Are you a first time visitor to 31489, 1843404, 00.html”>New York and for some reason only have one day to take in the main attractions of this world class city? Well here are some great ideas of what to do and see which will give you a real feel for the real New York. These are sites which go beyond the usual recommendations such as Times Square and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

1.    Time Warner Center is so much more than just a mall. Despite what cynical New Yorkers might say, this mall in many ways says it all about New York. Just check out the fourth floor alone. There you will find among two of New York’s best restaurants, and most expensive, too. Located on Columbus Circle which is at the southwestern corner of Central Park, you can dine in either “Per Se” of Chef Thomas Keller, or have an amazing sushi experience in Masa, named for chef and owner Masa Takayama.

2.    West Village—Take a stroll here and see for yourself what a New York neighborhood is really like. You will find quaint brownstones along surprising tree-lined streets which are basically in the same state they were in when they were new, during the 19th century. Be sure to take a map, the street layouts are not exactly logical; West 10th street somehow magically intersects with West 4th.

3.    Film Forum—Believe it or not, more movies are filmed in the streets of New York than anywhere else, even Hollywood. So it should come as no surprise that there is a place New York film lovers flock to to see the films others can only hope to read about. Among some of the pickings are provocative independent films, documentaries, and foreign art films hand-picked from the world’s most prestigious film festivals. A must see for film fans.

Winter Restaurant Week will be returning to New York City this winter, during the two weeks of January 24th to February 6th. This is the nineteenth year in which Restaurant Week will take place – and the prices will remain the same as they have since 2006: A three-course fixed-price lunch will cost $24.07 and dinner will cost just $35.

Over 200 restaurants, ranging from A Voce on Madison Avenue to Zengo on Third Avenue, participated in last year’s Restaurant Week. Stay tuned for this year’s participants, to be publicized soon.

There’s lots to do in New York City – and much of it is free. Here are a few of my favorites:

Walk down the streets of Fifth Avenue or down 57th Street and check out the store windows. Sit outside in the new promenade near Macy’s at 34th Street and “people watch” for a while.
Go down to the Times Square subway station at rush hour and enjoy the musical events, or watch the break dancing at Grand Central.

Relive your childhood at FAO Schwartz, at Fifth Avenue and 58th Street, hugging huge stuffed animals and dancing on giant piano keys. Then cross over to Central Park and walk through the verdant greenery, inhaling the fresh air and admiring the caricature artists. Keep going till you reach the reservoir. Faced with the peaceful scene in front of you, you won’t believe that the bustle and excitement of Manhattan is right around you.

Just sit down, take a deep breath, relax and enjoy.