Manhattan may be an island that’s only 13 miles long and 2.3 miles at its widest point but it’s still a pretty small world at every turn. Densely populated with old neighborhoods, epic landmarks, and multicultural splendor–it can feel like one tiny nation with an overwhelming amount to see and experience. To take in the highlights of this Empire City, here’s why staying in the Flatiron is a very smart move.

1) Location Location Location

Named after the Flatiron building at 23rd Street, this district is like the heartbeat to the body with veins, or streets, that branch out in every direction. From the north side of New York where you’ll find Spanish Harlem, Columbia University, the Upper West Side, and Central Park North, to the south end of the island (Wall Street, Battery Park, Statue of Liberty, etc)–there’s so much to see and do. The Flatiron District, home of the MAve Hotel, is centrally located between downtown (considered below 14th St) and Midtown where you’ll find 5th Ave shopping, Times Square, and Broadway. If you’re in town for work or even a publicity tour (lucky you), the MAve sits on Madison Ave. home to many ad agencies, PR, and publishing houses.

2) Rich Residential History

Somewhat corporate, yes, but the Flatiron is also a unique historical neighborhood filled with elegant townhomes, hotels, and buildings that were once home to greats like Edith Wharton, Thomas Edison, and John Steinbeck. The Flatiron is also the birthplace of Theodore Roosevelt, which is a national historic site.

The Gramercy neighborhood, on the east side of the Flatiron District is now the address for celebrities like Julia Roberts and Uma Thurman.

3) Shopping and Killer Eats

Between the Civil War and World War I, our neighborhood was home to some of New York’s most famous department stores: Lord & Taylor, B. Altman, W. & J. Sloane, Arnold Constable, and Bergdorf Goodman. Now preserved under the title “Ladies’ Mile District”, newer stores have popped up like Ann Taylor, Victoria’s Secret, Club Monaco and Origins, and big box retailers dominate Sixth Avenue.

For a quick carb or sugar fix, load up on adventure fuel from nearby bakeries like: The City Bakery, Hot Blondies, Crumbs, The Protein Bakery, Alice’s Tea Cup, and Cafe Prague.

Finish the evening at one of the Flatiron favorites like farm-to-table ABC Kitchen, Greek lovers “Barbounia”, or upmarket Indian food at Junoon.

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Yes, a lot of people opt for the touristy stuff when visiting New York—like climbing the Statue of Liberty, even sailing around the entire island—but something really cool that could land you on TV and in the eyeline of major celebrities—something really cool that makes your friends envious is being part of an exclusive NYC television audience.

Here’s the skinny on some of your favorite NYC shows:

Saturday Night Live

From Chris Rock to Tina Fey to Will Ferrell, Saturday Night Live continues to crank out insanely talented comedic actors. Attending a live taping is absolutely one of the coolest things you can do in New York next to seeing your ancestor’s signature on Ellis Island. In the halls of SNL you’ll see vintage photographs of actors in those magical moments that have become part of pop culture history. Standby tickets (one per person) are distributed at 7am on the day of the show at West 49^th St. (entrance to 30 Rockefeller Plaza). Ask for a ticket to either the dress rehearsal (8pm) or the live show at 11:30pm. Requests for advance tickets (two per applicant) must be submitted by email only in August to snlticketsnbcuni.com. Recipients are determined by lottery. To attend the show you must be 16 or older.

Live! With Kelly (and now Michael too)

With an electric roster of guests that’s ranged from ping-pong champions to the Twilight Breaking Dawn cast—the demand is so hot that tickets can be mailed up to a year in advance. Tickets are available online around a month in advance and standby tickets become available weekdays at 7am in the ABC Studios on the Upper West Side (7 Lincoln Square, corner of W. 67^th St. and Columbus Ave.) Call this number for more info: 212.456.3054

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Jimmy Fallon has done it all with his amazing talents as musician, singer, actor, comedian and gregarious talk show host. Plus, with his mega hot house band as the Roots, he’s got a steady rotation of Hollywood’s most elite in music, acting, and comedy. For tickets, try the Ticket Information Line for a max. of 4 tickets (about one month in advance). Single standby tickets are available on taping days—Monday thru Friday at West 49^th Street on the side of 30 Rockefeller Plaza (arrive before 9am). The ticket info line is: 212.664.3056, or check www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com

Good Morning America

Hosting the ever-popular early morning news and entertainment show are Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos. And like a hit of espresso, they power you for the day with a glimpse of events around the world and a new way of looking at it all. GMA airs live, weekdays from 7-9am and ticket requests (online only) can be sent four to six months in advance. The show airs at 7 Times Square at W. 44^th St. and Broadway in Midtown.

