NY

Love it or hate it, you can’t deny that New York City is impressive. Often referred to as the “Big Apple,” the “City That Never Sleeps” or the “Capital of the World,” New York is one of the most vibrant urban centers on the planet, and also one of the largest.

When people talk about New York, they typically mean Manhattan, which is but one of five boroughs that make up the city proper, the others being Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. The full metropolitan area, which includes nearby Long Island, Westchester County, and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut, has a population upwards of 18 million.

New York draws tourists from around the globe, not only for its rich cultural and historical attractions, but also because it is a major center for media, theater, food, fashion, art, research, finance, trade and nightlife. It also has one of the most famous skylines on earth, dominated by the iconic Empire State Building.

First-time visitors can’t go wrong by hitting the traditional tourist spots: the top of the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, Greenwich Village and SoHo, Rockefeller Center, Lincoln Center, Central Park, even Times Square. But those looking for more local, authentic experiences, plan a trip to Brooklyn to check out the Brooklyn Museum, Prospect Park and the Botanical Gardens; Manhattan’s Lower East Side for a taste of old-world immigrant history meets modern-day hipsters and nascent art scene; or Jackson Heights in Queens, for the best Indian and Thai food outside of Asia.

A 1904 Beaux Arts landmark in the heart of midtown Manhattan, The St. Regis New York provides the atmosphere and attentive service found only in the most gracious residences of that era. Yet it still keeps up with the finest modern amenities, such as High Speed Internet Access available in all guest and meeting rooms. Its 256 guest rooms and suites feature Louis XVI-style furniture, crystal chandeliers suspended from high ceilings, deeply carved crown moldings and wainscoting, marble baths, and silk wall coverings. Elegant furnishings and gracious service have helped rank The St. Regis Hotel, New York among the top hotels in the world for over a decade. Most recently, our hotel was named one of the **Top 75 Hotels in the United States** by Cond? Nast Traveler, as well as to their 2004 and 2005 Gold Lists and a 2004 Readers' Choice winner. Travel + Leisure magazine also named us one of the **World's Best** in 2004. We were also awarded the Mobil Travel Guide Five-Star Award.

Across the street from Central Park and the Plaza Hotel sits Apple Store Fifth Avenue, the jewel in the crown of the company's vast network of highly successful retail outlets. The store is an underground playground of everything Mac, crowned itself by a gleaming, street-level, 30-foot glass cube. Customers enter through the cube, and descend an extravagant sprial staircase into the fray. The store is staffed by a 300-strong army of Mac experts, provides free computer access 24 hours a day, and boasts an impressive selection of computers, iPods, and related accessories. At the store's website, one can make reservations at the "Genius Bar" for technical or creative support or one-on-one personal training up to a week in advance. See website for complete calendar of workshops and events (including midnight DJ sets every Friday).

This casual Lower East Side counter shop serves pretty much just one thing - grilled cheese sandwiches! However, patrons can build their own customized sandwich, by choosing the bread, cheese and extras. Whole wheat, white bread, brie, ham, turkey, onions, guaucamole are all here. The ambience is mellow, complete with reggae in the background, and the staff is helpful and brimming with suggestions. There are drinks and dessert available as well. Average price is $20.

Right in the heart of Manhattan stands this oasis of rolling pastures and gardens, stretching from Midtown to Harlem. It was created in 1857 by Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux. These days walkers, rollerbladers, bikers and joggers compete for space. Lovers meet at Bethseda Fountain on Bethseda Terrace. To the north, others wonder at the mystery of Belvedere Castle. Nearby is the Delacorte Theater, where you can watch plays in the summer. It blends so easily with the Manhattan environment that it is difficult to guess that it is totally man made. Across the park lies a charming Central Park Wildlife Conservation Center, and children of all ages love the restored carousel.