NYC Eldergays I need your travel advice!

GO TO THE TOWNHOUSE FOR SHOWTUNES

Please don't the city is an overcrowded shit storm now until mid January with tourists. There are no nice places to be or see. It will spoil your Christmas spirit. God forbid you get mugged or assaulted by the many crazy homeless in Midtown. I'd hate that for you. Watch an old movie like "The World of Henry Orient" or "Bell Book and Candle" and imagine NYC at Christmas like it used to be and enjoy those memories.

Go see the windows early in the morning on a weekday, the crowds aren’t that bad then. Otherwise, it’s a crush of tourists.

Go after Christmas—otherwise you’re a dumb fuck by your own criteria.

Oh, pish-tush, OP and r2! Speaking as a Pennsylvanian who pre-Covid visited NYC for decades at Christmas time, the crowds are half the spirit of the season!

I'm talking R. Center, the tree, skaters, and beautiful view from 5th Ave with lit-up angels holding herald trumpets; the Christmas markets at Bryant Park (more skaters!), Columbus Circle, and GC Terminal; the various decorated windows, including Macy's on 34th; the big "ornaments" on 6th Ave.; roasted chestnuts from a street cart; the big red bow around Cartier's; the Star spanning 5th Ave.; even, forgive me, the tree and waterfalls inside Trump Tower.

Oh, pish-tush, OP and r2! Speaking as a Pennsylvanian who pre-Covid visited NYC for decades at Christmas time, the crowds are half the spirit of the season!

I'm talking R. Center, the tree, skaters, and beautiful view from 5th Ave with lit-up angels holding herald trumpets; the Christmas markets at Bryant Park (more skaters!), Columbus Circle, and GC Terminal; the various decorated windows, including Macy's on 34th; the big "ornaments" on 6th Ave.; roasted chestnuts from a street cart; the big red bow around Cartier's; the Star spanning 5th Ave.; even, forgive me, the tree and waterfalls inside Trump Tower.

Anytime from Thanksgiving week through New Years is Christmas holiday crowds in Manhattan. Go as early in December as possible to avoid the most crowds. See Rockefeller Center and the Christmas Tree 9:00am Try do do as much of your shopping and/or window shopping in the AM hours. Saks opens at 11Am , except for Fri-Sat when they open at 10Am. Macy's opens at 10:00am daily.

The below link are some tips to help out with Rockefeller Center area.

I live here R5 and avoid all that stuff like the plague. I wish could I find it as exciting as you. I used to way back when before social media took over and it was more easily accessible. Maybe we should change places each December. I'd be happy to.

Go to some charming New England town instead. Skip the city year.

I would go on Tuesday or Wednesday. Thursdays are the new Fridays.

Are you planning a day trip or staying over?

Hey, cool, r8! I live in The Christmas City!

OMG! I'll be there! R11

OP - you must include Bergdorf Goodman's Christmas windows on 57th and 5th. Their Christmas windows are truly works of art! The other store windows pale in comparison. (Also, most tourists are at Rockefeller Center and Saks and miss it😉)

Windows / tree Go at dusk. Less crowds. Go at midnight. No crowds. Where else are you going OP

I second a Tuesday / Wednesday trip OP. And the Townhouse for libations. Sardi’s bar is also good for chatty theater fans. The holiday markets at Union Square & Bryant Park are great. As for crowds - it’s part of the deal. Don’t be in a rush and take them in stride.

i hope you aren't killed! Merry Christmas!

You want to do the dumb activities families do, minus the families. Good luck!

Another vote for seeing the tree & walking up 5th late at night - that’s what I usually do one random night after work. Not sure what time they turn the tree off now - but the windows stay lit. And make sure you head all the way up to Bergdorf’s - their windows are always spectacular.

Um, the Saks windows are better than Bergdorf’s this year. Bloomingdale’s is a pass with Wonka, and Macy’s is a retread from last year.

Not true R19! Saks has a light show and music to dazzle tourists. Bergdorf is NY style/chic. OP - compare for yourself.

