Frommer - Frommers EasyGuide to New York City 2014

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FROMMER MEDIA LLC

Copyright 2014 by FrommerMedia LLC, New York City, New York. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, FrommerMedia LLC at .

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ISBN 978-1-62887-042-8 (e-book)

Editorial Director: Pauline Frommer

Editor: Arthur Frommer

Production Editor: Donna Wright

Cartographer: Roberta Stockwell

Cover Design: Howard Grossman

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pauline Frommer is a lifelong New Yorker who enjoys nothing more than exploring her hometown. She is the author of several award-winning guidebooks to New York, as well as books on Las Vegas and Hawaii. Shes the Co-President of FrommerMedia, the co-host of the nationally syndicated radio show The Travel Show, and a syndicated newspaper columnist. Pauline would like to thank her patient and loving husband Lonnie, and dedicate this book to her daughters Veronica and Beatrix.

ABOUT THE FROMMER TRAVEL GUIDES

For most of the past 50 years, Frommers has been the leading series of travel guides in North America, accounting for as many as 24% of all guidebooks sold. I think I know why.

Though we hope our books are entertaining, we nevertheless deal with travel in a serious fashion. Our guidebooks have never looked on such journeys as a mere recreation, but as a far more important human function, a time of learning and introspection, an essential part of a civilized life. We stress the culture, lifestyle, history and beliefs of the destinations we cover, and urge our readers to seek out people and new ideas as the chief rewards of travel.

We have never shied from controversy. We have, from the beginning, encouraged our authors to be intensely judgmental, criticalboth pro and conin their comments, and wholly independent. Our only clients are our readers, and we have triggered the ire of countless prominent sorts, from a tourist newspaper we called practically worthless (it unsuccessfully sued us) to the many rip-offs weve condemned.

And because we believe that travel should be available to everyone regardless of their incomes, we have always been cost-conscious at every level of expenditure. Though we have broadened our recommendations beyond the budget category, we insist that every lodging we include be sensibly priced. We use every form of media to assist our readers, and are particularly proud of our feisty daily website, the award-winning Frommers.com.

I have high hopes for the future of Frommers. May these guidebooks, in all the years ahead, continue to reflect the joy of travel and the freedom that travel represents. May they always pursue a cost-conscious path, so that people of all incomes can enjoy the rewards of travel. And may they create, for both the traveler and the persons among whom we travel, a community of friends, where all human beings live in harmony and peace.

Arthur Frommer

T here is simply no place in the United States as brimming with opportunities as New York City. Those of us who live here open our doors to incredible options each and every day: The chance to experience the best and newest in the worlds of art, theater, dance, and music; the ability to feast on expertly prepared foods from all over the world; the belief that we can make our voices heard on political issues, in this news media capital of the nation; and the opportunity to meet todays movers and shakers. The ambitious come here because they know that if they want to achieve a certain level of prominence in their careers or in the eyes of the world, New York is the place to do it (are you humming If I can make it there, Ill make it anywhere, right now?).

Theres a factual basis to this New Yorkers pride. Because of the density and diversity of our population; our long history as a center of commerce and ideas; our access to the United Nations, Wall Street, and the opinion makers of Madison Avenue; and endless other resources, theres simply more here than in other places. And if that claim seems extreme, well, youll just have to regard boastfulness as another unavoidable characteristic of the Big Apple. What would New Yorkers be without our big mouths?

In visiting New York, you, too, are opening yourself up to a world of wonderful opportunities. In fact, thats what can make New York so intimidating to visitors: There are just so many darn choices. In this chapter, Ive sorted through a books worth of options, selecting some favorites to help you hit the citys highlights.

MOST unforgettable NEW YORK CITY EXPERIENCES

Seeing the City from On High: And it doesnt really matter if you do so from the seen from the sidewalk). Try and get somewhere high early in your trip as theres no better way to orient yourself.

Walking the Brooklyn Bridge: The bridge, too, offers glorious views of the city. But thats not the only reason you stroll here: walking the span allows you to see this marvel of engineering up close. (It was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it was build in 1883.) And it gives you an excuse to stop by Jacques Torres scrumptious ice cream store in Brooklyn for a post-walk treat..

Going to a splashy, big Broadway musical: When theyre done rightand theyre not alwaysthere are few experiences as life affirming (no, truly!) as seeing ridiculously talented people sing and dance their hearts out in a show that makes you laugh, cry, and think about your own life story..