Well after a shaky start in New York we settled in well and met up with our friend Nick on Friday night. we went to his bar Stitch for drinks and then went out club hopping with him, a top NY model, an Irish TV presenter, and a UK hairdresser. We went to some of the most exclusive night spots in Manhattan, 49 Grove, Marquee, Branch, Star Lounge, and because these guys were all so well connected we didn’t have to pay or line up once. We even took a limo to one place and we saw Ice-T at one of the clubs. We had a blast! We’ve been eating out every day and the restaurants are all so nice. We went shopping in Soho yesterday and Kerry got spoiled. Unfortunately the shopping for guys is average because everything is USA home boy stuff. From there we went to Little Italy to eat which was great. We went to Central park on Sunday which is so big it’s got a Zoo in it. The place is full of life on the weekend. You can hire boats, bikes, rollerblades, and there is some terrific Buskin all over. We’ve done some tourist stuff like statue of liberty, and ground zero which was really sad. They had the names of all the 3000 dead on the walls, mainly cops and rescue teams. There were photos and flowers everywhere the hotel we managed to get into the Chelsea Hotel in Manhattan. It has a lot of history. For all you rock n roll fans
Some of the famous guests include, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Alice Cooper, Madonna, it’s also the place where Sid Vicious stabbed Nancy. Lots of art work on the walls done by some really famous people who stayed there. Tomorrow we leave for Toronto. We’ve had a great run In NY.
New YorkCity’s New Tourism Commercial. See the world’s most exciting city brought to life. Featuring “Take the A-Train” performed by Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington, as remixed by Mint Royale.
My first trip to New York was memorable for many reasons, you can see a lot in a day and even the danger excites, as this city with a constant edge that pulses with life energy and noise ! I had a great deal at the Waldorf Astoria with two other guests, Harris and Con. The three of us split the cost of the hotel room that worked out to around $65 per night. The rental car deal was even better $12 each !
We were all in town for our friend Costas Wedding.
Stepping out for the first time in New York and man we were energized with the pulse of the greatest city in the World !
First stop, Times Square for the best Burger ever, NY style, the street people are everywhere with their hands out for money, I pass them a cigarette or a stick of gum it gets them to smile at least ! I walk on to Central Park around the Lake and check out the Zoo.
Next stop and Harris and I are gazing from the Top of the Empire State Building onto Greenwich Village, SoHo, Chinatown. Brooklyn Heights Promenade for magnificent views of Manhattan’s skyline, we walked around Battery park and on the ferry to the Statue of Liberty at dusk admiring all the glittering lights of the city that never sleeps.
Other sights that are a Must :
Shopping ! (Brooklyn’s Park Slope’s 5th avenue, has a lot of boutiques)
Window shop at Madison Avenue
Walk around at Park Avenue Museum of Natural History
Yankee Stadium The huge H&M on 32nd street
The big library on 33nd street Macy’s Bloomingdale’s
Guggenheim museum Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge
M&M WorldDylan’s Candy Bar Chrysler Building
Urban Outfitters World Trade Center grounds
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Wax Museum
Bronx Zoo Greenwood Cemetery Ice Skating Rink
Coney Island (not in Dec. though) Greenwood Cemetery
Prospect Park Brighton Beach
The warm weather marks the arrival of several outdoor events in New YorkCity, including free open-air concerts, movie screenings and theatre productions. From the Museum Mile Festival to Shakespeare in the Park, there are plenty of entertaining activities to fill your trip itinerary!
Museum Mile Festival
Admission is waived by nine of the Fifth Avenue museums during this one-day festival, which celebrates music, art and culture. Fifth is closed to traffic between 82nd and 105th (known as the Museum Mile) and is filled with live bands, entertainment and tons of activities for kids. Held rain or shine, the Museum Mile Festival attracts thousands of people each year and offers art lovers a wonderful way to see top museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian, and the Guggenheim for free!
Father’s Day
Father’s Day falls on the third Sunday of June and there are several ways to spoil Dad in the Big Apple. If he’s a baseball lover, spend an afternoon watching one of the city’s two major league baseball teams, or head to the ESPNZone in Times Square with sporting events on dozens of TVs. If Dad is more of a culture vulture than a sports buff, take in one of the free concerts or big-name benefit shows offered at the Central Park SummerStage outdoor venue, or head to Rockefeller Center early on a Friday morning to enjoy the free summer concerts put on by NBC’s Today Show.
Shakespeare in the Park
Since 1957, the Public Theatre has been presenting the wildly popular Shakespeare in the Park productions at the open-air Delacorte Theater in the heart of Central Park. Free tickets are distributed at 1p.m. on the day of the performance. Some theater-goers start to line up as early as 8 a.m. and it is a New York tradition to make the wait a fun event by packing a picnic lunch and basking in the sunshine. The semi-circular theatre is surrounded by the lovely landscape of Central Park’s 55-acre Great Lawn, and offers views of Turtle Pond and the beautiful Belvedere Castle. Tickets are non-exchangeable regardless of a rain-out.
Restaurant Week
Twice a year in January and June, New YorkCity Restaurant Week gives foodies on a budget a chance to experience some of New YorkCity’s most fabulous restaurants at a fraction of the cost. Discount lunch and dinner menus are offered by dozens of restaurants including celebrity chef favourites like Tom Colicchio’s Gramercy Tavern and Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill. Visit your favourite New YorkCity restaurant’s website to see if it is offering a Restaurant Week menu, and call well in advance to reserve a table. Reservations at many of the participating restaurants can also be booked online.
