Do the names Lewis Cho, Walter and Rachel Leigh make your knees weak? Good news is that high quality NYC sample sales are now year round (where once they were seasonal). We can thank a difficult economy for this. These and other “scores” can be had THIS week on our Garment Center “Insider” shopping tours. http://www.shopgotham.com/daily-new-york-shopping-tours.php

A shoppers delight (domestic visitor): Rating: 5 stars

“Myself [ 54 ] , daughter [ 24 ] and daughter-in-law took the shopping tour in the garment district. After spending 4 days shopping, we were’nt very excited to go on a shopping tour! But what a successful trip it was! Our guide was awesome and had loads of information, including suggesting some places to go after in other areas. We went to six very different designer showrooms.which had a varied selection of products and each of us found lots of things. I would reccomend it!.” www.shopgotham.com

____________________________________________________

Occasionally, its worth noting what we uncovered on a shopping tour. On last week’s Garment Center tour, we hit the bi-annual gargantuan Shoe-In Sample Sale. Even though it was Day 3, our 10 guests walked out with 25 pairs of boots/shoes. Timberland, Tory Burch and Michael Kors were the big scores  mostly in the $49 range. NYC Sample Sales rock! even in the winter. Come on aboard with us.  www.shopgotham.com/daily-new-york-shopping-

________________________________________________________

As we troll the streets generally in search of new compelling fashion outlets, we cant help but stumble into other fab nyc locales. Conrans, a modernist  hub for home decor, accessories and misc kitsch happens to excel at Bathroom furniture & accessories. From unusually shaped medicine cabinets to uber-cool soap holders in organic materials (these you can even pack up on your bag & take home on the plane), its a stop worth making. www.conrans.com

We who have our finger on the proverbial pulse of nyc sample sales see that the “season” is starting a good 3 weeks ahead of schedule. Waiting to come to NYC to score your fall/winter items. Don’t delay. The goods are here and they are already discounted.  Note for the unaffiliated: Designers each do but one sale per season ranging from  1- 5 days.

 Remember.. Shop Gotham vets out the good sales from the mediocre. Check out our Garment Center “Insider” Shopping Tours and our holiday time Cheap and Chic shopping tours. www.shopgotham.com

__________________________________________________________

Come on, you know you want to shop!. Its getting chilly out there. Find that perfect grey sweater and leopard print boots. See what the fuss is all about with the new J + (Jil Sander) Kate Moss and Jimmy Choo lines hitting the mass market stores. Are they or are they not as cool as they sound?. Check it out on one of our NYC Soho & Nolita shopping tours with a Columbus Day savings of 15% on each ticket. Max of 4 tickets per purchase. Go to: www.shopgotham.com. discount Code:   Colum09

OR… explore the uber-cool, off-limits to the public Wholesalers on the Garment Center “Insider” shopping  tour.

15% is only good for tours taking place:

Oct 4- Oct 11. Hurry up and get shopping.

We like to give a heads-up about the Sample Sale “high” season. Typically, it commences mid-november, but our recession radar claims we can expect an early onslaught.    By early november, the designer for much less options will make your head swirl. As always, Shop Gotham will vet out the worthwhile from the junk-

See Shop Gotham Garment Center “insider” tours.

www.shopgotham.com

Book a private Shop Gotham tour for your trip! Perfect for everything from Sweet Sixteens to Bachelorette Parties, you can’t go wrong with our exclusive all-day discounts, insider shopping tips, and guided access to NYC’s hippest neighborhoods. Book now!

Spotted: the ultimate complement to your Shop Gotham tour while in NYC. What is it? The Gossip Girl Sites Tour, a fabulous celebration of everything that makes Gossip Girl New York’s most fashionable show. See over 40 hip locations that have been used in the filming of Gossip Girl, while traveling on a luxury coach bus. Visit the chic hotel that has been home to the Bass and Van der Woodsen families (a GG staple in countless scenes),  the Fifth Avenue palace Blair Waldorf calls home, the Upper East Side mansion where the Bass/Van der Woodsen wedding took place, and so much more! It’s the perfect place to debut those looks you scored on your Shop Gotham tour. Book now !

The summer may be coming to a close, but outside it is still definitely hot hot hot!! When visitng NYC, you must spend some time outdoors at our world-famous Central Park. It’s accessible, offers tons of different sights, and is absolutely gorgeous. Grab a map and explore these great places: One is The Pool, between West 100 to 103rd streets, a body of water shaded by weeping willows and a collection of other pretty trees and nature. Similarly, The Pond (below) in the southeast corner of the park is an extremely attractive area, beautiful and shielded from Manhattan street noise by trees and rocks.

The Ramble (below) is a famous part of the park running from 73rd to 79th streets in the middle section, an entirely man-made sprawl designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and carved out of natural hillside. Feel free to lose yourself in this 38-acre expanse of pathways, cliffs, and streams—both figuratively and literally! It can be easy to get lost here, so remember that map!

If you won’t be visiting until the leaves fall and that cold weather returns, a trip to Wollman Memorial Skating Rink on East 62nd street is a must, offering a spacious ice-skating area, a great view of the famed Duck Pond, and plenty of time for handholding and couples skating. Winter admission is affordable, running $8.50 for adults and $4.25 for children. Curl up with a cup of hot chocolate and snacks at nearby concession stands.

There are so many neigborhoods in the city, you can’t seem ‘em all…but you sure can try! Get guided exclusive access to our hip, downtown neighborhoods through our Shop Gotham tours, and cap off the day by heading uptown and exploring the Central Park spots mentioned in this post!