My husband and I are bringing my daughter and friend to a concert at the Nokia theater in Times Square on Saturday, 1/23, and then plan to stay in the vicinity so we can meet them when the concert ends. We plan on making reservations at Nocello for dinner, but will still have a couple of hours before we meet them. I don't want to get theater tickets because we want to be readily accessible in the event of an emergency (sorry, I'm a worrier ..!) Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.

I would look at a map and see if anything in the area interested me.

If the library at 42nd and 5th is open at that time, I would probably walk over there and walk around in there for a little while and look around Bryant Park and watch people ice skate

Nothing to "do" in the immediate area, other than shop or eat. That's the theatre district so not much else there, well there's Madame Truseau's wax museum, but can't imagine you would want to see it. There are a couple of spots for coffee/pasteries.

If you walked up to 59th St to Columubs Circle there's the Time Warner Building and some shopping there, or stay in the Times Square area and head up to the 7th floor at the Marriott and have a cocktail in the lounge. It is a revolving lounge so you get some great views of the area.

Movie at one of the multiplexes on 42nd Street (with your cell phone set on vibrate)?

Go the lounge at the Algonquin and enjoy drinks and music.

Perhaps Top of the Rock? You can buy a timed ticket that fits into your window.

Museum of Modern Art on 53rd Street betweem 5th & 6th Avenues/

Looks like the daughter is headed to a Shinedown concert that begins at 7:30 pm, so the OP needs something to do after dinner until 10 pm or later.

How close do you want/need to be?
A couple ideas:
Shop at Macy's about 10 blocks away.
See an exhibit(Titanic or Leonardo Da Vinci) at the Discovery Center until 10 pm, in the heart of Times Square.

I'd probably do the Titanic exhibit, but there are myriad tourist activities you could do, or the movie is always an option, or you could just hang out in a bar if you want to have a couple of drinks. There are plenty of nice bars in the area. What interests you?

I think a lot will depend on the weather. If it's decent I would do Top of the Rock, walk around a little window shopping and pick a place to have a drink.

If the weather is very cold or sleet/snow I wold find the nearest decent bar and settle in.

As much as I love the Top of the Rock experience, I would caution against going up there in cold weather (read that: in the winter!). It's mighty cold up there!

So you're going to drop the kids off at the theatre on 44th & Broadway and then go up to 55th and Broadway and eat and then be ready to pick up the kids between 10:30 and 11?

Or you are eating all together before the show and then dropping the kids at the theatre and then you're going to hang around 42nd St.

If you are dropping them off and then eating - I'd just have a nice relaxed dinner at the restaurant and then make your way back downtown, and if you have time, stop at Blue Fin or Ruby Foos for a goofy drink.

If you are eating with the kids and then dropping them off and hanging in Times Square for the duration there's always:

Dave and Busters? http://www.daveandbusters.com/Locations/Directions.
234 W. 42nd St.
or:
ESPN Zone? http://espnzone.com/newyork/directions.shtml
Broadway and 42nd St.

But seriously, 8PM on a Saturday night in Times Sq - that says blockbuster movie to me.

Thanks for your quick replies! Yes, we're planning to drop the kids off at the theatre on 44th & Broadway and then go up to Nocello's at 55th & Broadway to eat. We'll definitely have at least a couple of hours until we pick them up. Or we can do something first and then have a late dinner. I'll feel the most comfortable staying on the west side in the 40's or 50's since my daughter and friend are teenagers and this is the first concert they're attending without an adult at the venue. All of the suggestions for a drink or two after dinner are wonderful, but since we're driving in and we'll definitely have wine with dinner, we won't be able to do this. I appreciate the suggestions!

Ok, so you be at dinner til around ( or so - i would walk over to the Time Warner Center - the upscale mall - in this weather you can comfortably window shop, check out the Border's Bookstore, maybe get a treat at Bouchon bakery. You could also check out the rich people in the lobby of the next door Mandarin Oriental.

Then around 10:30 you can either take the Broadway bus down to 43rd St or walk or grab a cab and sit in traffic.

You really don't have time for dinner AND much of anything else. Even if you eat in an hour, it will be 9 or so by the time you get out. If weather is decent, go watch skating at Bryant Park or Rockefeller Center or check out one of the exhibits mentioned above. Or go for a non-alcoholic drink or coffee somewhere. Don't Tell Mama is a piano bar and the bar at the restaurant Chez Jospehine would be very nice with live music.

If you want to go to a show, I'm not sure I understand how being at a theater would constitute not being available. Set your cell phone on vibrate and enjoy a show. You're in the theater district. In addition to Broadway, there are a lot of off Broadway shows in that area.