New York weekend and shopping 9/29

Old Sep 16th, 2006, 02:08 PM
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New York weekend and shopping 9/29

It will be best friend (girls)weekend to New York in 2 weekends. I am trying to put together a plan for the weekend, as my friend is also. We are staying midtown - Grand Hyatt. I would love you experienced readers to give some advice as to shopping areas. Would like to find some good buys, etc, without getting involved in that time consuming Century 21, from what I have read on the site. My friend wants to go to Macys. I have that here, as well as Saks. Boutiques, cafes would be nice and different? Not sure if anything is affordable for us in the Madison Avenue areas or upper east side, or are those the same. Probably would like to also see the village or Soho. Would love someone's ideas to point us in the right direction. We are late 40's and 50 years young.
Thanks in advance.

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Old Sep 16th, 2006, 05:31 PM
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Madison Avenue is on the upper east side - and there are tons of designer boutiques - many for the more mature woman looking for less trendy/extreme styles - but big names and big $$$. The least expensive place in the area is Barneys.

Macys is just like any Macys except much bigger - as are Lord & Taylor, Saks and Bloomies.

There are lots of places downtown - but they tend to be fairly to very trendy and cater more to the 20's and perhaps 30's crowds.

So - it depends on your style. I'm 50 and sometimes borrow things from my 21 year old step daughter - and she from me. But we both have a lot of stuff that the other would never touch: my legs are still good but there's no way I would go for her 8" long club skirts that start below the hip bone and end very shortly afterward; and there;s no way she would go for the business suits I need for client meetings.

Are you looking for the same stuff you see at home but at a better price? Then you would be better off at Centruy 21 or Filene's or Loehman's or one of the discount malls outside the city.
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Old Sep 17th, 2006, 04:20 AM
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Thanks for the response. I will take note of everything. You've put some perspective on where to shop. Still like looking hip at times even though I am 50, though my work attire is usually conservative. Is Century 21 the zoo most described on this site. Have been to one in Morristown. What would the best times to go.

Maybe you can give some further advice regarding discount theater tickets. I have decided that I am not going to wait in the lengthy lines I have read about on various sites. Will it then be impossible to get discounted seats for any sold out shows like Wicked or Jersey Boys elsewhere.

Thanks again.
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Old Sep 17th, 2006, 04:25 AM
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I wouldn't get too caught up in what others might have said about Century. Honestly, whatever hassles you might have to deal with in terms of lines/crowds, there's a reason the place is consistently named the best department store in New York. You can pick up all the high-end labels on Madison Ave. for a fraction of the price (and we're not talking factory defects or the fall '87 catalogue).

As far as nightlife goes, you'd do well to limit your time in Midtown to however long it takes to get in and out of the hotel. SoHo has a good vibe no matter what your age; areas like West Broadway have a very European feel (maybe because of all the Europeans), and there are plenty of nice outdoor cafes and restaurants. You might want to give the Upper West Side a whirl, too. Much less onerous than its upmarket, cross-town counterpart, and a similarly good selection of places to enjoy a nice meal in the fresh air.

Chris
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Old Sep 17th, 2006, 06:53 AM
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It's easier to start with theater than shopping. broadwaybox.com has discounts for many shows. You can either buy the tickets online and pay the extra fees OR print off the discounts on your computer and take them with you and go directly to the theater. You'll save maybe $5-10/ticket by buying them when you arrive, but ofcourse run the risk of no availability. Occasionally playbill.com, theatermania.com, hitshowclub.com may have other/better discounts listed than broadwaybox, but those sites require you register for free and give them an email address to view discounts.

Drowswy Chaperone is one of the newer, more popular Broadway shows that has some discounts (obviously not the very best seats). A Chorus Line will have started previews. Altar Boyz is an off Broadway with discounts, again very popular.

If you want tickets for some of the "sold out" plays like Jersey Boys, Wicked etc., try
www.applause-tickets.com
Their premiums are generally less steep than other ticket brokers.

Some shows like Wicked have lotteries for rush tickets, day of performance for bargain prices (only really an option if you're just 2). Info here
http://www.talkinbroadway.com/boards...p?rush=show#48

For shopping, a lot depends on what you want to spend, your sizes and what you have available at home. Here's the section on discount clothing shopping from NY Magazine
http://nymag.com/guides/cheap/clothing/

I'm still a fan of Loehmann's and find it less crazy than Century 21. It's at 7th Ave bet. 16th and 17th Sts. There's also a TJ Maxx near there on 6th ave. and a Find Outlet on 8th ave.
http://nymag.com/listings/stores/find_outlet02/

I agree with nytraveler, if you're going to go to Cent. 21, esp. on a weekend, go EARLY when they open.