The miniatures in the windows at Saks are more intricate and beautiful that the over-stylized mirrored effects at Bergdorf’s. Straight up.

We were just in the city a few weeks ago. We went to Sardi's for dinner (an easy reservation to get, actually). I'm not sure where the bar is -- the dining room was directly inside. There is an upstairs that is advertised as "you must have an equity card to get in." Not sure if that is just the story or if it's enforced.

Never done the Townhouse, though it's legendary as a place older gentlemen meet younger rent boys.

Jimmy's Corner, a dive bar on W. 44th St. (between 6th and 7th) can be fun, you'll get to chat with locals and tourists. Very cheap. Very divey. Don't get there later than 4 p.m. on a week day if you want a seat at the bar. Shot and a beer for $6. Manhattan for $6. Jack on the Rocks: $6. Not huge drinks, but can't beat the price. Buy two!

Of course Sardi’s is an easy get. No living, breathing Manhattanite would be caught dead there. Yeesh.

New Yorkers are such cunts. It's almost as entertaining as their delusion they're somehow unique in it.

Says the tourist hoping for table a Sardi’s 😵‍💫

You couldn't pay me to return to New York, R25. One tower after another. Filled with crazies.

London for me.

Sorry, forgot the reassuring presence of a Duane Reade every six feet.

Hi, OP! Good for you for making the trek. And thanks to the NYers for helping him out.

OP? When I was working on my master's at Lehigh, I lived in a loft apartment in the historical home of Stephen Vincent Benet right around the corner from St. Luke's. Damn, that town is hilly! I always called the Lehigh Valley area the San Francisco of Pennsylvania.

Have a wonderful time in "the city," and make sure you're home in time for Xmas!

[quote]Also any tips on bars friendly to Eldergays

Julius, in the Village. Historic, friendly to e-gays, has a wide mix of ages. Cash only!

A lot of visitors go to the Stonewall, but Julius is more living history than tourist trap.

Sardi’s isn’t great for food but is fun for drinks. There are two bars - one to the left of the entrance and a larger one up the stairs to the right. The equity dining room is another floor up and may no longer be a thing.

[quote] I used to way back when before social media took over and it was more easily accessible.

You really think social media has created a surge? Rockefeller Center at Christmas has always been packed, no?

Vice Versa Restaurant on West 51st Street--gay owned and operated with a welcoming middle-aged clientele. Good Italian food. Then proceed a few yards west to Ninth Avenue and you're in Hell's Kitchen. Have fun!

Julius is much better than Stonewall. And they have hamburgers.

If you’re a showtune gay Marie’s Crisis is a trip. If you don’t like showtunes avoid at all costs.

As a fellow tourist, I always love hitting happy hour at Joe Allen and having a Manhattan, steak tartare, looking at the posters of all the legendary flops on the walls, and just enjoying the hustle and bustle.

When people visit and they want the old-school New York dining experience, I take them to Keen’s. It never disappoints.

R32. Why walk a few yardzz when you’re already in HK at that point?

Kevin S. has entered the room…@ R34. Don’t feed him!

Keens looks keen indeed, though my budget would probably allow only for a drink and pub grub.

Denny and his rolling suitcase are here too, R37, splitting geographical hairs.

No they gotcha on that…you split hairs by declaiming 9th Ave. that’s on you.

If you want an easy museum try the New-York Historical Society at 77th and CPW.

There is a FABULOUS really well done Tiffany lamp gallery upstairs. Amazing stuff, also some NYC general history etc. Really nicely one.

And I agree about Julius in the village. (I first went there in the 1970s). It's classic.

Don't forget the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular!

R41 - NYC elder native and I’d never been to the NY Historical Society. Went for the JC Leyendecker exhibit this summer and was amazed. It’s a really great small museum with several interesting galleries.

OP, so you're old, broke ("off price shopping") and hate crowds? Manhattan sounds PERFECT for you.

You went for the ad porn

[Quote] Oh, pish-tush, OP and [R2]! Speaking as a Pennsylvanian who pre-Covid visited NYC for decades at Christmas time, the crowds are half the spirit of the season!

