turning 21 in NYC
May 14, 2009 8:04 PM Subscribe
Two days and one night in NYC for daughter's 21st birthday. What should we see, what should we do? Her first time in NY!
Best answer: Do the standard tourist thing, but take it up a notch:
Nitsuj is right, though, there is tons of advice on AskMe about this already. It's one of the most frequently asked questions, I think.
posted by ocherdraco at 8:30 PM on May 14, 2009
- Take in a show (light n' fluffy: 9 to 5; heavy but hilarious: August: Osage County) and have dinner somewhere on 9th avenue between 42nd and 55th Street (I love El Centro at 9th and 54th). Remember, most shows are dark Mondays.
- Avoid Times Square, except for about five minutes to say "Look at all the lights!" (Don't spend any money in Times Square. Whatever you buy will be overpriced, even for New York.)
- Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art (remember, their ticket price is a suggested price—you can pay less if you want to), or if you'd rather see an entire museum rather than just part of one, go to the Frick Collection. Remember, most museums are closed Mondays.
- Take a walk through Central Park.
- Take one of those double decker bus tour things (this one, from Gray Line, includes a ticket to Ellis Island and Liberty Island and a ticket to the Top of the Rock, which is better than the top of the Empire State Building because from the Top of the Rock you can see the Empire State Building)
Nitsuj is right, though, there is tons of advice on AskMe about this already. It's one of the most frequently asked questions, I think.
posted by ocherdraco at 8:30 PM on May 14, 2009
Response by poster: thanks, ocherdraco--great tips. but in terms of you and Nitsuj's suggestion regarding older posts on this subject, I did my "due diligence" and searched thoroughly: the only posts that seemed to pertain to our needs (very short trip with young adult) were 2007 and older and I'm sure there's lots new, at least in terms of perspective, since then!
posted by Lylo at 8:48 PM on May 14, 2009
posted by Lylo at 8:48 PM on May 14, 2009
If she's at all arty or intellectual, she'll like love MoMa.
posted by oddman at 8:52 PM on May 14, 2009
posted by oddman at 8:52 PM on May 14, 2009
Don't neglect Brooklyn! It's where many cool things of interest to young people, especially in the food, bar, and music scenes.
The New York that I grew up dreaming about was formed by movies like Taxi Driver and The Warriors than any glitzy tourist-y films, and that feeling survives more in Brooklyn than in Manhattan. I wouldn't spend the whole time here, but at least half a day, visiting two or three things is highly recommended. Make sure to take a subway line that goes via bridge (the N, Q, B, D, J, M, or Z trains) rather than under a tunnel. The view is stupendous.
posted by Jon_Evil at 9:01 PM on May 14, 2009 [2 favorites]
The New York that I grew up dreaming about was formed by movies like Taxi Driver and The Warriors than any glitzy tourist-y films, and that feeling survives more in Brooklyn than in Manhattan. I wouldn't spend the whole time here, but at least half a day, visiting two or three things is highly recommended. Make sure to take a subway line that goes via bridge (the N, Q, B, D, J, M, or Z trains) rather than under a tunnel. The view is stupendous.
posted by Jon_Evil at 9:01 PM on May 14, 2009 [2 favorites]
It is hard to say without knowing about her interests. She might be content museum hopping all day and walking around Central Park, she might be more interested in shopping and going to places where you might spot a celebrity, or she might want to just have a fancy, adult dinner out. If it's her first time in NY, she might appreciate doing all The Sights, or she might just want to wander the neighborhoods and take it all in.
Has she express any desires/must-do's of her own? Conceivably she'll be back at some point, and it's very difficult to do it all in such a short time period.
The classic NY things to "do" (Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Grand Central, Central Park, Empire State Building, museums) are classic because they appeal to many age groups. I would recommend doing a small subset of those (otherwise the trip may feel like you've missed out on something) but spend the rest of the time tailoring it to the birthday gal's wants.
posted by kathryn at 9:53 PM on May 14, 2009
Has she express any desires/must-do's of her own? Conceivably she'll be back at some point, and it's very difficult to do it all in such a short time period.
