Issue 1, Summer 2006
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The Hustle and The Bustle
Whatever your styles or taste is, you will find many shops and restaurants to accommodate everyone.

The neighborhood surrounding the Empire State Building offers a wonderful mix of eclectic shopping, fine dining and good times. Over the last few years the area has emerged as a prime tourist hot spot and has attracted young professionals and baby boomers from around the city looking for shopping and dining alternatives to other traditionally trendy neighborhoods.
No neighborhood would be complete without a few great spots to eat and keep the locals happy. One of the more popular places is the Heartland Brewery & Rotisserie. Located in the Empire State Building on 350 Fifth Ave. at 34th Street, the Heartland Brewery & Rotisserie markets itself as the largest beer hall on the East Coast. Not only do they brew their own beer, but they also offer delicious specialties like Lemon Rosemary or Honey Citrus Rotisserie Chicken and Homemade Dressen Donuts made right before your eyes.

One of my very favorites eating stops however is Todai, an upscale all-you-can-eat Japanese seafood buffet restaurant located on East 32nd Street between 5th and Madison Avenues. Sushi is their specialty and they offer lots of it! Guests can enjoy over 30 selections of sushi, sashimi and handrolls that are not only skillfully prepared, but are artfully presented as well. Todai also serves traditional and contemporary Japanese hot food dishes including yakisoba, beef and chicken teriyaki, tempura, gyoza dumplings and udon noodles. During dinner hours there is a teppan-yaki grill station where the chef will promptly cook your selection of beef, chicken or vegetables while you wait. They've also added a healthy mix of seafood favorites to the menu such as Alaskan snow crab legs, jumbo shrimp, oysters, cocktail shrimp and a variety of baked fish. To complete your meal, there is a dessert bar with over 20 different cakes and fruits.

There are many other fine restaurants in the area that provide good food at a good value, such as the great number of fine Korean, Indian and Chinese restaurants that are within a short walking distance from the Empire State Building. However, I would be remiss if did not mention the Metro Grill located at 45 West 35th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. This hip joint not only serves good food in a cozy atmosphere, but it also features jazz performances on Wednesday nights and blues performances Thursday nights.


Shopping and Other Amenities


There are countless shops, boutiques and other amenities available throughout the neighborhood in and around the Empire State Building. The most famous structure in the area, besides the ESB, is certainly Macy's flagship store located on 34th Street between 7th Avenue and Broadway. The retail giant started out as a small dry goods shop in 1858 and grew to become one of the nation's biggest retailers-in 1921 Macy's boasted one million square feet of shopping space, making it the "World's Largest Store." Macy's was also a leader in innovation: they were the first retailer to promote a woman to an executive position, use pricing in newspaper ads, and they introduced the tea bag and colored bath towels. Obviously, it's a not-to-be-missed stop while in the neighborhood.

Besides Macy's, there are numerous other shops and stores in the area, such as H & M, Victoria's Secret, GAP, Footlocker and American Eagle Outfitters. A can't-miss stop for young folks is Forever 21 on 34th Street near 6th Avenue. This store has a great mix of the latest trendy fashions for young people. Additionally, there are two malls in the vicinity, the Harold Square Mall, on the corner of 34th Street and Broadway and the smaller Manhattan Mall on 6th Avenue, between 32nd and 33rd Street. These two malls offer a great variety of shops, large and small, that are well worth a visit.

There are many banks (foreign and domestic), florists, drug stores, grocery stores, hotels, salons, etc. that can also be discovered in the neighborhood. If you are from out of town and are looking for familiar newspaper or magazine to read, be sure to visit Universal News located at 29 West 35th Street. This shop has been serving visitors for six years and offers a wide range newspapers and magazines from all over the United States and the world. They also have a good coffee shop located on the premises that serves a great cup at a good price. All of this is within a short walk of the Empire State Building. Happy shopping!

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