tedders55

Probably more window shopping. We may end up more on Madison if 5th Ave is as bad as you say, but this is really just time to dick around a bit. Who knows maybe we'll eat early and come out and "shop" afterward. Kind of like just leaving this as a bit of flex time. Yeah I thought about that, it does seem a little silly plus the point is to see as much of the city as possible. I suppose weather could be an issue, but I'll worry about that then. I know we need time to move from place to place, I just was putting together a preliminary list. The Wife is great at building all of that stuff into things, so this is in her hands now. Good suggestion as that was the idea of going up there early. BTW, this itinerary is in the hands of the wife and could change completely. Also, I strongly considering getting a CityPass, it would include tix to the cruise and top of the rock so that would alleviate ticket concerns. Any thoughts on that program? I do realize that the Met and I think the AMNH are suggested donation, but going to everything else still makes it a deal.

So this is my tentative schedule. I only planned things during the day, dinner and everything else i am going to decide upon later. There has to be something here that doesn't work after all this is my first crack at it. Also, if I should substitute something let me know and why. Thursday Arrive LGA 9:45 AM collect bags Q33 bus -> Roosevelt Station 30 min bus ride (leaves LGA every 10 min E train to Manhattan 10-15 min ride (leaves every5-6min) Arrive @ hotel @11 11:30 Manhattan Centre, 51st between 5th and 6th ave. Lunch 12-12:45 MoMA 1-3pm 5th ave shopping 4-6pm Dinner Friday Circle Line 2 hr Cruise 10am Lunch @ times sq. 12-1pm N train to 5th 59th @1:00pm Walk central park to the met 1-2pm Metropolitan Museum 2-5pm Saturday American Museum of Natural History 9:30-12am Lunch 12-1230 Walk across Central Park 86 st station, 4 train Lower Manhattan Walking tour @ 2:00 pm Take A/C @ Chambers to High St Brooklynn @4 Walk into Manhattan on Brooklynn Bridge Sunday Top of the rock 9:00 Walk to Grand Central Station 12:00 Lunch @ grand central Arrive at LGA 4:30pm Fly out of NYC 6pm Bit of open time here, but dont want to commit to too much right before we leave. Also was thinking of doing Empire State Building one night, maybe after dinner.

I was going to mention this. Really hope they do well, and the new paint job makes the place much more open. The purple of Double Donuts was to dark for such a small space. Yellow/Orange, brighter colors work better, it doesnt feel so small

^ What is the status of the engineering study? Has it even started yet? When is it expected to be completed?

I've tried to explain that to him multiple times, but he just doesn't get it. He'd rather continue the fear tactic of throwing around the scary $400 million number even though it's meaningless for this discussion. Since you guys are continually taking my statements out of context to respond to, I’ll just leave it with this: if ODOT matched the $400 million, I’d probably be more supportive of the project. To make it simple, these are my concerns: 3-C could be an inferior service under the current plans, people will have bad experiences, and that will severely hamper public support for future rail projects (including improving the 3-C). My only statement about the $400 million was that it’s a lot of money to spend if it is on a mistake, but you can keep lumping me into your typical stereotype of anti-rail people if you don’t want to actually read my posts. The same could, and should be said, about most highway projects. But I do understand what you are saying. Creating an inferior experience from the outset could be detrimental. Hopefully the more detailed engineering study that is about to start can answer more of the questions that are out there. But is we create a service that doesn't meet people's expectations, and (this is important) doesn't have a clear plan for improving performance then there could be a sizable resistance to making those improvements.

^isn't adding more runways equivalent to expanding highway lanes to reduce congestion? wouldn't this run into the same problem?

That lobby looks nice. I bet it looks even better when you use a modern camera, not the original Polaroid Camera from the '60s.

opps, yeah. They are also a 500 seat theater and host the Great Lakes Theater. So Ideally I think that could be the future for the Allen, after all Cleveland Playhouse will be there now.

"It's a Trap!!" The Old Miss Admiral Ackbar commercial has been on my mind recently and thats all I can think of. Surprisingly that quote feels like it is actually on topic for the conversation.

^well i've never been to an "off Broadway" complex so I can't compare. But with the involvement of CSU, smaller theaters are going to be needed just for their student run projects. Typically these are very small productions and putting them in a 2500 seat theater would make it seem empty, whereas the small "lab theater" (150 seats) would make these performances seemed much more well attended. I think that this will bring more life into the theater district as there will be different distinct venues for a variety of performances. The State and Palace can hold larger traveling shows, the Ohio has 1000 seats which is good for a variety of events, and the reconfigured Allen with stages of 500, 300, and 150 will provide that smaller setting for more local and regional acts.

isnt that why it is considered a CSA and not a MSA?

