Planning romantic night for hubbie - help!

Hi everyone

Hoping you can help. Going to be in New York from July 10th-14th, staying at Mandarin Oriental. Want to plan a perfect, romantic day while there for husband%26#39;s birthday - something really different and exclusive, not too pricey but whilst catching the sights.

Was thinking of picnic lunch in Central Park (anyone organise these for you?), followed by a twlight cruise around SOL, the perhaps dinner and drinks at River Cafe.

Any other suggestions of what to do with a 31 year-old in New York City?

Planning romantic night for hubbie - help!

I know that the Trump International hotel will pack a picnic lunch for you to take to the park so I%26#39;d guess the MO would too. If not, something a bit more ';new yawky'; is the Carnegie Deli will do it.

Are you aware of the Bateaux NY dinner cruise? It%26#39;s supposed to be very good and there%26#39;s music and dancing.

spiritcitycruises.com/ba/entertainment.jsp

If you%26#39;re on a big budget, Per Se, in the same building as your hotel is THE best restaurant in NYC. Very hard to get a rezzie, but I%26#39;m sure your concierge could do it.

There are also loads of other restaurants with excellent food. Tell us a little about your husband. What does he like?

Planning romantic night for hubbie - help!

If you%26#39;re like me %26amp; think a yacht cruise under sail is more romantic than being on a large motor boat , I can recommend either one of these: both offer regularly scheduled cruises of the Harbor (including sunset ones) or if price is no object, a private charter is also possible

http://www.shearwatersailing.com

http://www.sail-nyc.com

As nywhiz is suggesting by her question, it would be helpful to know more about your husband%26#39;s interests/passions. Even if an activity related to that is not ';romantic'; in the classic sense, I%26#39;m sure he would feel especially cherished were you to cater to an interest of his.

Breakfast at the Cafe Sabarsky at the Neue Galerie would be a unique %26amp; lovely way to start the day:

http://www.neuegalerie.org

Hi folks

Thanks for your suggestions. Am busily going through them at the moment.

Husband does like the %26#39;nice%26#39; things but won%26#39;t want me going overboard for him. He enjoys American food, really, really excellent blue steak or fantastic chinese food. I also secretly think he%26#39;d love to go somewhere we might spot a few famous people! He enjoys going places were you can enjoy nice food, then sit back and enjoy a few cocktails whilst something else is going on in the background, maybe a kind of after-show etc (sorry if this sounds confusing). I think he would also enjoy doing something %26#39;off the beaten track%26#39;, as we%26#39;ll be doing the usual Empire State etc.

Thanks once again for all your suggestions.

Sorry, meant to add, his passions/interests are really:

Motorbike racing/dirt bikes etc

Grand Prix

Working out (not a %26#39;body builder%26#39; or anything tho)

Old american sitcomes i.e. Seinfeld, loves The Simpsons

Clint Eastwood

Las Vegas

Don%26#39;t know if any of these will help!?*

It might not be traditional, but if he%26#39;s a Seinfeld fan, how about a Kenny Kramer tour:

www.kennykramer.com

Or breakfast up at Tom%26#39;s Diner.

For the big dinner, I%26#39;d go either with a boat dinner, or the River Cafe.

www.rivercafe.com

He likes Grand Prix, Seinfeld and Vegas and you want to take him on picnic in Central Park? :- )

You mention that he likes a good steak. I think a reservation at one of NYC many great steak houses followed up with a ';night on the town'; to the different pubs or to the Top of the Rock might be more to his liking.

(speaking as male who likes Grand Prix, Seinfeld and gambling)

If you want thje night to be romantic, refrain from calling him hubbie. After all, he%26#39;s thirty-one not sixty-one and presumably has a lot of life left in him at this early stage of his evolution. Plenty of time to call him hubbie in the year 2030 when you find him boring. But Westlandbabe, excise the word hubbie from your vocabulary at this stage of the game. And just be thankful that he still calls you babe (as opposed to %26#39;Joan%26#39;, as in the quaint expression %26#39;Darby and Joan%26#39;).

If you want thje night to be romantic, refrain from calling him hubbie. After all, he%26#39;s thirty-one not sixty-one and presumably has a lot of life left in him at this early stage of his evolution. Plenty of time to call him hubbie in the year 2030 when you find him boring. But Westlandbabe, excise the word hubbie from your vocabulary at this stage of the game. And just be thankful that he still calls you babe (as opposed to %26#39;Joan%26#39;, as in the quaint expression %26#39;Darby and Joan%26#39;).

You%26#39;re unlikely to see any celebs at River Cafe or on the boat cruise. Per Se though is a likely place for celebs but you can easily pay $1000 for dinner.

If he likes Chinese, Mr. Chow%26#39;s attracts some celebs and there%26#39;s a new one in Tribeca. I sort of agree with the last few comments, not sure a boat cruise and fancy/schmancy dinner would be what he would like b;ased on what you describe.

I think you should have a look at the restaurant list on hipguide.com Craftsteak might be a good idea too.

Forgot to mention, Dizzy%26#39;s Coca Cola again in the same building as your hotel has jazz and nice views and could be an option for after dinner.