Lonely Planet New York City
By David Ellis
Lonely Planet Publications--ISBN 0864425023

Lonely Planet is highly regarded for its no-nonsense, down-to-earth travel tips. Their guide to New York City is no exception...

No public washrooms in sight...
"Anyone who spends time walking around New York City will no doubt learn, to their discomfort, that there's a serious dearth of accessible public toilets. Most restaurants have signs specifically noting that bathrooms are for "customers only," and many of the big department stores (such as Macy's) keep their bathrooms in rather shabby conditions, presumably to discourage their use; other stores like the uptown Barney's refuse to list toilets in their directories forcing you to submit to scrutiny when you ask for one. (At Barney's uptown the men's rooms are on the 2nd and 4th floors, the women's room is on the 3rd floor.) You can often find a lobby level toilet in a hotel, but the tonier facilities frown on obvious outsiders cruising in for the call of nature, and those around Times Square don't usually offer public bathrooms. Museum toilets are invariably located behind their admission booth, and subway toilets are almost never open, with the erratic exception of the bathrooms in the 34th St./Sixth Ave. station, which appear to be available but a few hours a day. And then there's the city's single new public toilet, just behind City Hall..."

New York City Green Guide
By Michelin Staff
Michelin Travel Publications--ISBN 2-06-155113-0

Lots of maps in this guide-for Journeywomen who like their directions laid out clearly and their information conveniently organized and spiced with fun facts...

The famous Carnegie deli...
"It's hard to tell what this kosher-style deli is more famous for--salty service or mile-high pastrami. At this New York legend, it's best to endure the former for the latter (split one if you want to save room for the famous cheesecake), and be prepared to share your table--it's all part of the fun here. For film buffs--much of Woody Allen's 1983 film Broadway Danny Rose was shot on the premises--there's even a namesake sandwich on the menu."

Must-see New York
By Tony Kelly
Thomas Cook Publishing--ISBN 1841570389

This Thomas Cook guide features reams of information on stunning shops, chic cafes, nightlife haunts, affordable restaurants, hidden corners, as well as the city's star sites...

Ten don't-miss sites...

1.  Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
2.  Greenwich Village
3.  Empire State Building
4.  Fifth Avenue
5.  Museum of Modern Art
6.  Times Square
7.  Metropolitan Museum of Art
8.  Central Park
9.  Harlem
10. Brooklyn Bridge