Small trip update:

We got the Loge row A tickets for Tuesday night...so we can enjoy Per Se as long as we want on Wednesday night. So glad for those that gave me that tip. Thanks!!

Will keep tweaking itinerary and posting more questions very soon.

What activities would you include on a day that we will go to dinner at Per Se at 7:00 that evening? Just trying to not traipse back and forth all over town.

It is feasible to see a 7:00 South Pacific Show at the Lincoln Center and then meet friends at Del Frisco's at 9:00pm? if so...taxi or walk?

What is on Mulberry Street?

How long would you spend at Ellis Island? Does the Staten Island Ferry take you there? We wanted to take the ferry to see the Statue of Liberty at sunset.

Would we have time to do the Top of the Rock at 3:00 and still make it to our 7:00 show at the Lincoln Center?

What other activities would fit well with the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge? Do you walk both ways or taxi to one side and walk back

Thanks again for all your help!!!

South Pacific run time is 3 hours, so you will not be out until 10 pm. See playbill.com for the start time and run time of all shows, this info is helpful in planning.

Yes, you could easily go to Top of the Rock at 3 and get to South Pacific at 7 pm.

The Staten Island Ferry does NOT take you to Ellis Island. It goes back and forth to Staten Island only. You have to take a special ferry to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. See the website for US National Parks, and then look at Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. http://www.nps.gov/

Do you have a NY Guidebook? A lot of these questions would be answered in a guidebook.

Activities which fit in well with walking across the Brooklyn Bridge are spending time in Brooklyn, primarily in Brooklyn Heights. The best walk is along the Heights Promenade for the nice older houses (and the great view of the river, city and bridge). Lots of restaurants in the interior streets, including the hilarious Chip Shop that offers traditional fish ‘n chips but also battered and fried versions of virtually everything (including stuff like Mars Bars, Twinkies and macaroni and cheese, see http://www.chipshopnyc.com/. Really, only in America!) There is an area called DUMBO just under the bridge I don’t think it is that interesting, altnohgh I have not been. and I don’t think that there is a whole lot there architecturally. It was actually a factory and warehouse district, it was never a brownstone neighborhood with homes, churches and schools like Park Slope and Brooklyn Heights (much of that area is now expensive loft apartments).

Personally, I would not want to go to dinner at Per Se in the same clothes (and shoes esp) in which I was touring all day, so I would not worry about where to go or which side of town to be on. Just plan to be back at your condo to change and get over to the restaurant in time.

Sorry I am running out the door, I can post some other reccos later, but hopefully others will give some reccos too, including for Mulberry Street.

Mulberry Street is the main street of Little Italy, so it is lined with Italian restaurants and shops. In the past there were many Italian product specialty shops--very few now. Many shops have changed to appeal to the tourists that visit the area. it's become less of an Italian neighborhood, more of a tourist destination.

The Liberty/Ellis Island ferry, requiring a paid ticket and long, long, long wait. It leaves from Battery Park in Manhattan, takes you right in front of the Statue of Liberty, stops at Liberty Island, and then stops at Ellis Island. Allow half a day.

The Staten Island Ferry is a free commuter ferry that leaves every 30 minutes or so--you can just walk up and get on. Its route between Battery Park in Manhattan and St George on Staten Island passes by the Statue of Liberty from a distance. At the Staten Island end, you must get off the ferry and reboard to return to Manhattan. Allow one hour for the roundtrip.

I had seen a recommendation in my readings to take the Staten Island Ferry for a nice view of the Statue of Liberty...but it sounds like from the last two posts that the view is very distant.

Would you recommend doing the Staten Island Ferry or the Ellis Island Ferry for good views of the Statue of Liberty? I know if I do the Ellis Island Ferry I need to get a ticket online ahead of time. I don't think I need to get off and see the statue since you can't go inside it etc... or do I need to actually go a see it?

I know people have said don't waste time on Canal Street...but I promised a friend I would pick up a necklace she saw there a month back...so I do need to spend a little time there. That could be included with my Little Italy and Chinatown day right?

p.s. Cicerone---do you post on the Thailand board? I think you have been a huge help to me in the past on my Asia trips!

Which tour would you see at Tenement Museum? The ones that look particularity interesting to me we "Getting By" (about the Great Depression) and the Confino Family Living History. Any good input on this?

