New york,
new york.
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New York City.
There’s no such thing as a World capital, but if there was…
WestJet is happy to add New York to its growing list of fantastic US destinations. Seasonal daily non-stop service to and from Calgary begins June 2, 2008.
Making the trip to New York is like writing a story without knowing the ending. Sure, you can list all the elements you want to include like a lazy afternoon in Central Park or a matinee on Broadway. And you can plan activities around themes like adventure, romance, discovery or culture all you want. But don’t be too surprised when your story takes a sudden twist and you chase a sight, sound, smell or taste off course.
Has there ever been a city so different, yet in which everyone feels somewhat at home? Woody Allen films and TV shows like Friends and Sex and the City have given us more than a glimpse of the city that never sleeps, but nothing compares to taking an actual bite out of the Big Apple.
You don’t need to be Spiderman to appreciate the unique architecture of the famous monuments that bring the New York City skyline to life. The Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, Brooklyn Bridge and Rockefeller Center are waiting to greet you with open arms.
Speaking of unique architecture, a stroll down Museum Mile is well worth your time for the world-class art collections, but also to take in the exterior of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Frank Lloyd Wright’s teacup-like Guggenheim.
If you prefer art of a more dynamic nature, be sure to take advantage of the outstanding shows on and off Broadway. Drop in at one of the many jazz clubs in town or plan ahead and catch the biggest names in the game at Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center or the famous Blue Note club. You can also star-gaze and exercise your funny bone at a taping of your favourite TV show.
In shopping circles, New York is a shop-a-holic’s dream. In fact, it’s not uncommon for tourists to eschew terms like north, south, east and west for Madison Avenue, Fifth Avenue, Macy’s and FAO Schwartz when trying to get around the city.
Options abound for sports fans as well in the New York area. One of the biggest attractions is the US Open of tennis held every summer at Flushing Meadows. And anywhere you go, you’re bound to run into baseball, football, basketball and hockey fanatics.
But in the end, what really fuels New York is the vibrant culture found in neighborhoods small and large. Unique in character, yet inescapably “New York”, districts like Brooklyn, Manhattan, SoHo, Greenwich Village, Harlem, Queens, Little Italy, Chinatown, Hell’s Kitchen, Wall Street and Coney Island are so engrossing that you may not go back to your hotel.
Come to think of it, what better way to discover a city than to bounce around and let curiosity be your guide? So leave your map at home, strap on your walking shoes, go subway-hopping or dive into one of the prominent yellow taxis and chat up your driver to see what the city is up to.
At the end of the day, you won’t have seen everything, but you’ll have seen enough to say…
…I ♥ NY.
Whether you’re in town for business or pleasure, for a day or a week, or for your first or fifth time, you’ll never be lacking for things to do or see in New York.
LANDMARKS
Most cities are lucky enough to boast one world-class landmark. New York has enough to fill an entire checklist. Which ones will make yours?
- Statue of Liberty
- Empire State Building
- Times Square
- Central Park
- Rockefeller Center
- Brooklyn Bridge
- St. Patrick’s Cathedral
- Grand Central Station
- Chrysler Building
- Ground Zero
- New York Public Library
THEATER
You know the names, Lion King, Mamma Mia, Les Misérables, Rent, Chicago, Phantom of the Opera…now comes see the faces that bring these lavish, big-budget Broadway productions to life.
But the Theater District is not limited to big Broadway shows. Some of the most artistic, classic, hilarious, dramatic and strange theater is produced off Broadway, every night, for a fraction of the price. And for a unique summer experience, gaze at the theater under the stars at a showing of Shakespeare in the Park. Great tickets to the bigger Broadway shows tend to sell out months beforehand so it’s a good idea to plan ahead. Your best bet for purchasing tickets to your favourite show is through the Telecharge ticket service.
If you aren’t too picky and love a great deal, look for the red TKTS ticket booths in Times Square where last-minute tickets to on and off Broadway shows can be discounted by up to 50%. Because the only thing better than a great show, is a great deal.
MUSEUMS
We shy away from using the expression “the Big Two” when referring to the Met and MoMA because it unfairly strips away some of the luster from the other dozen or so world-class museums in the city. But the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art are just that impressive.
