Visiting Manhattan in a couple of weeks with son on college visits. He's never been to the city, but has traveled in Europe. Did this years ago with older son but he was a better traveler. This one isn't an adventurous eater and says he isn't into theater.

Food: need suggestions for inexpensive restaurants. No chains in Times Square for us. Any ideas on good neighborhood places with varied menus? We'll be staying near Times Square and visiting the School of Visual Arts on East 23rd. (Yes, I know this school choice makes him sound more worldly, but too little space to explain here.)

Shows: Want him to experience Broadway. Bummed that Young Frankenstein and Spamalot have closed. Maybe the 70's rock one or Lion King? (I know its juvenile, but I would love to see the incredible visuals). Maybe Blue Man is a safe bet but not Broadway, I realize.

Art: A question for locals, any museum exhibits on digital animation or anything related? I know MOMA did a Pixar exhibit a few years ago.

Thanks Fodorites. You guys always come through for me whether its Napa or Athens!

I agree with exposing him to Broadway. What about "In the Heights" or "Avenue Q?" Definitely, do Broadway.

When you are in New York pick up a copy of Time Out New York and Village Voice (free on many corners in newspaper boxes) they have extensive listings on art galleries.

La Marca on the corner of Third Ave and 22 is one of NY best restaurant values. Not open on weekends. It is around the corner the main SVA bulding.

Thin reminded me of a very good place Le Zie, well prepared Italian at reasonable price, 7th Ave and 18th Street I thimk.

Great hamburgers in Madison Sqaure Park, 23rd between Madison and Fifth at the Shake Shack. There is a little building with long lines at lunch time, no place to eat indoors.

http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/shake_shack/

Great croissants and pastries at City Bakery 18th and Fifth. Many tables, no table service.

There are many bad reataurants on Park South between 14th and 23rd

Now I know I am going to take a lot of criticism for the following. If he doesn't like theatre do not force him to see a musical. See a drama or comedy, If you what type of music he likes compare that to that to the show and see if it is compatible.

I know there is school of thought, you haven't seen so try it. Buy the CD of the show and see if he interested, You could save yourself hundred of dollars and aggrevation.

Thank you both. I will look into those shows and consider the comedy/drama option. I just think that he would be impressed with the whole production aspect of a musical rather than a straight play.

Also thank you for the food suggestions. I was traveling regularly to NY for work in 2000/01. My flight from Portland, ME would get me in early, before the creative agency I was seeing opened. So I always took a cab from Laguardia and went to the City Deli, a couple of blocks from my destination. Heavenly pastries, coffee, granola! I would sit, read the paper and people watch for an hour. Unfortunately that job ended with the retail collapse of 2001. I have also enjoyed Piccilo Angelo and Rosa Mexicana but I'm looking for something closer as I'm afraid he'll be impatient with transport 'just to go to a certain restaurant.' (In contrast, older son would basically do anything to eat at those places again!)

I know its tough, but any recommendations for 'around' Times Square? I hear of new good burger places, and there's the pizza place in the old church. I just don't want to end up at Planet Hollywood or something. We're probably staying at the Fairfield Inn on 40th near 6th or the Courtyard on 40th near 5th (both with Marriott Points). Any thoughts on which location?

Try Fuerza Bruta (http://fuerzabrutanyc.com/) a very visual show he will probably enjoy in Union Square. Similar to Blue Man in that it is primary non-verbal and visually striking.

Two good restaurants for his tastes near there are: The Smith -lots of NYU and Cooper Union students(http://www.ctrnyc.com/THESMITH/index.html) -
and Irving Mill (http://www.irvingmill.com/) more upscale but still reasonable.

If he is into Sci-Fi or fantasy and animation, he would like Forbidden Planet, a book/comic store/gathering place that has a great section on animation. Also check out the schedule at MOMA (www.moma.org) for your dates they show excellent avant garde and animated films. Also, you might be here during the Tribeca Film Festival (it starts April 22 thru 5/3) which shows tons of shorts and animation - have him check out the schedule here: http://www.tribecafilm.com/festival/

Around Fairfield Inn, or the Courtyard I'd recommend Szechuan Gourmet on 39th between 5th and 6th, if he will eat Chinese food - it's really good, and they will alter the spice level for your taste if you ask. VERY reasonable, too. You might like the burgers at Bar Breton on 5th and 29th St. Both hotels are a bit of a wasteland - you could walk to the food court inside Grand Central on the east side, or as you know, the John's Pizza in the renovated church on W. 44th and 8th Ave.

