount Sinai)
Restaurant: Café Boulud (at the Surrey Hotel) Link
Activity: Hotel Carlysle (Bemelman’s Bar) Link
· 2016/07/22 - 07/24 (2 nights Meatpacking District
at end of Glenn’s business week)
Hotel: Gansevoort Meatpacking Link
· 2016/05/27 - 05/30 (3 nights Times
Square/Midtown/Theatre District)
Concert: Madison Square Garden (Billy Joel) Link
Hotel: Doubletree Times Square Link to old review from July 2010
Restaurants: Danji Link, Rum House Link, American Whiskey Link, Red Rooster Link, Dovetail Link, The
Spotted Pig Link, Mickey Spillane’s Link, Boqueria Link, Shake Shack Link, Ippudo Link
Activities: Cloisters Link, Grayline City Sightseeing Bus/Ferry Harbor Cruise Link,
Hudson River Pier (Fleet Week) Link
· 2016/03/06 (Day trip for Lauren’s birthday):
2015
· 2015/01/17 (1 night Union Square for MLK Weekend):
Hotel: Hyatt Union Square (complimentary upgrade to Sanctuary Suite!!) Link
Restaurants: Kura Link, DBGB Kitchen and Bar Link, Brother Jimmy’s BBQ Link, Momofuku Noodle Bar Link
Activities: Merchant’s House Museum Link
2014
· 2014/12/27 (1 night Midtown East for Christmas)
Hotel: Doubletree Metropolitan Link
Activities: Park Avenue Armory Link, Christmas Walk
· 2014/11/29 (1
night Chelsea):
Hotel: Doubletree Chelsea Link
Hotel: Doubletree Chelsea Link
Restaurants: The Nomad Link, Junoon Link, Pioneers Bar Link, Le Bain at The Standard Link, The
Breslin Link, Scarpetta Link
Activities: 9/11 memorial (outside only/buy tickets in advance next time!!)
2014/04/19 (1
night Midtown East for Easter):
Hotel: Grand Hyatt Grand Central Link
Activities: John Pierpont Morgan Library and Museum Link
2013
2013/10/05 (1
night Union Square for Glenn’s birthday)
Hotel: Hyatt Union Square New York Link
2013/07/20 (1 night Midtown East/Chelsea)
Hotel: Hilton New York Fashion District Link
Restaurants: Westside Brewhouse, Blanca Link, Mustang Sally's Link, Pinebox Rock Shop Link, Westside Brewhouse Link, Momofuku Ssam Bar Link
2013/06/29 (Daytrip for Harshman Father’s Day Lunch)
Activity: Metropolitan Museum of Art Link
2013/03/02 (1 night Brooklyn):
Hotel: Indigo Brooklyn Link
Restaurants: 7 Old Fulton Link, Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare Link, Brooklyn Terrace Link,
Dressler Link, Peter Luger Steakhouse Link
Activity: Brooklyn Heights Promenade Link
2012
2011
2006
2005
2004
2003
2012/12/15 (one night SoHo for Christmas):
Hotel: Hampton Inn SoHo Link
Restaurant: SPQR (now closed) Link, Nancy Whiskey Link, Torrisi Italian Specialties Link,
Osteria Morini Link
Activities: Little Italy Link, Canal Street
· 2012/10/20
(Day trip Glenn’s birthday):
· 2012/08/12 (1
night Tribeca for Melissa’s birthday):
Hotel: Hilton Garden Inn Tribeca Link
Restaurant: Bouley Link, Nancy Whiskey Link, Corton Link, Locanda Verde Link, Bubbys Pie Company Link, Petite Abeille Link
Activities: Tribeca Link, Canal Street
· 2012/07/22
(Day trip for cooking class):
· 2012/06/03
(Day trip to Central Park):
Restaurant: Park Central Hotel (what was restaurant name??)
Activity: Central Park Walk
2011
· 2011/12/17 (Day trip for Global Entry interview):
2011/10/14 (1 night Food and Wine Festival)
2011/05/14 (1 night Times Square/Midtown/Theatre District to celebrate Bonus!))
Restaurants: Bar Masa Link, Ca Va
2011/10/14 (1 night Food and Wine Festival)
Activities: Food and Wine Festival (Marcus Samuelsson, Mario Batali, Andrew
Zimmern, Eric Ripert, Jen Carroll), High Line
2011/05/14 (1 night Times Square/Midtown/Theatre District to celebrate Bonus!))
Hotel: Intercontinental Times Square Link (Had to come home early b/c of Clark)
Activity: High Line
· 2011/01/22 (1
night in Midtown East as compensation for previous stay!):
2010
Hotel: Waldorf-Astoria (in the Astor Junior Suite!)
