Commencing today, this Shop Gotham owner and NYC resident of 25 years, will spill the beans on the things to do in NYC, things that locals do and are often not in the guide books . Since all of Shop Gotham’s guests are visitors, be it from as far as Sydney, or as close as NJ (yeah NJ!), its my pleasure to share some insider tidbits to help make your planning and visit complete and worthwhile. Yes, shopping is the feature of our tours, but these “small diaries”, as the form they will be written in, will feature “Other” things to do. As personally “done” by moi.

Friday Morning, May 26, 2011

The Good Morning America Summer Concert series commenced today, with the Empress of Now, Lady Gaga. Concerts take place in Central Park, Fifth Avenue and 72nd Street (Rumsey Playfield also known as Summer Stage) To be in Central Park on a glorious summer morning – well there is not much better for a New Yorker. Away from the madness of Rock Center and the Today Show extravaganzas.  This being the only “ticketed” event for the GMA season and well aware of the madness ensuing, I knew not to expect to actually get into the small concert arena. Concerts commence at 8amish and despite the lines of people who slept outside the park for 2 days, I took my 12 minute stroll to the park at  7:30am with a cup of joe, found a nice patch of grass right outside the gates and enjoyed 4 lady GaGa songs. I did see her arrive ”aerialy” – she soared to the stage via a zipline – , other than that  I could not see her perform. But I was enveloped by the  music and felt like I was at any outdoor concert without great viewing seats. Thoroughly enjoyable.

9am.. glorious morning, and Im a bit hungry. So north up the park path I walk, 3 minutes max to the ever lovely Boathouse Cafe, which serves breakfast to go, commencing at 8am.  Plenty of table there to enjoy breakfast and scenery, for which I partook.  

Walked home and at desk by 9:45.

The GMA summer concert run from May thru August and with exception of GaGa, they are free. To see schedule, http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/SummerConcert/

For more New Yorker in NY diaries, please visit:    www.shopgotham.com/shop-new-york/

For information or to book tickets to Shop Gotham’s NYC Shopping Tours, please see: www.shopgotham.com

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Betsey Johnson sees our Shop Gotham guests!

At Shop Gotham we may act cool when we see a celebrity, but on the inside we’re jumping up and down like a cheerleader from Glee!  This past weekend we saw none other than Betsey Johnson herself coming out of her namesake store on Wooster Street.  Her exuberant, over the top fashion is available to Shop Gotham guests at a terrific discount.  Come take our Soho fashion tour today!  You never know who you might meet…

While walking on Park Ave. between 50th and 51st street recently at lunch time, I counted 37 men in the exact same outfit! french blue shirt (not even a pattern), grey trousers and a belt. Yes it was hot, so evidently the grey jacket was left behind at the desk. 37 clones. It was a sea of undecernable bodies. I have nothing more to say. Any comments?

While escorting a student group recently from Canada on a Shop Gotham Garment Center student tour program, we were invited into the showroom of Michael Kaye, hot formal-wear designer (Michael Kaye Couture), who also happens to be from the groups’s same home town of Alberta.  Mr. Kaye received  The Fashion Group International’s 2004 RISING STAR AWARD (the same given to Zac Posen – not bad). He Kaye delighted the group with stories of the industry. What a thrill it was for these young fashion aspirants. You never know what can happen to you in NYC! www.shopgotham.com

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