StatenIsland ferry (free and runs every 15 to 20 minutes) gives you a distant view of the SOL. To get a close up view - and go to see Ellis Island - you have to take a ferry specifically to SOL. You MUST get tickets in advance as the lines are VERY long (first, to buy tickets, then security for the ferry, then on Liberty Island if you get off).

To do the ferry, just look at the SOL from the ferry and visit Ellis Island will take at least 4/5 hours. Longer if you actually get off at Liberty Island to see inside the Statue.

As for dinner at Per Se - it is very elegant and VERY expensive. You will definitely want to change into upscale dinner attire before going.

I also agree with the earlier comment to go light on the lunch if you are eating a major dinner out, or do the opposite, have a big lunch then a light dinner.

An average breakfast along with 1 quick light meal and 1 major sit down meal is more than enough food for 1 day. Besides 2 major sit down meals in 1 day is time consuming.

It's easy to grab something at a local deli or even the food court at whole foods (time warner and Union Square), or a quick bite at a cafe.

The Staten Island Ferry offers a distant but better, closer view of the Statue than if you just remained in Manhattan. Plus, the Statue faces AWAY from Manhattan toward the harbor entrance, so from the ferry you can get a view and photo of the front of the statue. Some are satisfied with this distant view and some are not.

Much of your enjoyment may depend on how much time you want to give up to seeing the statue or if you also hoped to visit Ellis Island. For me, if you just want a view of the statue, take the SI Ferry. If you're interested in Ellis Island, devote more time to the Liberty/Ellis Ferry.

Did your friend see this necklace in a particular shop on Canal or at a vendor? "A month ago" was Christmas shopping time. I wouldn't be sure the necklace was still there. Any way for her to verify before you waste the time? In any case, yes, Canal St combines well with Little Italy and Chinatown.

Well...is Ellis Island something I should include on a 4.5 day trip? I am sure we'll go back again sometime. I know it takes about 1/2 a day. Thoughts?

Also...researching the food tours. I am looking at the Greenwich tour or the Chinatown tour. Which would you do?

It's true that the Italians have largely left Mulberry Street, but what's left of Little Italy is still there, as well as the Ferrara bakery. But if you continue South on Mulberry Street, and over to Mott St, you are in Chinatown, which certainly is still thriving. This also takes you to where the notorious Five Points area was which was depicted in the movie Gangs of New York, although that area has all changed now.

Pick the Tenement Museum tour that appeals to you and is at the time you want. You won't go wrong.

Sorry for the serial posts--

I've already said I'd skip spending a half-day going out to Ellis Island on a relatively short trip for a first-timer. I'd only do it if it was really important to you. You'll get a good taste of the immigrant experience at the Tenement Museum.

It's awfully nice of you to try to keep your promise to your friend to find this necklace, but I think you're going above and beyond to make a point of going to Canal St just for that.

I think bagging Ellis Island is a good idea for this trip. Good incentive to come back..right ?! I will keep tweaking and ask more questions.

One question...will there be places to eat after our show at the Lincoln Center (ends at 10pm). Or should we just eat before? We were going to try and do Top of the Rock that afternoon (dusk) as well. Too much for that time frame?

Also...The weather report shows rain with snow shower next Monday. What kinds of activities from my list would you recommend for this kind of weather?

I think you can do Top of the Rock and eat and then go to South Pacific without too much rushing around. It might be a good idea to have your South Pacific tickets with you when you go to Top of the Rock, even if you're planning to go back to your hotel. Then, if you're delayed for some reason, you'll be set with the tickets. I'd eat somewhere that's fairly quick, and would eat before the show. You could get a drink and/or dessert afterwards. Also remember that South Pacific is at Lincoln Center--and not right there at your hotel. There are lots of good and not too expensive places in Hell's Kitchen between Rockefeller Center and The W and Lincoln Center. Lots of people on this board, myself included, love Robert Passon. It's at 9th and 50th, about halfway between your hotel and Lincoln Center. It's small, so get reservations now if that sounds like somehting you'd like.

As far as Monday goes, if the weather is bad, go to a museum. The MOMA is open, and the Met's website says it is open on holiday Mondays. Will you be there for MLK Birthday Monday? The Met should be open then. Check out the webistes of both of these and see what interests you. The Met is huge and it's best to pick two or three areas or exhibitions to start with.