New Yorker’s New York

We all know about the Empire State, Times Square and Central Park, but if you want to get under the skin of the Big Apple ask a local. Native New Yorker Ferne Arfin shows us around.

If you're taking advantage of the season's last minute deals on cheap flights to New York you're already in a New York state of mind - us New Yorkers don't like to pay full price for anything!

Shop First
Stroll Madison Avenue to get the measure of the top fashion designers and the glam windows at Barneys. Then head downtown to score the best labels for half price or less, every day, at the huge Century 21 flagship store on 22 Cortland Street near Broadway.

Still downtown - where all the best bargains are - browse 18 miles of new, used, rare and out of print books at Strand Bookstore, Broadway at 12th Street. The biggest, cheapest bookstore in the city will even sell you books by the foot for an instant designer library.

Party Later
This minute's hottest nightlife is so over by next week. To keep up, try The Bowery Ballroom at 6 Delancey Street - a location for the teen movie Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist - and its sister establishment the Mercury Lounge at 217 East Houston Street. Both can be counted on for a changing array of hip live gigs. Comedy clubs are always good for a laugh and New York has dozens. Comic Strip Live on the Upper East Side is a favourite, and the place where the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Rich Hall and dozens more have honed their comedy chops. Great value too - a ticket and a couple of drinks will set you back less than an average dinner in London.

Refuel
Getting hungry? The Chelsea Market is where New York's foodies nosh and shop. The former Nabisco Factory - where Oreos, were invented and baked - is now a massive food emporium, stretching from 9th to 10th Avenues between 15th and 16th Streets. Graze on breads, cheeses, "hand painted" cookies, coffees, yummy chocolates to take home and lots more. If you don't mind crowds, try the flashy but amazing Buddakan for dim sim and Asian fusion food. Just make sure to book about a month before you go as it’s mega-popular. New York city breaks are never complete without brunch. Skip the big hotel spreads - unless you've got Granny in tow - and make a beeline for Barney Greengrass on 541 Amsterdam Avenue at 86th Street. An Upper West Side institution for 100 years, this is the place to go for fresh bagels, smoked fish of every description, omelettes and sandwiches. It may look like your basic caff, but alongside the two-eggs-any-style and bagels, the menu also lists Beluga caviar with chopped eggs and onions.

And One Last Look
The best views of the city, like all the best things in life, are free. Ride back and forth on the Staten Island Ferry, all night if you like, without spending a cent for the most romantic view of Lower Manhattan and Lady Liberty.