My husband and I are going to NYC in January and will be staying near Times Square. Any suggestons on sightseeing (except the obvious!) and places to eat. Wanted to go to the Mesa Grill/Bollo Restaurant (Bobby Flay's place) but wondered if it was worth the time and money to do so!
Thanks for any help you can give us - will be there for 5 days.

Mesa Grill (Southwestern) and Bolo (Spanish) are two different restaurants, both with entrees in the $25 range. I've not been to either and haven't heard much from people I know about Bolo. As for Mesa Grill, I know people who love it and people who hate it, so...I'd look at reviews on line: www.citysearch.com, www.nytoday.com (NY Times), and www.newyorkmag.com (NY Magazine). Both restuarants are within a few blocks of Union Square, and will not be far to go from your hotel, should you decide to try one. Scroll down a while and find the very recent thread called "New York Theater and Restaurants" or something like that; it has lots of info about local restaurants, including many in the Times Square area.

The thread I referred to above is called "NY restaurant suggestions."

As Caitlin said, there was quite a few recent threads on this very topic.

I have been to both Mesa Grill and Bolo and thought it was fine, but not the best meals I've had for the money. On one restaurant website, I also read that people are thinking that he needs to take some time off from TV and actually cook in his own restaurants for a while because the quality is not what it should be. As I said, I've had better. Perhaps check out Union Square Cafe or Judson Grille for a good meal for the money.

Lunch at the Rainbow Room on the 66(?) floor of the Rockerfeller Centre is fabulous -great view (obviously) and good food. Expensive, but a really unforgetable treat. Men need jacket and tie - they had to lend me one!!

I am fortunate enough to live in NYC and would suggest probably looking elsewhere to dine. Mesa and Bollo are good, but New York and alot more to offer. The hottest restaurant in the city now is Union Square Cafe and its not all that expensive. Actually its a relatively laid back place. If you're coming in January you need to go ahead and make reservations now. Il Mulino, in the village is the best Italian in the city, but it is somewhat expensive. As far as sight seeing, obviously the theatre (Contact if you can get tickets), the Met, and I also still really enjoy going to the observation deck of the World Trade Center. But basically, try to see as many different parts of the city as posible because it can be a different world just 1 block over.

The above is all great advice. Being a New Yorker my most important advice is DRESS WARM, AND BRING PLENTY OF WARM CLOTHING, AND COMFORTABLE WALKING SHOES

...I would travel over to Battery Park during sunset and take the Staten Island Ferry. It is free and when dark arrives, the view in incredible!! Usually locals travel this way to go home, therefore, not packed with tourists. Also, take advantage of the subway system. The metro cards are only $4 a day and it is good for any public transportation in the city. Oh yeah, check out Grand Central Station at night, also very pretty!!! P.S. Bring lots of warm clothes, it can get very cold!

Hi Gatto:
There is a NYC Visitor Center on Broadway between 46 & 47 Streets. You can get subway & bus maps and MetroCards the $4 MetroCard is an unlimited one day pass good for your purposes
If you like a great steak I recoomend Gallagher's 228 West 52 St off 7th Avenue 212-245-5336. Have a great time in NYC!

Gatto-If you want something different to see, head over to the Forbes Gallery, which houses quite a collection of the late Malcom's private 'toys'-army men, Faberge eggs, quite a few significant historical items, and the like. Call ahead for hours. It's quite something to see-and free!! A real bargain anywhere, especially in NY