<p>I let my 16 year old daughter go to NYC with girlfriends and fly to Paris on her own, navigate the trains of Paris from CDG to Rouen...she learned not to stop to "play a card game" with a con artist in NYC, 5th Ave....the guy grabbed her $20, a cop chased after him...they spent a few hours in the police station...wasting precious time in the big city...in Paris got on the wrong train at Gare de Lyon and had to figure her way out of that! My D2 is going this summer...I am all for traveling on his/her own if plans are made...Yes to Times Square, yes to the cathedrals....make a map of a square, from Natural History Museum down to WTC site, stick to Broadway, 5th etc and he will be just fine!!!
Its all relative, mountain lions in CO, cons in NYC, etc....NY is very cleaned up and very doable...My kids LOVE it!</p>
<p>Lots of great suggestions. One more thing to think about...luggage (unless I've missed a post from someone else about this.) You indicated your son will be coming in from Cairo -- which means he will probably have a least one decent size bag that he may not want to drag around NYC.</p>
<p>He will either be flying into JFK or Newark (virtually all international flights go into one of these metro airports.) </p>
<p>If you decide on the single day adventure....he should probably go to the airport that he will fly out of to go home and check his luggage for the later trip (would be best if it's the same airport he flies into...but will be more difficult to find domestic flights from JFK than from Newark.)</p>
<p>If you decide on the multiple day adventure, and he's staying in a hostel...make sure you know the arrangments for luggage and personal belongs. Maybe he'll want to ship some stuff home..and just keep a small qty of clothing for his stay in NYC.</p>
<p>Should be quite a wonderful summer for him!</p>
<p>We have decided!</p>
<p>After some long talks, my husband and I have agreed to allow him to stay in NYC.</p>
<p>He will fly in from Cairo on August 15th and finish out his program that day. They will provide a hotel room for the night (not sure where) and breakfast the next morning -- then he is on his own!</p>
<p>His flight back to Colorado will be on the afternoon of 8/19 -- so he will need to have lodging for 3 nights.</p>
<p>Alanarch and macnyc (and anyone else who would know) -- would you be willing to look at the youth hostel list and tell me which ones would be in locations that would be best (safety-wise, location to things, etc)</p>
<p>Unfortunately, quite a few don't accept kids under 18, so I can't pick just anyone. We were looking for cheaper rates (around $40 with tax -- a few more dollars wouldn't kill him) plus one with breakfast. </p>
<p>any help is appreciated -- we are booking airline tickets and will reserve the hostel tomorrow!</p>
<p>He is working on his itinerary as we speak!</p>
<p>stef, when I lived in NYC my apartment faced the back of the International Student Center on West 88 Street. I always said if I ever needed to recommend a hostel that would be the one I would pick. I don't know anything about the management, but it's a great neighborhood. Maybe you could give them a call and see if they would waive the 18 year old requirement.</p>
<ol>
<li> WE used to have our office at in a brownstone at 102nd and WEst End in the bad old pre-Guiliani days. He would be fine staying there in 2006. Especailly after Cairo! Where the traffic cops carry automatic weapons!</li>
</ol>
<p>But...I'd choose another location if at all possible....the lower East side, close to NYU and Cooper Union, is much more fun for that age group. Plus there are many more cheap eats downt here. He can hang out at Washington Square park and watch the fun go by. Or play chess with the enighborhood masters. It puts him in a lively area and within walking distance of home if he manages to entertain himself into the wee hours.</p>
<ol>
<li> Buses in NYC? I was just there and couldn't imagine sitting int hat traffic. Best thing is to get a plasticized map (Streetwise or other) and map out a long walk/subway day. 20 NYC blocks make up a mile--but take longer to walk depending on hitting street lights. I walked all over New York as a young twenty year old and loved it. He might take a subway up to the Met Museum (best one for world religion nuts, I'd say) and then walk wander his way back downtown.</li>
</ol>
<p>In a pinch, cabs are not that expensive. He might try approaching the cab line at LaGuardia and asking if anyone is going his direction. He might get a share. Time is money if he only has a day. No sense spending an hour waiting for the group bus into town.</p>
<p>Circle line is too long but he might take the subway down to Battery Park city and jump on the Saten Isalnd ferry for a quick ride out past the Statue of Liberty.</p>
<ol>
<li> Suggested one day itinerary:</li>
</ol>
<p>:) Eat a big breakfast at a NY diner. Breakfast is cheap in NYC--espeically n the Lower East side.</p>
