On Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, we drove into Manhattan to see Radio City Christmas Spectacular with the family and some friends from Montreal. Click here to purchase tickets for $45 - $75 through GoldStar. The city was still sleeping and traffic was pretty easy. That's one bonus for going to the city the day after a holiday that's mostly about eating until you pass out and/or standing in a 5-hour line to buy a new TV.
Here are a few tips to enjoy a trip into the city on the first official day of the holiday season for next year or anytime.
Getting to Manhattan
We drove in being that we would have had to pay three adult off peak fares on the LIRR. Traffic was pretty non existent. We took the Belt Parkway to the LIE to the Midtown Tunnel. We had tickets to the 10 a.m. show which wasn't so bad.
Parking
Go to www.Icon.com for discounted parking deals anywhere from $17/3 hours, $22/6 hours or $25/12 hours. Now that's a deal! If you have an SUV add $10-$15 more. We saved $2 which wasn't significant but hey, it's $2.
Will Call
Most people enter in through the main entrance, but if you're picking up tickets at Will Call, send one person around the side of the main entrance to pick them up. You can wait inside where it's warm. You're also not supposed to take in any food and beverages, but you're a mom. What mom doesn't have juice boxes and crackers in her purse. I downed a few bottled waters, but after the second one I couldn't drink another, so I placed it under my wallet in my purse and got in!
The Show
Of course minutes after we find our seats, the first row behind the first section of the orchestra right where Santa enters from the side, the kids are hungry. I run out easily as we have aisle seats. Two tubs of popcorn, two apple juices set me back $30. However the purchase came with a cheesy, plastic souvenir cup and a jester hat. Just one. No way I could return to my seat with one hat and two kids -- that's mommy suicide. So the attendant gave me another one. She must have had children.
Hear more about what my kids said during the show and a great place to eat post show.
