I'm an Irish girl flying solo to NYC from Dublin at the end of the month, staying with a friend. However the day I arrive my friend won't be available until 6pm that evening.

Is there anywhere in Manhattan that I can check my luggage and go sightseeing until my friend finishes work?

All suggestions welcome.

Any hotel will do it for you -- just go to the bell hop and ask to store your bags. You will have to pay a small fee.

Are you staying with a friend who lives in NYC? If not and you're staying in a hotel, then I agree with cap. If your friend lives there, check to see if the apt building has storage facilities (the building where my SIL lives does, so it may be worth asking). Or see if you make arrangements to leave it in the apt.

I assume you will be staying with your friend in NYC? Why don't you pose the question to your friend. Maybe you could leave your luggage with her at work.

How early is your plane supposed to land?

Unless it's early afternoon you may not have much time before 6 pm - given how long it takes to wait for bags to arrive and get through customs - then trek in form JFK. (Assume you're landing at JFk - from EWR can take even longer.)

Since 9/11, there is no official place to check or store luggage in Manhattan. If your friend lives in Manhattan and lives in a doorman building, you could go there and leave the bags with the doorman. Assuming this is not the case (either no doorman or her apt. is not in Manhattan) if your friend works in Manhattan, perhaps you could go to her office and leave your bags there while you spend your day.

If neither of these is an option, you can try going to one of the larger hotels (ie Grand Hyatt at Grand Central Terminal) and ask the doorman if you could check a bag (and offer a nice tip and make sure to get a receipt!) Or, perhaps a smaller hotel known for personal service like the Algonquin would be better. If you're dressed nicely and ask nicely, it might work.

Is your friend working in Manhattan? Is it possible to leave luggage with her at work?

Is your friend renting an apartment? Is it possible to leave the key with the manager?