So i found out what i'm going to do.

I just got the Hyatt Regency on the Hudson through Hotwire.
http://jerseycity.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp

Im going on the 11/16 and coming back the next day.

The plans are, get to NY early on friday and catch the train to NY to do some sight seeing. Once we do the sight seeing we're gonna go back to the room and change and either meet my friends in manhattan or have them pick us up from the hotel, whichever is easier for them.

Also might take a walk through Central Park, see what the humbug is all about.

Saturday i got us tickets to go see hairspray. I got mezzanine seats in the center row discounted for 65 bucks a piece. Then after either having dinner there we'd drive home

I think we're going to end up just going to the empire state building and the statue of liberty and traverse time square a bit.