1) oo Anne that is so exciting!!!! I'm going to try to think about something unusual and fun! So far my only recommendation is in the cold winter time nothing is better than going to Serendipity! It's this adorable little coffee shop with infamous hot chocolate among other things! It will offer you a unique experience past the big tourist spots. I think they have a webpage you could look up if you're interested!

2) What a great idea!!! Do you know about where it is? We're staying right near Central Park.

3) It's actually pretty close to the park if you're staying on the West side of Central Park. It's hard to explain without knowing the exact address.... but I just looked up Serendipty and I believe its on 60th between 2nd and 3rd avenue. So if you were on 59th near 5th avenue it would only be about 5 blocks away!

4) ok last comment I swear.... but I recommend using the street view option on google maps! Most of NYC is covered and you can actually see full picture views of the roads from the street. For example, the address of Serendipty is 225 E 60th St, New York... if you put that in on google maps and then street view you can actually see the coffee shop!

5) Is that the same Serendipity from the movie Serendipity with John Cusack? Very cool idea! I can't wait to see pics of your weekend.

6) I thought it was frozen hot chocolate? Same one in the movie--quite well known. They even sell kits to make your own at home. I have a recipe I discovered some place that closely matches the one you get there. It was also featured in a George Clooney movie, One Fine Day, I think it was called.

7) Funny how so many blogs turn into a chocolate conversation :D LOL!

8) We are going there FOR SURE!! Any other ideas???

9) That is a wonderful idea. I would love to do that with my daughters someday!

10) It's in lieu of presents. Who needs those?

11) I can ask a friend of mine who loves NYC and is trying hard to find a job to move back. She might have some ideas.

12) Frrrozen Hot Chocolate
Recipe created by Serendipity 3 restaurant
Seen on the show Oprah's Favorite Sandwich

One sip of this cool concoction had Oprah wanting to "dance on the chandeliers!" After 50 years of keeping the recipe for its Frrrozen Hot Chocolate a secret, Serendipity 3 restaurant in New York City finally spills the beans on how to make this much-loved drink at home. And it's super-simple!

INGREDIENTS
6 half-ounce pieces of a variety of your favorite chocolates
2 teaspoons of store-bought hot chocolate mix
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 cups milk
3 cups of cups of ice
Whipped cream
Chocolate shavings

Chop the chocolate into small pieces. Place it in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted. Add the hot chocolate mix and sugar. Stir until completely melted. Remove from heat and slowly add ½ cup of milk until smooth. Cool to room temperature.

In a blender, place the remaining cup of milk, the room-temperature chocolate mixture and the ice. Blend on high speed until smooth and the consistency of a frozen daiquiri. Pour into a giant goblet and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

13) OHHHH MYYYYY! Thank you!!! I will be making that!!!

14) LOL...I knew someone would see that and try it. :) I am glad to obliged.

15) WOW-you always come through!

16) Go to the Top of the Empire State Building. I had a friend about the thime you are going, and he told me that he saw "COLD" as a noun.

17) How exciting Anne! I love New York, my whole family is from that there. My great grandfather even played on the Brooklyn Dodgers. ;-) I reccomend Battery Park (especially if you're not going out to the Statute of Liberety/Ellis Island) and the winter gardens. If you take the subway from mid-town, get off around Wall Street, walk past Trinity Church, ground zero, Wall Street, the bull statue, down to Battery Park, then head toward the Hudson River and you'll get to the winter gardens (its like a two story conservatory where things are green all year round).

My favorite mid-town things are the New York Central library, Grand Central Station and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The city bus tours are acutually pretty good, they have the double decker red buses, but I imagine the top side, being open air, might be pretty cold in the winter.

If you a US history buff, a little known jewel is Grant's tomb in Morningside.

Have a wonderful time!