Travel & Stay

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Travel & Stay *

TownePlace Suites by Marriott

561 President St.
Brooklyn, New York 11215

What to expect: a quiet neighborhood, spacious rooms, Brooklyn like a local (you’ll be 2 blocks from our house!)

Website
Room Block - Book Here!

Lodging Recommendations

Even Hotel by IHG

46 Nevins St.
Brooklyn, New York 11217

What to expect: amenities, proximity to Manhattan, more urban atmosphere, less subway wait times

Website
Room Block - Book Here!

Airports

All New York City airports will get you to this part of town in similar time.

  • John F. Kennedy International Airport (Queens)

  • Newark LIberty International Airport (New Jersey)

  • Laguardia Airport (Queens)

Expect thirty minutes to one hour in a taxi or uber (depending on traffic) or about an hour and twenty minutes using public transit. See the FAQ page for more airport tips.

Things To Do

Master List

We’ve compiled dozens of recommendations throughout the city, but especially in the neighborhoods surrounding the venues. See this PDF or click through the below map.

Our Ideal 48 Hours in NYC

Day 1

AM Upper West Side / Old-School New York Morning 

  • Get a bagel and coffee (H&H Bagels and Pop Up Bagels are about a 10 min walk from the park and The Met)

  • Walk through Central Park. If its not freezing, find a bench to eat your bagel and people watch.

  • Go to The Met Museum 

  • Get lunch at Café Sabarsky or Bemelman’s Bar

    • TIP: Get reservations for all restaurants you want to go to (and early!).

  • If you have energy: Take the train or Uber south to see the Rockefeller Center Tree

  • Then, watch people ice skate 

  • Warm up by walking through 30 Rock to appreciate the art deco architecture, or hopping into FAO Schwartz to see toys. 

    • TIP: Rockefeller Center is the thing to do in NYC during Christmas week. It will be very crowded. If you don’t like crowds, skip this part or go very early in the morning.

  • Relax at your hotel before… 

PM Gowanus and Park Slope Local Night Out 

  • Pre-dinner drinks at Bar Goto Niban (or another recommended bar or brewery)

  • Dinner at Liar Liar (or another recommended restaurant) 

  • Catch a comedy show at Union Hall

  • Stick around Union Hall after to play bocce ball and sip a glass of wine or hot cider by the fireplace

 
Other Things We’d Recommend:

  • The Highline (Chelsea)

  • The Whitney Museum (Chelsea)

  • Jazz at the Roxy Hotel or the Django (TriBeCa)

  • Movie at Nitehawk Cinema (Park Slope) or the Metrograph (Lower East Side)

  • High Tea at the Plaza Hotel (Central Park East)

  • Holiday street market shopping (Various areas)

Day 2

AM West Village Brunch and Shop

  • Sleep in :)

  • Brunch in West Village at Bandits or Olio e Piu

  • Shop in the West Village. Some ideas:

    • Goods for the Study (stationary, desk supplies)

    • Three Lives and Co. (books) 

    • Pink Olive (gifts, stationary) 

    • Big Night (party supplies) 

    • Hamlet’s Vintage (vintage clothing)

    • Generation Records (records)

  • Grab a hot chocolate from the first cafe you find and enjoy it in Washington Square Park by the christmas tree

  • Warm up at your hotel before…

PM Dinner and a Show

  • Dinner in Chelsea (where we used to live!) at Cafe Chelsea or Motel Morris. 

  • If you have time to spare, grab a martini at the Lobby Bar at Hotel Chelsea, or Undercote. 

  • Take the subway 15 min to Times Square to see a Broadway show. Our recommendations: 

    • Gypsy (for classic Broadway) 

    • Maybe Happy Ending (for something hot and new - robots!)

    • Lion King (worth seeing if you haven't! Good for families.)

    • The Rockettes (not Broadway, but classic NYC during Christmastime. Good for families.) 

  • After the show, walk around Times Square  

  • Optional: nightcap drink in the area at Pebbles Bar or Russian Vodka Room OR, grab a soft pretzel at a food cart!