Don't let the size of this gold mine cause you to think you can stuff it in a hip pocket and walk Manhatten from one great experience to killer shop as an instant expert. There are way too many opportunities and options for that. A little prep with this puppy--say 10 to 20 hours (a night a week for 10 weeks BEFORE you get on the plane)--and you'll not only go to good places, but you will see the great places that you want to see.

I got my money's worth. In only 4 hours research I avoided a half dozen friend's "Oh! you have to see this..." got addresses and ranked some places so they were targets of opportunity between other things we had planned.

My wife and I went 3 for 3 on the top stores on my short list. We caught three other "unique spots" on the Madison-Ave-Zag's-in-the-hip-pocket-Walk. Bad part we walked a block from an Only-In-NYC retailer, that sounds light years ahead of anyone on the west coast...I read about it on the plane coming home...there is always next year.

But next year I buy the Zag's in May, map out a day of 57th to 34th before July and our '08 NYC trip will have about 10 new Must-Sees and a day of WOW in the midst of everything else that is wonderful about New York.

Not the only book on shopping and seeing NYC. Just the best.