Hi, I'd like to visit NYC in August for about 4 days and 3 nights. Looking for hotel recommendations - I'd like to be close to the West Village or SoHo/Chelsea areas, if possible. Hoping to spend $200 or less per night (less is better).

I'm hoping to visit some art galleries in SoHo/Chelsea area. Am planning to see WIcked on one of the days, possibly visit the Guggenheim museum one day. And I'd definitely like to visit the Copacabana club one evening. Not quite sure what else yet, maybe a ferry cruise.

Last time, I took a day tour to NYC and did a food + walking tour of the West Village area (Murray's cheese shop, Bleecker St. neighborhood) and sampled some delicious rice balls at an Italian restaurant. Does anyone happen to know the name of an Italian place in this area which serves these - they were delicious!

Thanks for any advice. Greg

I hope you already have tickets to see Wicked - since as far as I know they're still selling out. The guggenheim is OK - for the architecture - but I must admit the current exhibit doesn;t do anything for me - I would head for the Met or MoMA instead - based on your interests.

Don;t have a clue about the Copacabana - salsa is not out thing. But you can find info on times, prices and performers in Time OUt New York.

Thanks nytraveler for your reply. Just wanted to refresh this in case anyone else would like to respond.

I did some searching and found the Italian place that I was looking for, from which I got the rice balls. It's called 'Faicco's Pork Store', and it's located on Bleecker Street in the West Village.

Regarding hotels, I'm probably gonna stay at The Pod Hotel on East 51st St., unless I find a good deal elsewhere. Greg

We stayed at the Solita Soho a couple of years ago. Small, but nice rooms with very comfortable beds. Nice marble baths-small, too. The location was convenient. Less street noise on upper floors. No restaurant. The price was reasonable as I recall-you might check for your dates if you're interested.

If you like Italian... and you like rice, you may also want to try a restaurant called Risotteria which is also on Bleeker St. Place is small but the Risotto is incredible.

Travel & Leisure magazine did an article on a group of boutique hotels that were a little more spartan, but clean and affordable (

This is tough time of year to visit art galleries. Many are closed during August and sales are way down.
Check with Time Out NY to see what is open when you come.

http://newyork.timeout.com/section/art

The newest area for galleries is the Lower East Side.

Our art coop, in which I am not particapting in either, is sponsoring two shows, one on Governor's Island and one in Red Hook, Brooklyn. The one Red Hook will have over 200 artists including some graffiti from the kids in the area.

http://www.bwac.org/

Bleecker is a great eating block. Faico does make great rice balls, Murray's is one the best cheesemongers in the city, there is Amy's bread, Rocco's is a better than average Italian pastery shop, toward 7th Ave, Cones where they make excellent store made ice cream and gelati and in the opposite direction Grom's, an Italian gelati chain. Also there is a small street called Cornerlia which intersects Bleecker which has a number of fine restaurants including Le Gigot and Home.

kayak.com, quikbook.com, oyster.com, hotels.com, are some of the websites to check for hotels. There may be some specials on travelzoo.com or travel-ticker.com Prices fluctuate based on dates. There aren't many hotels in the downtown areas you listed and many are either trendy and pricey or seedy. The Hampton Inn Soho, the Four Points Soho, the Hampton Inn Chelsea and maybe the Desmond Tutu Center in Chelsea might work.

Last I heard the Copa was long closed. Apparently someone is trying to resurrect the name http://www.copacabanany.com/