<p>:) Take subway to 79th and Lexington and walk over to the Metropolitan museum. Spend an hour zipping through a couple of the exhibits. Here is a link to their collection. <a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Art/collection.asp?omePageLink=permanentcollection_l%5B/url%5D">http://www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Art/collection.asp?omePageLink=permanentcollection_l</a></p>
<p>:) Walk into Central Park and start heading South. </p>
<p>:) Continue Walking South on Fifth Avenue until you come to Rockefellar Center and St Patrick's Cathedral at 51st Street. <a href="http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/medny/stpat1.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/medny/stpat1.html</a> Have a wander.</p>
<p>:) Continue Walking south until you come to the New York Public Library. Take a wander in to see their reading rooms. (I figure any 17 year old who has world religions as a passion has got to be a library nut). Look up as you walk south. That's the Empire State building looiming up in fornt of you. </p>
<p>:) Come out of the library and turn back north until you come to 42nd street. One short block to the west (left) is Times Square--nothing to do with religion but quite the sight if you're 17!</p>
<p>:) After Times Square, retrace your steps and walk east on 42nd street until you come to First Avenue . Turn left and walk four blocks north to the United Nations. Perhaps you will be in time for tour? <a href="http://www.un.org/tours/%5B/url%5D">http://www.un.org/tours/</a></p>
<p>on the walk over to First Avenue look to your left. You will pass by Grand Central Station--home of many many food vendors. Buy a snack if you are hungry but be sure to remember where you came in! </p>
<p>:) Then take the subway down to the South Ferry Terminal and catch a Statne Isalnd Ferry out and back. Hoepfully you will have a lovely sunset to acoompany your journey.</p>
<p>:) Cathc the subway back to 14th street and have a wander down to Washington Sq Park to watch thte action.</p>
<p>:) Check out the 2nd Avenue diner at 2nd avenue and 7th street. CHEAP!</p>
<p>Have a great time!</p>
<p>I went through the list and made recommendations based on relative safety of the neighborhood. Having said that, I concur with Cheers' recommendation about being near the East Village. I also filtered for under 18 (I think)</p>
<p>Best choices near East Village
- Jazz on the Town-307 E 14th St. (Northern edge of the East Village)
- Bowery Warehouse-340 Broadway (Near the East Village. Not as safe as others)
- American Dream-168 E 24 (Closer to the East Village)</p>
<p>Not in any order, better than average locations</p>
<ul>
<li>West Side Y-West 63rd St.</li>
<li>Columbia Studios-106 West 83rd St. (near Museum of Natural History)</li>
<li>Dexter House-345 West 86th St.</li>
<li>Continental Hostel-330 West 95th </li>
<li>West End Studios-850 West End Ave. (I live near this one)</li>
</ul>
<p>I hope this is useful. I did this as quickly as possible.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
Food is not cheap in Manhattan, but....</p>
<p>he can get hot dogs from the street vendors, bagels at H&H (or wherever somebody else posts is better ).... If he stays at the hostel, I'll bet his fellow travellers will have ideas out the wa-zoo for cheap eats.</p>
<p>I don't know what Columbia dining options are for non-meal plan kids, but that might be an option.</p>
<p>I'm not sayin' this is the healthy way to eat, but I don't think he's on the "gourmet" tour this trip.
[/QUOTE]
</p>
<p>He could always eat bagels for breakfast (range in price from .80 cents to 2.00), pizzas for lunch (can range in price from $1.25 to $2.50 a slice), and something not as cheap for dinner, since he'll have enough money left over for it. :)</p>
<p>Want to add to Cheers tour suggestion.....since you said he was intereseted in religion and houses of worship....</p>
<p>From the MET (where he may want to spend more than an hour...but may need some self-discipline to spend less than a day!) walk along the park on 5th Avenue and see Temple Emanuel on the corner of 65th and 5th. </p>
<p>They have an imposing sanctuary and a small museum. Worth a look, if it's on his way.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.emanuelnyc.org/%5B/url%5D">http://www.emanuelnyc.org/</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.emanuelnyc.org/art/TEEhome.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.emanuelnyc.org/art/TEEhome.htm</a></p>
<p>(Many other interesting Jewish synagogues in NYC...esp. historic Eldridge Street Synagogue -- <a href="http://www.eldridgestreet.org/%5B/url%5D">http://www.eldridgestreet.org/</a>)</p>
<p>New York Magazine has up-to-date listings of performances, museum exhibits etc. Also a restaurant guide...which can be searched by price:</p>
<p>Also look at Time Out magazine for listings of things to do. I believe that there is an on-line version.</p>
<p>alanarch -- thanks so much for he assistance, I will be looking these over today and deciding and making reservations.</p>
