Whatever Your Passion, Indulge It in New York

There could be no better time to visit New york City than October 5 to 8 to attend APA's 58th Institute on Psychiatric Services (IPS) at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square. Early fall in the northeast is always glorious, with its seasonally mild temperatures and colorful foiliage. A major election is being held this autumn, and the city will be abuzz with campaigns for governor and the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Whether the hometown baseball teams, the yankees and Mets, will be in the playoffs remains to be seen, but as the saying goes, “you gotta believe.”

Your base at the Marriott Marquis, site of all IPS sessions, is in the center of the Broadway theater district. Although it is never too early to purchase advance tickets for the hottest shows, rest assured that there will be an opportunity to buy discount tickets on the day of the performance (and remember that Wednesday and Saturday are matinee days). You might also consider the Off and Off-Off Broadway productions. Several ticket services can be accessed through an internet search of the term “Broadway theater tickets.”

The city also abounds with world-class opera, ballet, dance, and live music concerts of every imaginable variety. These productions can be found at many locations throughout the city, including Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.

No trip to New york is complete without a visit to at least one of the city's famous museums. Even if you have toured the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met), don't miss a chance to view the renovated Museum of Modern Art, Guggenheim Museum, Whitney Museum of American Art, or one of the smaller gems, such as the Frick collection. And there are the Madison Avenue art galleries waiting to be seen.

For visitors and locals alike, much of the special pleasure of Manhattan is found by simply walking through the many distinctive neighborhoods. Armed with a street-by-street guidebook (I suggest Eyewitness New York), you can stroll north from the Theater District to the 843 acres of central Park. Be sure to stop by the Strawberry Fields memorial to John Lennon, the Angel of the Waters statue at Bethesda Fountain, and the zoo.

Bordering the park is central Park West, home to the American Museum of Natural History and the Planetarium (don't forget the kids), and the magnificent Dakota and San Remo apartment buildings.

Heading south from Times Square on the West Side are chelsea and the Garment District, which blends into Greenwich Village, home to universities, coffeehouses, and music clubs. The far west end of Greenwich Village is now called the Meat Packing District, where some of the newer, trendier attractions are found.

Below Greenwich Village are SoHo (South of Houston Street), TriBeCa (Triangle Below Canal Street), Little Italy, and Chinatown. At the bottom of Manhattan Island are the former site of the World Trade center, Wall Street, and the Staten island ferry station, the start of an inexpensive boat trip and great view of the Statue of Liberty. On the East Side of Manhattan are famous landmarks, including the United Nations and Empire State buildings, Fifth Avenue, and St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Walking around the city, or even riding the subways, can stimulate an appetite-not to worry, as Manhattan boasts a seeming unlimited number of restaurants catering to every style and taste. A pleasant surprise is the quality and quantity of lower-priced establishments. But, be sure to review restaurant guides, such as Zagat and Michelin, and make reservations for your favorites.

General information about New York City is readily available. Closer to October you may also want to scan the weekly periodicals (New Yorker, New York, Time Out New York, and Village Voice) and newspapers (New York Times, Post, and Daily News, all available online). I'm looking forward to seeing you in the Big Apple in October!▪