I Heart New York!

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I'm leaving today

I want to be a part of it, New York, New York

These vagabond shoes

Are longing to stray

And make a brand new start of it

New York, New York

I want to wake up in the city that never sleeps

To find I'm king of the hill, top of the heap

…thus sang Frank Sinatra in his ode to one of the biggest cities in the world. The lyrics still hold true for thousands of immigrants who make their way to the city from everywhere in the world because New York truly is the only place in the world where dreams can come true to life.

Everything about NY is dazzling, famous and coveted. Whether it is the city’s wildly famous boroughs of The Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island or the iconic Statue of Liberty, New York rings a bell for everybody. If the Wall Street keeps the ‘Suits’ in a tizzy, the city’s famed nightlife seduces the young and old by truck loads. The world gushes about the Empire State Building and saddens at the destruction of the WTC Towers. There is nothing that happens in New York and does not make the globe sit up and take notice.

Thousands of tourists make their way to the JFK Airport every year and each one has a separate agenda – monument and museum chase, the Tribeca Festival, The New York Fashion Week, shopping at Madison Avenue or a wish to make their dreams come true. Connected to nearly every capital in the world, New York is not just a place – it is a dynamic event that palpitates like the heart of the globe.

Get the skinny on the world’s top dream destination here before you start packing.

The story of the city that never sleeps

For nearly 11,000 years the area now known as New York City had been home to Native Americans. Then in 1524, Giovanni da Verrazano, a Florentine hired by the French to explore the northeastern coast, arrived at New York Bay and history took a big turn. Still, the area remained largely unchanged until 1609 when English explorer Henry Hudson happened on it by chance while searching for the Northwest Passage. Hudson claimed the place for the Dutch East India Company and in the 17th century the Dutch established trading posts for the purchase of pelts from the Iroquois and other tribes. This small settlement later expanded into the colony the Dutch nostalgically named New Netherlands. The new colony was essentially a collection of these trading posts, the first of which were Fort Nassau (1614); Fort Orange (1624), Fort Amsterdam (1625, that developed into the town of New Amsterdam which was the predecessor of present-day New York City); and Esopus (1653).

The colony passed into British control during the Second Anglo-Dutch War and was then governed as the Province of New York. Agitation for independence during the 1770s brought the American Revolution and New York endorsed the Declaration of Independence on July 9, 1776. The New York state constitution was framed by a convention which assembled at White Plains, New York on July 10, 1776, and after much deliberation and changes of location, finally announced its results at Kingston, New York on Sunday evening, April 20, 1777, when the new constitution was adopted with but one dissenting vote. A few months later, on 30 July 1777, George Clinton was inaugurated as the first Governor of New York at Kingston.

The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga provided the ammunition necessary to force the Brits out of the Siege of Boston in 1775. The first major battle of the American Revolutionary War after independence was fought in New York at the Battle of Long Island in 1776, and the first of two major British armies were captured by the Continental Army at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777, influencing France to ally with the revolutionaries. General George Washington had to withdraw from Manhattan Island and the British turned New York City into their military and political hub of operations in North America for the duration of the conflict.

The long standing conflict was marked by the erosion of more American soldiers at the hands of the notorious British prison ships of Wallabout Bay and the four of the Iroquois nations that fought for the British faced defeat at the hands of the Sullivan Expedition of 1779. For fear of persecution and all the ills that follow defeat, the Native American tribes moved to Canada; most lost their land after the war.

As per the Treaty of Paris, the last of the British troops in New York City that were the foundation of British authority in the former Thirteen Colonies - departed in 1783.New York State was one of the original thirteen colonies that became the United States. It was the 11th state to ratify the United States Constitution, on July 26, 1788.

In the 19th century New York City saw the construction of canals to improve navigation. Western NY was connected by the construction of Erie Canal in 1825 and the new route opened up vast areas of New York to commerce and settlement, and enabled port cities such as Buffalo to grow and prosper.

The Statue of Liberty was dedicated in New York Harbor on October 28, 1886. Ellis Island opened as the primary immigration depot in the U.S. in 1892.