There's a Daffy's (another discount dept. store) a few blocks from your hotel on Madison & ~ 44 st. Near Saks (50 st & 5th) is a Syms 54 st b/w Madison & Park) that can also be good sometimes.

I'm not a fan of Macy's, but it does have a large selection AND, as visitors, make sure you go to their customer service desk with proof of where you live and get a card for 11% discount on most things (not cosmetics). There are a lot of other stores near there but the area's just, for lack of a better word, icky.

Given that you only have a weekend, I think you have to make some hard decisions. The best bargains are not usually in the cute, trendy areas. Soho would be a fun area to walk around, but you won't find bargains there. You can find some affordable stuff though. Scoop is a good store and has several locations, Soho, upper eastside and the village.

I think maybe spend one day doing "serious" shopping whether that's midtown dept. stores and/or discount stores and spend the other day more relaxed in Soho or Noho/Nolita where you won't find bargains, but you may find a fun/trendy piece to update your wardrobe.

This place has some fun up and coming designers (probably more accessories than clothing)
http://www.edgeny.com/about.php
and it's not far from several good brunch places, one being Five Points
fivepointsrestaurant.com
but you have to book the rest. for brunch!

There are lots of smaller shops on the upper east side that have lovely, classic things and not all are outrageously expensive. The priciest are on Madison Ave. but you'll find more shops on Lexington and Third aves.
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Old Sep 17th, 2006, 07:10 AM
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Don;t wait until you get here - get tickets NOW. Try Broadwaybox.com to see who is discounting now. You take the discount code and go to the regular web site of the show to get tickets - just enter the code.

I am not aware that Wicked is discounting at all - if you can;t get tickets on the web site for your dates you will have to eithter use a scalper (assume double face value of tickets) or take another choice. Not sure about Jersey Boys - try as reco'd above and you MAY get something.

For what you want start with Centruy 21 - go as soon as the store opens and it will be lest crowded. The later in the day the more people. You can also look at some of the downtown shops - but when I say trendy - most are not trendy for a 40/50 - but for those in their 20's. (Face it - there are some things that work only at a certain age - although I'm not suggesting stodgy - just not too girlish.)

(IMHO after a certain age there are parts of your body you bare only on the beach or at the pool - no matter how much work you've done at the gym. I won;t even do bare evening wear anymore - strapless yes, or with a bare back - but nothing slit to the navel - or the upper thigh.)
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Old Sep 18th, 2006, 06:24 AM
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These are my picks for reasonable shopping.

H&M : don't miss this store and make sure you hit the one on Fifth Avneue. Also visit Mexx next door.

A/X : Armani Exchange is a hipper GAP; good sales.

FCUK: Good sales.

Daffy's : You must spend time digging.

Bloomingdales: Very good deals at sales.

Macy's : I'm not really a fan.

Century 21: my favorite. You do have to spend time digging and can't get around that but the deals are worth the hassle.

Syms: hit or miss

Loehmann's ; hit or miss

Saks, Bergdorf Goodman, Takashimaya, Barney's, Bendel's ; Even with sales super expensive.
 
Old Sep 18th, 2006, 08:34 AM
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In addition to the stores listed, you might consider some of the high-end consignment shops that feature designer labels, such as A Second Chance on Lexington Avenue. http://www.asecondchanceresale.com/

Take a look at The Budget Fashionista online, which has great bargain hunting tips and also information about sample sales. Here's the link to the NYC info:
http://www.thebudgetfashionista.com/...ng_guide_3.php

Also for theatre tickets, check out Season of Savings, a discount program that runs in the fall and winter. Several shows are participating with good discounts: seasonofsavings.com

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Old Sep 18th, 2006, 09:10 AM
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Why don't you try the new Bloomie's in SoHo. It's not your mother's Bloomingdale's -- a little hipper.

Personally, I would skip H&M -- too teeny-bopper and poor quality.

Ditto French Connection.

Zara is fine.

Century is okay if you have time to waste, but I rarely buy clothes there. Shoes, purses, jewelry, makeup. That's about it.

What about some of the cute boutiques on Lex in the 70's? Big Drop, Scoop, etc.
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Old Sep 18th, 2006, 09:22 AM
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Well, I'm 41 and wear both H&M and FCUK so I don't think they are teeny bopper.
 
Old Sep 18th, 2006, 11:04 AM
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Ok. You're entitled to your opinion.
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