[trip style = urban]
{Editor's Note: Check out the Trip Styler Feature in NET A PORTER's online magazine. We are over-the-moon excited to be part of the Blogger's Issue!}
If urban trip styles are your bag, New York's got you covered from head to toe in Marc Jacobs. Most people I know have made the cultural and shopping pilgrimage to NYC at least once, which turns out to be a problem...for their credit cards. There's a pulse that pulls you back, and most one-time visitors become repeat offenders.
From the dirty depths of the subway to the heights of every coveted roof terrace, the Big Apple has a way of charming people like no other city I know. It's a place where everything is taller, bigger, faster and longer, and everything has a system. The systems might not be elegant, but they work.
It's been way too long since I was in NYC last, but the second I got out of my airport shuttle and started walking 49th Avenue in search of my hotel, the city felt familiar. My first time in New York, I took a media class, sat in on two tapings of the Sally Jessy Raphael Show {one of her famous bootcamp episodes and "you've ruined my wedding and now you're going to pay!"}, met media types in a boardroom of the Empire State Building, shopped at Old Navy {the height of my fashion at the time} and saw Les Miserables. Times have changed, and so have my tastes, but New York's centre-of-the-universe, go-getter spirit remains the same.
At the end my trip last month, I made a vow to visit yearly. I hope---fingers crossed---I can keep this vow. Connecting with New York on a once-yearly basis is like getting together with your coolest friend whom you don't see that often, but cherishing every moment you have together.
Stay
- Yotel - $ - New York's newest fancy-schmancy pod hotel. In the heart of Times Square. Wowza.
- The Pod Hotel - $ - Fun, pod-style hotel with well designed interiors and a rooftop terrace. {See my trip advisor review here}
- The Ace Hotel - $$ - A moody and design-savvy locale where the rooms have as much style as the people.
- The Mercer - $$$ - Gritty-Romanesque beauty in the heart of SoHo.
- The Surrey - $$$ - Calm, contemplated and beaux arts.
Do
- Catch a show on Broadway. Despite the cliche, it's an absolute must! Hot right now: Catch Me If You Can, The Book of Mormon, How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Sister Act and the ever-popular Wicked. Trip Styler Tip: Avoid the often insane line-up at the TKTS booth in Times Square and instead get your tickets online or at the theatre box office to avoid service charges. Use promo codes from BroadwayBox for a slight discount on your ticket.
- Walk in Central Park or on the High Line
- Explore SoHo
- Shop! {see below}
- Go to a TV show taping like Late Night with Jimmy Fallon {only do this if there's a show you love and it's taped in NYC. It's a fun experience, but takes up an entire afternoon}. Trip Styler Tip: You need to write or call in weeks or months in advance for many shows.
Eat
- Eataly - $-$$$ - Mario Batali's Italian food emporium and restaurants.
- ABC Kitchen - $$ - Jean Georges' latest restaurant opening with an organic menu and local ingredients.
- Bateau Ivre - $$ - Parisan wine bar. Open late.
- Balthazar - $$ - An always-busy, traditional bistro.
- per se - $$$ - NYC's French Laundry---enough said. Reserve in advance. Way in advance.
Shop
- Topshop - $ - Constantly evolving, fast-fashion.
- AllSaints - $$ - Thoughtfully hip and vintage.
- Century21 - $-$$$ - Iconic NYC discount department store.
- Opening Ceremony - $$ - Hipster fashion-forward.
- Reiss - $$ - Stylish, classic apparel.
Getting to/from the Airport
- Train/Subway - $ - with only a few connections: AirTran --> train or subway, this is the cheapest way {ie. under $8} to get to/from the city.
- Bus - $$ - the Super Shuttle and NY Airport Service are easy shuttles to catch at the airport. From $15 one way.
- Cab - $$$ - cabs and black cars from $50 to/from JFK to Manhattan.
What to Know
- Manhattan operates on a grid system. Avenues are long and streets are short.
- Carry a small map in your back pocket, folded into a manageable size. Only bring it out when you're out of the way of commuters around you.
- New Yorkers walk everywhere and so should you---there's a reason why local ladies favour flats over heels {for everyday}.
- New Yorkers are friendly---just ask your question quickly because they're also busy!
- Everything in NYC moves fast; people don't even stand on the sidewalk to wait to cross, they stand in the street.
PS – did you know that we have destination spotlights like this one for 30+ cities in the US, Canada and internationally?
[photos by @tripstyler]
[trip style = urban]
Street food is getting hotter than picante salsa! All the cool cities have trucks, from NYC to LA and Portland to Vancouver. If you don't believe me, just look to ABC's new hit 
[trip style = urban + adventure]
{Starting the climb.}
{The stairs and yellow safety tubing directly above.}
{The inside structure.}
{A group climbing the bridge, up, up and away...}
{The safety line is attached to you and the bridge at all times. Aside from when you start and finish, you never have to hook and/or unhook the line---it's continuous.}
{View of Opera House and Bridge's upper walkway.}
{BridgeClimb onesies and the summit.}
{Australian flag at the top.}
{Looking straight down from the top.}
{What we saw as we were descending the stairs.}
{A group on their way down.}
{BridgeClimb's HQ.}
{Some perspective at the end.}
[trip style = urban] {more pictures below}
[trip style = urban]
Today we're talking taxis. An app-tastic way to hail them.