Marathon Weekend in NYC
November 1, 2013 5:38 PM   Subscribe

Help me and my kids plan a fun, low-hassle weekend in New York watching Missus_A run the marathon!

I will arrive Saturday evening with our 3 kids, age 3, 8, and 10. They grew up in Philly and are OK with big cities in general. We'll meet up with my wife at or near our hotel, which is on Bowery and Canal, probably 6 or 7 PM. So:
1. Where can I park the car overnight, relatively securely, but not too expensive? Is it one or the other?
2. What can we do with 3 kids that's not too expensive and within walking distance (and will be open at 7 or 8 PM). Window shopping and sight-seeing are A-OK, just need something to do before bed.

Then Sunday, we want to go to the Museum of Natural History. My wife's wave goes off at 10:30, and she'll be finishing around 4 hours later, so we have a good bit of time before we have to get to the finish area. So more questions:
3. About the museum: Is it totally insane to go there on marathon day? Also - what is the best train(s) to take (pity me, I have lost my subway lore)
4. If we get bored at the museum, can we go run around the park or is that not an option on marathon day?
5. Any other cool things we can do between the park and the Bowery?

Thanks in advance! Let me know if I've left key data out and I'll supply them.
posted by Mister_A to Travel & Transportation around New York, NY (26 answers total)
 
Is cheering for your wife not an option? That's the most inspiring and fun thing to do in NY on marathon Sunday!
posted by valeries at 5:54 PM on November 1, 2013


Best answer: Hey Miser_A, tell your wife good luck and I will see her on the course.

Re: Sunday, mostly the entire park is closed due to security procedures. You could walk all the way west to Riverside Park, which will be open, and is very pretty.

The train to the museum is the C to 81st Street. Because the marathon "early exit" is around there, expect it to be incredibly crowded any time after noon. Lots of people use the museum as their family meeting place, but I don't know how many visitors the museum actually has that day. Again, security is going to be insane, so leave lots of extra time everywhere on the Upper West Side.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:55 PM on November 1, 2013


Cheering is pretty fun, looking at all the inspiring people and taking it all in- I'll be cheering in Harlem! Would love to cheer you, roomthreeseventeen; reach out if you want a cheerleader in Harlem. Same offer goes to anyone else running!

If you're not up for that, you might take the kids to Katz's Deli for lunch (relatively close to your hotel). The sandwiches are huge; I would think the 4 of you could split 2, plus a side or two and their yummy pickles.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:00 PM on November 1, 2013 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Oh yeah, we're definitely going to do some cheering! But not 4 hours worth. Any advice on good cheering spots in Manhattan? We can't make too many moves because lots of kids :)
posted by Mister_A at 6:09 PM on November 1, 2013


Best answer: 1. Where can I park the car overnight, relatively securely, but not too expensive? Is it one or the other?

It shouldn't be too hard to find street parking within a few blocks of there. Double check all the various warning signs about street cleaning and other restrictions, but otherwise, you should be OK. I've parked many a car overnight in sketchier areas and never had a problem. The biggest problem will be finding a spot, but you should be able to find SOMETHING. It just might be a schlep from the hotel. But that's probably fine? Check side streets; you will be unlikely to find a spot right at Bowery and Canal, and looking further up or down either of those two major streets is a crapshoot. You'll have better luck on side streets.

Not sure about any marathon-related street closures or parking restrictions in that area, but just make sure to be diligent about reading signs. They put up special temporary no parking signs on streets that will be closed. They're hard to miss.

2. What can we do with 3 kids that's not too expensive and within walking distance (and will be open at 7 or 8 PM). Window shopping and sight-seeing are A-OK, just need something to do before bed.

The Lower East Side isn't a terribly kid-friendly neighborhood, especially on weekend nights. But there are fun restaurants for dinner and reasonably good strolling/people watching type Hey Look We're In New York City experiences to be had. My only suggestion for a tourist attraction would be the Tenement Museum, which is AMAZING. But I think it closes earlier than you're looking for. The area around there is mostly shopping, restaurant, and residential. Maybe yelp up a toy store or something they'd know from family friendly pop culture?

Then Sunday, we want to go to the Museum of Natural History. My wife's wave goes off at 10:30, and she'll be finishing around 4 hours later, so we have a good bit of time before we have to get to the finish area.

Is there a reason you don't plan to watch the race at all? There are lots of great places in Manhattan to just watch runners go by? It's really fun and a unique festive NYC experience. I mean, not that the AMNH isn't or anything, but I mean THEIR MOM is running a marathon through all of New York City. So it seems odd to me that you'd skip the spectating in favor of museum-ing.

3. About the museum: Is it totally insane to go there on marathon day? Also - what is the best train(s) to take (pity me, I have lost my subway lore)

The upper west side is going be NUTS all day. Like unbearably uggghoiawefdscosdksdncx crazytown packed. I'm not sure I would elect to go to some non-marathon-related tourist attraction around there on marathon day.

I mean seriously the only way I'd do AMNH that day is if there was a specific exhibit I really had to see and it was closing and that was my last chance to learn anything about lichens or whatnot.

That said, the museum itself will be fine I'm sure. It's just navigating the neighborhood around the museum. If you take the C train directly to the 81st street stop and be sure to use the station exit that deposits you right at the museum, it might be OK.

4. If we get bored at the museum, can we go run around the park or is that not an option on marathon day?

The park will be open, though some areas will be restricted. And, again, the upper west side is going to be ridonk. And not the fun kind of ridonk, especially with small children. I'm frankly impressed that you're even considering meeting her at the finish line with the kids.

