An important part of any great shopping vacation is to shop and find some bargain goods that you can take back as presents or souvenirs.  A great place to find some bargain goods is New York's Chinatown. 

The Chinatown neighborhood of Manhattan New York is an ethnic enclave with a large population of Chinese immigrants similar to the Chinatown districts at other American cities.  The Chinatown in New York is the second most populous Chinatown in the Western hemisphere after San Francisco's Chinatown. 

And, if you're hungry, one of the best restaurants in the Chinatown neighborhood of New York is Joe's Shanghai.  It's a restaurant that I go to everytime I go to New York because I can't get enough of their famous soup dumplings.  The first Joe's Shanghai was founded in Flushing, New York in 1995.  Fame and fortune came quickly as their Shanghai dumplings also known as shao long bao or soup dumplings became an immediate hit.  Their famous Shanghai dumplings come in two main flavors - crab or pork meat.  Both of them are great and worth a try.  My favorite, however, is their pork one.  Both flavors have helped Joe's Shanghai earn many awards and accolades.  Over the years, Joe's Shanghai has received awards from the New York Times, Gourmet Magazine, Travel and Leisure, New York Magazine, and Zagat Survey.  They have also been featured in many gourmet magazines and tv shows.  There are now three Joe's Shanghai locations in Chinatown, Flushing, and upper Manhattan.  

Joe's Shanghai is more than just Shanghai dumplings.  Some other popular dishes here includes Shredded Turnip Shortcake; Twin Prawns in Chili Sauce; Crispy Whole Yellow Fish; Lion's Head (Stewed Pork Balls), Braised Duck, Braised Pork Shoulders, cold cuts like Wine Chicken, and Shanghai Fried Bean Curd.

Today is all about shopping in New York City, so take out those walking shoes and get ready.  We're going to start with a nice brunch at the famous Shake Shack which is known for their incredible burgers.  In fact, burgers, shakes and soda can all be found here for incredible rates.  Since the lines here at the Shake Shack can also be pretty hectic, it's probably best to head over earlier.  That also gives us a chance to start the day earlier and spend more time shopping.  Of course, if you want more time for shopping in New York City, you could forget about breakfast all together and wait to grab some quick snacks later on.

We begin the New York City shopping adventure at the famous Macy's by Herald Square.  Then, we move our way through the tourist shopping area of Times Square and up Fifth Avenue while making a pit stop at Rockefeller Center and heading all the way up Fifth Avenue until we get to the tip by Central Park.

We begin at the Macy's in Herald Square.  Herald Square is formed by the intersection of Broadway, Sixth Avenue, and 34th Street in New York City.  It was named for the New York Herald, a newspaper originally headquartered there and the Square also gives its name to the surrounding area.  The intersection is a typical Manhattan bow-tie square that consists of two named sections: Herald Square to the north (uptown) and Greeley Square to the south (downtown).

Herald Square was formerly the site of the New York Herald Building and contains a huge mechanical clock whose mechanical structures were constructed in 1895 by the sculptor Antonin Jean Carles.  The area around Herald Square along Broadway and 34th Street has now become a retail hub.  In addition to Macy's flagship department store (the largest in the United States according to the Guiness Book of World Records), there are several other notable retailers in the area.

Greeley Square lies between West 32nd Street and West 33rd Street and between Broadway and Sixth Avenue, and is taken up almost entirely by a triangular park that was named after Horace Greeley, publisher of the New York Tribune.  The New York Tribune was the rival newspaper to the New York Herald at the time but the two newspapers later merged to form the New York Herald Tribune.  There is a statue of Horace Greeley inside the park, created in 1890 by Alexander Doyle.  The small park has great deal of charm, it is planted with trees and shrubbery, enclosed by a wrought-iron fence, and provided with inviting chairs, tables and a restaurant kiosk.

If you opted not to eat at the Shake shack, you could also try out the White Castle or the Gray's Papaya in this area.  Those are two great places for budget meals and snacks so that you'll have plenty of energy to continue on your shopping adventure. For more restaurants near Herald Square - Click here.

