Going to NYC this weekend for one day...what to do?
 

I have to fly out to NYC (first time I'll be going to NY) for a day for business. I'm flying out on Cathay Pacific, arriving 7am in NY and leaving the same day at 11pm. My meeting should be an hour or so and it's in mid town Manhattan so what I can do for the remaining time? How far is JFK from mid-town? Where's the main shopping area? What sights and sounds are nearby?

jfk is 30 min into mid town i think

What are you interested in doing?

If it were me... I'd start at Ground Zero.. hit up Century21 while you're there (high-end Winners.. though like Winners it's hit or miss if you only go in once)... go up to Canal street (Chinatown) and briefly watch people haggle for fakes and buy one for my aunt who loves fakes. From there I'd metro up to 5th and Rockefeller to check out the area.. Saks etc. Go to Timesquare (42nd and Broadway) and walk up and down to see it in full, then down to 34th & 7th.. where Macys / Penn Station / MSG is then towards 34th and 5th to walk by the Empire State building... metro to Grand Central.. walk down to the UN building, do a little tour if its not too busy... go have dinner at Les Halles, grab a drink at a near by lounge or rooftop bar and then call it an evening and head back to the airport for 9pm.