Hello. I have received such good suggestions on this board so far. Thanks. I was wondering if there is a reasonable restaurant or coffe shop, bar to sit at in Manhattan where you can just watch people. Is there a restaurant in Grand Central Station? I thought I saw on some TV show a place there where you could sit, kind of up on a balcony and people watch while you have lunch. I will be in NYC in April. Not sure what the weather will be like, so I would like to find some inside places to just sit and relax.
Also, someone said to get a Starbucks card before I go in which to purchase coffee quickly? Anyone know about this? AND, where do I get a metro-pass (not sure if that's what it is called) for the subways and busses. I will be there for 5 days.
AND, Is it safe to hot dogs from street vendors? Soooo many questions! Thanks in advance for any help!!!

Grand Central Terminal has a lower level with a bunch of fast food places where you can sit and watch people and the commuters rush to their trains. There's also fancier places on the main level - Metrazur, Michael Jordan's Steakhouse, and Campbell Apartment for drinks.

Yes, it's safe to eat hot dogs from sidewalk vendors. If it weren't there wouldn't be so many and the Health Dept would have closed them down. Do go to one that looks busy.

Metrocards can be purchased at any subway station and many newspaper vendors sell them as well.

Starbucks coffee cards are sold at Starbucks. They're like a prepaid credit card - that's all I know as I've never used them.

The problem with the restaurants in Grand Central is that they up a bit high. If you want to see people up close (faces), it's not too good. However, just watching the swarms of people milling about is interesting. Plus, they are kind of pricey and I'm not sure how many tables actually overlook the balcony.

You could always just get a coffee and sit on the steps (the restaurants have been trying to stop people from sitting in this PUBLIC space).

Downstairs is more like a food court, with surprisingly good food. You can also sit on one of the BIG chairs down there (they look comfy, but they AREN'T!!!).

You could pretty much pick any cafe in Manhattan and have good people watching. It all depends on what you wanna watch Upper West Side for trendy Yuppies. Midtown for business people and tourists. Upper East Side for, uh, the "help" (the people who live there don't walk around, you see... hehe, just kidding). Colummia/Morningside Heights for students. Greenwich Village for a very mixed crowd. Chelsea for beautiful boys (but also fairly mixed). The East Village for the uber-hip and "starving artist" types. Wall Street for sugar-daddies

Personally, I like the area around Union Square. The park there is full of all sorts of people. You can get a coffee at Cosi (Broadway and 13th) and sit in the park or search out a cafe.

As Flynn mentioned, you can get the MetroCard in any subway station. The best bet is the $4 FunPass. You get unlimited rides on the subway or bus all day.

I would avoid hotdogs and go for the real stuff. You can always find vendors cooking REAL meat. Not sure what you call it exactly, but it always smells so good. Basically, just chicken or beef and spices and cooked on the grill. Then they put it in a bun or on a plate for you. I know for sure there's one on Broadway at 28th (SE corner), but I'm sure there are a MILLION of them around. Just follow your nose

James, you cannot sit on the steps in Grand Central Terminal. Big signs telling you it is a no-no. The best place to people watch is on the steps outside St. Patrick's Cathedral.

ttt

Before the restaurants opened, you could sit there. But I'm sure the expensive restaurants did not like the fact that people were sitting there, in a public space, so they convince the Terminal management to disallow any sitting on the stairs.

James, that probably is the truth. I thought it was a pretty shitty sign to tell you the truth.

Why on earth would you want to hang out at the train station? For good people-watching, head downtown to SoHo or the Village.

I didn't exactly envision "Me" hanging out all day at Grand Central. Maybe just like 20 minutes to watch the flow of people. And Grand Central isn't just ANY train station. It's one of the most beautiful public spaces in all of New York. It's not like I was suggesting a hang-out session in the basement at Penn Station.

Personally, I think that SoHo is more interesting for architecture viewing than people watching. It gets a bit annoying after a while to watch spoiled brats, trust fund babies, suburban wannabes and the "too cool" of the fashion world.

Just my two cents.

Me -- just about anywhere that isn't a "tourist site" is great for people watching in NYC. Grand Central, Union Square, parts of Central Park, the steps of St. Bart's (on Park around 51st), a diner window seat, strolling up Madison Ave, Zabar's, etc. Anywhere you see people just doing their daily thing is interesting, I think.

Personally, I'd skip the Starbucks card, but that may depend on how much coffee you drink.

I also try to skip eating at sidewalk vendors, no matter how tempting the smell. Yes, they are licensed by the city, but keep in mind that they often have nowhere to use the restroom and wash their hands. 'Nuff said.

I live near hartford, Connecticut and I regularly have too go to NYC too get re-energized. (I hate small towns) anyways I love standing right outside the entrence of the port authority bus termaials at 42nd and 8th.. In one minute you can see hundreds of folk walk by. freaks, CD hustlers and all.. I love it..