Infinity22

Jacilynda, you're a sweetheart for posting all that info! I'm looking to get away from Comcasts b.s. with their constant added taxes and price changes, and I don't even have any movie channels with them. I'd have to check what package I have but I'm currently spending close to $140 for Comcasts cable (2 receivers with zero DVR's or anything) and broadband internet. I just want something that's easier, something that's not screwing me over and something that gives me a recording device and better quality!

Quote: Originally Posted by Jess Have you ever been to Find Unique Gift Ideas and Creative Gifts - FindGift.com ? I love this site....you can put in ages, who to shop for, holiday, etc. and they come up with very unique gifts for any age Jess, Awesome idea! I went to that site and it's great, it should give me some extra ideas, so thanks!

Quote: Originally Posted by FutureMrsLewis I voted for the XBOX 360 because I'm buying one for FI for Christmas lol Here's what I think of both systems: 360 is much cheaper, you can buy the Arcade (core) version and buy a harddrive later if you feel you need one. If you buy the 40GB model of the PS3, it is NOT backwards compatible. Be careful. PS3 doubles as a blu-ray player, which is very nice 360 can play HD DVD if you buy the player attachment, but those aren't being made anymore (HD DVD I mean) PS3 has some games that the entire family would play. 75% of the games for 360 are rated M. The reason why we chose 360 over PS3 (even though we're BIG Sony supporters) is because the game selection, FI loves shooter games, doesn't care much for anything else. And it's so much cheaper, it's $199.99 for the Arcade version and you can buy the harddrive later, and it's $399.99 for the PS3. Since we are also buying a Wii this year for Christmas, a PS3 couldn't fit in the budget, but an XBOX could And I do agree with whoever said the PS3 looks beautiful, because it definitely does, but it is larger than the other systems, and I swear as soon as you turn it on, every speck of dust in your entire house gets sucked onto it lol So it acts as a vacuum too! What a great invention!

Quote: Originally Posted by Bianca Do you have Fios in your area? i know my sister had Comcast for the internet and her bill was getting ridiculous. They got Fios in their area and are happy with that now. As far as cable... I would def go with DirecTV. They have so many channels and if you do need to go the HD route I am pretty sure they have the most channels out there! Also, I think TIVO is just the best DVR service out there... We live in a monopolized neighborhood. The builder happens to own the company that our houses are wired with for phone, internet and cable service... They bill it right into our HOA fees. We can't really afford DirecTV on top of that... No, we actually don't have Fios in the Salt Lake City area. Does DirectTV still provide Tivo?

Quote: Originally Posted by paraisobeachbride2009 Hey Infinity! I have four nephews, but they're all 3 & 1 years old. Would this work? It's Batman lego! LEGO.com Batman Home Hey paraisobeachbride2009! Thanks for that link. I didn't even know LEGO did so much Batman stuff, they sure have branches out a lot since when I was a kid. That's definitely a great idea since my youngest loves both! Thanks Quote: Originally Posted by Bianca My son is only three, but he has shown a great interest in photography (or just playing with our camera and taking photos!) We are getting him one of those kid tough cameras. My youngest is the same way. My ex is actually getting him a digital camera so he can play with it. He's always asking to use hers so he can take photos of random things.

So I've been a member of Comcast for nearly 4 1/2 years now. I originally went with them because at the time, they seemed like the best option for internet/television provider. Well now that my bill is like $140 a month and I don't really have any movie or HD channels, I'm starting to wonder if I'm getting screwed! So I have to wonder, would I be better with DirectTV and then just stick with Comcast for my internet or what?

Do you mean to tell me that nobody on this board has kids, or even nephews for that matter

I have two sons, a 5 year old and a 6 1/2 year old and I'm in some help for Christmas gift ideas for them. As most boys their age, they're really into superhero stuff but I feel like they already have so much of that at my house that it wouldn't be that special for them. They're also starting to get into gaming, although their mother and I limit just how much time they get to do that kind of stuff during the week. I already found out that my parents have stolen one of my ideas to get them each a PSP so that option no longer exists. My youngest is sort of a LEGO kid but not quite sure which one would knock his socks off. So anyway, please help!

