American Girl Doll Store in NYC

[bluey]

I'm no expert on the subway system, but you might want to look at the maps on the subway system to see if there are park and rides on the North end. I lived on the south end of the city.

This link will get you to maps:
http://manhattan.about.com/gi/dynam...0&zu=http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/submap.htm

I think subway lines 1,2, 4,5 and 6 originate in the North, so i'd focus with what facilities they have at the end of those routes.

As for the theatre district, it used to be porno alley but now it's more like Disney World and seems a lot more family friendly these days. It's a lot more upscale than when i used to live there. It's real nice now. I'd recommend that you pick a show you like that is kid friendly and go. Tickets are pretty expensive (they could run $200 apiece or higher). I'd start looking for tickets now before you settle on a date because availability could be an issue that pushes ticket prices higher. At certain times of the year, deals are better and you can get more affordable tix.

And don't bring you're chickens....The RATS are HUGE!!!!

 

[ruth]

For many years I've taught a seminar in NY every month - used to be in WTC and I stayed in Hilton Millenium across the street. 9/11 changed all that - my seminar was scheduled for 9/13 (close call). Since then I still go occassionally because I love NY so - but I go on my $, which means I go cheap. You can still get a room in Times Square for a little over $100 a night and then take the subway, on every corner, to anywhere you want to go for $1.00. Get on Expedia or Orbitz and do a search for rooms. There is a TKTS booth in Times Square, across from Edison Hotel (one of my favorite places to stay and eat) - where tickets can be bought for that day's or night's performance at half price.

There's so much to do - have fun. I've taken my kids many times and it can be done for cheap. Eat at the diners where they have everything you can imagine on menu for cheap. Walk through Central Park - the area where John Lennon used to live, across from the Dakota hotel where he was killed - it has "Imagine" in mosaic in entrance to Central Park - lots of things to do in NY that don't cost $$$$. Just window shopping on Fifth Avenue, and it's walking distance from Times Square. If you get a chance, take the subway to China Town and buy bootleg Coach, Rolex, etc. items for souveniers - don't forget to haggle with them - don't pay more than $10 for a Rolex or $35/40 for a Coach/Chanel/designer bag. Then you can walk to WTC site from there. There's the NY museum and libraray - the one from Ghostbusters. The list is endless. I would do all of the above before going to a doll store - but that's just me - I try to show my kids the educational/historical side of things.

If you need any other suggestions, just ask. NY is one of my favorite places to visit (and I've been all over the world) -but I certainly wouldn't want to live in NY - I value the peace and seclusion of my farm in the country too much. But I went to NY strictly as a tourist/visitor about a month ago with my daughter, who now travels there on her business, and it was so great to have the whole week free, without working, and just getting to play tourist.

 

[bluey]

It's funny you mention the Coach bags, ruth. That's what my 4 DDs look forward to most when we go to NYC. They sell them on every corner in the Wall Street area for $40 (if you haggle...if you don't you pay $50-60 easy...the key is to walk away from them and tell them a guy on the next block was selling them for $40).

My girls save their money and buy coach bags every trip we make into the city (once every year or two).

I'd be wary about walking in Central Park with children in tow though. I'd stick to the more populated areas.

 

[ruth]

Yeah Bluey - when I first started going to NY everyone would give me their wish list (the Rolex with all the gaudy diamonds; the red Gucci bag, etc.) and you could get it all on the street corners in Times Square. You could also go to China Town and it was out in plain view in all the shops and you didn't have to ask for it. Not so anymore. I guess the fashion police have cracked down on them. I don't bother with the Times Square dealers anymore because most of the time their stuff is under a sheet and you don't know what they're selling and by the time they uncover it, it isn't what you wanted. I go straight to China Town. It's no longer out in plain view but if you watch for and listen to the people standing on the street they are saying, very quietly, "Gucci, Coach, Prada". If you say "yes" they will take you in a shop, knock on wall, lift it and push you inside. I love it. My DH said he still hasn't gotten used to seeing me disappear into walls and always wonders what he will do if I don't come out. Some hidden rooms are nothing more than a narrow space between walls and there will be a few women in there all squished up and you have to say "Excuse me, could you pass me that red Gucci, my daughter want's that one." Other hidden rooms are real rooms with lots of lights and shelving and you can take your time and pick out what you want. Some dealers keep the goods hidden under a shelf or in a draw but they won't pull out more than one and are so scared and keep taking it from you. I prefer the hidden rooms.

