TOP 10 TIPS FOR A ROMANTIC NYC RENDEZVOUS
Immortalized in movies and songs, New York and romance go together like Bogie and Bacall. The city is sexy in any season, thanks to warm and inviting restaurants, the thrill of world-class theater, museums and attractions and great hotel and shopping values.
Here are 10 sure-fire suggestions for romance:
1) The perfect hideaway: From glittering high-rises to intimate boutique hotels, the city offers a wealth of lodging options to set the mood. You'll feel like you're in the movies when you pull up to the entrance of The Plaza (768 Fifth Ave. at Central Park South, 212/759-3000). Other glamorous grande dames include the Waldorf-Astoria (301 Park Ave. bet. 49th & 50th Sts., 212/355-3000), The New York Palace (455 Madison Ave. bet. 50th & 51st Sts., 212/888-7000) and The Stanhope (995 Fifth Ave. at 81st St., 212/650-4700).
If the downtown scene gets your pulse racing, check in to the hip SoHo Grand Hotel (310 West Broadway bet. Grand & Canal Sts., 212/965-3000); the value-priced, newly renovated Chelsea Inn (184 Eleventh Ave. at 23rd St., 212/929-4096); or the Washington Square Hotel (103 Waverly Pl. at MacDougal St., 212/777-9515) in the heart of Greenwich Village. For something cozy in mid-town, try the European-style Casablanca Hotel (147 W. 43rd St., 212/869-1212), the Old World Hotel San Carlos (150 E. 50th St. bet. Third & Lexington Aves., 212/755-1800) or the luxurious Iroquois New York (49 W. 44th St. bet. Fifth & Sixth Aves., 212/840-3080).
2) A romantic dinner for two: If your preference in restaurants tends toward fancy, French and flower-filled, book a reservation at Café des Artistes (1 W. 67th St. at Central Park West, 212/877-3500), a lushly romantic spot with dim lights, sexy murals and traditional French food that woos New Yorkers and visitors alike. Just south of the Brooklyn Bridge lies the River Café (1 Water St., Brooklyn, 718/522-5200), one of the city's quintessentially romantic restaurants. Dine on fine American cuisine and delightful desserts as the reflected lights of lower Manhattan sparkle on the East River. As music is the food of love, check out the Monday night jazz sets at the much-praised new City Hall (131 Duane St. bet. Church St. & W. Broadway, 212/227-7777).
A serene setting with a mesmerizing waterfall is the backdrop for beautifully presented cuisine at Union Pacific (111 E. 22nd St. bet. Lexington & Park Ave. South, 212/995-8500). Chanterelle (2 Harrison St. at Hudson St., 212/966-6960) is one of New York's most highly regarded dining spots, combining a quiet elegance with an unpretentious downtown ambiance.
If you love out-of-the-way restaurants, Alison on Dominick Street (38 Dominick St. bet. Varick & Hudson Sts., 212/727-1188), a candlelit, sophisticated Country French spot in a factory-lined neighborhood, is cause for joy. Opened in 1919, Grand Ticino (228 Thompson St. bet. W. 3rd & Bleecker, 212/777-5922) maintains the romantic atmosphere that earned it a famous scene in the movie Moonstruck - and it has delectable Italian cuisine. Since opening in 1976, Tavern on the Green (67th St. and Central Park West, 212/873-3200) has been one of the city's most enchanting dining experiences, with its wood-paneled rooms, crystal chandeliers, stained glass, balloons and trees festooned with colored lights.
) A little night music: Add a little melody to the lavish halls of New York's fine museums and you've got the perfect meeting place for both the heart and the mind. After touring the Museum of Modern Art's (11 W. 53rd St. bet. Fifth and Sixth Aves., 212/708-9480, http://www.moma.org) world-class collections, patrons swing to live jazz Thursdays and Saturdays from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. The Frick Collection (1 E. 70th St. at Fifth Ave., 212/288-8700, http://www.frick.org ), an elegant mansion featuring fine art from the Renaissance through the 19th century, hosts free chamber music concerts every other Sunday at 5:00 pm.
Concerts at the medieval Cloisters Museum (Fort Tryon Park [191st St.], 212/923-3700, http://www.metmuseum.org ) are performed in the Spanish 12th-century Fuentidueña Chapel, visually and acoustically one of the most beautiful sites to enjoy medieval music (advance ticket purchase is recommended). The Brooklyn Museum (200 Eastern Pkwy. [Washington Ave.], 718/638-5000, http://www.brooklynart.org ) is host to the free "First Saturdays" program on the first Saturday of every month from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm, which features musical performances, dancing, movie screenings, tours of the museum's permanent collections and a cash bar. And every Saturday evening, Brooklyn-area musicians perform at the museum's new coffee-and-wine bar on the third floor.
