Wedding Blog
Mr. Penguin and I are taking a whirlwind trip to New York! We’re taking a red eye on Virgin America and arriving in NYC first thing tomorrow morning.
I. Am. Excited.
I’ve known Bee and Mr. Bee since 2007, and have been slaving working for Mrs. Bee since shortly after our June 2008 wedding. Can you believe that I’ve never met Mrs. Bee? It’s one of the first things that people ask me when they find out that I work for Weddingbee. No, we’ve never met, but I think it’s pretty accurate to say that we’ve spoken to each other every day since mid-last year. Christmas and Thanksgiving included, I do believe. She is practically family to me, yet we’ve never met. Mr. Penguin thinks that this is bizzarre… having a life that is so severely impacted by all the bees that I’ve never met in real life. He thinks the internet is utterly insane. Aside from the majority of the Nor Cal bees (WHUTTUP NOR CAL), I haven’t met many of the girls that I interact with on a daily basis! Crazy.
Anyhoo, NYC.
We have some great stuff planned, but have some gaps that we’re looking to fill in, and I’m hoping any NYCers or NYC enthusiasts can point us in a direction for the gaps in our trip! I’ve been studying the ways of the New Yorkers by watching The City religiously. It seems like New Yorkers don’t like gossiping as much as us Cali girls do, and they also like to wear funny little beret or beanie hats all the friggin’ time. So, no gossiping, wear hats. Got it.
The Bees have been sending us tons of links to awesome things to do, so we’re definitely hitting up some of those things!
Things we want to do:
THURSDAY
7:20 AM Arrive at JFK, Take car to drop bags at B and B in the West Village
EAT BAGELS. Mr. Bee recommends Murray’s Bagels
Daytime - Explore West Village, physically assault Bee with hugs and kisses, point and laugh at her for having to do all my work while I’m on vacation in her own living room, smooch Sparky and Smokey, rest a little bit
8:30 PM Dinner at Babbo
================
FRIDAY
11:00 AM Eating Tour of Greenwich Village
6:30 PM Dinner with Mr. Peng’s brother at Jean Georges
8:00 PM Chicago on Broadway
================
SATURDAY
12:00 PM Brunch with Mrs. Spider
2:00 PM Bee and I are getting our makeup and hair done by Mrs. Caramel! She’s launching her business in NYC after her move from LA, so I’m excited to finally meet her! I wanted her to do my makeup for our engagement pics while I was in LA, but she was booked solid!
7:00 PM MEET EAST COAST BEES! DRINK WITH EAST COAST BEES!
================
SUNDAY
Nurse hangover. Sightsee. EAT MORE BAGELS. Be tourists.
================
MONDAY
Something. Dunno what. Something good.
2:00 PM Take Subway, etc to Airport
4:40 PM Depart from JFK
================
As you can see, my schedule is kind of all over the place. We need to come up with a solid plan for when we are going to hit the sights and how much time we’re going to dedicate to them. I think we’ll be okay on food though. Lots of eating going on up there. I bought some new boots that are somewhat comfortable, but Bee said that I’d probably end up wearing my Uggs the whole time. This is unfortunate, because I bought 21.7 pounds (fer reals) of shoes on Zappos yesterday (most of which I plan to return, obviously).
I’m a little nervous about the weather. I don’t own a hat or gloves, and haven’t had time to buy any, so I think I’ll buy some when I touch down in NY. I was at Anthropologie in Berkeley on Sunday, and they’ve already busted out the spring clothes here, so that was no help. Mrs. Spider recommended that I buy those hand/feet warmers from a sporting goods store, so I’ll do that. I wonder if that stuff is legit to bring on planes? Oh well, there is only one way to find out.
I’d love to really just do “touristy” things while I’m there. I know that sounds kinda lame, but I’ve never been to NYC, and with 4 short days there, I really want to hit up the “big attractions”, if you will, but I’m willing to do anything that will totally blow my mind. I wouldn’t mind spending a half day in a museum… but which one? I’d love any recommendations you have! And I challenge you to come up with better Cheesecake/Pizza/Bagel places than have been suggested. Dare ya!
