Lunchmaster,
Not much for aviation shops in NYC, with the exception of a few smaller shops on the outskirts of town. The Intrepid museum is a must-see. I personally fly out of Republic (KFRG) on Long Island, and have flown around Manhattan a few times. It's a beautiful flight and highly recommended, especially around sunset. What kind of plane were you looking for, if you were going to rent and take along a local/instructor?