Thanks to all who have been helpful in my previous posts as my husband and I plan a long-awaited weekend visit to NYC in two weeks. We've done the basic tourist stuff on trips years ago and now look forward to a blissful walk-around grown-up trip (we're in our 40's). Have a basic itinerary but would appreciate any feedback as to whether something would be better at another day or time of day. But please don't judge our choices if you find them not to your standards...we're trying to cover a lot of ground with a mix of "flavors." I'm starting to get analysis paralysis at this point. New York can do that to you. Plus don't want to be held to a rigid schedule rushing here or there. What about

Friday afternoon, 2:00 pm on ... Walk the Upper West Side, up Columbus, lunch somewhere, visit Natural History Museum so hubby can see the planetarium show (we'll get advance tickets), walk down Central Park West to hotel at Columbus Circle, rest feet, dinner at Foley's in Times Square (I know it's corny, but a thrill of a view) ... or Top of the Tower at Beekman Hotel, depending on how touristy or sophisticated we feel...

Saturday, late breakfast, subway to Chinatown, walk up Little Italy, browse through Soho, lunch somewhere ... rest feet at hotel in late afternoon and walk up Madison or Lexington and cut over to the Met for a late day visit and music on the mezzanine...dinner at Da Silvano in the Village hopefully?

Sunday, brunch, wander West Village ... if time, walk through Central Park (near hotel); train departs at 3:00.

Your thoughts?

Consider substituting Broadway for Central Park West. Broadway is a more vibrant street. All you will see on CPW are apartment buildings. The only one considered an "attraction" is The DAkota at 72nd and CPW. Walk up Broadway to 86th St. Go east on 86th one block to Amsterdam Avenue. At 81st go east one block to Natural History. After finishing at the museum walk down Columbus. If you want to go by The Dakota go east on 72nd and walk down CPW to the hotel. If not continue on Columbus until 65th St before heading over to CPW. There are at least one dozen restaurants on Amsterdam from 86th to 80th Streets.

Topping just this once...

Carmela, your plans sound wonderful. In addition to the new space show, if either you or your husband are baseball fans there's a "Baseball as America" special exhibit at Natural History. I haven't made it there to see it yet but a 7-year-old Mets fan I know gave it a thumbs up.

I don't know if you have lunch restaurants in mind or if you just like browsing in the neighborhood first (I love doing that if I have the time). In Soho I like Zoe (on Prince) and Cub Room (on Sullivan) but there are dozens of great choices there. On the West Side, like rqf said, there are also many choices: Avenue, Sarabeth's, Good Enough to Eat, EJ's Luncheonette (all on Amsterdam), Isabella's (on Columbus) just to name a few regulars. If you like Asian food, I like Ollie's (the one on 84th St) for Chinese or the no atmosphere Saigon Grill for Vietnamese - both on Broadway. Have a wonderful time!

When walking the west side for a unique NY dining experience check out La Caridad at 78th and Broadway - Cuban/Chinese or Barney Greengrass at 86th and Amsterdam - features smoked fish and other treats.
Both very low on ambiance but food can be a treat. You could be the only "tourist" in either place.