The Beauty of New York City

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ely populated borough that's among the world's major commercial, financial and cultural centers. Its iconic sites include sky

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rk City

ld. Along the way came civil war, riots and recession, terrorism, triumph, and tr

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New York & New Yor

er what you're after, you'll find it here: great theater, museums, luxurious hotels, history, nightlife, sumptuous dining. The only thing that's difficult t

ont, more than 18,000 restaurants, and 76,000 hotel rooms. But once you get over the crowded streets, the wailing sir

y trans

s have not seen since the 1960s, and the city is generally cleaner and more efficient. The upshot is that both tourists and businesspeople are flocking here in unprec

ea was filled with porn theaters and pickpockets. Today Times Square is still choked, but with new office buildings a

the highest unemployment rates in the US. The disparity between the rich

Apple: a h

k City have a total population of approximately 8 million, with immigrants from all corners of the world. There are more Italians than in Ven

tions in New

the universe, and after a few days here it's hard not t

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ue of L

d. Unveiled in 1886, it was a gift to the US from France – a symbol o

sler Bu

shiny distinctive spire dominates Midtown. Erected in 1930, this was the tallest

ntral

n oasis. Central Park is the playground and the meeting place of the metropolis; th

e State

n Deck you can see fabulous views of Manhattan below, an

MoM

ted after 1880, roughly from the Impressionists on, the collection includes many masterpieces, from Van Gogh's The Sta

mes S

which were here, Times square has a

litan Muse

of the art world has a collection of over 2 million pieces, rang

nwich V

e's a neighborhood feel to the area, with its lovely old brownstones, one-off stores, Italian b

genheim Co

e latter part of the 19th century. Many were associated with movements such as Expressionism, Cubism, and the tren

Museum of Nat

ne of the largest. Choose a subject you're interested in, such as the so

ity history

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e crossroads of the world. Along the way came civil war, r

immig

rk's sky

an wo

k history

IMMIG

nary ferment in Central Europe brought the Irish and Germans, who were soon followed by Italians, Poles, and Hungarians. The first important wave of Jews fleeing the pog

EAST

he crooked ward," or simply "Jew town." The irregular rectangle of tenements and sw

ith 330,000 people per square mile and primitive sanitation, yellow fever and cholera were constant threats, and child labor and exploitation were facts of life. Famil

RST SW

uttered the rooms. Pay was by quantity, hours were long, and the pace was fast and re

fined for damaged material at two or three times its regular value. Wages were minimal – maybe $8 or $10 a week for a family of

ents' worth of sugar, five cents' worth of butter, everything in penny fractions." Compassion for frien

H COM

at, produce, or cheap ¬clothes from pushcarts. The area was nicknamed "the Pig Market," probably, as ca

arly organized, but "strike-busters" were hired by the bosses to intimidate them with threats and violent acts. Organizations like the Educational Alliance

K'S SKY

connect New York City with Brooklyn, a sizeable city in its own right. The invention of the elevator by Elisha Otis made it possible to construct 'skyscrapers' up to the amazing height of eight or ten stories. In 1898, New York

L SK

latiron Building, erected in 1902 and with 22 stories. The Equitable Building, however, which appeared on Lower Broadway in 1916, was a monster on an 'H'-shaped

TAN'S

). Designed by Mies van der Rohe with Philip Johnson, and completed in 1958, the Seagram Building on Park Avenue was a simple tower with a straight façade, following the rules of the International Style. It overcame the zoning law by having a plaza at its base, setting the trend for later developments such as R

N WO

rst mate, Robert Jet, wrote: "We found a land full of great tall

(4,000 hectares) are in more or less their natural state. Peregrine falcons nest on M

tral Park, wrote that "the contemplation of natural s

k's beg

rk Harbor in 1524, but it would be a hundred years before the first settlers came to the area. Tod

Amst

ny, excitement finally began to build over the region's possibilities, and in 1624, the new Dutch West India Company sent the first

popular city creation myth, it was Peter Minuit who in 1626 purchased the entire island of Manhattan from Native Americans for the equivalent of $

tin

o mention black slaves from the Caribbean. In 1643 a priest counted 18 languages spoken in this town of 1

e British, who had settled much of the area around New Amsterdam. But the effort was unnecessary. Unable or unwilling to put up a fight, the Dutch settlers sur

w

briefly known as New Orange, a treaty the following year returned it to British control.

the town went to cheer George Washington as he left to take command of the Continental Army in Boston, while the other half were down at the harbor giving a rousing w

ew Re

lonies. Washington returned triumphantly to New York and bade farewell to his officers at Frances Tavern. He later became the country's first president, when the city was briefly the first capital of the ne

rica's commercial center. In 1800 (the same year Alexander Hamilton built the Grange, which is i

CULTURAL FEATURES

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A TRIP TO N

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NSPOR

NG TO N

BY

nd 8 miles (24 and 13km) from ¬Midtown. Driving time to/from Kennedy is estimated at 90 ¬minutes, but heavy traffic can often double this, so leave lots of

tional flights. It's really in New Jersey, but, although a little bit farther from Manhattan t

Y R

, upstate New York and Connecticut), and Pennsylvania Station at Seventh Ave and 33rd St (for Long Island and most other destinations).