New York City, since then has come a long way and today commands the unique position of having the largest immigrant population in the country, is the dynamic epicenter of fashion, culture and media and attracts millions of tourists every year.

The New York Season

Veteran travelers mark the period from mid-September to mid-November, along with all of May and early June as the best times to go to New York. Since everyone follows this migration chart, the city is wall to wall with tourists during these months and prices of everything from trinkets to hotels shoots up.

Not that it should deter you or the long wet November and April seasons should hold you back either. No matter when you go to NYC, you are going to love it! If you are going to New York during December, expect lots of rain and often snow till February.

Getting there

New York City is easily the most important and the busiest transportation hub in northeastern USA and you could blindly choose any type of transport to get you there.

Try taking a bus if you are traveling to New York from within the country. All suburban and long-haul buses arrive at the Port Authority Bus Terminal at 41st Street and Eighth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. You would most likely be on a Greyhound Bus, popularized Hollywood, linking New York with major cities across the country. We wouldn’t recommend driving a car in Manhattan. Nearly 75% of the locals in Manhattan don’t own a car! So take a hint from them and avoid getting stuck in a human/car jam on Manhattan’s streets.

Taking an Amtrak and reaching Pennsylvania Station, on 33rd St between Seventh and Eighth Aves, is a good bet for getting in to NYC. The station services all Amtrak trains, including the Acela Express, Amtrak's new fast train, and the Metroliner. You can depend on the Long Island Rail Road that carries gazillion commuters each day from a newly renovated platform area to points in Brooklyn, Queens and the suburbs of Long Island, including the resort areas.

If you are coming from another country you would, per force have to take a plane, since the Titanic went out of commission! Sure, you could take a cruise liner across the pond, but flying in to La Guardia or Newark Airport in New Jersey are more comfortable choices. The busy John F Kennedy International Airport is 24km from Midtown Manhattan in southeastern Queens and services mostly domestic flights. Half hourly buses connect the city and JFK taking at least on hour per side.

Buses run every 15-20 minutes between the city and La Guardia as does a water shuttle that runs along the East River. If neither one of the above options work for you, take the subway. To get from Newark Airport, you can get a private or public bus from the city. Buses into the city run every fifteen minutes. Taxis from all three airports into the city are expensive but if you are carrying a lot of luggage they are the only choice.

The Subway Vs the Monster Cabbie

You may have heard horror stories about the NY subway (including the one about the Ghost train!) but be assured that is quite safe nowadays and still the fastest way of getting to Manhattan. Although buses are equally efficient, they are for the patient ones who think nothing of being driven about to ten different places before reaching their destination, Buy a Metrocard for the subway so as to cut time and long queues.

If you can get over the subway, the famous New York cabbies are just a little step. Although most of them are cool and just want to get you there fast and collect their tab, you might face some of the ones from all those hairy NY Cabbie stories you hear. You can cut through the situation by taking down their license number (or at least pretend to) -most cabbies fear being reported. Do be afraid of negotiating New York traffic; it's a nightmare, and rentals and petrol are pricey. If it's a scenic journey you're after, a ferry is your best bet.

Best places to stay

Before we start off rattling the whole list of places where you can park yourself before you start playing ‘tourist’ let us tell you about this absolutely fab place we found out about – The Gershwin Hotel on East, 27th Street is one of the first places you ought to try reservations at. A 13 (yeah, that number!) storey burst of pop art lead by Andy Warhol, The Gershwin blasts your senses with prints by a different artist on each one of those thirteen. Try tooth and nail for a stay here because, hold your breath, rooms start from $ 109 right down to single beds on the lower floors that come for as little as $ 40 a night!

Now, to the list:

Aim for the Kitano New York on Park Avenue which boasts of the best suites in the business. There are 3 one-bedroom suites in the townhouse that are part of this hotel and come complete with a sunken den, fab art, a state-of-the-art stereo system, and a tea maker with green tea. Get all romantic with a room at the Hotel Elysée on the 54th Street right in the heart of Manhattan or get to the Gramercy Park Hotel on Lexington Avenue (Pic left) to sleep in at the 1925 –built legend that has been recently restored with all its old world charms intact.

