Things to do

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!