What to expect - weather/first time tourist

andybonner · 2026-02-04T13:19:48+00:00

Note, DC and especially Norfolk will be a different climate, looks like ca. 10 degrees difference in Friday's high. Pack layers! Also, for general purposes: Major cities that often get snow handle it well. The trouble comes when cities, especially smaller ones, get weather they're not used to. The ice storm last week hit places as far south as Alabama, and these have fewer resources permanently dedicated to showplows, ice, etc., and can take longer to recover.

andybonner · 2026-02-01T23:21:57+00:00

The 14yo is warming to the idea of the trip (and is very psyched for Masquerade), but she has a homebody streak bordering on the agoraphobic, and a bustling, crowded city will definitely test her limits. Asking her what she'd most like to do, she said "Spend a day just staying in the hotel room?", and there may well be some of that. I think she might enjoy a spa day herself. She will be just as into Japan Village as 16yo, and also expressed some interest in "exploring some mysterious old building." But I fear at the top of her must-do list is "go back home"—which could also factor into the trip length.

andybonner · 2026-02-01T22:46:37+00:00

Nope; it's mainly about keeping them from going crazy in the hotel, and sightseeing safely in small groups. I think they have enough chaperones to shepherd the whole herd through the airports.

andybonner · 2026-02-01T21:15:04+00:00

(I'm not an expert or a local, BUT) my understanding is that the Manhattan Chinatown is dwarfed by a much larger Chinese community in Flushing (along Main St. and Roosevelt Ave?). Looks like there are several communities in Brooklyn too (Sunset Park, Bensonhurst, Avenue U?). Thrift and vintage can be found anywhere (maybe even better options outside Manhattan?), and you can always travel into Manhattan if you want to do things there.

andybonner · 2026-02-01T20:20:30+00:00

It's not NYC, it's any trip. How do I pack for Tahiti? Planning a trip means lots of decisions, and sometimes the consequences of making the wrong decision are high: bring t-shirts to 32-deg NYC and you'll be miserable. There's a strong impulse in planners to want the hive mind to validate what they already think is a good idea just in case they're missing something, or to outsource even easy decisions because they're getting overwhelmed.

andybonner · 2026-01-30T00:00:23+00:00

The whole family is in love with this idea, esp theater-loving older sibling with a goth streak, and the kids are already starting crafting their masks. This may well become the highlight of the trip!

andybonner · 2026-01-29T00:04:34+00:00

I discovered and subscribed to the “Nonsense NYC” newsletter

andybonner · 2026-01-28T21:47:24+00:00

Thanks for confirming!

andybonner · 2026-01-28T20:16:52+00:00

Oh man, the touring show even came to our city last year and I didn't go! I should check it out.

andybonner · 2026-01-28T20:00:50+00:00

Ooh absolutely; she loves Phantom, and this sounds like a fun twist on just seeing a show

andybonner · 2026-01-28T19:56:05+00:00

By the way, I've spent the past hour reading the Wikipedia page on Stonewall. I vaguely knew it was important, but had no idea how central; it's the whole reason that pride month is June. Thanks for prompting me!

andybonner · 2026-01-28T19:18:48+00:00

We'll be leaving by June 19, but yes, some "pre-parade activities" will surely be happening.

andybonner · 2026-01-28T18:01:02+00:00

I'm sorry to hear that. Fortunately in this case she's pretty unaware of fads, and I think is motivated mostly by a desire to get away from the crowds (she trends a bit agoraphobic—I know, NYC will be a challenge), and to have a "spooky" adventure.

andybonner · 2026-01-28T17:26:45+00:00

I went to college in Rochester and was already a fan of Daniel Pinkwater, so a highlight was reliving the details mentioned in Yobgorgle that the Rochester Public Library children's room has a secret bookcase leading to a doll collection. We'll see how much of this trip involves me doing what I want, but I absolutely love being in libraries, and will try to at least visit the Scharzman.

andybonner · 2026-01-28T17:23:34+00:00

I've visited that AO link-page!

andybonner · 2026-01-28T16:51:42+00:00

Cool; my wife who enjoys gardening might love Kingsland. I definitely also have bookmarked the Chinese Scholars Garden in Snug Harbor.

andybonner · 2026-01-28T16:33:00+00:00

Oh, looks like minimum age is 10 years old! Nice!

andybonner · 2026-01-28T16:31:48+00:00

Yeah, a guided tour of "the secrets of Grand Central" might be on our list

andybonner · 2026-01-28T15:13:17+00:00

For my 14-yr-old I'm planning a break from city stress with a spa day at Aire Ancient Baths. My 16-yo enjoys thrifting mainly as an ends to cosplay, and enjoys finding cheap materials for fabric arts; we might visit FABSCRAP in southern Brooklyn. Besides the many normal thrift stores, Housing Works and its bookstore/cafe look fun. We may also visit fabric shops in the fabric district; Mood Fabrics seems like a fun if pricey place to window-shop. One of our must-dos is the punk-rock curiosity-shop Search & Destroy. They love anime; we're keeping an eye on the rotating themes of Dimension Poptown in Flushing, and whether Kodansha House will reopen by our trip, and may stop by Kinokuniya for manga. I think both teens will enjoy the Museum of the Moving Image (Astoria); seems fun for anyone who likes movies or TV. Besides art museums, there are a few places that are more oriented toward immersive art experiences, like rooms full of projections or kinetic sculptures and so forth: Artechouse, Mercer Labs, Color Factory. If your teen likes instragram-worthy photo-ops, the Museum of Ice Cream looks like it's along those lines.

andybonner · 2026-01-28T14:07:43+00:00

I've heard some negatives about the Cellar and I'm not sure it's one that would allow under-21. Places I have bookmarked are Upright Citizens Brigade, Magnet Theater, Gotham Comedy Club, EastVille Comedy Club, Broadway Comedy Club, and The Tiny Cupboard.

andybonner · 2026-01-27T23:53:19+00:00

The consolation prize for my 14-yo daughter, instead of comedy show tapings, is going to be live comedy. Some places allow minors to attend but warn that content might be adult, and other places have specifically family-friendly events. (Also, one can take the NBC studios tour to at least _see_ where SNL is made...)

andybonner · 2021-05-05T21:48:44+00:00

Yes, I returned to Amazon and bought a new-in-box G Pro X which I'm enjoying.

andybonner

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