Food

• Simple Sushi - Yama (huge pieces of fish on each sushi.. beware, you will get full!) [there are several, I am thinking of the one on 92 Houston at Thompson that is open only for dinner and closed on Mondays]
• Fancy and expensive (but not extravagant) Japanese - En Brasserie [Hudson and Leroy]
• Another expensive Japanese - Soto [pretty much unmarked white storefront at 357 6th ave and Washington Pl.]
• Mediterranean/Italian - Tempo (yes, you'd be surprised how close Brooklyn is to Manhattan, and this place is definitely worth the subway trip!) [5th Ave, Park Slope, Brooklyn]
• Italian - Bella Vita [Minetta Lane (which is the shortest street in Manhattan!) and 6th Ave]
• Scandinavian - Aquavit (this is the best part about Manhattan - you can not only find Scandinavian food, but you can find enough to decide on a favorite! Aquavit has a cafe and a restaurant; I have never tried the restaurant as the cafe is cheaper and the Smorgesbord is really all I need...) [65 east 55th at Park Ave]
• Chinese - Chinatown Brasserie (really nice dimsum) [3rd street and Lafayette]
• Thai - Beyond [3rd street and 6th Ave]
• Tasting menu - Knife + Fork [108 east 4th st]
• Neighborhood restaurant you wish was in your neighborhood - Seymour Burton [5th st between Ave A and B]
• Great restaurant that is in our neighborhood, but just too expensive to actually be a neighborhood restaurant; perfect for birthdays... - Blue Hill [75 Washington Place near 6th Ave]
• Pizza - John's Pizzeria (this is NOT pizza by the slice) [Bleecker]
• Oysters and clam chowder - Oyster Bar [Grand Central station]
• Brasserie - Les Halles [there are several, I am thinking of the one at 15 John Street]
• Fancy - Craft [43 east 19th st.] or The Mercer Kitchen [99 Prince st]
• Fancy but affordable and close to home - Five Points [31 Great Jones st]
• Restaurant and bar in a museum - The Modern [right near the MOMA]
• Israeli - Hummus Place [Sullivan between 3rd and Bleecker]
• Brunch - Jane [La Guardia and Houston]

Where to go

• the MOMA
• the Transport Museum in Brooklyn - really really awesome museum where you can easily spend 4 hours and not yet have seen everything!
• central park
• Storm King - this is a perfectly magical place one hour or so north of Manhattan, up the Hudson - you can rent a car, or take the daily bus from Manhattan; closed in winter

Shopping (yes, in a shopping city such as Manhattan, even a shopping-loather like myself can not resist the temptation)

• cool stuff - the MOMA store(s) (there are quite a few of these, although only one museum)
• more cool stuff (and cute presents) - Pilones (also quite a few around)
• kitchen things - Sur la Table
• cameras etc - B&H