Christmas in New York

[Javi]

Posted: 11/3/14 at 6:58am

Hi there. I'm going to be in New York Dec 22-30 and spending the first four days alone, including Christmas Day. I'm going to be very busy seeing around 18 shows - plays, musicals, cabaret... I'm trying to find a nice place to have Christmas lunch since I'll be alone. Any suggestions? I saw Tavern on the Green has Christmas lunch, so that could be a possibility and would be special, although some recent reviews haven't been too good. Any recommendations?

My plan is a nice lunch, go to Radio City to watch the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular and then I'm seeing The Elephant Man that night.

Also suggestions for nice lunch/dinner/dessert places to visit before or after a show near the theatres. I'm staying near Madison Square Garden.

Any other visitors to NY that might be looking for Christmas Day lunch company, let me know (or who'd like to catch up for a coffee or snack between shows on other days or join me at 54 Below).

I'm seeing You Can't Take It With You, Aladdin, Pippin, Cabaret, It's Only a Play, Elephant Man, The Real Thing, Beautiful, On the Town, Gentleman's Guide, If/Then, Honeymoon in Vegas, Constellations, Side Show, The River and Michael Feinstein at Birdland on Christmas Eve...plus Sleep No More and a couple of cabaret performers at 54 Below. Should be fun!

Updated On: 11/3/14 at 06:58 AM

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 11/3/14 at 10:58am

Definitely check out Lillie's Times Square (49/ for a cocktail or a bite to eat - quiet during the day, very business at happy hour, often times a bit more of a theatre crowd post-show. It is an amazing Victorian inspired Irish establishment with sweeping tin tray ceilings, a giant fireplaces, marble columns, candles, lamps, paintings and portraits everywhere, large wooden doors - from the outside, you might walk by thinking it an antique store.
The food is tasty, the cocktails spot on and it is beautiful to look at.. Plus, their christmas decorations are always beautifully elaborate.

If you like good, authentic Cajun food, check out Delta Grill at 48/9.

Updated On: 11/3/14 at 10:58 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/3/14 at 11:00am

Delta Grill is on 48/9th and they're excellent. I love that place!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 11/3/14 at 11:30am

Bah. Yes! I will correct that. Typing on my phone this morning. Small keys.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/3/14 at 3:14pm

Liz Callaway is singing songs from her new Christmas album at 54 Below on Christmas Eve.

[The Glenbuck Laird]

Posted: 11/3/14 at 5:50pm

What is 'Victorian inspired Irish Establishment?

[Javi]

Posted: 11/4/14 at 5:07am

Thanks for the Lillies and Delta Grill. Both sound like great places to go. :)

PalJoey, I just saw Liz (with her sister Ann) in concert here in Sydney. Unfortunately, I won't be able to see her in NY because of timing issues and I'm already seeing Michael Feinstein on the 24th. I'm thinking of seeing Christine Pedi at 54 Below on Dec 27 since it's an 11:30pm show and I can see if after one of my shows. Also waiting to see who they will have on Dec 29 and 30. I saw Jennifer Holiday there last year on December 30 and it was fabulous. Thanks again. :)

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 11/4/14 at 5:04pm

Lillie's is an Irish bar, run by actual Irishmen. Many items within the bar where imported from Ireland. The serve traditional Irish breakfast, among many great menu items. The decor inside is very Victorian.

[~~tiny3~~]

Posted: 11/5/14 at 12:15am

It's an absolute MAD scene in the th!atre district, so be prepared.Don't eat in any tourist trap Mass transit in that area will be slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, and cabs impossible to snag. Walk everywhere you can. And the weather may be terrible also. Try and get OUT of the theater district a few times for meals downtown...below 23rd st. Waaay more options, cheaper and way better restaurants. Times SQ. is overpriced and horrible always, except for a about 3 places. Make reservations for ALL your dinners. Edison Café in the Edison hotel is a legendary dive diner, but the matzoh ball chicken soup is fantastic. You can also relax in the Edison Hotel lobby. You will also find some between shows actors eating there. 46th st. West Bank Café is nice also. You're never alone in NYC.!

