How To Shop In New York

By: Mike Biscoe

Break Studios Contributing Writer

It is not easy to learn how to shop in New York. Temptations abound. Like Vegas, many a soul has been sold to the devil in exchange for a beautiful new outfit or a gold ring with plenty of bling purchased on Jeweler's Row. Regardless of your pleasure, New York offers those who love to shop an absolute smorgasbord of opportunity. Here are some suggestions to get you started.

Wave your credit card in the air like you just don’t care. Learning how to shop in New York means embracing this most common tool in the shopper’s arsenal.
Head to East 72^nd Street and walk south on Fifth Avenue to begin your lesson in learning how to shop in New York. Try not to gasp in terror as you realize you’ve just paid $149 dollars for that ripped up t-shirt at Bloomingdales. If expense is not a concern, Fifth Avenue is the place to begin. Home to many of the city’s most obnoxiously expensive retail outlets including Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Prada, Bulgari, Takashimaya, Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, and Fendi among many others. Bonus points for dressing like a slob.
Spend the day parading through Manhattan’s closest thing to a mall. Learning how to shop in New York for many visitors means a stop at that monolith of the retail world: Macy’s. Several stories high and spanning the entire length between 6^th and 7^th Avenue, Macy’s is a veritable institution in Manhattan. Be the envy of everyone on the 2 train as you haul your loot to your hotel room uptown.
Give your wallet a breather for lunch. Let’s face it, you’re going to get hungry heaving your goods around. Rejuvenate yourself by shopping for fresh produce and baked goods at The Greenmarket in Union Square. This outdoor market sees numerous area farms haul their goods into the big city for hungry urbanites. Lots of benches and the occasional enormous rat keeps things interesting. This lovely area is a must for those who want to learn how to shop in New York.
Celebrate the lunch break you treated yourself to by heading to Century 21. Located across the street from the World Trade Center, this store offers huge discounts on clothing, linens, home furnishings and much more. Those learning how to shop in New York will find this store is a regular pilgrimage for locals.
Shop for less in Hell’s Kitchen. Knowing how to shop in New York means knowing where to find the ultimate bargains between the glitz. A three-story Salvation Army lures lovers of second (or third) hand goods. Clothes mainly, but also furniture and household goods, are offered. Located on West 46^th Street.