The classic NY things to "do" (Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Grand Central, Central Park, Empire State Building, museums) are classic because they appeal to many age groups. I would recommend doing a small subset of those (otherwise the trip may feel like you've missed out on something) but spend the rest of the time tailoring it to the birthday gal's wants.
posted by kathryn at 9:53 PM on May 14, 2009
First time I went out to NY on my own, I had to try White Castle (being from California and having seen Harold and Kumar). Closest one I could find happened to be in Brooklyn- wish I had more time to explore that area since I was mostly in and around Manhattan.
posted by liquoredonlife at 12:20 AM on May 15, 2009
posted by liquoredonlife at 12:20 AM on May 15, 2009
If you must hang out in midtown and do the tourist bit, I recommend doing the Empire State Building at night. Assuming the weather plays nice, the view is amazing and the wait in line is a lot shorter, around 45 minutes as opposed to 2+ hours during the day.
If you do the statue of Liberty, you have to get there at the crack of dawn and get in line, otherwise you are going to be waiting at least 3-4 hours, probably more, if you show up after 10am.
On the other hand, the staten island ferry is fun and free.
I was at a great Italian restaurant recently called Supper. It was delicious and didn't break the bank.
posted by Darned account name at 4:28 AM on May 15, 2009
If you do the statue of Liberty, you have to get there at the crack of dawn and get in line, otherwise you are going to be waiting at least 3-4 hours, probably more, if you show up after 10am.
On the other hand, the staten island ferry is fun and free.
I was at a great Italian restaurant recently called Supper. It was delicious and didn't break the bank.
posted by Darned account name at 4:28 AM on May 15, 2009
Most people have gotten the stuff that I tent to really like to do, but I'll put together a short list anyway
*Museum of Modern Art (tons of famous, amazingly recognizable works of art there, and some less known but still fantastic stuff.)
*Empire State Building (get there early or get there very late. Lines are long.)
*Staten Island Ferry (free way to get a trip accross the water, and get a nice glimpse of the southern end of New York as well as the statue of liberty)
*Central Park
*Walk accross the brooklyn bridge (STAY OUT OF THE BIKE LANE)
*Take her to a bar! (it's her 21st birthday)
*Chinatown (get some restaurant recommendations off the internet, enjoy the weird shops)
I'm a big fan of the Cloisters, which is a big castle in Washington Heights that Nelson Rockefeller liked to hang out at and look at medieval tapestries of unicorns.
Have fun.
posted by orville sash at 5:33 AM on May 15, 2009
*Museum of Modern Art (tons of famous, amazingly recognizable works of art there, and some less known but still fantastic stuff.)
*Empire State Building (get there early or get there very late. Lines are long.)
*Staten Island Ferry (free way to get a trip accross the water, and get a nice glimpse of the southern end of New York as well as the statue of liberty)
*Central Park
*Walk accross the brooklyn bridge (STAY OUT OF THE BIKE LANE)
*Take her to a bar! (it's her 21st birthday)
*Chinatown (get some restaurant recommendations off the internet, enjoy the weird shops)
I'm a big fan of the Cloisters, which is a big castle in Washington Heights that Nelson Rockefeller liked to hang out at and look at medieval tapestries of unicorns.
Have fun.
posted by orville sash at 5:33 AM on May 15, 2009
Best answer: As others have pointed out, it really depends on your daughter. I would not consider standing in line for 2 hours at the Empire State Building or hauling my arse to Ellis Island to be a fancy shmancy way to celebrate my 21st. That's me. Other people would no doubt be thrilled.
Personally, things I would want to include:
* Afternoon on 5th Avenue. Stop into Tiffany's (there are some lovely gifts on their Under $150 list if you wanted to surprise her) and FAO Shwarz.
* Someone has a brilliant clothing exhibit, and it isn't MoMA. It is probably the Met since that is my favourite museum; unless you are a particular fan of modern art, the Met runs circles around MoMA for plain old beauty and wow. I also like the Museum of Natural History, too.
* If you don't want to do a show (and you may not want to, that's fine) I would do dinner and then go for birthday dessert at Serendipity.
* I would want someone to buy me a Bellini at a posh hotel bar that isn't a chain hotel.
