American Girl

A great place to go with kids or with a few girl friends is the American Girl store in Manhattan. The dolls are beautiful, they have a hospital, a photo studio, and a hair salon (for the dolls). If you're looking for an activity for the adults, there is an adorable restaurant in the top of the store. Check it out, it's a great girly thing to do in the city.










Store Address
609 Fifth Avenue at 49th Street
New York, NY 10017
1-877-247-5223

Store Hours

* Mon–Thur: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
* Fri: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
* Sat: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
* Sun: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Row, row, row your boat in Central Park

One thing that I always find surprising about NYC is the number of boating activities that there are. A great way to spend a sunny afternoon in NYC is by heading to the Boat House in Central Park and renting a row boat.

You get to walk through the park, and maybe make a few detours, as well as getting to row on the lake with the fabulous NYC skyline as a backdrop. Consider bringing a snack or beverages for the boat ride, or for a picnic on the lawn afterwards.

Info:

Location: East 72nd St. & Park Drive North

Phone: 212-517-2233

Hours: April 15 through October 31 - Daily 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM - Weather permitting

Price: Each rowboat is $10 per hour. Each additional half-hour is $5. There is a $30 deposit per boat.A single rowboat holds up to 4 people.

Directions: Take the 6 train to 68th street. Walk North to 72nd street and then East to Central Park. Check the Central Park Boat House website here for a good map.

Not dead yet

I seem to have abandoned this blog. I think my first attempt was simply too big. From now on, my suggestions will on a much smaller scale.

Lets see how it goes ...

Restaurant Week 2009 - Extended

If you went out for dinner in NYC every single evening for your entire life, you could eat at a different restaurant every single evening. Unfortunately, B and I have our regular haunts and we have trouble convincing ourselves to deviate from our favorites. However, when Restaurant Week rolls around we are usually able to get ourselves to try something new.

I was very happy this morning when I read that Restaurant Week 2009 is being extended. Click HERE for more details about which restaurants are participating in the extended RW.

Follow this Link for more information about the "regularly scheduled" Restaurant Week.

Macaroni and Cheese Nirvana - S'mac

Another of my favorite places, S'mac is a great food option in the city that is wallet friendly. You will leave S'mac full, happy, and better yet, the damage will only be $8-$12 per person. My favorite is the alpine with extra bacon. The cheeseburger mac n' cheese is another favorite.

Don't get discouraged if there is a line and no place to sit when you walk in. The turn over is pretty quick, so by the time your mac n' cheese is ready to be eaten, you'll have a table.

If you eat your mac n' cheese at the restaurant, you will be given a number so that the waiters can find you when your mac n' cheese is finished. The cheesy goodness is served in a cast iron skillet that has baked to perfection keeping the outside crispy and the inside ooey gooey (this is technical jargon).

If the weather is nice, consider ordering your mac n' cheese to go and head over to Tompkins Square Park a few blocks away (Avenues A to B, and East 7 to East 10 streets).

You might not believe me when you see the cast iron dishes, but a Nosh sized mac n' cheese is more than enough for one person. However, if you have a little room after you've finished, consider heading over to ChikaLicious (203 E. 10th St.) or the Dessert Club (204 E. 10th Street) for dessert.

Warning, these are not activities for those who are on a diet. However, if you want to take the weekend off from your diet, S'mac is definitely worth it!

Info:
Website: http://www.smacnyc.com/
Location: 345 East 12th Street (btw 1st and 2nd Avenue), NY, NY 10003
Phone: 212-358-7912
Hours: Sunday - Thursday 11:00am - 11:00pm; Friday - Saturday 11:00am - 1:00am
Directions: Take the L train to 14th Street and 1st Avenue; 6 train to Astor Place (short walk), or take any of the trains that stop at Union Square (short walk).

Cause baby it's cold outside

When it's cold outside, I want comfort food. There aren't many foods that I find more comforting than chocolate. Mmmm... Cho-co-late....

The Chocolate Room has been a long standing staple in Park Slope, however I don't generally stray that far so I was thrilled when they recently opened a second location in Cobble Hill. When you arrive, you are greeted with water and a free sample of a chocolate treat (there are also generally free samples at the to go counter).

