Welcome back to the hotelbook.com podcast. In this episode we will be taking a look at the city that never sleeps and is so great that they named it twice. It could only be New York.
With the holidays fast approaching thoughts of shopping are in the air. So why not use this as an excuse to get inventive and plan a trip to New York City. It’s a great time to shake things up a bit and do things differently. So this episode is all about Shopping in New York.
New York has always been a firm favorite for shopping anytime of the year, particularly for pre-Christmas shopping. The range of stores, the excellent prices, especially for European visitors, and the convenience of getting all of your shopping needs covered in just one trip.
Manhattan’s shopping is of course excellent. In a city like New York it’s impossible to leave empty-handed. Some relatives and friends are difficult to by for, but the stores of New York will serve up something perfect. From the acres of items at Macy’s and Bloomingdales to the eclectic mix of shops you’ll find in the East Village, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
It’s easy to think of the island of Manhattan as one vast shopping mall in which you can get everything. But you are of course in one of the most exciting cities in the world. There will be any number of other distractions to occupy your time.
Everything from great restaurants and cocktail-fueled evenings to off-Broadway shows and New York jazz bars, will be there to tempt you. And that’s just the evenings. During the day you’ll be tempted by spending a few hours in art galleries or climbing the Empire State Building, or a long lazy lunch with your traveling friends.
Whether you’re a seasoned New York shopper or a first-timer it’s probably a good idea to spend some time thinking about what you want. Weeks could very easily be spent just browsing the stores on 5th Avenue, but then you’d miss all the stores in SoHo and the Village without even seeing so much as a glimpse of Chelsea on 6th Avenue. Spending a few minutes with a good detailed map of the city will not only save your feet, but also loads of time! Return visitors to the city will no doubt have a mental list of must-visit stores; so if you have any irresistible stores do let us know on the hotelbook.com blog at blog.hotelbook.com. We thought we’d start with a few New York icons.
First up has to be Macy’s. This venerable department store opened its doors for the first time in NYC in 1858. In the nearly 150 years of opening its doors, Macy’s has set the standard for department stores around the globe. In 1862 they featured the very first in-store Santa Claus, it was the first store to use escalators in 1902, and in 1924 it first hosted the ‘Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade’ – a tradition that continues to this day. To check out the schedule for Holiday season events visit macys.com.
For the über-cool and hip, Barney’s of New York is a must. This 9 story department store caters to the latest trends and biggest names in fashion. This is shopping for the professionals. Also relatively new to the Barney’s world is the Barney’s Co-op – a store with a much more ‘downtown urban’ vibe. Clothing is a little edgier than the traditional high fashion found at Barney’s proper.
If someone has been very good to you this year, and we mean very good, then Tiffany & Company could well be worth a visit. Famous in its own right and made even more so by the 1961 Audrey Hepburn classic “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, it is the jeweler of choice in New York. Aside from the fine selection of gold, silver and platinum the retailer also features a large selection of crystal and china. While a pair of silver heart earrings or a money clip may be the only items within an average shopper’s budget, coming home with something in “that little blue box” is priceless. To preview highlights from the current collection visit tiffany.com.
Elsewhere in town you’ll find more unusual one-of-a-kind stores. Where SoHo meets Chinatown you’ll find the Pearl River Mart. This department store of everything Asian features all types of apparel, dinnerware, herbal products not to mention a paper lantern or two. Prices here can’t be beaten and it is all too easy to walk out of the store laden down with shopping bags. You’ll find Pearl River Mart located on Broadway between Broom and Grand Street.
In the East Village on Allen Street you’ll find German born Jutta Neumann’s boutique of the same name where she turns leatherwear into an art form. Known for her boots, bags, and wrist cuffs you can also have a pair of sandals custom made to your exact foot measurements.
Finally, on Mulberry Street, where you can find an eclectic mix of shopping, is the Gigi Boutique - a popular clothing store for young women looking for something unusual. The Gigi Boutique offers a mix of clothing appropriate for business to a night on the town. You’ll also find interesting up-and-coming designers represented at affordable prices.
Come rain or shine, winter or summer Central Park remains a special place for New Yorkers. Although Harper’s magazine may have gone a little over the top back in 1876 when the Park opened and they described it as ‘all radiant in the magic atmosphere of art and taste’. It is perhaps better to simply call it the heart of the city. It’s a place of peace, art, and entertainment.
No visit to New York is complete without spending some time in Central Park. Maybe take a walk in the park behind the Metropolitan Museum, or a picnic on the Great Lawn or the Sheep Meadow. Picnicking and walks are great for the summer and spring, but not so good for the winter. But there’s nothing quite like sitting on a bench surrounded by a perfect blanket of snow by one of the iced-over ponds sipping a hot cup of coffee. It’s either a very relaxing end to a vigorous day of shopping on 5th Avenue, or an excellent way to start the day. Alternatively for those of you who need something more restorative after some serious shopping then be sure to pay a visit to the posed surroundings of the Oak Room for a Martini.
The right hotel can make or break a visit to New York. The location is crucial, and never more so than when you’re laden with a days shopping. At hotelbook we’ve scoured our vast range of hotels to bring you a few highlights that we hope make your stay in New York even better.
The Warwick New York Hotel is a true landmark in Midtown Manhattan. Located across from the Museum of Modern Art and only a few blocks from Rockefeller Center and Central Park, the hotel was built in 1927 by William Randolph Hurst. In the years since, The Warwick has been the home-away-from-home for such notables as Cary Grant, The Beatles, Irving Berlin and Elvis Presley. You can have a great meal with out even leaving the hotel at the recently opened Murals on 54 Restaurant, or grab a drink at Randolph’s Bar, the newly expanded and refurbished restaurant lounge that feels more like a living room than a bar. The Warwick New York Hotel’s prime location, intimate atmosphere, and personalized service provide a memorable stay for every guest.
The second hotel we’d like to recommend is The Premier 4 star luxury hotel, located in the lively Times Square/Theatre District of Midtown Manhattan. It’s a four star deluxe hotel with all the amenities that you’d expect from an upmarket city hotel. Whilst staying at The Premier you’ll find yourself in excellent proximity to great entertainment and but a stone’s throw from loads of great midtown shopping. You will also be within easy range of downtown with all the variety and goodness of SoHo and the village.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this episode of the hotelbook.com podcast. When you make a trip to the fantastic city that is New York, be sure to tell us all about on our blog at blog.hotelbook.com. Both hotels and links to more information on the places mentioned are of course available on hotelbook.com and blog.hotelbook.com. Stay tuned for another episode of the hotelbook.com podcast coming soon.
Check out Spree New York for more great shopping in New York City.
www.spreenewyork.com
Posted by: Lindsay | November 30, 2006 at 03:30 AM
Hi,
Nice article....I think New york is one of the best tourist place...I like to visit that place and want to purchase lot of things....
Posted by: caravanning blogs | April 20, 2009 at 08:29 AM