Well, we covered almost everything we had on the plan, apart from the Empire State Building and the bicycle hire in Central Park. We canned going up the Empire State Building because the helicopter flight was delayed - as we’d already been to The Top of The Rock there seemed little point, especially given that the weather had closed in. We also canned the bike ride in Central park because the weather was so good we just decided to stroll around the city.

Special thanks to

• Mike for a great rickshaw ride from Times Square-ish to Greenwich Village via Empire State - you looked knackered, mate, but thanks for the entertainment.
• Everyone at Smalls Jazz Club, especially for the continual top-ups of water and excellently strong, black coffee. The musicians were superb, and I can’t wait to come back.
• New York’s Finest for helping with directions and posing for photos. All the officers we spoke with were incredibly friendly people - you’re great, guys & dolls!
• Apple Store 5th Avenue for letting us “just hang out to enjoy the store” at 5am.
• Mike & Rachel for all the suggestions and crazy enthusiasm for this dumb-ass idea of mine.

Photos and a full trip report to follow some time this week. I’m shattered, having just 7 hours sleep during the 71 hours from 7am (BST) Friday to 6am (BST) Monday.

Just finished working, telling the others, “Have a good weekend. See you Monday.” It’s weird because I’ll be in New York between now and then. It’s still not real, even though I’ve checked in.

I’ve been rather lazy in figuring out what to do during the early hours of Sunday morning. I take no credit for what’s on this list, though I am excited that we’ll be packing so much in. Times are local.

08.55 Leave LHR
11.20 Arrive JFK (get Time Out NY)
12.30 Leave airport (Taxi)

14.00 Central Park - Bicycle Hire at Loeb Boathouse
16.00 5th Ave, Tiffanys, FAO Schwarz
18.00 Rockefeller Centre for sunset (18.30)
19.00 Broadway
20.00 Comedy Club
22.00 Times Square
23.00 Marriott View Lounge
00.00 Empire State Building
01.00 This is where I need to get off my arse and
02.00 figure out what to do for the next two hours.
03.00 Small’s Jazz Club
04.00 It’s New York, Baby! There must
05.00 be something worth doing, right!?
06.00 Staten Island Ferry (06.30-07.30)
08.00 Brooklyn Bridge (subway to Brooklyn and walk back across bridge)
09.00 Helicopter Flight - Pier 6
10.00 Wall St to WTC
11.00 WTC
12.00 Flat Iron Building
13.00 I need to plan something for this hour, too.
14.00 Grand Central Station - lunch at Oyster Bar
15.00 Head to airport
16.00 Check in at JFK and hit the bar
18.15 Fly home

Well, it’s time to start thinking about what we need to take in terms of camera gear, clothing, and so on. Actually, it’s time to start thinking about what we can take. Given that we’ll have to travel micro-light because we’ll have nowhere to leave stuff during the day it’s vital that we only pack absolute essentials. For me that means passport, ‘phone, camera (plus memory cards and batteries), money and a credit card. If events dictate that I need anything else I’ll send Mr Mastercard on his merry way to sort it out.

I can’t wait to see what my 24hCB Buddy wants to bring.

From those lovely people at snowHeads:

• Empire State Building: it might look as though there are no queues, but the queue after the cashier snakes a hell of a long way. The whole visit, including queuing took about 2.5 hours. Went to the top of the Rockerfeller Centre in the evening - takes about an hour and fab for seeing NYC lit up - and you get a better view of the Chrysler Building and see the top of the Empire State lit up.
• Helicopter Flight: best 1st thing in the morning (you will be awake anyway). Recommend Liberty.
• Statue of Liberty: If you want to visit then fine, but allow plenty of time for queuing/travel ont he ferry. If you just want to see, then helicopter is the way.
• Abercrombie & Fitch: (if you have to buy for teenagers), best 3/4 hour before closing, otherwise queue to get in
• Metropolitan Museum: Target what you want to see and don’t be tempted to stray - you’ll be in there all day.
• Grand Cental Station: Just to see it.
• The subway is your friend; yellow cabs are your friend if you hail a cab going in the right direction.
• If you go to Macy’s, Bloomingdales etc go directly to customer services for your 11% discount card (no sales tax on clothing in NYC)
• Radio City Music Hall backstage tour if you like Art Deco
• Get “On the Town” out on DVD
• What about renting bikes in Central Park? That’s what we plan to do and I see they rent them out from one hour at $20
• …have lunch in the Oyster Bar in GC Station and take the Staten Island ferry (and come back on it); gives you a great view of Manhattan as well as the SofL. Agree about the helicopter flight; we took one at dusk, whcih seemed like a good time.

From EJP Photo. Far better advice than “Get your new man to buy you something from Tiffany’s”.

To answer your question, I’d stay away from the tourist traps (Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, etc). They’ll suck up your time, they’re really not much to see up close, and you’ll only be hanging out with other tourists. I’d stick to the stuff you don’t need a ticket for - Times Square, Central Park, Washington Square Park*, walk the Brooklyn Bridge. What really defines NYC is the unique culture and diversity, and those are the kinds of places you’ll find the natives. The only exception I’d make to that is for the museums, of which there are many well worth experiencing. But eat the pizza (I recommend Grimaldi’s, under the Brooklyn Bridge on the Brooklyn side), stop in bars, and check out anything that catches your eye.

Have fun!

Just over 12 weeks to go and I’m already so excited! I’ve always wanted to go to New York, and although I would have expected to spend a bit more time there, this just sounds so much fun. Alright, I admit, when H first told me his idea I thought it was a bit mad, then I thought why not? Life’s too short, pack in what you can . Just visiting for 24 hours makes the whole thing more of a challenge, just how much can we fit in? It’s going to be high-paced, non-stop fun for every single minute.

I’m keen to see some off-the-beaten-track sights, not just the tourist hotspots, get a feel of what a true 24 hour city has to offer. What things can we do through the night other than clubbing? I can’t wait to find out. Would love suggestions on what we really shouldn’t miss out on – please share and help us make this the best 24 hrs we’ll ever have.

Spending twenty four hours in New York has been the plan since I had this idea. In October 2008 we’ll be flying out of Heathrow on a Saturday morning, arriving in JFK just before midday. We’ll be flying out of JFK on the following Sunday evening. We’ll be on the ground in New York for about 30 hours, so that should give us plenty of time to get through immigration and in to the city, plus spare time for check-in on the return flight.

We’ve not planned the day yet - there’s plenty of time for that - but I figure the Empire State Building, Ground Zero, and the Statue of Liberty will be on the cards. Hopefully we’ll have time for a bit of Frizbee in Central Park at some point.