The Unofficial Guide to New York City Book

List of Maps     viii
Acknowledgments     ix
About the Author and Contributors     x
Introduction     1
"New York, New York, It's a Helluva Town..."     1
About This Guide     3
"Inside" New York for Outsiders     7
Understanding the City     11
Boroughs, Neighborhoods, and "Districts"     11
A Very Short History of an Extremely Complex City     14
Planning Your Visit     28
When to Go     28
What to Pack     29
Gathering Information     32
Special Considerations     33
Calendar of Special Events     37
Accommodations     48
New Room Stars in the Sky     48
All Things Considered     48
Hotel Neighborhoods     60
Can You Even Get In?     63
Slice the Price of Romms in the Apple     65
Is Your Travel Agent NYC Savvy?     70
Hotels Rated and Ranked     72
How the Hotels Compare     82
New York Hotels by Neighborhood     86
The Top 30 Best Deals in New York City     88
Hotel Information Chart     89
Arriving and GettingOriented     111
Arriving     111
Things the Locals Already Know     122
How to Avoid Crime and Keep Safe in Public Places     124
Getting Around     126
Taxis     126
The Subway     128
Buses     136
Walking     136
New York's Neighborhoods     138
The Sidewalks of New York     138
Central Park     191
Other Green Corners of the City     197
Sightseeing, Tours, and Attractions     200
Let Your Fingers Do the Walking...First     200
Touring Options     203
New York City Attractions by Type     210
New York City Attractions by Neighborhood     212
An Abundance of Riches     214
Attraction Profiles     214
Dining and Restaurants     250
NYC Eats: Everything, Anything, All the Time     250
Pickles or Panache     252
The Restaurants     255
The Best New York Restaurants     256
New York Restaurants by Neighborhood     260
Restaurant Profiles     276
Shopping     359
Keeping Your Eyes on the Prize (and the Price)      359
All Together Now: Department Stores, "Malls," and Flea Markets     359
One-stop Shopping: Museum Shops and Theme Stores     363
Great Neighborhoods for Shopping     367
Specialty Shopping     378
Exercise and Recreation     392
Double Your Pleasure, Double Your Fun     392
Chelsea Piers and Central Park     393
Working Out     394
Other Recreational Sports     398
Spectator Sports     399
Entertainment and Nightlife     403
Lights, Tickets, Action...     403
Economizing     405
Performing Arts     408
New York Nightlife     416
New York Nightclubs by Neighborhood     422
At-a-Glance Club Guide     424
Nightclub Profiles     428
Indexes and Reader Survey     455
Restaurant Index     455
Subject Index     458
Unofficial Guide Reader Survey     469