if you can , take a stroll through Central Park ...especially on a nice fall /cold day... its quite nice. Also check out St. Patricks Cathedral, its a beautiful structure. As far as parks go. Good luck finding somethin that will be open this time of year. You can alway go check out Coney Island, its a great place to take photos!
Dont let people who arent from NY give you the wrong idea about us..they just dont know how to deal with the movement of the city. sucks for them. Just go with the flow.