The Cheap Seats

Tips from Cathypixie:
You have to have to join each of these groups to get discounted theatre tickets but if you like to go to shows, the yearly fee is soooooooooooo worth it. Tickets are often $3!

Only problem is, you never know which sites are up for any given night - so that means stalking! If you want to go/see/do, you have to go online throughout the day to check. And sometimes the Brodaway stuff is not there.

Audience Extras mostly off bway
Theatre Mania -- a bit of off and on
Theatre Development Fund -- advance tickets so you can make plans - just don't know where in the theatre you are sitting. These tickets are in the 25-30 dollar range.
Theatre Extras -- theatre, ballet, opera, lectures

Memorial Day Weekend Guide

see Avenue Q.
GO TO THE MOMA

all of these good eats bookable on opentable.
gusto -- village italian bistro, grab a drink later at employees only
BLT Fish -- like a fancy fish shack. order from the raw bar and the lobster roll.
like indian? devi and tamarind are great. devi is more romantic.
out of this world brunch @ five points. order the PITCHER of bloodys.
sexy spanish tapas, live music, dancing ladies with castanets -- flor de sol. order the white sangria and make sure you get a table in the back so you can watch the action.
whisper light pizza @ gonzo. don't order wine by the glass, order by the quartino.
high end mexican @ lucy's
enjoy the frenetic lower east side ... stanton social
the best brunch for the family/after sunday mass crowd -- the water club. you crave it, they have it.

no rezys
AMAZING sushi @ naka on 17th st/10th ave. this place is straight out of kyoto. if you are 6 people or more, you might be able to book the tatami mat room. order the tasting menu (for one) and supplement with 2-3 a la carte items and share that as a meal. you're good to go. their tofu is incredible. i swear.
totally quirky location, american comfort food, expect a long wait : freeman's alley
you can book a rezy here, but not on open table: Honomura An. order the tasting menu. japanese, but more than just sushi. then head over to the pegu club for a cocktail. or you may want to try sub-mercer at the mercer hotel.
balthazar - i think they are open until 4am? any meal of the day is great here. if you go for breakfast/brunch ORDER THE BREAD BASKET. chocolate bread is to die for.
chaotic dim sum for saturday brunch -- the golden unicorn

drinks
in the west village ...
employees only -- our friend billy gilroy owns this place. order the GINGER SMASH.
little branch -- same owners as ...
east side company -- while you wait for your table at freeman's alley on the lower east side.
OR
(different owners, more of an uptown vibe) stanton social, don't go into the restaurant, just walk upstairs
check out the soho scene -- pegu club -- ask for the drink menu
fanellis -- more old school. great for a mid-afternoon pint after a long morning of shopping.

other
if you like jamba juice, you'll love ... blue green juice
if you like ice cream, you'll love ... laboratorio del gelato
if you need additional dining out ideas ... http://www.chowhound.com/main.html
if treat your feet:
angel feet
LUSH

i HIGHLY RECOMMEND renting a bike for an afternoon and bike over the brooklyn bridge. take the "lower loop" of the river bike path from the west side of chelsea to the east side, bike over the historic brooklyn bridge check out DUMBO (surely this area is on your real estate development radar) and then give yourself a treat at brooklyn ice cream factory.
great fun for an adventurous crowd: trapeze school (at least check it out if you rent bikes, they are on the west side highway)