Though I was born and raised in New York, Rockefeller Center is always my go to place for the…read moreholidays. I love visiting the Christmas tree and seeing people ice skate at The Rink. In celebration of FIFA World Cup 26, The FIFA World Cup 26 NYNJ Host Committee, Telemundo and Rockefeller Center are hosting the official NYNJ World Cup 26 & Telemundo Fan Village at Rockefeller Center from July 6-July 19 daily from 10:00am to 8:00pm. At the heart of the Fan Village, The Rink at Rockefeller Center transforms into a dynamic soccer pitch where fans can gather for live match broadcasts on large screens. The Channel Gardens celebrates the eight nations that have lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy (the champions, legendary players, and unforgettable moments that have shaped the history of the world's game.) Across the Plaza, sport, culture, and community come together through interactive experiences, family-friendly programming, and brand activations that bring the global energy of the tournament to Rockefeller Center. The NYNJ World Cup 26 & Telemundo Fan Village at Rockefeller Center is free and open to the public. All visitors must enter through designated checkpoints at 49th Street & 5th Avenue or 50th Street & 6th Avenue. All the interactive experiences were a lot of fun. There were virtual queues so we were able to walk around and do other things instead of just waiting in line. The staff were very friendly and helpful as well.

Such a classic NYC spot and honestly just a really fun place to explore!…read moreThere is so much packed into the complex. Head downstairs to the underground concourse level and you'll find tons of great shops, quick bites, bakeries, and sitting areas. Up top, the outdoor plaza area surrounded by all the flags and towering buildings is gorgeous.

If you come to this UNIQLO location and haven't visited others, you are getting straight up…read morespoiled! I typically go when Im in Honolulu as we don't have UNIQLO where we live so I always make it a point to stop here when in NYC. The store is gorgeous and huge, three stories including a coffee shop on site! The last time I was here was in the dead of winter so I bought a few pieces from their thermal line which kept me warm all weekend long! Walk around the store, look for sales and special pieces. Become a member, download the app and you get discounts! Surprisingly friendly staff that's helpful, was not expecting that in the heart of NYC.

This 5th Ave location is known as the flagship store in NYC. Additionally, it's the largest Uniqlo…read morestore in the entire US and considered as one of the largest in the world. Has three floors in total in which each floor caters to different categories like heattech + men's + women's + children apparel + graphic tees. There's even a Uniqlo coffee shop on the 2nd floor. A large fake Christmas tree is placed in the center when first walking inside through the entrance. Then, a huge red escalator of heading up and down to each floor is behind the tree. Additionally. everything's either being neatly organized or stacked on most of the shelves and inside drawers except for a couple of areas here and there. The price range is reasonable for most apparel items besides the thick puffer jackets + sweaters + graphic tees. Even though there seem to be signs for the fitting room and cashiers/self-checkout, it's still pretty confusing to walk around and find stuff imo because of how large the Uniqlo space is. I have to flag down and ask different staff about the whereabouts of cashiers as I'm paying with cash. There's a bit of a line for those paying by cash despite several 5-6 cashiers being present while no line at all for self-checkout (card only). No line for the fitting room though. Generally, staff is shown as helpful + amiable + patient in a professional manner towards customers. My favorite section is probably by the heattech area. There're 3 various heattech types of warmth for both adults and children. Of course you can wear whichever layer as you please at the end of the day. All the desired temperatures are simply suitable for preferred reference anyway. The Original (Mild Weather) - 5°C to 20°C or 41°F to 68°F Extra Warmth (Colder Days) - -5°C to 15°C or 23°F to 59°F Ultra Warm (Extreme Cold) - -20°C to 10°C or -4°F to 50°F I think The Original layer of heattech is already pretty warm for the 30s-40s temperature here in NYC. The fabric is the thinnest in material. Very comfy to wear without being too stuffy on the inside. I bought two long sleeved heattech pieces today ($19.90 each). They also come in different colors and styles that might be suited to the personal taste of each and every customer. I'm not sure if they have a restroom for the public, will have to search for it next time...