Y R

a the George Washington Bridge. From the northwest, the New York State Thruway connects with Henry Hudson Parkway into northern Manhattan. Driving

Greyhound, tel: 1-800-231 2222) and local commuter lines. City buses stop outside. A modern terminal with stores and other facilities, nevertheless

around

ent

g oneself very easy. Even-numbered streets tend to have one-way eastbound traffic; odd-numbered streets, westbound. There are very few exceptio

ston, 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd, 57th, 66th, 86th, 116th, 125th, and a few others. Subway trains cross town at 14th an

THE A

train) and Sutphin Boulevard (E, J, and Z train) subways and at Jamaica Long Island Railroad station for JFK, and at a special

akes about one hour; traveling from Newark (by Air Train and then Amt

ion: http://jfkairport

: https://www.newarkairport.

irports and Manhattan. Pick-up and drop-off points include: Port Authority Bus Terminal, Penn Station, and Grand

es 5am–1am, while Triboro Coach bus Q-33 runs to 74th St subway stop

press buses daily between Newark airport and Manhattan, stopping at the Port Au

hotels or private addresses, but this can be slow, with many stops. Super Shuttle (www.supershuttle.com, tel: 212-258 3826) offe

are by Air Train, or by Green Bus Lines t

airports if traveling by road; the traffic can be very bad, e

C TRANS

AYS AN

midnight. There are many subway routes, identified by letters or numbers; some share the same trac

a Metro Card, which you charge up with a minimum amount and swipe through the entry gates each time you use the subway, or in machines on city buses. If you charge it with over $10, you get a discount

.mta.info or tel: 718-330 1234; for details about

the river between Manhattan and New Jersey. For mor

TA

rand Central and Penn Station. Be sure to flag down an official, yellow cab, not an unlicensed gypsy cab. Flat fares

rger cabs). Between the hours of 4 and 8pm, there is a small surch

telephone 212-nyc

E TRANSP

NG IN N

ll to leave their vehicle parked in a garage and use public transportation,

cated; the use of seat belts is mandatory; the speed limit on most highways in New York is 55mph (90kmh) and is

ark

If you happen to find a parking spot on the street, obey posted parking regulations, which may include parking only on one side of the street on alte

YING

2th avenues on the West Side are good hunting ground

EAKD

the American Automobile Association (AAA), will help members and foreign visitors affiliated with other recognized automobile associations. In case

R RE

y a few times. If you do need a car, you'll find it's generally cheaper to rent at the airport than in Manhattan, and cheaper still to rent a

more expensive than weekday rates, since most New Yorker

e. The minimum age for renting a car is 21, but some companies will not re

th and

t health and sa

and bu

t money and bud

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ng to N

By

nd 8 miles (24 and 13km) from ¬Midtown. Driving time to/from Kennedy is estimated at 90 ¬minutes, but heavy traffic can often double this, so leave lots of

tional flights. It's really in New Jersey, but, although a little bit farther from Manhattan t

r

, upstate New York and Connecticut), and Pennsylvania Station at Seventh Ave and 33rd St (for Long Island and most other destinations). C

r

via the George Washington Bridge. From the northwest, the New York State Thruway connects with Henry Hudson Parkway into northern Manhattan. Drivin

ng Greyhound, tel: 1-800-231 2222) and local commuter lines. City buses stop outside. A modern terminal with stores and other facilities, neverthele

around

ent

ing oneself very easy. Even-numbered streets tend to have one-way eastbound traffic; odd-numbered streets, westbound. There are very few except

ston, 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd, 57th, 66th, 86th, 116th, 125th, and a few others. Subway trains cross town at 14th an

the a

A train) and Stephan Boulevard (E, J, and Z train) subways and at Jamaica Long Island Railroad station for JFK, and at a special

akes about one hour; traveling from Newark (by Air Train and then Amt

ion :http://jfkairport

: https://www.newarkairport.

irports and Manhattan. Pick-up and drop-off points include: Port Authority Bus Terminal, Penn Station, and Grand

es 5am–1am, while Triboro Coach bus Q-33 runs to 74th St subway stop

press buses daily between Newark airport and Manhattan, stopping at the Port Au

hotels or private addresses, but this can be slow, with many stops. Super Shuttle (www.supershuttle.com, tel: 212-258 3826) offe

are by Air Train, or by Green Bus Lines t

airports if traveling by road; the traffic can be very bad, e

c Trans

ays an

midnight. There are many subway routes, identified by letters or numbers; some share the same trac

a Metro Card, which you charge up with a minimum amount and swipe through the entry gates each time you use the subway, or in machines on city buses. If you charge it with over $10, you get a discount