4) A romantic cruise: What could be more romantic than the New York skyline reflected on the water? Hop aboard a NY Waterway Cruise (800/533-3779, http://www.nywaterway.com ) for a glimpse of the city at twilight. Visit the Statue of Liberty (212/363-3200, http://www.thestatueofliberty.com ) or gaze at her from the free Staten Island Ferry (718/815-2628). Relax over lunch or dinner on a World Yacht Cruise (212/630-8100, http://www.worldyacht.com ) or take a tour of Manhattan island on a Circle Line (212/563-3200, http://www.circleline.com ) sightseeing cruise.
5) Float over the city: For lovebirds who want to get closer to the heavens, Liberty Helicopter (212/967-6464, http://www.libertyhelicopters.com ) offers spectacular tours of Manhattan's famous skyline. Fly above the awe inspiring Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Empire State Building and Twin Towers to see these and many other famous landmarks in a way unimaginable from the ground.
6) A carriage ride through the park: Okay, so it's a little hokey. Still, it's difficult to pass up such a romantic ride, gliding through Central Park while nestled in a horse-drawn carriage (Central Park South, corner of 59th St. & Fifth Ave.). Even if the weather is chilly, you can cuddle under a blanket and take in the beauty of the park juxtaposed against the Manhattan skyline.
7) Let the experts do the planning: For the ultimate in relaxation, let someone else sweat the details. The folks at New York City Vacation Packages (570/714-4692, http://www.nycvp.com ) specialize in planning every detail of your romantic New York getaway. Hotel Con-x-ions (212/840-8686, http://www.hotelconxions.com ) can find you the right hotel room at the right price, and NYC & Company's Hotel Hotline (800/846-ROOM) and web site (http://www.nycvisit.com ) are also great resources for booking the perfect accommodations.
8) Reach new heights: A romantic visit to New York City wouldn't be complete without a trip to the top of the Empire State Building (350 Fifth Ave. at 34th St., 212/736-3100), an icon of true love in sentimental classics like An Affair to Remember, Sleepless in Seattle and King Kong - and conveniently open 'til midnight for the romantic in all of us. It's hard to resist a nightclub with a panoramic view from the 107th floor.
9) Cocktails for two: Elegant, refined and cozy, Mark's Bar (25 E. 77th St. bet. Madison & 5th Aves., 212/879-1314) features an outstanding wine list with a truly great selection of tête de cuvée Champagnes. Soft music, comfortable velvet love seats and a discrete staff complete the ambiance. Love-struck stargazers may enjoy a meal or just a drink at Central Park's Park View at the Boathouse (72nd St. at Fifth Ave., 212/517-2233), which offers shuttle service for those with reservations.
Theatergoers already know Firebird (365 W. 46th St. bet. 8th & 9th Aves., 212/586-0244) as a posh pre-curtain Russian eatery, but when the theater crowd disperses, the sumptuous, salon-style lounge upstairs grows even more intimate. Elegant nightclubbing is back at the recently opened Feinstein's at The Regency (540 Park Ave. at 61st St., 212/339-4095), the perfect spot for dinner and some romantic entertainment.
The swank Supper Club (240 W. 47th St. bet. Broadway and 8th Ave., 212/921-1940), with its vintage gilt detailing, plays host on weeknights to anyone from Van Morrison to Beck, while Fridays and Saturdays are reserved for 1940s-style dinner dancing. S.O.B.'s (204 Varick St. bet. W. Houston and King Sts., 212/243-4940) is still the best place in town to hear contemporary African, Afro-Caribbean and Latin music. You can learn to salsa and tango on Sunday and Monday nights and then stay for the evening's show.
10) A sparkling souvenir: If you're in the market for something measured in carats (or just like to daydream), New York City's gem merchants can help fuel the fantasy. The 47th Street Diamond District (47th Street bet. Fifth and Sixth Aves.), where diamonds are traded, cut and set, houses more than 2,600 independent businesses on a single block. Many have booths in jewelry "exchanges," such as the World's Largest Jewelry Exchange (55 West 47th St., 212/719-5235).
Clustered near the Diamond District are a prestigious group of internationally known jewelers, including H. Stern (645 Fifth Ave., 212/688-0300) and Martinique Jewelers (1555 Broadway bet. 46th and 47th Sts., 212/869-5765). Both Wempe (700 Fifth Ave. at 55th St., 212/397-9000) and Tourneau (Madison Ave. at 52nd St., 212/758-6098) are known around the world for their fine watches. Fortunoff (681 Fifth Ave. at 54th St., 212/758-6660) offers discounts on a large variety of jewelry including engagement rings, pearls, name-brand watches and gold bracelets and necklaces.
