Christopher Kompanek - Moon New York City

CHRISTOPHER KOMPANEK

New York City goes by many names: the Big Apple, Gotham, and the City That Never Sleeps. For those who have yet to see it up close, the city exists in outsized, mythic proportions, inspiring big dreams and endless wonder. Its filled with art deco skyscrapers such as the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings, storied institutions like the New York Stock Exchange and Apollo Theater, and an endless and ever-changing array of restaurants, shops, and bars and clubs that stay open until 4am and beyond.

Noise aboundsthe siren call of the city is usually an ambulance stuck in gridlock traffic. People walk and talk quickly and are prone to rapid replies that can sound curt to the untrained ear. Contrary to our reputation, though, New Yorkers arent rude: We just always have someplace to be.

Perhaps above all, this is a city of the arts. Famous masterpieces hang at The Met and MoMA, while new masterpieces are waiting to be discovered in neighborhood galleries. The gleaming theaters of the Great White Way now more than ever represent the diversity and cutting edge of the nation, while hundreds of black-box spaces in nondescript buildings provide a place for innovative playwrights to hone their craft.

Every time you think you have this complex city pinned down, it shows you another side. Look beyond the famed icons; theres always something new to discover. You may find surprising pockets of natural solitude in Brooklyns Prospect Park, or learn that the building youre standing before was the childhood home of Teddy Roosevelt or the final drinking spot of Dylan Thomas. The citys myriad stories spill out onto the streets and into the creative imaginations of the individuals who make it come alive. The real way to fit in here is to go your own way.

Statue of Liberty

Times Square

The High Line

Radio City Music Hall

New York Public Library Main Branch

Atlas at Rockefeller Center

Hang Out on

Eat All the Food: With the , and much, much more, New York is foodie heaven.

Check Out the Scene: Wander the boroughs neighborhoods and discover a city unto itself, a hotbed for creative invention teeming with indie live music venues, brewpubs and bars, art spaces, shops, and restaurants galore.

Wander Amid World-Class Art: Masterpieces born in ancient and modern times can be found at the .

Experience Americas Immigrant History: tells their stories.

Seek Out Skyline Views: View the cityscape from famous vantage points like the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center, as well as lesser-known perches like .

Get Lost in : The trees, lakes, and meandering paths will make you forget the slabs of concrete that surround you.

: Broadway musicals receive all the attention, but amazing theater can be found off the Great White Way and in almost every neighborhood in the city.

Walk the : Strolling from Manhattan to Brooklyn over this striking bridge is a classic city experience.

Admire the : The enduring icon represents humanitys greatest ideals.

THE BEST OF NEW YORK CITY

There will always be whole new worlds to explore in New Yorkeven for longtime localsbut even in a short amount of time you can get a good taste of what makes it amazing. One of the citys greatest pleasures is its walkability, and these itineraries have been designed with this in mind. You wont be far from public transit options if you get tired; where particularly helpful, this information is included.

DAY 1: UPPER WEST SIDE AND UPPER EAST SIDE

To the uninitiated, New York can be overwhelming in its vast density. To ease into your New York experience, begin your tour of the city in these quieter residential neighborhoods while checking a few big items off your list.

Start with breakfast on the Upper West Side at a classic Jewish deli, Barney Greengrass,