.mta.info or tel: 718-330 1234; for details about

the river between Manhattan and New Jersey. For mor

a

nd Central and Penn Station. Be sure to flag down an official, yellow cab, not an unlicensed gypsy cab. Flat fares to

rger cabs). Between the hours of 4 and 8pm, there is a small surch

telephone 212-nyc

e Transp

ng in N

l to leave their vehicle parked in a garage and use public transportation,

cated; the use of seat belts is mandatory; the speed limit on most highways in New York is 55mph (90kmh) and is

rk

If you happen to find a parking spot on the street, obey posted parking regulations, which may include parking only on one side of the street on alte

ing

12th avenues on the West Side are good hunting ground

akd

f the American Automobile Association (AAA), will help members and foreign visitors affiliated with other recognized automobile associations. In ca

Re

ty a few times. If you do need a car, you'll find it's generally cheaper to rent at the airport than in Manhattan, and cheaper still to rent a

more expensive than weekday rates, since most New Yorker

e. The minimum age for renting a car is 21, but some companies will not re

ND BARS IN N

A

In New York, 'café' refers to a wide variety of places. Some are full-fledged restaurants; others are little more than a take-out counter and a table or two. Some have European flair; others are

A

find a workingman's tavern in just about every neighborhood. On the high end is an endless parade of ultra-hip watering holes where the thin and fabulous gather beh

AND BARS IN

ia Str

eet/Blacker and

-98

urant holds regular poetry readings and mu

lla

Avenue/

-23

tic java prepared by people who know what th

afé and

12th Street/W

-46

il spot in the Meatpacking District is a

é L

d Street/Ams

-49

menu, but they're little more than an afterth

le

enue/West 81st

-87

s best. Soft multicolored lights create an alluring, grotto-like atmosphere in

Sab

Avenue/East

-28

cellent desserts of an old Viennese-style restaurant. Replicas of period banquettes and bentwood furniture, plus a Josef Hoffmann chand

ng Ro

roadway/Br

-92

essed tin ceilings, and the work of local artists on the walls. Burg

ch R

way/West 8

-79

collegial spot for coffee, drinks, or a full meal

ets Café (insi

t 41st

-77

te cake is equally enticing. There are better choices if you're fuss

Bar a

venue/West

707

th bags of atmosphere where drink

pbell A

Avenue, Grand

-95

cret lair in Grand Central Terminal, onc

Ea

t/Greenwich and

-43

ecor is dark, the atmosphere welcoming and relaxed. The clientele, an unholy mix of dockers and artists, has c

ck

th Street/S

-64

key yet sophisticated neighborhood bar. You can enjoy

y En

et/Forsyth and

-33

e his departure to an upstate prison. Rumor has it that this Lower East Side basement was

è Re

reet/Becker and

-47

is is the best of the Vill

Bar and R

treet/Broadway

-52

od hangout. After-work crowds toss down drin

Horse

Street/West

512

historic tavern, where Welsh poet Dylan Thomas knocked back one too

i Le Sp

st 42n

-55

t shop than a traditional café, but the espresso is excel

Rob

ue/East 10th a

-67

o, De Roberts remains an old-fashi

lk

ore Street/

-94

fiscal crises, blackouts and, most recently, the World Trade Center disaster, when folks gathered to hear t

rc

Street/Pr

-96

bar and antlers on the wall. Though supermodels don't hang out here much anymore, the crowd still tends to be sha

Ging

reet/Madison an

-53

lgian beer, plus Irish whiskeys and 20 or so single malt scot

r

et/Elizabeth a

-33

g from pesto chicken, avocado, and goat cheese to shiitakes, fresh sardines, and tomatoes, as well as the more tradi

lli

Street/Mer

-22

ter in this handsome pub, which has been serving food continuously since 1874 (it was a speakeasy during Prohibition). The kitchen knoc

Daily

venue/East

-30

and expertly brewed. There are eight more Oren's café-stores around Manhattan, inclu

o visit

d: New York State,

. Along with New York City, you'll find Niagara Falls, stunning autumn foliage and real wilderness up in Maine. Heading south, the Mid-Atlantic reg

ntic and

Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida. Art deco architecture in Miami, stunning vistas in the Great Smoky Mountai

tland an

ebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma. The bustling centers of Chicago and Minneapolis-St Paul await you, while South Dakota epitomizes the tough beauty of the wilderness in its Badlands. In the West you'll find the "cowboy" states of Montana and

st, California

d south and you'll hit California, with vineyards at Napa and Sonoma, urban cool in San Francisco, celebrity in Los Angeles, and abundant beauty at Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe. The southern end of California leads

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sely populated borough that's among the world's major commercial, financial and cultural centers. Its iconic sites include s