Do NOT go to the NYSC at the Rockefeller Center. Good lord, you will need a tetanus shot once you leave there. That is one sorry ass busted up gym. Right around the corner is a fantastic Equinox that has a lot of equipment geared towards serious lifters.
Don't let the pavement apes approach you with their "hottest selling CD" either. "It's free, just listen to it man, you will like it, we just need some feed back... oh we need a donation." If they put it in your hands or bag or whatever, they won't take it back. Throw that shit on the sidewalk and leave. If you do give them a dollar they say "we need bigger donation". Fuck that shit. And when you get it home and try to play it, it's blank. Which I guess sounds a lot better than anything they could have done.
If you ride the subway and have to change trains, it's like a double feature. Otherwise, my advice is to avoid. I have never rode it before and judging from the people that I see entering and exiting, and from the pics posted on the random pic thread here, I don't want to either.
Be prepared to wait in line at Shake Shack.
Ruth Chris in Times Square has a great happy hour menu. Lot of plates (sliders, shrimp appetizers, steak sandwiches, spicy lobster, etc..) for $8 each. Order two and it will be enough. No need to gorge yourself. But they fill up quick.
Carmines in TS is awesome too. That is a LOT of food. Go with at least 4 people.
Best touristy thing to do is the Hop on Hop Off bus. The tour guides are really informative and will direct you to places you would never find on your own or hear about. If you find a tour guide that knows the PDT bar... get directions and go. It's worth a visit and drink.
