I am a travel guru in Portland, OR. I am celebrating my 60th birthday in NYC at Thanksgiving. Checking the parade and Rockettes off my bucket list. Want to eat at River Cafe and 21. I have been to NY several times but looking for any hot new ideas.
If you want to celebrate yours in Portland- ask me!
0 Answers
avonlady wrote on :
New York Museum of Natural History.
Yes, recommend places to go in Portland. would like to go there some day soon.
Marcia Miller wrote on :
Powell’s Bookstore – largest independent bookstore in the country
Chinese Garden – a haven in the middle of downtown, great any season
Washington Park – with International Rose Test Garden and view
Japanese Garden – in Washington Park
Shopping, shopping, shopping – we have NO sales tax
Saturday Market –
Waterfront with Sternwheeler cruise
Multnomah Falls – half hour out of town
Pacific Ocean – 1.5 hours from town
Timberline Lodge/Mt Hood – 1 from town
Make the loop up I-84 to the falls, Bonneville dam and its fish ladders and hatchery, then around the Fruit Loop (apples and cherries) behind Mt Hood to Timberline and back down to Portland
East side distillery tour
Visit one of the many micro breweries for local beer
Visit Oregon wine country just 30 minutes out of town
When you decide to actually come – contact me again with the type of things that interest you!
Susan Lockwood wrote on :
River Cafe is awesome even in the pouring rain at a window table which our daughter secured for us. Tenement Museum is not to miss as is Grand Central Station where you can grab a bite to eat at Michael Jordan’s (I had lunch). Eataly is amazing even if you don’t dine there. Have a great time!!!
Marcia Miller wrote on :
Thank you so much. So much to do and SO little time.
Sharon Nord wrote on :
That’s why NYC always demands you make several trips! Whatever you do have a great time and let us know about it. P.S. when at Eataly have the gelato.
Marcia Robinson wrote on :
Hi, Hope you’re here long enough to take advantage of all the wonderful suggestions you’ve been given.
karen mazza wrote on :
You must walk the Highline on the west side. It is the old elevated rail line that was turned into a park.
Marcia Miller wrote on :
Yes, I have been reading a lot about the new Highline park. Let’s hope the November weather cooperates. Thank you
Sharon Nord wrote on :
Wow great suggestions from everyone, now I have a new list of places to try! thanks
Marcia Robinson wrote on :
Thanksgiving might not be the greatest time because it’s usually considered a family holiday and most of the better restaurants have price-fixed dinners. Ginagina has a great idea but just to make sure, I’d call any of the restaurants prior to your setting out to see if they’re open, have Thanksgiving price-fixed dinner, etc. or you can check this out on their web sites. Right now it might be a little too early to find out.
Marcia Miller wrote on :
Good ideas, thank you
Alexis Marnel wrote on :
what is also very fun to do is do a “gourmet food truck crawl” – google NYC food trucks or Zagat food trucks – some of the best food and very fun to do. I’m partial to Rickshaw Dumplings, The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck, Van Lleuwyens Ice cream, Paro’s Turkish Tacos and Waffles ‘n Dinges and they are all over different areas. Now if you would like to venture into Astoria may I suggest Cavo Restaurant..they have a heated outdoor restaurant so you feel like you are enjoying a nice al fresco dinner in athens! Plus the other great museum in Astoria is Museum of the Moving Image…interactive and fun! And feel free to check in w/me two weeks before your arrival as new things are always cropping up. Look up the schedules for what is happening at these venues: Symphony Space (which has a very nice cafe as well) and The Joyce theater. If you like shopping check out the Housing works thrift shops – beautiful furniture, accessories, clothes, everything, and the monies go to people living with HIV/AIDS http://www.shophousingworks.com
Marcia Miller wrote on :
That is so funny. Portland is famous for its food trucks. So I will feel right at home.
Marcia Miller wrote on :
Got an idea for Thanksgiving dinner after the parade?
Alexis Marnel wrote on :
what area are you staying in? Let me know and I can think of a place..and reserve right away!
Alexis Marnel wrote on :
Oh and if you go the night before the parade dress warmly and go to the parade area and you will see them preparing the floats/balloons/etc.
Marcia Miller wrote on :
We will be in Chelsea.
Marcia Miller wrote on :
That is in our plans. I hoped to see it from a horse-carriage but I understand the area may be closed to them.
