New York City

Hotels:

1. Courtyard – Midtown: I have stayed in this hotel a couple of times. I would rate this hotel a 5 out of 10. The location of the hotel is a little too far from the fun sites of New York City. It is located a little too far east of town. The price is $299.00 per night.
2. Courtyard – Times Square: I have stayed at this hotel a few times. I would rate this hotel a 7 out of 10. The location is right next to Times Square. This offers many activities / bars / restaurants / etc. The employees of this hotel make an extra effort to know your name. The cost can bounce up to $319 per night.

Restaurants:

1. ESPN Zone: Located in Times Square. This place has thirty TV’s all dedicated to sports activities. The atmosphere is like a college town bar scene. The food is not particularly good, but a good place to get some bar food and a couple of beers.
2. Smith / Wolensky’s: This is a chain steak house. It has locations in the major cities in the US. The atmosphere is very business oriented. A place to see a few high rollers with big expense accounts. Great steak and good drinks. SW’s is an expensive night out, but worth the stretch.
3. GUEST HOUSE – Located in the “meat packing” district of Manhattan. This is a place to see celebrities. The view is amazing, as the bar outside over looks lower Manhattan and the Hudson River. The drinks are very expensive, but definitely worth the effort.
4. O'Neills – Located just off of Times Square. IRISH BAR does have actual Irish employees working, with great accents and attitudes. The bar contains typical Irish bar food, but the tap beer includes local Irish brews. (Smithwicks) Good spot for a pit stop before dinner.
5. DINER IN TIMES SQUARE – Located near the Courtyard – Times Square. This is a throw back diner that is a great breakfast location. The service is excellent, while the food is a great fill up of greasy food. The price is just right for a good breakfast, it seems to attract the local NY crowd.
6. Jon Berry’s – JB’s is a great local restaurant with a good NYC feel. The bar is located on a side street in between 5^th and 6^th avenue. I have been to this place a couple of times and one time sat with the owner of the restaurant and another time sat with the manager. They spend a lot of time talking local sports (baseball) and seemed to appreciate the business. The food is nothing special.