Before heading too far away from the Herald Square area, don't forget to take some time to check out the world's most famous arena - Madison Square Garden.  Madison Square Garden, known by the local New York residents as simply, The Garden, has been the name of four arenas in New York City.  It is also the name of the entity which owns not only the arena, but several professional sports franchises that play there.  There have been four incarnations of Madison Square Garden.  The first two were located at the northeast corner of Madison Avenue and 26th street (Madison Square, where The Garden got its name).  Subsequently a new 17,000-seat Madison Square Garden opened its doors in December of 1925 which was located at 50th Street and 8th Avenue.  The current Madison Square Garden opened on February 14, 1968 and is located at 7th Avenue between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station. In 2007, Madison Square Garden came in second after Manchester's M.E.N arena for the "World's Busiest Arena."  Madison Square Garden, however, refers to itself in advertising campaigns as the world's most famous arena.  Since you're in the area, why not drop by and take a few pictures.  If you happen to be in town while there are major concerts, games, or events, this area could be incredibly lively and busy. 

Now, we'll head North to a part of New York City that most people will instantly recognize - the Times Square and Midtown Manhattan area of New York City.  Times Square New York is a major intersection in Manhattan New York.  It stretches from the main junction at Broadway and Seventh Avenue and continues from West 42nd Street to West 47th Street.  The Times Square area consists of the blocks between Sixth and Eigth Avenues from East to West and from West 40th Street to West 53rd Street from South to North.  This area makes up the majority of what is also known as Midtown Manhattan New York.  And this area has great shopping opportunities as well.

Times Square was formerly known as Longacre Square and was renamed Times Square after the Times Building in April 1904.  Times Square New York has become known as the Crossroads of the world and is synonymous with New York City in the minds of many visitors to NYC. One of the attractions in Times Square is the large concentration of Broadway musicals and theaters within the Times Square area.  The neon and LED signs that advertise the Broadway shows have been a symbol of the excitement and energy that Times Square is known for. Times Square is the only neighborhood with zoning ordinances requiring building owners to display illuminated signs.  The density of illuminated signs available in the Times Square New York area rivals that of even Las Vegas. 

Greenwich Village includes many sights and attractions to keep an eye out for while you are out and about tasting all the delicious food. Greenwich Village, also known simply as the Village, is largely a residential area in New York City, New York.  Previously known as more of a haven for artists and musicians, Greenwichblossomed and is now populated mostly by upper middle class families.  During the late 19th and early 20th century, Greenwich Village was known as the bohemian capital and the birthplace of the Beat movement.

Located within the confines ofGreenwich Village is the park that has come to symbolize not only the neighborhood, but the university nearby as well. Washington Square Park is one of the most well-known parks ofNew York city's 1,700 public parks.  Washington Square Parkhas become not just a landmark, but also a meeting place and a center for cultural activity.  

The Washington Square Parkfountain area has long been one of the city's popular spots for residents and tourists.  Most of the buildings surrounding the park now belong to New York University.  The university rents the park for its graduation ceremonies and uses the Arch as a symbol of NYU.  New York University (NYU) wantsWashington Square Park to be the core of the school's campus and students frequently use the park as a popular meeting spot for activities.  Local residents of Greenwich Villageconsider the park to be an essential part of the neighborhood.

We're going to be taking a food tour through some of the more popular food establishments in the neighborhood.  This is a pretty simple walking food tour that we took on a previous trip.  We decided to mix it up a little bit since we know the area a bit better now and added a few of our own favorites.  It's better to go with a group of people so that you can get through the tour without eating too much.  When you generally go on a food tour like this they tell the restaurants ahead of time so that you can get smaller taste-sized portions.  If you don't have the luxury of that, just make sure that you go with a group of foodie friends who can help finish off the food. 

As I mentioned, if you enjoy good food and want to try out some amazing restaurants in New York, this is a good way to sample a large number of them.  This food tour (and others like it) are available for those who wish to purchase it courtesy of Foods of NY - here.  This is a slight variation on one of the food tours.

First stop: Pommes Frites where you can try over 100 different sauces with your fries.  Pommes Frites isn't just your typical restaurant.  In fact, it's anything but an ordinary restaurant.  It's a specialty shop where their primary focus is on serving you delicious and authentic Belgian fries, or as the Belgians call them, "pommes frites."  There is a limited number of seats here, but you don't come here to sit down and eat a relaxing meal.  You come here because you want to try one of the tastiest treats in town.  Pommes Frites uses premium fresh fried potatoes and creates a treat that is crunchy on the outside while retaining a soft interior.  Their trick is that the pommes frites are all fried twice.  The first time, they are cooked through.  The second time provides a golden color and makes them deliciously crisp.  Another unique feature of this restaurant is the choice in sauce.  Europeans have been eating their fries with everything but ketchup for many years, and now you can share in the experience.  Some options for dipping sauces include exotic mustards and mayonnaise, vinegar, curry sauce, or even a peanut satay sauce.  The selection of toppings for your frites includes everything from the familiar to the exotic, and is limited only by imagination.  It's a unique experience that you'll have to taste to believe. 