So, how should we attack the touristy stuff? Any tips for a New York virgin? We’re wide open on Sunday!
|
Share this post: Pengy’s Stormin’ the NYC
I don’t know how long your stay is, but every Friday there is a free raffle drawing at 6 PM so you’ll have to sign in your name around 5 something for the Wicked the Broadway show tickets drawing. My friend and I tried and she won and got to see the show. Good Luck and have a wonderful time in NYC.
Oooo, I’m SO jealous about all the great places you’ll be visiting to eat! And, of course, excited for you to properly be(e)friend (I know, groan) 
Mr. and Mrs. Bee.
Mrs. Penguin — HAVE FUN! I’m so excited to read the posts about you and Mrs. Bee happily leaping into each others arms. I would check the airport and places like CVS/Rite Aid for gloves once you’re on the east coast…we’ve been shopping for gloves for my poor FH here in DC and like NorCAL all the stores (AE, Gap, Banana) have busted out bikinis and flip flops…and it is COOOOOOOLLLLD!
there are tons of street vendors out with plenty of gloves and hats so you shouldn’t have a problem finding something. Since you are planning to go to Central Park I would stop into the Met. It may be a huge tourist attraction but it really is worth seeing. HAVE FUN!!
I would also recommend going to the MET; if you have time and are somewhat interested in art and history. That place is amazing and situated on one edge of Central Park. You could easily spend a day exploring each place, but could also make a quicky sight-seeing/picture-taking stop at both places in one day. Have FUN! NYC is amazing for sight-seeing!
Definitely go to the Met or Moma!!! But beware, most museums are closed on Mondays.
Don’t skimp time in central park, it is amazing.
St. Patricks Cathedral is utterly amazing, and close to other tourist destinations. (Ice skating, perhaps?)
Have fun!!!! 
I’m sure you’ll get tons of tips from mr. and mrs. bee, and other ny’er’s, but my quick two cents is this– go to see the empire state building at night. shorter lines and more romantic way to view the skyline. BRING/BUY WARM CLOTHES, especially a warm hat, makes a difference. If you’re not too afraid of the cold, or it’s a nice day, take a ride on the Staten Island Ferry– it’s free and you get a closer view of the statue of liberty without the lines and you get to see the skyline in that classic approach-by-sea way. And, stop to eat at least 5-7 times a day– a slice, a bagel, a pretzel whatever it is NY is meant to be explored by the tastebuds. Enjoy!
LOL at “I’ll freeze ass”! I almost snorted! Sounds like a fun trip AND you get to hang with Mr. and Mrs. Bee!!!
PIE! By far my favorite pizza place in NYC (it’s on 4th near NYU). For those not faint at heart..they have a peanut butter and banana pizza (in addition to the best white pizza on the planet!)
I’m so excited for you (but do grab some gloves!)
So great! Magnolia cupcake is unsurpassed. Seattle tries and fails on that account for sure (Trophy cupcake is better than Cupcake Royale).
Eileen’s is the best cheesecake, although my parents would tell you that you have to go to Veniero’s. http://www.venierospastry.com/
Maybe you’ll have to try both?! I lived in the East Village, so I always ended up at Veniero’s.
Pizza is good all over!
The boutiques are amazing. I always stop in to Scoop (and usually buy something), Gigi and Agent Provacateur (lingerie)…
You are going to have such a blast! Take lots of pics. We’re waiting for recaps!
I’m NY-er , here’s my 2 cents: Take the Staten Island Ferry to get a good free view of the Statue of Liberty. Whilst you are downtown you can go to Century 21 - which is a shopping mecca! Since you will be in the West Village you will be near many amazing (high end) shops - Tracy Reese, Calypso, DVF, Stella McCartney, Scoop…
For a Museum, really nothing beats the Met. You should pick up a copy of Time Out NY (the weekly mag) as they have listings of stuff to do all over the city.
Also, get thee to the Empire State Building or Top of the Rock (in Rockefeller Center) to take in amazing views of the city.
I have been to NYC twice, and definitely recommend all attractions mentioned above. I will be there again in March for WICKED, and heard that there is a Sex and the City Tour that’s pretty awesome if you are a fan of the show (which I am). I am thinking about going on it, but have no details…It might be something for you to look into though if you are a fan of the show!
mmmmm Babbo….2 words….UH-MAZING
enjoy!
Oh and if you happen to find yourself in Chelsea there is a bakery called Billy’s and the cupcakes there beat Magnolia’s in my personal taste test.
