Frommers ShortCuts - New York City Shopping

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ISBN 9781118184554 (ebk); ISBN 9781118184547 (ebk); ISBN 9781118184561 (ebk)

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About the Authors

Brian Silverman (Senior Writer, Best of New York City, Where to Stay, Where to Dine chapters) is a freelance writer whose work has been published in Saveur, The New Yorker, Caribbean Travel & Life, Islands, and Four Seasons. Among the many topics he writes about are food, travel, sports, and music. He is the author of numerous books including Going, Going, Gone: History, Lore, and Mystique of the Home Run, and the Twentieth Century Treasury of Sports. He is also the author of the blog Fried Neck Bones... and Some Home Fries at www.friedneckbones.wordpress.com. For Frommers, he has written Complete, Portable, and Budget Guides to New York City, as well as New York City for Dummies. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.

Richard Goodman (Best of New York City, New York City in Depth, Planning Your Trip, Neighborhoods and Suggested Itineraries, and Exploring New York) has lived in New York City for 35 years. He is the author of A New York Memoir, which chronicles those years. His book, The Bicycle Diaries: One New Yorker's Journey Through September 11th, was published in 2011 in a fine press edition. He is also the author of French Dirt: The Story of a Garden in the South of France and The Soul of Creative Writing. He teaches creative nonfiction at Spalding University's MFA in Writing Program.

Kelsy Chauvin (Best of New York, Shopping, After Dark chapters) is a writer, photographer, and filmmaker. Her very first trip abroad was to Uzbekistan at age 15, a journey that sparked a lifelong thirst for travel. Her writing and photography have been published in magazines, online, and in various Frommers publications. She has called Brooklyn home for 10 years. Anywhere is walking distance, if youve got the time. Steven Wright

Frommers Star Ratings, Icons & Abbreviations

Every hotel, restaurant, and attraction listing in this guide has been ranked for quality, value, service, amenities, and special features using a star-rating system. In country, state, and regional guides, we also rate towns and regions to help you narrow down your choices and budget your time accordingly. Hotels and restaurants are rated on a scale of zero (recommended) to three stars (exceptional). Attractions, shopping, nightlife, towns, and regions are rated according to the following scale: zero stars (recommended), one star (highly recommended), two stars (very highly recommended), and three stars (must-see).

In addition to the star-rating system, we also use seven feature icons that point you to the great deals, in-the-know advice, and unique experiences that separate travelers from tourists. Throughout the book, look for:

Special finds those places only insiders know about

Fun facts details that make travelers more informed and their trips more fun

Kids Best bets for kids and advice for the whole family

Special moments those experiences that memories are made of

Overrated Places or experiences not worth your time or money

Insider tips great ways to save time and money

Great values where to get the best deals

The following abbreviations are used for credit cards:

AE American Express DISC Discover V Visa

DC Diners Club MC MasterCard

The Best of the Big Apple

Iconic, hip, trendsetting, and ever-changing, New York City lives up to its superlatives. Underneath the Big Apples jagged skyscraper skyline, museums dazzle with the latest collections, celebrity chefs unveil their newest creations, and Broadway continues to stage elaborate, glittering shows. Downtown, fashionistas linger on the cobblestone streets of the Meatpacking District, while artists paint urban portraits in Union Square. Beyond the bustle, though, is a diverse population, taking the city in stride and friendlier than you were led to believe.

THINGS TO DO When youre planning your activities, think on your feet. Do what New Yorkers do: walk. Wander the angled tree-lined streets of Greenwich Village or the avenues of million-dollar townhouses on the Upper East Side. Art lovers should not miss the Warhols and Pollocks at MoMA, or the comprehensive and essential Metropolitan Museum of Art. Outdoors, mingle with joggers and skaters in Central Park or smell the blooming flowers at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Head to Battery Park for sunset views over the Hudson River, or watch the world below from the top of the Empire State Building.

SHOPPING And make sure your walking includes window-shopping. Couture designer shops line Madison Avenue, while the major department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdales anchor Fifth Avenue in Midtown. Cutting-edge designers show their wares in the Meatpacking District, while high-fashion boutiques and cool housewares peak out behind the cast-iron facades of SoHo. Rummage through vintage clothing boutiques on the Lower East Side or sift through knockoff sunglasses, purses, and watches on crammed Canal Street in Chinatown. Head to Greenwich Village to browse music stores and boutique food shops.

EATING & DRINKING To fuel your rambles, you can find your culinary bliss from high end to low budget, in every ethnic cuisine. With small apartment kitchens and a culinary smorgasbord around every corner, its no wonder New Yorkers eat out so much. Start in Chinatown for Cantonese noodles or indulge in a juicy steak at a Midtown steak house. Mix with celebrities at a fusion spot in Chelsea or tuck into a steaming bowl of mussels at a cozy Greenwich Village bistro. If youre on the go, grab a slice of pizza or a bagel with a schmear of cream cheese. For cheap, good, ethnic eats, hop the subway to Queens , Brooklyn or The Bronx.

NIGHTLIFE & ENTERTAINMENT Make sure you save some energy for your nighttime activities. Times Square s bright lights shine on elaborate stage productions in Broadway s theaters. Dress up for a classical concert at Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center. Lovers of soul head to Harlems Apollo Theatre. The legendary Blue Note and Village Vanguard pack in jazz fans, while cutting-edge bars and clubs in the Meatpacking District lure the beautiful people.