Went to NYC yesterday...

[red_mct]

...as it was my 7 year old's b-day. We have a tradition of taking their birthdays off from school and taking a trip somewhere special to make the day memorable.

We went to the American Museum of Natural History (Central Park West). We saw some AWESOME exhibits and had so much fun. Luckily my SO is not at all afraid to drive in NY (really, he should be a taxi driver there, I had my eyes closed for half the ride), so we drove around some afterwards as I wanted the kids to see some of the buildings and such. We ate at a hot dog stand, as this is the epitome of cool when you're 7. Ok, I'll say THEY ate at the hot dog stand, I went for the protein bar in my bag.

Anyway, if you haven't been there, I would highly recommend it, whether you have kids or not. The space show was particularly cool.

I spent the ride home fantasizing about buying a brownstone on the upper west side. What would that be, you think? a million? two? :7

Marie

 

[forever39]

Sounds fun!

I'm taking my daughters age 12 and 13 to NYC in April to see Broadway Show Rent and stay overnight for some shopping and sightseeing.

Nice place to visit..but I wouldn't want to live there! I'm such a country girl!

 

[sparrow]

Marie, the Museum of Natural History is my favorite place in NY. I used to be a member at the planetarium too. What a great place! Glad you guys had fun.

Sparrow

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow - what a ride!’ — Peter Sage

 

[LauraMax]

Go higher Marie........

I went to the Garden last week to see Billy Joel--AWESOME concert BTW--there's a train station about 100 feet from my house that takes me right to Penn Station, a 20 minute ride for $8. NYC really is amazing--the night life is awesome, but OMG it is SO expensive. We went to dinner after & the appetizers alone started at $18. A glass of wine is $12. Entrees started at $35.

It's a fun time, but one you have to save your pennies for LOL.

 

[buffettgirl]

When my kids were in high school we used to go yearly for a field trip. We'd have a couple hours to wander, then go to a show, then dinner. The price was right too. Since they've grown up, I haven't been back. Too chicken to drive and to cheap to pay for the shows. Someday I'll be brave and affluent enough to get back. My best trip was the year there were enough chaparones that I didn't have to be responsible for 10 kids. DD was taking a "class" with other chorus member, so I had 4 hours to myself. I went to the Met and wallowed in the impressionists. One year that I did have to chaparone a group, we rode the subway to Chinatown.(Other moms were too scared.) The kids still talk about how much fun that trip was.

 

[rjroubi]

Marie,
I always loved the Museum Of Natural History. I still remember the big tree trunk that hangs on one of its walls....I always thought it was so amazing.

Don't laugh, but my poor grandmother owned one of those brownstones when they weren't worth squat. I still remember being bathed in the great big claw-foot tubs. I always thought one of the feet would fall off and I would topple out....scarey thought for a tiny child. She sold it for a mere pitance...grandma was really poor back then. The story does has a happy ending. One of her six daughters became a millionaire through hard work and sheer brilliance and still takes care of her until this day

Robin (a transplanted New Yorker)

 

[Bunbun]

Wow, a brownstone in NYC...I can't even afford to buy an apartment here! I love the Museum of Natural History--live within walking distance and am over there probably at least once a month. (One of my friends is a tour guide there, so that helps, too!)

 

[nancy324]

Marie-

I'm so glad you had a good time! Next time, if you're here for a little longer, I'd love to meet you for lunch or something.

Regarding the upper west side: sorry, but you're not even close. An apartment IN a brownstone would be 1 or 2 mil. The whole brownstone? You don't even want to think about that! But then you picked the most expensive neighborhood in the city. There are less expensive neighborhoods, so don't be discouraged!

-Nancy

 

[rjroubi]

Nancy...so true! My grandmother's brownstone was on the less expensive (poorer) lower East side and I know it is now worth a small fortune. It is not worth any where near as much as the multi million dollar West Side. She also did mention, as you said, that they cut a lot of the brownstones down into smaller units. She said she knew she could have made a killing with it, but she was divorced mom (unheard of in those days....over 43 years ago) with six girls and just couldn't afford to keep it. Bless her ....she is 92 years old and still smart as a whip

I must admit...I really do miss NY...best bread, bagels and Pizza I've ever had (although my DH is from Chicago and insists their Pizza is better...I still disagree)

Robin

 

[nancy324]

Nope, your DH is wrong, Robin. That deep-dish stuff they eat there is not nearly as good as our thin-crusted "real" pizza. }( }(
-Nancy