Another, great, (free) touristy thing to do is to walk past Saks, Barney’s, and the big department stores to take in their amazing window displays.
LOL. You should definitely take pics of any of the other “bees” you meet in NYC — like, sounds like you’re going to be seeing a lot of Cupcakes.
If you do one museum I’d say the Met. It’s awesome and perfect before/after Central Park. I’ve never been to the Empire State building even though I walked by it going to work every day for years. I have heard better things about doing the view in Rockefeller Center (Top of the Rock). And if you go to Rock Center you can do 5th Avenue/Saks! And Magnolia just opened a bakery in Rock Center, too. (They have three locations now.)
You are going to have an amazing time! And definitely deserve a vacation! I can’t believe you haven’t ever met Mrs. Bee. I’ve never been to NY but always wanted to go. Take lots of pictures!!
Mrs. Penguin, I have one suggestion to make your exit from New York a bit faster and smoother. Take the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) from Penn Station to Jamaica/JFK instead of taking the subway. It will take you much less time (I’m talking like 12 minutes instead of over an hour), and the JFK stop is the first stop on the train. The LIRR stops at the same place at the subway, so you can get the Airtrain straight into the airport there.
Just my two cents. No reason to leave New York via stinky, slooow subway when you can go quickly on the commuter rail
I agree on the Met or MOMA–they’re both amazing. ALSO! I went to Babbo in December-it.was.so.incredibly.delicious. It may have been the best meal I’ve eaten IN MY LIFE. (And I’m a halfway foodie.) Also the service we had there was incredible (the waiter even gave us a free bottle of “dessert wine”!)
My FH and I took a trip to NYC in December and we had three days. I’d recommend eating at Mama Empandadas if you like empanadas. They seriously have EVERY kind. I would recommend the fried yucca with the green sauce as an appetizer and their sangria is tasty and affordable! We ended up going to Central Park every day! The Zoo there is fun and the FH looked like a little kid running around pointing to polar bears and other animals. I’m from Florida so the weather was an adjustment. Definitely get gloves! I have blurry photos from the first day because I forgot mine and my hands were freezing!!
Two things I will never forget from my first visit to NY: 1. Chinatown. The sights, sounds and colors are amazing. I’m dying for another lotus paste bun from a chinese bakery. 2. Visit Chelsea Market. My boyfriend is a chef and this was a must for us. Some of the food network is filmed there they there is some amazing food to be tasted!
@Mrs. Smith: I LOVE Billy’s!
I’m jealous, Pengy. Definitely eat it up at Lombardi’s. Yum. When Mr. L comes over from CA, he has to go to Bonchon chicken in Ktown. And he has to get a hot dog from a street vendor or Gray’s Papaya. Why can I only think of food…?
I second (third?) the MET suggestion. That is a must-do. And I don’t know if you or Mr. P have the same fascination with public transportation that Mr. L has, but he could seriously just ride the subway ALL DAY. Back and forth, with no destination. That’s some cheap entertainment! Have fun!!!
OMG.. I’m so excited for you!!! Come by my engagement party Sat night with the Bees! hahaha
Babbo - amazing! Soho is a must! So so many museums.. and they’re nice and very cultural experience. I’m going to the Natural Science one Sat.
Go to Broadway show, magic show, comedy show… so much talent in NY!
Don’t forget to eat eat eat.. there are SO many nice restaurants and bars… YUMMM
Woohoo Mrs. penguin, you’ll have a great time!! First things first - use only the subway - the quickest and cheapest way to get around. Forget the cabs unless you’re a party of 5 and you’re in no hurry to get anywhere. Traffic and fares are equally insane.
Here’s a smallish sample of fabulous things to do and see:
Go pay homage to ground zero site, and from there stroll easily down broadway to battery park city, you can peek at the wall street area, so gorgeous with narrow old streets and go to the tavern where George Washington declared victory after the rev.war. it’s touristy and authentic at the same time!
Great pizza is on 23rd st. between 7th-8th ave. right next door to the movie theatre.
A fantastic authentic Japanese noodleshop is Sapporo, on 49th btwn 6th-7th ave. (no chance of getting a seat at lunchtime, tho’)
Times square at night. Super touristy but a thrill nevertheless. Try to get tix to see “In the heights”, or “Lion King”(that show is pure art, Julie Taymor is a genius)
Have a GREAT TIME and a safe trip.
