I grew up going to the Carnegie Deli, it's my comfort food. But if the menu doesn't appeal to you, there's no point at all. The atmosphere is brusque and crowded and if you didn't like the food I think it would be really annoying.

1.-Carnegie Deli-I was planning on taking my daughter-in-law here for the experience, but the menu doesn't appeal to me. Is it worth going for the atmosphere?

WHAT ATMOSPHERE? There is none.

2. How much time should we allot for the Top of the Rock?

It's up to you. You can spend as much or as little time as you want once you get up there.

3. The subway-I have never been on the NY subway. Is it worth figuring it out for 1 day or is it better to take a few cabs-eg. Central Park to Palace Theatre, Rockerfeller Centre to Penn Station, etc?

It's only worth figuring out the subway (or having exact directions in advance) for getting to Penn station IMO. The distance between Rockefeller Center and the Palace theater and the south end of Central Park are all easily walkable or short cab rides. To get to Penn station, if that's where the bus leaves from, you should know how to go by subway should you not be able to find a taxi or should it be a busy time. hopstop.com is a good site to help with directions and even estimate taxi costs. You can also make a personal map of the places you want to see on maps.google.com

Carnegie Deli's meals contain 500 times the calories of a McDonald's supersize meal. I kid you not. You can feed a village with one order. Their desserts and meat servings are ginormous. I don't go to CD for the food, but more for the ambiance and to look at all the photos on the wall. If you are big on actors, movie stars, that sort of thing, I'd go there.

I would narrow down and focus on one or two things. The open bus is a good idea. Subway for NYers is negotiable, but if you're a newbie, it's confusing - cab it - if you take the subway, read the map well. Map is spaghetti. Despite my comments on the subway, you should experience the subway, which is more than 100 years old.

Current day pass for subway for one person is $7, but they are talking about an urgent change, from $7 to $7.50.....Just got back from a short visit.....If you are in NYC for 8 hrs, being at Times Square or Rockfeller Center will provide several hours of entertainment alone....be sure to know the map. That way, you can get your bearings for the direction you are walking or subway-ing before you get off the bus...

If you've never been to a broadway show before, I think I would do a matinee (getting tickets in advance from broadwaybox.com). My cousins were just here from out of town and saw Phantom for $50 or $60.

we are going to see Westside Story.

I have checked distances and here is my tentative plan. We arrive at Penn Station, will take a cab to 5th Ave &72 to take a cross park walking tour-1 1/2 hours. From there we will go to Palace Theatre by cab or walking to see Westside Story. After the theatre we will go to the Top of the Rock and then probably to Carnegie Deli. It's not that I don't like the food, it's the quantities, but I think it is a New York experience for a first timer. Somewhere we will make time for 5th Ave.

Of course when travelling one must allow time for serendipity and be able to adjust schedules. I never understand the itineraries I see that are planned to the minute. My experience is to be flexible about meals and not make reservations to be at certain restaurants at certain times unless it is a very special place. In cities like New York or Paris whereever you are there you can find good food.

In your original post, you said the bus for the ride home picks you up at 6:30. If that is the case, you're playing it awfully tight. West Side Story ends at around 4:30. By the time you get out of theater and walk to the Top of the Rock, it's around 5 at the earliest. You need at least 30 minutes at TOTR, which means leaving there at 5:30 at the earliest. No way can you walk over to Carnegie Deli, eat and be on time for your 6:30 pickup. Keep in mind that you may have to wait for a table at Carnegie which further casts doubt on your plan working!

Now that we are using megabus our departure has been changed to 8pm. If we don't have the time we will skip Carnegie Deli. Probably there are plenty of places for a bite at Rockefeller Centre. The thrill of the day for my daughter-in-law would be seeing a celebrity. How likely is that? on 5th Ave?

The thrill of being in NYC will be overwhelming. If she's lucky enough to see a celeb, then that, I say will be lucky but I've been to NYC mulitiple times, but haven't seen a celeb....however, in Chicago I saw Jennifer Anniston's ex who was in the Santa Clause. They were filming outside of Tiffany's. You could go online and google new york city current filming...and that may let you know where folks are. A. Jolie was in NYC last weekend to film the last NYC scenes of her current movie.

I don't know that celebrity is exactly the correct word - but we walked within inches of the "Naked Cowboy" yesterday, corner of 45th & Broadway.

As of today, a broadwaybox.com email shows $39.00 for Impressionism with Jeremy Irons & Joan Allen.

I read the reviews of "Impressionism" and I guess that's why the prices are reduced. Who is the "Naked Cowboy"?

That may be all that Impressionism is worth...if that much! The show did not get very good reviews.

http://www.nakedcowboy.com/akki/

As for Impressionism... guess I'm just a Jeremy Irons fan and enjoy the opportunity to see good actors performing live. Disney stage shows that remake movies don't do it for me. But one reason to love NYC is the range, something for everyone.

If you want to see good actors performing live in a GOOD show, then get tickets for Exit the King, starring Geoffrey Rush and Susan Sarandon.

Howard, are tickets for Exit the King available at 1/2 price?

We saw God of Carnage yesterday and can recommend it - but no bargain tickets are available.

"but we walked within >>INCHES

Yes, Patrick,I too was letting discretion be the better part of valor and not responding to that one!
KatieR, there are discount tickets available for God Carnage, also for Exit the King. Check broadwaybox.com and playbill.com.

Discretion and sarcasm aside, HowardR - checked both links and neither site comes close to the 1/2 price ita is hoping to pay for a Broadway performance for either play. But I am always willing to learn, so if I'm missing a wonderful bargain please - spell it out.

KatieR, I guess it's just semnatics. What you consider a bargain ticket is different than what I consider a bargain ticket. To me, getting a third off a ticket for a good show is a bargain! To get half off a bad show is not a bargain!