What do do on my anniversary?
June 7, 2012 11:45 AM Subscribe
Help! My husband and I will unexpectedly be spending our rapidly-approaching anniversary in NYC. We need something romantic (for us) to do. Our original plan turned out to be based on a misunderstanding (We mistakenly thought the Museum of Natural History had a nice restaurant, which would have been perfect...food, wine, and a model of a giant prehistoric frog!), and we are now at a loss.
Relevant deets:
- It's a Monday, so most performing arts are out.
- We will be free from about 2PM into the evening.
- We will be staying in Queens, so any borough is fine as long as its near transport and isn't Staten Island.
- Food needs to be veggie-friendly
- We like: science and art museums, walking, history, science fiction, participatory activities like crafts, learning new things, good food.
- We are not spring chickens...so a wild night of clubbing with the beautiful people is likely out, but we're otherwise open to suggestions.
Relevant deets:
- It's a Monday, so most performing arts are out.
- We will be free from about 2PM into the evening.
- We will be staying in Queens, so any borough is fine as long as its near transport and isn't Staten Island.
- Food needs to be veggie-friendly
- We like: science and art museums, walking, history, science fiction, participatory activities like crafts, learning new things, good food.
- We are not spring chickens...so a wild night of clubbing with the beautiful people is likely out, but we're otherwise open to suggestions.
Why not go to MNH and then to a nearby restaurant or a picnic in Central Park?
posted by bunderful at 11:52 AM on June 7, 2012
posted by bunderful at 11:52 AM on June 7, 2012
Dovetail is right next to the museum, and is a very nice restaurant, indeed.
After dinner, you can walk down 79th Street to the Hudson River, past the Boat Basin Cafe, to the water, then walk south to Pier I for a sit down to watch the sun sink past New Jersey. After that, you can optionally walk up the ramp to 68th Street, walk down there past Lincoln Center, to the subway, or keep walking down the river to get to the Intrepid about a mile south of there.
posted by chengjih at 11:59 AM on June 7, 2012 [2 favorites]
After dinner, you can walk down 79th Street to the Hudson River, past the Boat Basin Cafe, to the water, then walk south to Pier I for a sit down to watch the sun sink past New Jersey. After that, you can optionally walk up the ramp to 68th Street, walk down there past Lincoln Center, to the subway, or keep walking down the river to get to the Intrepid about a mile south of there.
posted by chengjih at 11:59 AM on June 7, 2012 [2 favorites]
Pick up yummy treats to go at Bouchon Bakery in Columbus Circle, then walk through Central Park and rent a rowboat.
posted by mochapickle at 11:59 AM on June 7, 2012
posted by mochapickle at 11:59 AM on June 7, 2012
I had a really nice Valentine's Day dinner at Ed's chowder house which is near columbus circle. There will be plenty of fancy restaurants on the Upper West Side. Also it looks like Shakespeare in the park has shows on mondays.
posted by edbles at 12:01 PM on June 7, 2012
posted by edbles at 12:01 PM on June 7, 2012
Best answer: Not near the NMH or any museums, but I really like dell'amina in the West Village. it's cozy, dim, maybe can get a little loud (but probably not on a Monday evening). I remember that although it is not a vegetarian restaurant, they many truly delicious veggie antipasti and pastas. When I looked them up to include the link, I discovered that they have a special "meatless Mondays" menu.
If you like to walk, dell'amina isn't far from the High Line and the West Village in general is lovely for strolling as is the adjacent Greenwich Village.
posted by kaybdc at 12:03 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
If you like to walk, dell'amina isn't far from the High Line and the West Village in general is lovely for strolling as is the adjacent Greenwich Village.
posted by kaybdc at 12:03 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Is the Museum open on Mondays? Worth double checking, to be sure.
Agree with everyone's suggestions above. Especially the rowboat. There should be a wine store nearby that sells wine in a juicebox style tetrapac container which is easier to deal with in the park.
The boat basin is also a good suggestion, but just to clarify because you guys are out of towners*, it's in Riverside Park rather than Central Park. Still very close to the museum, but different specific park. The boat basin has a full bar, so no need to stop to pick up wine in advance
*I say this because there's a Boat House in Central Park which also has a cafe/restaurant/bar. I've lived here for years and years and got confused about that the first time I was told "meet us at the Boat Basin for a drink". Not because I'm trying to be a pedantic jerk.
posted by Sara C. at 12:06 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
Agree with everyone's suggestions above. Especially the rowboat. There should be a wine store nearby that sells wine in a juicebox style tetrapac container which is easier to deal with in the park.
