What to See and Do in New York

No matter when you visit, there's sure to be something of interest going on. Whether you're looking for theatre, art, or a great view, no doubt you'll soon compile your own "Best of" list . . . but here's a good place to start!

The best attractions

Best Attraction: If you have time to do only one thing on your visit to New York, sail to The Statue of Liberty in the harbor. No other monument embodies the nation's, and the world's, notion of political freedom and economic potential more than Lady Liberty. It is also the ultimate symbol of New York, the personification of the city's vast diversity and tolerance.

Best Skyscraper: Like the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, once again the tallest building in New York, is one of the city's definitive icons. The view from the 86th-floor observatory is unforgettable.

Best-Looking Building: This award goes to the chrome-topped, gargoyle-laden Art Deco masterpiece, the Chrysler Building.

Best Historic Building: Even if you don't have to catch a train, make sure you visit the Beaux Arts gem that is Grand Central Terminal, built in 1913 and beautifully restored in the 1990s to recapture its initial brilliance.

Best Museum: You could spend your entire visit to New York at the 4-square-block American Museum of Natural History; there's that much to see. From the famed Dinosaur Hall to the adjoining Rose Center for Earth and Space, the Museum of Natural History houses the world's greatest natural science collection.

Best Art Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art isnot only the best art museum in New York, but the best in North America as well. The number of masterworks housed here is mind-boggling.

Best Museums for Children: Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum is a humongous retired aircraft carrier that offers almost as many thrills as a theme park. The Children's Museum of Manhattan is strictly hands-on and designed for ages 2 to 12. Beyond the normal exhibits, something special is always happening here.

Best Place to Take the Kids: With a lovely carousel, a zoo, two ice-skating rinks, and numerous playgrounds and ball fields, Central Park is a children's wonderland.

Best Location in Central Park for a Picnic: At 100th Street, the Pool is like being in another world. It's relatively quiet and undiscovered, and with weeping willows, ducks, geese, egrets, and a hawk or two, this watering hole is an oasis of tranquility.

Best Street: Fifth Avenue has the reputation, but it has lost some luster with the proliferation of chain and theme stores, so head to Broadway. No street captures the city's diversity better.

Best Neighborhood to Stroll: Though the Upper West Side is also great, if you can only stroll one, make it Greenwich Village. With its historic streets, hidden cafes, cozy restaurants, and eccentric characters, Greenwich Village is a constant but pleasant barrage on the senses.

Best Bridge: New York is a city of bridges, but none equals the splendor and originality of the Brooklyn Bridge. Walking across it is a must.

Best Free Attraction: With views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, lower Manhattan, the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, and the rest of New York Harbor — and the chance to mingle with commuters — you can't beat the price of the Staten Island Ferry.

The best shopping

Best Store: Not as overwhelming as other department stores, Saks Fifth Avenue is consistently good. And don't miss those window displays at Christmas.

Best Clothes Store: Barneys is the pinnacle, with prices to match.

Best Bookstore: Coliseum Books is a book-lover's paradise; it's a mini-superstore (if there is such a thing) with the heart of an independent.

Best Music Store: You won't believe the huge selection and frequent sales at Tower Records.

Best Shopping Zone: Within easy walking distance of one another, the three neighborhoods of SoHo, NoHo, and NoLita feature the newest, trendiest boutiques.

The best culture and nightlife

Best Performance Space: You can find few greater performance spaces in the world than this one. Visually and acoustically brilliant, Carnegie Hall regularly attracts an amazing array of talent.

Best Free Cultural Event: Imagine Shakespeare performed by stars, under the stars. No wonder Shakespeare in the Park has become a New York institution.

Best Children's Theater: For children ages 4 to 9, Paper Bag Players offers tales told in imaginative and original ways. (Winter only.)

Best Jazz Club: The acoustics and sight lines aren't great, but you can't do better for finding consistent, good-quality jazz than Village Vanguard.

Best Rock Club: This venue is intimate, but not obscure. The Mercury Lounge is the best for hard-edged rock and roll.

Best Comedy Club: Comfortable and sophisticated, Gotham Comedy Club is where the best come to hone their acts.

Best Pub: Located in an old hanger-on in chic SoHo, Ear Inn continues to survive amongst the lush lounges that surround it.

Best Dive Bar: Sure, you know you came to New York to go to a dive bar. Enter the Subway Inn, and it's as if you stepped into a 1940s moody film noir — minus the cigarette smoke, of course.

Best Bar with a View: Rise Bar, in the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park Hotel, offers views of Lady Liberty, New York Harbor, and incredible sunsets. It's worth seeking out even if you're not staying at the hotel.

Best Bar for Cocktails: Owned by former Bemelman's master mixologist, Audrey Saunders, the creative cocktails at Pegu Club —whether shaken, stirred, or poured — are always perfect.