Hi, 4 of us will be travelling to NYC 28th Dec to 5th Jan. Any sugestions on trendy eating places, shopping out of town(Designer outlets)and shows, Cheers.

I can't really help you with "trendy" eating places as thats not my thing. However, for shopping out of town - for a retail outlet (usually cheaper) I believe you can get a bus from Port Authority (42nd St.) to Woodbury Commons. If its just basic stores, there is the Palisades Mall in Nyack, NY (about an hours drive from NYC). You might be able to call them for bus information - I'm sure there is a bus going there.

* And don't forget to see a B'way (or off-B'way) play. *

Good Luck and Enjoy Your Trip.
Christmas is "the most wonderful time of the year" (especially in NY).

Nobu in Tribeca is both trendy and serves fantastic new-wave japanese food. I've read some posts here complaining about the number of tourists there recently, so maybe the real trend-setters have moved on...but again, the food is amazing. Read Fodor's review for more info.

Oh, and as for shows, for what it's worth, I'd go see John Leguizamo's "Sexaholix, A Love Story". That is, I haven't seen it, but he's great, and the show has gotten good reviews.

Woodbury Commons in Highland Mills, New York is a good designer shopping outlet mall...it's about 60 miles north of New York City...there's Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan, Burberry's, Banana Republic, Gap, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, J Crew, Esprit, Nine West, Liz Claiborne, Tommy Hilfiger, to name a few including a food court...if you want something closer to the city Jersey Gardens in Elizabeth, New Jersey is your best bet...they have Ann Taylor, Neiman Marcus, Lord & Taylor, Banana Republic, etc., etc and plenty of places to eat...you'll find alot of bargains after Christmas, too...popular places to eat (especially during the holidays) are The Russian Tea Room...it is so lavishly decorated...Tavern on the Green, The River Cafe (under the Brooklyn Bridge...they even serve a chocolate dessert that looks like the Brooklyn Bridge), Nobu, Tribeca Grill...I'm sure other posters will have many other different suggestions. All the best to you.

Trendy/In restaurants in NYC: Raols, Union Sq.,Olives, Gotham Bar and Grill, Blathazar, Nobu...

BALTHAZAR :0)

Trendy places to eat would include restaurants in the Union Square area, (Blue Water Grill, Park Avalon, City Crab, Angelo & Maxie) you can do a search on Zagat's web site and find more restaurants than you know what to do with. I think Russian Tea room and restaurants in that area are toursit traps, but that's my opinion.
as someone mentioned, Jersey Gardens is close for an outlet. A lot of times i find prices at outlet to be not so cheap. Sometimes you're better off going to sale section of regular store. There's a lot of nice stores along 34th street & Broadway (Macy's, H&M, Banana Republic, GAP etc.)
Enjoy your stay!