Sweet 16 weekend in NYC this Feb. - Ideas, please

[IreneLF]

I'm planning on staying in midtown Manhattan from Friday to Sunday with my DD and her 2 BFFs in mid February for her 16th birthday and would like some ideas from TUGgers.

(The where to stay is not so much an issue as they would like to have a pool so that limits options considerably; they may have to bend on this.)

What I'm looking for are good ideas for what to do during the day, or at night if not in a show.
They love to shop but that gets old (for me) and I'd rather do things in NYC that we can't do at home.

I'm assuming it will be cold so we need to think along the lines of indoors and keeping it to midtown Manhattan wouild be best.
My DD can be terribly shallow so don't bother to suggest any museums as she would veto them. All 3 girls don't get to NYC very often so much would be new to them.

I'm NYC raised so know my way around and know what's available for entertainment, but would love others' suggestions , anything that worked or didn't work for teens. (including shows, Wicked apparently is already sold out.)
There may be some obvious-to-you teen girl pleasers that I haven't thought about.

All ideas welcome, thanks in advance.

 

[DeniseM]

How about the red tour buses? You can hop on and off at anything that interests you, and then get back on when the next bus comes buy in 30 min. or so.

How about trying to get tickets to a TV show that's filmed in NYC?

 

[debraxh]

How about Cafe Wha? We weren't able to get there on our trip, but it sounded fun to both me and DD. Will definitely try to fit it in next time.

 

[tlwmkw]

Breakfast at Tiffanys

Eat bagels outside on the street and then go in and buy a small and inexpensive item (key chain or silver bracelet)- I know someone that did this and they had a great time. You have to be non-selfconscious because it is a very touristy thing to do but at 16 yo she may love it (or hate it). Later you could watch the movie on DVD, or read the story by Truman Capote.

 

[IreneLF]

Thanks guys.
Deb I'd been thinking if Wha, was going to email you because I couldn't remember if you actually got in or not.

I'd love the show taping idea but they only tape early weekday mornings - and - the ones she'd be interested in have a minimum age, generally 18.
Everything else goes on 'the list' to run by her...

 

[Conan]

NBC Studio Tour
http://www.nbcuniversalstore.com/index.php?v=nbunbcmktnbt

 

[anne1125]

Check out travelzoo for this week's 20 top picks. There's a Hotel Grace in Manhattan going for $189 a night (with a pool) until mid February.

Good deal.

Anne

 

[IreneLF]

Thank you Anne!

My daughter and I will be in NYC tomorrow and will definitely check it out. It got some good reviews on Trip Advisor -- this may be the one! Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Icarus]

How about Cafe Wha?

Does it really still exist? I used to go there when I was 16. Is it really the same place?

-David

 

[IreneLF]

Same since the '50s.......

Yes it does --------- I remember it from the '60s

http://www.cafewha.com/about_history.php

 

[ownsmany]

My 15 year old LOVED 13 the musical - but that may be closed by then.

I'm loving the thread, hoping to get some ideas for my DDs.

I think the on - off bus is a great idea. My kids like going to the Sept 11 memorial/ museum. It didn't take long to do it and it left them with lasting memories of it.

Please let us know what you decide. I think we can all learn from the tread.

 

[JackieD]

How about the Hard Rock Cafe? My kids loved it there looking at all the memorabilia. My niece works there and it's always packed and happening. I know they have those all over the country but my 15 yo loves the one in NYC.

Is ice skating at Rockefeller too 'childish' for sweet 16's?

 

[IreneLF]

Thanks Jackie.
Hard Rock came to mind, I and her friends would LOVE it, she is not into the music or memorabilia that they have there (it's Beatles' heaven and she rejects it because they are my guys...)

Just discussed ice skating yesterday and she is up for that - but web says Rock Center will be closed by mid Feb (!) (somehow this doesn't seem right, but they show closing dates..)
However Central Park's rink will be open so we will be trying that.

 

[3kids4me]

Will Avenue Q still be open? They would think you are the coolest if you take them, and it is awfully funny!

 

[lvhmbh]

Take them to The Village (Greenwich Village) and Soho (South of Houston) to walk around, eat, shop, look! When I lived in The Village I rarely went uptown except to work. Oh yes, I forgot The Seaport. You could find a nice indoor spot and let them roam, JMHO, Linda

 

[ownsmany]

Will Avenue Q still be open? They would think you are the coolest if you take them, and it is awfully funny!

is that ok for 16 year olds? I was told it was not kid friendly at all. Topics geared to adults.

 

[3kids4me]

is that ok for 16 year olds? I was told it was not kid friendly at all. Topics geared to adults.

I took my 14 year old a couple of months ago. If you think that watching puppets having sex (which is about the raciest thing in the show except for maybe a few of the lyrics to the songs which you can preview of course) is too mature for a 16 year old, then you can skip it. But I think most 16 year olds have seen much more these days. There were a lot of teens in the audience. I wouldn't take my 10 year old though, although we did see one kid there.