If you could get him to try Korean BBQ - he might really like it - you grill your own thin strips of meat at a few places along W. 32nd Street. Kum Gang San and Kang Suh, on Broadway and 32nd St. are pretty tasty, reliable and fun.

check out menus and reviews at www.menupages.com and www.nymag.com

sorry - both those restaurant links don't work for some reason - but both are on open table - www.opentable.com

As for museums, not quite what you're asking for, but perhaps he is interested in the new Museum of Art and Design (aka, MAD)? http://madmuseum.org/

I thought about the MAD as well. Another one is the Museum of Moving Images:

http://www.movingimage.us/site/exhibitions/index.html

More analog than digital, but close enough. I loved the MOMA Pixar exhibition.

Also check out what's on at the New Museum. These contemporary art museums tend to have video installation exhibits.
http://www.newmuseum.org/

If you are going to do Lion King, Disney was having a promotion. I'm not sure if its still available but it was buy 1 get one for $15. Call the box office and give the code 15. I'm not sure what's left, but the dates were from 4/19-5/31. If he's not into theater, how about a comedy club instead? Or BB King's Blues Club for some music or even their Gospel Brunch on Sundays. I love theater, but there is so much more to Manhattan! I just had lunch in Little Italy with my daughter this past weekend. We ate at Grotta Azzura on Mulberry St. The food was good and it was reasonably priced. We also walked over to Baked by Melissa on Spring and Mercer. Pricey, but different and delicious. One last suggestion. Katz on Houston St. I have an adventurous eater and a very unadventurous one. Both loved Katz! Have a great time!

To my knowledge there is no Fairfield Inn in Manhattan (unless it's being renamed from something else). There's a Courtyard Marriott and a Residence Inn across from it, both around 39-40th & 6th ave. I think that location is fine and better than a lot of other options. It's right near Bryant Park, a very pleasant spot to sit on a nice day. There's Do you know about menupages.com? To find places near your hotel, look at west 30's & west 40's. Le Pain Quotidien is a chain of Belgian cafes that have decent food. There's one of 40th st. b/w 5th & 6th.

For theater, I wouldn't do Lion King for someone who isn't interested in theater. I think "In the Heights" or off Broadway, Fuezerbruta are both good ideas.

There's a museum of computer art in Brooklyn. http://moca.virtual.museum/

McLaurie, there are THREE "new" Fairfield Inns - one on West 37th Street, one West 40th and one opening in 2010 on West 28th. Not sure what they were previously. All the Courtyards and the Residence Inn appear to still exist, too.

Thanks again for continuing info. The Belgian cafe hits a cord because he is a picky eater but absolutely LOVES crepes having grown up with Belgian and Dutch au pairs who regularly made them for the boys! I will also check out the menupages.com; I am not familiar with that site.

mclaurie: MOCA is EXCELLENT! He will be so impressed that I found this! Hadn't planned a trip to Brooklin, but it will be worth it. I have walked over the Brooklyn Bridge and gone to one of the famous pizza places (right near the bridge, can't remember the name) on a past trip. Suggestions for lunch over there?

Le Pain Quotidien doesn't do crepes. They have good quiche and I'm partial to their ricotta tartine (like an open face sandwich) with figs and honey. For crepes, Le Bonne Soup on 55th st. b/w 6th & 5th is an idea.

I've not been to MOCA and don't know Brooklyn that well, but the museum is near 3rd ave. and 2 aves over on 5th ave. there are dozens of restaurants. Al Di La is a famous Italian that's about a 15 min. walk. My "trick" is to map the location of the museum on maps.google.com and use the "search nearby" feature for restaurants or whatever you're looking for.

The pizza place you went to when walking the Brooklyn bridge was Grimaldi's.

RE: shows for your son. Took my 17 year old (for college trips as well) a few years ago and he LOVED Avenue Q. As long as you are okay with the show - R rated songs & puppet sex - I think it would be a great intro to theatre for a young man because it is so not what you expect. My son would also like Hair and Rock of Ages, but I don't think I could sit through the 80's big hair music myself - didn't like it the first time around!

I was in New York two weeks ago and went with my 20 year old son to an anime-based exhibit at the Japan Society, which is on east 47th not far from the U.N. The exhibit is not huge and focuses on manga and anime; although video games are mentioned in the title of the exhibit, that section wasn't very extensive (although it did allow you to sit down and play the games, if that appeals). The entrance fee was $10 for me, $8 for students. If you do go there, be sure to check out the bathrooms, which have Japanese style toilets with lots of interesting features (the heated seats are just the beginning).

http://www.japansociety.org/event_detail?eid=6ee001d9

I wanted to add to my last post that my son really liked the exhibit and it introduced him to or reminded him of some anime films that he wanted to see. There is a room with 5 large screens playing clips of films and then individual booths where you could watch clips. There was also a listening booth with music from well known anime such as Cowboy Be-bop.

Another recommendation for La Bonne Soupe

You might also check out what's on at the Paley Center:

http://www.paleycenter.org/visit-daily-schedule/

You guys are great! One question for mclaurie: I use google maps all the time but I can't seem to find this feature for 'search nearby'. Could you describe where/how on the screen you find it?