New Yorkers earn some serious outdoor time after surviving our long, snowy, wet winters.  So the moment the temperature hits 70, we head to the sidewalk cafes, the waterfront, and especially the parks!  Here are five fantastic reasons to love NYC Parks!

1.  Shakespeare in the Park

From late May to mid August free tickets are available on a first-come, first served basis for these star-studded, only-in-NYC performances.  For once the hottest ticket in town can’t be found on Broadway!  This year the Public Theatre presents Comedy of Errors and a musical version of Love’s Labour’s Lost.  These productions have been known to move to Broadway, so see it this summer (for free) so you can say you saw it first!

2.  Summerstage

City Parks Foundation hosts free concerts in over 750 venues citywide.  But the most popular by far is Summerstage, which brings A-list talent like Adele and the Indigo Girls to Rumsey Playfield, off of West 72nd Street.  These concerts get incredibly crowded, and tickets are almost impossible to get, so check out the Summerstage link and plan your summer accordingly!

3.  HBO Bryant Park Summer Films

The lawn at Bryant Park opens at 5:00 PM, the movies start around 9:00.  Not a space can be found by 6:00 PM, so popular is this NYC summer tradition of free classic movies outdoors.  Pack a picnic, invite good company, and prepare to settle down for a night you won’t forget.  This year’s offerings range from Tootsie to ET.  And it’s all free!

4.  Free Yoga in Bryant Park

Offered twice weekly, this free yoga series provides challenging vinyasa flow to literally hundreds of yogis throughout the City.  For the past ten years, Lululemon Athletica has been sponsoring this event, providing instructors and mats for New Yorkers in need of Zen.  Namaste!

5.  Broadway in Bryant Park

Those reading this blog now see why Bryant Park is quickly becoming the favorite park of the locals!  Every summer Bryant Park hosts hundreds of free events, twice a year they host Fashion Week, and once a year they host a spectacular gift bazaar, complete with a free ice skating rink.  But Broadway in Bryant Park holds a special place for Shop Gotham tour guides, most of whom confess an unadulterated love of musical theatre.  Every Thursday throughout July and August, the most popular Broadway shows perform their biggest hit.  The ONLY way to see Broadway for free!

Alternating cool and warm, sunny and grey. your puffy coat and bulky sweatshirt should be left behind in favor of well fitting jeans, a cute top and a fitted leather jacket or blazer. Greys and blacks or beiges and whites. uoise? Feh..it may be in the mags, but its not on the streets of NYC (and its not slimming!). Want help? Check out our shopping tours at:  www.shopgotham.com

Get Your New York Fashion Fix

Immediately after landing, you order JFK Airport Transportation, then you get into your limo or town car and drive to the main island (Manhattan) to leave your luggage. Once at the hotel, you notice your itinerary is blank for that day! What do you do? So, you take out your smartphone and you Google “shopping in NYC.”

New York City: the fashion capital of the New World. Here, garments fly off the runway during fashion week and into boutiques and shops all over the city. You don’t need to wait for the fashion to trickle down to become available in stores near you. In New York City, you can buy raw fashion at it source. If you’re ever in New York City to get your fashion fix, here are a few neighborhoods to keep in mind where you’ll everything from loafers and heels to pencil skirts and floral silk dresses.

SoHo

When one thinks about SoHo, it’s impossible not to think about it’s large influence in hipster culture. Not only is SoHo seen as one of the best neighborhoods to find trendy clothes, but it also offers something for everyone, ranging from expensive couture to affordable outerwear. Based just south of Houston street, SoHo is a neighborhood that is lined with boutiques, trendy patisseries for pit stops and mainstream stores such as Hollister, Bloomingdale’s and Barney’s New York. Take your pick!

NoLita

A few blocks from the trendy SoHo district in Manhattan, NoLita, based north of Little Italy, is a mixture of hipster, artistically ethnic cultures, being mainly a boutique neighborhood. Whether you’re walking down Broome or Spring street, there’s bound to be a shop that catches your eye. From sock and eye stores (The Sock Hop) to a street bazaar lined with homemade hats, dresses, pants shoes and other knick knacks, NoLita surely will push the limits of your fashion sense.

Tribeca

Being in one of the most expensive zip codes in the country, Tribeca is one of the hotspots for film seekers and celebrities such as Jay-Z,  Beyonce, Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow. It also happens to be one of the hubs of modern New York City fashion. One shop that is gaining popularity is the now world famous JEM Fabric Warehouse. Allowing customers to literally design their look, JEM tailors and seamstresses will take your concept, whether it be original or off the cover of a magazine, and will re-create it in whatever pattern, fabric and color you’d like.

