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New York State Shopping and nightlife
Shopping in New York State
Fifth Avenue, New York City's most glamorous thoroughfare, is filled with luxury shops and department stores. No trip to New York is complete without stopping by Bloomingdale's (1000 Third Avenue at 59th Street), Lord and Taylor (Fifth Avenue at 38th Street) and Saks Fifth Avenue (611 Fifth Avenue at 50th Street). Don't forget Macy's, known as the world's largest store, 131 West 34th Street at Herald Square, or the chance to buy a special piece of jewellery at Tiffany's (727 Fifth Avenue at 57th Street).
For shopping that’s more affordable and just as fun, head to Chinatown. Canal Street, which runs through parts of Chinatown, is known for its imitation goods such as luxury perfumes and purses. Touts whispering “Prada, Prada, Gucci, Gucci, Coach?” as you walk down the pavement are eager to show - and sell - their wares. Street fairs are great places to buy creative and fun gifts; in the city, these are held most weekends during summer months. SoHo, Greenwich Village, and Tribeca - all Manhattan neighbourhoods - are known for their funky boutiques.
Woodbury Common, located in Long Island, just one hour's drive from Manhattan, is the largest discount designer outlet in the world. Long Island offers a variety of ever-increasing shopping opportunities - from indoor shopping malls such as Roosevelt Field in Garden City, the East Coast's largest shopping centre, to quaint visitor-oriented shopping villages on historic main streets in places like Huntington, Sea Cliff, Stony Brook and Syosset. Manhattan Mall in Midtown Manhattan has an eight-floor mall with 60 shops.
Many of New York State's smaller towns have independently owned shops and galleries selling locally made goods. The Gaffer District, a neighbourhood in the city of Corning, located in the Finger Lakes Region, is known for its glasswork, which you can buy directly from artists at work in their hot glass studios. These make lovely gifts and souvenirs. Locally made wine and honey are also popular purchases. New York is also known for handcrafts harking back to the Arts & Crafts Movement of the early 1800s, and its Adirondack chairs, a staple on the porch of resorts in the state.
Nightlife in New York State
Nightlife in New York State isn't solely limited to New York City, however this pulsating city certainly lives up to its international reputation as the city that never sleeps. From theatre and film, to comedy and dance clubs, to jazz, blues and rock, there are nocturnal activities to suit all tastes and budgets. Some of the world's most respected and iconic performance venues are here, among them Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Carnegie Hall.
If you're on a budget, don't worry; there are plenty of things for you to do. Half-price tickets for Broadway and off-Broadway performances are available on the day of the show from the TKTS booths in Times Square, South Street Seaport and downtown Brooklyn. During the summer, most of New York City parks put on free outdoor movies and concerts, and many cultural institutions have free or low-cost outdoor fairs and performances bringing some of the world's best talent to the city's stages.
Outside of New York City, nightlife may seem a bit tamer... unless you're in Buffalo, where last call is at 0400. The Chippewa Entertainment District, known locally as “The Chip Strip,” is lined with bars, dance clubs and live music venues, and restaurants, and home to the only mechanical buffalo –which you can ride, of course – in the US. College towns and resort areas also tend to be nightlife hubs, though their offerings can vary considerably depending on the time of year. In The Hamptons, find nightlife options abound, from clubs like the Pink Elephant and the White House to the bars of trendy boutique hotels.
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