* If you are compelled to see the island view, the Staten Island Ferry is your best bet.
Caveats: I'm from NYC, I'm a slow walker, and I hate tourist stuff. I prefer classic over trendy. Hipsters make me want to take hostages and I can count on one hand the number of times I've been to Brooklyn. (I apologise for all of these things.)
posted by DarlingBri at 7:30 AM on May 15, 2009
Personally, things I would want to include:
* Afternoon on 5th Avenue. Stop into Tiffany's (there are some lovely gifts on their Under $150 list if you wanted to surprise her) and FAO Shwarz.
* Someone has a brilliant clothing exhibit, and it isn't MoMA. It is probably the Met since that is my favourite museum; unless you are a particular fan of modern art, the Met runs circles around MoMA for plain old beauty and wow. I also like the Museum of Natural History, too.
* If you don't want to do a show (and you may not want to, that's fine) I would do dinner and then go for birthday dessert at Serendipity.
* I would want someone to buy me a Bellini at a posh hotel bar that isn't a chain hotel.
* If you are compelled to see the island view, the Staten Island Ferry is your best bet.
Caveats: I'm from NYC, I'm a slow walker, and I hate tourist stuff. I prefer classic over trendy. Hipsters make me want to take hostages and I can count on one hand the number of times I've been to Brooklyn. (I apologise for all of these things.)
posted by DarlingBri at 7:30 AM on May 15, 2009
Really great bars for her first truly grown up New York cocktail:
- The King Cole Bar at the St. Regis (midtown old-fashioned glamour, wonderful drinks)
- Hotel Delmano in Williamburg (hipster swank, wonderful drinks)
- The Cantor Roof Garden at the Met (art and a fantastic view, so-so drinks)
posted by minervous at 9:47 AM on May 15, 2009 [1 favorite]
- The King Cole Bar at the St. Regis (midtown old-fashioned glamour, wonderful drinks)
- Hotel Delmano in Williamburg (hipster swank, wonderful drinks)
- The Cantor Roof Garden at the Met (art and a fantastic view, so-so drinks)
posted by minervous at 9:47 AM on May 15, 2009 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks to all, it worked out really well. We stayed at The Standard in the meat packing district and highly recommend it, amazing views of Hudson River and Empire State Building from our respective rooms (both upgraded in honor of our daughter's birthday, how nice is that?)--fabulous location, very young, hip, contemporary, reasonable and by no means full of itself. All rooms have wall to wall floor to ceiling windows. We spent saturday in upper Manhattan: pedicab tour of Central Park ($67 for 1 hour 15 mins versus $40 for 20 minutes in a horse drawn carriage, much more fun!) It was pretty squished to fit 3 of us in the pedicab but we did it none the less. Then we went to lunch at Serendipity 3 (we had made reservations in advance), and of course, had frozen hot chocolates, but were delighted with the sandwich's as well. From there we went to Metropolitan Museum of Art, walking by means of Madison Avenue, window shopping all the while. We had a late dinner at Del Posto (10th Ave. between 15th and 16th streets near the hotel). It was a beautiful elegant room, but we were underwhelmed by the food, we ordered pastas which were each a little strange and not what we expected. However, the birthday girl loved her Bellini and the little pillows that were brought to us for putting our purses on. On Saturday we took the Staten Island Ferry around the Statue of Liberty , then shopped for bargains in Chinatown. After that, we went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex to see the "John Lennon: The New York Years" exhibit which was really really good. Then we went to Katz's deli for lunch. The corned beef sandwich is like NOTHING we have in Chicago, even though we try. We walked it off by strolling through Soho, Noho, West Village, and Washington Square Park before returning reluctantly to the airport to catch our evening flight. It was a perfect whirlwind day and a half in New York for our daughter's first trip to the big Apple. I think for sure she will be back (but not with her parents) to experience NYC nightlife and all the things we didn't have time to do. Thanks to "The Hive" for all the helpful ideas.
posted by Lylo at 2:52 PM on June 14, 2009
posted by Lylo at 2:52 PM on June 14, 2009
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posted by nitsuj at 8:05 PM on May 14, 2009