For a typical tourist/local experience and completely fulfilling trip... Sites: Intrepid, Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Ellis Island, Grand Central Station, Times Square, St. Patty's, Central Park and Brooklyn Bridge. Casual Food: Carnegie Deli or Stardust Diner Higher End Food: River Cafe in Brooklyn (great opportunity to cross over the Brooklyn Bridge), Taboon, Gramercy Tavern (by the Flatiron building), or Philip Marie where you can reserve a private table in their wine cellar Entertainment: Right now you can either catch The Little Mermaid or Lion King on Broadway, off Broadway, see South Pacific and the Lincoln Center. If you're into pop culture, take a cab up to Rockefeller Center and pass by the Rainbow Room and Radio City Music Hall. Also don't miss Carnegie Hall (just by the deli) or Madison Square Garden.

Here's a gem... Go to Grand Central Station and ask information for Campbell's Apartment and have a drink there. Very cool atmosphere. Also check out The Gallery Bar on Orchard Street (downtown) Have Peking Duck at the Peking Duck House and order Monster Sushi in. Also, try the burger at Angelo and Maxie's in Union Square

I think to see the 'real' NYC, you should get some take out Chinese food and eat it in Central Park - especially if you're going in July. Be sure to take in some attractions - even though I grew up in NYC, I still always loved going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the MoMa, etc. Actually, my favorite attraction was Ellis Island. Also, I would highly recommend buying a Timeout New York - that magazine will tell you about all kinds of events - small scale art openings, off off-broadway theater productions, gigs with little or no entrance fees - it's a must to know what to do.

Take the subway. If you are nervous download the HopStop iPhone application to help you out!

There are hundreds upon hundreds of amazing places to eat in NYC. Take a chance on one that looks interesting, you won't be disappointed! Another great thing about NYC is the amount of trade and import through the city. Kinokuniya is a Japanese import bookstore that is four levels and has a cafe on the top. Rockafeller Center may be touristy, but many New Yorkers frequent it as well, and there is a fantastic Japanese bakery there with authentic sweets that are hard to find in America. Central Park is highly reccommended, and you can spend hours simply walking around. East Village is full of life, and if you like Macaroni and Cheese, visit S'Mac, a restaurant dedicated entirely to many different versions of the dish. :D

Ride the Staten Island Ferry - it's free (yes, free) and you get an incredible view of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. When I used to live there, it was one of my most favorite things to do - have fun =)

www.thehighline.org check the historical walking tour - i walked it last week and loved every minute of it.

Find a black market, and go shopping. Walk down any busy street, and look for a big, muscular black man standing outside an apartment complex. That will be a very cheap shopping spot, guarunteed.

Go to St. Mark's Place for some food and shopping. Go to Macdougal Street for barhopping. Definitely go enjoy Central Park.

Theatre...off broadway....lots of great little theatre.....see "the village"

I am a huge fan of Central Park. It is such an amazing place. You can spend an entire afternoon wandering and getting lost there!

Thank you all very much! :) if anyone else has an idea it's still very welcome. I will be staying in NYC the first week of july.

If you go during the summer, there's Shakespeare in the park at Central Park. It's free and lots of locals go. You also need to try the chicken and rice stand on 53rd and 6th. It's a long line, but it's the most famous chicken and rice stand in the city.

Nightlife in Brooklyn

Times Square, The Statue of Libery, Rockfeller Center, The United Nations, 5th Avenue, The Empire State Building, Central Park, China Town and Little Italy.Don't forget to eat cheese cake and Pastarami!!

brunch in village or soho. walking the 5th from 47th till MoMa, then, continue to walk on 5th till metropolitan and guggenhein, crossing the central park on the way...

during the day, go to central park. Pick a NY Times and choose a concert. Go there. Thereßs Culture everywhere.