cb, if you want to do all you've said, and if your daughters are really focused on shopping, you'll have to save the museums for next time, because you just won't have time!<BR><BR>Here are my suggestions:<BR><BR>On Friday, take the subway down to Houston St after you get to your hotel, one one block up to Bleecker and head east to John's. In my experience the (original) location on Bleecker has better pizza than the uprown locations, plus I'm sure your daughters will enjoy the feeling of eating in a Village place. For dessert, get ice cream at the excellent Cones, right next door.<BR><BR>After the NYU tour, head east to Broadway and walk down Broadway into Soho. There are many shops catering to young tastes (college neighborhood, after all) along Broadway. Don't miss Ricky's drugstore (there are two, both above and below Houston): lots of cool, fun makeup, hair accessories, etc., and very NY. This is a place that is at the forefront of the up-and-coming trends and is inexpensive. Below Houston on Broadway there is an H&M store, though it's not as big as the 5th Ave one. Another do not miss for your daughters: Canal Jean Co. (you will run into it if you just keep on down Boadway; it is above Canal). Hip, young clothes, including lots of labels, at extremely good prices. Teens LOVE this place.<BR><BR>Ruby Foo's in Times Square might be a fun bet for your daughter's birthday. No singing waiters, but really done-up Asian-theme decor to go with the sort-of pan-Asian cuisine (dim sum, sushi, Asian entrees). An 'experience" kind of place in a sophisticated way that your daughters would probably appreciate. It's known for its exotic cocktail menu, and perhaps they could whip up a fun virgin drink as well. Desserts are over the top in presentation, perfect for a birthday. You can check out photos and menu at http://www.brguestinc.com. Make an 8 pm or later reservation, so you won't have to compete with the pre-theater crowd.<BR><BR>Saturday, start out early and work your way west to east on Canal (unless you did it all on Friday, of course) until you hit Chinatown. The poster abover is right, definitely hit Pearl River Mart (Broadway and Canal) one of the two days. After lunch in Little Italy or Chinatown, you can do the Brooklyn bridge and then take the subway from the Brooklyn side back to midtown. <BR><BR>If you're interested in Italian for pre-theater, a popular choice (better than Carmine's) is Becco on 46th St, with its $22 prix fixe menu, which includes salad or antipasto and selection of three pastas. You'll need to reserve well in advance, as they do a bustling pre-theater business.<BR><BR>Have fun! I had a ball visiting and shopping in NYC when I was your daughters' age.

If the girls want to shop, Century 21 is a good idea (its on same block as ground zero so they can also see that--dusty memorial in front of Trinity Church is sooo moving. My kid loves to shop in Soho, Canal St, etc. Timeout.com (NY) has good ideas.<BR>A dim sum place in CHina town would be fun--Golden Unicorn is unique and fancier than most Chinese restaurants.<BR>A great/spectacular but pricey place for a b-day party might be the Waterside on east river around 34th st.<BR>Its out of the way, but have you visited my favorite spot--Central Park?

Caitlin-<BR><BR>Wow! That all sounds marvelous! I think we may just follow your directions. The girls love Asian food, so that may just be the thing. We were in NYC 2 yrs ago, and they have bugged me to go back since (my parents live upstate, the Catskills, & we go every year, but had never visited "the city". Even though I grew up 2 hrs away I never visited). Seems strange now..<BR>nymom- we did walk around Central Park when we were there 2 summers ago. It was when the cow parade was there. We have MANY pictures of the various cows. Thanks to everyone, how I ever planned a trip without this site, I'll never know:)