BOOKS GLORIOUS BOOKS!

Barnes & Noble Booksellers
Fifth Ave
555 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10017

Head instore on 16th December 2006 to catch teen author Christopher Paolini signing copies of his best selling fantasy ERAGON.
Not too interested in fantasy? Hell, head instore anyway and give yourself the sheer joy of endless romance, travel, food, fiction, autobiographies and much more. B&N is just a massive library (with a cash register at the end) where it is expected people will stay for hours indulging in their topic of choice. Single couches are clustered sporadically across all floors and on the top floor there is a Starbucks (of course) for that little caffeine kick.
But the last time I visited B&N, it was Christmas time and the only option was to jion the readers lined along the walls and windows.
So be prepared for a numb behind, but definitely relaxing and worth your while.

(sent in via Myopera.com by Angela from Sydney, Australia)

GRAY'S PAPAYA

Apart from the yellow cabs the next thing that hits you about NYC is how many hotdog stands there are. Almost every corner of every block is manned by a hotdog/pretzel/nuts cart and I swear I've seen the same cart twice in one day.
But DO NOT settle for these hotdogs! Make whoever is with you walk to the nearest Gray's Papaya. I've thought about it and essentially it's just a sausage in a sliced long bun but there's something completely unique in a Gray's Papaya. Maybe it's the slight crispness of the bun, maybe it's the squiggly way the ketchup and mustard meet on the sausage or maybe it's the fanned out cup thingy that the hotdog comes in.

Maybe it's the fact that they're only 95c each.

I realise that this isn't the most ideal diet, but it should balance out with all the walking you'll do.

8th St. W and 6th Ave.
37th St. W and 8th Ave.
72nd St. W and Broadway

read more: gray's papaya

Staten Island Ferry

FREE!!!!!
Could it be any better than that?
A true Yank recommended this to me in an attempt to save me from being stuck on an island for an hour or so. I'm so grateful to have been informed because the only difference between this and the actual ferry tour is that you will not ba able to acutally visit the island that the Statue stands on. However, you will still get amazing views of the Iconic lady as well as marvellous shots of the south side of Manhattan skyline.






















Just remember to make a day of this ferry experience and plan your day around Lower Manhattan so you don't spend your day travelling.
The ferry leaves approximately every 30 minutes on weekdays but check the timetable to be sure. Also be sure to get there a little early to beat the lines especially during peak hour times as this is the main mode of transport between the island and Manhattan. Still, the ferry is quite large and accomodating.

YOOHOO

The drink that is a meal


But don't get me wrong, when i say 'meal' I don't mean some sort of health kick start to your day. A YooHoo is simply flavoured milk* and get it in a giant glass bottle if you want the original (they also come in cans and poppers).
It is usually associated with children, but I would recommend that you split a standard bottle between 3 kids as the smoothness of this milk is deceptively dense.

* nutrition facts of standard bottle (as pictured above)

ROGER SMITH HOTEL

Forget staying in a Hostel or a temporary apartment because for the same sort of price, you could be living it up in this boutique hotel in midtown Manhattan.
Located on the East side, the Roger Smith Hotel is right next door to BLISS SPA and only a $8 cab ride from the Port Authority bus and train terminal (directly linked by subway or shuttles from all major airports).

For me, this would've been enough as the excellent location is a giant blessing when it comes to saving on bus, subway or cab fares. However, what sets this place apart from the hundreds of hotels spread around Manhattan is it's room designs. Each room is individually decorated with 4 post beds and cute armchairs with matching wallpaper and bed sheets.








After your load of luggage is removed from your numb arms, Hotel staff present you with their complimentary breakfast buffet coupons. This is not like how you would imagine 'free' food. There is a bran cereal to die for and a selection of teas, coffees and juices that you can take away for later.
The bathroom amenities (which I am a huge sucker for and is normally the deciding factor of when I choose my hotels) is an excellent little bag of goodies with a mini travel sewing kit in case you forget your own.
For rainy nights or every night that you are too excited to sleep, there is a free movie hire service (VHS) that brings blockbusters to classics straight to your door.

I don't quite remember how I stumbled upon this place but I assume it was during one of the endless hours I spent trying to find the best bargain for a place to sleep.

More information and Bookings: therogersmith.com

501 Lexington Avenue at 47th st.
New York, NY 10017

Bargain Hunting

There is one quintessential item that all visitors to NYC must buy. As a matter of fact even those who have never been to the city make it their business to own an I HEART NY t-shirt. These iconic 3 bold letters and giant red love heart has been chopped and changed to suit various other state names and gimics, but there is nothing quite like the original.
There's no need to worry about availability since every second store in NYC is a souvenier shop, but there is (always) the need to find a bargain. Generally these tees retail at 5 for $10 (USD) but here are a few that go for cheaper.

CHINATOWN: I can hear you laughing already. Along Lafayette St the stores have a cardboard sign screaming '6 FOR $10!'
More interesting is that they also carry a line of coloured shirts from pinks to blues which is harder to find in the inner city.
And remember: Always HAGGLE
42nd St (between 8th Avenue and Columbus Avenue): This has been the best bargain I've seen yet at 7 for $10.

They're a great present and idea and roll nicely into your luggage without any change of breaking. Just DON'T expect fancy wrapping or even folding. You'll be lucky to get your reciet and a flimsy plastic bag.

Flight Plan

Whether you are coming in on a 23-god-please-let-it-stop-hour flight from Sydney Australia or just a 9 hour from London's Heathrow to New York's JFK, there's no reason you shouldn't aim for the best seat on the plane.
Apart from praying for a safe flight, I also pray that the person next to me has a sense of personal hygiene and space that is relatively similar to mine.Of course depending on what sort of aircraft you fly, there will be variations in the seating plan but there are still ways to maximiise your comfort during flight.
LAST THREE ROWS: If you are auto allocated these seats keep them! I remember the first time that I saw 'Row 68' on my boarding pass and I almost fainted, but it's actually one of the most spacious seats available with overhead cabin storage and extra room down the side due to the fact that there are only two seats and the curve of the plane.
Also (after first class, business class, children and people that need extra boarding time) you are the first to get on the plane which is a surprisingly welcome change from waiting around the terminal especially if you have already been there for the couple of advised hours leeway.

EXIT ROW: Three words - extra leg room.
This is obviously always a safe bet and if you aren't begging for it at check-in you should be (I have a 'friend' who turns up extra early so she's guaranteed this seat). However, you will be given the responsibility of prying open that tightly air sucked emergency exit door if some horrific accident should occur, although I doubt anyone would blame you if you didn't considering how comfy and asleep you would be in that spacious exit row position.