Next up: Caracas Arepa Bar which is a small restaurant that serves up some authentic Venezuelan cuisine.  There are few Venezuelan restaurants that I know of and even fewer that serves up an arepa quite as delicious as the ones that you can find here.  Not sure what an arepa is?  Wikipedia says that an arepa is essentially a piece of bread that is made of corn and originates from the northern Andes in South America.  It is similar to Mesoamerican tortilla and the word originates from the language of the Caracas natives (North coast of Venezuela) and means "maize."  This tiny eatery has been grabbing the attention of New Yorkers and spreading these South American delicacies to the masses. The spongy cornflour coverings are stuffed with a wide choice of fillings like black beans, sweet plantains and cheese, mashed chicken with avocado, etc.  I've tried a few and haven't been disappointed by any of them.  Served with bowls of nata (sour cream), the arepas are irresistible.  If you're less adventurous, there are also some delicious empanadas available as well.  I tried their shark empanada which turned out to be really good.

Next stop: Mamoun's Falafel is quite possibly the best bargain in Greenwich.  Established in 1971, Mamoun's Falafel has been delighting residents and tourists with tasty and authentic Middle Eastern cuisine for quite awhile.  The most popular option at Mamoun's is definitely their falafel - a fried and seasoned chick pea mixture stuffed inside a pita bread with a salad mixture and topped with sesame sauce. Their popular falafels can be had for just a few dollars (although prices seem to be rising slowly).  For those who have their own favorite Middle Eastern dishes, Mamoun's also offers hummus, baba ghannouj, kebabs, and just about anything else you might crave at the moment.  Seating is definitely limited, so you may want to take your food to go.

Third stop: The famous Joe's Pizza is a restaurant that you may have seen in popular movies.  It's also popular amongst the celebrities.  In fact, Ben Affleck said that “Without a doubt this is the best pizza in the entire city.”  Affleck also said that “It’s so good, in fact, that I don’t even want to ruin the taste of it by putting any toppings on it. I just get a cheese slice and savor it. There are tons of pizza places all over New York. It definitely has the best pizza in the world. But Joe’s is the best of the best.”  Quite an endorsement for a small pizzeria in Greenwich Village.  Definitely worth a try since you're in the area.  The pizza at Joe's provides a taste of what New York style thin crust pizza is all about.  Crunchy bottom with a thin layer of cheese and toppings.  Don't go overboard on the toppings though, generally 1-2 toppings is preferred on these thin-crust pizzas.  In fact, most people stick with the plain cheese ones.  Try it for yourself.  

Fourth on our list: Rocco's Pastry Shop has a long history of selling delicious pastries. Rocco's Pastry & Espresso Cafe has been satisfying the great citizens of New York for 31 years. With an astounding selection of baked goods - nearly everything under the sun - Italian family traditions live on at Rocco’s.  A highly recommended treat for fans of sweets is their delicious cannoli's.  It's a real treat that you won't want to miss out on.

Fifth: Milk and Cookies hits the spot after all the other food items and is a great place to stop for some more dessert.  As the name suggests, this restaurant serves up the all-American treat that people just can't seem to get enough of - milk and cookies!  It's a real treat when they have fresh cookies fresh out of the oven, but even when it isn't fresh out of the oven, one bite into one of their cookies can cheer up anyone's day.  If you prefer, you can spice up your day with a variety pack where you "mix-in" a mini batch of cookies with the flavour of your choice - they'll be ready in 10 minutes!  And after you've had your fill, don't forget to add a glass of milk to top it all off.  

