Traveling to Atlantic City and NYC...looking for suggestions
 

Hi all! Its been quite awhile since I posted last, hope everyone and their furbabies are doing well. I have been spending most of my time in NJ working-which is quite a way from Alabama!

Anyway, the reason for my post......:) I am hopeful that there are yt'ers out there that might give us some suggestions......

rnnw62 and I will be in Atlantic City the week of October 23rd. She is going to keep me company during a convention I will be attending. We hope to visit NYC on Friday and squeeze alot into a short period of time. I made my first visit(s) to nyc last weekend, I went on Sat and decided to return on Sunday because there is too much to see in such a short period of time. I really loved it!! We will be taking the train from Trenton to Penn STation, I think that is the most simple way to get there, for me anyway! We are hoping to see a show while there and was wondering if anyone knows which theatres are easiest to get to, if you have been to any shows lately-tell us what you thought. Is it best to buy tickets online or wait til we get there and get the "deal of the day".... What area do you recommend for shopping, etc.

Looking forward to hearing your suggestions! Any and all will be appreciated!

C'mon guys with a forum this big someone has to have
some opinions, suggestions or some first hand experience
with these 2 cities...

Cant think of any off the top of my head but all of the theaters in the casinos are easy access

"Beauty and the Beast" is really good. I saw it in august and i absolutely loved it. it stuck to the original disney movie pretty well but the voices of the actors are amazing. I heard "lion king" was a must see but i haven't been able to get tickets cuz most of the time it's sold out unless you buy the really expensive ones for like 200 a pop. I also recommend "rent" and "les miserables" but i think le mis is off theaters now. I"m not sure about how much of a deal you get from buying tickets the day of the show but i usually buy it in advance thru my boyfriend's dad. he gets them from the NYU hospital that offers discounts for employees but if you do a search on google and type in discount broadway tickets you can find some websites that offers discounts rather than going thru ticketmater. if you do go see beauty and the beast make sure you stop by juniors for cheesecake it's one block over but you can see the sign from outside the theater. I perfer the Juniors in Brooklyn but you guys will probably be on a tight schedule so that one will do. As for shopping, You're in NYC where else would you go besides the infamous "Fifth Avenue" all those stores that i can't afford but when it gets dark, it's really beautiful especially during christmas time although you'd have to drag yourself thru the mobs of people. That or you can go treasure hunting at the wholesale places on broadway. most of them will do retail if you ask and since they get them at wholesale prices you won't have to pay for the markups.

Thanks for the suggestions! I can't wait to go back! So much to do, so little time!

I would buy tickets in advance for any NYC show. I've always had the unfortunate luck of trying to see a show on a weekend and it's sold out. I LOVED "Wicked". Shopping on Madison Ave is always a special treat. Barney's NY is my favorite place to shop. The Village is also really fun. And nothing beats a walk in Central Park with a Yorkie!!!!
I'm not that fond of Atlantic City (I work there lol), but the new Ceasars Pier is beautiful. Borgota and The Tropicana have some really cute doggie retail stores too.
Have Fun!!!!!!!

Thanks for the suggestions.
Where do you purchase your tickets in advance from? I have been looking at some of the discount ticket places on line and they sure don't seem to be much of a discount.
What type of shop is Barneys?
I really wish I could take my yorkies, would make my work visits much more tolerable! But I will visit Jake's Dog House at the tropicana, I am hopeful they will start offering me frequent buyer discounts!! Why type of shop is at the Borgata? If its different from Jake's I will have to visit them too. We will be staying at the trump taj a few nights then 1 night at the tropicana.

Thanks again

As far as cheap tickets, happy hunting. Good seats run around 200. Sometimes you can find scalpers, but thats always a gamble, and I always feel like it's a drug deal. lol Try Ebay???
Barney's is a high end department store. Top designers all in one place. While I could never afford to spend a fortune, although that can happen after picking out a few pairs of jeans, I love to just roam the several floors of couture clothing and pretend like I could buy the entire place if I wanted to. Hey, if you're only in NY every blue moon, you HAVE to experience the mecca of NY fashion. Well, if thats what you're into. There are plenty of other more relaxed areas in NY. Chinatown is always good for knockoffs and good deals.
The Borgata has this jewlery/doggie retail store. Sometimes they have alot of doggie stuff, sometimes not. They have BEAUTIFUL puppy purses. Everything is way over priced, you can find the same products online for half the price. The Borgata is really out of the way and requires a cab ride or a trip in your car, Jake's Dog House is much nicer and since you'll be staying at Trop, there's nowhere to travel.
Let me know if you can find any cheap tickets! You've prompted me to find some of my own!!

BTW, is this your first time in AC? Either of you?

It's my first time anywhere East. Not sure how many times
Renee has been in AC but I am sure she will also respond
with those numbers.

