We've got a good deal planned so far. I've tried to keep each day in the same general area, based upon feedback here. I think I've done that. Let me know what you guys think.
Day 1 - Thursday.
1. Arrive in NY at 4:30 PM.
2. Figure about 3 hours to get to hotel and check in (We are staying at about 31st St. and Madison)
3. Leave hotel around 7:30 PM
4. Walk to Rockefeller Center and check out Christmas Tree
Definitely walk into St Patrick Cathedral, either this night or the next day.
5. Walk to Time's Square
6. Eat some NY pizza for dinner
7. Head back to hotel
Day 2 - Friday
1. Walk to Empire State building
Are you going up? If not, you'll be seeing this all time since your hotel is so close. If yes, I prefer top of the Rock- never been at night though- or even know if it's open at night (just thinking out loud that you do this Thurs night- especially with the time difference, you guys will be up late)
2. Check out Grand Central Station
It's cool- but it's pretty much a walk in, see the main space and you're done kind of thing unless you go to the Oyster Bar. Won't take you long at all, so your morning might have some room in it.
3. Hit Carnegie Deli for lunch
I'm another one who prefers Katz's, but nothing wrong with Carnegie- other than the imminent heart attack.
4. Check out FAO Schwartz Toy Store
Apple store is right there too, if you don't have that where you live. Central Park should be on the heels of this since the store is right on the park and right next to where you get the carriage rides.
5. Walk by Trump Tower (is the one on 5th Ave. the one on The Apprentice? My daughter is into the show and wants to see the building).
6. Hit Central Park - maybe a carriage ride
7. Dinner somewhere in that general area - Suggestions?
Lots of amazing food nearby- but very pricey... at least the ones I'm thinking about. How much do you want to spend? My best buddy from college has a $$ power-broker spot called Lever House somewhat nearby.
8. See Broadway show at 8:00 PM (We got seats to Wicked)
Nice work on the tickets 
Day 3 - Saturday
1. This day is a little weird because part of it will be work for me. My company does work with fire people (I've been to NY about five times, but my family never has). So the firey guys are going to pick up the whole family at 10 AM at the hotel.
2. They will drop my wife and kids in SOHO at 11 AM or so tell
them to remind themselves to look up at all the historic cast iron buildings from the mid 19th c. this goes for most of NYC- easy to just tunnel vision on the street level and stores and miss out on all the amazing buildings.
3. I will head out with fire fire fire to the Brooklyn Battery tunnel to see the install of the Kutta radio system in the tunnel (probably about 2 hours total)
Can you expand on this? I remember there were issues about their radio system... during 9/11?
4. I will meet the fam at the 9-11 memorial (around 2 PM)
5. Head over to SI Ferry (maybe 5 PM or so)
Or you could ditch the ferry altogether and just walk to the river from the Memorial and look at the SoL from there (granted, it's a bit far away). Check out South Street Seaport area, Brooklyn Bridge and Wall St instead. And/or Chinatown.
6. Dinner at Delmonico's
7. Back to hotel
Day 4 - Sunday
1. We don't really have much planned this day. We want to take the subway somewhere - but I want it to be close, easy, and safe (I'm pretty paranoid). Any suggestions?
Paranoid about what? Once you're on the subway- unless you're heading to Brownsville or the South Bronx- it's not going to matter whether it's close or far. Pick a spot you want to see and go there. Good day for a museum upper east, or a trip to Brooklyn.
2. We will probably do a food cart lunch somewhere
3. Shopping
4. My daughter wants to eat at a Vegan restaurant, so we may do that this day.
Some good ones in my hood (East Village), I'm told. I've been to Angelica's and it's surprisingly tasty... but I'm not sure if it's full vegan or just veggie.
Day 5 - Monday
1. Maybe hit a museum
IMO, if you see one museum in NYC it should be the Met (even though it's not my own favorite). Soooo many masterpieces of every medium and era, it's a can't miss. Also has a "suggested" donation ticket price, which means you can pay whatever you want and trust me, the ticket takers don't care and won't judge. When I was in college I used to pay with whatever change I had in my pocket. Oh! but too bad for you, the MET is closed on Mondays.
2. Figure out our New Year's Eve plans (still not sure yet)
Stay in hotel and watch **** Clar... oh, right.
Day 6 - Tuesday
Head on back home to Phoenix
You can see we are pretty filled up early and open late. We thought that would be a good way to do it because we might think of things we want to do once we are there. Any ideas to fill in the empty space on Sunday and Monday?
Also, do you guys think the first couple days are too crammed with stuff, or not enough?
Thanks for all the help so far. I love this place.
Yeah, OK guy. I love my city and I've been very fortunate over the last decade and a half. We have another home 95 miles east and are lucky enough to both enjoy the city or escape as needed. But Manhattan is the kind of place you have to mock and deride if you have any sensibility.
20 something people like to go out and drink and have fun...seems pretty harmless...
lunch. Something nice and downtown and preferably on the west side (Chelsea and below). Can't get a sitter for the night- and can't afford any sitter we'd get let alone whatever prix-fixe a restaurant would be shoving down our throats, so we're doing lunch instead. Also trying to combine it with the High Line, which I'm ashamed to say I still haven't walked 
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