I JUST got back from NYC on Saturday. PLEASE DON’T WASTE MONEY AT MAGNOLIA! I spent $30 on cake/cupcakes/cheesecake there and the only thing we liked was the banana pudding. The cupcakes were especially disappointing - dry cake and horrible frosting that tasted only of sugar (I tried the yellow cake with chocolate frosting and the red velvet cupcakes, also the carrot cake and red velvet cake). If you like cake, especially red velvet or carrot, go to Pinisi on E. 4th between 1st & 2nd Ave. I’ve been visiting NYC on an annual basis and have been religiously bringing back an entire Pinisi cake every year since I discovered it. I’ve converted all my NYC friends to it too! Have a safe trip! Your itinerary looks like so much fun!
I’m so excited you posted this! CityBoy and I are considering NYC for our Honeymoon (neither of us are really the type to lay on the Beach)!!!
I just printed this and I’m saving it for ideas!
I recommend going up the Rockefeller Center (Top of the Rock) rather than the Empire State Building. First it’s slightly cheaper and you get to view the Empire State Building and take some awesome photos.
Also, you must do the Met. It is fantaboulous!!! (is that a word?)
I live on the Upper East side and work in lower Manhattan…I agree that the MET is a must. They have a happy hour there on Friday evenings. It’s called the Balcony Bar and they have a small orchestra playing. Amazing.
As a NYer, I avoid Times Square at all costs. Way too many people and everything is triple the price. I’d honestly say don’t bother.
Shopping in Soho is great, so many awesome stores and the streets are so pretty. Which reminds me - be careful with what shoes you wear. If you are serious about seeing the sights, you’ll be ready to die if you’re not wearing sensible shoes. And by this, I don’t mean touristy sneaker. I mean a nice pretty flat that won’t kill you be the end of the day.
Central Park is huge, you could spend the whole day there. Maybe hit up Belevedere Castle since it’s so pretty and gives you a great view. Grab a drink at the Boathouse in the park.
Bryant Park is also really nice! They have free ice skating (you just have to pay a few dollars for rental skates) and it’s sooo pretty. There’s also an outdoor bar there which is fun.
Overall, my advice to tourists is to avoid doing the super touristsy things (again, Times Square, Little Italy) because they aren’t so interesting. Go off the beaten path a little, it’s worth it!
SO JEALOUS. You gotta go to Cafe Habana, the best Cuban food EVER. Ok, I’m just gonna post my NYC yelp list: http://www.yelp.com/list/sorry-sf-the-real-city-is-new-york-new-york
Have fun Mrs. Penguin! I’ve done all the super touristy stuff in NYC and I have to say my fav so far has been the Greenwich Village Food Tour. =) I love how they mix history and food together and the Village is gorgeous to walk around and check out. I’ve seen more celebs in the Village than anywhere else in NYC.
If the weather gets better (only do this if it’s a clear day) I would suggest taking the subway to the first stop after the Brooklyn Bridge and walking across it towards Manhattan (about 30 min depending on how many pics u take :)). The photos will be gorgeous and it’s such a nice view.
If you want to do a quick fun mini tour of Central Park do it on a bike. You can get around so much quicker and see all the cool places in about an hour or so, maybe less depending on how fast you bike.
Have a great time! And who knows I may get to meet you!
Mrs. Pengy!
Welcome to NYC.! I think you’ve got a pretty good itinerary already. I would also recommend the subway as it’s a pretty fast and economical way of getting around. You can easily get a day pass that will give you unlimited rides for $7.
I also love that you will be taking in some great food while you are here (I’m super jealous of your Babbo reservation). You should definitely take in some museums. In addition to the Met & MOMA, I would suggest the Whitney especially and Guggenheim for modern art. The Museum of Natural History is great as well (the dinosaurs are a must).Museums are great for warming up during really cold weather.
I’ve heard amazing things about “In the Heights” and the revival of “South Pacific.” Also while not usually on the tourist radar, i think Grand Central station is gorgeous. Have a meal at Metrazur or sit at the bar at Micheal Jordan’s for people watching. There’s also a great bar called Campbell Apartment that has great cocktails hidden within the station.
Also I’m probably in the minority here, but I like Crumbs’ cupcakes more than Magnolia.
