My wife and I will be in New York City the end of June for four days, and I have a few questions.
1. How long should we alot to get from Laguardia to the Waldorf Astoria?
2. We are going to start a day at the Staten Island Ferry, and walk(wind) back to our hotel. Any suggestions, or thoughts on what to see and where to eat
3. We want to see Mamma Mia, any suggestions on how to get a deal on those tickets?
Thanks

1. Depending on the day and the time of day, LGA to the Waldorf could take 20-60 minutes, more if traffic is really bad. When you get in the taxi, inquire about traffic and say you want the quickest route (the Triborough Bridge could conceivably save time but cost a couple of extra bucks). In any case, you can't control traffic, so just sit back and relax.

2. Wow, there's so much to see between Battery Park and midtown. NYSE, Ground Zero, South Street Seaport, Brooklyn Bridge, Chinatown, Little Italy, SoHo, etc. Depending on your interests, you can plan a great walk north to midtown. I'd probably stop on Mulberry Street in Little Italy for lunch, but, again, it depends on your tastes.

3. Great show. I saw it Sunday night. I'm not sure if discount tickets are available at TKTS, but possibly. Have you checked the website? Or ask the Waldorf's concierge. Or call/visit the box office.

Enjoy NYC!

There used to be a TKTS booth in WTC. Have they re-established a location diwntown?

GC -- Yes, they have re-established the TKTS booth downtown. It is located at Bowling Green (last stop in Manhattan on the 4, 5 subway) right in front of the newly relocated Museum of the American Indian (I think that's what it's called) in the old Customs House. It's located in a temporary trailer, just south of the bull statue on Broadway.

No discount tickets available for Mamma Mia. As a matter of fact, full price tickets have very limited availability through the summer. They just started selling tickets for dates through early 2003. Even if you don't buy them online, check telecharge.com to see what is avavilable for dates you're considering.
Of course, a hotel concierge may be able to get tickets even if listed as "sold out" but certainly not at a discount.

LGA to Waldorf - 25 to 50 minutes depending on traffic.
Mama Mia has not be available at the TKTS booth
The downtown booth is located in Bowling Green Park Plaza. Mon-Fri -1 to 5:30 pm; Sat - 1 to 3:30 pm. To get here and the Staten Island ferry by subway take the #6 local, at 51st And Lexington, one stop to GR. Central Station. Cross the platform and take a #4 or #5 express to Bowling Green station (last stop in Manhattan)
To see what shows have been offered at the TKTS booth go to
http://www.tdf.org/programs/tkts/bway%20listing.htm

Previous posters are quite accurate in their advice about Mamma Mia. No way will you get any deals on tickets other than full price or more. Two suggestions on possible tickets:
1. Call Telecharge--800-4327250. There's an outside chance they might have tickets for a midweek performance.
2. Call the Waldorf, ask for the concierge desk, tell you're staying at the hotel and ask if they can help get you tickets for the show.
As for walking back from the Staten Island Ferry, there is indeed lots to see, but do you realize that it's a good 5-6 miles (at least) back to hotel?

I did realize that it was at least 5 miles. We plan on making it our day. We want to take pleanty of time to wind around the different neighborhoods.
I know that we won't see everything but would like suggestions on what to make sure we see or do.

If you "wind around the different neighborhoods" you will be walking a lot more than five miles. HEad up Broadway and make a brief stop at TRinity Church. Check out the headstones in the cemetery. Continue up Broadway past Ground ZEro. THen walk past City Hall. If up to it WAlk the BRooklyn Bridge. THen head to CHinatown. Cross CAnal STreet and you are in Little Italy. When you get to Delancy ST go east to Orchard Street and walk north on Orchard to Houston Street. Go west on Houston to BRoadway. If you walk south to Spring you will be in SOHO. At SPring go west to Sixth AVenue and go north on 6th and once past Houston you will be in Greenwich Village. If you want to include the East Village go east on 8th Street to get to the EaSt Village. If you have had enough go north on 3rd AVE to get back to the hotel. If still strong go west on 23rd to Chelsea before going back to the hotel

Just to clarify a part of x's directions - which sounds interesting - if you're in Little Italy walking north on Mulberry, Mott or Elizabeth Streets, it will be Kenmare Street that you'll go east on to get to Orchard St. Kenmare turns into Delancey east of Bowery or Chrystie.

There used to be a TKTS booth in WTC. Have they re-established a location diwntown?

That last post was a hidden Fodor's feature...I don't know how it got there again

sorry