Things to do in NYC — a collaborative list

Buy a day pass for the subway (or a 7 day pass). The subway is NYC. You have to ride it! Don't worry — it's really safe. Cabs don't cut it — and they too often head right into the traffic, wasting your time and costing you money. (Some even when you're a native and tell them how you want to travel.) Or walk. That way you see everything. Busses can also be cool because you see the streets and meet the people, but they can be very slow in traffic.

• Take the Staten Island ferry and back. It provides a beautiful view of lower Manhattan and of The Statch — the Statue Of Liberty. The ferry is free. To get to the ferry get off at the Bowling Green stop on the 4 or 5 (about 2-3 blocks away) or the Whitehall stop on the N or R (across the street from the ferry). There may now be other options to get there as well, since I last checked.
  
  
• Get off on Staten Island if you want to see a very different side of NYC.
  My friend James says "It's a very quiet residential neighborhood with some beautiful homes in the hills just above the ferry. And now we have a minor league ball park, Staten Island Yankees with an amazing view of the skyline. There's a street festival on 5 weekends during the summer when the SI Yankees are playing and a Greenmarket every Saturday."
  
  
• To actually go to The Statch and stand up close and inside is a great experience. That's a specific boat to liberty island. More costly than the ferry, but you get to really see her and climb in. She's amazing!
  
  
• Visit Ellis Island. It's a museum now.
  
  
• For lunch (or dinner) go to Chinatown's Mott street and have a meal at Wo Hop. (It's down the stairs. Not fancy. Not costly. Great food! (My favorite since 1981.) And while you're down in Chinatown visit a bakery and have some fun shopping.
  
  
• One of the best views of Manhattan's amazing skyline is from Brooklyn. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to see the view. It has a great pedestrian walkway, above the roadways in the middle of the deck. A quick walk from the foot of bridge on the Brooklyn side and you're at the old ferry landing — where they shoot lots of car commercials and NYC opening shots under the Brooklyn tower of the bridge. I'm told there are two great eating experiences under the bridge: the River Cafe for the view and Grimaldi's for the best pizza.
  
  
• Head up to Grand Central Terminal (by subway or foot) and have a look. The Oyster Bar inside is a classic favorite. (Notice it is not Grand Central Staion; it's a terminal.)
  
  Then go outside and across the street to the Chrysler Building and have a look. Years ago they have fantastic photos of the building's upper part on display. Maybe walk over to the river and see the UN.
  
  
• Keep walking toward east (on the south side of 42nd street) and step into the Daily News building. (Clark Kent worked there; it's the Daily Planet building.) The globe in the lobby is worth a look. Continue to the river and up a block to the UN.
  
  
• Into museums? Up to Central Park area and check out the many on museum row. The Guggenheim, Modern, Whitney, American Natural History Museum, Gagosian Gallery (I don't know that one), MOCA. Visit the Rose Center for Earth & Space. There's a lot there. (There is a 2nd Guggenheim downtown in SOHO too. That one's closer to the Javits Center.)
  and
  On a Friday night, enjoy Starry Nights at the newly redone Hayden planetarium at the Natural History Museum — live performances by some of the world's leading musicians, held under the sphere. These one hour sets are free with suggested Museum admission. Every Friday from 5:45 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. (I have not seen this show yet.) There is also an IMAX Theater there.
  
  
• Into zoos? There is also a zoo in the park that was redone in the early 80s.
  
  
• While you're up anywhere from 59th street to perhaps 96th street, experience Central Park. There's walking, skating, riding, lunch (by the boathouse?), people watching. If you're lucky enough to be in town when there is a concert or show in the park, do it! Rock, country, orchestra, Shakespeare... (My last concert was Simon & Garfunkle doing a "neighborhood concert.)
  
  
• Into gaudiness? Donald Trump's awful gold(?) building on Park Ave. Not far from the Godiva Chocolate store as I recall.
  
  
• Argosy Bookstore in upper east side for awesome collection of old prints to buy.
  
  
• Just walk and walk and walk. Midtown has Fifth Avenue and Rockefeller Center.
  
  
• Have a drink. World'sBestBars.com can help, as can YourNY.com.
  
  
• And just to emphasize...
  RIDE THE SUBWAYS!
  (These guys are some of
  my GoLive-user friends
  in town for Macworld Expo.)