Anyhoo, have a great time and I hope you enjoy NY.
A must must must is Shake Shack in Madison Square Park… gotta have a burger, shake and cheese fries! One of the best burgers I’ve had!
Loved the Staten Island Ferry… but it’s cold cold cold! and windy too!
If you want to see one more show other than Chicago.. visit the TKTS booth for discount tickets but be prepared to wait in line!
Check out the rooftop bars in the hotels located near Columbus Square.. it’s a great view and you can get your drink on too!
Window shopping down 5th Avenue is great too..
Serendipity III for a Frozen Hot Chocolate.. call in advance to get your name on the list if you can!
Dylan’s Candy Bar is right around the corner!
Have Fun and take lots and lots of pictures!
Serendipity 3 for some frozen hot chocolate!! (Yes, even though it will be cold outside, trust me). They always have a really long wait, but it is so worth it.
I am actually sitting at my desk in NYC looking at the Waldorf Astoria and just thought you must see it, I am so excited for you. This is by far the best town in the world. On your Central Park day, due the following, stop by for a drink at the Waldorf after CP. The next stop is Bryant Park, get your skates on there and then after walk towards Times Square where you have to see the new TKTS station, its amazing, take a photo, find the raffle and then head to Aspen (its a ski lodge)…after the drink, jump on the M10, take that to Macy’s, buy gloves and a hat. It is freezing in NYC, be prepared. Walk over to ESB, should be getting dark, jump on line (make sure you get those coupons for a discount, usually hotels in NYC have them), see the world,. By now, you are tired but keep going, 4 days is nothing here, buy a red bull and start walking or take the bus downtown, stop at Union Square, eat at Coffee Shop and then head to The Chocolate Man for hot cocoa, the best in the world. Take it to go keep heading down, Soho, shop, hang and take pics. The rest o fthe night do a bar crawl in the East Village and enjoy the city!
I live in NYC, too.
My favorite museums are the MOMA, the Guggenheim, and the Whitney. The Met is nice but it is a lot like any other world class museum in any other city. The other 3 I mentioned are different plus a lot more manageable (you could never get through the Met in just one day).
You have some good fancy dinners planned (I also love the Modern and wd-50). For a more casual lunch spot, try one of the David Chang restaurants (either Momofuku Ssam, or Momofuku Noodle - Momofuku Ko is outstanding although I don’t know that you’ll be able to get a res).
I’m a huge fan of H&H Bagels on the UWS.
If you need some good nightlife, check out: Pegu Club, PDT, Tailor, Employees Only, and the Brandy Library.
You should stroll through the Meat Packing District at night and try to grab a drink at Spice Market or Buddha Bar or both. If you can get reservations for dinner at Budakan, even better. Morimoto is also in the same area. All of them great places.
You should also go to Chinatown and check out all the tea stores around - they are mostly inside grocery stores but the variety is insane. But don’t compare them to what you have in Cali.
Have fun.
Brooklyn Pizza is awesome, especially the cheese sticks made with fresh mozzarella and the pizza. Other than that I agree with the Rockefeller Center & St. Patrick’s Cathedral - they are beautiful!
Eat as much pizza as humanly possible. I’m not kidding, it’s just not the same out west.
NORCAL WHUT WHUT! (sorry, had to say it)
Looks like you’ve got great ideas for how to spend your days already (and that other folks have already contributed some other great ideas). I can definitely get behind spending some time at the Met - it’s one of the most amazing museums in the world. If you have time, take the bus from the Met up to the Cloisters, which is a branch of the Met up in Ft. Tryon park. The park is gorgeous and has amazing views of the Hudson.
As far as the cupcake conundrum, I’m also not a huge fan of Magnolia - their icing is super sweet (which is great if that’s what you like) but the cupcakes themselves are just not very good. My personal favorites are Cupcake Cafe and Elenni’s (inside Chelsea Market which, as someone mentioned, is also a neat place to stop in).
I would actually not recommend a stop at Coffee Shop (I got food poisoning there and their outdoor area in Union Square was closed down last summer by the health dept. :/ ).
Also, if you want to catch another show, give something non-broadway a try. Check out http://www.nytheatre.com for recommendations on shows that can be as cheap as $10-20 a ticket.
