Hi,
thank you all so much! I already wrote down some of the restaurants and the Morgan Library seems to be a very good idea, exactly the right thing to do on the day of departure as I have to catch a bus from Grand Central (planning roughly 4 hours from Grand Central until the flight is taking off, does that sound right?).
It just seems to me like the Morgan has a bit more on offer than the Public Library and a nice restaurant.

On American art: I am mainly interested in paintings: I saw a wonderful Hopper exhibition in Europe and I would love to see more from him and Rockwell. But I do really not know much about American art so would love to get a general overview.

Of course I am coming up with more questions:

I do not want to change trains and plan to take the bus back to JFK. Would it be faster to take a taxi? I guess I do not have to deal with rush hour as it will be a saturday?

I want to take the train to Washington for a day-I quite like the idea of going out of NYC and seeing a bit more and learning about history.

If the idea is just too insane for a day trip, any other worthwhile day trips from NYC?

Go to the Cloisters - it will feel like a day trip - DO stop in NYPL! - and for movies check what's on at MOMA when you visit

Saks and Takashimaya have nice restaurants if you want to grab a bite while shopping along 5th ave. These options will be less crowded than the MOMA restaurants.

Washington is really not a daytrip. You could do it as an overnight, but trying to do it all in a day is not really worthwhile. Philadelphia is an easy daytrip and there are some excellent art museums there including the Phil. Museum of Art & the Barnes. Other ideas for a daytrip for someone interested in art are Dia Beacon http://as0.mta.info/mnr/getaway_tick...56&multi_id=30, the Rockefeller Estate, Kykuit hudsonvalley.org and possibly even the Olana, Frederick Church's home if you like the Hudson River School. http://www.olana.org/

I've done day trips to Washington, DC, but I try to fly in that event. Delta and US Air have hourly shuttles.

Recently I went to Philly and DC to see two art shows and I was back in a day. Because train and plane tickets were a bit expensive, I took the bus instead. It's a bit much for most people, but it's doable.

Taxi to JFK would of course be the fastest and the most convenient.

The home of Hoppers in NYC is of course the Whitney. Usually you should be able to see a few on the 5th floor -- the most famous being "Early Sunday Morning." But check the website to be sure.

WAshington for the day: too exhausting. Even on the faster Acela train you're spending ca 6 hrs of your day traveling. I love DC. But not to go and come right back, though every day many people do it for business. Then again you could get up for the early train and come back late - how much evnergy do you have? (And how willing are you to give up a day in NYC?)
Many great ideas above.

Two ideas for your afternoon "between museums". Central Park is the "back lawn" of the Met. You could pick up some easy takeout lunch at a deli or other spot on Madison Av, and have a park bench picnic. Stroll around a little, it is a great park - if easy to get turned around in when you don't know how it lies.

And/or take a bus down Fifth Av to the Paris Theater, across from the Plaza Hotel on 58th. See what's playing before, but it's often a foreign film. Put it on your "contingency" list in case it's raining or your feet need a rest.

In the theater district, and just two blocks from Times Sq, I can recommend a sweet little restaurant called Le Madeleine, 43rd St and 9th Avenue.
http://www.lemadeleine.com/dinner.htm

Few of the good old "theater folk" restaurants are left. One of the few holdouts is Joe Allen :
http://joeallenrestaurant.com/NY_home.html

Have a great time. Like any wonderful destination, you can't possibly do it all in a week or even a month. Don't try, but do enjoy it, keep your head, and don't leave your handbag hanging off the chair or sitting on the floor in a restaurant. Keep it in your lap. That is just about all the warning this former restaurant-man thinks you need.

I've been a NYer for 33 years, but when I made my first trip (at 22, on business no less) and was choosing a Broadway show to see my first night, I was careful to pick one at a theater only two blocks from my hotel. I don't know what I was worried about, but of course I left the theater to find the streets absolutely filled with people, most of whom were in no rush to get home. A great town. But yes, if you're a woman (are you a woman?) alone, you do have to be a little more aware - but you know that.

