NYC

Restaurants:

Nom Wah Tea Parlor - sometimes there is a line, but worth it for dim sum in one of the longest running Chinatown dim sum joints. If you don't want to wait on line there's plenty else to eat in the area! There are also bars on the same street as Nom Wah to check out after.
St Anselm- best steak of my life
Tompkins Square Bar (formerly Black Market, RIP) - my fave burger in the city, with good cocktails
Som Tum Der - spicy and special Northern Thai
Peaches - for the love of fried chicken sandwiches, in Bed-Stuy
Saraghina - fancy pizza, Italian food and cocktails, in Bed-Stuy
Minetta Tavern - OG NYC vibe, solid burgers and martinis
Kings County Imperial - for Dan Dan noodles
Lucien - scene-y French restaurant
Sunny & Annie's - the best bodega sandwiches I ever did see

Bars:

Decibel- Japanese speakeasy with some light food. One of my favorite places in the city. In east village on ninth street.
Ear Inn - another personal fave, real old bar all the way on the west side that allows you to drink on the sidewalk. Good burgers too.
The Narrows - my old haunt in Bushwick
The Long Island Bar - in Brooklyn, good scene and good food too
Goldie's - in Greenpoint
Rocka Rolla - Williamsburg
Ore Bar- Williamsburg

Things to do:

Walk over the Williamsburg bridge - make sure to walk on the walkers side rather then the bikers side. From there you can walk around Williamsburg and shop, eat and drink.
Walk down St. Marks street
Go to Coney Island - ride the rides, people watch, eat a hot dog at Nathan's, catch a minor league Cyclones game
Go to Harlem for a Gospel Brunch at Sylvia's, afterwards see if you can get in to Marjorie Eliot's parlor jazz at her home. Amateur night at The Apollo is another must.
See live music - There are tons of small venues with up and coming bands - check out ohmyrockness.com for what's on

Go to a Mets game at Citi Field
Get drunk at a movie theater at Syndicated in Bushwick or a Nitehawk location
Go to The Gutter in Williamsburg for bowling
If you have any interest in a beach day, you can take the subway or a ferry from pier 11 out to Rockaway. Around 90th st is the best part, with great food and some bars (Surf Club). If you have a car, head out to Fort Tilden, a wild feeling beach and my favorite in the city.
See an Alvin Ailey dance performance
Take the Staten Island Ferry for a joyride
See The Moth
Author readings on some Monday nights at Franklin Park in Brooklyn
Enjoy a day at Prospect Park and go to a roller skating disco night
Go whale watching
If you have any interest in a hike, you can take a metro north train from grand central to Cold Spring and do the trains there. Afterwards eat at Hudson Hil's

HP's Travel Recs