I am visiting NYC for the first time for 5 days late November and as one of the days includes Thanksgivings what happens? Do all the shops, attractions etc close for the day and if so what can we do.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade of course! Where else in the world would you want to be! Just be sure to watch your wallet. Yes everything is closed. But why not enjoy the parade in the morning, make a reservation for a terrific thanksgiving feast for lunch, and then go catch a foreign film at the Angelika Theater downtown, movies are always open. So is the bar with the best view, atop the world trade center.

I certainly agree with the above but would vote for a meal at the old Plaza Hotel--do book ahead--or check to see if Tavern on the Green is open for lunch that day! If you wanted something even quieter, you could rent a car and drive up to the Griswold Inn in Essex, Connecticut, for a traditional Thanksgiving feast in a 1700s inn or visit the pretty town of Litchfield and have Thanksgiving at the inn there (can't come up with the name at this point) Both would be about 2-2 1/2 hours drive from NYC.

Stores are closed on Thanksgiving day but after taht, watch out! Be prepared for the shoppers and shopping the day after Thanksgiving! Whether you're a shopper or not, you will not be able to avoid the crowds and the hustle in NYC on "Black Friday."

I agree with all of the above. There is nothing like seeing the Macy's parade in person. I never actually saw it in person, but I was in it twice. It is truly awesome. Go to Centra Park West and 72nd street the night before and watch the balloons get blown up. Make reservations for Thanksgiving dinner NOW!!! I agree about 'Black Friday', my advice is to head downtown where it is not as crowded, midtown is a zoo, there are actually lines to get into the Warner Bros. store. Doodle around downtown, and then have a late lunch in Little Italy. Have a great time in our wonderful city!!!l

I agree with the above. Thanskgiving is a ghost town in this city. Very few places are actually open for Thanksgiving! Go to the parade, but bundle up, it gets mighty cold out there watching the whole parade! Also Tavern on the green is a huge tourist trap and the food is not good...I wouldn't suggest going there. In the village and more downtown you will find some great restauraunts! Avoid the tourist restauraunts while youre here and you will find the best restaurunts are the hole in the walls, not fancy, but great food! Also, there are some fabulous expense restauraunts here... my favorite one if by land, two if by sea, in the village.

NYC is a great city, you will love it. Make sure you take a walk through Central Park!!!

Contrary to the last posting, if you are going to Manhattan for the FIRST time, by all means go to Tavern on the Green. They're open 365 days a year. We found the food to be very good and the atmosphere, as Zagat's Survey says, "dining in the garden or the Crystal Room can be "magical". On our first visit back in '86, we did all the "touristy" things. We go back at least once a year now and with all the tourist places out of the way except for the new spots, have time to go find those hole in the wall places with the great food. A first visit ... you must see all the all the sights and places everyone knows about so you can go home and tell everybody, "I saw/went/did that." Enjoy yourself and I'll bet after being there, it won't be your last trip -- it's a great city!

I, along with everyone else I know, also find Tavern on the Green overrated and not very good. Don't waste your time or money.

NYers will tell you where not to go, but everyone back home expects to hear about the tourist spots. Trust me, I just came back from a long weekend in NYC and at lunch when I was telling everyone about where I went, i.e., Empire State, World Trade, Broadway shows, Liberty Statue, etc., all the tourist places, fine, but when I said I went to this little coffee shop for breakfast and to this Polish American restaurant on the lower East Side, it was, "Well, tell us about Fashion Cafe, Tavern on the Green, Hard Rock, did you get into Four Seasons?", my trip story went flat with "gee, you could have gone to **a known Polish suburb** for pierogis(sp?). So take it from me,go to all the tourist traps otherwise nobody'll be interested in hearing how you saved money -- they want to hear that you were THERE!

yes, do all the touristy things on this trip. We did this same type trip 2 years ago. You must make your Thanksgiving day reservations NOW! The above recommendations are fine but we waited until October and tried to make reservations and ended up at our hotel (The Plaza) which was very nice but very over-priced! Oh well, that's part of it! Bundle up and get to the parade EARLY then we did a central park carriage ride then caught the last boat over to the Statue of Liberty. Coming back at night was beautiful! We even went on over to the Empire State Building that night,too. There's plenty to do! Yes, the shopping lines will be amazing the day after. F.A.O Schwarz also had waiting lines by mid-morning!
We can't wait to go back! Have fun.

Definately go to the parade. Be sure to bundle up - bring a blanket if you have to and don't forget about your feet, keep them warm too! Also, if you want a spot up front, get there EARLY, EARLY!!! I went at 6:00am one time and had a great view. Me and my mom planted ourselves in front of a Deli and took turns getting Hot Chocolate!! It's A LOT of fun!!