I'm from New Orleans and need some help on planning our stay in NYC next week. We'll be staying at On the Ave (Broadway and 77th) --- found out about this place from this site and got a good deal with www.quikbook. We'll be staying for 5 days, 4 nights. We'll be seeing Emeril tape a show too. I've been to NYC before; so I've seen the Statue, Rockafeller Ctr., Rent on Broadway, etc. However, I did mostly see the insides of a bunch of bars. I do hope to see another Broadway show (Cabaret?) as well as sites to see (e.g., Wall Street, Empire State Bldg.). I also wish to go to a bunch of nightclubs, do a bunch of dancing, eating at nice restaurants --- simply having a blast on my vacation away from these 4 walls. For eating, I have been told by others to go to 21 Club and Balthazar. For partying, I was told to try Monkey Bar and Whiskey Bar. We do like a wide array of music (jazz, alternative, R&B, etc.).

I would greatly appreciate your comments and suggestions on places to see, eat, visit, etc. Thanks.

Things I enjoyed visiting:

World Trade Towers
New York Stock Exchange (unadulterated propaganda, but fascinating)
People watching in Central Park
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Brooklyn Museum
Museum of Natural History

"Rays" is by far the best pizza I have ever had in my life.
FAO Schwartz

Check out Zabars & Fairway both on the Upper West where you will be. The flea market on Columbus & 79th on Sunday is great for celebrity viewing, providing no snow storms! Ditto for much of that neighborhood, also check out the Museum of Natural History. There are many great rests. and bars on Columbus & Broadway- Ernies is a favorite. Also take a trip down to the East Village during the day and night it is highly unique. Ludlow street, Essex (the lower east side) is home to a collection of very hip and interesting shops, restaurants and bars. Ave A is fine try to stick to that. Ave B-D can be uncertain. Get a plan before you head downtown and no where you are going is always a good rule of thumb in NYC. The grammercy park area is safe and very pretty to see. My favorite neighborhoods are grammercy, the upper west and east village. Each offers something different. Enjoy

Check out the NYC section of sidewalk.com - it has extensive listings and actually lets you select neighborhoods, activity types, interests etc and offers detail info on everything from clubs, bars and restaurants to cultural events. Pul's suggestions were good (as usual) but be aware that not all Ray's Pizza are created equal. There is Ray's, Famous Ray's, Ray's Famous and possibly one or two others, none of which are part of the same group. The best ray's I tried is reputed to be the original - it's down in the Little Italy area (possibly near Ludlow or Mulberry?). There are consistently great slices at a good walk up joint called Joe's at Bleecker and 7th Avenue.

Michelle,

Frommer's had a listing of inexpensive NY restaurants on their website this week. Was a pretty extensive list. You also could check out foodline.com and go to the NY section..there are some good suggestions there as well. Think Owen's advice sound and would second sidewalk.com

Do try Balthazar. For a very long time it was impossible to get a reservation here, but it is much easier now and the food is still just as good. It is not a luxurious spot, the decor is typical of a french bistro. But the food is first rate.

For fancy french cuisine that will take your breath away, try the Cote Basque - worth every penny. For Italian - the Bellini has great food too.

On a recent trip to NYC I went searching for the best pizza slice in town. I read many guides and finally found a web site called NY Pizza Police. Anyway, I went with their recommedations and found Ray's in the Village to be very good, but do your- self a favor and and go to S'als at 359 Broome at Mott St. It's hard to imagine pizza could be much better than this place was.
Other dining recommendations include: Gotham Bar and Grill, 12 E 12th St. and the Zen Palate at 46th and 9th, if you're up for the vegetarian scene.