Bryant Park Summer Film Festival
Enjoy free Monday night outdoor movies in this urban park, beloved by New Yorkers. Films begin between 8p.m. and 9p.m. as the sun sets, and movie-goers starting arriving around 5p.m. to set up their blankets on the lawn and start picnicking. The film schedule can be found at the park’s official website. Bryant Park is located behind the New York Public Library in midtown Manhattan, between 40th and 42nd Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues.
New York is a walking city and June is a perfect month to walk it. The weather is warm, but not as hot and humid as it can get in July and August. A wide variety of walking tours cater to every interest from Bob Dylan fans to chocoholics. So put on comfortable shoes and explore the neighbourhoods!
NewYorkJourney.com will give you a comprehensive look at several hotels attractions and shops in the Big Apple. Get the information you need to know before you travel and make sure you get to see and stay at the best of the best in New YorkCity.
From the glittering display cases in Tiffany’s to the bustling street vendors on Canal Street, shopping in New YorkCity has something for trendy fashionistas and bargain hunters alike! Legendary flagship stores, luxurious boutiques and deal-of-a-lifetime discount retailers all await the lucky shopper destined for New YorkCity.
Midtown Manhattan is home to some of the world’s most famous department stores. On Broadway between 34th and 35th streets is the self-proclaimed biggest store in the world – Macy’s. With over half a million items for sale ranging from trendy denim to lush fur to sparkling crystal, Macy’s is a shopper’s paradise. There are ten floors to cover so grab a store guide at the entrance and hit the escalators! A fixture on Herald Square since 1902, Macy’s flagship store is renowned for its great sales and spectacular window displays. Also known for excellent deals and creative displays is Lord and Taylor on Fifth Avenue between 38th and 39th. It’s been a shopping institution since 1826. And if you want to be a true New Yorker and swing an iconic “Brown Bag” of your own, head to Bloomingdale’s at Lexington and 59th. This store sprawls over an entire city block and is bursting with designer names. Filled with everything from the latest Tory Burtch clutches to lush towels by Calvin Klein, a shopping trip to the Big Apple is just not complete without a visit to Bloomie’s.
The shopping area stretching from Fifth Avenue to 57th street is simply legendary. If designer brands are really what you are looking for, then Bergdorf Goodman on Fifth at 57th and 58th streets is a key shopping destination. Browse through the most talked about designer collections at this elegant and sophisticated department store. From Dolce and Gabbana evening gowns to Stella McCartney strappy sandals, there is something to suit tastes that are classically conservative or cutting edge. For more luxury goods and sumptuous surroundings, drop into Sak’s Fifth Avenue at 50thstreet. Featuring designs from premium names like Alexander McQueen, Chloe, and Jean Paul Gaultier, you’ll be right in the pulse of the hottest trends. And for a shopping experience where East meets West, check out Takashimaya New York on Fifth at 54th. The serene surroundings and artfully displayed merchandise are a calming change of pace from your other destinations. The Tea Box Cafe is a perfect place to rest and recharge.
A true shopper knows accessories are key and what better place to see the latest trends in bags, shoes and scarves than Louis Vuitton. At the corner of 57th and Fifth, this flagship location is the largest Louis Vuitton in the world. Browse over 20,000 square feet of men’s and women’s apparel, jewellery, footwear and of course the purses and luggage with the gold monogram that made the French designer legendary. And on the subject of famous flagships, a walk through Tiffany & Co’s to browse the glass displays of sparkling gems is a must. If you want to see more high-end jewellery, make a stop at Harry Winston. The jeweller to the stars has stunning pieces on display in his Fifth Avenue salon.
It gets really serious for fashionistas on Madison Avenue from 57th to 79th. From the edgy styles of Versace to the timeless pieces of Giorgio Armani, this is where you will find some of the most posh boutiques in the world. Barney’s New York on Madison and 60th is an upscale department store offering classic couture as well as cutting-edge indie designs. Dine at Fred’s on the ninth floor to experience the “ladies who lunch” scene.
When you are ready to dig for some great deals and do a little bargaining, it’s time to head to Lower Manhattan. Canal Street between Sixth Avenue and Baxter Street is famous for its hustling street vendors, official and unofficial, selling goods at every turn. This is where you will find every knock-off imaginable, including the latest designer handbags, sunglasses and electronics. Century 21 is the place to go to find that outrageous bargain you will be bragging about to everyone at home. Located in the financial district across from the World Trade Center site, this retailer is considered the best place in NYC for brand name merchandise at cut rate prices. Keep in mind this store’s slogan is “Fashion Worth Fighting For” so make sure your shopping senses are at their sharpest! And to outfit yourself in more head to toe designer gear at budget prices, stop in to one of the Filene’s Basement locations in Chelsea, Union Square or on the Upper West Side. You’ll find bargain basement prices on cutting edge American and European designers including Michael Kors, Gucci, and Ted Baker.
NewYorkJourney.com will give you a comprehensive look at what’s available in such a wonderful city – from hotels and shopping to museums and attractions. No matter what your taste, New YorkCity has something for everyone and is the ultimate shopping Mecca.