Oh, and Serendipity 3 is totally worth the wait - don’t bother with dinner, just go straight to dessert and dig in!
you’ve got tons of great suggestions, and it’s great to see everyone so excited for your trip! i will reiterate/add 2 cents.
i agree with others–magnolia is overrated. however, it is an “nyc” experience so don’t let us hold you back (helll, i’ve been there before so who am i to neg it for someone else)! however, if the line is really long, it’s really not worth it. head over to amy’s bread on bleecker instead, or get a crumbs cupcake. or a beard papa cream puff (although i’m thinking they have those in bay area). ooh, or a choc chip cookie from jacques torres.
a few storefronts down from amy’s on bleecker is murray’s, which is cheese heaven.
if you’re in the area, you could try bialys from kossar’s in lower east side. which is next to doughnut plant, another place that is a bit overrated but it’s cool to see their decadent creations!
in the met, i would recommend the 20th century modern paintings or the european painting hall (sorry don’t know the exact names, but these have some of the popular western paintings from van gogh, monet, o’keefe, etc.). if you want to get away from crowds, go to the asian art section.
walking up fifth ave past the department stores and up to the plaza and central park west is always kinda cool.
for shopping, besides soho, you could also check out nolita, where there are smaller boutiques and the crowds thin.
love babbo!! i usually go sit at the bar. if you can i find the area upstairs a little more calm. you can’t go wrong with the pastas there. i think they’re better than the main courses!
i second E’s suggestion of Pegu Club for drinks, and a David Chang restaurant.
Get the Goat Cheese Tortellini if you can at Babbo. It’s FANTASTIC. Eat as much as you can! Get the Olive Oil cake too. Oh I wish I was going to be there!
Wow, have lots of fun!! Does Mrs. Caramel’s new business have a website?
i took my bf to visit my home in NY for the first time (he has never left california since this trip) and took him to these places:
- rockafeller center (go up to the Top of the Rock - you can see and get GREAT shots of the empire state building from here)
- make a stop in NJ’s liberty state park. this used to be an old train station, now turned into this massive park with GREAT GREAT views of the NYcity skyline and lady liberty herself.
i’m ALL FOR david chang! you must go to momofuku ssam or noodle bar… get the ramen at the noodle bar. TO DIE FOR. at the ssam bar they offered various country hams and a great mustard to dip. also very yum.
Have fun! I think a lot of this has been said but here are my tips:
- Totally agree on the Greenwich Village Food Tour, it takes you to so many great places in the Village (Murray’s cheese, Joe’s Pizza, etc.).
- Best cupcake: I think Magnolia & Crumbs are both great, depends on what you like. Try them both! (I heard the original Magnolia closed?)
- Best Pizza: Grimaldi’s in Brooklyn, bundle up and walk the mile back into Manhattan over the Brooklyn Bridge, great views, awesome walk. Joe’s in the West village is great by the slice. I think there are a lot of stinky pizza places and a lot that say “original” “famous” so make sure you got to a good one!
-Best Bagel: H&H, Upper West Side. A lot of restaurants sell H&H bagels (they will say so on the menu)
-Best Brunch: Good Enough to Eat (Upper West Side) the best bacon ever. Pastis is great too - very touristy, but good fun and an awesome scene
-Babbo - I went here twice. First time was just ok (had the pasta) second time was ridiculously good (had the lamb chops). I think their meat is MUCH better than pasta, so I suggest meat for entre and share a pasta for an appetizer.
-Shake Shack burgers are great, not sure if the one in Madison Square Park is open in the winter though?!?
-Subway: Get an unlimited week pass, it works on all the city buses and subways. The subways often run in weird ways on the weekends, so listen to announcements or just ask people for help. New Yorkers love to help people in this way - it makes us feel like we are in the know.
- Hot dogs: Gray’s Papaya, get a papaya juice while you are there. Note there are immitators that sound like it (Papaya king or whatnot) - do not be fooled!
-Shopping: I would go in Soho, west of broadway (broadway itself sucks and is full of chain stores and too many people) there are a ton of great cute shops.
-Times Square: Go if you must, but I also personally hate this part of town.
