I went to NYC for the first time this past March. I had the BEST italian food at a place called Via Italia. It is near Times Square and was a few doors down from our hotel. We just happened upon it. Fresh, homemade pasta...mmmmm!!! Not too pricy.
45 W. 46th St.
212-398-6866
open 7 days a week, 11:30 am to midnight

Don't forget the Natural History Museum, Lenge is a great Japanese on Columbus, tons of movies at Sony, Columbus shopping from 67 to 81, train down to Soho. I know Barnes and Noble is everywhere but check out the one on Columbus and 67th - especially upstairs where they have the biggest magazine selection in the world. Enjoy

Yes I was also going to suggest the Natural History museum on Central Park West and 79th Street, if your daughters are interested in learning about things and are at all interested in the natural world. The Hall of Ocean Mammals is famous for its massive whale, and I think all the dioramas are interesting for the landscapes they portray. Plus the museum often has very good temorary/travelling exhibitions. The attached Rose Center is amazing to look at, plus the planetarium shows inside... amnh.org.

The MoMA is great, but fairly pricey these days, at $20 per person. It's free on Friday afternoon/evenings, which of course makes it more crowded, but I think the worst of it is getting through the coat check, and seeing any "blockbusters". In that area all on 55th Street between 5th and 6th Aves: Lyn's Cafe has good "American" fare; La Bonne Soupe is reasonably priced French comfort food; Onigashima (go upstairs) is nice for Japanese, which is a splurge on a budget, but they have yummy noodle soups and cooked dishes in addition to sushi, and less expensive for the quality than other places in the area. For a quick bite, try Pret a Manger on 55th Street or Hale & Hearty Soups (and salads and sandwiches) on 56th Street, both just east of 6th Avenue. That block of 56th Street in particular is chock-a-block full of delis and sandwich shops catering to the local workforce...

I recently had lunch at Carmine's on the Upper West Side. We were three adult women. We shared one salad and one pasta dish, and there was a lot left over - and we were too full for dessert! Oh, and it's yummy!

It might be a little late now, but you may still be able to get free tickets to the taping of Letterman or John Stewart or something like that. Sometimes tickets are available on late notice, either by checking on line at the network's sites, or by strolling into Rockefeller Center and just asking. You might want to give that a try.

There is what looks like a very good exhibit at the Met...

http://www.metmuseum.org/special/se_event.asp?OccurrenceId={0884CCC5-B8A9-4EB6-88EC-6E0188ADDD7E}

I'm going this Sunday.

Pjk

Agree with recommendations about Guggenheim. Not only great modern art but the building itself is a work of art. Also, we really enjoyed the Radio and TV museum in mid-town-next to CBS building. Af for food, Virgils is good if you like BBQ and you also need to go to one of the pizza places while there, like Johns.
I also recommend that you stop at Gray's Papaya. 2 dogs and a drink for under $5 (if memory serves)--wonderful NY experience IMO.

The Cezanne to Picasso/Vollard exhibit at the Met is fabulous. I managed to catch the gallery talk with the asst curator who put it together. The "Blue Guitarist" is unbelievable in that you can actually see the two paintings underneath, as Picasso was apparently "recycling" the canvas.

Vollard's portraits in the Octagon room, some rarely seen Picassos and the fresh unique angle on the impressionist and post-imp. art make it quite a special treat.