Last but definitely not least is another dessert favorite: Magnolia's bakery is the place to go if your sweet tooth has not yet been quenched.  This famous bakery is especially well-known for their cupcakes and its chic ambience.  Many trendsetters are spotted here nibbling on some cupcakes with chocolate, mocha or white butter cream icing.  One taste of the cupcakes and you'll see why they are so hard to resist.  The presentation of the cupcakes adds to the already irresistible frosting and makes them perfect for special occasions. Magnolia's also bakes all of their products directly on their premises.  So, it's a chance to see bakers at work right before your eyes.  It makes you appreciate the cupcakes and encourages you to purchase more.

After a day of eating in Greenwich, you'll want to take some time to walk it off.  A nearby place that's perfect for this is the SoHo area of New York if you like to go shopping.  SoHo is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan.  Originally, SoHo was known as a place popular for artists.  Now, it has become a destination for shoppers who are looking for the latest and greatest that New York has to offer.  The name SoHo is a blend of "South" and "Houston" from its location "south of Houston Street."  Its name is similar to the way many of New York's neighborhoods have been named.  Some other popular examples that you may hear of are NoHo (North of Houston Street), TriBeCa (Triangle Below Canal Street), Nolita (North of Little Italy), and DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass).  Before its latest incarnation as a trendy destination for shoppers and travelers, it was known as the Cast Iron District because of the many buildings incorporating cast iron architectural elements.

Today, we will be exploring the Coney Island region and taking some time to lounge around at the beach and enjoy some of the food in this area.  Although it is no longer THE amusement park capital of the nation, Coney Island still contains plenty of history and intrigue.

Coney Island is a peninsula, formerly an island, in southernmost Brooklyn, New York City with a beach on the Atlantic Ocean. The neighborhood of the same name is a community of 60,000 people in the western part of the peninsula, with Seagate to its west; Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach to its east; and Gravesend to the north.

After World War II, Coney Island slowly declined in popularity and endured years of neglect.  It had been a major resort and the site of many popular and well-known amusement parks.  In recent years, the area has seen the opening of KeySpan Park, home to the successful Brooklyn Cyclones minor league baseball team. 

The heydey of Coney Island was between about 1880 and World War II.  It was the largest amusement area in the United States, attracting several million visitors per year. It even had three competing major amusement parks - Luna Park, Dreamland, and Steeplechase Park.  Today, the major parks here are Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park (a successful family owned park with over 20 rides located directly on the Boardwalk), 12th Street Amusements, and Kiddie Park. If you're looking for more action, the Eldorado arcade has its own indoor bumper car ride. The famous Astroland Park was recently closed on September 7, 2008.  However, there are talks that a new amusement park may be built in its place.

Even though there have been some closings and it is no longer as popular as it was during its height, Coney Island still has some intriguing landmarks. The amusement area still contains various rides, games such as skeeball, ball tossing, a sideshow, and shooting/tossing/throwing games.  The rides and other amusements at Coney Island are now owned and managed by several independent companies. 

Three of the rides at Coney Island are protected as designated NYC landmarks and recognized by the National Register of Historic Places:

• Wonder Wheel - Built in 1918 and opened in 1920, this steel ferris wheel has both stationary cars and rocking cars that slide along a track. It holds 144 riders, stands 150 feet (46 m) tall, and weighs over 2,000 tons. At night the Wonder Wheel's steel frame is outlined and illuminated by neon tubes. It is part of Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park.
• The Cyclone Roller Coaster - Built in 1927, is one of the nation's oldest wooden coasters still in operation. A favorite of some coaster aficionados, the Cyclone includes an 85-foot (26 m), 60 degree drop. It is owned by the City, and operated by Astroland under a franchise agreement. It is located across the street from Astroland.
• The Parachute Jump - The Parachute Jump was originally called the Life Savers Parachute Jump at the 1939 New York World's Fair and was the first ride of its kind. Intrigued and excited patrons were hoisted 190 feet (58 m) in the air before being allowed to drop using guy-wired parachutes. Although the ride has been closed since 1968, it remains a Coney Island landmark and is sometimes referred to as "Brooklyn's Eiffel Tower." Between 2002 and 2004, the Jump was completely dismantled, cleaned, painted and restored, but remains inactive. After an official lighting ceremony in July 2006, the Parachute Jump was slated to be lit year round using different color motifs to represent the seasons. However, this idea was scrapped when New York City started conserving electricity in the summer months. It has not been lit regularly since

Apart from the amusement parks and games, there is a nice sand beach for visitors to see.  Coney Island still maintains a broad sandy beach from West 37th Street at Seagate through the Coney Island and Brighton Beach to the beginning of the community of Manhattan Beach, a distance of approximately 2½ miles (~4.0 km). The beach is continuous and is served for its entire length by the broad Riegelmann boardwalk.  A number of amusements are directly accessible from the land side of the boardwalk, as is the New York Aquarium and a variety of food shops and arcades.

