I'm desperately seeking advice from NYC residents. I'm over in North Jersey and am in the city often enough and can do the touristy things, but I don't know the answer to this question -- maybe someone does?

I'm having some friends from Germany visit me the second week in September. The woman of the couple emailed yesterday to say she wants to get a tattoo while in NYC and asked me to get information. She knows what she wants -- a Southern Cross on her foot -- and has the design on a piece of paper.

I'm clueless about this kind of thing. I googled "tattoo and NYC" and came up with a New York magazine article from last September about body art. But I'm so hesistant to just pick some place out of thin air. I looked at a couple web sites, but it all looks pretty, and I know that's not the way to pick a place that will inscribe your body with a design to last forever.

Has anyone out there gotten some ink in NYC or knows anyone who has body art and can suggest a clean and safe (and not over-the-top expensive) place for me to send my friend Claudia?

Thanks...

http://newyork.citysearch.com/bestof...o_and_piercing

Good editorials and reviews. Let your friend make her own choice based on the clients.

Thanks, that's a great resource. I read a few of the reviews of the first one on the list and it seemed pretty good.

Does anyone else have any ideas?

before my question gets buried, and now that it seems the loading problems on Fodors have been fixed, does anyone have any suggestions/opinions or maybe know someone who got a tattoo in NYC?

Thanks!

My suggestion:

Don't get a tattoo where the judge can see it.

Try the West Village... plenty there.