Ginger Adams Otis - Lonely Planet New York City (City Travel Guide)

Although not a native daughter, Ginger is proud to call New York City home. A country girl from New Hampshire, she starting living in the city fast lane in the late 1990s. Ginger now considers herself a New Yorker except during baseball season, when she reverts to being a die-hard member of the Red Sox nation. Gingers done extensive reporting for radio outlets, newspapers and magazines in Central and South America, and worked on Lonely Planet guides in Brazil, South America, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. When not working for Lonely Planet shes an intrepid beat reporter for one of New Yorks daily newspapers. Ginger was the coordinating author for this book and wrote the Sleeping and Day Trips & Excursions chapters.

A New Jersey native, Beth spent her teenage years yearning to someday live on the other side of the river. She began living the dream in 1993, right after college, and has been a New Yorker ever since. Shes currently a staff editor at Time Out New York magazine, and has written about travel, entertainment, gay culture and parenting for publications including the New York Times, Time Out New York Kids and Out. Her memoir, Ten Minutes From Home, was recently published by Random House. For Lonely Planet, Beth contributed to the previous three editions of New York City as well as to Miami & the Keys, Mexico and USA. Beth wrote this editions Introducing NYC, Getting Started, Background, Neighborhoods (Manhattan), Eating (Manhattan), The Arts, Gay & Lesbian NYC and Directory chapters.

A Hoosier by birth, Regis grew up in a sleepy town where he dreamed of big-city intrigue and small, expensive apartments. He settled in New York, which had all that and more, in 2001. Based in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, Regis is a full-time travel writer and has contributed to more than two dozen Lonely Planet titles. For this edition, Regis wrote the Shopping, Drinking & Nightlife, Sports & Activities, Transportation, NYC Renaissance and The City of Arts chapters and cowrote the Neighborhoods and Eating chapters.

New York will lead, and you must follow. Still, it cant hurt to be armed with a well-mapped plan, as the head-spinning number of options in this vibrant city will pull you in all directions. Its a dream destination, after all, and youll want to know you experienced as much as possible. So budget your time knowing that everything will take about twice as much time as youd figured and you wont be sorry.

New York shines in all seasons. Spring and fall, with their mild temperatures and disarmingly beautiful blossoms and foliage, are optimal times for strolling, which youll do a lot of here. Summer brings stifling heat and sizzling pavements but other rewards aplenty, from outdoor concerts and festivals to crowd-free weekends, reduced hotel rates and perfect opportunities for side trips to the seashore. Finally, while winter can be chilly, its nothing that cant be cured by lingering in cozy museums and cafes or by the fact that hotel rates tend to drop after the fun and frenzied holidays, when the crowds thin out. Plus, experiencing a New York City snowstorm, when noise gets muffled and jaded city folk act like wide-eyed kids, is quite a heartwarming treat.

It seems as though theres always some sort of celebration going on here. National holidays, religious observances and just plain ol weekends prompt parades, parties or street fairs, with highlights such as the fireworks on July Fourth and the street parades for Halloween (October), Thanksgiving (November) and Gay Pride (June).

Federal holidays such as Labor Day, Christmas and Thanksgiving may affect business hours and transit schedules. While they wont affect your ability to eat out, explore or be entertained, they could put a crimp in your plans to visit the post office or bank. Check with your hotel concierge (or local host) before setting out.

212-831-7272; www.elmuseo.org

Every year in the first week of January, the streets of Spanish Harlem are filled with parading schoolchildren, donkeys and sheep, celebrating Christmas in the tradition of many Latin American and Caribbean countries. Check the website for route details.

212-484-1222; www.nycvisit.com

One of two official Restaurant Weeks (the other is in July), this marks a wonderful opportunity to try the expensive, high-profile restaurant of your dreams nearly 200 participating eateries offer three-course lunches for $20 or so and three-course dinners for $30.

www.explorechinatown.com

One of the biggest Chinese New Year celebrations in the country, this display of fireworks and dancing dragons draws mobs of thrill-seekers into the streets of Chinatown. The date of Chinese New Year fluctuates from year to year, sometimes falling in late January but often in early February.

www.mbfashionweek.com/newyork

The infamous Bryant Park fashion shows are sadly not open to the public. But whether youre invited or not, being in the city this week when the couture world descends upon Manhattan to thrill over new looks could provide a vicarious thrill, especially if you can find the after-parties. A second fashion week is held in September.

www.westminsterkennelclub.org

Who will be Best in Show? Catch the oft-mocked parade of pure breeds at this dead-serious canine showcase, held annually at .

718-721-2780; www.stpatsforall.com

Held early in the month in Sunnyside, Queens, this festive community affair is an inclusive answer to the mainstream St Patricks Day Parade (below), which bans gay groups from marching.

718-793-1600

A massive audience, rowdy and wobbly from cups of green beer, lines Fifth Ave on March 17 for this popular parade of bagpipe blowers, sparkly floats and clusters of Irish-lovin politicians.

www.saintpatrickscathedral.org