-Today Show taping: Go to Rock Center and see the Today show being taped. Have someone set a DVR and get on camera! Its actually not that hard
-Top of the Rock to see the views of the city
-Central Park: try not to just hang out by the main entrance on the Souteast corner, wander up more in the 70s part of the park
WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES. The best best thing about New York (IMHO) is to just walk and get lost and take in everything. You want to be able to walk, a lot. I do recommend sneakers or something almost as comfortable.
Yikes, sorry that was a LOT! I just got so excited about all the fun things to do here
Agree with Mrs. Smith BILLY’s on is the place for Cupcakes. MB is really really not that good. I swear!
lol…you need 4 months to see everything listed here so I won’t add to your list. Welcome to NYC!
I just went to NYC for the first time a few weekends ago… we did ultra touristy things like the statue of liberty (we’re from boston, so we don’t mind cold) and the museum of natural history.
My favorite parts of the trip were:
1. Cafe Lalo (@ 201 W 83rd btwn amsterdam & broadway) — this is the cafe in you’ve got mail where kathleen meets joe for the first time. best vanilla latte I’ve ever had!
2. Del Posto (@ 85 10th ave), another of mario batali’s restaurants. It was amazing… extra virgin olive oil gelato = heaven.
I also loved walking around the upper west side… it’s so much cleaner than where our hotel was in midtown.
Advice: don’t eat anything outside at the statue of liberty if you go there… my friend and I were attacked by seagulls!
I can’t wait to go back and try out some of these great suggestions!
Have tons of fun!!
I had the best meal of my life at Babbo, I hope you love it as much as I did! Me and 4 lady friends were planning on doing the tasting menu with wine pairings but our awesome hottie waiter recommended a more personalized custom tasting menu and he had wine pairing done for us all for around the same price as the tasting menu. The giant steak and grilled octopus were amazing.
Serendipity III is closed because it was infested with mice, flies and cockroaches. As are many restaurants in nyc, but if you think about that you’ll never eat!
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/16/nyregion/16mbrfs-RESTAURANT.html?_r=1
I’m jealous! NYC is GREAT!! (But a little cold right now!!) It’s so funny you’ve never met Mrs.Bee!! Well now you can tell Mr. Peng she’s not an “imaginary” friend! LOL
Props to internet friends!!
If you want that NYC feeling of “OMG I am so chic I might be a celebrity” go to Balthazar late night for dessert. Ultra cool.
Coming from CA I actually wouldn’t spend so much time in Central Park. We rule on stuff outdoors in CA. NYC rules for cool, urban, cultural, design.
And NYC Chinatown is grittier than SF Chinatown. Fun. Atmosphere. Good dumplings, big huge restaurants like in Shanghai etc.
Silly girl… no longer giving you suggestions in the wee hours of the night! Zabar’s for cheese & cheesecake
so exciting! I have no suggestions, however, as I’ve never been further east than where we live!
@Mrs. Lemon - haha, I was wondering about that. Pizza at Zabar’s??? Weird!!!
I’m not sure if these have already been posted..BUT
1) if you go the Grimaldi’s route, take the subway into Brooklyn (that’s where Grimaldi’s is) and then walk across the Brooklyn Bridge so you are viewing Manhattan as you walk in….its free, fun, and and you’ll get some great photos
2) The Tenament Museum on the Lower east side is AWESOME and it’s sister museum, FDR’s birthplace (a beautiful brownstone near Gramercy Park) is also cool. A full 45 minute tour for only $3!
That only lasted a few weeks - Serendipity 3 is definitely open: http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/food/2007/12/04/2007-12-04_serendipity_3_reopens.html
Hi Mrs. Penguin,
Just to let you know that hand/feet warmers are not allowed in your carry on luggage but you can have it in your luggage if you are checking it in.
Have a safe trip!
I’ve never been to NYC, so no suggestions here, but I can’t wait to see all your pics from your trip! Hope you have fun, and yes it is COLD! I’m in MD and we got a nice half day of snow, followed by a half day of rain since it got above 35 
mrs. penguin, you should go to dumpling man for some yummy dumplings..http://www.dumplingman.com/. you can get them steamed or seared…it’s delicious… and re: shopping, go to the giant h&m on 5th ave– i think the h&m in the east coast is way better than the one’s here in california… you should also go to the shops/street vendors in soho— they have some really cute jewelry vendors… oh and if you like jeans, they sometimes have great deals at a place called big drop http://www.bigdropnyc.com/docs/locations.asp– i went to the one in soho– on spring street… also, patsy’s has good thin crust pizza or pasta –http://www.patsyspizzeriany.com/
have fun!! wear warm SHOES too (like uggs or boots) and hats are a must because your head/ears get cold when the wind blows…
you’re so lucky!! i want to go to ny instead of stressing/planning my wedding…
Sounds like an awesome trip! I hope there will be a recap!