Smaller theaters also are easier to sell for more independent productions. Smaller shows can come in and be profitable. If you only have to sell 75% of a 1000 seats thats a lot easier than 75% of 2500 (i don't know if this is even close to what the ratio needs to be, but you get the idea).

Seconded, Thirded, whatever I'm tired of looking at that smoot covered building. Would look so much better.

Unless you've paid for your hotel, I would strong suggest moving. STRONGLY. When our office was in Rock Center we wouldn't book staff coming in there! Just get the 7 day pass. TRUST ME. You'll need it. You'll need it to ride the subway & bus. NYC is a walking city so you may take the train to one place, walk to another, hop on the train somewhere else. In addition, like every NYC first-timer, you're going to enter the subway going in the wrong directino you want at least once. Lastly, I'm sure you wont be taking cabs, as they are slower than the trains and more expensive. Well, it is paid for. Basically it came down to there and The DoubleTree Metropolitan. Based on the Trip Advisor reviews, and that this is more central, I choose there. Ok looks like the 7 Day Pass is going to be what we go with. So is a cab or shared bus the best way to get to Manhattan from LGA? I had been looking at transit, but that is a lot of running around (makes you realize how nice it is to have transit right to the airport).

So we are going to be staying in the Manhattan Centre Hotel, just off Rockefeller Plaza. Wonder if anyone has stayed there and/ or had any thoughts on the place. What sold me was it's central location. Everything else was further south or east than I wanted to be. Plus when being a true tourist it helps tremendously to be in the center. I am still torn on a MTA 7 day pass or pay as you go. it would appear that in order for the 7 day pass to be worth it 14 trips by transit would have to be taken. well really only 10 trips as we will use up four going back and forth from the airport. maybe I just answered my own question.

^ regarding meeting people, I'd suggest joining a skiing, rowing, etc club. Anything that you have an interest in may have a club in the area. Not sure if there is a listing of all the different club/social organizations in the area, but Google is a powerful tool. :)

^ Ahh yes, got the two mixed up. Even when I worked there I think I'd get them mixed up.

Sorry, yeah did mean DT. It was obvious in my brain why cant everyone figure that out??

The doughnut shop next radio shack, that closed about a year ago I think, looks like it may be getting a new tenant. Fresh coat of paint on the walls, Yellow looks much better in there than the dark purple that was there previously.

My bet would be where SkyLab used to be a long time ago. Recently I think it was one of those giant trampoline things. I haven't been to KI in a few years so there could have been something placed there, but that would be my guess.

There is usually a large contingent of Clevenders that go to UD. From Ignatius, Ed's, and other catholic schools in the area (a lot of my Cleveland friends went to Padua). Usually it seemed that Dayton was the back up for those that didn't get into Notre Dame.

Regarding the MLS expansion, that is really a non starter. In the next few years they will have 19 teams (expansion in Portland, Vancouver, and Montreal) with focus on the 20th team being in NYC. I think once they get to that point they will hold off on expansion (or at least should), which has occurred very rapidly. Anyway this is off topic, but its not going to happen in the next 3-4 years. Now, in my opinion, if CSU football gets going and creates some momentum to the point that they could feasibly build a 15-20K stadium and fill it, which would likely be 10 years down the line, then it could be an option.

^ Don't think so, maybe some consolidation. Most of the employees that are moving to Higbee are the ones from the May Co building, which I believe had a larger footprint and more of a standard cubicle feel. They are talking about moving some people from their E 9th building over there. Not sure if it was right away or possibly in the future.

Ok, while everyone is praising the virtues of MTA and taking the subway around town, the wife brought up a good point in that most of the interesting things in the world are above ground. She went to San Fran not that long ago with family (all girls, cousins and aunts) and they did a Hop on Hop off sightseeing tour. Apparently this was a bit of an unexpected hit with everyone. Looking for NYC there seems to be a couple of places that have 48hr privileges, which would eliminate our need for a week long MTA pass and (hopefully) provide interesting facts about the surroundings that us Tourists would enjoy. The Downtown Loop: Stops include Empire State Building, Greenwich Village, SoHo, Little Italy, Chinatown, Financial District, Battery Park (departure point for Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island ferry), South Street Seaport, Times Square, Rockefeller Plaza, Radio City, United Nations, 42nd Street, St. Patrick.s Cathedral & Fifth Avenue. Anyway, what is everyone's thought on these?

McSorleys, Burp Castle, and Key Bar. There we go three mid day bars. I'm done the wife can plan the rest.