Finally, time to MYSELF in Manhattan! Need great suggestions on what to do!
 

I will shortly have nearly two days to myself in Midtown Manhattan -- no kids, no husband, no obligations during the day (evenings and nights are already taken and planned).

Here is what I don't want to do (already done on previous trips):

Staten Island Ferry
Ellis Island
Statue of Liberty
Top of the Rock
ESB
Go to the top of anything and look at view/have a drink
Dylan's Candy store
5-hour bus tour of Manhattan
Katz's Deli
Tenement Museum
Natural History Museum
modern art museum
Metropolitan Museum
South Street Seaport
Canal Street
Wall Street
baseball game
Theatre (already planned)

My preference is to do things I rarely get to do on family trips, like shop. Other than the classic department stores (Bergdorf, Saks, Bloomies, Nordstrom, etc.) can anyone suggest a fabulous area in which to wander (solo) and shop?

I'm interested in SoHo but know nothing about it. Would like to get a map of the boutiques in advance and have an idea of the stores that would be interesting -- anyone know how I can do that in advance, before I arrive?

Are there any other great areas for a solo woman to enjoy? Don't want long restaurant meals as I'll be alone, but would like an outdoor cafe bistro-type place for a light lunch and people-watching.

All that said, I also don't want to spend a fortune...are there any hidden gems of reasonably-priced clothes for a woman of a certain age who does not fit into tiny sizes? Any fabulous shoe stores with reasonable prices? Any great thrift stores with amazing bargains and cute clothes? Any amazing table linen/kitchen places?

I know there are knowledgable people here who can steer me where I want to go!

I like wandering all through Soho and Nolita area, just going up and down every street - and if a weekend, all those markets - I will try and find some trip reports of mine with exact stores/addresses that I enjoy.

Outside dining: I like the Tour De France/ Maison/ Marseilles restaurants and some have outside seating ( Maison/Broadway and 53?) - great beignets ! and nice salads, light fare -always happy there.
tourdefrancenyc.com

If you want to treat yourself, go to Lady Mendls and have a nice, leisurely lunch where you will be pampered with light salad, tea sandwiches, it's an oasis/spa for an hour or so -
ladymendls.com

Love the food tour of Greenwich - food, history, architecture, stores, etc - all in one fabulous tour -
foodsofny.com

If you put in the searh bar "new york trip reports" there is one great one recently about 5 girls inthe city that might have ideas for you as well as other trip reports - also lots of shopping threads if you put in the search bar things like "new york shopping" and "shopping soho" and "trendy new york shop" that type of thing - there are tons of threads on shopping

here are some of my trip reports to nyc with names of restaurants, and special shops we enjoyed -


http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35099570

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34925087

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35099570

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34888754

For Soho, I recommend a walk down Broadway south of Houston Street. There are many stores in this area, including the Prada Museum (that's what I call the shop anyway), Mavi Jeans, Bloomingdale's, Sephora, Pearl River Mart, (I think the Kate's Paperie has closed?), etc. You can also wander along Spring and Prince towards West Broadway. Many, many expensive stores on West Broadway. Also an Origins (love their face wash).

At Spring and Thompson St. you will find Kee's Chocolates--fabulous. Store is tiny.

A nice place to eat is Aqua Grill (6th Ave. and Spring). You can sit outside on the patio if it is nice out. I like to sit outside and sip Champagne and have their wonderful asparagus.

If you are Uptown, you really should visit the Frick. Fabu!!! Then wander up Madison Ave. for the most EXPENSIVE shopping in the world. See you at Missoni.

Thingorjus

I note that Central Park is not on your "been there/done that" list. How about a few hours strolling the park. If you elect that activity, I strongly urge you to get a copy of Barnes & Noble's guide to Central Park. It's very, very complete and very, very helpful.

My husband and I just returned from NYC yesterday - spent 3 nights there and I can't wait to return.

