Shopping and eating near Times Square

My wife, 14 year old daughter and I will be coming to NYC this weekend. We are staying at the Times Square Doubletree, where would some good places to eat be and please no chains we would like authentic local places (italian, Irish pub, seafood?). Also the girls are very anxious to go shopping where are the best boutiques (bargains please I%26#39;m on a budget) and finally if you only have time for one museum the Met or the Natural history? OH and any chance for getting Spamalot tickets for Saturday they appear to be all sold out?? THANKS

Shopping and eating near Times Square

BlueChili on West 51st between Eighth and Broadway - Pan-Asian and sushi

Shopping and eating near Times Square

We ate a late lunch at O%26#39;Lunneys Irish Pub in Times Square at 151 W 46th St. It was really very nice, I had a steak sandwich but the menu was really good, staff pleasant and food excellent - so it might be worth a try.

Shopping - for bargins it has to be Century 21 but go early and be prepared for the crowds and disorganisation but bargins to be had.

Most seafood restaurants are expensive, especially in the midtown area. The best mid-priced seafooder is Redeye Grill, on 7th Ave. at 56th St., and next door to that (same owner!) is the wonderful mid-priced Italian (look for the giant nose out front) Trattoria dell%26#39;Arte.

Though it%26#39;s touristy, lunch at the Rock Center Cafe is lots of fun because it overlooks the skating rink. Not too expensive. Or, explore the Concourse level at Rockefeller Center (you can enter any of the buildings and go downstairs, or take the little elevators next to the skating rink.... they%26#39;re marked with the restaurant%26#39;s name -- Rock Center Cafe or Sea Grill -- but they just let you down one floor in the Concourse level). Anyway, there are lots of take-out places there and plenty of seating.

If you%26#39;ve only got time for one museum, stay longer! Your daughter might like the Planetarium and the dinosaurs at the Museum of Natural History, but I can%26#39;t imagine visiting New York and not seeing the Met and MoMA.

For midtown shopping, your daughter will love H%26amp;M. It%26#39;s diagonally across from St. Patrick%26#39;s Cathedral. There%26#39;s also a Strawberry%26#39;s on W. 49th St. between 6th-7th Avenues that%26#39;s got lots of trendy stuff for teens. Both are very inexpensive. Or go down to Chelsea. On 6th Ave. at 19th St. is a TJ Maxx upstairs and Filene%26#39;s Basement downstairs. Across the street is the fabulous Old Navy.

Can%26#39;t help with Spamalot tickets unless you want to go through a broker and pay double!

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