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New York City

Firepath

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We are considering a trip to NYC for an event at Madison Square Garden. The days we need are available at West 57th Street by Hilton and also The Hilton Club. I've never been to NYC. Which location would be closer or better? It would be February so weather could be an issue.
 

Glynda

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Hilton, I can't help you with. But weather, you can count on to be cold. Well, if we can count on anything these days as the earth is changing. It's not the cold that I dislike about being in NYC in Winter. It's having to layer up and peel off. It's the going into someplace like a store, getting hot with all the layers and either having to check them (not all have coat checks) or peel them off and carry them and put them back on again to go out. Frustrating to look and touch anything when your arms are piled up. Frustrating to check your garments if you don't know that you'll be staying in a place very long. Getting a cab in bad weather can be a problem. At my age, I don't want to walk on potentially icy sidewalks to a subway stop and my destination after. Here's hoping for no snow or ice for you! Enjoy!
 

Firepath

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Hilton, I can't help you with. But weather, you can count on to be cold. Well, if we can count on anything these days as the earth is changing. It's not the cold that I dislike about being in NYC in Winter. It's having to layer up and peel off. It's the going into someplace like a store, getting hot with all the layers and either having to check them (not all have coat checks) or peel them off and carry them and put them back on again to go out. Frustrating to look and touch anything when your arms are piled up. Frustrating to check your garments if you don't know that you'll be staying in a place very long. Getting a cab in bad weather can be a problem. At my age, I don't want to walk on potentially icy sidewalks to a subway stop and my destination after. Here's hoping for no snow or ice for you! Enjoy!
We'd probably be leaving snow and ice at home so no surprise and they probably clear the sidewalks better in NYC!
 

CalGalTraveler

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Either one. Wouldn't matter as you would need to take the subway or Uber. It's a long walk when warm - too long to walk in the cold. Hilton Club is slightly closer but they are only two blocks apart. (W57 vs. W55/54). Subway stops at both ends of W57 so a short walk. Not sure where subway stops are in relation to HCNY.
 

Firepath

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We've never been to NYC. I assume that's a tourist area with safe streets and subway. Correct?
 

CalGalTraveler

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Yes. I have never felt unsafe in Manhattan, but big city rules apply. Subway is great way to get around. The locations of W57 and Hilton Club are in some of the best parts of town. But you do need to avoid wearing expensive jewelry on the street/subway especially necklaces which can get ripped from your neck. And watch your wallet/purse as in any major city. Madison Square Garden is a bit seedier but still okay as long as you stay in lighted areas, don't walk into alleys or parks late at night, and are aware.
 

Luvtoride

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We've never been to NYC. I assume that's a tourist area with safe streets and subway. Correct?

Hi Fire, Please don't let some of these comments about safety in NYC lessen your enthusiasm of your trip. I live in North Jersey and commute to NYC every day. I walk around the neighborhoods you mentioned almost daily and they are some of the most vibrant, safe and fun areas of NYC. The subways are fine albeit crowded during the commuting hours in the AM and PM. You will have tons of things you can do within walking distance of the Hilton Club and that area of NYC. Getting to Madison Square Garden will be easy and if not too cold, is very walkable as you will pass through the garment district, Macy's Herald Square, etc.
If you have any specific questions or concerns, feel free to DM me now or as your trip gets closer. Enjoy your summer and have fun planning your trip here.
Brian
 

wackymother

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New York is one of the safest major cities in the world. I agree completely with Luvtoride.

BTW, in terms of walking--you can indeed walk from Madison Square Garden (it's at 34th Street) to 57th Street. Twenty uptown-downtown blocks are a mile. Most crosstown blocks are equivalent to about three uptown-downtown blocks. So the walk would be a little more than one mile.
 