Alexis Marnel wrote on :
here’s a list of restaurants to check out in Chelsea and see if they are open on thanksgiving – Collichio and Sons; Moran’s Chelsea; Rub. Also see if Mesa Grill (Bobby Flay restaurant is open) and Mario Battali’s restuarant (which I call a theater experience) Eataly. Mesa and Eataly are in Tribeca… I would call them now, see if they are serving and make a reservation now..google Chelsea restaurants or Zagat or the restaurants themselves as they have the menus, phones, etc. Check out http://www.urbanspoon.com and http://www.tastingtable.com for recommendations/restaurant info..somethings up with my computer otherwise I would have given you more websites to look up.
Robin Roth wrote on :
I’ve had a couple of lovely Thanksgiving dinners at Blue Water Grill, Union Square at 16th Street, 212.675.9500. Even though their specialty is seafood, the carnivores among us were quite pleased with the holiday menu, too. A couple of other suggestions for things to do in or near Chelsea: if you’re interested in arts of other cultures, the beautiful Rubin Museum on W. 17th Street (former site of Barneys) displays painting, sculpture, textiles, etc. from Tibet and the Himalayas. Their lovely cafe is also recommended. If weather permits, you can get a fresh new look at the city strolling along the elevated High Line, which runs from the west side meatpacking district to 34th Street between 10th & 11th Aves. The lower section opened a couple of years ago, and the upper opened this June. Entrance points are every 2-3 blocks between 14th & 16th Sts; some have elevator access.
Lina Perl wrote on :
I know exactly the place! Cookshop restaurant is right in Chelsea–right next to the HIghline and it does a fabulous thanksgiving dinner. here’s the website: http://cookshopny.com/
Marcia Miller wrote on :
You are awesome. Now if you can get the stars fixed for the gurus you will be my hero.
Marcia Miller wrote on :
Great ideas.
Sharon Nord wrote on :
Well my recommendation would be to get off the beaten path and head/run downtown to the Lower East Side. The bars are interesting with tons of personality and the people are all New York. Go to the Tenament Museum on Orchard Street, Barcaro (an old Chinese Gambling Den) for a fabulous and reasonable dinner, Apotheke 9 Doyers Street for some great Mixology and amibance and then over to Schiller’s Liquor Bar for some sticky toffee pudding for dessert.
Marcia Miller wrote on :
Super. Got any ideas for Thanksgiving dinner?
Sharon Nord wrote on :
Well let’s think my first choice would probably be, Freemans on Rivington Street (LES of course). The food is excellent and the decor interesting, think lots of taxidermy – I know sounds gross but you won’t be disappointed it is fabulous.
Marcia Robinson wrote on :
Best restaurants in NY are Union Square, Gotham Bar & Grill, Eleven Madison, and Riverpark. You can just type in their names and get their menus. These are just some of the top-rated restaurants in NY. Gramercy Tavern for lunch is really good but you’d have to come early.
Marcia Miller wrote on :
Great, THANKS!
Rita Connelly wrote on :
I love the Momofuku restaurants. For a casual Asian spin, it’s Momofuku SSam
Bar. Love the pork buns ther but I have to say everything I’ve had there wowed me. A little fancier and more expensive is Ma Peche, in Midtown. The menu changes seasonally, but if the ribs are on the menu order them.
Other choices Second Avenue Deli or Grammercy Tavern for lunch and
Lupa for amazing
Italian
Marcia Miller wrote on :
Thank you, good ones.
Marcia Miller wrote on :
Yummy, I’d better start dieting now!
Alexis Marnel wrote on :
have you booked your hotel yet? I love the Paramount Hotel – a great sexy boutiquqe hotel in the theater district. if you are coming around thanksgiving and want to see a show – Godspell is opening in October and tix are on sale now and there is a great new play called StickFly that will be opening on BWAY as well. check out the show Fuerza Brueta – lots of fun. Every day of the week a museum has a free day sponsored by Target. My favorites are the Studio Museum in Harlem (free every Sunday) and Red Rooster restaurant in Harlem is a great follow up to that. Museo Del Barrio also has a free night with salsa dancing (just can’tremember the day off the top of my head); Orso’s restaurant in theater district – a bit expensive but worth it! And if you are here on the first Saturday of the month The Brooklyn Museum does First Night Saturdays (also free/sponsored by Target) and they have movie screenings, different bands, dancing, and you can drink wine and walk around the museum. Avenue Q and Million Dollar Quartet moved from Broadway to Off-Broadway at New World Stages Theater (which has a great bar that is run by Time Out magazine); So those are some ideas off the top of my head. enjoy!
Marcia Miller wrote on :
Great ideas, thank you