New York City: Smart Splurges

Catch a Broadway show Experience the magic of the Great White Way with world-class shows in the grand old theaters surrounding Times Square. Midtown; Live Broadway, Around Times Square; www.livebroadway.com
culture | performing arts | nightlife

Nobu Chef Nobu Matsuhisa turns out top-notch sushi and Japanese dishes with Peruvian flourishes to a high-powered crowd. Reservations are hard to come by – Nobu Next Door is another good option. TriBeCa; 105 Hudson St. at Franklin St.; 212-219-0500; www.myriadrestaurantgroup.com/nobu
restaurant | expensive | sushi

Per Se Thomas Keller brings the concept of his celebrated Napa restaurant French Laundry to New York, except with a glitzier edge. Midtown West; 10 Columbus Cir; 212-823-9335; www.perseny.com
restaurant | expensive | french | new american

Personal Shopping Rivaling Paris, Milan, and London as a high-end shopper’s Shangri La, New York’s scene can be both exhilarating and overwhelming. After an hour-long meeting to determine the your needs and budget, let a personal shopper help you find a wardrobe that blends signature designer pieces with classic basics that are picked to compliment your personality, lifestyle, and future goals.  Upper East Side; New York City Image Consultant, 351 East 84th St. #11A; 212-879-5790; www.newyorkimageconsultant.com
expensive | shopping | designer

See Manhattan by Helicopter Get a rare bird’s eye view of The Empire State Building during an exclusive four-person "Romance over Manhattan" helicopter tour. The 20-minute flight circles around New York’s most famous sites, including Central Park, the United Nations building, and the Statue of Liberty. Just be sure to show up 30 minutes early, and wear a smile for the complimentary photograph. Midtown West; Liberty Helicopter Sightseeing Tours, West 30th St. and 12th Ave.; 212-967-6464; www.libertyhelicopters.com
romantic | tour | things to do | helicopter

SoHo Grand This stylish, 17-story property touts digs decorated in cool, cerebral shapes and earth tones. Sleek baths are designed with white subway-esque tiles and chrome fixtures – a look that is very classically “SoHo.” SoHo; 310 W. Broadway; 212-965-3000; www.sohogrand.com
luxury | hotel | trendy | expensive

The London NYC Hotel Subdued without being overly minimalist (per famed design firm David Collins Studio) and luxurious without being overwhelming in service, The London NYC is a rare gem. Midtown West; 151 W. 54th St.; 866-690-2029; www.thelondonnyc.com
luxury | hotel | expensive