Help a Texan navigate NYC!

[tbpew]

OK, working with a few clues from TexasProud, I have my two cents worth.

My presumptions (just for fun):
P1. you only have eight hours but that includes ground transportation.
P2. The window of time is between your morning check-out time and your air travel (this buys 4 hours if you check out early)
P3. Your hotel accommodations will be somewhere between 20th and 60th street (lower central park)
P4. As chosenone indictated, leave your bags at hotel and then depart from hotel at the end of your adventure circuit.

The subways are excellent. The wheels and tracks do not scream any more since Rudy did some upgrades --very few odd balls in the stations or long winding approach tunnels to the stations. I have gone from Battery Park to 50th Street on several occassions (even in rush hour) in around 40 minutes or less (30 minutes ride plus 10 minute walk).

Print out a subway map IN COLOR. You will only need the RED line to go from Time Square to Ground zero and it gets you pretty close to Empire State Bldg (34th st exit) also near Macy's. Empire State building may involve a wait in the elevator lines and 3 years ago cost around $15.00/person. Without a doubt though, best views of the city.

Ground Zero is now just a huge construction site. It's sheer size is impressive but, IMO, the solemn-ness is hard to find. It's in lower manhatten (around 7th ave and its the business district which has only marginal appeal except for Wall St.) It is just below below Soho which is an artist residential and retail enclave.

fyi,
A mostly horizontal trek can be kind of fun if you are dealing with only a couple of hours and you are already in Midtown.
Times Square is a sight to behold (42 St),
then up and across
past Rockefeller Cntr (NBC studios and which has the seasonal ice skating) tickets required for NBC tours
and then over to St. patricks cathedral which is on Fifth Ave ( a personal favorite; looming archetecture, creepy, 20-30 scenes along the walls with icons, innumerable candles, and is a fully operating Catholic church with tourists mobbing the place)
across the street from Saks 5th ave (great bathrooms!)

PLEASE be careful when standing at the road intersections. Avoid being the front row of people. NEVER JAY WALK. The cabs fly by with their tires rubbing the curbs. If you are walking (euphemism for slow running) during rush hour, the crush of pedestrian huddled masses is not for everyone. I happen to love it.

enjoy. It is a really great place to experience.

Note: do not expect to buy tickets for anything that requires tickets unless you pre-purchase or buy before 9:00am. It can be very dissapointing if you have only one shot. IMO, THE STATUE of LIBERTY is not worth the wait or cost. Take the ride out to liberty island ONLY if you need a rest or a nice clean bathroom --but don't waste your time in line for the climb.