The International Center for Photography is a museum rarely mentioned here, that is worthwhile if you are interested in photography.

http://www.icp.org/

For buskers try Central Park and Washington Square Park.

Delis mean different things in NYC. My favorite Jewish Deli is 2nd Ave Deli with Katz's, the better known, a close second.

For burgers the Spotted Pig is wonderful for a more expensive burger and some of the best fries in NYC.

http://thespottedpig.com/

Corner Bistro is an old NY favorite, which a bar with seats in the back and is a zoo on the weekends.

In the East Village-Black Iron and Paul's Da Burger Joint. I do not think I have ever seen a tourist in Paul's. It is a divey place with complacent/wise ass waitresses. Not the best burger but one where you feel like a NY'er.

My favorite walk is around the tip of Manhattan. Start at North Cove (on the Hudson, directly behind the world trade center site. There is a good gelato shop inside the Winter Garden right there at North Cove. Then walk south to Battery Park, around to the east river side and up past the Brooklyn Bridge. You can stop at South Street Seaport for food and nice view of the bridge from their terraces.

City Hall Park, which is also in that area, is one of my favorite small parks.

Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge or take the ferry, then walk north up past the Manhattan Bridge. Great views of the Manhattan Skyline from there. You can also walk south - the park goes all along there - for different perspective.

Take the hop on hop off water taxi. Goes from 42nd street on the Hudson side all around lower Manhattan with lots of stops, and up under all the East River Bridges. If you don't want to do that, a shorter ferry ride is the Ikea Ferry from just south of South Street Seaport to Ikea in Brooklyn. You don't have to go to Ikea, just get back on the return ferry. It's free some of the time but I can't remember when (weekends in the summer maybe?).

Take the tram over to Roosevelt Island. Either early in the day or sunset. Great views of midtown.

http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/new_york_city

In NYC "local" food is everything you can think of - from Gray's Papaya (hot dogs and papaya juice) to hole in the walls selling Vietnamese sandwiches to upscale cupcake bakeries, Jewish delis and bargain lunches at a plethora of chinese and indian restaurants all over the city. You can check out menupages.com - searchable by location and cuisine - with actual menues with prices.

As you are touring just check out the places you pass during the day - those that are crowded will usually have decent food. If you are looking for something specific, ask here or have a look at Chowhound.

Some of the best views are from the Brooklyn promenade and the Staten Island ferry. For street performers look at Central Park on weekends, Fifth Ave in front of the Met and Washington Square Park. April may be great for this - but be aware that you can still get weather that is quite chilly - our spring is later than yours since our winter is usually so much colder.

One of the best ways to see a lot of Manahattan, not a "panorama", is to take the 4 bus from PennStation to the Cloisters, then change to a 5 bus on the way back and go all the way to South Ferry or an 11 near St John the Divine and go to the High Line.

Takes forever, but the journey, not the destination is important. Fascinating contrasts between Upper East Side, Harlem, Washington Heights, Upper West Side, etc.

Cheap and lots of subway stations where you can bail if it is too slow for you.

-Good areas to walk and photograph -parks, river, waterfront etc.
Walkingoffthebigapple.com is a website with lots of good ideas for self guided walking tours by area and by theme. You can also find maps of the greenbelts along both the East River and the Hudson River online. If you're looking for a good close view of the Statue of Liberty, the Staten Island ferry won't provide it. You'd be better paying for a cruise. Nywatertaxi.com does a hopon/off ticket that will show you a lot of the waterfront areas from the wayer. They also do cruises.

-Good areas for buskers and just watching life go by.
Washington Square Park
Union Square
In front of the Metropolitan museum on weekends
Bethesda Fountainin Central Park

-Are there free places to get views of the city without going to ESB or TOTR?
Yes, but none quite the same. Gorgeous skyline view from the Brooklyn Promenade in Brooklyn Heights.
A ride on the Roosevelt Island tram is included in the unlimited metrocard which you both will want to buy.

For food, the city is FILLED with gourmet shops, fabulous ethnic cheap eats and virtually every restaurant does take out and delivery. Some websites that might help you
Menupages.com
Eater.com
Seriouseats.com
Yelp.com

"You can stop at South Street Seaport for food and nice view of the bridge from their terraces"

I think the SS Seaport got smacked around pretty good by Sandy. It is heavily under reconstruction.

Just an FYI

-john

It may be open and running by April - do check before you count on it.

I've used this service for a couple of cities in the US, especially in New York, and find it a wonderful way to get to know a city. You pay what you think the tour is worth at the end in the "tip" for the guide.

http://www.freetoursbyfoot.com/new-york-tours/default.asp

I've done the "All in One Downtown" and the "AIO Uptown" and found them both entertaining as well as a quick way to learn as much as possible about NYC. Each of these All in one tours lasts about 6 hours, almost all of it on foot.

You will need to purchase your own metro tickets and meals.

Walking in our favorite activity when visiting New York City. We like to spend a long day following this general path: Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Broadway Theater District, Murray Hill, Gramercy Park, Chelsea, the Meat Packing District, Greenwich Village, SoHo, the East Village, the Lower East Side, Little Italy, Chinatown, Brooklyn Bridge and Wall Street.



