What is there to do in NYC?

Art:

P.S. 1 (http://ps1.org)/ is an affiliate of the Museum of Modern Art, but it's basically free (suggested donation is $5) and features more experimental work. It's in Queens and very accessible by subway.

Art galleries are more intimate and fun (in my opinion!) and you can go to as many as you want for free. The best thing to do is find gallery openings, since you can often meet the artists and join the mini-party. Chelsea is Manhattan's gallery neighborhood- find gallery openings/receptions here: http://chelseaartgalleries.com/index.php...

Food:

Chinatown! Try to avoid the Canal Street tourist area, since it's crowded and insane. Well, unless you're buying a knockoff handbag.

The rest of Chinatown is a bit confusing, and the best restaurants can be kind of hard to find, so hopstop (see below) a map beforehand.

I love this place: http://www.yelp.com/biz/vegetarian-dim-s...

Hop Kee is good, too: http://www.yelp.com/biz/hop-kee-new-york

Rice to Riches is awesome. It's an adorable shop that sells nothing but amazing rice pudding. It's more like ice cream. http://www.yelp.com/biz/rice-to-riches-n...

Beard Papa sells nothing but cream puffs, which are also delicious. http://www.yelp.com/biz/beard-papa-new-y...

But really, walk around any neighborhood and you'll find a great place to eat. The really good places often have Zagat/Time Out/etc. reviews in the window.

Okay, I could go on and on...

Subway map: http://www.metrocardholder.com/images/ma...

It looks confusing, but it's pretty easy to figure out. The subways are referred to by number/letter, not color, but it's easier to explain if I include the color. And if you ever need help finding the right train in a station, just ask the person at the booth or anyone in the station. Most people are very willing to help out.

The Lower East Side is great for live music, random cute stores, random cute people... take the orange line (F/V) to the Lower East Side stop and just wander around. Greenwich Village is more upscale and is really adorable in some places, with cobblestoned streets. (red line to Houston or blue line to West 4th)

In Brooklyn:

Williamsburg is hipster central. ;) Good fun if you're into coffee or vintage shopping, though. L/gray line to Bedford Ave.

Prospect Park is a lot of fun, and the Botanic Gardens are nice. Orange line/F to Prospect Park, green line/4 or red line to Botanic Gardens.

Carroll Gardens is a cute neighborhood with lots of shops and restaurants- orange line/F to Carroll St.

Useful links:

Hopstop (http://www.hopstop.com)/ is great- I use it myself pretty often. Enter your starting location, your destination and the day/time; it will give you printable subway and walking directions.

Time Out New York (http://www.metrocardholder.com/images/ma... has a zillion listings for restaurants/shops/bars/events etc.

L Magazine's music listings: http://thelmagazine.com/listings.cfm

Go to Soho or the Village; the best shopping is there and it's "real" NYC, not so tourist-y.

Have lunch at Serendipity. It's a bit pricey, but it's also one of the best meals/dining experiences you'll ever have.

Spend a day in Central Park.

If you don't already, wait outside the stage door at whatever Broadway show you see. The actors are almost always gracious and happy to sign Playbills and take pictures.

Eat at the River Cafe in Brooklyn. It's pretty pricey, but the view of NYC across the river at sunset is worth it. So romantic. Also, you could go see a show. May I suggest Avenue Q.

Visit the Ground Zero site.

I trust Mr. threat. over the final few years, Little Italy has gotten smaller as Chinatown has grown. in the present day, Chinatown has just about taken over Little Italy. there is a few attempt to maintain in user-friendly terms some blocks of Little Italy recently, yet this is approximately it. that's in user-friendly terms somewhat vacationer area, with in user-friendly terms some eating places and cafes left. meanwhile Chinatown has grown pushing previous that's unique bounderies. Chinatown is a thriving community in the present day. Little Italy isn't. yet they are VERY near to a minimum of one yet another (confident, in the present day it DOES look as though Little Italy is truthfully IN Chinatown, even though it was once north of Chinatown.) you would be able to desire to certainly see them on the comparable day.