I have been to the tropicana several times while working in NJ, stayed there once and I have spent a few nights at the hilton for work also...for some reason rooms were cheap and we felt up to the drive, approx 1 hr each way. I loved the hilton, but then again it was all luck. For some reason my room was upgraded and I stayed in a suite fit for a star so I will always remember it fondlyl!

There is a site online for last minute discount tickets. I saw mama mia and a few others for 60+ so I guess that was a pretty good price? I can get them through american express site for 111 for premium seating...I choked, guess this Alabama girl needs to get out more.

Im in AC all the time but I dont go any further then the casinos and the shopping center

Where do you shop? Which casinos do you prefer?

Thanks for info!

For NYC:

Beauty and the Beast is a good one! (and it's a plus that Donny Osmond is in right now) It's theatre (I forget the name right now) is VERY close to Time's Square. Also, WICKED (is my favorite) and that's at the Gershwin Theatre. That show would definetly be best to buy tickets for online, but I'm not sure if there are any available right now, because it might be sold out.
You could also go to TKTS and get the 2 for 1 deal. (2 tickets for the price of one.) HAVE FUN!

EDIT: To find tickets for a show just look on TicketMaster.com :)

I checked for tickets for Wicked, not sure if thats the show you're definatly interested in, and I did find some sites that have seats available for the week that you're there. The book was AMAZING. I have never been so enthralled by a fairy tale book. The way the author wrote, painted such a vivid picture of color. I was very pleased by the theater adaptation.
Since you ladies, or one of you, have already been to AC, I don't feel the need to warn you too much. Atlantic City is NOTHING like Las Vegas and is a very dangerous area. If you need to leave the casino, take a taxi (they're only $7 to go anywhere in the city). If you want to walk around, I IMPLORE you to bring a male companion (maybe a co-worker that will be in for the convention?). It is not safe for two women to be walking around. Even though there are casinos a few blocks apart, those few blocks ARE FILLED with drug dealers, pimps, and prostitutes on every corner. It's getting cold in NJ right now, so the homeless and crack addicts are starting to come out and beg for money VERY AGGRESSIVLY. If someone begs for money, GIVE NO EYE CONTACT AND JUST KEEP WALKING, THEY WILL WATCH HOW MUCH YOU HAVE IN YOUR PURSE OR POCKET. We hear about and see alot of people robbed and beated or worst, stabbed. I don't want to frighten you, I'm sorry if I am, but I wish I could warn more people prior to their visit to AC. We see alot of sweet southern folks get the hard lesson of Atlantic City in the wrong way. During the day, it's not that bad at all. It's the nighttime that you should be VERY vigilint. I have seen some very tramatising things in AC, that I would never wish on anyone else. WHEN YOU ARE STAYING AT THE TROPICANA, DO NOT TRY TO WALK TO THE TRUMP! I have been working there for years, and only once did I make that mistake. If you decide to walk anywhere, use the boardwalk, it is MUCH safer that the strip along the street.
Ok, I'm done preaching. lol Sorry about that lol.
But you should really take in the new Ceasars Pier. It is BEAUTIFUL. Just about the only pretty thing in AC.

I live about 45 minutes from Atlantic City and I really like the Tropicana and the Borgata but I go mostly for the nightlife. The Tropicana has some nice restaurants, PF Changs & Carmine's.

The pier is REALLY nice with high-end stores, here is a listing of everything there: http://www.thepieratcaesars.com/nowopen.aspx

I love going to NYC, I have seen both Wicked & Hairspray. I LOVED Wicked, Hairspray was good too. I try to get my tickets discounted online, you can try www.broadwaybox.com for some discounts. Most of the discounts are during the week, at least the better ones. I am DYING to see Mamma Mia but everyone I know has seen it.

Like someone else mentioned, Fifth Avenue is GREAT for shopping--Barneys, Tiffanys, Chanel, etc...a lot of the higher end stores. If you do get a chance, you should try Serendipity, just like the movie! They are FAMOUS for their hot chocolate: http://www.serendipity3.com/main.htm

Have fun!!!

Cant wait to check out those places, serendipity sounds great! I think I am becoming obsessed with finding tickets for Wicked, since you have already seen it what other show have you seen that has come close?

the color purple is great. the best show i've ever seen. theater at it's best.:thumbup:

Thanks for all the suggestions! HOwever, it isn't making it any easier to choose!!!

Hi all, thanks so much for all the great suggestions for our trip to AC and NYC! We had a great time! We started off by helping the casinos in AC stay in business with our generous donations. We went to NYC Thursday and put in as many hours as possible, we got back to hotel around 4am. We went to the Walter Kerr theatre to see Gray Garden and I was lucky enough to talk to Angela Lansbury on my way back from intermission.
We did brave the subway system, and that certainly made travel around the city easier...except when it comes to climb all the steps leading up from the subway!
It will take us a while to recuperate...but then will have to figure out how to do it again!