Trip to NYC, What to do

Another vote for Village Vanguard.

I've been there (heard Lou Donaldson there) and can envision it like Frogman says when listening to Coltrane Live at the VV.

The NYC audio shops are no places for tire-kickers. Have a steak at Peter Lugers, get some Chinese food at 69 Bayard Street in Chinatown, have lunch or dinner at Gotham Bar and Grill and then go home. There's nothing much else of value here. IMO.

Ditto Village Voice. Hope you're staying long enough just to do what's below 14th Street. Go to Lyric and Singer and tell them you have a limited budget of around $75k because of the construction you're doing on your listening room. They will be real nice to you...

If you can swing it visit Smalls at 183 W 10th St.

Smoke. Intimate jazz club on Broadway and 106th street.