The Late Show with David Letterman

Known for his nutty top-10 lists and zany humor, Letterman has kept people laughing for more than 20 years. To request tickets in advance (max. of 2), you can submit an online request or fill out an application in person at the theater. For standby tickets, call 212.247.6497 starting at 11am on tape days which are Monday thru Thursday. Be aware—you may need to answer Letterman-type trivia to secure your ticket. The Ed Sullivan Theater is located at 1697 Broadway between 53^rd and 54^th Streets.

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For lovers of low prices–Black Friday is your holiday, and if you aren’t opposed to standing in lines or braving the gauntlet of other determined shoppers for a smokin’ hot deal, then New York is your city. You’ll snag the latest fashion trends before other cities catch wind of them, the hottest electronics gadgets, and the most coveted toys from stores like the flagship FAO–sure to light up the eyes of little ones on Christmas Day.

Plus, New York City may be the only city to celebrate this national holiday with cocktails. Ann Taylor in Rockefeller Center threw a midnight event with a live DJ and mimosas. eBay sponsored a Happy Holiday Hotspot with free snacks, free WiFi and free mobile shopping download apps. If you want first dibs this year, head to Macy’s at Herald Square which will open it’s door at midnight on Thanksgiving night. Most other stores keep their Black Friday sales under wraps until a few days before the event. Some of the biggest Black Friday deals are usually found on things like iPads, video game systems, TVs, and DVD players–and the best retail stores for those in NY are J&R, Circuit City, and Best Buy.

One thing to keep in mind this year, if you’re braving Black Friday in Manhattan–the latest report is freezing temperatures, so grab a piping hot latte, bundle up for chilling winds, and plan to thaw out under the store lights.

Also, be sure to check sales online ahead of time and map out where you’re going before you step foot out the hotel lobby door.

More tips: Macy’s in Herald Square is a 5-10 minute walk from the MAve Hotel. Fifth Ave and other Midtown department stores are a 5-10 minute cab ride from the Flatiron district where the MAve is located. Or for smaller boutiques that still offer discounts on Black Friday, head to SoHo where original designs and high fashion reign.

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The legendary Tony Award® winning Broadway play which first took center stage on Saturday October 13, 1962 is back fifty years later to the exact date with its original Steppenwolf cast, led by Tracy Letts and Amy Morton (the playwright and the star of the Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning smash hit August: Osage County).

Letts and Morton face off as George and Martha, a dysfunctional married couple in Albee’s provocative (also hilarious) masterpiece. They are joined by Carrie Coon and Madison Dirks as the unwitting young couple invited over to George and Martha’s for an unforgettable night of cocktails and crossfire.

When director Pam McKinnon was asked to share her experience tackling Albee’s masterpiece, she said, “I think of Edward’s play as fractals: the small moments reveal the whole and vice versa; there is a same-similar geometry to be obeyed. Every beat bundles tragedy with comedy.” She went on to summarize, “It’s through slights and public hits and humiliations do George and Martha pledge all out war.”

Edward Albee, author of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is often referred to as one of the great American playwrights, and known for his experimentation with human character that often involves aggression, weakness and twisted pleasures.

Run time for this Broadway play is approximately 3 hours, including two 10-minute intermissions.

View the performance schedule here.

Ticket sales have now been extended through February 24, 2013–for info on how to buy tickets, click here.

This production takes place in the Booth Theatre, located at: 225 West 45th St. (between Broadway and 8th Ave)

From the Flatiron district where the MAve Hotel is located, this is a 10-15 minute cab ride.

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1. Pete’s Tavern – 129 East 18th St.

A Civil War era survivor, this old staple draws in neighborhood types along with hotel guests in search of that old New York feel. Pete’s Tavern, the oldest operating restaurant and bar in New York, continues to serve Italian-American cuisine along with its famous 1864 House Ale.

The old creaky bar is traditionally decked out around the holidays with lots of festive garland, a twinkling bulb-lit ceiling and Christmas lights dripping around the old mirrors.

Belly up to the bar for standard suds that include 16 beers on tap in bubbling frosty mugs, and a special homemade eggnog around the holidays.

2. Old Town Bar – 45 East 18th St.

One of the oldest bars in New York, Old Town Bar is one of the last reminders of a thriving German community that faded in the 1960s with the old Union Square neighborhood. Old Town was frequented by greats such as Andy Warhol, Bill Murray, Keith Richards, and others. With close proximity to the Broadway rehearsal studios, many actors enjoyed gathering here along with legendary writers whom the owner built great relationships with.

