IgoUgo

New York Journals

The Big Apple in June

Best of IgoUgo

A June 2004 trip to New York by SFPhotocraft

Son Cubano Photo - Son Cubano, New York, New York More Photos
Quote: We LOVE New York anytime of the year. However, summer offers a special energy that makes the city come alive. We took the kids and headed for a week of fun and playing tourist in the city that never sleeps. It was a perfect week.
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The Big Apple in June Best of IgoUgo

Overview

Puerto Rico Pride Parade Photo - New York, United States
Quote:
This was a wonderful trip. It was the first time the kids had been to New York, so we played tourist. It was fun to see the sights through the eyes of a first visitor and a child. We did a Grayline tour from a double-decker bus, which was fun and a great vantage point of the city. You see the city at a height you miss in the backseat of a taxicab. We ate in Little Italy, the Meatpacking District and had a great French dinner on Restaurant Row before the theater. We also had a great meal at Katz's Deli. I can eat my way through New York! We toured Ellis Island, which gave me goose bumps knowing my great-grandparents walked those steps when they arrived to this country for the first ti...Read More

Avalon Hotel Best of IgoUgo

Hotel

The Avalon Hotel NYC Photo - Avalon Hotel, New York, New York
Quote:
In times long ago, BC (Before Children), we would search for a hotel that had a good location and lots of amenities. Now the number-one feature we search for is space, space and space! We know we will have four bodies in a room and we want all the space a hotel can offer us! I went on the internet to research nice hotels, at a good rate that offered a lot of space. I found one hotel called the Avalon that offered suites for just $199.00 a night. The hotel was two blocks from The Empire State Building. In the old days this would not have been my first choice because of location, however the price and space overshadowed other hotels on this trip. The hotel looked good on the internet, so we boo...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on July 12, 2004

Avalon Hotel
16 E 32nd St.
New York, New York 10016
(212) 299-7000

Radisson JFK Photo - The Radisson Hotel at JFK, Jamaica, New York
Quote:
I don't expect a lot from airport hotels. I use them for the night prior to an early flight. What I want is a clean, safe room with a reasonable service level. I don't think that is a lot to ask for. Even with these low expectations, the Radisson at JFK let us down. When we got to the hotel we could see the big green Radisson from the highway and pulled off at our exit. Finding the hotel was a hunt from this point. The hotel is on the highway, but at the end of a maze of one-way streets and dead ends. We finally found our way by following a Radisson shuttle bus that was heading home. The hotel had poor signage. The lobby was businesslike, clean and modern. It seems most of the mone...Read More

Member Rating 1 out of 5 on August 16, 2004

The Radisson Hotel at JFK
135-30 140th Street
Jamaica, New York 11436
(718) 322-2300

Son Cubano Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Son Cubano Photo - Son Cubano, New York, New York
Quote:
"Sexy" is the first word that comes to mind in this authentic Cuban eatery. Havana is one of my favorite cities, and this place not only captures the Cuban cuisine, but it also reproduces the sights and sounds of this magical city. Son Cubano is in the old Meatpacking District and in the heart of what is fast becoming the most fun section of New York's nightlife. The building is colorful from the outside with bright Cuban tiles spelling out the restaurant's name. Inside you are greeted with big smiles from the Cuban staff, who are all gorgeous. The Cuban band is playing great music and a few tables may be on the small dance floor dancing. Everyone seems to be laughing and having a grea...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on July 7, 2004

Son Cubano
405 West 14th Street
New York, New York 10014
(212) 366-1640

Palazzo (Il) Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Il Palazzo"

Il Palazzo Photo - Palazzo (Il), New York, New York
Quote:
I always have buyer’s remorse when I pick a place in Little Italy. I make my pick and then there is always another place I walk by later, that I think would have been a better choice. There are just too many good selections in Little Italy to be satisfied with just your pick. Maybe that is what happened on this night. I did my homework and got a lot of great recommendations on Il Palazzo - the Zagat Guide gave it a very high rating and several friends seemed to agree. So Il Palazzo it was. It's on Mulberry Street in the heart of Little Italy. There are a few tables out front and on a nice summer day, these are the tables to request. You go in and the first room is lively, the next roo...Read More

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on July 12, 2004

Palazzo (Il)
151 Mulberry St.
New York, New York 10013
(212) 343-7000

Maxie's Photo - Maxie's Delicatessen, New York, New York
Quote:
We were having such a grand time at the Puerto Rican Pride Parade that we forgot to look at our watches. Without knowing it, it was 2:30pm and we hadn't had our lunch or even a nosh in hours. Our stomachs reminded us it was time to find a meal. We were all hungry and getting crabby, so we grabbed the first half decent place we found. It was a deli on Time Square called Maxie's and had a large Time Square style, well lighted sign. We entered and it looked more like a TGIF or Applebee’s than a New York deli. We were seated and looked over their long menu. The entire place seemed a little dirty. I ordered a hot dog (a pretty safe bet) and matzo ball soup. The kids ordered burgers...Read More

