We spent a glorious day in New York City yesterday to celebrate my birthday at Tavern on the Green for lunch...

At least once in each lifetime, one Must to go to the Crystal Room (with beautiful chandeliers from the world over hanging from a magnificent elaborate embossed ceiling) for a memorable experience...Prixe fix lunch runs about $30, plus t/t/champagne or wine by the glass for $9.50, for a total of about $50 pp...And Ever So Well Worth It!!!!!!!! Reservations are suggested tho the Crystal Room can only be specified upon arrival...don't accept anything else unless you wish to sit outside in the garden patio area. But, do it!!

As for hotels, we generally opt for the Best Western on 48th Street...central to TKTS booth at Broadway and 47th...other hotels in the area are the Quality Inn on 47th, Days Inn and Howard Johnson's on 8th...closer to Central Park, you will find The Wellington which is near Carnegie Hall and 57th street action.

Recently, the Howard Johnson's Hotel on 34th or 38th had rooms for $l05 so that might be another option.

For those driving into the City, you may want to do as we did and park at the Skyline Hotel, corner of West 49th and 10th for a mere $12/day...if you stay at the hotel itself the rate goes down to something like $8 daily and the hotel has an indoor pool and, tho older, good sized rooms...their rates have gone up since our $100 stay a few years ago tho.

We finished off the day with a walk to the sparkling Jewelry District on 47th between 5th and 6th avenues before driving back home on a bright and comfortable autumn day...how lucky can I be!!

Happy NYC...there's nothing like it!! every now and then I need a Big Apple Fix...enjoy yours!!

Lucille in West Hartford, Ct.

P.S. I forgot to mention that yesterday around 49th and 8th avenues there were about 4-5 Gray Line double decker Tour Buses loading up with passengers...this might be a wonderful option for giving you a feel of the entire city while sitting back and leaving the driving to them! People were buying tickets from the drivers right on site. No doubt, any hotel will have further data or you can go to the Gray Line website.