My girlfriend and I are making our first trip to NYC together from Dec. 15-19. We've both been there separately, so it's not like the city is completely new to us.

So far, our plans for 4 days include the MET, Museum of Natural History, Ground Zero, Broadway show (Rent), Central Park, Little Italy, Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center -- in other words, all the typical touristy NYC stuff.

I was wondering if anyone could suggest some other less well-known activities to do in NYC.

We'll be staying somewhere in midtown Manhattan (haven't picked a hotel yet), but our travel doesn't necessarily need to be centered there.

Also, I was looking for some good restaurant and shopping recommendations. Dinner we're looking for places in the mold of Gramercy Tavern and Restaurant. My girlfriend is really looking forward to Christmas shopping down there, any ideas??

Finally, anything we should consider for walking in/visiting NYC in December?? Clothes-wise, shoes, travel (taxi vs. subway) etc.

Thanks so much for any insight you might be able to provide.

You should book your hotel right now, the city sells out during the period you want to visit.

Rubber soled shoes, layers, hat, gloves, scarf, warm coat.

See the tree at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Go to the Frick. Have a hot toddie at The Oak Bar at The Plaza Hotel. Walk down Fifth Avenue and check out the department store windows.

See The Nutcracker and/or The Radio City Music Hall Rockettes Extraveganza.

Go ice skating in Wollman Rink (Central Park).

Go to Chumleys while you are downtown and warm your hands over the fire.

Start trying for Gramercy Tavern reservations on November 15th or as soon as possible.

If you like music, definitely go to hear some while in town. bigapplejazz.com is a website with info on jazz.

newyorkmetro.com is NY Magazine's website. They have a decent search engine with info on everything from restaurants, bars, shopping, music etc.

You might enjoy a trip over to Brooklyn Heights for views of the NY skyline. You can either take a cab, subway or water taxi (nywatertaxi.com) to get there. Lots of people enjoy walking back to Manhattan over the bridge. Grimaldi's pizza is a popular pit stop on the Brooklyn side.

Any restaurant owned by Danny Meyer is a safe bet - Gramercy Tavern, Union Square Cafe, 11 Madison Park etc. I love them all, especially their decadent desserts. I would also suggest the Tribeca Grill and Sunday brunch at the York Grill.

kcapuani... do you mean the York Grill on York Ave Ave and 89? That's my neighborhood, but it's a little out of the way! Of course, if kelston wants to see a typical NY neighborhood it's a good choice. Easy accessible by bus, either the M86 crosstown or the M31 that goes down York and across 57th to 11th Ave. The M86 would take you over to Fifth Ave(and all the museums) in a flash. The 31 dumps you in midtown with MOMA, etc. As an old city dweller(44years) I've enjoyed a meal at the Boat House in Central Park at 72nd st. Food is pretty good (tho pricey) but on a beautiful day the atmosphere is delightful.

I'd do the Frick museum. Just down Fifth from the Met and a much more approachable museum with an amazing collection. The Tree at the Met is wonderful and will add to the festive atmosphere of your trip.

I think of Rockefeller Center, Saks and Radio City as the center point for New York Christmas shopping. Saks still makes an effort with their windows. I would make a special effort to see Tiffany's windows and the rec on lord and Taylor is right on. I've always thought Bloomingdales was a little lacking, at least for the last two decades (I'm an old crone).

I think Barney's is worth a Christmas stop by. Their windows will be either great or so avant garde you will yawn.

LMF

You have some great suggestions here for what to do. Be sure to go to at lest one performance other than a Broadway show - I prefer the Nutcracker when I have time - but there are usually great seasonal musical things happening at the Met and sometimes the other museums.

Would just like to reinforce that you get a hotel ASAP. Some are already sold out (I had my assistant searching like the devil on Friday to find something - anything - for the previous weekend for a friend) and all the prices are sky high!

Thank you all so much for all your help.

We finally booked our hotel, The Metropolitan Hotel. It seems like it's in a great location -- 51st and Lex -- and should put us near the center of many of our activities.

Could anyone who has ever stayed at the Metropolitan give us any ideas of what we could expect?? We got a decent rate -- $239 -- from Expedia.

Again, thanks very much everyone. This board has always been extremely helpful in planning my trips, and I'm truly grateful.

Gulp. Have you read the reviews on tripadvisor for the Metropolitan? The good news is it's under renovation so you'll likely get a "new" room. The bad news is it's under renovation and there have been complaints about noise etc. The location is good though. Some restaurants nearby you might like...Le Colonial on east 57th st. just off Lexington is French/Vietnamese. Good for drinks/appetizers upstairs or dinner downtstairs. The Brasserie in the Seagrams building is good for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Oceana on 54 st is fantastic seafood with decor like the inside of a ship.

My favorite handbag shop is Suarez on Park ave. & ~56 st. Not cheap but very good quality. Sym's on 54 st b/w Madison & Park great discount clothes, men, women, children.

Hope you have a great trip.

I stayed at the Metropolitan when it was a Loews-- and it was a dismal hole even then. Dark, depressing rooms, shabby furnishings, surly staff. I recall maybe a year ago looking out our Midtown office window (I was in Manhattan seeing clients) at the Metropolitan (the property having gone independent), and remarking to a colleague: "I didn't think it could get any worse than when it was the Loews, but look at that dump!!" A friends stayed there recently and said it's not gotten any better, unfortunately.

I hope they gutted and completely reworked those terrible rooms-- they were actually unpleasant (and I'm not a fussy lodger at all). Short of scraping and rebuilding, nothing could make me stay in that hotel again.

Recent reviews are much better. You'll have a great time.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR..._New_York.html