West Village and Greenwich Village

European fashions that migrate to the United States usually take a quick pit stop before arriving to the runways of Fashion Week. Yes, I’m talking about the West Village area, which also encompasses Greenwich Village. Located on the west side of Manhattan a few blocks from Tribeca, West and Greenwich have evolved over the past few years, incorporating themselves into the New York City fashion world, comparable to that of SoHo and Fifth Ave. Just off of Bleecker Street, locals flock to the retailers that line the street, offering the newest fashion for a bargain. If you want to shop like a local, the West Village and Greenwich Village may just be for your. It’s just a cab ride away!

Fifth Ave.

Just northeast of the West Village lies the Mecca of high end fashion in all of New York City. Located on Fifth Ave. between 34th and 59th street, Fifth Ave (no name need to be given) is the epitome of American fashion centered in the middle of Manhattan. Shops that have accumulated notoriety over the years, Tiffany and Co., Bergdorf Goodman and those in the Trump Tower, still line the sidewalks of this bubbly neighborhood. International designer fashion can also be found the on northern end of the street. Fifth Avenue is also the site of several films and TV shows such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Sex and the City and The Apprentice due to it being one of the centers of tourism. So, take a cab, grab a latte and enjoy the day on Fifth Ave.

Being in New York is an indulgence in itself, but shopping in New York makes it a luxury. There’s definitely nothing like it. Next time you drop by the city, why not take a quick shopping tour of these neighborhoods? You won’t regret it!

CELEBRATE MOTHER’S DAY in NYC with an Only in NYC Activity

FASHION, KNOWLEDGE, CHAMPAGNE
May 10th, May 15th: The Garment Center “insider” tours honor our MOMS(and you as mom) with some exceptional elements. Shop like an “industry insider” in private Wholesale Showrooms, while sipping champagne, nibbling on chocolate and learning from the pros about the art of fabric selection and the challenges of clothing design. Tickets are very limited. Visit:  Garment Center “Insider” Shopping Tour (for WOMEN only)

Seeking something to do with Mom that you know she will LOVE! Take her shopping in New York City. Better yet, take her wholesale shopping on Shop Gotham’s Garment Center “insider” Shopping Tour. Current Fashion and enormous deals. For more information.. visit: www.shopgotham.com

Shop Gotham likes to lend a helping hand when it comes time to pack.  Right now, some woman, somewhere, is staring down a suitcase trying to decide what to bring and what to leave behind.  While a big part of this decision will be made based on itinerary (Broadway show?  Pub tour of Greenwich Village?  Soho/Nolita shopping tour?), listed below are a few spring trends that might help you figure out what to bring… or what to buy!  Enjoy!

1.  Go green!

We’re not talking about buying organic milk or being sure to recycle.  (Although you should, of course!)  No, we mean that green is THE color of the season.  Experiment with shades of mint, pistachio and emerald.  It works well as an accent piece (such as this gorgeous necklace, pictured), or head to toe in a dressy Easter dress, complete with heels.  This is a bold color that will make you feel not only beautiful, but right on trend!

2.  Wear leather.

Seriously?  In the spring? Yes!  Absolutely.  This season designers are treating leather like it were any other fabric, dyeing it, cutting it into feminine shapes, and draping it in new ways.  The result is a soft, paper thin material that flows well, leaving you feeling cool and super feminine.  Steer clear of anything with grommets or studs, and buy a statement piece, like a leather tunic or skirt, that you can pair with delicate lace or sheer fabric.

3.  Stripes, stripes, stripes

Last season’s color-blocking trend has mellowed into a super preppy fascination with nautical-looking stripes.  These crisp, clean lines always make a girl feel spiffy.  And contrary to popular belief, stripes DO NOT MAKE YOU LOOK FAT!  It’s a matter of knowing how to wear them.  Vertical lines are slimming, while horizontal ones can be used to balance proportion.  Wear them on top if you have wide hips, and on the bottom if you have a large bust.  Voila!  

Shop Gotham DEAL of the WEEK.( Share with your Friends).

March 29, Good Friday Garment Center “insider” Tour 1 time discount. 20% off. Visit 6 Wholesale showrooms, meet designers.Save big on apparel and accessories and save on the program fee too! to book: www.shopgotham.com. Booking Code: goodfri

(Tickets are VERY limited)

Most visitors to NYC have heard that Brooklyn is an artisan heaven, full of indie shops and specialty food stores.  Or maybe they’ve heard about the diverse, artistic population.  When our guests on Shop Gotham tours want to go to Brooklyn, but they aren’t sure where to go, we send them to Fort Greene!

This hip neighborhood is a stone’s throw away from Manhattan.  Take just about any train downtown to the Atlantic station, and voila, there you are.  (Insider’s tip:  the express Q train from Manhattan is the fastest.)   Follow the signs out of the subway to One Hanson Place for the first stop on our four-hour tour.