The beach is groomed and replenished on a regular basis by the city. The position of the beach and lack of significant obstructions means virtually the entire beach is in sunlight all day. The beach is open to all without restriction and there is no charge for use. 

Interested in seeing something different and unique?  The Mermaid Parade, which takes place on Surf Avenue and the boardwalk, might be just the thing that you are looking for.  The famous Mermaid Parade features floats and participants all dressed up as mermaids walking through the streets of Coney Island.  This has been produced annually by Coney Island U.S.A. — a non-profit arts organization which is dedicated to preserving the dignity of American popular culture. The group, which was established in 1979, also produces the Coney Island Film Festival, Burlesque At The Beach, and Creepshow at the Freakshow (an interactive Halloween-themed event), and houses the Coney Island Museum.

And, if you're going to be in the area, you must walk on over to where the original Nathan's famous hot dogs started.  The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog story started in 1916 when two Polish immigrants named Nathan and Ida Handwerker were working in a New York beach resort called Coney Island.  It was destiny: They met.  They married.  And the hot dog was born.

On the advice of two singing waiters (Jimmy Durante and Eddie Cantor), they plunked down their $300 life savings and opened a frankfurter stand. Using Ida's grandmother's secret spice recipe, their pure-beef frankfurter sandwich became known as the original Coney Island Hot Dog.  Positioned as a treasured tradition, Nathan's is one of those rare brands able to claim immeasurable brand equity. The name has always been synonymous with the highest quality, beef hot dogs and unique, golden crinkle-cut French fries.  Today, Nathan’s hot dogs are marketed and sold in over 18,000 locations worldwide including over 8,000 retail locations and over 10,000 food service outlets.

Another tradition that started in 1916 was Nathan's Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest. During his first year of operation, Handwerker decided to have a July 4th hot dog eating contest to determine who among his customers was the most patriotic.  According to legend, just four men competed and an Irish immigrant won the title by eating 13 hot dogs and buns in 12 minutes.  There are no photos from that first event and it's safe to say that only a handful of beach goers watche.  My, how the times have changed.  The competition today is far more competitive and has been televised as well. The 2008 competition may have been the most highly anticipated match-up in the event's storied 93-year history.  It was a highly anticipated re-match as six-time winner Kobayashi sought to regain his title as world eating champion.  Joey Chestnut, the winner in the 2007 contest sought to and succeeded in defending his title.  Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest is sanctioned by the Major League Eating (MLE), the world governing body of all stomach-centric sport.

And if that's not enough delicious food, we end the day with dinner at one of the best steakhouses in the nation - Peter Luger's.  The Brooklyn location of Peter Luger's Steakhouse was established in 1887 as Carl Luger's Cafe, Billiards, and Bowling Alley in the predominantly German neighborhood.  In 1950, the original owners put the restaurant up for auction and Sol Forman bought it and turned it into the world-renowned steakhouse that we know today.  One of the keys to their success is that each piece of meat is selected by their family and then carefully aged through a process that they don't divulge.  Whatever they are doing has been working because Peter Luger has been named the best steakhouse in New York City by the Zagat Survey for 24 years in a row.  Patrons of this wonderful restaurant should note that they only accept cash, gift certificates, or the Peter Luger credit card.

The menu at Peter Luger is sparse, with the only entrees being the porterhouse steak for 1-4, lamb, and Salmon. Their supplementary dishes are shrimp cocktail, beefsteak tomato and onion salad (served with steak sauce), German fries, creamed spinach, and pecan pie.  The steaks at Peter Luger are all served pre-sliced on an inclined plate so that the juices run down.  The edges of the plates are all heated to approximately 400 degrees fahrenheit, allowing diners to cook their steak further if they so choose.  And, Peter Luger waiters are taught to make sure that the steaks are brought out to the tables within minutes of the steak being taken out of the oven so that it is still sizzling when it reaches the table.  Peter Luger also serves hamburgers but only for lunch. This is definitely one of those dining experiences that you won't want to miss and a great way to end the trip.