If I’m not mistaken, Joey’s turn will be done by then, and it will be Harry Hamlin playing Billy Flynn with his wife Lisa Rinna playing Roxie Hart.
(taken from http://www.newyorkcitytheatre.com/theaters/ambassadortheater/article.php?article=1)
I would have loved to have seen Bebe Neuwirth though.
Well, as i told my wife when we were in Boston last August, and we were being told that they were building a new museum of modern art. “Huh… how do they know when they’re finished?”
Of everything that’s been posted so far; the only place I have no interest in seeing is the museum of modern art. I guess I’m one of those who just don’t get it. 
Ah, yes indeed. I don’t know why, but I was thinking you were heading here this weekend. Agreed about Bebe, and here’s hoping Harry and Lisa do a good job!
This is great timing! My girlfriend and I will be in NYC from August 2nd-4th. She’s been a few times and I was there in 1991, when I was 12 years old. I’ve wanted to return ever since, and needless to say, I think I’ll have more fun now.
We already have tickets to see RENT (with original cast members Anthony Rapp as Mark and Adam Pascal as Roger, woo hoo!) and Les Miz, which I have never seen before. We’re already thinking about breakfast one morning at Norma’s and famous pastrami sandwiches at Katz’s Deli, plus the MOMA, possibly the Museum of Sex, and the famous and huge Strand Bookstore. But we’re always on the lookout for more suggestions.
Use that one only if you like long lines. There’s a second TKTS booth in the South Street Seaport that is never as crowded as the one in midtown.
Junior’s Cheesecake. Best on the planet.
Sorry for taking so long to get back to you…I missed this post, somehow.
The Indochinese place I went to was called “Chilli [sic] Chicken.” But now that you told me about Tangra Masala, I’m going to have to check it out!
I agree with the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. Do it at night, coming from Brooklyn. You can see the Statue from there, and the views of Manhattan are unparallelled. Very romantic, and a New York experience that most tourists don’t get.
I can also attest to the quality of Junior’s Cheesecake (already mentioned by Annie-Xmas). I live very close to the original in Brooklyn. However, the regular food is overpriced and not much to write home about. Go for dessert and you’ll be satisfied. For dinner in that area (Fort Greene), check out the nearby Fulton and Lafayette intersection for Habana Outpost (outdoor Cuban eco-eatery) or Pequena (amazing, fresh Mexican food). I’m actually headed to Habana tonight…so I personally recommend it if you’re in Brooklyn.
Just the wear and tear of a show that’s been on Broadway for more than a decade…
How is the neighborhood of East New York in Brooklyn? My father grew up there, and I thought it might be interesting to see when we’re there in August. When my family went in 1991 (when I was 13), we didn’t see it because we heard it was really run-down and dangerous, but I keep hearing Brooklyn has undergone a renaissance and regentrification in the years since Giuliani. Is East New York a worthy side-trip for our three days and two nights, or should we just stick to Manhattan?
I highly recommend The Cloisters.
Don’t go to Katz’s deli. The food is horrid, the lines are long, and you don’t want to attempt to eat in a place that has sawdust on the floor.
And don’t waste time or money going to Liberty Island. You’re not allowed to climb up the Statue of Liberty (all you can do is look up her skirt), so you’re better off going to nearby Ellis Island and checking out that museum. Or you can take the free Staten Island ferry for a great view.
If you want to see Letterman, but don’t get tickets in advance, keep your eyes peeled while in Times Square – if you see a young man or woman holding a clipboard, walk up to them and see if they’re offering tickets for that afternoon’s taping.
The TKTS booth at the South Street Seaport is superior to the one in Times Square: shorter lines, and it carries tix for the next day’s matinee. Remember to bring cash.
Bring your walking shoes. It’s quite feasible to spend a day walking from Harlem to Battery Park.
Yes, be prepared to be on your feet 8-12 hours a day. You’ll need some endurance and pacing.
The Statue of Liberty allows you to go up the pedestal (museum inside, but limited views of the inside of the structure) and let’s you go outside just below the feet. There’s an extra security check if you choose to do this - it adds another 45-90 minutes. They force you to check large bags and backpacks in lockers if you choose to do this, and that can take 30 minutes! (the lockers are controlled by 3 pay stations, and you can easily have 200 people attempting to use the 3 stations, each taking 2-3 minutes to figure out the hi-tech screens) All in all, not worth it.
Yeah, Katz and Carnegie deli’s don’t have great food but you gotta do some memorable, touristy things. Ditto for the Empire State Building - it’s a hassle but you gotta do it (first thing in the morning, or late in the afternoon is best). “Top of the Rock” - the observation deck at Rockefeller Center is great as well.
I also recommend Brooklyn Heights, and the walk back across the Brooklyn Bridge. I usually take the subway to Clarke Street, walk down Henry to Montague, then down to the promenade. You may have to ask a local how to get up on the bridge - it’s not obvious.
Central Park is magic, be sure to take a ride on the carousel.
Try to take in a show every night - they are addictive! I’ve enjoyed Avenue Q and The Drowsy Chaperone and many others. I thought Rent sucked.
We love RENT – seen the show twice in the last year (the same touring cast, who was great), and we’re looking forward to seeing it with the original Mark and Roger. We have Les Mix tickets for our second night in town, so that should be awesome too.
So if Katz’s Deli “sucks,” where is the best deli in town? And how about the best pizza? I definitely want to try a hot dog from Gray’s Papaya (or is it Papaya King?) and bagels from H&H Bagels, but I must find the best pastrami sandwich, potato knish, and NY-style pizza.
I guess I’m not much of a pastrami snob, but I thought Katz’s Deli, Carnegie Deli, Second Avenue Deli (now closed, RIP, reported to be reopening on Third Avenue), and the Stage Deli all had excellent pastrami sandwiches. Fat, lean, greasy, whatever, I love 'em all. Yeah, and you gotta go to Katz, just for the When Harry Met Sally vibe.
:rolleyes: Would you care to elaborate? It’s not like I’VE seen it for 10 years on Broadway. The story is fun, the music upbeat and jazzy. The optimist in me believes that the actors won’t be phoning it in… it’s not like it’s the same actors from 10 years ago anyway.
If you really have a reason that’s valid why it wouldn’t be good tell me why. Seriously. But there’s no need to be one of those people that just have to rain on someone else’s parade. That’s very pessimistic. Have you seen the show ten years ago, and seen it again recently whereby you know the quality of the show has degraded?
As an example… I heard that the theater it’s playing in, is kind of run down on the outside, but the money was put into the interior.
At my office, our favorite knish is Yonah Schimmel.
East New York would be an interesting choice for a short trip. It has definitely improved of late (it’s not particularly dangerous), but I cannot think of a single thing that would be a “destination” in East New York – if you know where your dad grew up, and like strolling around neighborhoods just to get a feel for the place, then it would be fine. Highland Park has a lot of hills with some neat views, but it isn’t as if it’s a significant park like Central Park or Prospect Park. No offense to anyone from East New York. It’s a perfectly fine park.
Rent a car, drive through the Lincoln tunnel, get on the NJ turnpike, dive as far as Exit 10 or so, and then turn around. Best to start around 5 PM on a Friday. Hours of fun! You’ll need to pack food and water. Some empty bottles could be useful, too.
Um. Nevermind. Don’t do that at all. That would suck.
The show has been on Broadway for more than a decade, but the current actors in it haven’t been. Often seeing a show with new people is like seeing a new show.
Totally true, but the PRODUCTION itself is sleepy (this is from a friend who saw the show last year). The choreography was sloppy, etc.