welcome aboard,
best LFS i don't know of any in NY from NJ
I would start with a min of 55 it will offer you good stability with the water parameters but by all means get bigger if u can, your best bet will be going with a 4" DSB of live sand and a min of 1 lb of live rock per gallon of tank size this should get you started rember you will have to let your tank cycle before adding any fish approx 4 weeks the best thing you can do is go to your local book store and get a couple of good books pref ones that have only been in print 1 or 2 years most flip through them and if they talk about live rock then you know it is atleast current with modern techniques of filters
this is just to get you started i am sure you will get alot more responses just keep asking questions 1,2 or 10 a day until you understand what your doing before you do it good luck and welcome aboard