One of mine would have to be the remix of Smashing Pumpkin's The Beginning is the End is the Beginning. YouTube - The Beginning is the End is the Beginning

What about the XBOX 360 crashing, has anyone had any problems with that?

B-E-A-UTIFUL!!! I love 'em!

That's what my wife and I did, just the two of us. We also had our wedding at ERC (Excellence Riviera Cancun) and it was definitely worth it. I can't say enough about the staff and the whole experience.

If you need some more photos, I'd be happy to give you my own. We had our wedding there this past May. Let me know...

I know this community is absolutely dominated by women, but I still thought I could get some valid opinions due to your personal experiences, and your experiences with your fiances/husbands. So I've been considering getting an XBOX 360 or PS3 for quite sometime now but I've been stumped on what to get since I've heard the PS3 is better but the XBOX 360 is much cheaper. Please help try to understand what I should get and why.... Thanks!

Quote: Originally Posted by JoLo908 It's so funny, that building draws so much attention! I alwaysss point it out when we go by, like a big dork... I also like the arch at the park... except the park is shady at night... That's because it's a classic, it was one of the first buildings to use a steel skeleton. They really don't build buildings like it anymore with all the detail and rock work. When the Flatiron Building was completed in 1902 (then Fuller Building), I believe it was the tallest in the world. I think it's probably the oldest skyscraper in NYC, which adds to it's popularity!

Quote: Originally Posted by Jess post 'em up! As you can see, beautiful as ever!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by Jess it did when I went in June but that is probably not much help as it is now October! : Well I'm back and I can officially confirm that it's been taken down. If anyone would like to see photos I'd be more than happy to show you!

We ended up staying at the Jumeirah Essex House on Central Park South. It was a great hotel and the location was awesome! Times Square is a lively place but I'd much rather stay a little further north now that I've had my experience at the Essex House.

Can anyone tell me if the Flatiron Building in NYC still has scaffolding the the first floor (ground level)? I'm going to NYC early next month and I wanted to get a good photo of it since it's my favorite building in the world. Thanks

Sorry to resurrect this topic but we're just about a month away and we're now just finally booking everything! Anyone stay at the Essex before? I heard they just went through a $90 million-plus revamp.

Quote: Originally Posted by azhuskergirl I'm all over the Olympics. It's bringing back all the memories of the Salt Lake Games for me (my company sent me there to operate programs up there & I'm reminiscing about the Opening & Closing Ceremonies that I got to attend). How can you not LOVE watching the swimming. Track & Field is going to be amazing, too! And I'm so proud of the men's gymnastics team. Go USA!! That's cool. Have you been to any other Olympics? What events did you go to while you were here?

