Books and Coffee in Manhattan on Friday night
 

Now I'm looking for someplace to sit and sip a latte and maybe browse some books with dh? We'll only be in New York 1 night, and it may be raining, so I'm looking for a good alternative to ESB (imagine it's not much fun to look at rain and clouds for $20) Open late would be a plus, we plan to burn the midnight oil in town and sleep when we get back home.

I like the Barnes/Noble near Lincoln Center; it has a basement music collection, three floors of books, and a cafe on the top floor--with magazines. It is a very busy bookstore. There are two movie theatres nearby--Lincoln Square and Lincoln Plaza--if you want to to catch a flick.

I'm lost. You're here for only 1 night and you want to sit in a bookstore? Why? Or are you looking for a place to hang near the ESB while you wait for someone? There are no bookstores near the ESB except a comic book store IN the ESB (I think). Do you want other time biding options in that area? A bookstore anywhere?

I'd really rather not sit in a bookstore, no, but I can't think what else to do late! I'm not into Broadway, or ballet, or any of the recommended standards. Museums are closed by 8. The stores I want to shop close around 8 or 9. I'd love to just take in the sights, but if it's raining and cold, I probably don't want to just walk around. ? So what else to do? It doesn't have to be around ESB, I just want an alternative to paying $20 to look at rain and fog.

Go see a jazz show. Go to an independant film that isn't playing in your town. Go out to a late dinner. Go to drag queen bingo. Go bowling at Bowlmoor.

If the lady wants a bookstore then why not. Of course it depends on where you are staying, but I like Rapture.

http://www.rapturecafe.com/

or another of my favourites with a nice little cafe is

http://www.mcnallyrobinsonnyc.com/

The flagship B&N at Union Square has a large sitting area with coffee etc.

Agree with Lizzie's suggestions and would add Off Broadway, cabaret, piano bar, comedy club etc.

Btw, the Metropolitan Museum and MOMA are both open til 9 on a Friday night.

And on the first Friday of the month, the Rose Center at the Mus. of Nat. History has jazz.
http://www.amnh.org/rose/specials/jazz/?src=pv_p