i work in new york city , and i work a straight 8 hour work day. I would like to know if a lunch time is involved in this 8 hour work day and if i can leave the premises to get lunch.The people i work with say yes but i would like to know if there is a law for this and were to find it. Thanks for your help to all

Here is the meal period requirement for New York.
http://www.lni.wa.gov/WorkplaceRights/Wages/Minimum/default.asp

Unless there is a safety reason, or other reason the employer would not want you to leave the premises (such as the length of your meal period and the geographic location of your work site to eating establishments), they would be hard-pressed to find a legal justification for not allowing you to leave the work site for your meal period.