If you are in the mood for splurging and then some, try these on for size: New York Palace Hotel – $ 495, The Michelangelo – $ 610, The Ritz-Carlton New York – Central Park – $ 795, Trump International Hotel & Tower – $ 525 and the Ritz- Carlton Battery Park – $ 475.

This is NY and there is no dearth of places you could spend a grand for a little Rip Van Winkle time. If you got an oil well bursting out of your front lawn consider staying at the Royalton Hotel New York City for $ 1622 a night; the Mandarin Oriental for $ 1462 or The Plaza (Left)) the ultimate place to rub shoulders with celebs at $ 1050 a night. Indulgence is the other name for The Pierre which reeks old world charm at $ 837 and for just $ 612 a night you can have a fantastic weekend break at the Soho House New York.

Mid range hotels are not as mid range as you would like them to be. But by NY definitions the Night Hotel for $ 469 or The Benjamin at $ 462 fit the bill perfectly. Other choices in this bracket include: The Bryant Park, blessed with great location is a steal at $ 460, the Warwick New York Hotel for $ 450 is popular with tourists and The Grand Hyatt New York for $ 446.

Bed & Breakfasts are a great way to park yourselves comfortably in the city, get great service and all the modern facilities without having to part with your life’s savings. In this category, consider The Inn on 23rd located in Manhattan for a comfortable experience ($ 350), The 1871 House located on a quiet, tree-lined street off Park Avenue ($ 340), West Eleventh Townhouse ($ 293), Ivy Terrace ($ 265) and the Holy Family Bed & Breakfast ($ 212).

The best way to experience NY like a bona fide New Yorker would be by living in the city. The next best option is to rent an apartment like the Off-Soho Suites that have been in the business for quite some time, and experience the triumphs and travails of living in the stomach of a behemoth like NY – scales and all.

Bite-Sizing NYC

You could get a simple meal like kebabs and deli sandwiches almost every other step from carts selling quick foods. But then NY is known for its variety and there is one top O’ the Heap restaurant for every kind of cuisine. Dot miss out on the real restaurant experience, the deli can wait.

A very popular place for some serious eating out in New York is the Chanterelle on Harrison Street. The place is the very picture of what a luxurious eating out experience should be; the service is impeccable, the décor gives the place an intimate feel and the food is exquisitely prepared food. The River Café at Water Street, lying at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge in Brooklyn is a pleasure for its fantastic food and striking view of Manhattan. Another place we would recommend is the Aquavit at the 55th Street which sits charmingly in an erstwhile town-house setting; the service and the food are as good as ever.

With so many immigrants in the city it isn’t hard to find good Chinese food in New York. But the real Chinatown experience comes only with Big Wong King at Mott Street. The menu includes dishes that your Chinese takeaway hasn’t even heard of - congee with fried crullers, stir-fried vegetables like no other and special roast pork and duck. A Voce at Madison Avenue is ruled by its Chef Andrew Carmellini, who whips up an unforgettable combination of rustic and innovative Italian in a sleek, Madison Square Park space.

For the best Greek food in NYC go to Kefi which is a basic Greek Taverna but the food is so good you wouldn’t notice it. Porter House New York on Columbus Circle in the Time Warner Center is the most popular steak house that easily beats every other one hands down and RUB is the best BBQ place you could fish out of the sea of BBQ joints in the city.

Good Enough to Eat on Amsterdam Avenue is the one place in the city where you get bountiful home-cooked breakfasts and Norma's, at Le Parker Meridian hotel is the ultimate place for a creative brunch; think asparagus-and-seared-rock-lobster omelet! Also try Katz's Delicatessen (above) for the perfect Jewish kreplach, knishes, and pastrami – not fancy, but no one beats the taste of these Jewish classics.

For the tastiest, fresh out of the oven pizzas try Patsy's Pizzeria and Frankie & Johnnie's on 32 W. 37th Street for juicy sirloin. Save some space for rich homemade ice cream from the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory which is at Fulton Ferry Landing Pier, Brooklyn. The best place to get humongous, freshly baked bagels is Absolute Bagels on Broadway and for the best soul food, go to Charles' Southern Style Kitchen on the Eighth Avenue in Harlem.

