Looking for a delicious way to explore the Lower East Side? You might want to try Cityfood's Lower East Side Artisan Food Highlights Tour. In addition to being licensed tour guides, all of Cityfood's tour guides have professional culinary training or experience, which makes taking a tasting tour with them both informative and delicious.

Review: Cityfood's Lower East Side Artisan Food Highlights Tour
Guide: Lower East Side Neighborhood Guide
Shopping: Best Stores in NYC for Foodies

_{Photo of The Doughnut Plant © Dan Cross, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

We've just updated the list of participating New York City restaurants to reflect the changes for Summer 2009. This summer, New York City Restaurant Week will run for an unprecidented three weeks from July 12-31, 2009 (excluding Saturdays). Many restaurants will be offering $24.07 lunches and $35 dinners on Sundays, as well as Monday through Friday.

For another opportunity to save during New York City Restaurant Week, American Express cardholders can register their cards online and get a $15 credit after dining at three participating restaurants during New York City Restaurant Week.

Lucy's Legacy: The Hidden Treasures of Ethiopia offers New Yorkers and visitors to New York the unique opportunity to see the 3.18 million-year old remains of Lucy, the oldest and most complete adult human ancestor fully retrieved from African soil. Organized by The Houston Museum of Natural Science, the New York exhibition also includes the 47 million-year old fossil Ida, (officially called Darwinius masillae) which reveals when the primate adaptations of the opposable thumb and big toe had just evolved. In addition to these two famous fossils, the exhibit introduces visitors to the five million-year history of Ethiopia, as well as the evolution of the human species through artifacts, displays and videos, but getting to see these two famous fossils is truly the highlight of the exhibition.

Lucy's Legacy: The Hidden Treasures of Ethiopia

• Where: Discovery Times Square Exposition™
• Address: 226 W. 44th Street (7th/8th Aves.)
• When: now through October 25, 2009
• Cost: Adults $19.50, Seniors (65+) $18.50, Children (4-12) $17.50, Children under 4 FREE

Times Square Essentials:
Visitors Guide: Times Square Visitors Guide
Map: Times Square Map
Where To Eat: Times Square Recommended Restaurants
Photos: Times Square Photos

_{Photo of Lucy's Legacy exhibition courtesy of the Houston Museum of Natural Science}

This year, Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Display will take place in the Hudson River for the first time since 2000 to commemorate the 400th Anniversary of Henry Hudson's exploration of the Hudson River. Of course, this means that the best places for viewing the fireworks display will be along Manhattan's West Side below 59th Street. There are also walking tours, cruises, and concerts happening on July 4th, so you have many options for deciding how to celebrate the Fourth of July in New York City!

Event Guide: Fourth of July in New York City
New York City Monthly Guide: July in New York City

_{Photo of Fireworks and Statue of Liberty © Marty Honig / Getty Images, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

New York City hotel rates are the lowest they've been in over six years. While this might not be great news for New York City hoteliers, it's a great time for visitors to New York City to score a great deal on a hotel room in New York City. Check out this great hotel deals roundup from NewYorkology which features dozens of New York City hotel rooms available for under $200 this summer.

For some more ideas, check out our updated our New York City Hotel Deal Sheet.

With all the news about the Chrysler bankruptcy, you might not think about visiting New York City's Chrysler Building, but you should! The Chrysler Building is a beautiful example of Art deco architecture, and it's free to visit the building's beautiful marble lobby with its impressive Edward Trumbull ceiling mural and gorgeous elevator bays.

Visitors Guide: Chrysler Building Visitors Guide
Photos: Chrysler Building Photos
More: New York City's Best Free Attractions and Landmarks

_{Photo of Chrysler Building © Heather Cross, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

New York City's Summer Restaurant Week will run for three weeks this July, from July 12-31, 2009. This is the longest official New York City Restaurant Week ever, giving you even more time to enjoy great deals on prix-fixe meals around New York City. Updated lists of participating restaurants and Restaurant Week reservations will be available beginning June 30, 2009.

More New York City Restaurant Week Information:

• New York City Restaurant Week 101
• What Is New York City Restaurant Week?
• Suggested Restaurants for New York City Restaurant Week
• Tips for Enjoying Restaurant Week

The annual Puerto Rican Day Parade will be held on Sunday, June 14, 2009. Over 80,000 marchers and more than 2 million spectators make the Puerto Rican Day Parade one of New York City's most exciting parades!

_{Photo from the Puerto Rican Day Parade © Stephen Chernin/Getty Images}

American Theatre Wing's 63rd Annual Tony Awards^® were given out on Sunday, June 7, 2009 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Highlights of the 2009 Tony Award^® winners include:

• Best Play: God of Carnage by author Yasmina Reza
• Best Musical: Billy Elliot, The Musical
• Best Revival of a Play: The Norman Conquests
• Best Revival of a Musical: Hair
• Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play: Geoffrey Rush in Exit the King
• Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play: Marcia Gay Harden in God of Carnage
• Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical: David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish in Billy Elliot, The Musical
• Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical: Alice Ripley in Next to Normal

You can read the complete list of 2009 Tony Award^® winners on their website.

Previously: Billy Elliot on Broadway, Hair Opens on Broadway

New York City is a very popular setting for films, making it a great destination for movie lovers who want to see the real-life locations featured in a wide variety of movies. Budget Travel Magazine has put together a great article The Cinematic Side of NYC outlining do-it-yourself half-day itineraries for fans of "The Devil Wears Prada," "You've Got Mail," "West Side Story," "The Godfather," and "Working Girl."

If you'd like someone to show you the sites of some movies filmed in New York City, consider checking out On Location's Central Park Movie Sites Walking Tour or New York TV and Movie Sites Bus Tour.

Pictures: Central Park Movie Sites Walking Tour
Pictures: New York TV and Movie Sites Bus Tour

_{Photo of Plaza Hotel © Heather Cross, licensed to About.com, Inc.}