Help me make my daughter's birthday in New York special!
November 11, 2015 2:09 PM Subscribe
Help, New York MeFites! My daughter and 359 of her closest friends are participating in a little shindig you guys throw at Thanksgiving. Her 20th birthday is right in the middle of all the festivities, and she's sad about being away from home on her birthday. Help me figure out how to make her day special in the midst of the hubbub.
Is there a bakery in the vicinity of 7th Avenue and 53rd Street that would deliver a birthday cake to her at their hotel on her birthday (Nov. 24th), even with millions of parade-watchers arriving in town?
Also, what should she do or see in the same area that a tour group wouldn't have on the itinerary? They'll have pockets of time (a few hours here and there throughout the week) for doing things on their own. The typical tourist-y things are covered, and window-shopping on 5th Avenue is not really her thing. No clubs (she's underage, as are all her close friends), plus they have early call times. Any funky coffeehouses or bookstores or comic book stores or the like where she and a few band buddies could chill and absorb some New York vibe?
Is there a bakery in the vicinity of 7th Avenue and 53rd Street that would deliver a birthday cake to her at their hotel on her birthday (Nov. 24th), even with millions of parade-watchers arriving in town?
Also, what should she do or see in the same area that a tour group wouldn't have on the itinerary? They'll have pockets of time (a few hours here and there throughout the week) for doing things on their own. The typical tourist-y things are covered, and window-shopping on 5th Avenue is not really her thing. No clubs (she's underage, as are all her close friends), plus they have early call times. Any funky coffeehouses or bookstores or comic book stores or the like where she and a few band buddies could chill and absorb some New York vibe?
Magnolia Bakery delivers. I think the closest one would be the one at Rockefeller but the one at 69th and Columbus might be less busy. I recommend the pistachio cake (unless there are nut allergy issues) and/or a big container of banana pudding. Contact the hotel's concierge as well, they can help arrange this.
The lobby lounge at the Mandarin Oriental is cool for a quick bite and non-alcoholic drink.
MoMA and Bloomingdales are not too far of a walk from their hotel. The Strand in Union Square is pretty awesome as far as bookstores go. Kinokuniya is a great Japanese bookstore near Bryant Park (lots of Japanese stationary and books as well as a big manga section upstairs).
posted by melissasaurus at 2:56 PM on November 11, 2015
The lobby lounge at the Mandarin Oriental is cool for a quick bite and non-alcoholic drink.
MoMA and Bloomingdales are not too far of a walk from their hotel. The Strand in Union Square is pretty awesome as far as bookstores go. Kinokuniya is a great Japanese bookstore near Bryant Park (lots of Japanese stationary and books as well as a big manga section upstairs).
posted by melissasaurus at 2:56 PM on November 11, 2015
Does she like performance? Send her and a friend to Sleep No More. I took a group of 17-20 years olds and they loved it. I've seen it twice, in Boston and then New York, and I loved it too.
posted by Cuke at 3:44 PM on November 11, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Cuke at 3:44 PM on November 11, 2015 [1 favorite]
Call Sugar Sweet Sunshine. They are on the Lower East Side, and they deliver, and they have the best food in the city.
No trip to New York is good without an afternoon shopping for books at The Strand.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:59 PM on November 11, 2015
No trip to New York is good without an afternoon shopping for books at The Strand.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:59 PM on November 11, 2015
A movie premiere at the actual by-God Ziegfeld Theater.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:05 PM on November 11, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:05 PM on November 11, 2015 [1 favorite]
The Strand and Panna II are great suggestions, but they do require some traveling.
The area around 53rd and 7th is pretty bustling and touristy. But If your daughter is not up for traveling or doesn't have time, there is Maison Kaiser, a fancy french bakery (with shops in Paris) that also serves nice light meals, and it's not too expensive. Visitors really seem to like it there. It is across the street from the Museum of Arts and Design, a quirky museum that is free if she's under 18.
posted by maggiemaggie at 7:19 PM on November 11, 2015
The area around 53rd and 7th is pretty bustling and touristy. But If your daughter is not up for traveling or doesn't have time, there is Maison Kaiser, a fancy french bakery (with shops in Paris) that also serves nice light meals, and it's not too expensive. Visitors really seem to like it there. It is across the street from the Museum of Arts and Design, a quirky museum that is free if she's under 18.
posted by maggiemaggie at 7:19 PM on November 11, 2015
Duh, sorry, she won't be under 18, but it's a cool museum. There's a dearth of bookshops in that neighborhood.
posted by maggiemaggie at 9:11 PM on November 11, 2015
posted by maggiemaggie at 9:11 PM on November 11, 2015
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If she tells them it's her birthday? A disco ball will appear and crazy techno music will be played in her honor.
It's very loud and overwhelming, and the food is meh compared the the other Indian options in the neighborhood, but I find it very hilarious and love bringing visitors. I think a twenty year old would love it!
posted by cakelite at 2:24 PM on November 11, 2015 [5 favorites]