NYC shopping experts ~ help please!
 

Help, Please!! I will have approximately 3-4 hours to shop in NYC with two teen girls, ages 16 & 17. They would like to do parts of Canal Street, SoHo and also Century 21 and H&M if time.

Is there a *direct* or *specific* route you can suggest to include the best in those areas? We'll be staying at the Hilton at 53rd and Ave of The Americas.

Thank you!

I would start either at Astor Place (take the 6 train) or at Broadway and Houston (6, F, B, D, V trains) and walk south on Broadway. You can weave back and forth along the perpendicular streets on your way down and see some soho and nolita boutiques (although probably not appropriate teen shopping). H&M is on Broadway below Houston.

Walk down Broadway to Canal and take a left you'll see vendors with all the knockoffs, etc. From there, you could hop on the train (you can take a variety of trains to FUlton street and walk a few blocks) again and go to Century 21. If you couldn't do everything, I'd skip Century 21. It can be a madhouse depending on when you go, and there isn't much else shopping wise around there.

Thank you for your reply! And how might H & M fit in, if possible? Or daffy's?

I would skip Canal St. It is so crowded on the weekends. I would stick to the 34th St. area, because you will find all those knockoffs sold on the street in the Herald Square area, and there are lots more stores the girls will like.

I know I am gonna get hit for saying this, but Conway for kids is a good store. LOTS of tees and jeans and really good prices. They even have some leather jackets for $19.99.

Across the St is Macy's and one more block south is Daffy's and around the corner is H&M.

The area is 34th and 6th Ave.

Have a GREAT time.

From Canal ST near Broadway, you can catch N,R to COrtland ST, Centery 21 is right there. It also would be a quick cab ride down Broadway from chinatown, but walk over to Broadway to catch the cab. The traffic on canal could be slow.

Thanks for the replies! Our shopping is on a Tuesday afternoon - will that make a difference?

Wantsomesun, how close is Herald Square and Conway to the Hilton where we're staying? It makes total sense to me, and if we find some knock-offs before going to Canal Street, the girls might agree to skip it.

If we do that, exactly *How* do we reach each place? I mean literally, which way to we go? I'm sure we could figure it out but since our time is limited, I want to use it wisely.

MFNYC, is the Century 21 you referred to the one near the World Trade Center site?

Thanks again for your wonderful help!

I would start on Canal, work my way up to H & M on Broadway south of Houston, and then head a few blocks over to Soho. If you are looking for bargains on clothing (guessing by your interest in H & M, Canal, Century 21), the girls may be disappointed when they see the prices in Soho. Great window shopping, but if they are going to actually buy stuff, Canal for knock-offs and H & M for clothes is as good as it is going to get. They might find some sale racks in the backs of the boutiques for winter clothes, but that is going to eat up way to much time. Also, I don't know what time your 3 to 4 hr slot is, but keep in mind that getting a cab to come back uptown between 4 and 4:30 is virtually impossible (shift change). If you are tired and weighed down with bags, I would skip Soho and head back to the Hilton.

Yes, the Century 32 is across from ther WTC site (it's the only C 21 in manhattan). Once of the subway exits/entrances to the street is a new 'temporary' station to replace the one that was destroyed.

oops that should be 21 not 32!

Audra, I agree with wantsomesun about spending your time in the 34th Street area. Conway offers a trendy selection at bargain prices for teens. Granted, the items at Conway are not made from the finest fabrics or sewn with high quality thread, but they'll last as long as teens wear things these days. There's a boutique on West 32nd or 33rd Street (I think it's considered a Koreatown location) that sells really cute and trendy clothes that the teens will love. Very affordable too.

I would recommend Broadway in Soho over 34th Street just because it's less crowded. There are TWO H&M stores on Broadway in Soho. Also, Pearl River Mart is a fun store to visit...it's kind of on the Soho/Chinatown border...it is a huge place full of inexpensive, fun items. I just bought a hat and a silk-covered journal there (about $10 total).

Thank you all SO much for your replies!

We have found another 'free' 2 hour period that we may use to cab it to soho.

For our main shopping trip of approximately 3-4 hours, we're going to do the 34th st. / herald square area.

Now, could anyone be so kind as to tell us *exactly* what route to walk when we leave the hilton, so we can use our time wisely?

Thank you so much!

Walk out door of hotel on Sixth Avenue and head south for approximately 20 blocks. You'll run right into it. On the off chance you veer off course and get lost, aim for the Empire State Building.

Thanks, GoTravel.

Now, to what location would you suggest we take a cab or the subway, to start on our walking tour of SoHo, The Village and Chinatown?

Thanks so much!

Could anyone offer advice regarding a quick walking tour thru SoHo, The Village and Chinatown? I've been there but would like the girls to get a feel for the flavor of each, to stop in a few places in each neighborhood.

Where would you suggest we start (from the train) and then continue?

Thank you!