Emailed a friend who lives in Brooklyn and got a diatribe in response: Union Pool and Barcade are definitely must-hits; other fun bars in Brooklyn (those two are in my hood, so I assume they're staying somewhere near me) include Black Rabbit, The Charleston (total divey place), The Gutter (actually a bowling alley but also a totally great bar with much beer), Crocodile Lounge and Alligator Lounge (free pizza with drinks), Daddy's. These are all in Brooklyn (where everything is a little more Bay Ridge-like). If you do go out in Manhattan, stay below 14th St and you'll be fine. The Manitoba is cool, Pianos is cool (note: not a piano bar), Art Bar is cool. If they really are staying near me, they MUST EAT at Fette Sau. So delicious. I'm not terribly up on the music scene, but The Music Hall of Williamsburg usually has good music acts, and McCarren Park has some free concerts that are usually indie rock-type stuff. Terminal 5 has been having some good stuff lately, but I haven't looked at the lineup in a while. Arlene's Grocery sometimes has good bands. Whatever you do, do not go to any bars above 14th St. The good ones are few and far between. Cake Shop, on the Lower East Side, sometimes has good bands. Other venues worth checking out: Knitting Factory, Mercury Lounge, Zipper Factory. Also, if you're in New York, you have to have brunch at least once. The Essex's is good, fairly reasonable and includes 3 drinks (but really they're kind of unlimited because they forget how many they gave you). The Brooklyn Brewery tour is supposed to be fun, also: free beer. Coney Island is totally awful AND great and I highly recommend it. Top of the Rock is probably not as cool as you think it is. Central Park is fun. Natural History Museum is SUPER FUN (if you are as huge a nerd as I am). Staten Island ferry is free, and you can look at the water.