We went into Manhattan yesterday

Alice wrote: For my birthday in October, I asked Peter to get me 4 tickets to the Radio City Christmas show. I hadn't been there since I was a kid!!

Peter was off (Catholic holy day) so we caught a 1:50 pm train into the city-- got in around 2:30. We caught a cab to Rockerfeller Plaza and saw the tree and the ice skaters. Then caught dinner at TGI Fridays. We saw the show-- it was as wonderful as I remembered!! Then went back to see the tree at night. We couldn't get a cab (no shock-- it was gorgeous out and crowded!), so we walked the 17 or 18 blocks to Penn Station- and saw the Lord & Taylor Christmas windows on the way. We got home around 8:30.

The kids(at least the 2 older ones: sorry Kira!! My friend watched her!!) had such a marvelous time-- their 1st train, cab, visit to the city-- and so on. It was wonderful watching the show through their eyes.. (Brian's "they're sooo good!" when the Rockettes did their kickline).

I had a blast!!

5littleladies replied: That sounds like so much fun!! I'm glad you had a good time.

Dh just promised the other day that he will take my to NY sometime before I die. Wasn't that sweet of him?

amynicole21 replied: Sounds like a perfect Holiday day trip Glad you all had so much fun!

DansMom replied: Wow!! I want to go too!! Sounds like a blast

Kaitlin'smom replied: oh how fun. I love NYC! I so want to go back and soon

ediep replied: sounds great!!!!
I think we are getting broadway tix for Christmas from my parents.

MomToMany replied: What a great trip! And nice Christmas memories for your children. Maybe they will go back again someday when they are older too.


NYC scares me. The only thing I'd want to see would be the Statue Of Liberty.

jcc64 replied:

It shouldn't, really. It's a great city, very safe except for some areas that you'd have to try really hard to "find" as a tourist, and there's no place more festive during the holidays.

Maddie&EthansMom replied:
Very true. It isn't scary at all. I want to go around Christmas time. We plan on taking the kids when they are older. I LOVE NY!!!!! (I'm even wearing my NY shirt )

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I'm glad you guys had such a good time. That city is my favorite place!! I want to go back so bad. We have eaten at TGI Friday's. Which one did you eat at? Just curious for memory's sake. When we went it was April, but they had extended the ice skating rink at Rockefeller Plaza for some reason. It was great! I can't wait to go back. There were so many things we didn't get to see.

MomToMany replied:
The biggest city I have ben in is Minneapolis. I get so nervous around crowds, and get that claustrophobic feeling. I guess I just have that stereotype in my head that NYC is just full of violence and crime.

I doubt like heck we'd ever go there.

jcc64 replied:

I'm sorry I can't let this go
I've lived in NYC, I've worked there since 1987, and NOT ONCE have I ever had an even marginally scary "incident". I've been on the streets and subways at all hours of the night(of course that was when I still had a life), and never have I felt frightened, been mugged, or even looked at the wrong way. (Not so in many other parts of the country with far less ominous reputations- including some rural restaurants/bars where I've seriously feared for my life as an "outsider" married to a non-Caucasian.)
Some people are thrilled by the crowds and energy of big cities like NYC, some people (like yourself) aren't. But as a proud NY'er, I really can't let it go when people perpuate those silly old stereotypes about my hometown.

MomToMany replied:
I guess I watch too much Law & Order!

Maddie&EthansMom replied: Jeanne, when we were getting our 'guided tour' of the city the tourguide told us that what sets NYC apart and makes it so safe is the amount of traffic in the city. There are so many people that it really cuts down on violence. I think back in the 80s when they had the downfall and before they started trying to build Times Square back up there was more violence b/c of the lack of people in that area. People got scared I guess and I think that is what sticks in everyone's minds and kept them away. It is funny what TV will do. I laugh at how they portray Texas, too. I loved the energy of the city and I never felt unsafe...not once. Now, if you don't like crowds it certainly isn't the place for you b/c it is very busy and crowded and so fast paced. I thought it was invigorating, myself. I can't wait to go back.

Maddie&EthansMom replied:
LMBO!!! Yes, that would frighten anyone!

jcc64 replied: Well, having never seen "Law and Order", I can't comment on its authenticity, but happy, safe people going about their business would make for a pretty dull crime show, don't you think? And from what I understand, the "Ripped from the headlines" aspect of the show doesn't necessarily mean it actually happened in NYC, even though the show takes place there. Creative license.
NYC was a very different place in the 70's and early 80's, and it has come back so successfully that unless you make fabulous amounts of $$$$$, it's virtually impossible to live there anymore.( tiny 2 bedroooms start around $2500/month). And I agree with Aimee that the sheer volume of people makes for a safer environment. How could one commit a mugging w/o dozens of witnesses at any given moment- even in the middle of the night the streets are always crowded. Which is one of the best things about it- where else but NYC could you get a FABULOUS meal of any kind,(Chinese, sushi, Indian, Italian, ANYTHING) delivered to your door, at 2am? I'm so spoiled now it's not funny!

MomToMany replied: You're right Jeanne. That makes lots of sense. I'll try to be a little more open-minded about things. I'd still feel scared if we ever went there. We'd stand out SO bad, you couldn't mistake us for anything BUT tourists. And coming from rural northern Minnesota, we'd look like The Beverly Hillbillies (OK, not THAT bad!).

jcc64 replied:

That is so not true. The theatre district, which used to be nothing but XXX porn shops, is now filled with nothing but tourists, with MTV, Good morning America, Disney, Hard Rock Cafe, etc taking over and really transforming the neighborhood. It's a blast really, you'd have to try NOT to have a great time.

My2Beauties replied: Oh man I hope to visit NYC one day, I would love to go there! I bet it is so beautiful! It's about an 18-20 hour drive from here, Brian said it doesn't interest him to go but I told him one year that will be our vacation. Vegas, however, was hte most beautiful place I have ever seen! I don't think anything could compare I loved it there. We're going back for our honeymoon. I loved it there!

Alice replied: I'm with you Jeanne.

We seldom get into the city... once or twice a year... but there is just soooo much there. The Statue of Liberty, the UN, Radio City, Rockerfeller Plaza, the Empire State Building, South Street Seaport, Wall Street, the Museum of Natural History, Broadway, Little Italy, Chinatown....

And the parades. St. Patricks day is a blast. And at some point in their lives, everyone should experience the Thanksgiving parade in NY. TV just can't do them justice!!

Sure, NYC has its problems, like any other big city. And I've got to admit that I still can't navigate the subways... I've never taken the time to learn. I take the LIRR to Penn Station, then walk or take a cab.
But anyone who takes reasonable precautions, as you would in any large city, probably won't have any sort of a problem.

And I haven't been to Ground Zero-- I'm not sure I ever want to see it.

I chaperoned a high school trip to NYC a few years ago-- Speech and Debate National finals. (Our kids were sooo depressed!! Nationals in their own backyard!) And I got on the elevator in the hotel with two little blonde southern girls. They were telling their friends that they had accidentally stayed on the subway too long and accidentally visited Harlem. They were thrilled with their little adventure. I interupted and asked them not to mention that little detail to their parents until they got home, if they wanted to spend enough time in NY to actually compete. (And where were their chaperones, by the way??)

But please don't write off New York based on what's on TV. It's a magnificent place. And the media isn't exactly famous for an unbiased look at anything.

Alice replied:
Sorry... I don't remember. We just wandered around until we found something kid-friendly. It was near Rockerfeller Plaza, that's all I remember.

Maddie&EthansMom replied:
LOL! We ate at one by Grand Central Station!