NY: A Little Give and Take

[mithila]

People, if all goes well, and the stars shine sweetly on me, I'll be in New York for a whole month starting the 7th of November. Well, not NY itself, but New Jersey, where my husband and I will be staying, and we'll commute to NY from there, he to work, and me to loaf.

Everyone tells me this is an awful time to visit NY, but I don't care, chances like this aren't going to come my way often.

I've planned on wandering in all the museums until they turn me out, and of course gawping at Lady Liberty, and going up the Empire State building. I think I can get all the info I need about these places from travel guides.

What I want to know from anybody who lives there, is where I can shop for art material. Will there be any discount shopping possible in November?

Also, a friend's friend rattled me recently saying that I better be trendy or forget about a NY experience. Does this mean that I have to dress formally if I want to go to Broadway? In India, you dress up to go to a concert or play, but they let you in even if you are in jeans and a t-shirt.

My third question is about food. If I can only have a couple of restaurant dinners, which are the places I must go to? Is there any food that's special to NY? Both my husband and I eat meat, and are willing to try out anything once. And drink, is there something that we just shouldn't miss?

Here's my last question. In the weekends, we will be able to drive out and see the surrounding country. Any suggestions? I'm almost in tears when I think of having missed Fall, but would there be some place you know of where the trees are still copper and gold?

Maybe I could even meet some artists from WetCanvas?

Please PM me if we know each other through earlier exchanges on here.

Looking forward to any information you can give me.

Thanks.