We are staying at this Hyatt soon, for a weekend. Does anyone have any opinions about rooms, food, and local (4-5 block radius) eateries and attractions? We commute to the city often and are familiar with transportation around there, but we need info on what is right in that area, as well as how the hotel is. Any recommendations as to how to "get the most" out of this hotel experience? Thanks!

The hotel itself is very nice, and you'll probably be satisfied with the accommodations. The best attraction in that area is definitely the adjacent and newly reconditioned Grand Central Station. Definitely take a tour of the facility. (You can get specifics from the hotel concierge.) #2 must-see in the area is the Chrysler Building, just across the street from the hotel on Lexington Avenue. It's an Art Deco masterpiece, starting with its lobby and elevators!
As as the area, you should be aware that it's fairly quiet at night. I would recommend taking cabs in the evening to and from the hotel, though in terms of distance areas such as Times Square, the theater district, Fifth Avenue and Rockefeller Center are certainly walkable. As for the subway, it's conveniently located right in Grand Central.
While not the prime area for top restaurants, there are plenty of dining places to choose from. Again, I would check with the hotel concierge.

Howard, Would you mind sharing a few of your favorite places to eat in NYC? We need a lunch (fancy/well-rated restaurant, cheapest price would be for lunch), a Sunday Brunch, and perhaps a reasonable/cheap but great food, dinner spot! Thanks for the Grand Central/Chrysler ideas, we will probably follow that advice, and go to the new Hayden (Rose Center) too.

Sandi, a few responses:
1. If you're plannng to go to the new planetarium, make reservations now! It is already a hot ticket! Its website is www.amnh.org. The phone number is 212-769-5200.
2. For Sunday brunch, I would suggest going down to Soho or Greenwich Village. There are lots of places to choose from, and you'll have fun just walking around. And the prices, especially in the Village are not bad at all.
3. As for lunch and dinner recommendations, first give me an idea on what you want to spend for both lunch and for dinner. ("Reasonable" and "cheap" are relative terms. They have a different meaning in New York!!) Also, give me an idea of locations you prefer, both the dinner and lunch. And, would these be on a weekday or weekend?
You can email me directly if you like or you can post your response here.

For the lunch, it will probably be a Saturday, I was reading Zagat's and Lespinasse or Le Bernardin would be OK (I think they are about $40-60 for lunch). But I would rather hear about places you've tried, expensive but also serving a nice (prix fixe?)lunch. For the dinner(Friday), about 30. each, maybe Asian, or anything, just inexpensive like that. I want to make reservations for the really expensive place, just so we can enjoy it and have been there, at a less expensive meal.

Sandi:
We've not much experience with weekend "class" lunches! (And, I certainly put a $60 lunch in that category!) The only time we go out to a "decent" restaurant for a weekend lunch is when we go to a matinee in theater district or Lincoln Center. Otherwise, it's usually a cozy neighborhood-type place in the Village, Soho or Upper East or West Side. So, my experience is limited. And, again, I must admit (confess?), it's not often we have a $60 lunch!
Now, if you want to spend a little more for your Friday night dinner, I'll recommend our favorite NYC restaurant. That would be Chez Josephine on 42nd Street, just west of 9th Avenue (and an easy cab ride from the Hyatt). It's owned by Jean-Claude Baker and his brother (whose name I forget), two of the rainbow children of the celebrated entertainer Josephine Baker. The restaurant is French (naturally) and wonderful--excellent food, service and ambience. Host Jean-Claude alone is worth a visit! It would run you around $50-60 apiece including drinks. If you go, I would recommend making reservations for 8 p.m., after the theater crowd leaves. Then, you'll be able to stay as long as you want. (When I have recommended this place previously, other Fodorites have chimed in that they, too, love the restaurant.)
As for something in the $30 range, if you want to stick to that, I would again recommend going down to the Village, where you can find a host of nice Italian, Mexican, etc., restaurants in the $30 range. (Remember, in general, once you get out of mid-Manhattan, the prices at restaurants go down considerably.)
Need more input?
(You lucked in with speedy answers from me today. I'm at home playing nurse to my wife who injured her ankle yesterday. So, of course, I'm on line!)