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NYC dining, bars and Broadway picks for Westminster’s 150th. Insider tips on shows, restaurants and fun experiences near the Garden.
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It’s that time of year when the dog fancy starts their pilgrimage to the Big Apple! This year is extra special, celebrating the 150th year of the great WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB Dog Show. So, the four of us (Mickey Feigelson, Chuck Leachman, Jamie Hubbard, and myself—transplanted NYC Dog Fanciers) want to help you make some creative choices for some non-dog-related events to attend while in the greatest city in the world. There is so much to see and do in NYC that we wanted to help narrow the options and offer some suggestions on our favorite places to visit and several current shows to recommend.
For me, a must-go restaurant would be Lillie’s Victorian Establishment on 49th Street in the Theater District. This is especially nice for the ladies coming to the city; its fancy décor and atmosphere are worth going for alone, but the food is also excellent and not overpriced. I highly recommend!
For a calmer and slower dining experience, I would suggest The Lambs Club. It is beautifully decorated and feels quite grand, with red leather booths and an amazing roaring fireplace! Unique menu and cocktails are worth the time and visit, for sure.
Of course, there is always the staple of Carmine’s! Come prepared to eat, and bring a large group since they only serve family-style. (The food is amazing.) Make your reservations early here as they book up. HINT: The frozen Cosmo is out of this world!
If you don’t have much time, try Curry In a Hurry to go. The best Chicken Tikka Masala in the city, just ask Mrs. Jones! Take it back to your hotel room…!
The bar with the best views of the city (and the coolest drinks) has got to be Nubeluz! Be sure to have a floral Cloud cocktail.
Glass House Tavern is an easy spot to go for a drink and get caught up with friends prior to a show—or to go after the show to unwind and talk about what you just saw! Their bar menu is perfect for a nice snack, and you never know who might walk in the door fresh off the Broadway stage!
GO! You must go to see a stage show while in NYC. There is nothing that can replace seeing these amazing productions. It is so much fun and great energy! Currently onstage, I would recommend Maybe Happy Ending (duh, I have seen it six times!) and Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York). Both shows are original musicals, unique and full of joy. They have smaller casts and both are filled with heart, talent, and originality. You cannot go wrong with either. I would also recommend two other light-hearted and easy-to-watch shows: & Juliet and Death Becomes Her. These are two cute, fun, and entertaining shows to suit anyone.
There are wonderful smaller theaters all over NYC which host amazing actors in smaller productions. You should do some research to see who might be on stage that you would enjoy seeing. There are plenty of options.
I would try the immersive light show at the Arte Museum New York or any of the other immersive shows in town. They are super-fun and can be relaxing, helping to take some stress off from the big show ahead of you. There are any number of these fun and even educational events happening. One is a walking tour of the Titanic, Titanic: Echoes of the Past, and there’s another where you walk through ancient Egypt, Horizon of Khufu. (You wear a VR headset and walk through an exposition of The Great Pyramid of Giza. It is very cool!) If you have young kids, I would suggest seeing the Gazillion Bubble Show. We did go, unaware of what is was all about, and it was cute. I can see why Oprah recommended it, but it is for families with smaller kids. We were a bit out of place—OOPS!
One If by Land, Two If by Sea – Voted one of the most beautiful and romantic restaurants in NYC. oneifbyland.com
The View – Revolving bar at the top of the Marriott Marquis (reservations required). theviewnewyorkcity.com
Rosevale Cocktail Room – Located on the 2nd floor of the Civilian Hotel (reservations required). rosevalenyc.com
Glass House Tavern – A fun vibe, good cocktails, and light bites in the Theater District. glasshousetavern.com
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) twostrangersmusical.com
Beau: The Musical beauthemusical.com
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt – Incredible multi-level immersive viewing experience. summitov.com
Monkey Bar – Reservations open one month in advance, and should be made then. nycmonkeybar.com
Joe Allen – Great pre- or post-theater dining spot. You’re likely to see celebrities. Reservations needed and can be made one week in advance. joeallenrestaurant.com
Sardi’s – The bar upstairs is for cocktails pre- or post-theater. Many Broadway theater people frequent the bar. sardis.com
The Dickens – Multi-level bar near the Theater District with good atmosphere, drinks, and great bar bites. thedickensnyc.com
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) twostrangersmusical.com
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee spellingbeenyc.com
54 Below – Cabaret Show, Live Music 54below.org
Bemelmans Bar – Late night piano and jazz at The Carlyle Hotel. rosewoodhotels.com/en/the-carlyle-new-york/dining/bemelmans-bar
Located in Chelsea, Shukette is my favorite place to eat. Great food, cool vibe at a reasonable price. It’s Mediterranean food and the menu changes weekly depending on what’s fresh. Resy opens two weeks prior and you must book early. shukettenyc.com
There are some great Cabaret bars that have different shows every night. Check out 54 Below, Joe’s Pub, and The Greenroom 42. 54below.org, publictheater.org/joes-pub, thegreenroom42.venuetix.com
I like Wine Escape NYC on West 44th Street. It’s a small, quaint wine bar with small bites. wineescapenyc44.com
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) and Maybe Happy Ending twostrangersmusical.com, maybehappyending.com
Flock to get tickets to Masquerade. It’s an immersive Phantom of the Opera. You literally walk through the entire show with the cast. Also check out The Public Theatre. Many famous shows start here Off-Broadway and end up as hits on Broadway, such as Hamilton and Hell’s Kitchen. masqueradenyc.com, publictheater.org
Speakeasy Magick – A hidden gem where magicians perform magic at your table. speakeasymagick.com
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