00b_569457_ftoc.qxd 9/30/04 9:53 AM Page vii Contents at a Glance Introduction...................................................1 Part I: Introducing New York City ...................7 Chapter 1: Discovering the Best of New York City ................9 Chapter 2: Digging Deeper into New York City ....................23 Chapter 3: Deciding When to Go ............................................30 Part II: Planning Your Trip to New York City......................................37 Chapter 4: Managing Your Money ..........................................39 Chapter 5 Getting to New York City ......................................47 Chapter 6: Catering to Special Travel Needs or Interests ....56 Chapter 7: Taking Care of the Remaining Details ................64 Part III: Settling Into New York City .............73 Chapter 8: Arriving and Getting Oriented ............................75 Chapter 9: Checking In at New York’s Best Hotels ..............98 Chapter 10: Dining and Snacking in New York City............130 Part IV: Exploring New York City.................175 Chapter 11: New York’s Top Sights ......................................177 Chapter 12: Shopping in New York City ..............................218 Chapter 13: Following an Itinerary: Five Great Options ......239 Part V: Living It Up After Dark: New York City Nightlife .........................251 Chapter 14: Applauding the Cultural Scene ........................253 Chapter 15: Hitting the Clubs and Bars ..............................268 Part VI: The Part of Tens.............................283 Chapter 16: The Top Ten Offbeat New York City Experiences ......................................................................285 ChapterCOPYRIGHTED 17: The Top Ten New York MATERIALCity Movie Locations ..............................................................290 Chapter 18: Ten New York City Experiences to Avoid ......294 Appendix: Quick Concierge .........................298 Index.........................................................307 00b_569457_ftoc.qxd 9/30/04 9:53 AM Page viii Maps at a Glance Downtown Orientation ......................................................................10 Midtown Orientation ..........................................................................12 Uptown Orientation............................................................................14 New York Metropolitan Area ............................................................77 Manhattan Neighborhoods................................................................84 Downtown Hotels..............................................................................107 Midtown Hotels ................................................................................108 Uptown Hotels ..................................................................................111 Downtown Dining..............................................................................136 Midtown Dining ................................................................................138 Uptown Dining ..................................................................................140 Brooklyn Dining ................................................................................142 Downtown Attractions ....................................................................178 Midtown Attractions ........................................................................180 Uptown Attractions ..........................................................................182 Central Park ......................................................................................186 Harlem & Upper Manhattan ............................................................189 Downtown Shopping ........................................................................220 Midtown Shopping............................................................................222 Uptown Shopping ............................................................................224 57th Street Shopping ........................................................................230 Theater District Theaters ................................................................255 Lincoln Center ..................................................................................262 Downtown Arts & Nightlife..............................................................274 Midtown Arts & Nightlife ................................................................276 Uptown Arts & Nightlife ..................................................................278 00b_569457_ftoc.qxd 9/30/04 9:53 AM Page ix Table of Contents Introduction..................................................1 About This Book...............................................................1 Conventions Used in This Book .....................................2 Foolish Assumptions .......................................................3 How This Book Is Organized...........................................3 Part I: Introducing New York City ........................4 Part II: Planning Your Trip to New York City ......4 Part III: Settling into New York City .....................4 Part IV: Exploring New York City..........................4 Part V: Living It Up after Dark: New York City Nightlife......................................4 Part 6: The Part of Tens.........................................4 Icons Used in This Book..................................................5 Where to Go from Here....................................................5 Part I: Introducing New York City ..................7 Chapter 1: Discovering the Best of New York City ............................................................9 Best Events........................................................................9 Best Hotels ......................................................................16 Best Restaurants ............................................................17 Best Attractions..............................................................19 Best Shopping.................................................................21 Best Culture and Nightlife .............................................21 Chapter 2: Digging Deeper into New York City ......23 Hunting Down a Little History ......................................23 Looking at Local Architecture ......................................26 Lauding the Local Cuisine.............................................27 Recommending Books and Movies..............................27 New York City on paper ......................................27 New York City on film..........................................28 Chapter 3: Deciding When to Go .............................30 Revealing the Secrets of the Seasons ..........................30 Marking Your Calendar: Year-round New York...........31 January..................................................................31 February................................................................31 00b_569457_ftoc.qxd 9/30/04 9:53 AM Page x x New York City For Dummies, 3rd Edition March.....................................................................32 April .......................................................................32 May ........................................................................32 June........................................................................32 July.........................................................................33 August....................................................................33 September.............................................................34 October .................................................................34 November..............................................................34 December..............................................................34 Part II: Planning Your Trip to New York City ......................................37 Chapter 4: Managing Your Money...........................39 Planning Your Budget ....................................................39 Hotel ......................................................................39 Transportation .....................................................39 Food.......................................................................40 Sights .....................................................................40 Shopping ...............................................................41 Nightlife.................................................................41 Typical day-to-day purchases ............................41 Taxes......................................................................42 Tips ........................................................................42 Cutting Costs, But Not the Fun.....................................42 Handling Money..............................................................44 Using ATMs and carrying cash...........................44 Charging ahead with credit cards......................45 Toting traveler’s checks ......................................45 Dealing with a lost or stolen wallet ...................46 Chapter 5: Getting to New York City .......................47 Choosing the Airport .....................................................47 Flying to New York .........................................................48 Finding out which airlines fly there...................48 Getting the best deal on your airfare ................49 Booking your flight online...................................50 Driving to New York City...............................................51