THE SHOPS: An upscale multi-story complex which opened in 2004. The MALL features a mix of…read moreexclusive designer shops with everyday popular stores. There's also a range of Dining options from upscale Restaurants to casual Cafes. I headed over to SHAKE SHACK on the third floor to grab a bite to eat. WORTH VISITING.

This was one of the nicer malls that I've visited. Most of the stores were of the higher end…read morevariety. There was also a Whole Foods Market that was a flight of escalator down from the ground floor. There were several restaurants located up on the third and fourth floors. Two of my favorites, Momofuku Noodle Bar and Shake Shack, were up on the third floor. During the warm and muggy days of summer, it's a nice respite from the heat to come inside.

Came by looking for the hello Kitty New York pins and this place had tons of stuff. Lots of other…read morehello kitty New York items as well. There's a downstairs as well. Lots of books of course (American and Japanese) but also other Knick knacks like stationary items. Things were a bit on the pricier side but assuming that is due to things being from Japan. Worth the price to us!

Amazing spot. 1)…read moreMust visit if you are interested in Japanese and Anime related books and items. 2) The store is very well kept and I enjoyed my time. 3) They had a restroom which was clean, very appreciative of that.

I just got back from my first time in NYC. I was walking to Rockefeller Center, when I saw Saks…read more I have to about I had to double check what street I was on! This was THE SAKS on fifth Avenue. I really felt silly, that I had just walked into the flagship store. I'm not by all means, a trendy fashion icon. But I'm glad to have stumbled on the iconic luxury department store in Manhattan. Possibly the most famous in the whole world. Though I didn't buy anything, this a spot worth window shopping for in New York.

i know Saks has been struggling since their Nieman-Marcus takeover, and one of my last experiences…read morewith Saks was with a really snotty associate in the SF Bay Area... but wow, the sales associates we interacted this week at the NYC 5th Ave store were amazing! 2 guys we met on the 5th floor were super friendly and helpful, and steered us in the right direction, and made a call for us. and then Joanna in coats was just amazing! She was definitely knowledgeable and helpful, but most importantly, she was super patient with me when i had a stupid credit card issue AND a gift card issue with my purchase. Every time we visit NYC we'll visit her and see what kind of good stuff she can help us purchase.

Atrium 53 Street/3rd Avenue I've been coming here about 6…read moreyears. Nice break stop to use public restroom. Variety of shops. I love the Barnes and Noble. They have loads of seating in the atrium. They provide a live pianist. He plays a variety. Sometimes Holiday music to get you in the spirit. They didn't have the Christmas tree this year. Last year I took pictures of the tree and holiday decorations. The tables fill up at lunch time. People bring their lunch. They also have a wide selection of food choices in this atrium. It's nice to purchase and have a seat. It has always been clean when I visit. Same with the public restroom. And naturally they have free WiFi. I see people getting together to play cards, checkers and chess. It's a nice community gathering place. Great place to get indoors off the busy sidewalks. Quiet and peaceful. Highly recommend.

Very disappointed! There were signs all around, buut this place does not exist!!!! There is a…read morebig empty area where it probably used to be. Not sure what is going on here!

I'm not sure how to categorize this store but it's like a Knick Knack store. They have books,…read moresouvenirs, key chains, chachkies, etc. There's plenty of NY themed stuff like a pigeon section. Books, stickers, plushies, etc. it's located on the street level and there's is a entrance via 50th st and an entrance in the lobby of the building as well.

I absolutely adore this chain and spend too much of my monthly paycheck here. They are a seller of…read moreboth Sonny Angels and Smiskis . They are so hard to find in the city. There are 3 locations. Definitely call ahead to see if they have that you are looking for!! Customer service is excellent. Selection is generally good for most items (some are limited). Definitely my favorite spot in NYC.

I haven't been back since the pandemic, when I lost my mind over Very Fresh Noodles and because we…read morehad to eat outside, I didn't even get to explore much of anything. I visited right after opening, a little after 10 am (many businesses do not open until 11am, like my beloved Seed+Mill). My first impression was that it reminded me of a food hall similar to what I experienced in various cities in Japan. The variety of foods available is impressive and you really can find it all here, from an Italian grocer to Japanese to the various food stands offering everything from BBQ to the best halvah I've ever had. And there's a Pearl River Mart and other places to find gifts and souvenirs. My favorite of this ilk is Muji Market, which has all the Japanese amazing things! Also of note: very clean bathrooms. It reminds me of the bathrooms at Grand Central, a lot of stalls, sinks in the center, only much, much more pleasant. I'll be back as soon as I can. It's silly that I didn't come here when I actually lived in New York.

