Off to New York next week - any last minute stuff, info or advice you can suggest?

[Hulababy]

Very excited! In 5 sleeps we are off to new York for the week. Me, DH and 7y DD are going, along with Katz, her DD and her almost 4y DD and her 6y DD.

We have a house on broad channel island and will use the train to go into NYC most days.

Looking at doing the 48 hour bus hopping ticket the first two days.

Think it is memorial Day on Monday.

Also looking at getting a City Plass ticket for some of the attractions/museums.

Anything else you can suggest? Especially with regards to the children.

TIA

By the way, you don't fancy popping into Macy's and picking me up some Martha Stewart Collection melamine picnic bowls to match my current set?

Grand Central station is quite nice too. It has a nice market, food hall, restaurants, some shops and an impressive foyer.

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Ooh, I was there in April. Things we did & loved:

Found the memorial to John Lennon in Strawberry Fields in Central Park.

Ate sensational bagels at a Jewish deli, Ess-a-Bagel in midtown where the wisecracking owner teased us for talking 'British' and losing the colonies

Saw the Manhattan skyline at night from the top of the Rockefeller Centre, eking out a $15 cocktail in the Rainbow Room to drink in the view.

Laughed our way through free live improv comedy at The Pit (Peoples Improv Theatre) on the Upper West Side.

Seized the only sunny hour in an otherwise rainy day to leap onto the Staten Island ferry and sail past the Statue of Liberty.

Listened to bands playing Hendrix inspired rock and drank Brooklyn Pilsner in a bar called American Trash on the Upper East Side.

Walked 26 blocks to a highly rated Italian restaurant in search of great pizza... only to take a seat and realise they only do pasta. The pasta however was superb, as was the $8 a glass prosecco and the free tiramisu (we tracked down awesome pizza in the West Village the next day).

Discovered serene gardens in rough and ready Alphabet City, flourishing on land where tenement buildings had crumbled.

Bah, stupid link, to see community gardens in Alphabet City visit www.6bgarden.org.

We also went to a fantastic pub/ restaurant. Its called the Bridge Cafe and its in Manhattan under the Brooklyn Bridge. It claims to be the oldest bar in New York. Just head to Wall Street and look for it down a side street under the bridge. We sat at the bar and had a few drinks & bar snacks but you could also sit at a table in the restaurant. The food was gorgeous, the drinks were ace (Hudson whisky, hmmmm) and the staff were so friendly. When the Mexican owner realised we were Brits he gave us free pineapple vodka. Worth a visit!

newyork.timeout.com/bars-clubs/financial-district/2244/bridge-cafe

We went in April and had a great time. Followed some of the advice picked up on an earlier MN thread.

Central Park was v. nioe the day we went - sunny and had kids' activities for the Easter hols.

Went to Ellen'd diner and we enjoyed the singing waiters/tresses but don't expect too much from the food.

Sorry we did not go to Dylans - but next time.

The children's museum (I think it's called) seemed too expensive esp since I gathered I would have to pay full price for my 2 yr old and didnt want to feel as if I had to stick around even if it wasnt great.

Walking around gave us a lot of pleasure.