If you are going to focus on exploring one museum from top to bottom, we suggest:
- The Met: Art connoisseurs, novices and kids on field trips fill the Met for first-hand looks at the paintings of the artists they know (Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Monet, Boticelli) and the sculptures, statues, tapestries and artifacts of those they don’t know…yet.
If you plan on museum-hopping, purchase a CityPass ($53 for adults, $44 for kids) which grants you access to:
- MoMA: Masterpieces from the biggest names in modern art including Picasso, Matisse, Van Gogh, Pollock, Dali and countless others.
- The Guggenheim: The architecture of the Frank Lloyd Wright building alone is worth the trip. Consider the Picassos and Matisses inside and you have one of New York’s top attractions.
- American Museum of Natural History: Take a trip through time and let dinosaur bones, rainforest habitats, ocean life and meteorites be your guides.
SPORTS
Options abound for sports fans in the New York area. One of the biggest attractions is the US Open of tennis held every summer at Flushing Meadows.
And anywhere you go, you’re bound to run into fanatics of the following teams:
- New York Yankees (baseball)
- New York Mets (baseball)
- New York Rangers (hockey)
- New York Islanders (hockey)
- New Jersey Devils (hockey)
- New York Giants (football)
- New York Jets (football)
- New York Knicks (basketball)
- New Jersey Nets (basketball)
So root, root root for the home team…or against it if your favourite team is in town at the same time.
DINING
They say that you could eat at a different New York restaurant every day of your life and not even have seen half of what the city has to offer. With that in mind, here are a few options to fit every budget.
- Gourmet dining: Most of your favourite master chefs from the Food Network have a high-end restaurant in the Big Apple including the master of Italian cuisine Mario Batali (Babbo. Esca and Del Posto) and Gordon Ramsay (Gordon Ramsay at the London).
- Eclectic cuisine: For something a little less expensive but no less unique, drop into some of the city’s cultural hot pockets. The neighborhoods of Tribeca and Hell’s Kitchen offer some of the best eats at reasonable prices.
- Picnic in the park: Pack a lunch and hit Central Park or stop in at the Union Square Greenmarket for some of the freshest home grown food around.
SHOPPING
New York is a shop-a-holic’s dream. Heard he expression If I can make it there I’ll make it anywhere? Well, if they don’t sell it there, they don’t sell it anywhere.
All the biggest designer and brand names can be found in one of the many shopping districts, the higher profile ones being:
- Fifth Avenue: High-end shopping options such as Gucci, Cartier, Tiffany, Louis Vuitton and Saks.
- Madison Avenue: Home of the two biggest department stores, Barney’s and Bloomingdale’s.
Other department stores and specialized shops include:
- Macy’s: The world’s largest department store. One million square feet of reasonably-priced goodies.
- The Apple Store: This giant glass-cube store is the biggest Apple store in, um, the Big Apple.
- FAO Schwartz: Your kids may not remember Tom Hanks’ giant piano scene in Big, but you can bet they won’t forget their first visit to the toy kingdom that is FAO Schwartz.
The heart of New York, and the source of its resilient spirit, lies with the people and culture that make up its eclectic neighborhoods.
With a rich immigrant history, no city better represents the US melting pot than New York. The millions of immigrants that docked just under the Statue of Liberty at Ellis Island around the turn of the century have established roots in bustling neighborhoods that are now thriving more than ever.
The great part about exploring these artistically and culturally diverse neighborhoods is that they link together seamlessly and are typically within walking distance of each other.
Here is a sampling of some of New York’s classic and cultural neighborhoods:
GREENWICH VILLAGE
Forever a bohemian paradise, with its record stores, tattoos parlors and the Beat generation mentality of Bleecker Street, the Village has managed to integrate a few upscale pubs, cafés and gourmet eateries over the past few decades. Washington and Union Squares remain prime areas for lounging around and people-watching.
SOHO
The area south of Houston (SoHo) is one of New York’s trendiest. Home to Broadway and lined with a string of trees and street vendors, SoHo is cosmopolitan hotspot for hipster fashionistas and a doorway to the neighborhoods of Little Italy, Chinatown and Tribeca.
LITTLE ITALY
The best Italian dining can be found on lively Mulberry Street, where tourists and locals cram the small neighborhood for authentic calamari, cannoli and cappuccino.