HTtY

Thank you, thank you. I'm overwhelmed by the speed of reply and the quality of information. This is seriously great stuff.
Golemtoo : The Spotted Pig, Corner Bistro and that deli are now on my list.
Isabel: this is genius. You could plan our whole tour!
NYtraveler : great tips about Brooklyn promenade and busking areas.
Ackislander : that bus trip really appeals. Thanks.
Mclaurie : great to see your advice backs up so many other people.
bmw732002 : will definitely check out South Street Seaport.
Easy traveler : thanks for the tip and the link?
If I had my way you guys would all be on a salary. Any more suggestions?

On my last trip to New York I stayed in downtown Brooklyn and I liked these things:
Prospect park for walking and some people watching.
Brooklyn Heights promenade and the parks below Brooklyn bridge for views of the city.
Brooklyn Fare (grocery store) and Mile End Deli for lunch. I really really liked pizza from Artichoke and falafel from Taim on that trip too for my takeout dinners.

HTTY, how many miles do you cover in that day? Last time we were there, we covered 7-1/2 miles on foot and thought we did great -- we started at Grand Central, walked up to Rock Center, down to the Diamond District (had an errand to run), then just kept going, eventually ending up at the World Trade Center memorial site (with many stops along the way, including the High Line again, visiting a friend who works near the Flatiron Building, walking through the unbelieveable Whole Foods in Tribeca, etc.). We did take the subway back up to 2nd Avenue Deli for a fabulous pastrami sandwich for dinner before walking back to Grand Central for our train out of the city!

Enjoying reading the replies as we will arrive in NYC in a couple of days & hope to walk our way around all of the above.
I'll let you know how we get on rickydicky. We have been doing a road trip the other way from Texas up. You can see how we got on in the other places on my trip report.

sf7307, Now that's the way we like to go. I'd say we walk at least 10 miles, but we do it over a long day stopping many times along the way. HTtY

If you enjoy travel by bus, you will love travel by train.
The train has more than 1 bathroom which improves the odds of finding one that does not stink.
You can eat food cooked on the train. You won't have to worry about driving on the right side of the road.

HTTY : we will certainly use the second part of your walk.
Cosmos : views, park, photo opportunity and a deli - excellent.
Sf307 : thanks.
Kwaussie ; I'm gonna take a look at your route as soon as I've finished this post. Will be interesting to see which way you travelled.
Tom : I like your style but the bus bit was just for skipping round Manhattan.
Anyone any ideas on a nice relaxed bar with music, micro-breweries or a cafe with views, wi-fi, papers etc. Thanks to everybody for such a valuable insight into your wonderful city.

Go to Brighton Beach. Then take the B68 to Jst./Coney Island ave, take the B6 towards 86st. You'll see some nice sights, and the end of Bay Pkwy has a nice view of Verrazano Bridge.

For the best pizza slice in NYC imo, try Joe's pizza http://www.joespizzanyc.com/

That is if there is anything left after this latest noreaster.

All of the barrier island and beaches immediately facing the ocean were flooded and damaged by Sandy - and now this next of the winter noreasters. Before heading to Coney Island or anywhere nearby - check travel availability and status of the sights you want to see.

The main amusement park at Coney Island and Famous Nathan's are expected to reopen in the spring. But many of the smaller amusement areas were heavily damaged - some games and machines beyond repair. Which will reopen when is unknown. The aquarium is no shut and lost a number of exhibits when cold sea water flooded the tropical exhibits. They hope to partially reopen by next summer but details are unknown.

The OP was asking about people watching, not riding on the cyclone. For unusual characters and food, Brighton Beach is good.
Then the now Chinese/Asian Bensonhurst(formerly an Italian hood) is worth a visit by B1, and 86st has "Istanbul" the best gyro in town.

The ICP can have great exhibits, as golemtoo advised. Do check that they match your interests. For the last few years the Metropolitan has been featuring photo exhibits in one or two small galleries on the second floor. See http://www.metmuseum.org/en/exhibitions/listings/2012/faking-it for one of the current exhibits.

If you're staying in midtown, a nice stretch of the legs involves a diagonal across the whole of Central Park, starting around the Plaza and ending up at 110th on the westside. Meander at will by the lake, the boathouse, the Rambles, Strawberry Fields, etc. You'll be near St John the Divine at the end, as well as some divey fried chicken places.

Although I am a dedicated tippler, I'm afraid I cannot help you select a bar which fits your criteria. The US simply has nothing comparable to a British Pub. Our bars are mostly segregated by age and class, and nearly all will have several tv sets blaring non-stop against the music. Try the Old Town Bar near Union Square. Maybe PJ Clarke's in midtown east. Maybe the Campbell Apartment in Grand Central. If you find a good one please let us know!

"A bar with good beers..."

Go to Eataly, and after scoping out all the stuff they sell and cool restaurants downstairs, go to the rooftop for beer and food. Eataly was one of the highlights of our trip to NYC a couple of years ago.

http://www.eataly.com/birreria

Thanks to all those who have sent me information over the Christmas period.I now have enough great ideas to fill two weeks let alone four days.Just to let you know that after New York and visiting friends in Washington we are setting off on a six week road trip ending in Texas.I'm off now to other parts of this board to "borrow" some more ideas. Mind you it will be difficult to match the help I've had here. Happy Trails!

HTTY - I've often thought it would be fun to walk from midtown to the Brooklyn Bridge. Do you have a specific route to follow (i.e., street-by-street) for the best overview of the neighborhoods?

If you want to do that just walk down Broadway. That route will not take you through Greenwich Village, but it will take you through Manhattan, though not always particularly beautiful parts of the city. You could take a short detour west on 11th St to see some of the brownstone central Village.

bookmarking

Thanks for all the great ideas.