We visited the Natural History Museum and were disappointed because of the noise from the school kids and the layout of the museum. I also think we were already in a slightly negative mood becauase of the rainy and cold weather we had. We also wanted to visit the Metropolitan museum but being a Monday it was closed.

I agree about walking down Broadway south of Houston St. Lots of great little shops and art galleries.

One thing I didn't get to do that's not on your list is to talk a walk across the Brooklyn bridge before dusk for the city skyline views.

We didn't get to Katz' deli but enjoyed the sandwiches at Stage Deli and Carnegie Deli on 7th avenue (near 54th st).

Canal Street is a zoo. Tacky shop after tacky shop. The sidewalks were packed with people window shopping - same types of stores repeated on each block.

Have fun!

Monica ((F))

PS: If you click on my name, you can read my trip report that I posted this afternoon.

It's not restaurant or shopping, but I love to go up to the Cloisters, esp. in late spring.

You can hang in Herald Square too! The Macys is the orignal department store of my heart. Wooden escalators!

And across from the part is a great little cafe with the best cobb salad ever. Name is escaping me, but it is all glass for ultimate people watching.

I would also recommend Century 21. You have to be patient, but you can find awesome clothes there!

I have a few hours to myself in NYC on Tuesday morning and I am running on down there!!!

Wonder through the streets of the East and West Village. Soho is great if you like upscale stores and cast iron buildings.

The Villages are distinctly different witha wider variety of architecture and stores

Union Square is a great area for discount shopping. There's a DSW shoe store and Shoemania.com. There's a Filene's Basement there (with very nice views from the dressing room). Not far for lunch is Blue Water Grill which has a nice outdoor area for eating. If you're into books, the largest bookstore in the world, the Strand, is right nearby. The big deal at Union Square is the open air market (food and flowers) M,W,Fri, Sat.
http://www.urban75.org/photos/newyork/ny169.html

Loehmann's on 7th ave & 17th st. is not far.

Here are some Soho maps
http://superfuture.com/city/area/are...=13&city=3

http://www.artseensoho.com/map.html

Here's a link to many shopping maps
http://nymag.com/visitorsguide/shopping/

I would also suggest Loehman's, on 7th and 17th as a great place to shop, and Daffy's as a great place for good clothing discounted, great sales going on now at the Daffy's on 34th and 6th.

Also (I know I'm gonna get bashed for this) Conway for jeans and tees, great prices there.

Funny story I got a little evening purse at Conway, black and teal in leather, for $3.00. A woman came up to me at a reception after a concert and told me she loved my bag. She mentioned a designer name and asked if I got the bag at his store and was it less than $1,500 so it must have been a pretty good knock off. lol.

I'd also second The Cloisters, as a lovely trip, almost out of the city. Take the A train to 191st ST and walk up through Ft. Tryon Park to the museum. It is one of the most breathtaking views from there and you feel a world away from the city. Some of the most spectacular art treasures of the Met are housed there, like the unicorn tapestries. There are also lovely gardens, which should all be growing now and places to sit and enjoy the day. There is also a lovely gift shop.

As you wander back to the subway you might stop at the cafe (used to be called the Unicorn Cafe) for a bite.

There are also a couple of historic homes in my area that you might enjoy seeing, part of the National Park system with tours. Very off the beaten path and not well known.

You might want to consider visiting the Frick on one of your days. You could combine this with a visit to Central park

I personally think the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge is overrated, but many people seem to enjoy it.

For Soho you might find this on line "neighborhood guide" helpful.
http://manhattan.about.com/od/neighb.../sohoguide.htm
You probably also want to look at information on Tribeca and Greenwich Village

You may have been to a lot of museums - but there are a lot of good ones not on your list - which have great - or interesting exhibits when you tire of shopping:

New York Historical Society
Museum of the City of New York
New York Public Library - Main Branch
Frick
Cooper Hewitt
Asia House
Museum of Sex

Also there are a couple of museums at Lincoln Center, as well as some backstage tours and you can get very inexpensive tickets for rehearsals of many events.