Swung by on a Saturday evening at 9pm for about 30 minutes while waiting for a late dinner…read morereservation. The physical location is open to 10pm though most shops and restaurants inside are closed by 8-9pm, only a handful of places like Chote Miya, Miznon, and La Devocione were still open though also wrapping up business for the evening. Wanted to highlight a few more stores here for this review: - Moon Man Foods: a Brooklyn-based company, they have a small stand about a third of the way thru the market (walking east to west), selling southeast Asian kaya jam, which is coconut-based and contain eggs, coconut milk, sugar, starch, and salt. They come in pandan, ube, and Java palm sugar (aka gula melaka) flavors. - Pearl River Mart and Pearl River Mart Foods: back in the day they used to be located in SoHo on Broadway, though rising rents made them relocate, and I'm glad they're still around! They carry all sorts of Asian-inspired decor, serving ware, stationery, and their "Foods" location downstairs is combination of Asian grocery, bubble tea (Milk & Tea), and Korean and Chinese snack/takeout stands (Kimbap Lab and Mao's Bao's). - Muji Market: this is a smaller location that carries a narrower assortment than your average Muji (house wares, basic apparel, accessories, kitchenware, snacks), though they have a full cafe serving coffee and matcha, simple Japanese lunch items like bowls, sandwiches and bento. Cafe prices seem a little higher probably due to the location. - gallery art: there is a small whitewashed hallway gallery of maybe a couple dozen small pieces by local artists, featuring NYC-centric photos, sketches, paintings, multi-media. Found this fun and entertaining!

blocks and blocks full of stores with any material and sewing accessories you need . Very easy to…read morenavigate and shop around for the best deals. Every store was well staffed to help as well.

Amazing selection of EVERYTHING! This wasn't my first time here, but this time was way better than…read morethe previous visits!

Read about a tasting of teas and wagashi on 1/31 only. Located on 5th ave, next block to…read moreRockefeller Center. Was told they've been open for about 2 years. Friendly, welcoming and professional staff. Was directed to the samples table - tasted green and black teas; and bites of 2 japanese sweets: sakuragoromo (crepe with red bean paste and cherry blossom leaf), and chocolate mikasa (chocolate pancake with choc cream). Their products are beautifully displayed and packaged. Samples on display so can see what items are like. Prices vary. Sold in sets (would be good as gifts) and individual packs (for tasting; good for me bec. I would like to try different ones). Bought a choc mikasa $5 and kingyo $6.60 (white grape jelly; was just ok). It was also the last day for the winning confectionary art which will be returned to Japan the next day. Joined their rewards so can earn points towards $ off.

K. Minamoto specializes in Japanese wagashi (sweets made with mochi, bean paste, fruit, etc.) all…read moreindividually wrapped in small packages. For my first introduction to wagashi, I visited their store when they were offering samples with tea tasting. Chocolate Dorayaki (chocolate ganache cream filling sandwiched between chocolate pancake) paired with roasted tea and Sakuragoromo (sweet red bean paste, Mochi rice cake and edible cherry blossom leaf covered with Japanese style crepe) paired with green tea. Each one cost $5-6.50ish. They have huge display cases with tons of varieties, but since I'm new to wagashi I would have also loved to see the treats displayed instead of relying on photos with descriptions. Their team is professionally dressed in branded uniforms and graciously ready to assist. I definitely need to dive deeper into this delicious world of Japanese delights. Looking at their menu I would love to try tosenka (whole rich white peach covered with juicy jelly, 1 piece $29), kurogoma daifuku (Black sesame paste wrapped with rice cake and black sesame seeds, $$4.70 1 piece), white peach mochi (19.80, 8 pieces) and many of their cakes!! Check out their online store if you cannot make it in person.