For What It's Worth remark....I've done NYE at S. Lake Tahoe, Reno and Las Vegas...after those experiences no desire to try Times Square!

Bowery Poetry Club

I am more of a Nuyorican Poets Cafe guy. Some writers are wonderful, some are downright dreadful and should be shot.

To the OP (and all visitors) - you don't have to be a "museum lover" or even an "art lover" to enjoy some very interesting and great stuff at the Met. The Gubbio Studiolo is a one of a kind room anywhere in the world (ok - there is one more in Urbino - but not as good as this one)An entire room made up of tiny bits of wood creating the illusion of cabinets containing all sorts of materials of interest to a Renaissance man - a masterwork of three dimensional illusion - but it's a flat surface. The models of Meketre - Egyptian wing - models of scenes of everyday life in ancient Egypt and this is about 5000 years old. If they left us a video it couldn't tell the story better - and all in superb condition. See the new Engelhard Court in the American wing - and a great space for a coffee and - Kevin Roche's latest architectural design for the Met. The American Stories exhibit is a once in a life time display of genre (everyday life) in America in the 18th - 19th centuries - humor, tragedy, life on the frontier, etc.

An idea for NYE: I just got my routine promotional email from Feinsteins night club at the Loews. Michael Feinstein and Barbara Cook performing onNew Years Eve. Would if I could. Have a wonderful trip.

New Year's Day options - including Coney Island
http://shorewalkers.org/

Thank you all again for more great tips. The Cloisters is definitely a 'go'. I'm also really considering the 'fun run' on NYE instead of Times Square. Sounds really fun. Unfortunately, Amateur night at the Apollo seems to not be happening until the end of January. .
QUESTION: I intend to re-config the itinerary based on these and other suggestions. Should I post the new one as a separate topic or just at the end /in this one? ~DrToonz

You might like the St. Mark's church (historic, very old church in the East Village) New Year's Day Poetry Marathon instead of the Bowery
http://poetryproject.org/program-cal...t-reading.html

Curious why you're spending a night at a JFK hotel - it's actually easy to get to JFK from Manhattan early in the AM (say 5AM or so) it really only takes 20 minutes at most by cab from midtown - I guess you need to balance convenience and price . . . me, I'd spend my last night in Manhattan, have a nice dinner and get up early rather than spend money on a dreary airport hotel . . .

QUESTION: I intend to re-config the itinerary based on these and other suggestions. Should I post the new one as a separate topic or just at the end /in this one? ~DrToonz

We're having a good time on this thread but we'll follow you wherever you go!

@mp: I booked the hotel near JFK a bit prematurely. I agree, in hindsight, that I should have just left in the morning as you say. Live and learn. ~DrToonz

But is the JFK hotel non-refundable/non-cancellable? And your other hotel doesn't havve an additional night?

NOTE - For JFK I'd say more like 40 minutes at that hour - LaGuardia you can do in 20 minutes

No, sorry sue, I disagree, I've made JFK from my house downtown, going thru the midtown tunnel early, at 6:00AM on a weekday in 25 minutes, door to door. There is some traffic around Belmont Racetrack/Jamaica Hopsital, but other than that you really zip thru . . .

@mp: I will look into the 'refundable' status of this reservation. I think it is 'non-refundable'. However, for $100 (or so) maybe I say screw it and abandon the reservation for a room in mid-town for one more night. ?? It's only MONEY right? (sarcasm, however I may be actually willing to do that in order to fulfil my interests in town). ~DrToonz.

DrToonz you asked whether you should post your revised itinerary as a new post or add at end here. Please post it at end here. Those of us who like to check in on past threads we commented on to see what turned out might miss a new thread.

@Laurie_Ann: I already posted it separately before I got your note. Sorry.