A bit of Old New York is felt in every square inch of this den from the beveled lights and mirrors, to gaslight fixtures, to call buttons at the tables–all under its towering 17-foot ceilings.

You may recognize the interior of this bar from movies like The Devil’s Own, Bullets over Broadway, and Last Days of Disco.

3. Gramercy Park Hotel (Rose Bar, Jade Bar + Gramercy Terrace) - 2 Lexington Avenue

A landmark in NYC, the Gramercy Park Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel that first opened its doors in 1925.

With a retractable roof seventeen stories above the city, Gramercy Terrace Bar features a series of intimate and whimsical spaces that seamlessly blend indoor and outdoor space, with a seasonal menu of favorite American dishes. The Terrace is open to the public daily until 3pm.

The Rose Bar and Jade Bar inside the Gramercy Hotel are two incredible candlelit spaces with an edgy sophistication. Hearkening back to the golden age of the cocktail hour–the small menu ranges from classic aperitifs to fanciful drinks to modern classics.

The ever-changing music from custom designed playlists features DJ’s from New York to London to Rome.

Reservations are required after 10pm for both the Rose Bar and Jade Bar. Reservation requests can be sent to Rosebar@gramercyparkhotel.com.

They will respond within 24 hours if there is availability.

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Famous for its flavor and epicurean delights, taste the flavor of Barcelona in Manhattan. And even better–the Flatiron district (where the MAve is anchored). Our boutique hotel guests love the flair of this fun-loving Flatiron tapas bar strung with pendant lights and chic leather banquettes. And as an NYC guest, if you’re up for making friends–opt for a communal table that runs down the center of the dining room.

“The room (along with the uniforms of the competent, terminally perky waitstaff) is carefully coordinated in tones of toffee, beige and sandy brown.” – New York Magazine.

Offering a wide variety of “market fresh” specials, feast your eyes and lips on the fried quail eggs and chorizo on roasted bread or the mushroom and ham croquettes. Traditional churros come with a thick hot chocolate for dipping–a perfect plate for sharing.

A surfeit of tasty Spanish wines garnish the menu from vinos blancos to vinos tintos, dubbed elegant, earthy, or powerful. A good variety by the glass or by the bottle complement the exquisite flavors with perennial favorites like the Datiles con Beicon, or the Patatas Bravas. A Spanish take using all fresh ingredients, chefs use suppliers and local farmers through the Union Square Greenmarket.

Boqueria is a 12-minute walk from the MAve Hotel, past Madison Square Park, located at 53 West 19th Street (between 5^th Ave and 6^th Ave).

If you’re tired from a day of shopping or wondering the streets, call ahead and order takeout, then bring it back to the MAve and relax.

Takeout at Boqueria is available from noon to midnight, Thursday thru Saturday, and noon to 11pm on Sunday thru Wednesday.

Call: 212.255.4160, and check out the menu ahead of time here.

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There’s nothing quite like Christmas in NYC with our mega-lit, towering tree at Rockefeller Center, ice skaters spinning around a bronzed Prometheus, the chiming bells on the Clydesdales in Central Park, and the iconic New York City Rockettes in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

A precision dance troupe initially inspired by the John Tiller Girls in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1922, the Rockettes embody old New York glamour as they electrify the stage with dazzling costumes from world-famous designers, as well as a recent debut from Heidi Klum’s Project Runway.

The Spectacular opens with the eye-high, leg-kicking chorus line as the Reindeer, then the Rockettes perform the opening number, “Sleigh Ride”. Shortly after, Santa arrives and they lift off into the air. The action shifts to a 3D film where the audience dons 3D glasses, watching Santa fly to New York City from the North Pole in his magic sleigh. He then hovers around New York City landmarks (including the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building), before heading to Radio City Music Hall for his annual visit.

This season marks a special 85th anniversary of the Rockettes with a showcase featuring over 140 performers, lavish sets, costumes, and an original music score.

Since the first version of this 90-minute show was presented in 1933, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular has become a New York City tradition seen by Manhattan residents and hotel guests alike. When it comes to getting in the holiday spirit–even locals say this show’s energy is infectious.

Radio City Music Hall, often referred to as the Showroom of the Nation, has hosted legendary concerts, classic films, and award shows like the Grammy Awards, Tony Awards, and the MTV Awards.

Get information on seating and advance tickets here.

Radio City Music Hall is located in Midtown at 1260 6th Avenue (between 50th and 51st).

From the Flatiron district where the MAve Hotel is located, this is a 7-minute cab ride, or 15-minute train ride.

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