5. Any other cool things we can do between the park and the Bowery?

I'll leave it up to the New Yorkers with kids to answer this one, but I would say just about anything else that makes people's list of Best Family-Friendly Whatever that isn't on the upper west side.
posted by Sara C. at 6:15 PM on November 1, 2013


Best answer: Any advice on good cheering spots in Manhattan?

I'm planning to watch in Harlem on Fifth Avenue, somewhere in the 110th-116th range; hoping they'll be room to put down my chair next to my stroller and get comfortable! You're welcome to join me if you'd like (you'd take the 2/3 train to 110th or 116th St). Watching in Central Park is pretty fun, too; I watched once near the Met (86th and Fifth Avenue) and there was both a lot to see and room to breathe on the sidelines.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:20 PM on November 1, 2013


Response by poster: Great advice Sara C. and TPS. And just to reiterate, we are def. going to watch, want to see Missus_A on the course near the finish, but I need to find other stuff to do as 3-YO kids aren't great at sitting still for 4 hrs. So 86th st. or Harlem where Sara mentioned both sound like great spots to watch from! Thanks keep it coming!
posted by Mister_A at 6:31 PM on November 1, 2013


Any other cool things we can do between the park and the Bowery?

Children's Museum of the Arts is a good hands-on arts museum with plenty of interest for the spectrum of your kids' ages. It's in the village. cmany.org
posted by third rail at 6:34 PM on November 1, 2013


Hurm. If you walk west on Canal you'll get to my old work area, and I know a bunch of fun stuff there, and good places to eat, but it is a hike with 3 kids. Canal can be chaotic, so keep a good hand on that 3 year old.

This was an area I liked, and has stuff galore.
posted by vrakatar at 6:40 PM on November 1, 2013


ThePinkSuperhero and anyone else, if you see a slow with a rainbow "Amy" on her shirt, that's me. Wave four, green bib :)
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:42 PM on November 1, 2013


I'll keep my eyes peeled! I'll be in my blue chair next to my red stroller. Toddler somewhere on me or near by. And I'm making silly signs!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:44 PM on November 1, 2013


OP, if you're looking to sugar the kids up, Treat House on 82 and Amsterdam has gourmet rice krispie treats.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:45 PM on November 1, 2013


Best answer: A friend and I put together an interactive spectator guide that will tell you when a runner will be at four subway-accessible viewing points, based on starting wave and goal pace.
posted by djb at 7:01 PM on November 1, 2013 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Ahh this is great! Def looking for you roomthreeseventeen. djb that guide looks great, many thanks!
posted by Mister_A at 7:04 PM on November 1, 2013


djb, that's awesome. Just a note, if you don't have baggage, you are going to be able to leave the park at 77th. If it takes me an hour to get from the finish line to 77th I am going to be a very unhappy girl, lol.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:08 PM on November 1, 2013


Response by poster: Yes that would stink. My wife has been trying to change to 'no baggage' for that very reason. Ticked the wrong box when signing up but they assure her that she can straighten it out in person.
posted by Mister_A at 7:17 PM on November 1, 2013


Mister_A, she needs to talk to Janet Cupo at the Expo. Janet is absolutely the only person who will fix this.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:21 PM on November 1, 2013 [2 favorites]


Thanks, djb! That is super handy.

Mister_A, you can also track your missus live via the Tata Consultancy App. You just plug in her bib number. This should help you figure out when to start heading over to our spectator spot. With kids in tow you should definitely budget a minimum of one hour to do this, with snacks and blankets! In general, you should read over the info on the marathon site so that you know which areas are accessible.

The Natural History Museum is packed on weekends. They're their most popular visiting days. If you're up for braving it, though, you can easily spend your entire day there. It's huge and fun! I suggest heading out to the museum at the same time your missus starts her run.

Taking the uptown B or C at that time will be stressful but doable. If the marathon runners are emptying out into 81st street after their run, though, then the station is going to be totally unusable past 2 PM. Downtown B and C trains are already pretty stuffed when they get to 81st and the sheer crush of runners will most likely make the platform impassable. Study up on the alternatives so you can keep hassles low and usher your exhausted missus out of there!
posted by greenland at 7:30 PM on November 1, 2013 [1 favorite]


Just want to say good luck to Missus_A, roomthreeseventeen and everyone else who is running! I'll be watching this thread for tips for my family! djb, that spectator guide is awesome, and I will be sharing it with them!
posted by matcha action at 7:33 PM on November 1, 2013 [2 favorites]


Sorry, thought of one more thing. If you can, let her know where you'll be spectating BEFORE the race. When you're running in spectator-heavy races it's hard to pick out your loved ones from the rest, so let her know what mile markers you'll probably be between!
posted by greenland at 7:55 PM on November 1, 2013


Response by poster: Yeah good point.
posted by Mister_A at 8:09 PM on November 1, 2013


Best answer: The AMNH has an entrance in the subway that is far less crowded than the one at ground level.
posted by brujita at 12:09 AM on November 2, 2013


Isn't that entrance closed? It's been closed every time I've gone lately.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:57 AM on November 2, 2013


I haven't been there in a while, so it would be best for OP to call or check online beforehand.
posted by brujita at 10:19 AM on November 2, 2013


Response by poster: zoinks! OK consider me forewarned! Good news - I've enlisted a helper (sister in law)! I'm going to lash the 3-year-old to her for safety.
posted by Mister_A at 12:31 PM on November 2, 2013 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Well, subways and museum were a snap, security anywhere near the west side was horrendous and stifling, but all in all we had a great time! Thanks for all your advice and I hope you're basking in the glory of your achievement if you ran today.
posted by Mister_A at 7:49 PM on November 3, 2013 [2 favorites]


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