The dessert menu has a little something for everyone. If you don't like chocolate, don't worry, there is ice-cream, milkshakes, cookies, even wine and beer (both alcohol and root) on the menu to make and keep you happy.

Whether you're out with the kids, a few friends, or you're on a date, the Chocolate Room is a Cobble Hill must do. In fact, why not make a stop at the Cobble Hill movie theater next door for a blockbuster or independent flick before or after your chocolate treats to round out your day.

This place is so tasty that a few of my friends from Queens have taken 2 pilgrimages to Brooklyn in the last month, simply for the Chocolate Brown Sundae. They came, they ate, they conquored, they drove back to Queens, but not before making a date with me to meet them at the Chocolate room in two weeks.

Information
Website: http://www.thechocolateroombrooklyn.com/
Hours: 12:00 - 11:00pm (Midnight on Friday's and Saturdays)
Location: 269 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: 718-246-2600
Directions: Google Map Link

Ice skating in the city

Most people have had the opportunity to go ice-skating while growing up, but there is something that is just extra special about ice skating in NYC. The ability to glide on the ice while looking at the sky scrapers surrounding you make ice skating in New York such a novelty.

This is a great way to break up a day of eating, shopping, and show seeing and it is a great option for people who like to keep your body moving, have kids, or need something romantic to do on a date.

Luckily, there are a lot of ice skating options in NYC to suit a variety of geographic limitations, budgets, and scenery preferences.

Brooklyn Info:

Prospect Park Ice skating:

Website: http://www.prospectpark.org/ice_skating

Season: November 26 - March 15

Hours: M: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.; T: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. ; W: 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. ; Th: 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.; F: 8:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. ; Sat: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; 2 – 6 p.m.; 7 – 10 p.m.; Sun: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; 2 – 6 p.m. (weather permitting - call (718) 287-6431 for updates)

Price: Adults: $5; Children (14 and under) & Seniors: $3; Skate Rental: $6.50

Location: In Prospect Park near the Parkside Avenue/Ocean Avenue entrance of the Park.

Directions: • Q, S, or B Train to Prospect Park station • B-41 bus to Flatbush Ave. and Ocean Ave. • B-43 bus to Ocean Ave. and Lincoln Rd. • B-48 bus to Lincoln Rd.

Manhattan Info

Wollman Rink in Central Park

Website: http://www.wollmanskatingrink.com/main_wollman.htm
Location:
Season:
Hours: M & T: 10:00am - 2:30pm; W & Th: 10:00am - 10:00pm; F & Sat: 10:00am - 11:00pm; Sun: 10:00am - 9:00pm.
Price: Adults: $10 - $14; Children: $5.25-$ 5.50; Seniors: $ 4.75-$8.25; Skate Rentals: $6 (tax incl.); Lock Rental: $ 4.25- $ 6; Spectator Fee: $5 (Deposit).
Directions:

Subway: Take the A, B, C, D, 1, 9 to 59th St; Take the N, R to 5th Ave.; Take the B, Q to
57th Street

Best Entrance: Central Park South (59th Street) and 6th Avenue. Wollman Rink is a two
minute walk into Central Park from this entrance. Follow the footpath directly into the park.


Rockefeller Center Rink

Website: http://www.patinagroup.com/east/iceRink/
Location: Enter from Fifth Avenue (Between 49th and 50th Streets)
Price: $19 for Adults, $12.50 for Children (under 11), and $9 skate rental.
Hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00am - 10:30pm, Friday - Saturday 8:30am - Midnight, Sunday 8:30am - 10:00pm
Directions: B, D, F, V at Rockefeller Center, 47-50 Streets


Bryant Park Rink

Website: http://www.thepondatbryantpark.com/
Location: located in Bryant Park, which is located between 40th and 42nd Streets and 5th and 6th Avenues.
Season: October 24, 2008 through January 25, 2009
Hours: Sunday - Thursday: 8am - 10pm; Friday & Saturday: 8am - Midnight
Price: General Admission: FREE; Skate Rentals: $12 Lockers: FREE; Locks: $9
Directions: B,D,F,V,7 to 42nd St., Bryant ParkA,C,E,1,2,3,N,R,Q,W to Times Square4,5,6 to Grand Central Station


I know that there are other rinks in the city, so if you know of one, please let the information in the comments.