Try the Hudson on 58th st and the Mayflower on Central Park West. We've been staying at the Hudson since the Empire closed, and it's ok. Our last room at the Hudson was $159+tax. Summer is low season for these hotels, so prices may be a lot lower. There's a row of hotels on Central Park South, but that's a long walk from Lincoln Ctr in the rain, and the prices are higher.

If money means nothing to you, there's always the Trump Tower at columbus circle and the Mandarin at the Time-Warner Center.