Any ideas on what should be on my agenda Tuesday thru Thursday. We have no plans made. Just a surprise visit to mamalou. Any special events, shows, caberets, lounge acts, art??? Wide open to price range, food range, neighborhood range....thanks.

Top 5? Are you joking??

What are your interests?

Sight-seeing
Art
Broadway
Shopping
Nightlife

You should search this forum for info and visit Time Out New York's website for specific "happenings."

You have a zillion options!

Thanks for topping the thread for me gekko. Read my post to answer your questions. I have checked timeoutny but nothing inspired me. Some fodorites inspire.

Within your list -- special events, shows, caberets [sic], lounge acts, art -- you have thousands of options.

Have you purchased an NYC guide book?

Thank you again gekko for topping this. I have been to NYC many times over many years. I have been a member of this board for many years. I thought I was quite clear but let's try again.

I am making an unexpected roadtrip to NYC. I have nothing planned. Anything especially interesting happening in the next 48 HOURS?

Right now thinking we'll hit a museum and then go to Duo on the uppereast side which we enjoyed per a fellow fodorite recommendation. Maybe stop at the Carlyle for a cocktail.

But a visit downtown or midtown for some music, jazz, piano bar or show would work.

Simply seeing if anyone knows of anything special going on. Ok gekko?

The NY Orchid Show is going on the NY Botanical Garden right now - could be really cool.

Fantastic idea.....gooogling it right now! Thank you

Did you see the Nan Kemper exhibit at the Met?

Maybe the Rainbow Grill for dinner.

I would go see the Lower East Side Tenement museum.

Thanks EM Havent' done the tenement thing, but seeing as both my grandparents came from the old country....could be cool. Orchids and family history!

If you're referring to Due</>, you can do much better in that neighborhood. Make a reservation at Spigolo, which received a rave review from the Times' Frank Bruni.

Enjoy!

Thanks gekko, we had a wonderful meal at Due, but will definately consider your recommendation. What on the menu would you suggest, and what is the atmosphere? Thanks so much. Googling again!

sista, I think having drinks at the bar at The Mandarin Oriental is a great experience. The views of Central Park are million dollar ones.

Food; I try and eat at Gramercy Tavern whenever possible.

Have you been to The Frick? It is probably the world's most perfect small museum.

I love downtown.

www.downtownNY.com

Another perfect small museum is the Neue Gallery with all the Klimpts and Austrian Art. You can have lunch at the museum - Cafe Sabarsky. Fantastic tortes.

Judy Collins is performing at the Carlyle to rave reviews.

Judy Collins would be my top pick but I understand that the shows are all sold out and she will be adding more dates at the Carlyle later in the spring. I would give anything to see her there.

The Tiffany exhibit at the Met. The Neue Museum mentioned above is only 3 blocks away BUT the galleries of the museum are only open on weekends (check their website). Cafe Sabarsky inside is open all days and is lovely. I like it for a quiet breakfast.

There are always tons of things to do here. I live in Brooklyn and would really recommend that you make the trek out there sometime during your stay. Brooklyn is the often overlooked red headed stepchild of Manhattan - but I assure you that you won't be disappointed.

Brooklyn Highlights:
Junior's Cheesecake
Botanical Gardens in Prospect Park
Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg (tons of shopping, good restaurants, cafes, etc. If you go - check out SEA - its the Thai Restaurant that Zack Braff's character in Garden State worked at). There's also a pretty cool place called Galapagos in Williamsburg that puts on some pretty interesting shows.

In Manhattan:
Union Square Farmer's Market (not too sure the dates - might want to look it up)
Shopping in Chelsea and SoHo
Broadway shows (this isn't really my thing, but I've been told to stay away from Sealed for Freshness)
Blue Ribbon is one of the Best Sushi Restaurants in town
The East Village offers a really great variety of nightlife

And then, of course, art galleries, central park and all that jazz...

I would buy this week's issue of Time Out as soon as you get here.

Happy travels!

I forgot to add that Travelistic has tons of videos on New York - they might provide you with some inspiration

http://www.travelistic.com/place/show/105407

Personally, I've always wanted to go dumpster diving with Freegans.

Thank you everyone for all your fantastic suggestions. Forgive for not taking them. I now have many new lists of things I have not done yet. Thankyou one and all.

So, we took the train in from Bronxville to GC and strolled to TimeSquare.

As it was Wednesday, and mrlou wasn't in the mood for a museum thing, and I adore Kristen Chenoweth, we got half off tickets for APPLE TREE. All the reviews I had read were dead on....not much production value and not worth $100 a ticket, but i LOVED it! She is truly a force to be reckoned with and someone to watch in theatre, music, tv, film and comedy. She has a 3 octave range with a Goldie Hawn laugh, a set of Madeline Kahn pipes behind her own, a touch of Lucille Ball, and the voice of an angel. She is a fine wine and will only get better.

After the show, the day was just gorgous, so we strolled thru Central Square, watching skaters and little tykes on hockey skates. The fresh air and light were just too much to pass up, as we gave thanks to Olmstead for creating this remarkable park and planting such amazing trees, and exposing such wonderful rockwork. Mother nature at her best, with a little help from a genious.

So with sooooo many choices, I picked from a little scrap of paper I had tucked away a year of two ago. On a postit I had written SETTE MEZZO Mezzo as a must. Not sure why and although I was unable to find a menu on line we walked to this UEside gem. The food was pricey but fantastic. The service was better. True authentic humourouss service. We had 3 seperate waiters recite the specials to us, as there were so many to take in and 3 accents to interpret. They were so fun and gracious. Mrlou still wants to make it back to Due' but then will happily return to the food and laughter and pleasure fo Sette Mezzo 969 Lexington.

Well a cab back to Grand Central and some olive oil shopping and browsing, we were back on the train heading home.

Thanks again everyone for participating with such wonderful ideas to bookmark.

A favorite break to take in the afternoon is at the Morrell Wine Bar, 1 Rockefeller Plaza, between 5th and 6th ) they have hundreds of outstanding wines you can get by the glass with wonderful appetizers in a very pleasant setting...a nice mellow break in the day which we love...before heading out at night