NYC Nocturnal Explosion

New York’s night life is legendry; the city works hard and plays hard and there is no type of entertainment that you can hope for and not get in the city. From the Carnegie Hall for the monocle set to the dance club behind the run down department store – it’s all there.

The Monocles may be a thing of past but Carnegie Hall is still one place that you shouldn’t miss, even if you aren’t into that kind of music. It is one of the world's great performance spaces, with an array of world-class talent on display almost every night. If you are a jazz aficionado then The Village Vanguard is the place for you. For hard, cutting and edgy Rock try the Mercury Lounge which is not the tops on ambience but plays some mean rock ‘n’ roll every night. Don’t leave the city without an evening at the Gotham Comedy Club which is far from the raunchy, beer hall comedy you might believe New York to possess. The Club is comfortable and sophisticated and the humor top notch.

Pegu Club on West Houston, 2nd floor is the ultimate haunt of the cocktail junkies and the Ear Inn in the chic SoHo area is one of the oldest of its kind that has the real seventies plush feel to it. The Rise Bar in the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park Hotel is a fabulous place with awesome views of Lady Liberty, New York Harbor, and incredible sunsets. Visit this bar even if you are not staying at the Park. The most incredibly opulent place in NYC undoubtedly is the Rose Bar in the Gramercy Park Hotel. What you get here other than very good and very expensive cocktails is a magnificent room with its Schnabel originals, incredible sound system, lush seating and of course, beautiful people!

Get a very comprehensive list of night places to choose from, here.

NYC Seduction Plan

What to see in the city

Spending your time in the Big, bad city of New York is more of deciding what not to see and where not to go simply because you can’t possibly have the time to do it all. We have made that decision a little easier for you with this list of the top ten NY attractions that you just have to see before leaving. Add from this list, if you have more time and if just can’t get enough of the Big Apple!

Empire State Building – buy tickets online for this 102 story Art-Deco skyscraper at the intersection of the 5th Avenue (where you can blow up some greens) and the West 34th street. Till the WTC’s North Tower was born in 1972, the Empire State Building stood at the top of the tallest buildings list. It is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city and you must visit it to get panoramic views of the city.

Statue of Liberty – The Statue of Liberty is the most recognizable symbol of the United States and was the first glimpse of this land of opportunities to most early immigrants, Mayflower and all. Standing tall at 46 meters from base to torch, the Statue of Liberty was a gift to the United States from France in honor of the friendship established during the French Revolution. Go right up to the top of the pedestal to get a great view of the Atlantic and the New York Harbor. You must have the “Monument Access Pass” that has to be procured in advance and you have to be prepared to be searched airport style.

Grand Central Terminal: Don’t be fooled by all the trains and departure/arrival notices; the Grand Central Terminal, the biggest train station in the world, is no more just a transportation hub. It is a place steeped in remarkable history and legends. Once owned by the powerful Vanderbilt Family, Grand Central today is a fun place you must visit for the Dining Concourse which houses the world famous Oyster Bar, The Vanderbilt Hall and Campbell Apartment. You can also opt for the free Grand Central Walking Tour.

Rockefeller Center: The Rockefeller Center in midtown Manhattan is a sprawling complex of 19 commercial buildings and was built by the Rockefeller Family in the 1930s. Visit this National Historic Landmark for its Christmas tree if you are in New York during the Christmas holidays, ice skating, Top of the Rock Observation Deck and the Radio City Music Hall.

Ellis Island Immigration Center: The Ellis Island Immigration Museum offers visitors a fascinating look into the immigrant experience. Interactive exhibits, walking tours and movies reveal the hardships and challenges faced by immigrants passing through Ellis Island.

Staten Island Ferry: Take a trip from Manhattan to the Staten Island on the free Staten Island Ferry to get the best views of the harbor and the Statue of Liberty.

American Museum of Natural History: Ever since it opened to the public in 1869, the Museum of Natural History has seen several expansions and new admissions like biological and anthropological specimens. The museum is located in Manhattan and is spread over 25 buildings – definitely a whole day’s job but a very rewarding experience too.

