So if you are visiting a friend…why do you need a hotel?
I don’t know if the age requirement of 21 is common or not - it was the only time my D reserved a hotel before she turned 21. But it was a major problem!
Another thing you may want to do is see the Rockettes. We went last year and it was a bit cheesey but a lot of fun. The dancing was fabulous.
Many hotels have the age requirement of 21, and at a variety of levels of hotels, e.g., Holiday Inn Express right up to Crowne Plaza. And, from our experience, this is very common in NYC. You will need to present a credit card and I.D. in your name when you check in.
You should really call the hotel in advance and find out what the policy is because you don’t want them turning you away when they see that you aren’t 21, especially that week which is one of the very busiest in the city, as it may be impossible to find something else at the last minute. When you call, speak to a manager, and take note of his/her name.
The Museum of Modern Art is free on Friday nights, and you can get a ticket in advance and avoid the line.
I think it’s a great place both for modern art lovers, who can gawk at some of the best-known works in the world, and for those who hate modern art, who can walk around and say, “Somebody got PAID for making THAT?”
@takeitallin The Tenement Museum sounds really interesting!
@thumper1 Because we’ve never actually met; we were both supposed to matriculate to CMU but in the end, I didn’t. And even though we remain close, it still feels odd to not find a hotel.
@alwaysamom Thank you for informing me on that. I will make phone calls so I can start narrowing down the list.
@Marian You will find me in both categories, depending on the work 
January is not the best time for walking The High Line http://www.thehighline.org/ but still one of the best, newest, free-as-in-beerest things to do.
If you do go to Chelsea Market as suggested, Los Tacos #1 tacos pastor is the best taco east of the Miss., and won’t break the bank.
If you are doing rock center and want a break for the price of an expensive drink, the rooftop bar at the penninsula is awesome .
Can’t say enough about MOMA.
Chinatown but be careful not to buy any counterfeit goods. (wink). And negotiate. Late night food: Wo Hop on Mott St., downstairs and after 11pm only.
Katz’ Deli on east Houston. You’ve seen it in movies. Don’t be intimidated but don’t lose your ticket! One pastrami sandwich is easily split x2, especially if you bolster that with their awesome fries. Use the self serv side for the proper experience.
Whether it is Circle Line, a brunch boat, or just a cheap ferry, find a way to get on the rivers.
I am going to recommend against trekking out to coney island unfortunately. Not worth it, especially that time of year, and not the best place for tourists.
I always recommend against Broadway shows and for the Metropolitan Opera as a unique experience. But I know that’s just me. As for the Rockettes, well… no… just no. Sorry I am a curmudgeon!
Enjoy the best city in the USA!
Agree with @postmodern’s list above and will suggest that you walk through Grand Central and even the old Post Office at 33rd & 8th. You can walk through Rock Center (look up at mural on ceiling to see if the eyes follow you) without having to take a tour.
I have always wanted to but never gotten around to taking a tour of Federal Reserve’s gold vaults.
I have walked the High Line in Jan or Feb and while the wind off the water can be cold, it is still a great thing to see. Central Park is great at any time of year.
Two smaller museums. Worth a look to see if there are exhibits that interest you when you will be in town.
Up at 103rd & 5th.
http://www.mcny.org
On Upper West Side, close to Museum of Natural History
http://www.nyhistory.org
I’ve recently discovered that I love going to museums by myself and listening to an audio tour. I don’t expect to see the entire museum, I chose a couple exhibits to see and then see more after that if I feel like it. Many museums include an audio tour in admission (the Guggenheim, for one). Others have an app you can get on your phone that includes audio tours and other museum info (MoMA and the Met–includes Met Breuer). And the Whitney has audio tours available on their website. Just google Whitney audio tours. The Whitney has amazing views and you might get to catch the sunset over the Hudson.
There is also an audio of a composition for listening to while walking from the Met to the Met Breuer and another for the reverse:
[QUOTE=""]
Commissioned by MetLiveArts to celebrate the opening of The Met Breuer, Soundwalk 9:09 takes its title from the time it takes to walk between The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Breuer: nine minutes and nine seconds. The composition, in two parts "Uptown" and "Downtown," are now available via a free download to your device, and through the WQXR app. Listen to these powerful new works by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Luther Adams who, in his first New York City composition, has ingeniously turned an eight-block stretch of city grid into a polyphonic, antiphonic, and personal music adventure. <<
[/QUOTE]
Theater tickets: someone mentioned getting the TodayTix app. Definitely do that. There are cheaper tickets and some lotteries. There are also lots of online lotteries for Broadway shows that are not on this app. If you post before you go I can give you current info, as it changes often. You should definitely try to see a show. Especially since you haven’t been to one before. There are lots of deals and a Broadway show is just really fun.
The Highline: look it up…super cool if it’s not too freezing.
Last year Christmas Eve was really really warm - you never know what the weather might be like!
S and a friend stayed in a hotel in Manhattan when S was 17 and his friend was 18. There was no problem. I don’t remember the name of the hotel but I think it was one of the “pod” types with very small rooms.
Coney Island in winter is not a good idea. Skating in Central Park is recommended; not recommended for Bryant Park or Rock Center. Holiday show at Radio City is cheesey but a classic. Top of the Rock observation deck in Rock Center is easier to do than Empire State or Freedom Tower – you can book a fixed time in advance so no lines.
Week after New Years is probably the best time to target, since you can still catch most of the holiday stuff (which is NYC classic) but miss some of te expense and crowds.
Almost forgot: The Cloisters, if you like medieval stuff