Best Places, Shops, Sights, etc in New York City?

I need to know what you think are the top places in New York city to see. Best Sights: Best Museums: Best shops/stores/malls? Best restaurants/coffee shops? This will be my first itme visiting, though I'll only be able to stay for a few days. Thank you for your help..

Public Comments

1. Oh Gosh! The best sigts have to be The Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Ground Zero, and Central Park. The Best Museums are of course The Art Museum and Museum of Natural History. The Stores are all FABULOUS!Even if you are an adult, you HAVE to go to F.A.O. Schwartz. Also, right next to there is the Apple Store. You must go to The Virgin Megastore and M&M world in Times Square. The coooolest retaurant is Mars 2112. Its is a great,fun,place to eat!
2. I would check out: Grand Central Station --- I know it's a train station, but it's historic and they give guided tours, it's really amazing. Empire State Building Central Park Chelsea Piers -- For some fun bowling, batting cages etc. Times Square -- Tons of Eateries 33rd Street -- The Manhattan Mall is here along with many other stores. Macy's Herald Square -- The mothership of the Macy chain Have Fun!
3. Sights-- take the silly double decker tour ... you can hop on/off at any stop.. they show you EVERYTHING and you get discounts on some sights Museums -- MoMA (modern art), Metropolitan Museum of Art (classical art, antiquities, anthropology), Frick Collection (art) Shops -- 5th ave. (upscale, chains), Soho (hip, trendy, boutique) Restaurants --- ohh soooo many restaurants for every taste and budget... you will wanna check the zagat guide and newyork.citysearch.com cuz theres soooo many (they also have nightlife options)
4. Best Sights: On Summer Weekend, you could check out Governors Island. During summer, you could enjoy ride on wet New York Splash Tour (NY version of DUCK TOUR) similar to Boston and Philly's one. If you like to get wet!! Other times including Summer. Ground Zero/World Trade Center When you're there, make sure to visit Firehouse on Liberty St/Greenwich St because that's one of firehouse that was directly from Twin Tower. Also, take stairs and passegeway into World Financial District, where they have shopping and check out Witner Garden. It even has many restaurants inside. Grand Central Partnership offers free tour on Tuesday. Best Museums Metropolitan Museum of Art give same day admission to Cloisters Museum except Holiday Monday when Cloisters are closed, but MET is open. Museum of Modern Art Museum of TV/Radio Museum of NYC. El Barrio Museo (El Barrio is term name for Spanish Harlem and has collection of Spanish artists.) Brooklyn Museum Queens Museum American Museum of Natural History New York Historical Society America Society Asian Society Japan Society Bronx Zoo (Congora Gorilla Forest special exhibitions are FREE UNTIL MARCH 21ST ST.) That special exhibition and fee Butteyfly Garden you should go there first, because they can be very crowded because it is most popular attraction!! Central Park and of course, Zoo. It also has wonderful Bethesda Fountatin, Belvedere Castle, etc. Historical Richmond Town. Also Museum Mile Festival will begin very soon in June where museums/galleries from 105th to 82nd Sts will be open from 6pm to 9pm free of charge. There are more. Check out things to do, dining, calender of event at NYCVISIT Website I enclose below. First weekend in October has special program called Open House NY where participating museums will be free. Best Restaurants: Benihana Restaurant BBQ East (Japanese restaurant) ZAIYA Cafe (If you love Japanese food, you should eat here) Out of City. With your MTA MetroCard, you could explore the Westchester County tourism via Bee-Line bus or pay your rail fare on Metro-North or Long Island into more fan part. Metro-North and Long Island Railroads offer great deal of package, even if you're staying in NYC.
5. Hi, I am OK with that is above, I would like to say to you : Staten Island Ferry from Manhattan, the 5 mile, 25 minute ride also provides a majestic view of New York Harbor and a no-hassle, even romantic, boat ride, for free! One of the world's greatest (and shortest) water voyages." From the deck of the ferry you will have a perfect view of The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. You'll see the skyscrapers and bridges of Lower Manhattan, the sky line at 5 pm is Great.