Central Park: When in New York you must make at least one visit to the sprawling Central Park in Manhattan. Although the park mostly looks natural, much of this green lung of the city has been landscaped by architects Fredrick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. You can enjoy several activities here including ice skating, a visit to the Central Park Zoo and the Central Park Conservatory Garden. Also include a visit to the Belvedere Castle and the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre.

Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Met is home to over 2 million works of art from around the world and throughout history and is an icon of the city. Visit it for its permanent collection of works of art from classical antiquity and Ancient Egypt and works by nearly all the European Masters.

The Museum of Modern Art: Founded in 1929 as the first museum dedicated entirely to contemporary art, the MoMA, as it is popularly known, is host to an impressive collection of modern artistic efforts. From painting and sculpture to film and architecture, the Museum of Modern Art's diverse collection has something for everyone.

NYC Shopping

Shopping in New York is a discovery on every step. Every big ticket retailer, every exclusive designer label and haute couture house has a resounding presence in the city. Madison Avenue and the Fifth Avenue are resplendent with all their glorious merchandize running sky high and every area in the city boasts of numerous quirky little boutiques and secret stores that spring up faster than mushrooms. All a shopper has to do is to head out where her fancy takes her and be sure that there is a whale of a time waiting out there.

Top of the heap and the god of all NYC shopping is the Saks Fifth Avenue store. A visit is a must to this department store and you can be sure you won’t return empty handed. Next in line is Barneys, which is considered by many to be the ultimate shopping experience with its wide range of merchandise and limited run products. Other department stores that you must visit are Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s.

If you are more of the ‘Explorer Shopper’ kind of a person, the three areas you must sniff out are SoHo, NoHo and No Lita. The best thing about these areas is that they are all clustered together within a walkable distance and all feature the newest and trendiest fashions resting in the hottest little boutiques you can find anywhere. Not only that, your shopping experience in these areas would include a well-deserved rest at one of the trendy cafes that dot the areas like punctuation marks. We would especially recommend a dekko at Seize Sur Vingt on Elizabeth Street for its custom suits.

A New York minute…

…is as small as a day

New York is a city defined by its speed and the way you can pack in so much in a Simon & Garfunkel New York Minute. So get with the NYC program and pack in as much of the city in one day, if that’s all you had:

Start out early and with a pair of comfortable shoes on your feet. Take a 2-hour half-island cruise on the free ferry to get a good overview of Manhattan, passing by the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the lower Manhattan skyline before you head up the East River. Here you will pass under the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg bridges and get a good view of and the East Side skyline including the Empire State and Chrysler buildings. Spending time with a water body early in the morning will not only keep you happy and energetic the whole day, it would also give you a snap orientation course on the city.

Plan to make a killing on the Fifth Avenue where you will find the New York Public Library, easily recognizable by the lion sculptures guarding its gates. One of the Main Reading Rooms are a real pleasure to get the day’s newspaper done and while you are here take a look at the library's backyard, Bryant Park – the site of the two Fashion Weeks. If it is winter time you can enjoy the spoils of The Pond ice skating rink.

Get to the Grand Central and try to weave your way through the approximately 500,000 commuters, all in a ripping hurry to get to work. Take a walk through the main concourse and get a good look at the sky ceiling before stopping for a coffee and lunch at the Oyster Bar or in the Grand Central Terminal dining concourse where choices range from Indian food to pizza to that fab place upstairs overlooking the concourse - Michael Jordan's -- The Steakhouse!

Prepare for the view of a lifetime as you walk the few blocks from the Grand Central Station to the Empire State Building. Assuming you bought tickets in advance, zip up 86 floors to the top of this megalith to get the most heart achingly beautiful view of Manhattan. It is usually hard to stop looking and pointing out buildings from here, but try to peel yourself off to take a train ride uptown to Seventh Avenue. A short walk across the 53rd Street will bring you to the Museum of Modern Art where you (and a hundred others) would squeak at the $ 20 admission charge. Once you get inside, however, the $ 20 just whoops out of your brain because of the extraordinary beauty of the place.