Restaurant: St. Regis (King Cole Bar) for red snappers Link, Ma Peche, WD-50, David
Burke Townhouse
Activity: Museum of Modern Art
· 2010/12/22: (1
night pre-Florida for Harshman Christmas Dinner)
Restaurant: Morimoto
· 2010/11/13 (1
night in Midtown East):
Hotel: Waldorf-Astoria (got free night in Jan 2011 because of this stay)
Restaurants:
Activities: Tenement Museum (The Moores, Immigrant Soles Walking
Tour)
· 2010/08/01 (1
night in Times Square/Midtown/Theatre District):
2009
Hotel: Doubletree Times Square Link
Restaurants: Rue 57, Bar Boulud, Le Bernardin, Red
Activities: Frick Museum, Bodies Exhibit
2009
2009/12/11 (1 night before Glenn’s business week and to
celebrate Per Se!):
2008 - 2007
Hotel: Barclay Inter-Continental
Restaurants: Fig and Olive, Per Se, Mama Mexico, Katz’s Deli, DB Bistro
Moderne, Craft
2008 - 2007
· What
did we do between 2008 and 2007??
2006
· 2006/05/30 (Day trip)
2005
· 2005/11/04 (1 night in Midtown East for Dave and Eve’s Wedding)
Hotel: Yale Club
Eamonn’s Bar and Grill, Josephina
Theatre: Light in the Piazza
Activity: Dave and Eve’s wedding
· 2005/08/13 (Day trip for Melissa’s birthday):
Restaurants: Gramercy Tavern, Victor’s Café
Theatre: Hairspray
· 2005/04/23 (1 night Midtown West)
Hotel: Ramada New Yorker
Restaurant: Gotham Bar and Grill, Le Madeline
Theatre: Sweet Charity
· 2005/03/19 (1 night Midtown West):
Hotel: Milford Plaza
Restaurants: Pierre Au Tunnel, 21 Club, Blue
Fin
Theatre: Glass Menagerie
2004
· 2004/07/03 (Day trip):
Restaurant: Katz’s Deli
· 2004/05/10 (Day trip):
Restaurant: Union Square Cafe
· 2004/01/24 (Day trip for Sandy’s 60th birthday):
Theatre: Aida
Restaurant: Doubletree Times Square (drinks), ??? (where did we have lunch)
2003
· 2003/11/12 (1 night after Glenn’s business week):
Hotel: Crowne Plaza Times Square
Restaurant: Hurley’s Saloon, Times Square Grill, Rosas’s Place
· 2003/11/08:
Hotel: Marriott Marquis
Theatre: 42nd Street (Melissa only while Glenn
worked)
· 2003/07/12 (Day
trip):
Restaurant: Barbetta
Theatre: Gypsy
· 2003/05/24 (1 night in Midtown East):
Hotel: Intercontinental UN
Restaurant: Da’Umberto
Theatre: Life x3
· 2002/09/12 (1 night Midtown/Times Square/Theatre District):
Hotel: Crowne Plaza Times Square
Restaurants: Peasant , Charley O’s
Theatre: Proof
Activity: Madame Tussaud’s (Melissa only while Glenn worked)
· 2002/08/10
(Day trip):
Restaurant: Barbetta
Theatre: The Graduate
· 2002/04/21
(Day trip)
Theatre: How to Succeed in Business
· 2002/04/07
(Day trip):
Theatre: The Lion King
· 2002/03/30
(Day trip):
Theatre: The Producers
· 2001/12/01
(Day trip):
Theatre: Les Miserables
· 2001/10/28
(Day trip):
Theatre: Contact
· 2001/07/14
(Day trip):
Theatre: Dinner Party
· 2001/05/06
(Day trip):
Theatre: Jane Eyre
· 2001/01/28 (1
night Midtown with Jon and Patty, Paul and Erica to see Glenn Cullen’s show)
Theatre: Phantom of the Opera, Glen Cullen’s Show
Hotel: Comfort Inn Midtown
Restaurant: Cal’s (with Bob and Bill), Chelsea Lobster Company
· 2000/11/12
(Day trip):
Activity: American Museum of Natural History
Theatre: Fosse
· 2000/09/23
(Day trip):
Theatre: Swing
· 2000/07/29
(Day trip):
Theatre: Rent
· 2000/05/07
(Day trip):
Theatre: Kiss Me Kate
· 2000/05/06
(Day trip):
Theatre: Cabaret
· 1999/08/14 (Day trip):
Activity: Guggenheim (Surrealism: Two Private Eyes)
Theatre: Chicago
· 1999/03/13 (1 night Midtown West):
Hotel: ??Milford Plaza ??