Quote: Originally Posted by laybar I work w/ NYC hotels here & there are SO many different kind of hotels you can select from.. are you limited to Times Square? What exactly are you looking for? What price range? What kind of hotels do you usually like.. therefore I can direct you to the most appropo place.. let me know, but in the meantime.. Out of your hotel list from a week ago, here are my comments in CAPS: Affinia Dumont New York - IT NICE & COMFOTABLE, BUT FOR ME, NOTHING TOO SPECIAL Four Seasons Hotel New York - VERY NICE.. LOOKING @ OVER $700 / NIGHT PROBABLY Hotel Gansevoort - THIS IS STILL GOOD< BUT I THINK IT CAN BE CONSIDERED 'LAST YEAR'; IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THIS KIND OF HOTEL, LOOK @: BOWERY HOTEL (DOWNTOWN) EMPIRE HOTEL (LINCOLN CENTER) GILD HALL (DOWNTOWN) SIX COLUMBUS (COLUMBUS CIRCLE) HOTEL ON RIVINGTON (LOWER EAST SIDE) DUANE STREET HOTEL (TRIBECA) ANY OF THE THOMPSON HOTELS (A FEW THROUGHOUT NYC) Mandarin Oriental Hotel - SUPER PRICEY BUT OF COURSE REALLY NICE.. STAYING THERE NEXT WEEKEND FOR WORK, ACTUALLY! Marriott Marquis (still need to throw it in there) VERY TOURISTY & CONVENTION HOTEL BUT IT WORKS & LOCATION IS PERFECT Sofitel Hotel - IT NICE, BUT THAT'S JUST IT FOR ME. W Times Square - VERY TRENDY.. BUT A LITTLE MUCH MAYBE.. W'S IN NYC ARE NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE WITH ALL THE BOUTIQUE / INDEPENDENT HOTEL DEVELOPMENTS HERE. A COUPLE OTHER OPTIONS: CARLTON HOTEL NY (GRAMERCY PARK) GRAMERCY PARK HOTEL (GRAMERCY PARK) GREENWICH HOTEL (WEST VILLAGE) - NTO SURE IF THIS OPENED JUST YET THOUGH LONDON HOTEL (MIDTOWN) - THIS HOTEL I LOVE!! ROOMS ARE AWESOME & BIG! ALSO IF YOU'RE CONSIDERING FOUR SEASONS & MANDARIN ORIENTAL, YOU MIGHT AS WELL CHECK OUT THE PLAZA AS IT JUST REOPENED AGAIN IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR & IT'S SO NY! HOPE THIS HELPS YOU! No, we're not limited to Times Square but we'd like to stay in that area since that area is our main focus. I origially thought we were looking for something modern or contemporary but as long as it's nice and not really ornate, it'll do! Let's just say that the Four Seasons price range seems a little high for this trip that we're taking. I'd say somewhere in the $500-$700 range though. That's kind of a bummer because I was hoping the Mandarin Oriental Hotel would be the one. Loved your reviews of my list though, that really helps! Again, thanks to you all for your continued help.

Quote: Originally Posted by Nrvsbride If you want to stay in times square then the W is the nicest hotel there. There are others that are nice but that is the nicest. However, keep in mind that NYC hotels are small. NYC is very crowded and you don't pay for luxurious space you pay just for being in NYC. So unless you are going to get a penthouse overlooking central park in the Plaza Hotel, any room you get is going to look small in comparison to when you travel anywhere else. That's a very good point you made there, and one I haven't really taken into consideration. Quote: Originally Posted by Nrvsbride If you go a little farther uptown and stay near Central Park then I would recomment the Empire Hotel, which has one of the hottest nightspot right now at the top of their rooftop. The Empire Hotel New York City - Official Site What does the Empire Hotel have around it for it's nightlife? Is "downtown" in NYC considered to be the Times Square area or down by the south end by Wall Street? Quote: Originally Posted by Nrvsbride Here is my question for you, what are you planning to do in NYC? Are you planning to mostly sightsee or hit up the nightlife and shopping or a combination of both? The nightlife is way downtown. The touristy places are closer to timesquare and farther up. I'm sure you want to stay in a nice hotel but honestly if your coming to sightsee there is no point in going crazy over it since NY is the city that never sleeps. You will be out all day doing a million things that you really only need a place to crash. I imagine we'll do what most NYC tourists do and that is strick around Times Square and visit the regular close tourist attractions. Last time I was there, which was the weekend before Christmas in '04 we took a red tourist double decker bus around town and saw a lot that way. With it being so cold we weren't able to really venture into Central Park, so I assume we'll probably do that this time around. Quote: Originally Posted by Nrvsbride One last thing, you can't go by professional photogs vs. amateur. Of course the paid photographer is going to take a pic of the nicest room. Most people stay in the average room so it is going to look significantly different. What I meant by the professional photos compared to the amateur ones was that it was surprising how pros can make certain spaces more attractive than they actually are. The amateur photographs were simply to show how things really are. I wasn't implying that the hotel websites use amateur photos, TripAdvisor does.

Quote: Originally Posted by *Heather* Very common in Europe I think, but I've never seen them in a hotel before. Just hostels. But I've only been to NYC 3 times so maybe there are some hotels that have them that I don't know about...? Perhaps I thought they were more common than they actually are since there's a lot of buildings that were originally built without bathrooms in mind.

Quote: Originally Posted by *Heather* Hmmm, I've never heard of that anywhere other than in hostels. Are you thinking of WC's (water closets)? That's the only other word I know for "bathroom" (other than the loo, haha). Yeah that's probably it. How common are they?