Now you can download a transit map on your smart phone, which makes life easy!

42nd @ B’way is Times Square. The S train goes over to Grand Central which is 42nd @ Lex.

The 6 train is the Lexington Ave line, which goes to Canal Street for China Town and Little Italy, and the last stop on the 6 is called City Hall, which is the WTC site and very moving.

The yellow trains also go the the WTC site from 42nd @ Times Square and stop at Canal St. Century 21, a huge discount retailer is just across the street from the WTC site. Best Urban Outfitters is near Bloomies, on 3rd. The best girl shopping is at Joe Fresh, which has 2 stores and the biggest is on 5th at 43rd. H&M which has 2 great stores by Macy's; one on Madison near Rockefeller (best for beads --3rd floor); one in SoHo on B'way at Spring; Just down toward Bleeker in the same block is a great clothing store called Mystique, with awesome vintage t-shirts at decent prices. It is just past Sephora… and then at the corner of Bway and Bleeker still in the same block is a café, Bari, they have great food, a full bar, fun atmosphere and a bathroom! Good for lunch when shopping in SoHo. Don't miss Soho Park on Layfayette and Prince St. or Spring Street Natural on the corner of Spring and Layfayette. For yummy dinner, try Mercer Kitchen (Mercer&Prince) or Mexican Radio (Layfayette and Kenmare). At Union Sq, (14th), there is usually a weekend outdoor market which is great and then stop for hot chocolate or dessert at Max Brenner's Bald Man Chocolates on Broadway@14th.

The subway is easy to ride. Just be careful that you are on the right train. When going to SoHo be sure you are on a train that stops on Prince Street, which is the heart of SoHo. Take the red trains to Christopher Street for the Village. The transit maps will say which trains stop where. They will have the number or letter and "only" by the stop. Just remember to look!!! Rides are $2.50 each way, but you can get 6 rides for a $10 fare card. 3 people can share a fare card, and pass it back…in other words; it can be swiped 3 times in a row.

For the East Village take the 6 to Astor Place and the West Village the BDFMACE to West 4th, or the 1 to Christopher Street.

Upper West side is beautiful, and have lots of cute shops, take the 123 to 72nd.

Williamsburg, Brooklyn- Williamsburg has become the hot neighborhood in recent years, know for their hipster culture, it is a great place to find unique shops and coffee shops, it is also the easiest to get to. Take any train to 14th st. then get on the L train, and get off on Bedford Ave.

Chelsea, who doesn’t love Chelsea, it is home to my favorite spot in New York, The High Line, an old above ground train yard that spans from 30th to Little W. 12th in the Meatpacking District, the High Line is on 10th ave. I recommend taking the CE to 23rd and 8th then walking to 10th and getting on the high line there, once you are further down the high line get off at the 14th street exit and head over to Chelsea Markets on 16th and 9th ave. it has food stalls and a flea market in the back, it is an amazing place to stop and have lunch!

Another favorite neighborhood of mine is my first home in the Upper West Side, Lincoln Center, home to Juilliard is a must visit, there are lots of lovely shops and bars along Amsterdam Ave.

The Boat Basin in Riverside Park at 79th street. You can also see Strawberry Fields from the 72nd street entrance to Central Park, which is by the Dakota where John Lennon was assassinated.

Hell’s Kitchen, my current home, located conveniently off the theatre district, is home to great bars and restaurants on 9th and 10th avenue. 46th between 8th and 9th is known as restaurant row. Justin Timberlake’s BBQ joint Southern Hospitality is located in Hell’s Kitchen at 45th and 9th.

There is literally so much to explore in NYC, I hope you have a blast!

• Take a city bus tour but don't get off so you can see everything you want go back to check out.

• Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island…be sure and see film at Ellis Island.

• Metropolitan Museum of Art…up in the park is fantastic.

• Central Park is at 5th @ 59th. Be sure to see the penguins, carriage ride, strawberry fields and the Alice in Wonderland statue.

• New WTC site is incredibly moving

• Empire State Building- go up at night for the best view.

• Times Square, Madame Tousseau's Wax Museum.

• The Marriott Marquis has a great bar on the 8th floor that overlooks Times Square, great after the theatre.