Activity: Top of the World (World Trade Center)
Theatre: Smokey Joe’s Café
Theatre: Scarlet Pimpernel
· 1998/08/15
(Day trip):
Theatre: Miss Saigon
· 1997/05/18
(Day trip):
Restaurant: Pietra Santa, Jekyll and Hyde Club
Theatre: Grease
· 1996/05/09 (Day trip):Activity: World Trade Center
·
1994/02/14
(Our best date – NYC by Limo for Valentine’s Day!)
Favorite Things to Do:
- The Highline (an outdoor walk on an elevated train trestle, so pick a nice day)
- Tenement Museum (make reservations because the tours book up fast)
- Woolworth Building (by reservation via an online website)
- Museum of Modern Art (not necessarily to see paintings, but to see the unique rooms and things like the Temple of Dendur, mummies, Great Hall, medieval court, costume institute, sculpture hall, American wing entrance/courtyard, roof garden, Frank Lloyd Wright Room, Damascus Room, Chinese garden court, Spanish castle courtyard, musical instruments, Versailles panorama, furniture in the Luce Center; this is my favorite museum anywhere in the world)
- John Pierpont Morgan Library/Museum
- New York Public Library (for the architecture)
- Cloisters (this is owned by the Met and is located on the upper end of the island at Fort Tryon Park, but I think it’s worth the effort to get there)
- Central Park (pick a nice day and walk the entire park to see Belvedere Castle, Wollman ice-skating rink, boathouse, model boat pond, carousel, Strawberry Fields, Cleopatra’s needle, zoo, lake, Tavern on the Green, Alice in Wonderland statue)
- Grand Central Station (try the whispering gallery, visit the famous oyster bar, and have a cocktail at the hidden Campbell Apartment [this might be closed permanently])
- Eataly (gets really busy and crowded, so go when it first opens)
- Chelsea Market
- Frick Mansion/Museum (more to see a grand Upper East Side mansion than for the artwork; ask to see the hidden bowling alley)
- Hop-on/Hop-off Bus and Ferry (better on a nice day so that you can sit atop the double-decker, very touristy but gives you a great overview of the city)
- Rockefeller Center (ice skaters, Prometheus sculpture, underground shopping arcade that is great in inclement weather)
- Gracie Mansion (I’ve never toured this because it’s only available on Tuesdays)
- St. Patrick’s Cathedral
- Roosevelt Island Tram
- Create your own food tour for all the iconic NY foods (bagels, cheesecake, pizza, chestnuts, hotdogs, deli [Katz is my favorite], cronuts, cupcakes, Shake Shack burgers)
Midtown West/Upper West Side Restaurant Ideas:
- Salumeria Rosi (Italian/charcuterie, great meats and cheeses; another location on the Upper East Side
- Ippudo Westside (Japanese, does not take reservations, great ramen, a bit loud because the staff yells [politely] in Japanese)
- Porter House (Steakhouse, in Shops at Columbus Circle, great view of Central Park but only if you have a reservation – walk-ins are seated in an area with a lesser view)
- Blue Fin (seafood, in Times Square, part of the W hotel, sit upstairs in the dining room instead of downstairs in the sushi bar/izakaya)
- Dos Caminos (Mexican, in Times Square, part of the W hotel; other locations in NYC)
- Lincoln Ristorante (elegant and creative Italian, next to Lincoln Center)
- Boulud Sud (Mediterranean, across from Lincoln Center)
- Bar Boulud (French, great pates and terrines, meats and cheeses, across from Lincoln Center)
- Becco (Italian, on “Restaurant Row”, Mario Batali is part owner, offers a unique $20 tableside unlimited 3-variety pasta service)
- Bar Americain (celebrity chef Bobby Flay is the owner)
- Tao (Asian, not the most authentic food but the restaurant space is attractive with a 16-foot tall Buddha statue and koi pond; another location downtown)
- Danji (Korean, tiny restaurant with great food, try one of the bi bim baps if you go (sort of like a fried rice that you mix up yourself served in a cast iron skillet)
- Rosa Mexicana (obviously Mexican! great tableside guacamole; another location downtown)
- Hakkasan (Asian, attractive interior, good food, a la carte and also a $40 multi-course [perhaps 6 or 7 dim sum items] for $39 p/p)
- Marea (elegant seafood/Italian, might be a little pricey at $50+ for a 2-course prix-fixe)
- Ma Peche (creative Asian, but it’s in the basement of the Chambers Hotel [yet still nice])
