Just home from another night with some places I like:
Zabars - Upper West Side market...squished and crazy, but you'll find some only in NYC things, you can go eat at the "Seinfeld" diner on the UWS as well. There's not a super-lot in the area, but some very cool places, I'm glad you liked it Sunflower, I've been staying up that way.
BAGELS! I love Murray's, but I'll take all the others! And you won't need to eat ever again.
For seafood lovers - Grand Central Oyster Bar (there's a whole food court and food hall which they put in AFTER I schlepped through there daily, restored the whole things beautifully, it's a fantastic place now) Oyster bar is great if you're traveling alone...long counters for solo diners (very common in NYC another great thing). Lunch time, they have a take-out window.
I didn't think about Top of the Rock cause I worked there for most a decade, but go for it! If there's anything at Radio City, it is a fantastic experience, as are all the old iconic theaters and so many good music venues (easier to list the ones I avoid).
I also have odd reasons for not mentioning other great things, like Staten Island ferry. Go for that too! Takes a bit of time, but it's a free cruise!
And Coney Island. Oh dear, something happened there.
Very cool if you're over in the summer especially. You could catch some beach, see the Cyclones play baseball, eat at Tototono's, visit the aquarium. It does take a while on the subway for those without too much time.
Velselka is a great Polish restaurant - for late breakfasts or VERY LATE hang-over stopper pierogries. There's just so many places in NY, but my friends and I sort of gravitate back to our classics.
Jones is a tiny little cozy place near Other Music, just south of Astor Place. It's simple Cajun/hamburgers, but it's just so warm and cozy. One of Pavement used to work the bar (not sure if he still does).
Big stores and major Yank chains seem to always have a coupon deal which can save you 15-30% more. You can go online from your hotel, sign up for the website and see if you can snag one. Macy's you can always get an 11% off coupon in their visitor's office...I ask for one with my honking local accent but out of state license.
Sunflower, don't really know the quality of UWS hotels, but I walk past a few, I will ask for recommendations. But I really love staying downtown too. Midtown is exciting sure, but I would think Hawley folks would enjoy difference. Unfortunately, there is still not much in Brooklyn, you'd think.
Also, in Park Slope Brooklyn, Union Hall is a fun place...small room for bands downstairs, nice bar/bocce upstairs, close to subway. The same guy (a old friend) runs the new music club Bell House in Gowanas. If there's something good there, go! Go by subway, but do take up the bartender on getting you car service back to Manhattan.
More ideas as I think of them, or do stuff. I get so frustrated that I haven't traveled the past few years as I wished I could, but you're all reminding me that just the odd day and here is someone's dream trip too.
If you want ideas beyond NYC, there's some great little trips. It's very cheap to go by bus to Boston. Philly is very close by train and very different from NYC. If you're coming for a concert tour, it's great to add the Philly stop.
If you're a scenic country person, especially if you come in early to mid-October, a ride on the commuter rail up the Hudson is glorious. The train runs right along the shore. There's some ugly but interesting on the way (Sing Sing prison). You can travel up to the DIA:Beacon art museum, stop in Cold Spring on the way back down for a stroll and dinner, cute old town where I once lived. Not for those with little time in the city, but if you come for a bit and want to get out of town for a trip for not much money.
~ K