Englishman in New York

[Peach]

Ok, this is a two part post really.
Looks like I'll be making the trip over the water to New York in October, just for a week.

There will be six of us in the group and I'm wondering about accommodation.
We'd need three double/twin hotel rooms which runs expensive so I'm wondering if it's possible to rent an apartment just for the week?? We'll want to be fairly central I think to allow easy movement.
Any accommodation advice welcome.

Predictably I'll also want to check out a few tuba related 'attractions'.
Bearing in mind the rest of the group have no special interest in tubas I figure I could get away with a daytime trip to Dillons (is that practicle?), and possibly a Met/Phil Concert. Aside from these obvious things are there other musical gems I ought not miss?

Thank-you,
Malcolm

[bort]

October is an excellent time to visit New York. The weather is great and it's between the summer/holiday crush of tourists.

A few stream of consciousness thoughts...

I'm not sure about accommodations, but I know other people will have ideas.

I don't know if the NY Phil schedule is out yet for 2012-2013, but the season starts in September every year. Definitely check them out... but if you can't get tix, there are many other professional and semi-professional groups to check out. Both in residence, and visiting groups. Definitely check out the schedule for Carnegie Hall, they have concerts all the time from groups all over the world.

Dillon's is an easy (45 minute?) train ride away from midtown Manhattan...but the trip there, your time at Dillon's, and the return will be the better part of a full day. Just make sure you plan on that.

I'll stop there... but in short, there are a million and one things to do here. Decide on the big stuff before you come, and leave a lot of time to discover the small stuff while you're here.

Good luck!

[tubaguy9]

Stay in Newark, New Jersey. Cheaper (and better) hotels, and you have less hustle and bustle at night.

[tubatooter1940]

I stayed in Jersey but I had a car.
Don't lock your luggage in the car trunk because the locals can quickly get it.
I couldn't believe how many stripped down skeletons of cars I saw at the bottom of off ramps.
Parking is expensive in N.Y.

[Peach]

Thanks for the replies guys.

We won't have a car so that can't get stolen =)

I need to have a scoot about online to research getting an apartment. Still welcome any thoughts on that...

Maybe nearer the time I can post again and see about any small gigs locally - quintet, jazz combo etc etc.

Oh, lastly, is there a decent New York brass band (British style)?

Thanks very much,
MP

[iiipopes]

Dillons and Baltimore Music, depending on your itenerary.

[TMurphy]

Staying in NJ would definitely save you some money, and could be an easy auto-less commute, depending on where you stay.

Personally, I wouldn't stay in Newark. Not exactly the nicest place to be. I would look for hotels in Edgewater, Weehawken, Hoboken, or certain parts of Jersey City, NJ, which would suit your needs, and have easy access to the city by bus, rail, or ferry.

Renting an apartment in the city may be an option, but rental prices in NY are insane, and it may not save you much. I really have no idea.

If you decide to look into staying on the Jersey side, let me know what hotels you find, and I'll give you as much info as a I can, being a local (is the area safe, how close is public transit, etc.).

Good luck!

[TMurphy]

Staying in NJ would definitely save you some money, and could be an easy auto-less commute, depending on where you stay.

Personally, I wouldn't stay in Newark. Not exactly the nicest place to be. I would look for hotels in Edgewater, Weehawken, Hoboken, or certain parts of Jersey City, NJ, which would suit your needs, and have easy access to the city by bus, rail, or ferry.

Renting an apartment in the city may be an option, but rental prices in NY are insane, and it may not save you much. I really have no idea.

If you decide to look into staying on the Jersey side, let me know what hotels you find, and I'll give you as much info as a I can, being a local (is the area safe, how close is public transit, etc.).

Good luck!

[bort]

Maybe its not too bad, but also consider that commuting from New Jersey also adds travel time and transit costs. Every day will start and end with a commute.

That's not to say it's bad, and it should still.save you money. Just be sure it saves you enough to make it worth the time and money.

[Tuba-G Bass]

'Hallo Peach,

In running some numbers, You could stay at a Hampton Inn right near the Meadowlands Arena, for
$105usd a night per room pre-paid, two queen beds per room.
or Stay in Woodbridge, NJ, home of Dillon's for $102usd a night per room pre-paid.
or Stay in Lovely Princeton, NJ for $101usd a night per room pre-paid.
All of these would be close to NJ Transit train stations, which takes you to Newark,
and transfer to another train to go into NYC. Easy!

[Peach]

Why not - instead - head down this way, stay here in the cabin for free, blatt on my horns, fish for bass in my pond, shoot my guns, and eat my barbecue?

Hmm. Sounds like there must be a catch Joe...

Do you think the rest of the English party would notice we weren't in NY or could we get away with it?