Member Rating 1 out of 5 on July 12, 2004

Maxie's Delicatessen
723 7th Ave
New York, New York 10019
(212) 398-1118

Grimaldi's Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Grimaldi Photo - Grimaldi's, New York, New York
Quote:
Most "Best Pizza" polls in New York will name GRIMALDI'S as the BEST pizza in the city. There is a lot of hype around polls and BEST OF lists, and I usually leave a bit disappointed. This was not the case at Grimaldi's where I am a believer and cast my vote for them as well! Grimaldi's is located directly under the Brooklyn Bridge on the Brookyln side of the river. We took a subway to the bridge and walked across the bridge on our hunt for New York's best pizza. The walk was great and the view of the New York was outstanding. Grimaldi's is located in the Dumbo area of Brookyln. There is always a line in front of Grimaldi's as this popular eatery is very small. The line does move qui...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on July 15, 2004

Grimaldi's
19 Old Fulton St.
Brooklyn, New York 11201
(718) 858-4300

Plaza Hotel Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "The Oyster Bar - Plaza Hotel"

The Oyster Bar Photo - Plaza Hotel, New York, New York
Quote:
In days gone by the ladies would enjoy their afternoon tea at the Plaza and the men would be safely hidden away behind the dark walls of what is today The Oyster Bar at The Plaza Hotel. This room was strictly off limits to all women. Thankfully, times change and we can longer imagine restaurants that are for "men only," yet the feel of masculinity dominate this room. The Oyster Bar is tucked away in the back hall of the Plaza Hotel. You may have to ask for help from a hotel employee as the pub is tucked away at the end of a bit of a maze. The room is dark and has great dark wood paneling. You can imagine the captains of industry making deals between these walls. The room is do...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on July 22, 2004

Plaza Hotel
768 5th Avenue
New York, New York 10019
(212) 759-3000

Le Madeleine Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Madeline Photo - Le Madeleine, New York, New York
Quote:
We picked a Sunday night to see WICKED on Broadway. We wanted to find a special place to eat with a great theater menu. I was surprised to find so many theater-area restaurants closed on Sunday evenings. Finally a friend made a suggestion for Le Madeleine on 43rd Street in Restaurant Row. The bistro is near the theater district. It sounded good and we checked out the web page and then decide to give it a shot. When you arrive you feel like you have pulled up to a small bistro somewhere in Paris. It's very authentic in look and feel. The restaurant has a small little garden in the back that is lovely. The garden was full, but we got the next best thing...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on July 22, 2004

Le Madeleine
403 West 43rd Street
New York, New York 10036
(212) 246-2993

Cucina & Co Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Cucina & Co"

Cucina Photo - Cucina & Co, New York, New York
Quote:
There are several Cucina & Co in Manhattan. The one we chose was located in the lobby of The Met Life Building. We entered from Grand Central Station. It was easy to find the restaurant by taking the escalator up from the main lobby of the station. Cucina & Co is bright and clean. The entire wait staff wears crisp orange uniforms. The wood is light and the whole place has a clean, crisp feeling. We ate slightly after the usual lunch rush hour and there were plenty of tables to pick from. However I can imagine the place being pretty crowded at lunch. Next-door Cucina & Co has a take-out area. The sandwiches and salads all look fresh and yummy. If I worked in this area, ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on July 22, 2004

Cucina & Co
MetLife Building
New York, New York 10166
(212) 682-2700

Katz's Deli Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Katz's Delicatessen"

Katz's Photo - Katz's Deli, New York, New York
Quote:
Katz's may well be the true New York deli. This New York institution has been around for years and let’s hope it will never change! When you enter, the place looks kind of bleak. The lighting is much too strong and everything looks like it was put in during the 1950s. You are given a number when you pass the door. Be careful not to lose it! You have a choice of either using the counter service or taking a seat against the wall, where a waitress will take your order. We picked the waitress route. It wasn't long before an older, unhappy waitress shuffled up to our table. "Yeah, what do you want?" was her growl in a one too many cigarette-style voice. We loved it! We later noticed her photos ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on July 22, 2004

Katz's Deli
205 East Houston St.
New York, New York 10002
(212) 254-2246

Gray Line New York Sightseeing Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Grayline Tour - 48 hour loop tour"

Grayline New York Photo - Gray Line New York Sightseeing, New York, New York
Quote:
I see myself as way too cool for city tours, so I usually talk myself out of taking them. However truth be told I have found some city tours to be very helpful in getting to know a new city on the first day and helping me get the lay of the land. Chris found this Grayline Tour on-line and suggested we take it with the kids, as it was their first visit to New York City. In theory, the concept sounded great. You buy a two-day pass for $49.00 and are able to use the pass anytime in the two-day period to hop on and off the double-decker buses anywhere on the loop they run. The bonus was they also provide you with a ferry ticket to Ellis Island and The ...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on August 23, 2004

Gray Line New York Sightseeing
777 8th Avenue
New York, New York 10036
(212) 445-0848

American Museum of Natural History Photo - American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York
Quote:
This is a huge museum and one that you should not expect to see in one day. You will need to start by getting a map of the museum and plot your course for the day. You can learn about birds, mammals, gems and minerals, dinosaurs, or study the universe. It's all here under one roof. The museum is located across from Central Park is majestic. When you enter, you will be greeted by large dinosaur bones. It's overwhelming to say the least. The museum is from 10am until 5:45pm each day except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. This summer there was an excellent exhibit on FROGS. The special exhibit cost an extra $19 and reservations were required. It was well worth it. We saw ...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on September 12, 2004

American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West
New York, New York 10024
(212) 769-5100

About the Writer

SFPhotocraft

SFPhotocraft
Altadena, California

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