Jayboard, you should definitely be in Chinatown, taking in a good meal, and just being in it. I like to walk around, and whatever happens, happens. You will find what appeals to you.
There are also huge Chinese communities in Brooklyn and Flushing, so those are also options. But, for now, try lower Manhattan.
As an aside, the Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy each September is also a wonderful thing to attend. The weather is normally great, and it spills way into Chinatown, giving you a good opportunity to take your wife and son during a fantastic time of the year. You can't beat the food, and it's fun to shop also.
By the way, where are you coming from? I'm a Philadelphian, not a New Yorker, but can suggest good ways to get into they city painlessly, depending on where you are located.
