Going to New York - what should I do?

[Scottish Ninja]

Okay, so here's the skinny: I'm going to New York with my mother over the weekend; not yet quite sure what my schedule is. I think I'm getting in maybe around noon Friday, but I'm not sure exactly when - and it could easily be much later, given that we'll be flying standby. I also think I should be leaving probably Sunday night. Or so. (Always an important qualifier when flying standby.)

So, New Yorkers, this will be my first time visiting, so I need some suggestions as to what to see and do while I'm there. As a side note; I'm from Chicago, and I like to think that we have some pretty damn good pizza here. (Along with a lot of other food, but I digress.) So as an extra challenge, point me to the best pizza. (And other downscale stuff, if you like.) Impress me!

[The Romulan Republic]

Well I know what I would do- visit the American Museum of Natural History, probably the Empire State Building, and maybe the Museum of Modern Art and the site of the former World Trade Centre. I can't offer much in the way of obscure or out of the way places, as it has been a long time since I've been to New York and I was just a child at the time. I do still have fond memories of the Museum of Natural History though- that's probably the part that sticks most in my mind.

[Losonti Tokash]

Pizza: http://www.famousamadeus.com at 408 8th Avenue

Turkish restaurant at 631 Ninth Avenue creatively named Turkish Cuisine is pretty fantastic also.

[fgalkin]

http://www.grimaldis.com/

Intrepid if you like military stuff, American Museum of Natural History (pretty damn awesome), walk the bridges, the Empire State Building has huge lines, but there's priority admission for like $20 more, just talk to the people working, take a hop-on hop-off tour, etc.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[Alferd Packer]

You really have to try to find crappy pizza in New York. Just go into any old pizza joint; unless it's deserted and disgusting-looking, the pizza will be great.

As for things to do, walk. Don't take a tour bus or anything like that. Unless you have a specific destination in mind, don't bother with taxis. New York is an incredibly vibrant and interesting city, and you really miss a lot of it if you're zipping all over the place.

[Soontir C'boath]

Dollar pizzas are a no, as well as any pizzeria that has a cheap looking sicilian.

You really do need to walk around Manhattan to take it all in.

[SCRawl]

I was there in the winter a couple of years ago, and yeah, just walk around. One day I stayed in midtown, the next day I took the subway to take the Staten Island Ferry (there and back, of course), then walked back up through the financial district (with a stop for a corned beef sandwich at Katz's Deli). Lots of interesting things to look at.

[Celador]

Try Niagara Falls (the Canadian side is better, but still very tourist-oriented) and the Adirondack Park (September is perhaps the best month for hiking). The Finger Lakes are also very nice at this time of the year.

[Dalton]

NBC Studio Tour and Top of the Rock. Becco's for great Italian. Katz's for an unforgettable kosher deli experience. Pizzerias abound and are usually good. Get some street meat from a halal cart - I recommend The Cart on 53rd and 6th (they show up around 7, look for the one with the long line). Nintendo World is by Rockefeller Plaza and 48th. Midtown Comics on 40th and 7th.

Try Niagara Falls (the Canadian side is better, but still very tourist-oriented) and the Adirondack Park (September is perhaps the best month for hiking). The Finger Lakes are also very nice at this time of the year.

He's visiting the City, not the whole friggin' state.

[Celador]

He's visiting the City, not the whole friggin' state.

Oh, the city. In that case, I recommend Tulsi, on E 46th between 1st and 2nd.

[Bob the Gunslinger]

Definitely get an egg cream.

Also, I had a lot of fun just walking around near Wall Street and the UN Building. Did you know that Stephen King's Dark Tower (2 Dag Hammerskjold Plaza) and the Ghostbusters fire house (Hook and Ladder #8) are within walking distance of many popular tourist locations? ...Well, everything's within walking distance, really.

[Darth Fanboy]

Juniors cheesecake and an egg cream, Yankees aren't in town but tours of the stadium should be available including Monument Park if you like baseball or event just sports. Bronx Zoo is amazing as is Central Park Zoo, go with Bronx for a longer day or Central Park for a couple of hours, I did CPZ and the Natural History museum in the same day. Take an extra memory card and camera batteries for the Dinosaur halls there (or film if you are into that).