Your Guide to Family-Friendly Day Trips in New Jersey, New York…and Beyond
I went into Sunset Boulevard cold. My husband saw it in the West End 30 years ago with Patty LuPone. I didn’t know the story, and I only knew a little of the music. While he was eager to tell me about the differences between the shows at intermission (and after), he didn’t need to tell me much. The staging, which I knew ahead of time was different, was totally obvious.
Should you see Sunset Boulevard with kids? I’ll share more at the end.
Read on only if you don’t mind spoilers.
It’s time for a staycation! I’ve been to the Civilian Hotel numerous times for drinks in two of its fabulous bars, but we wanted to stay here as well. This stylized Broadway theater district hotel plays on that strength (see bars, later). But you just feel like a hip, trendy person when you go there. When you walk into the hotel, there are 2 desks down the hall – one is for dining/bar reservations (I think) and one is for hotel check-in. It was the smallest reception desk I’ve seen in my life, but it worked perfectly well and you can leave your luggage with them there if you need as well.
We made our usual trek into NYC on Thanksgiving weekend to check out the 2024 NYC holiday windows. I have to say, other than Bergdorf Goodman, they were a disappointment. I’ll start with Bergdorf Goodman’s, and then share Macy’s and one from Bloomingdale’s. I’ll share at the bottom more about Sak’s Fifth Avenue’s windows.
AND, scroll down to see the Louis Vuitton scaffolding – which is UNREAL. A highlight of the day.
If you haven’t heard of Mercer Labs, you’re not alone. Formally Mercer Labs Museum of Art and Technology opened in March, a collaboration between Israeli artist Roy Nachum and real estate developer Michael Cayre. The idea is to be a “place where the traditional hierarchies between art, architecture, design, technology and culture are dissolved,” the New York Times quoted from a news release (I couldn’t find the news release).
In the Limitless exhibit in this 36,000 square foot space, you’ll visit 15 rooms with multimedia and sensory experiences, climbing up and down stairs between the floors (of course there’s an elevator if needed). In the initial space, which was one of the least interesting, you’ll put on shoe covers and look at a digital moving object that looks like of like a space rock.
Continue reading “Mercer Labs With Kids”
Pop songs reconceived as chamber music are piped through the bus speakers as the children double fist sweet tea in travel mugs and miniature chocolate mousse pastries.
My girls, aged 5 years and 364 days, and 11, lounged against a banquet covered with a soft pink throw as the double-decker bus navigated the canyons of Midtown Manhattan. A tour guide shared a few factual tidbits, then broke out into song (and she could actually sing).
I don’t really remember what she talked about, and neither do the kids. The city information seemed beside the point on TopView’s “Tea Around Town” tour bus.
Something the kids and adults will all like: the New York Transit Museum holiday train show. It’s at Grand Central Station’s transit museum store through February 2024.
You’ll find a city within a city, with miniature electric railroads running over, through, and beneath some landmarks you’ll recognize. There are tracks at several levels, great for young kids who can see many of them from their own eye level.
Continue reading “New York Transit Museum Holiday Train Show”
| When you’re down in the Seaport area, or maybe making a specific trip to the Seaport area, make sure the Tin Building is a destination and you have time to explore (and eat). It’s maybe not the best place to take the kids for a meal (it’s pricey) but there is an awesome candy store (also pricey) and it’s gorgeous to look at. |
We did our annual NYC excursion on Black Friday to see the lights, the windows and the crowds. This post shares some random things we saw.
We headed to the Bryant Park Winter Village to see the holiday shops. They have a lovely tree. In addition to the skating rink, they have igloos you can rent out, and nearby curling as well (not on ice). In January they’ll have on-ice bumper cars you can rent! As always it’s crowded.
Continue reading “Holiday Scenes From NYC 2023”
This post is one of two about the 2023 NYC holiday windows. This is the Bergdorf Goodman & Bloomingdale’s edition. Click here for the 2023 NYC Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue window post.
The theme of the 2023 Bergdorf Goodman holiday windows is “Isn’t it brilliant?” and you’ll see in the next set of pictures all the brilliant reflections. The window above is “first light” and has two giant roosters and disco balls and a bedazzled llama and other farm animals.
Continue reading “2023 NYC Holiday Windows: Bergdorf Goodman & Bloomingdale’s”
The NYC holiday windows are up, and here’s what you can expect to see. This post has 2023 NYC holiday windows: Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue, and you’ll find the Bergdorf Goodman and Bloomingdale’s windows in another post.
