thebesttravelaccessories.com - leather travel accessory

New York City. It's the only place on the planet with the nerve to call itself the "capital of the world." There's nothing shy or reserved about New York City or the people who embody its larger-than-life persona (think: Puffy Combs and Donald Trump). If Stevie Wonder were to write about today's New York, he'd still mention its "skyscrapers and everything," but he would also marvel at "all of the bling, bling."

The celluloid imagery of the city makes it hard to imagine New York as a place of regular folk. And it may be even harder to imagine it as a place for regular folk to visit. But think again. Real sisters and brothers in the Apple know where to get a good meal and come out with change from a ten spot. They know that the cheapest and fastest way to travel costs only $1.50. In short, they know how to take the city by storm without being taken for a ride. Here's how you can, too.

Sleep tight Accommodations for around $100 are hard to find, but not impossible.

Tips: To get the best deal, call the property directly, rather than using its 800 number. Be sure to ask "Is that your best rate?" Then you'll learn about discounts. Travel off-peak. In New York, that means summer, January and February. Rates are subject to change.

Best Western Manhattan 17 W. 32nd St.; (800) 567-7720; (212) 736-1600. Rates: $89-$129. Free continental breakfast.

Red Roof Inn Manhattan 6 W. 32nd St.; (800) 567-7720; (212) 643-7100. Rates start at $89. Continental breakfast, in-room coffeemakers and Internet access.

Urban Jem Guest House 2005 Fifth Ave.; (888) 264-8811; (212) 831-6029; urbanjem.com. Rates: $100-$140. This Harlem brownstone is charming, but you need to specify if you want a room with a private bath.

Urban Ventures Inc. 38 W. 32nd St.; (212) 594-5650; nyurbanventures.com. Rates: $80-$125. Many city dwellers open their apartments up by offering a bedroom and private bath. Some let you rent their entire apartment. This 23-year-old agency screens apartments and owners.

Washington Square Hotel 103 Waverly Place; (800) 222-0418; (212) 777-9515; wshotel.com. Rates start at $126. In the heart of funky Greenwich Village.

Cheap sites Enjoy some of the town's best at admission prices thrifty tourists love.

Tips: Time is money, even on a shoestring budget. When you set out to enjoy the city's freebies, get an early start.

Abyssinian Baptist Church 132 W. 138th St. (between Seventh and Lenox); (212) 862-7474. Harlem's most renowned house of worship.

African Burial Ground 290 Broadway. One mile north of present-day Wall Street. As many as 20,000 African slaves were buried here from 1712 to 1794.

Apollo Theatre 253 W. 125th St.; (212) 531-5305. Long before Sandman danced across the floor, the Apollo helped launch the careers of such greats as Dinah Washington and Duke Ellington. Today you can catch some great concerts.

Staten Island Ferry (718) 815-BOAT; siferry.com. An hour-long cruise of the harbor with a spectacular view of the Lower Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty-and it's free.

Grand Central Terminal 42nd Street and Vanderbilt; (212) 340-2347. Now that this wonderful Beaux Arts structure has been restored and filled with trendy restaurants and shops, it's a great place to just sit and people-watch or take in the free tour.

Our Harlem Tours (212) 369-4241; IMAR.com. (Select experience #955). This walking tour will take visitors to some of Harlem's most noted sites. It costs $20, but it's worth every penny.

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture 515 Malcolm X Blvd.; (212) 491-2200. This research unit of the New York Public Library houses a massive collection of materials and exhibits about people of African descent worldwide.

The Studio Museum in Harlem 144 W. 125th St.; (212) 864-4500. For $5, you can't beat this museum devoted exclusively to the historical and contemporary contributions of African-American artists.

Shop right Discount shopping in New York is not for the faint of heart.

Tips: Expect long lines and some chaos. If you're slow, you blow. Try to keep your wits about you. You can literally go broke on the streets--after a while those $5 earrings and $15 pocketbooks add up to big bucks.

Century 21 Department Store 22 Cortlandt St.; (212) 227-9092. This department store, which carries clothes, accessories, housewares and more, bills itself as "New York's best-kept secret," and that's no exaggeration. Only true insiders know that names like Prada, Gucci, Nine West and DKNY can be had at discounts up to 70 percent.

Conway Stores Eight Manhattan locations; (212) 967-5300. Stylish clothing for men, women and children at superlow prices.

H&M Three Manhattan locations. This Swedish retailer only recently landed in New York and has already become the main haunt for fashion insiders. H&M has huge blowout sales, but with everyday low prices like dresses for $20 and "leather" pants at $39, you don't have to wait for a sale.

S&B Report (877) 579-0222; lazarshopping.com. This monthly newsletter lists 50 to 200 manufacturers' sample sales a month. Such sales often take place at a showroom and offer items at 50 to 75 percent off the retail price. Recently, for example, leather maker Rem Garson and sportswear company XOXO had a joint sale with such offerings as sweaters for $7.50 to $10 and leather skirts $30 to $75. But often by just walking along Seventh Avenue in the garment district you can learn of sample sales from fliers and posters. You can also check out StyleShop (styleshop.com) and NYSale (nysale.com).

Hot nights Party over here 'round the clock. Put these spots on your dance card.

Tips: New Yorkers party every night, not just weekends (generally regarded as amateur nights). When you go is as important as where you go. So to make sure its not gothic transvestite night, call first (unless that's your thing). Cover fees are subject to change.

Le Bar Bat 311 W. 57th St.; (212) 307-7228. Popular dance club for the thirtysomething-and-over Black professional crowd. $10 cover charge.

Lenox Lounge 288 Lenox Ave.; (212) 427-0253. Harlem hot spot for live jazz, blues and R&B. Some nights are free or as little as $5 with a drink minimum.

Nell's 246 W. 14th St.; (212) 675-1567. Two levels offer a mix of live music, comedy, hip-hop and R & B. Mixed crowd. $10 cover most nights.

The Shadow 229 W. 28th St.; (212) 629-3311. Mix of R&B, classic soul and reggae dance music catering to a mature following. Door fee ranges from $10 to $15.

Sugar Shack 2611 Frederick Douglass Blvd.; (212) 491-4422. This Harlem bar specializes in a mix of old-school classic and hip-hop spins. Some nights feature live jazz. No cover.

thebesttravelaccessories.com - leather travel accessory

Menu