It`s wonderful to get tips from people here- I will skip Washington and save it for another trip.I always tend to overstuff a trip but hope to take it easier this time. But I will put together information on the other trips so I can decide then and there if I fancy a trip out of town.

I looked up Takashimaya and it seems to be a beautiful place- and I love a not so crowded restaurnt when I am out shopping, but I didn`expect a place like that so close to the shops on 5th Ave.

So the Whitney is still on my list. What would be the best place to see some of Rockwells art?

I would love Central Park on a sunny day- I keep my fingers crossed for good weather.

FYI: Le Madeleine closed some time ago.

in the theatre district you might try: www.NYCRG.com
which is comprised of about 10 restaurants.

This is a great thread!

You might want to see Henri Bendel (http://www.henribendel.com/about/explore), they have the largest window of Lalique glass outside of France. There used to be a restaurant there, but it may be under renovation.

If you had 3 days for a side trip, I'd recommend the Berkshires, where you could stay at the Red Lion Inn (http://www.redlioninn.com/) and tour the Norman Rockwell Museum (http://www.nrm.org/). However:

The Modern Museum of Art (www.moma.com) has several works by Hopper. Or, check out the Illustrator's Society (http://www.societyillustrators.org/m...tion/index.cms) and see if any of their collection looks interesting. The Metropolitan is still my favorite, but again, some of the galleries are closed. If you plan ahead, however, they may be able to offer tour to take you to see the highlights of the American painting collection, which are squirreled away around other rooms.

The NYPL has the largest enclosed unsupported structure (that's not properly worded) in North America--their reading room is the biggest room in NA without internal columns or supports. Presently, they have an exhibit on mapping the NYC shoreline, which I thought was fantastic times ten.

Forgot to mention that Bergdorf also has 4 restaurants
http://www.bergdorfgoodman.com/store...antIndex.jhtml

There are restaurants at the Armani flagship store on 5th at 56th St too. We have stopped in for coffee and dessert at Armani/Dolce and it really is a nice break. The staff is unpretentious and the entire store is beautifully designed by Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas (especially THAT STAIRCASE!) Located in a recent extension of the 1959 Corning Glass Building by Harrison Abramovitz & Abbe, the store includes an area for Armani Casa and the top-floor houses a sweets shop (yum!), Armani/Dolci; and an urbane restaurant, called Armani/Ristorante, with views of Central Park.

Don't forget to see a Broadway show. Go to the Mariott Marquis Hotel there is the TKTS booth. You will wait on line in the AM for same day matinee seats at half price. The Afternoon for evening shows still half price.

If you have your heart set on a particular show you can go to the box office and find out if they have left over seats. Last minute they will sell them at a discount. Since your are alone this increases your chances to see a show. If you are with someone you will probaby be seated apart.

embroidery4 - your news is old the TKTS booth is back in Times Square

http://www.tdf.org/TDF_ServicePage.aspx?id=56

If you are looking for off off broadway, follow links from my blog

http://thestarryeye.typepad.com/expl...h-14-2010.html

Booking some walking tours is another good thing to do when you're on your own. nymag.com/cheap has a few free ones listed (and some other good info). mas.org does some good news (did you ever say when you're coming?) realnewyorktours.com is another option to consider for an overview tour depending on whether you get a Big Apple Greeter and/or what other tours you plan.

I noticed no one answered about the 4 hrs. before flight from Grand Central and that really depends on which airport and whether it's an int'l or domestic flight. They announced today the main runway at JFK will be closed for repairs for 4 months may slow things down considerably.

Thank you mclaurie for that info on the runway at JFK- which is the airport I am using. Do you think four hours from Grand Central until take off is ok?

I am coming at the end of march and really hope that the weather is good enough for some walking tours as I love to walk. So every tip on good tours is very much appreciated!

I haven`t so far looked into theatres but will soon do so- I had enough musicals to last me some decades- what else is a must see at the moment? Any tips?

Thanks to all the wonderful tips here I get a better feeling for what I want to do and what might not be my cup of tea!