 

[Zac495]

Chinatown and shopping for fake purses - though going to the back of the store may be illegal??? Someone chime in and let us know if you're actually allowed to do that That's where the best fakes are. I went back there with the girls once - I mean - it's not drugs or anything.

I saw Wicked with the kids recently. AWESOME! Have fun!

 

[wackymother]

Did you know they have ice skating on plastic ice by the planetarium now? It's supposed to be fun--I just read a little article about how it's harder to skate on, but easier to fall on!

 

[IreneLF]

Update and decision...

Thanks to all

First- the hotel.
We did check out the Grace, just off Times Square. Small hip, 'edgy' definitely has potential , but...
The pool is right off the 'lobby' and very tiny. Sauna and steam rooms were bigger. Looked good for 4 people - so what if the other 130 rooms decided to come too?
But the deal killer was when they said it was "open to the public". Even my DD didn't like that, so off we went. Rooms were not cleaned so we would have had to come back to see one, but we chose not to.

RE: Avenue Q -- I'd considered it too thinking they would love it (I know these girls). Did some reading, not at all inappropriate for that age, this group.
BUT - she wanted something Disney so we booked Lion King. She's over the mooon as we have dead center 3rd row (I think too close but she wanted it -- she;s never been that close before, we've never paid full price before, but this is special)

RE: ice at Plantetarium - yes thanks Wacky I"d seen that too and it
will actually stil lbe open when we go in Feb. A possibility. Looks beautiful at night! Harder to skate on but easier when you fall is what I"ve read...


As for the hotel - we went with my original choice, the UNPlaza (44th between 1+2).
The views are to die for and the pool is on the 27th and luxurious, nice locker room/sauna too.

The most amazing thing happened - I'd already had rooms reserved, and then took DD to see it. She was in love from the first moment (lobby, entrance), and the pool clinched the deal.
We went back to the front desk to talk -- I had some questions about a suite. (the online price for a regular suite went up $150 a night in the 2 weeks since I'd originally looked at rates and I was hoping to get it for the less expensive price but I didn't get to ask.... because --:::.)

The clerk said she thought there was something she might be able to do for us, clicked around, said she would give us a suite for the same price as the booked rooms ( special rate,which also included big breakfasts) which was all i was hoping for ---
and then i realized she said "duplex suite". I freaked as I knew that YES, the duplex was renting for $3000 a night at this time of year (can go to $6000) and here she was giving it to us for a small percentage of the rate.

So, we went to take a look to see if it was suitable (LOL) -- like anyone would turn this down!
my daughter didn't know what duplex was , but she does now.......
First floor -- HUGE living room (bigger than most Manhattan apts ), FULL kitchen and full bath, upstairs, 2 BRs each with bath.....

The poor child was hyperventilating and sending camera phone photos to her friends.

We were told that this apt. was originally built for UN Ambassadors to stay in.
This should be VERY cool and has worked out even better than I thought!

 

[wauhob3]

Some of my teen's most enjoyable things we've done is Canal street shopping (Chinatown) , theatre- Avenue Q has enough naughtiness to appeal to a teen and http://www.accomplicetheshow.com/details-village.php .

She also enjoyed The Met, NBC studio tour, UN tour and Time Square at night is a must. A reasonable place to have dinner is John's pizza while visiting Time Square.

 

[3kids4me]

Chinatown and shopping for fake purses - though going to the back of the store may be illegal??? Someone chime in and let us know if you're actually allowed to do that That's where the best fakes are. I went back there with the girls once - I mean - it's not drugs or anything.

Not only is it illegal, but some people say it supports terrorism. Just go over to the New York City Trip Advisor board and ask about buying fake purses...they will be all over you like a cheap suit! (And almost as aggressively as when someone posts about renting an apartment!)

I do love Canal Street for other shopping though and used to spend tons of time there as a teen in the dollar stores. And then there's the dancing chicken...if it's still around.

 

[Zac495]

Not only is it illegal, but some people say it supports terrorism. Just go over to the New York City Trip Advisor board and ask about buying fake purses...they will be all over you like a cheap suit! (And almost as aggressively as when someone posts about renting an apartment!)

I do love Canal Street for other shopping though and used to spend tons of time there as a teen in the dollar stores. And then there's the dancing chicken...if it's still around.

Nah, I think I'll skip asking over there! I had a feeling that it was illegal. Terrorism? Hmm. Are you allowed to buy the ones that are in the front of the stores - you know - the ones that you see as you walk by? Is it only the ones in the back that are illegal? (not that I'm doing it anytime soon - I got hooked on real Coach - legal, but expensive. Luckily they put in an Outlet here in the area!)

 

[Dave&Linda]

Place in Greenwich Village

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[mamiecarter]

I love century 21

Century 21 is like no other shopping spot. Big discounts on really great trendy clothes and shoes. My size 14 does not fit into their young girl style tiny sizes but I love to look and the prices are miraculous. Great intimates department. Right across the street you will find the the worl trade center massive construction site. Have a look.

Then take the train to china town. Don't just shop on Canal Street. Have a meal in a modestly priced restaurant. It takes work to find a bad meal in China town and you can eat really well for five or ten $ a person.