I am over the top excited to be going to NYC for the first time....we leave this Friday.
It will be more making connections with my NYC cousins who grew up mostly in Brooklyn (one in Brewster) and its a long time coming.
My husband is excited too...we live in the middle of nowhere in the Mojave Desert and I am a city girl at heart so I won't want to leave to come back to this nothingness...oh well. So, can't wait!!!
I do have some questions.....

1) Can you recommend a restaurant near 97th Street for lunch? (UWS)My 2 cousins are nuns that live there and we're taking them to lunch...they work in the Mary Manning Welsh Home as nurses....just something nice where we can visit and have some good food...not over the top expensive (maybe $20 each or around that...)
2)Where is the Trump Tower....I might want to take a pict. of that if I'm in the area...
3) Trying to decide on a seafood rest. on Monday night....my dh loves seafood...we'll be on our own that night.....maybe Sea Grill or Foley's Fish House (Tides is closed on Mondays). Sea Grill might be nice if we can see the ice skaters too..how long do they skate in the evening? Then we could do the Top of the Rock as well....
I know I will have a few more questions but that is it for now...
Thanks so much,
Shadow

There are a lot of good casual places in the area - depending on what cuisine you want. Many are ethnic (Indian, Thai, Dominican, Chinese etc) - which should let you get away for $20 each. What do you think they would like?

Don;t know if the ice rink is open yet. Once it is they have several different skating sets. I believe the last one ends around 10pm during the week and midnight on Fri and Sat.

I would ask your cousins where they like to eat in the neighborhood; you won't need to make reservations for lunch in that area. I am sure there are some places that they go to periodically and are their favorites. There are some nice places in the 80s on Amsterdam and Columbus and also up near Columbia. (Sarah Beths Kitchen, Nice Matin).
The Trump Tower is no big deal; the Time Warner building on 59th and Columbus is much more impressive and visitor friendly. There are some huge tech showrooms, great views, a nice Borders, an excellent French bakery, and an amazing whole foods restaurant/grocer in the lower level. Great views of the Park. I would look at Time Out NY and Zagats for seafood suggestions. Have fun!

1)Docks is a seafood restaurant with a location on Broadway & 89 st. if you wanted to take the cousins there. http://www.docksoysterbar.com/

Sipan is Peruvian. Acqua and Pizzabolla are Italian, both reasonably priced. Look for details on menupages.com

2) Agree Trump isn't a big deal but there's a fun indoor waterfall good for a photo op. It's on Fifth Ave. between 56-57 st. right near Tiffany's.

3)Ice skating rink at Rock Ctr. open til 10:30 pm
http://www.nyctourist.com/xmas_rockice.htm

Try Henry's for lunch. It's at 105th Street and B'way on the west side of the street. Should fit the bill for pretty quiet, decent food, not too noisy.

Thanks....nytraveler....glad to hear there are lots of places in the area so I am checking some out including Henry's (per liz5959).
Mclaurie..Docks looks good for a sea food dinner for us!! Thanks!!
Shadow

Shadow, I think Dock's might be a bonus for your husband. Did you notice they have a $14 lunch special? There's another location of Docks in midtown at 40th st. & 3rd ave. Can't remember where you'll be staying in Manhattan but that's likely to be closer. Docks is not the best seafood NYC has to offer but it's decent. Both Sea Grill and Foley's have the added benefit of a stunning view. If you're staying near Times Square, there's also Blue Fin in the W Times Square hotel.

The rockefeller skating rink opened up just last week.