• There are lots of movie theaters in the 42nd Street/Bway area.

• TKTS is a great place for discounted B'way tickets…same day only shows and cash only! Most people go to the booth in Times Square but most people don't know that there is another booth in lower Manhattan and if you are going to the WTC or if you want to hop a quick subway ride before/after shopping in the village or SoHo, then this is the way to go. This booth opens at 11 and the Times Square booth opens at 3 and at 10 for matinee days. Check tdf.org/tkts for info! There is also a tkts app for your smart phone!

• The Smith (several locations throughout the city) a little loud but extremely worthy!

• Balthazar in SoHo is a classic bustling French bistro w/great steak and fries on Bleeker…fun for lunch.

• Shake Shack in Madison Square Park (23rd and Madison) there is always a line for their fast and delicious eats, known for their burgers and fries, you can sit out in the park and eat. There are also several other locations throughout the city.

• Post House on 63rd btwn Park and Madison is the best steak ala Mortons or the Palm.

• Trattoria del Arte 7th near Carnegie Hall is fun and contemporary Italian

ALL OF THESE NEED A RESERVATION….BUT YOUR HOTEL CONCIERGE CAN MAKE THEM FOR YOU.

• Serendipity 3, which is behind Bloomies, across 3rd, in the same block as Dylan's Candy Bar and a great lunch and/or dessert place. There is always a wait, but it is worth it.

• Across the street from Dylan’s is a fantastic French bistro with great wines and steak frittes!

• The Wolf and Lamb deli is between Madison and 5th @48th and is the BEST deli in the WORLD and much better than all of the other touristy ones. It is not open on Saturday!!

• John’s of Bleeker is the best pizza and there is a great Thai place a few doors down.

• OTTO is Mario Batali’s newest NYC restaurant at 1 5th Ave, next to Washington Sq.

• His Babbo is just around the corner at 110 Waverly Place.

• Around midtown, try Serafina Fabulous Grill on 61st btwn Park and Mad.

• Brasserie Cognac is a fun French Bistro at 55th and B’way.

• For breakfast, we like Grey Dog, with 2 locations order at the counter and good before shopping! In Chelsea on 16th btwn 7&8 Ave – then on to Union Square OR in the Village on University btwn 11&12th.

• Another great place for breakfast is Penelope on Lex at 30th. Worth the wait, and then it’s a quick walk to the big Macy’s at Herald Square, H&M, Forever21.

All the Classics, You know them and you love them and New york is famous for them!

• Bloomies: Lex @ 59th

• Macy’s: B’way @ 34th

• Saks: 5th @ 49th

• Bergdorf Goodman: 5th @ 58th

• Henri Bendel: 5th @ 55th

• Barney’s: Madison @ 61st

• Lord & Taylor: 5th @ 39th

• Crate and Barrel is on Madison @ 59th.

• A lot of great shopping is on Madison.

  How to get there The N-S streets are 3rd, Lex, Park, Madison, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th. B’way runs diagonally thru these so sometime B’way is between 6th and 7th and higher up, it is between 8th and 9th. Ave of the Americas is also 6th.

For Knock-Offs

MOST OF THE PLACES WE KNOW ARE GONE BUT YOU CAN STILL FIND A QUALITY KNOCK OFF:)

• How to get there: Take the 4/5/6 or NRQW to Canal. When you get up from the subway find McDonalds. You need to be across the street from McDonalds walking uphill to find the best bags. On Mulberry, the second store on the left has a great selection and back room. You can find terrific Tory in the next block, turning right on Hester and it’s the first store on the right. Next to Chase on Canal will be some women hawking specific brands and don't be afraid to follow them for some cool spy-like experiences and great bags. On the same side of the street as McDonalds, at the corner of Lafayette and Canal is where all the great watches and jewelry items are. Ask for specific brands. Look for Chanel beads, Tory, Juicy, VanCleef & Arpels, John Hardy, etc.

Be sure and eat in Little Italy while you are there…Mulberry Street is the heart! And every restaurant is great. We like Buona Notte and Positano the best. If you’re in the mood for dim sum, go to 61 Mott, just one block past Mulberry for the best and cheapest.

See Getting Around Town for how to get to even more shops!