On this last trip, my daughter was so frustrated because she wanted a Chanel bag and none were out in the shops. I showed her the technique and said "listen". Next woman we passed on street was saying "Coach, etc." I said "yes" and she took us into shop and dialed cell phone. Then the wall opened and a guy had us come in. He had amazing stuff - all with labels inside and out, warranty cards, dust covers, care books - the works. All purses $40 after haggling. When we were done buying he made a call on cell phone and the wall opened up and we were back in the shop. Cool - really cool - but not for the faint of heart.

Regarding Central Park - generally good advice about not walking around with kids but it depends on where you go - it covers several thousand acres. The area I refered to is the most expensive part of NY and the very rich and famous live there and there's an ice rink and I think the zoo and many other attractions. Stick to the walkways - it's well patrolled and you get a true picture of how New Yorkers really live. As far as fear goes - if you're fearful you don't want to get on the subways either but I always ride them but they are the scariest thing about NY.

For over 15 years I've travelled alone all over the world and I just don't have a fear of things and I've found that people everywhere are happy to help you if you ask.

 

[cheeptrick]

OK...we are going to be staying North of the city...in Tarrytown...and take the North Metro Tarrytown train to Grand Central Station 30-45 minute train ride. Then from there we will walk to Staten Island Ferry for boat trip to Statue of Liberty...we'll decide whether we get off the boat when we are there in the moment...then we plan on having the Cafe lunch at the American Girl Doll Store...from there we plan on going to either the Empire State Building or Ground Zero or Times Square. We are going to keep it at that...and then back to Tarrytown for a late night swim and BED. THEN up for breakfast and check out and we plan on touring "Sleepy Hollow" and Washington Irving's homestead in Tarrytown. My kids are so excited about following the trail of Ichabod Crane....if all goes quickly we might tour the Rockefeller Estate....but we want to keep it simple since this is first go to NYC. WE will definitely GO back...would love to see The Little Mermaid or Mary Poppins.

I've got 1 other family coming with....so we will try to keep it simple and just enjoy all the activity.

OH....no worries about my brood walking....we are serious hikers!! My 4 year old HIKED a local Mountain over 4000 feet in elevation! NO help...did she need!! We've been to Boston, DETROIT, Baltimore, Houston, Buffalo, and just recently New Orleans.

 

[bluey]

Okay, because you are talking about doing some serious walking there....not that you can't do it, but it will be very time consuming. You might want to become familiar with the subway lines going north/south through the city to help save time.

The WTC site is real close walking distance from the Staten island ferry and while you are near there, check out old Trinity church. It's the church featured in the first National Treasure movie, I think. It is beautiful and thank god it wasn't damaged in the WTC collapse.

They also sell Coach bags on the street out of Hefty bags in this area and also a lot of other cool swag. Getting kids to keep up the walking pace may get a little hairy!!!

ruth....wow!, I'm a new york native and I don't know if I'd brave the "secret doors" to buy swag items. That would scare the hell out of me.

 

[cheeptrick]

Well...we sat down with my NYC native buddy who sadly cannot come with us that weekend. We mapped our route out and we have decided to FORGO the Statue of Liberty and instead do American Girl Doll CAFE lunch and then take the A or B train to Museum of Natural History and then HOME to hotel. This will make it simpler and we will not have to worry about too much walking with the kids. YOU were right...that is way too much walking with traffic...and KIDS. We will come back though and tour the missed sites. I'll definitely post pics of the trip!

 

[SierraMA]

I just went to the AG store over Labor Day weekend. Fortunately or unfortunately, my 8 year old daughter wasn't with me but I went in to take a look. (She was with her dad for the weekend and I went to the US Open.) I ended up buying her the Coconut outfit. The pricing is the same except you pay NYC sales tax and no shipping. I was kind of sad that she wasn't with me but now I want to do a trip with her. I've been to the Statue of Liberty and the Met. I went to the Degas exhibit years ago and the Statue of Liberty is blah. You take the ferry, wait in a long line, see a statue and take a ferry back. Not too exciting in my eyes. But over the weekend we also went to Little Italy and ate in one of the restaurants with the outdoor seating. Food, wine and atmosphere was great. I would suggest staying in New Jersey. NJ transit will have a bus that will drop you off at the Port Authority and you can take subways from there.

 

[bluey]

Quote:
Please do that as sometimes I do get "homesick" and I always love to see pictures of the city. I hope your family has a great time and please, never hesitate to PM me if you have any further questions! Enjoy!

 

[SandraMort]

My 9 year old adores the store but I think it's a huge money sink. Spend your time somewhere else and mail order from them. And if you DO go, don't eat in the cafe!!! Awful food, tiny portions and $$$$