A short walk from MoMA is the Rockefeller Center complex. If you are here during the Christmas holidays, you'll fight the crowds for a glimpse of the Christmas tree and the skaters in the small rink. If your timing is right, you might be able to squeeze in the 70-minute NBC Studio Tour.

Now is the time to unleash the hidden Shoppers’ Fury at the Fifth Avenue! The victims could be one or all of these - Saks Fifth Avenue, Henri Bendel, the NBA Store, Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Bergdorf Goodman, FAO Schwarz, and The Apple Store. If you can raise your head just a wee bit off from all the goodies, pick a peek at the Trump Tower from the popular Apprentice TV series. Walk along the 59th Street to the Central Park, passing the opulently dressed Plaza Hotel.

File your day away in the “Happiest memories” section but not before you souse your senses at the King Cole Bar down Fifth Avenue at the St. Regis Hotel. This is where the Bloody Mary was supposedly invented, and it's the perfect place for a late-afternoon or early-evening cocktail. Choose one or hit the whole list of night spots till you have no energy left- that would be a day well spent!

The Secret New York

The Fifth Avenue is a great place to shop and so is Barney’s but for a quirky turn try the Steve Alan Store on Elizabeth Street for “the shirt that ate Manhattan” – Designer Alan was credited by New York Magazine for having designed ‘the perfect shirt’! The accessories and the new age dresses are to die for

Take the free ferry to Staten Island one morning and visit the Staten Island Botanical Garden on Richmond Terrace. It is a visual treat and a surprise among all the steel and concrete madness that is New York

Hunt for La Esquina on Kenmare Street – a basement taqueria that is one of the most talked about secret restaurants of New York

On 140 W 4th Street lies a quiet little ice cream parlor called Red Bamboo. It is a regular ice cream place except that it stocks only Non Dairy Ice cream!

If you are in New York during the sweltering summers, go to 113 N 3rd Street in Brooklyn for a treat of a life time in the open air Beer hall – Radegast – the roof is retractable.

The NYC Tipster

General

If you plan to drive around the city, be very mindful of the traffic laws as they are strictly enforced and not following rules can be vey expensive

Tipping is an expensive affair in New York with the minimum expected tip running close to 20%. There is no upper limit but sometimes a Service Charge is included in the bill, so check it carefully before paying up

Dressing in New York is usually casual for small restaurants, cafes and fast food joints. But as you go up the price range, more formal dressing may be required

NYC is a very friendly place for vegetarians and Vegans

Hotel room rates are usually quoted without the tax and if you don’t get the skinny on this beforehand, you may be in for a shock later

Families

NY is a very kid friendly place and there are a lot of entertainment options for children. For starters try the children's Theater - Paper Bag Players. For children ages 4 to 9, this group performs in the winter and offers tales told in imaginative and original ways.

For just a Mom And Dad Night Out employ the thoughtful services of The Baby Sitters’ Guild that charges a mere $ 20 per hour

Spend a day out on the beaches at Long Island

Although New York is not a very unsafe city and muggings are far less common than bag snatching, it is advisable for family vacationers to stay out of less crowded areas at night and keep passports, cash etc. safely squirreled away in the hotel safe

Couples

Go to the Shakespeare in the Park do in Central Park

Stay safe by not carrying a lot of stuff with you and by keeping your baggage close, even in outdoor bars and cafes

Take a day off to explore the beaches at Long Island

Catch a Broadway Show together – they are fun, not too expensive and better than screaming sweet nothings into each other’s ears at a noisy bar

Take a carriage ride á la “Kate & Leopold” through Central Park – hansom cabs are available near Plaza Hotel

Visit the Central Park Boathouse Café on a good weather day

The Expert Opinions

The Guardian recommends shopping at ‘I Heart’ - an unpresuming little place hidden behind regular looking mannequins and pink neon signs that will rock your socks with indie designs

The Gridskipper suggests getting brunched at Relish – the best kept secret in Williamsburg

Urbandaddy.com strongly suggests spending a summer Friday evening at the Highbar – a rooftop lounge in midtown (251 48th Street, between Broadway and 8th Ave.)

New York virtual Tour

If you want to explore New York from your computer, you can do this downloading this files to use with Google Earth software:

New York virtual tour (kmz file)