The boat basin is also a good suggestion, but just to clarify because you guys are out of towners*, it's in Riverside Park rather than Central Park. Still very close to the museum, but different specific park. The boat basin has a full bar, so no need to stop to pick up wine in advance
*I say this because there's a Boat House in Central Park which also has a cafe/restaurant/bar. I've lived here for years and years and got confused about that the first time I was told "meet us at the Boat Basin for a drink". Not because I'm trying to be a pedantic jerk.
posted by Sara C. at 12:06 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
Best answer: You might consider The Modern which has excellent food in a museum setting (its a Danny Meyer joint). I know that they had some brilliant vegitable dishes, but I wouldn't call them veggie-friendly by any means.
For a more casual, but very tasty option consider Serei at the relatively unknown Rubin Museum of Art in Chelsea which has interesting Indian/Himalayan food with tons of veggie options. This would be convenient to the High Line.
posted by Lame_username at 12:09 PM on June 7, 2012 [2 favorites]
For a more casual, but very tasty option consider Serei at the relatively unknown Rubin Museum of Art in Chelsea which has interesting Indian/Himalayan food with tons of veggie options. This would be convenient to the High Line.
posted by Lame_username at 12:09 PM on June 7, 2012 [2 favorites]
Bouchon Bakery also has picnic boxes if you wanted to pick one up and head to Central Park. It's two sandwiches, two drinks and two desserts, I think. It's been awhile since I got one.
posted by spec80 at 12:21 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by spec80 at 12:21 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks so much - awesome ideas! Off to investigate links and suggestions!
posted by Wylla at 1:11 PM on June 7, 2012
posted by Wylla at 1:11 PM on June 7, 2012
First: make a reservation at Raines Law Room for Monday night.
On Monday afternoon, get a picnic lunch, and stroll down the High Line. Eat at one of the awesome little viewpoints. Get a fancy popsicle and coffee. Then walk to Blossom for dinner. Then go to Raines and have a really super awesome cocktail in a great little space.
posted by barnone at 1:41 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
On Monday afternoon, get a picnic lunch, and stroll down the High Line. Eat at one of the awesome little viewpoints. Get a fancy popsicle and coffee. Then walk to Blossom for dinner. Then go to Raines and have a really super awesome cocktail in a great little space.
posted by barnone at 1:41 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
Upon review, dell'anima's offical website isn't very good and doesn't look particularly up-to-date (I have been to the restaurant fairly recently though and can confirm that the food is still wonderful). If you were specifically interested in the Meatless Monday special menu, I'd call and check that it is still on offer. Here's a link to their yelp reviews that may give you a better idea of their regular menu, which I believe they change seasonally.
posted by kaybdc at 1:48 PM on June 7, 2012
posted by kaybdc at 1:48 PM on June 7, 2012
Seconding Dovetail - on Monday nights the restaurant features a vegetarian/vegan prix-fixe. Just a few blocks from the Museum with an extensive wine list, well suited for your anniversary.
posted by stachemaster at 4:54 PM on June 7, 2012
posted by stachemaster at 4:54 PM on June 7, 2012
My best friend and her fiance officially began their relationship during a magical day that ended with the Top of the Rock.
posted by Anonymous at 5:24 PM on June 7, 2012
posted by Anonymous at 5:24 PM on June 7, 2012
The New York Historical Society, just below the Museum of Natural History, has Caffe Storico, one of the best restaurants in town. Not cheap, but for this quality, not too expensive either. We went there for our anniversary and had a great meal.
posted by KRS at 6:36 PM on June 7, 2012
posted by KRS at 6:36 PM on June 7, 2012
Dirt Candy is amazing. It's on the Lower East Side, so a bit of a jaunt from the NMH, but it's the best vegetarian restaurant I've eaten at. Reservations only, I'm afraid.
If you'd rather stay near the NMH and you like cheese, Celeste has an amazing cheese plate. One of the large versions (if the owner's in, he will come out and explain the backstory of every cheese on it in an extremely thick, very charming Italian accent) and a dish to split, plus a bottle of wine was my go-to dinner date when single. My wife and I still make a policy of going when we can. It's cash only.
Where are you staying in Queens? It's a big place, but depending on where you're hanging your hat I might have some insights into chill places to get desert or an after dinner drink...
posted by qnarf at 7:52 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
If you'd rather stay near the NMH and you like cheese, Celeste has an amazing cheese plate. One of the large versions (if the owner's in, he will come out and explain the backstory of every cheese on it in an extremely thick, very charming Italian accent) and a dish to split, plus a bottle of wine was my go-to dinner date when single. My wife and I still make a policy of going when we can. It's cash only.
Where are you staying in Queens? It's a big place, but depending on where you're hanging your hat I might have some insights into chill places to get desert or an after dinner drink...
posted by qnarf at 7:52 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
Otherwise, why not spend the afternoon at the Museum and then go out to nice spot somewhere on the Upper West Side for dinner?
posted by Lutoslawski at 11:48 AM on June 7, 2012