[Javi]

Posted: 11/5/14 at 5:12am

Thank you, tiny3, that's great. Yeah, with the cold weather, I will need somewhere to escape between shows...and I love matzoh ball soup...so that's perfect. Most days I have 2 or 3 shows, but I'm trying to book some places to eat. Problem is several restaurants don't seem to take bookings that far ahead. I know it's six weeks away, but that seems crazy. I'm hoping restaurants don't have much of a problem with having parties of one for dinner.

[Javi]

Posted: 11/20/14 at 8:14am

I've now booked 20 shows (plays, musicals, cabaret) and I'm looking at adding two more shows at Birdland: Jim Caruso's Cast Party and A Swinging Birdland Christmas with Jim Caruso, Billy Stritch and Klea Blackhurst. It's going to be a very busy nine days! :)

Plus seeing Kinky Boots and Tovah Feldshuh's cabaret show at Feinstein's at the Nikko in San Francisco. I'm spending a week in Vegas before New York but there's a lack of shows there to see (I've seen most of the regular Vegas shows on previous trips). There's no star performers playing that week. I guess the week before Christmas isn't big in Vegas. Most stars seem to be playing there after Christmas, heading to New Year's.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/20/14 at 1:52pm

In your spare time.....

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 11/20/14 at 2:06pm

Will you be seeing Into The Woods on Christmas day?

BTW check out my favorite place to eat before a show. 44 1/2...
http://www.44andahalf.com/

[Javi]

Posted: 11/20/14 at 4:29pm

Ooh, Broadwayboobs, that looks good! Thanks :) Yeah, I'm planning on seeing Into the Woods on Christmas Day between lunch and seeing the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. It's my favourite musical so I'm dying to see it.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 11/20/14 at 9:53pm

IF you have time ( yeah right) see if Seth's Chatterbox is running that Thurs. It finishes bfore showtime and it is always fun- he gets the most AHHH MAHHH ZING guests.

[Javi]

Posted: 11/20/14 at 11:09pm

Sabrelady, unfortunately, the Thursday that I'm there is Christmas Day, so Chatterbox won't be on.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 11/20/14 at 11:47pm

D'oh! Of Course actual Christmas. |Tho come to that Seth is jewish so, He'll just be out eating Chinese food! ;D

[Javi]

Posted: 11/21/14 at 1:19am

Ha ha ha! Maybe I can join him for Chinese food. :)

[Javi]

Posted: 12/20/14 at 5:16am

So looks like several rainy days forecast for NY next week when I get there. So all shows have been booked. It's gonna be a very busy nine days. This is what I've got on:

1) You Can't Take It With You
2) Aladdin
3) If/Then
4) It's Only a Play
5) Swinging Birdland Christmas with Jim Caruso, Billy Stritch and Klea Blackhurst
6) Michael Feinstein at Birdland
7) Into the Woods movie on Christmas Day
Radio City Christmas Spectacular
9) Elephant Man
10) Beautiful
11) Honeymoon in Vegas
12) Annaleigh Ashford at 54 Below
13) On the Town
14) Naked Boys Singing
15) Constellations
16) Side Show
17) The Real Thing
1 Pippin
19) The River
20) Erich Bergen at Birdland
21) Gentleman's Guide
22) Cabaret
23) Sleep No More

Phew! I will need a holiday after this holiday!

Updated On: 12/20/14 at 05:16 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/20/14 at 8:58am

Wow! Have some great time, she said while traveling to the city today.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/20/14 at 8:58am

Wow! Have some great time, she said while traveling to the city today.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/20/14 at 9:34am

As much I want you to have the time of your life, I also would love to see you live blog this marathon.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 12/20/14 at 12:24pm

What is the total ticket cost?

[Javi]

Posted: 12/20/14 at 7:39pm

Thanks, Dramamama. You too :)

PalJoey, ha ha ha. I think regular Facebook and Instagram updates will do for me. He he.

Brdlwyr, I had been saving for a while and buying tickets early on which means I got tickets for Elephant Man, It's Only a Play, Aladdin, etc at cheaper prices than they are now. Plus discounts for Cabaret and Real Thing through subscribing to Roundabout meant tickets were only around $90.