1st Hour:  Brooklyn Flea

The winter home of this mammoth flea market is right across the street from Atlantic Station.  One Hanson Place used to house a bank on its ground floor; now the doors swing open to reveal aisle after aisle of vendors selling furniture, records, vintage clothing and accessories.  A person could easily spend four hours combing the aisles, but for the purposes of this blog we allot one hour.  Insider’s tip:  go to the bottom floor for a lobster roll from Red Hook Lobster Pound, which serves up what is arguably the best lobster roll in the City.

2nd Hour:  Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)

For more than 150 years, Brooklyn Academy of Music has occupied this corner of Lafayette.  Just down the street from the Flea, this multi-arts complex no longer houses just an academy:  it has an opera house, movie theatre, and two adjacent theatres for live productions.  The best way to experience BAM is to take in a production there, be it an art movie, an opera, or a theatre piece featuring stars like Cate Blanchett or Alan Rickman.  But since we have to limit this blog to a mere four hours, we recommend poking around the buildings, taking in the architecture and the latest visual art display.  (Insider’s tip:  you have just one more week to take in the Freedom Ride exhibit, which explores the civil rights journey of African-Americans during the last half century.)

3rd Hour:  Greenlight Bookstore

While independent bookstores are dying out all over America, Brooklyn can boast the success of Greenlight Bookstore, a hip, locally-owned bookstore right in the heart of Fort Greene.  Book lovers will love roaming the aisles of this bright and friendly store, while people watchers will get their fill of Brooklyn locals perusing the shelves.  The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and those looking for a little slice of New York will not be disappointed.  Greenlight has an exceptional section of books by and about New Yorkers, and Brooklynites in particular.

4th Hour:  Chow Down!

There are so many good restaurants in this neighborhood that it’s hard to choose one.  Fortunately, Fort Greene reflects the extreme ethnic diversity of the borough.  Within the confines of this neighborhood, it is possible to get Mexican, BBQ, Turkish, Ethiopian, Mediterranean, Thai, Japanese, Indian, French, South African, Italian and plain old, good American food as well.  The original Junior’s sits on Flatbush at the edge of the neighborhood, but our personal favorite is Brooklyn Public House on DeKalb.   This friendly, reasonably priced pub has easily the best burgers in town as well as a terrific beer list.  Celebs are frequently spotted here, but everyone is so cool that you may not even notice.  It’s the perfect place to end your Brooklyn sojourn.  Hope you’ve enjoyed it!

Shopping Spree Tips: New York

A New York City shopping spree is something that everybody should do at least once in his or her lifetime. It is also something that, in terms of awesomeness, time and stamina requirements most people aren’t prepared for. Here are some tips to help you out:

Budget Budget Budget

Save up money ahead of time and plan your budget accordingly. New York prices are steep and you don’t want to get sticker shock or run the risk of spending all of your money on one thing because you didn’t plan ahead. If you want to go whole hog, start saving up at least a few months in advance so that you won’t have to worry about expenses and can simply have fun.

Clearance Is For Savers Not Suckers

There is a lot of pressure in New York to wear only up to the minute fashions. The truth is, though, that real bargains can be found on the sale and clearance racks. The trick is to shop clearance for staples and pieces that are timeless and will always be in style. For example, Brooks Brothers clearance items are a good idea as are the clearance and sale racks at Barney’s, Bloomingdales, and Saks. Plus, this way you’ll be able to say that you shopped in all of the quintessential New York shopping spots without having to pay quintessential New York Shopping prices.

Shop the thrift stores. Thrift stores in New York are what boutiques are in most other towns and cities. You can find fabulous fashions and pieces for a fraction of what it would cost to buy those clothes brand new from a department store. You’ll also have better and more eclectic choices at thrift stores than you will at the “standard” spots.

Food

Don’t forget to take some time to rest and fuel up while you are out and about. At the very least you will want to plan for a great lunch. Setting aside money for a couple of coffee and snack stops is also a good idea.

Where you eat for lunch is going to depend largely upon where you are when you feel hungry and where you have been shopping. Many of the larger department stores have restaurants and cafes inside of them. Those are always fun places to get food and to do some people watching.

You can also plan on making stops at some of the touristy spots, particularly if you are from out of town and on an adventure. Tourist spots might be looked down upon by locals but they became tourist spots for a reason (though their prices do get marked up quite a lot).

If you want to find out where the locals eat, use apps like Yelp and Urban Spoon to find out what is nearby and what is of good quality.

These are just some of the tips that will help make your New York Shopping Spree a success. Have fun!

Give the gift of Shopping in NYC! If your wife, girlfriend, mom, daughter, best friend loves to pound the pavements, a Shop Gotham NYC shopping tour or a Gift Certificate is a terrific gift. Wholesale showrooms and Sample Sales, cool Indie shops found only in NYC.. the world of fashion is all here. For tour information, please visit: www.shopgotham.com. For Gift Certificates, please email: info@shopgotham.com