Things to do in NYC?

I am going to NYC in late August. The first say I will be going to the American Idols Live tour in Long Island. The third day I will be going to opening day of the US Tennis Open. The second day, I am going with one other to the city. Last year we took a double decker bus tour, which was awesome, but that means we don't need to do the 'tour' thing this year. So, does anyone have any suggestions of fun things to do? It is a Sunday, by the way.Things to do in NYC?
You should stick to things that are all in the same area given your time constraints. Here are a few suggestions, grouped by area.

Lower Manhattan: World Trade Center site, boat to Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty (very long lines form, with your limited time you don;t want to get stuck on one, so start very early if this is your choice--same boat, one price, get off and explore, take later boat onward); Chinatown (eat at Wo Hop on Mott Street); South Street Seaport

Midtown: Empire State Building; United Nations (gift shop is great for souvenirs); theater district (lots of good restaurants nearby); Fifth Avenue from 47 to 58 Street for window shopping; Rockefeller Center/Radio City Music Hall; FAO Schwartz (giant toy store with ice cream parlor)

Uptown: Central Park and zoo; Metropolitan Museum of Art; Museum of Natural History/Rose Space Center

Brooklyn: Aquarium; Coney IslandThings to do in NYC?
Visit times square, watch a broadway play (order tickets now if you are going to)
You should try the Whitney Museum or the Guggenheim, both of which are in close proximity to Central Park. Then try a Broadway show at night followed by dinner (get those tix early though!)Things to do in NYC?
Climb a tall building, go out on the roof, and unfurl a huge "target" banner down the side that faces the nearest airport.
go up in the Empire state building.Things to do in NYC?
Returned home 2 days ago after visiting one week. I miss New York: Especially the subway and trains to everywhere.



Go to the Visitor's Information Center: Buy an unlimited ride pass, pick up free MTA maps for bus and trains and go to Grand Central Station, catch a subway train to Union Square and shop at Feline's Basement, DSW Shoes and then go next door and eat upstairs at Whole Earth Groceries. Grand Central Station (and Penn Station) is awesome. Go to the Station Agent and ask which train to take to where you need to go. You just might have to doublecheck with other waiting patrons to make sure you are standing on the right platform, going in the right direction (uptown or downtown) and waiting for the right train. New Yorkers are very kind and helpful we learned.



Or gather your dirty clothes, catch another train, take your laundry to the Suds laundromat in Greenwich Village basement on 10th St. near Greenwich St. (across the street from firehouse). Then you won't have to bring home a suitcase full of dirty clothes. We met some interesting "born in Brooklyn" New Yorkers there.



We did our visit to Greenwich Village first thing in the morning, brought the clean laundry back to the hotel room and then took another train from Grand Central Station to Union Square and did some serious shopping.



Drop in and look at Macy's Dept. store: It's huge with eating places inside and also with ancient wood escalators still in use.



Bring an extra empty suitcase or pack yours 1/2 full so you will have space for purchases and gifts.



We did what another New Yorker suggested via Yahoo Answers. Caught the #7 train to Queens and ate at the all you can eat East Buffet 42-07 Main St, Flushing, NY. You get off at the end of the line. It was a great experience. The train negotiates two big turns. I didn't have my camera ready. Soon after leaving Manhattan and going toward Queens, I missed getting a good picture of the first and most impressive turn but got some good shots from the train window of the front part of the train when it negotiated the second turn.
go to brodway, take a cruise around the statue of liberty, visit time square and the empire state building, and have pizza. in my opinion NY pizza is the best there is!! oh yeah and one more thing HAVE FUN!!!
buy illegal purses from the street venders. and then dont get caught. buy honey roasted peanuts. and take a tour bus. see a chorus line on broadway.