Big Matt

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New York is constantly busy in the parts the people want to see so you never see crimes of any sort, and almost never a car wreck either. Watch for pick pockets and people selling worthless things in Times Square, but that's about the extent of it. If you have a chance to use Marriott, their Pulse property is about 5 blocks from the Garden. The Garden is basically on top of Penn Station. I would suggest that using cabs in NY may be easier than Ubers
 

Luanne

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I have a few good restaurant suggestions if you are interested.

Joe
I'm not the OP but I'd love some suggestions. We go to NYC every Fall and are always looking for new places (to us).
 

vacationhopeful

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Took my Auntie (in her late 80s) from South Jersey tp NYC staying at the Hilton Club. We took cabs to many places ... best time ever. She had recovered from a fall where she broke her hip 3 months earlier but I told her, if she went to NYC, she had to use her walker. She so wanted to get out of her apartment.

We took cabs around the city, did the Empire State building, toured Rockefellar Center (and its theater) and ate takeout back to the unit every night. The theater tour guide escorted us to elevators, making small talk asking if this was our first trip to NYC? Auntie said "No" but would come up with her girlfriends to see the shows right after work from Campbell Soup (in Camden, NJ). She got FREE tickets to see the many Rockafeller Shows from work. The guide asked if she remembered any of the preformers. She stated remembering Frank Sinatra was the MC who introduced the acts and sang some songs when the stage was being reset. The guide left our tour .... which end with the start of the movie on the theater. BUT at the end of the video in the theater and Auntie and I waited to the others to leave, our Tour Guide was waiting at the exit door of the theater. He was waiting for US ... making polite talk with Auntie but asked he softy, "just how old is she?" I told him.

He looked stunned and commented, "She did see Frank. I went went back thru the achieves and found out Frank Sinatra DID MC the shows Rockfeller Center".

Auntie is 93 now. Still wants to go back to NYC.
 

joestein

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I'm not the OP but I'd love some suggestions. We go to NYC every Fall and are always looking for new places (to us).

I have a few suggestions for the area....

I love chef Julian Medina. He owns Toloache (on 50th and 8th, plus a few other locations). However, it is not cheap. He also owns Tacuba in Hell's Kitchen and Astoria. It is also excellent, but cheaper. I can just taste the grilled octopus and chorizo tacos.

Toto Ramen (a couple of locations around 51 & 8th) - Cheap, but wow. There is nothing like the Chicken Paitan Ramen.

Pizza - There are so many places, but 99.9% of just ok. I would recommend Starita's Don Antonio (50th and 8th). Only 2 locations in the world. NYC and Rome. They have pictures of the pope eating their pizza. It a pie place, not a slice place. Cheap as well. If you really want a cheap slice, I sometimes get the $1 slice at the pizza place at 8th and 43rd. It is near the Port Authority, so if I am hungry on the way home it is convenient. No different than most of the other $3/$4 slice places.

Tapas - really like Boqueria on 8th and 40th st. Short walk to MSG. Go there and get the chefs tasting (or what ever it is called). Probably about $100/couple without tip or alcohol. What a great meal!

Palm at 50th and 8th (not a fan of the one in Tribeca) - The food is pretty solid, but very expensive. However, they have a nice lunch special. I think it is upper 20s for 3 courses. The Lobster Bisque at the Palm is the best I have ever had. Usually they will let you substitute it for the first course. Even though it is a steak house, their chicken parm is outstanding (and on lunch special).

Mark Forgione's American Cut in Tribeca. I am usually not a fan of steakhouses or celebrity chefs, however this steakhouse has some really unusual takes on typical steak house fare. Their everything biscuit that they serve as bread with a vegi cream cheese spread is just typical of how they are different. Pretty Expensive though.

The Breslin in the Ace Hotel on 29th st has a famous lamb burger with triple fried duck fat French fries. It is really good and not too expensive.

Overall, there are lots of expensive restaurants in NYC, many of them are just OK. I would recommend trying to find ones that have good happy hour deals and eating at the bar.

Joe
 

Luanne

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@joestein Thanks! I'll put these in my NYC folder. Haven't been to any of them.
 
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