Give us a little more on your timeline- What time does the event start, and what time are you getting on line? For something like that, you really cannot get in line too early- stuff like that is always mobbed.

NBC Headquarters is in 30 Rockefeller Plaza (which is why the program is called "30 Rock"). Are you coming from Penn Station?

There is lots and lots of stuff to do in that area. What sorts of things do you like?

Also, does Heroes get significantly better after the pilot? It didn't convince me to watch a second episode although many people seem to like it.

Don't eat street meat.

Police presence doesn't equal police giving a shit.

Empty cars in a packed subway are filled with false hope: they either smell like tramp asshole, are hot as an oven, or both.

NY sidewalks are like streets elsewhere; check your rear-view before you stop or turn.

Getting from Penn Station to Rockefeller Plaza? Just walk - it's from 34th to 49th St - that's about 15 minutes assuming a crowded sidewalk.

If you need to stop on the sidewalk, then walk over to the side.

The NBC headquarters tour was pretty cool, although TheDude and I went early in the morning, and we had two tourguides all to ourselves. It was a bit awkward - "So! do you two like Carson Daly? His show is filmed right here!" We are huge Conan O'Brien fans, so seeing his stage was pretty cool.

Almost everywhere in Manhattan is 20 minutes away on foot or by subway, so figure out how much time you have and figure out what you want to do. Just ignore the dealers in Washington Square Park. The best thing I ever bought in NY was a street map with labeles subway stations, combined with a subway map.

Give us a little more on your timeline- What time does the event start, and what time are you getting on line? For something like that, you really cannot get in line too early- stuff like that is always mobbed.

Apparently NBC HQ opens at 8:30 (or so I've been told). I've been told that we are leaving "early," so I guess we haven't really decided yet (oy). My fear is that we'll be in the line all day and have no time to do anything. :(

NBC Headquarters is in 30 Rockefeller Plaza (which is why the program is called "30 Rock"). Are you coming from Penn Station?

There is lots and lots of stuff to do in that area. What sorts of things do you like?

Also, does Heroes get significantly better after the pilot? It didn't convince me to watch a second episode although many people seem to like it.

Ah, 30 Rock! That makes sense now. My friend tells me we're arriving in Grand Central as we're taking a commuter line from CT.

I... like lots of things. Background info: I'm the kinda guy who takes forever to pick out what flavor of icecream he wants to eat. Going to Subway means making lots of hard decisions, like what kind of bread or cheese I want. I beanplate things. My friend says it may be easier to ask for just good places to get food, but I mean assuming we end up having time to hang out in NY I'd like to DO something. Just shoot things off from the top of your head, you really can't go wrong.

And I missed the first few weeks of episodes so I really couldn't tell you if it improves from the pilot. Although Saresh slowly loses his fake indian accent, which is sort of annoying but better in the long run.

Don't eat street meat.

I don't usually.

Police presence doesn't equal police giving a shit.

Same thing over here. :P

Empty cars in a packed subway are filled with false hope: they either smell like tramp asshole, are hot as an oven, or both.

Charming...

I checked google maps and Grand Central seems to be even closer to Rockefeller, so yay walking distance! As far as sidewalks go, yeah I learned that the first time I went. I tend to do that in Providence anyway, but more out of courtesy rather than as a means to keep from getting run over.

Hugh - Truer words have never been spoken.

Especially the subway comment and DAMN getting the smell of tramp ass out of your nostrils is impossible.

I've been told that we are leaving "early," so I guess we haven't really decided yet (oy). My fear is that we'll be in the line all day and have no time to do anything. :(

Hate to break it to you, but I don't think you'll have time to do anything but your event (what time does the signing start?). The line-up for events like this are generally hours and hours long, depending on who all is there (more stars, the bigger the line). You can either go early and be one of the first to leave, or go late and be one of the last to leave. Either way, I would doubt you'd have to time to do anything else if this was just a day trip.

Don't eat street meat.

WTF? New York is full of delicious street meat!

The halal carts have great food, and if you go with the "spicy sausage" instead of the "tiny flaccid hotdog" from the hotdog cart guys, you get some deliciousness as well. Extremely affordable deliciousness, I might add.

I broke my street meat rule at the taco stand in Astoria a few months ago, but the time before that, I bit into a piece of metal in my steamed pork bun, and the time before that, I got dysentery from a dodgy falafel. Naturally, most folks never have such problems, but do you really want to slice up the roof of your mouth or spend a couple weeks frothing down below like a cappucino maker with a blown gasket?

Nothing!? :(

I've not yet been able to find any hours for the signing itself.

Micah, Ando, and Matt Haughey (OMG SYLAR OMG) are going to be there. Motherfucker Sylar. Spocklar. Mattspocklar. I am souped.

Ok. So we probably won't have time to do much/anything. Then who wants to recommend a place to eat nearby? Because I mean, we'll obviously be eating at some point during the day, right?

Right?

Here's the info I found on the signing- looks like the signing itself it from 9-11 a.m., and the store itself opens at 6 a.m. I would get there *no later* than 6 a.m. to guarantee a spot for the signing, and even that might be pushing it (I'm really careful about stuff like this; I prefer to be incredibly early than a second too late!). But if you do get there ultra early, I think you would have time to do other stuff after!

And I'm with Hugh on street meat- I had some delicious meat on a stick in Astoria once. It was so juicy and tender and yummers. And that night, I had the WORST stomachache. I'll spare you the details.

You're a peach, TPS. 6AM from CT means we have to leave.... early. Thanks for the giant heads up.

Ok well I've got to finish getting ready and then we're driving to CT right after. So I still have NO IDEA WHAT WE'RE DOING TOMORROW haha but at least I know not to eat street meat. That is sound advice.

If anyone can think of a place where we might like to go or whatever feel free to text me or send me a message on twitter (they get forwarded to my cell). (or send me an email, maybe I'll check it later tonight). It'd be most appreciated.

Directions to 30 Rock from Grand Central:

Exit the building onto Lexington Avenue. This is where the main exits are. If you are facing the info booth on the main level, there are staircases to your left and right, and the Lex Ave. exits are straight ahead.

Turn right out the door and walk up Lexington Avenue to Fifth Avenue. To your left you will see the New York Public Library and a big park (Bryant Park).

Turn right onto Fifth Avenue, pass a bunch of fancy stores. Rockefeller Center is at 49th Street, on the left side of Fifth Ave in the direction you're walking. (Grand Central is at 42nd. It's not a long walk -- ten minutes.)

You'll go across the plaza. If you look down, there's a courtyard which is an ice rink in the summer.

The NBC Store entrance is on the left-hand side of the main building, near Dean and Deluca.

You can explore the "Concourse" underneath Rockefeller Center, which includes a lot of bad, overpriced food and a few crappy stores. In this concourse you will see the working stiffs of everyone from NBC, Time Inc. and the entire publishing world.

(You will only see menial people down in these parts. They are assistants and reporters, not big important editors or celebs of any sort.)

If you're feeling lazy, and I do mean lazy, you can take the subway. But it's a stupid subway with dumbass transfers, and you'd be better off walking.

I'd tell you about the secret passage to GCT, but that would take too long. If you feel like looking for it on your way back, it's on ... what? 48th and Park? 49th and Park?

There's a big Apple store around Rockefeller Center, not to mention FAO Schwarz and a bunch of other shopping.

I lived off of street meat for years when I was in NYC. Of course, that was 20-some-odd years ago when there was a dynamic mix of crack and filth to stimulate the immune system. Post-Disney-hygentrification has probably allowed the street meat toxins to flourish.

What I would do is pay someone to stand in line for me, drop acid, and go to Central Park.

/bad advice