This hub is in response to a question about what can be done if you have 24 hours to spend in New York City. That's a good question. I've never quite thought about it like that, since there's so much to see and do. But for whatever its worth, here's one way you can spend 24 hours in New York City.

Photo by Thiago Hirai via Flickr. First things first. I assume you won't be needing a hotel, but if you do, fine one preferably in the vicinity of Times Square, if not in Times Square. One night in a Times Square hotel will set you back anywhere between $200 to $300. You shouldn't be paying more than that, and if you 'have' to pay less, then you'll probably end quite some distance from Times Square.

St. Patrick's Cathedral: If you're religious, you could say that it would be a good way to start the day. Even if you aren't particularly fond of Churches, let me tell you, this is one Church you really don't want to miss, especially if you're in NYC on a sight seeing trip. It's a historical landmark structure, with exquisitely beautiful Gothic architecture, and the whole package, when you see it from the inside, becomes even more awesome, with all the stained glass and the massive organ and the cavernous rows of pews. I tell you true, there's no better way to start 24 hours' worth of sightseeing in NYC than with a tour of St. Patrick's Cathedral. Info: 460 Madison Ave (50th & 51st) New York NY; (212) 753-2261; www.saintpatrickscathedral.org

Breakfast at Norma's: Next up on the list is breakfast at Norma's in the lobby of Le Parker Meridien, where its breakfast time all day long. With comfortable leather chairs and silver edged tables and the ornate decor, its a slightly upscale place than I'm usually used to, but the breakfast menu and the service is worth the price. Try the Blueberry Pancakes or Norma's Eggs Benedict (both $16). Info: 118 West 57th Street New York NY 10019; (212) 708-7460; www.normasnyc.com

Rockefeller Center: From Norma's, head down Ave of the Americas towards Times Square, and you'll be passing the Rockefeller Center on the way, so might as well take a break and snap a few pictures of the magnificient buildings. The GE Building at the Rockefeller Center also has a observation deck - Top of the Rock - which has a sweeping view of the area surrounding Central Park and the Emipre State Building. You can also take a tour of the NBC Studios, and see the Ice Skating Rink. Info: Ave of the Americas 48th to 51st Streets New York NY; www.rockefellercenter.com

Times Square: For someone who's totally new to the Big Apple, Times Square will probably be one of the few names which sound familiar. But with this familiarity comes a few downsides. Times Square, at any given time of the day or night, is a crush of shoppers, tourists and people who just come to see what all the fuss is about, so the whole area has become one giant tourist trap, with overpriced restaurants and shops.

The theaters are still good, and there still are a few enjoyable things you can do, like taking a picture of yourself with the famed Naked Cowboy. Unless you're here for the New Year celebration, though, I personally find having to struggle through the crowd a bit too effort without any reward, so you really should go through everything you want to see here very fast, and find refuge somewhere nearby, like the New York Public Libary at 455 5th Ave.

Greenwich Village: En route to Greenwich and Bleecker Street, you can stopover at the Madison Square garden, Union Square and then again for a short walk through the Meat Packing District, which, name notwithstanding, is one of the most trendy areas in NYC, with a dazzling vibe and lots of boutiques and shops and clubs and restaurants. But there's nothing like the food shops and the quaint diners on Bleecker Street. You'll find shops with specialty foods and little family owned Italian diners which serve unbelieveable pizzas. An hour or so walking through Greenwich Village is an hour well spent. Eat cannoli at Rocco's Pastry Shop (243 Bleecker St) and have your fill of pizzas at Bleecker Street Pizza (69 Seventh Avenue).

Cruise: Post lunch, you'll probably be feeling a bit drowsy and tired, but this is no time to rest. But...let's work out a compromise, and I'll put you on a cruise that'll take you on a tour around the Island, passing by a lot of famous landmarks. That'll not only give your feet and body a rest, but also give you a view of New York which you just can't get by hopping around in cabs and on the subway.

There's a number of cruise operators, and I can't really recommend one over the other, and each of them has their own sepearate route. I'll take Sail-NYC.com as an example, though, just so you get an idea of what you can see on one of these cruises. They offer a 1 and 1/2 hour cruise on luxury yacht which includes the Statue of Liberty, Governor's Island and Ellis Island, Battery park, South Street Seaport and the Financial District, parts of Brooklyn, Queens and the City skyline, Williamsburg, Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges of the East River.

Photo by Eddie~S via Flickr.

Fifth Avenue: Back from the cruise, and it's time to indulge and splurge. Head back to where we started from - Fifth Avenue - with the world's finest shopping to lift your spirits, and then, since your body will feel a wee bit left behind, let's take you to the top of the world - The Observatory on the 86th Floor of the Empire State Building.

At this point, I must warn you again that Fifth Avenue shopping is not recommended if you're a shopaholic, because most of the shops are very upscale, and you could end up spending a big chuck of your retirement fund. That said, nothing to stop you from window shopping, so just look busy and don't stop to stare. That's a dead giveaway that you're a pesky tourist. There's Bergdorf Goodman, Saks, The Disney Store, Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Tiffany & Co, and a host of other shops, all of which you couldn't possibly visit, but you sure can try. You might also want to visit the Apple Store (767 Fifth Ave). I also suggest that you take a tour of the Plaza Hotel, since you're in the area. Their Palm Court restaurant is a historic place, and they serve a great afternoon tea.

Before you head for the Empire State Building, you might also want to stop over at Central Park, if you haven't done so earlier in your day out in New York. There's too much to see and do, but just being in the middle of all that lush greenery and the impromptu shows and events being organized there is a pleasure.

At the Empire State Building, in addition to the Observatory, there's a variety of shops, diners and cafes, plus a virtual movie theater and exhibitions in teh lobby.

Photo by pingnews.com via Flickr. That just about wraps it up. There's still the late night entertainment (head back to the Meat Packing District), show (Broadway tickets - Can't help- you much there since you'll have to decide which shows you like) and dinner - Which is an altogether different subject, which would need a seperate hub to decide which is the best restaurant in New York City for dinner. For now, just find one near whatever you're going to be doing before and after dinner.

Lastly, there's still a gaggle of museums and art galleries that you haven't seen, and I haven't mentioned. Fact is, I find museums boring. Doesn't mean you should too. There's a lot of very good museums sprinkled across the Big Apple, starting with the MET, which would need 24 hours all by itself. Heck, NYC also has a Museum of Sex (233 5th Ave), so you won't be short of options if you decide to go on a Museum tour instead.

One thing i'd like to add is that the New York you see in these pictures is not the real New York City. This is just what you find on the tourist brochures. To get to know the real stuff, you need to wear out some shoe leather, and hit the streets. That's going to take considerably more time than 24 hours, and you need to walk the streets and talk to people and go to Harlem and eat soul food and eat Burgers at the Corner Bistro (331 W 4th St ) and pastrami sandwiches at Katz's Deli (205 E. Houston St). That's the real NYC, and if it were up to me, I'd take you on a foodie tour of New York City. Which you can do, actually - With Famous Fat Dave and his five borough eating tour.