<p>cheers -- great suggestions!!</p>
<p>2boysima -- thanks for the links -- he is particularly interested in seeing some synagogues, so that will help guide him. He also wants to go to the Hasidic Jewish section of town -- is that possible?</p>
<p>Any idea on any Mosques in the area (although I told him that after Cairo, most likely the mosques would be less impressive!)</p>
<p>I only wish it were me going!</p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>stef</p>
<p>Tenement Museum is interesting and worthwhile but more about culture and social conditions than about religion per se. </p>
<p>He could visit the Jewish Museum (5th Av and 92nd St. near Metropolitan)- more emphaiss on art but some religious relevance or the Museum of Jewish Heritage (Battery Park) -- Jewish history emphasized --mostly European--good views of Statue of Liberty, possibility to take boat ride to Ellis Island--also worthwhile but time consuming.</p>
<p>To observe Ultra Orthodox Jews in one of their natural habitats --he could walk through the diamond district --47th street west of Fifth Av and also eat in one of several Kosher cafeterias in the area. I believe a large one is at the south side of 46th St. just west of Fifth Av--(ask a passerby who looks Jewish). Residential areas would be mostly in Brooklyn and harder to reach in time allotted- </p>
<p>If he happens to be near Columbus Circle-Time Warner building at SW corner of Central Park--inside downstairs is an enormous food court--plenty of choice.</p>
<p>Of course, the Metropolitan has a fair amount of religious art of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Museum of Natural History has anthropological collections related to Native Americans and Polynesia, for example. </p>
<p>I recommend he use the Carey Bus to LaGuardia--leaving from the Grand Central area
every 30 min. about 40 min trip if not rush hour.</p>
<p>In addition to the Museum of Jewish Heritage (<a href="http://www.mjhnyc.org)%5B/url%5D">www.mjhnyc.org)</a>, there's the Center for Jewish History on 16th Street (<a href="http://www.cjh.org)%5B/url%5D">www.cjh.org)</a>.</p>
<p>Oh, and since he's staying a few days - if he's there on a Wednesday, he can go down to the tkts booth in Times Square at about 10, wait in line for about an hour or so, and get 1/2 price tickets to a matinee on Broadway, off Broadway or at Lincoln Center. If you're willing to wait and people watch, it's a bargain. (Just be careful - the booth only takes cash - no checks, no charge.)</p>
<p>Chabad Lubovitch HQ is at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. I don't think they give tours, but you could probably get more info. directly from them: <a href="http://www.chabad.org/centers/default.asp?q=9385_Brooklyn_New%20York_USA__1%5B/url%5D">http://www.chabad.org/centers/default.asp?q=9385_Brooklyn_New%20York_USA__1</a></p>
<p>Even though he's a teen, a visit to the Jewish Children's Museum at 792 Eastern Parkway might be a way to "experience" this Hasidic community: <a href="http://www.jcm.museum/%5B/url%5D">http://www.jcm.museum/</a> </p>
<p>The #3 subway line runs along Eastern Parkway.</p>
<p>However, with limited time, I think the suggestion to go to the Diamond district -- which is in mid-town Manhattan -- is probably a good one if his interest is to "observe" and meet people.</p>
<p>If he has more than one day, one of the most active contemporary hasidic Jewish communities is in Williamsburg, in Brooklyn, across the East River from Manhattan. Walkable from the East Village (but long) or take the L subway line.</p>
<p>Tips: The Met Museum has a 'Suggested' Entry fee--which means that the visitor may donate whatever he feels is appropriate even though the sign says $15 (?) or whatever. $1 entry fee for a student would be appropriate--and the staff are not judgemental about such donations.</p>
<p>Central Park is closed to thru traffic many days of the week. If he gets a chance to walk through it while the streets are closed, he can walk along those quiet streets--along with hundreds of jogging, skating , cycling Manhattanites--and the horse carriages.</p>
<p>The Staten Island Ferry is very inexpensive, swings by the Statue of liberty and Ellis Island and can be reached by subway--or a short walk from the WTC site.</p>
<p>I sent my 17 year old to Africa by himself. He missed his flight home and ran out of money at the same time. A kindly hotel owner, Mohammed Mohammed in Zanzibar, lent him enough money to get to the airport where he was able to call us collect. The dar es Salaam Holiday Inn was kind enought to put his hotel and room service bill on our American Express card. They even lent him $100 and charged that to our bill too. Eventually, he made it home, some two days later.</p>
<p>Thus my confidence that a 17 year old in Manhattan will be alright. It wasn't easy, but we tracked down Mohammed by phone and wired him the money he lent to our son. He said he lent the money because he has sons as well.</p>