That was then this is now; numerous homeless people, migrants and pro-Palestinian protesters who target events.

OP not the best year to go.

OP late night around 11pm is the best time to walk around and see the sights. It's less crowded, quiet and there will be few if any children.

R48 great time to get murdered

R49 fuck off—shoot your myself and save others their time.

Well well r50 is triggered by the truth of murder. Not surprised

Not surprised by your murder/suicide. No one will miss you back @ your Flyoverstan hometown.

I live in East Hampton you big ass pimple!

R52 bring it! Let’s see you peel back your beef curtains and show it!

R53. As noted…Hamptonstan, just another map dot that folks flyover on the way to NYC.

Any suggestions for Chicago holiday must-sees and gentleman bars? I know the piano bar on Rush (Townhouse-like bar behind Saks) is long gone.

R55 enjoy your daily homeless walk

[Quote] great time to get murdered

not if you avoid the subways, the Bronx and Queens

R55 it’s all good here on the west side headed downtown.

Are there any worthwhile bars or restaurants or hot guys in Chelsea anymore? R59

Many more restaurants. A bit fewer hit gays with so many brreders here and there.

Many hot new hobos and homeless to touch*

* for R49 and R57 & their ilk

Correction: A bit fewer hot gays with so many breeders here and there.

and endless pot shops all along 8th Avenue

I worked at Bergdorfs for years. The windows are amazing. But OP don’t go anywhere in NYC with the illusion of anything being discount. There is nothing, nothing in Manhattan that is discount - especially related to shopping. I went to a dive diner for breakfast and left paying $40 for French toast, juice and a side of bacon. You can’t get through the place on less than $200 - $300 a day on a vacation.

I’ve since moved from NYC. Is Herald square still a Hobo Camp after covid? If so I would avoid Macys like the plague. Herald square up through time square - just ugh.

The gays are super pretentious too, but lonely, and are ground zero for the latest communicables. If there is a new bump, or rash, or cut you can get from gay sex, it’s in NYC.

Having said that, if anyone wants to see a cool docu about Bergdorf and the Christmas windows, YouTube the one below. They work on them for 10 months.

r35 I was disappointed by Keen's. I make a better prime rib and creamed spinach than them. What impressed me was Joe's pizza. The platonic ideal of pizza. So difficult to find pizza like this in the rest of the country.

R63 described every avenue in all 5 boroughs …and so?

[quote]Any suggestions for Chicago holiday must-sees and gentleman bars? I know the piano bar on Rush (Townhouse-like bar behind Saks) is long gone.

The Walnut Room atop the old Marshall Field (now Macys) is wonderful in Christmas trim. The food, not so much.

Did you know DB from the men’s store R64?

Not specifically anything on your list OP, but the wife and I just had a touristy weekday overnight that we really enjoyed. We saw Here We Are at the Shed. (There were more gay men in the audience than most gay bars) The acoustics of the space aren’t great and the orchestra can sometimes overpower the singers, but what voices. It was one of the best cast musicals I’ve ever seen and the bizarreness of the story was delightful.

The next morning we saw the Best in Show at the Fotographika museum. We arrived at 10:30 when it first opened and had the place to ourselves for the first 20 minutes. Then we spent $40 for lunch at Wo-Hop in China town. We finished up with the little Christmas market at Grand Central.

R64 no one misses you, much less remembers your name. Enjoy death’s waiting room—whichever branch office you now reside in.

I was going in the women’s store R68. Not familiar who DB might be. I probably saw then though. I was over there myself and for clients.

R69 you sound like a well-adjusted New Yorker

[Quote] R49 fuck off—shoot your myself and save others their time.

[Quote] Not surprised by your murder/suicide. No one will miss you back @ your Flyoverstan hometown.

[Quote] R53. As noted…Hamptonstan, just another map dot that folks flyover on the way to NYC.

Now show the posts they were in reply to—it is called context

it's called meth-laced rants no context required

[Quote]Go after Christmas—otherwise you’re a dumb fuck by your own criteria.

How was your visit, OP?