CHINATOWN
Nope, the largest Asian population in the Western hemisphere is not in Vancouver’s Chinatown, it’s in New York’s. But the sights, sounds and smells of the busy street teeming with fruit stands, fresh fish markets and bargain shoppers are just as vibrant.
TRIBECA
The triangle below Canal (Tribeca) area is a loft-lover’s paradise. The growing number of celebrities calling Tribeca home has lead to the creation of one of cinema’s highest-profile events, Robert De Niro’s Tribeca Film Festival which takes place every year in late April and early May.
BROOKLYN
Hip, family-friendly and home to some of the most lush greenery outside of Central Park, Brooklyn is definitely worth a day or two. Visit the hip neighborhoods of Park Slope, Dumbo and Williamsburg or take in the natural beauty of Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
HARLEM
The Harlem Renaissance in arts and literature of the early 20th century has injected new life into this historically African-American neighborhood. Home to lively 125th Street, the famous Apollo Theater, former President Bill Clinton’s office and the Latino El Museo del Barrio, Harlem is as proud a neighborhood as you’re likely to encounter.
QUEENS
If New York best represents the melting pot in the US, then Jackson Heights, with its mix of European, Latino, Asian and Indian population best represents the melting pot in New York.
CONEY ISLAND
Bite into one of Nathan’s Famous hot dogs at the Astroland amusement park…but take some time to stroll down the boardwalk before riding the Cyclone roller coaster or swimming at the Coney Island beach.
At first glance, orienting yourself in the biggest city in the US can seem a bit overwhelming. Don’t let it. With a handy map, a reliable guidebook or a savvy cabby you’ll be able to break down the city in no time. Here is a little something to get you started.
New York consists of five boroughs: Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island and the borough New Yorkers refer to as “The City”, Manhattan.
Sandwiched between the Hudson River and the East River Manhattan can be broken up into three sections: uptown, midtown and downtown, with Fifth Avenue running down the middle.
Here is a quick overview of what each section has to offer.
- Midtown: This is the New York you see on TV, in movies and in postcards. Stretching from 31st to 59th Street, Midtown is home to Times Square, the Empire State Building, the Theater District, MoMA, the Chrysler Building, Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Station and shopping heaven on Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue.
- Downtown: If Midtown is the face of New York, then Downtown is the heart of the city. The diverse cultures found in Little Italy, Chinatown, Ellis Island and the Lower East Side are rich in immigrant history. SoHo, Greenwich Village and Tribeca have a penchant for the arts. And the bohemian lifestyle is alive and well in green spaces like Washington Square and Union Square. Downtown is even home to the Financial District and Wall Street, which has a culture all its own. Ground Zero can also be found in the Financial District.
- Uptown: Forget Beverly Hills 90210. The wealthiest zip code in the country is Upper East Side 10021. But the riches found on the Upper West and Upper East sides aren’t only financial. Home to Central Park and the Museum Mile, Uptown is rich in art, activity and urban greenery.
Getting around New York can be an adventure in itself. Here a few options:
WALKING
Still the best way to see New York City. With numbered streets and avenues, getting around is easy, intuitive and doesn’t cost a thing! No fares, gas or parking fees to worry about, though you’ll want to invest in a durable pair of walking shoes.
SUBWAY
At any time, day or night, the New York City subway can take you pretty much anywhere you need to go. Operating in four boroughs, at 468 stations on 1350 kilometers of track, the subway remains the most efficient way to get around town. Single ($2), daily ($7) and weekly ($24) passes are available for purchase.
BUS
An alternative to the subway, the bus lets you see the city as you get from point A to point B, C, D…and back to point ZZZ. One downside to the bus is that you may get caught up in one of New York’s most infamous landmarks…gridlock traffic. Bus fares operate under the same system as the subway.
CAR
The best way to ruin a perfectly good vacation. Unless you like a good challenge or have to leave the city, we don’t recommend driving. If the constant gridlock doesn’t get to you, the one-way streets, pedestrian dodging and parking fees will.
Starting June 2, WestJet will fly offer seasonal non-stop flights between Calgary and Newark (Liberty) International Airport with connecting flights to and from select WestJet cities.
Newark (Liberty) International Airport is located in New Jersey, about 16 miles from Manhattan. Guests can access the city by car, taxi, bus or train in as little as 20 minutes.
WestJet’s seasonal service to New York ends on November 1st.
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