<p>We are busy planning!</p>
<p>chedva -- can you tell me a little more about the cheaper tickets available? He would be in times square on Wednesday (but might be later than 10 am, maybe closer to noon). Could he still do it later than 10 am?</p>
<p>How much do tickets generally cost? are they available for most shows and could he pick a date and time in the future, or is it for wednesday shows?</p>
<p>I want him to go to an off-broadway or broadway show if it is feasible.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>The 'tkts' stand is right in the middle of Times Square. Buyers must stand for hours and hours though. <a href="http://www.nyctourist.com/broadway_tkts.asp%5B/url%5D">http://www.nyctourist.com/broadway_tkts.asp</a> </p>
<p>Some theatres like Joseph Papps Public Theater, offer 'Rush Tix'--$20 tickets offered one hour prior to a performance. <a href="http://www.publictheater.org/view.php?mode=seasoneventlisting&seasonid=1%5B/url%5D">http://www.publictheater.org/view.php?mode=seasoneventlisting&seasonid=1</a></p>
<p>Grab a New York or New Yorker magazine and read the reviews of the current shows. Also, check out the descriptions of the previews. Sometimes you can find a great show by paying attention to th edirector and actors involved. In general dramatic theater is less expensive than musical theater.</p>
<p>Also, Off Broadway and Off Off Broadway shows are much less expensive. After narrowing my search, I got some great personal recommendations on this board for the play we saw in April.</p>
<p>OK -- </p>
<p>he has day one planned (we think).</p>
<p>after breakfast, he will head to his hostel (Bowery's Whitehouse Hotel of NY ), check in, drop off his luggage and then head to Times Square.</p>
<p>At Times Square, he will look around and check it out. He has a walking tour in the tour book he has, but he will decide whether to check out what is on the walking tour when he is there. He will eat something for lunch whenever he finds something that looks good (any suggestions? -- he likes all asian foods, seafood, vegetarian).</p>
<p>He will head over to the New York Public Library and go on the one hour guided tour from 2pm -- 3pm. </p>
<p>Then, he will head to 7th avenue between 49th and 50th street to go on a guided tour. ( <a href="http://www.newyorkpartyshuttle.com/new-york-tour-packages/%5B/url%5D">http://www.newyorkpartyshuttle.com/new-york-tour-packages/</a> )</p>
<p>The tour runs from 3:30pm -- 8:30pm and ends at the Empire State Building, where he will go to the observatory.</p>
<p>After the observatory, he will pick up something for dinner (would the Empire Diner be a good place to go?) and then head back to the hostel and be done for the day.</p>
<p>Does this sound reasonable? We will buy the tour ticket and Empire State Building Observatory in advance. He will have a guide book and map with him.</p>
<p>for broadway shows:
student tickets are the best thing ever!!! all you have to do is go to the box office the morning of (they open at 10am), ask if they have student tickets available <a href="http://www.talkinbroadway.com/boards/index.php?category=&rush=show&order=%5B/url%5D">http://www.talkinbroadway.com/boards/index.php?category=&rush=show&order=</a> (this site lists which shows have discounts), show your student ID, and you will get front and center seats for only $25!!!!!</p>
<p>About TKTS - I suggested that he go at 10 because it opens at 11 for the matinees, and the line is actually a little shorter then. But yes, he can go later - they sell for the matinee until about 1:55 (curtain at 2). Then at 3, I think, they open again for the evening shows.</p>
<p>If it's not a Wednesday or Saturday, and there are no matinees, they open around noon or 1 for the evening shows.</p>
<p>TKTS is day of show only; no future tickets.</p>
<p>Also, when making his plans, remember that most theaters are "dark" on Mondays - no shows at all.</p>
<p>Before he goes to the Public Library- he could eat right behind the library in Bryant Park-- snack food-sandwiches available from booths in the Park or across 42nd Streeet from the park, there is a Pret a Manger Sandwich shop with more choices:11 West 42nd Street --fun and pleasant to eat in the park.</p>
<p>Empire Diner is overpriced and touristy. He could take a crosstown bus on 34th Street by the Empire State Building going East to Second Av. Then walk down Second Av as far as 23 rd St (short blocks! 10 min walk) and eat at the Cosmos Diner on the corner--same food, better prices, ordinary New Yorkers eat there too--it's a favorite with cops from the local Police Academy. Or he might pass a place on Second Av that looks better to him--menus and prices almost always displayed in windows. He could then get a bus down Second Av to 3rd St--close to his hotel (or a taxi would not be too expensive either.) If he walks on Third Av instead--around 28/ 29th St are a number of good Indian Restaurants--not too expensive.</p>