View Full Version : What a spectacle!
Steve
12-20-2004, 11:23 AM
Mid-town Manhattan, anywhere bounded between 5th and 8th Avenues and Central Park and 32nd Street....last shopping weekend before Christmas...what a spectacle! You just have got to go with the flow and take in the crowds, the press of humanity, the incredible diversity and sheer numbers of people! It's madness, but an interesting, absorbing, sort of madness.
More homeless people and panhandlers this year, though, what's up with that?
ethics
12-20-2004, 11:28 AM
Mid-town Manhattan, anywhere bounded between 5th and 8th Avenues and Central Park and 32nd Street....last shopping weekend before Christmas...what a spectacle! You just have got to go with the flow and take in the crowds, the press of humanity, the incredible diversity and sheer numbers of people! It's madness, but an interesting, absorbing, sort of madness.
And we live here. I do ALL of my shopping online and refuse to stay on the streets longer than I have to. :P
More homeless people and panhandlers this year, though, what's up with that?
They seem to come out during the holidays because people tend to hand out more during Christmas. I would say the Subway begging in the last month has gone up by about 400% the norm. Some are not even homeless, many are scammers pretending to work for a certain shelter.
Steve
12-20-2004, 11:38 AM
Oh, yeah, I wouldn't want to live there but it's a fun place to visit.
Hey, got any recommendations for a decent hotel in New Jersey within walking distance to a NJT station? Anniversary's coming up and I can score beaucoup points from my better half by planning a weekend in New York. :)
ethics
12-20-2004, 11:48 AM
Find one in Newport, it's right by the water and NJT (one stop away from Manhattan).
Oh, yeah, I wouldn't want to live there but it's a fun place to visit.
Hey, got any recommendations for a decent hotel in New Jersey within walking distance to a NJT station? Anniversary's coming up and I can score beaucoup points from my better half by planning a weekend in New York. :)
Exactly how far away from the city would you want to stay?
Down "The shore" by me, there are many bed-brekfast types within walking distance of NJT stations, only we are around an hour's trip up (unless you hit an express) by train to MSG/Penn station.
Steve
12-20-2004, 11:56 AM
A half-hour by train is fine, 45 minutes tops. We usually drive I-78 to Summit, NJ and pick up the train there. It's $5 round trip per adult, kids are free, and parking's only $7. The express is about 35 minutes, the local takes about 45.
Piobaireachd
12-20-2004, 12:17 PM
Mid-town Manhattan, anywhere bounded between 5th and 8th Avenues and Central Park and 32nd Street....last shopping weekend before Christmas...what a spectacle! You just have got to go with the flow and take in the crowds, the press of humanity, the incredible diversity and sheer numbers of people! It's madness, but an interesting, absorbing, sort of madness.
More homeless people and panhandlers this year, though, what's up with that?
As an introvert, that would be hell for me. The Internet -- Shopping created for geeks, by geeks.
Sierra Mike
12-20-2004, 01:30 PM
A half-hour by train is fine, 45 minutes tops. We usually drive I-78 to Summit, NJ and pick up the train there. It's $5 round trip per adult, kids are free, and parking's only $7. The express is about 35 minutes, the local takes about 45.
Summit? Hey, I have a lady friend there I see on occasion. Congratulations, you've stumbled across one of SM's east coast stalking grounds. Best take yourself and the family to a doctor for some tests, especially if you've been in the Starbucks across from the train station. :haha:
SM
Steve
12-20-2004, 01:32 PM
Starbucks!?!?
I drink only real coffee ;)
Seems like a decent little town, from the small patch we've seen.
Sierra Mike
12-20-2004, 01:36 PM
For NJ, not too bad. A little congested, though.
SM
SixofNine
12-20-2004, 02:11 PM
Starbucks!?!?
I drink only real coffee ;)
Seems like a decent little town, from the small patch we've seen.
It's a very nice town if you can afford to live there - one of those places where you get ticketed for parking on the street overnight because, well, everybody has a driveway. :) Senator Corzine, who spent $70 million of his own money to win his Senate seat in 2000, announced his candidacy from the front of his humble Summit abode. Quaint little downtown with some nice shops, including a toy store that gets visited just about every trip.
My sister and brother-in-law live there, and that's where we stay when we visit my side of the family. My brother-in-law made his fortune in retail to the point where he was able to retire in his low 50s and pursue his dream of teaching history in high school. His commute to NYC was fairly easy - walk to the train station and get on the express you mentioned.
I was actually going to mention Summit in response to your query because I have seen a couple of B&Bs in the neighborhood. However, I can't find them in a quickie Google search. I'll ask my sister if you're interested.
Brian
Steve
12-20-2004, 02:15 PM
Brian, that'd be great, thanks!
Steve
SixofNine
12-20-2004, 02:51 PM
My sister recommends the Grand Summit Hotel on Springfield Avenue for an anniversary. 908-273-3000
Brian
Steve
12-20-2004, 02:53 PM
....and Andrea doesn't think discussion boards are good for anything ;)
Thanks, Brian, much appreciated!
Steve
SixofNine
12-20-2004, 03:15 PM
....and Andrea doesn't think discussion boards are good for anything ;)
Thanks, Brian, much appreciated!You're welcome! Hope it works out. Please feel free to let me know if it does or doesn't live up to its recommendation.
Brian