Brahmama

I am still working through the wonderful advice I have received.

I haved booked a car service to and from the airport.

I have downloaded a map of Central Park and planned an informal route to follow so we see everything we want.

(Thurs 6th) Union Square - cannot wait to eat our way through the market! I have changed out itinerary on that day to spend lots of time in and around Union Square (using the link from Escargot - thank you).

(Fri 7th) I have changed the Village to today to allow more time around Union Square on Thursday and hope to include the Tenement Musuem in the PM. Any suggestions for a really nice leisurely lunch in the Village so we can people watch, any type of food, around $150-$200 for two (including a couple of glasses of wine). The idea is to just sit back, relax and enjoy great food after several hectic days (and the one to follow).

(Sat 8th) I have also changed Coney Island to the Saturday (as Astroland will be open)following our Bronx Tour (finishes around 1pm). We plan to get out there around 2pm, wander around at a leisurely pace, once finished there we will head to the Promenade, Brooklyn Heights and eat at Grimaldis before walking the Bridge.

(Sun 9th) we are leaving on a 7pm flight, thought lunch at the Grammercy before collecting our bags and going to the airport around 3pm.

Any further advice.

Many thanks

What is The Beast Jet Boat Ride? sounds like fun! Also, does anyone know where I can get a Manhattan subway map so I can memorize it before I leave?

Never mind on the subway map.....just found tons of posts on that topic! Still curious about the "Beast" tho!

the "beast" is a big speedboat that fits about 50 people (guessing), that speeds all up and down the river and gets everyone soaking wet. Loads of fun if you have kids, apparently.

and HumpMurph, I'm appalled at some of the rude responses you received from someone, and hope you have a wonderful trip! I attended an awards ceremony at the Waldorf and it's worth a pop-in if you're in the area, so don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Hi ! Glad your plans are coming along so well -

here is a thread where someone asked about restaurants near the Tenement Museum that might help you
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34895488

or it isn't that long a stroll up into Soho, where there are some lovely spots for dining too.

If you put into the search bar "restaurants, lower east side" and "soho restaurants" things like that, you wll likely see lots of suggestions.

You can also go on opentable.com, and go to New York, then to the pull down menu and choose the area in NYC you are interested in - you can plug in the day, date, time and see what restaurants that take reservations ahve openings and you can click on their name and see the menu-

you can also look on menupages.com -

I like opentable because you can also make your reservations online, I use this service all the time for travel and even in the city I live in - it saves me 'dialing for dollars' - HOWEVER, if you really want to eat somewhere and it has no availability on open table, I usually call - often I can get a seat from the restaurant - so never give up - and some restaurants put a block on certain times. If you know now specific restaurants you want to eat at (like your final day brunch,e tc when you need to know you can eat at a certain time) you might want to use opentable if those restaurants are listed.

We are going to be in nyc again in April and I made all our rezzies for the long weekend on open table.

I also like (not for the leisurely fancy lunch you want) but for a nice breakfast, lunch, or late night and late, late night snacking - the restaurants of tour de france group - the link to see if there are any near where you will be is :
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34895488
you can look at their menus for all the different times -

the planning is half the fun isn't it??