omg. you MUST have a magnolia’s cupcake if you like cupcakes!
oh how i miss my beloved ny! and i’m a bit overwhelmed for you at the moment for the amount of advice & things you have planned! just enjoy ny - the beauty of new york is the movement, the vibrancy, the people….just walking, talking and getting lost in the city is the best part! although i feel it is my duty to vote so…..i also vote for grimaldi’s - the brooklyn bridge walk (you can even go to south street seaport and take a water taxi over!) and magnolias of course! such bliss! have fun!
dont forget shake shack and visit alice’s teacup its super cute http://www.alicesteacup.com
I can get lost at the MET and the natural history museum is right across the park.
Ooh I forgot to add Sweet Revenge as the best cupcake place in NYC. It’s in the Village too. I’ve been visiting this place weekly since October when the hubs accidently discovered it and I’m totally addicted. They were recently featured on Martha. You have to try them! =)
mandoo jip in ktown! yummmm. i so want to crash this party! you two best have some much deserved fun. 
Pengy, I’m very jealous of your awesome itinerary. I live so close to NY and have never been to babbo. Drool. When you go to Magnolia’s, don’t fill up with cupcakes; get the banana pudding — a giant vat of it. Serious. You should also add a deli to your trip. I like 2nd Ave. Deli, but you also can’t go wrong with Barney’s Greengrass.
AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING!!! I soaked up each and every one of your suggestions and while yes, it is totally overwhelming, I love every single second of it. NYC has so much to offer, I can’t believe we will only be there for 4 short days but we will make the most of it!!! Thank you thank you thank you and I will blog about our trip for SURE!
@Mrs. Lemon: OMG I am a lameass! I fixed it!!! I need to freakin SLEEP! A million thanks to Mr. Lemon for the CORRECT recommendation… I shouldn’t write posts on crack anymore!
go to the Museum of Natural History or the Met. From the Natural History Museum you can just walk over to Central Park and maybe go ice skating? Also, you might want to check out Rockerfeller Center to take some pictures. If you want a small boat ride and get closer to the Statue hop onto the Staten Island Ferry. It is free and you can just hop on the next ferry back. You might also want to check out the Chinatown and maybe have dim sum there.
I have no suggestions, just wanted you to know how jealous I am
I’m a little nervous to do your hair/makeup since I’m a lil rusty but it’ll be great to meet you!!! All those suggestions are GREAT! I’m a huge musical buff, and would have suggested watching “In the Heights” instead of CHICAGO since it was the best musical of 2008, but oh well! =)
SEE YOU SOOOOON!
We totally have the same humor. Thanks for this post. Now I have great recs for when Mr. S and I go to NY!
definitely walk the brooklyn bridge- dress warm though! buy a nice warm scarf and wrap it around your neck and face (i’m a southerner new to the NE and i can’t leave my place without my scarves now) when i walked the the brooklyn bridge we went from brooklyn towards manhattan and i heard that the views are better that way.
did anyone mention the 9/11 WTC tribute memorial? i recommend it. the actual memorial that they are building is in progress, but they have an audio/visual gallery that’s still pretty powerful and tearjerking.
and i dunno if you like ramen but there’s a ramen place, Ippudo, that I absolutely LOVE. it may not be a touristy thing and maybe its not a priority since you’re from cali where they have an abundance of good food. but just thinkin’ about it makes my mouth water nonethless! =D
| Visit our sister sites | Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Fertile Thoughts Infertility Support |
Mrs. Penguin, Northern California
Age and Occupation: 27, Weddingbee Editor in Chief
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Engagement Date: January 29, 2007
Wedding Date: June 7, 2008
Blogging Since: September 14, 2007
Venue: Winery in the Gold Country
About Me: I love the Spice Girls, dogs with underbites, bean burritos, making messes, high fives, avoiding showers, crossword puzzles, blogs, weddings, and blogs about weddings!
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29 | 30 |
Latest Gallery Pics