The activity in each part of the city welcomes shoppers, hailing a happy change, both in climate and in season. As you roam Manhattan’s streets this fall, enjoying the vibrant foliage and the crisp air – perfect for shopping all day long – you’ll notice a bevy of changes. Here’s a little summary of what you’ll find this season:

On fabulous Fifth Avenue: Bottega Veneta has opened its largest store in the U.S., between 54th and 55th Streets, adjacent to Pucci’s second New York boutique in the St. Regis Hotel. Abercrombie & Fitch will come to 720 Fifth Avenue next year, at the northwest corner of 56th Street, formerly home to Fendi. Just in time for the holidays, Build-a-Bear Workshop will join another popular children’s destination, American Girl Place, south of Saks at 565 Fifth Avenue, replacing HMV.

On the Golden Mile: Sant Ambroeus, the ritzy bakery and restaurant that peddles high-end pastries, gelato and pastas, returns to 1000 Madison Avenue at 77th Street, replacing Fauchon. Italian designer Alessandro Dell’Acqua opened its first U.S. store at 818 Madison Avenue. Shi Cashmere replaces Borghese Cosmetics at 944 Madison Avenue, bringing a piece of London to New York. David Webb jewelry is relocating from the southeast corner of 57th and Park to 789 Madison Avenue, taking Bruno Magli’s space. Repossi Joailliers of Monte Carlo will open its first U. S. location at 609 Madison Avenue, formerly Ciribelli jewelry. De Grisogono Jewelers, famous for its rare black diamonds, will sparkle at 824 Madison Avenue. Karl Kemp, antiques dealer, is building a shop at 833 Madison. Charles Schwab & Co. will also open a retail site at One Madison Avenue.

On 57th Street: Beauty abounds- Sothy’s Skin Care from France will have its first U.S. spa, just steps away from Bergdorf Goodman at 37 West 57th Street, and, this fall, Zitomer will sell its luxury beauty products across the way at 40 West 57th Street.


At Columbus Circle: Distinguished cigar producer Davidoff and Princeton Running Company have joined The Shops at Columbus Circle, bringing even more luxury retail to the successfully launched shopping center.

On the Upper West Side: Boyd’s of Madison Avenue, a cosmetic and beauty product emporium, will move across the park to Columbus Avenue, between 74th and 75th Streets. G.C. William, also on Madison, just opened on West 72nd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenue in time for back-to-school shopping.

On the Upper East Side: Boyd’s of Madison Avenue is also relocating to a townhouse on Third Avenue and a fabulous new concept, Morrell Wine XChange, is arriving “just in time” for Thanksgiving at 1035 Third Avenue, at 61st Street.

In Chelsea: French designer Lucien Pellat-Finet has opened a boutique at 14 Christopher Street, next door to Aedes de Venustas, parfumerie, at 9 Christopher Street. Optique by LensCrafters has taken two more locations on Sixth Avenue, at 13th Street and 20th Street. Olive + Bette’s fourth and largest shop opened its doors at 384 Bleecker Street, selling cheerful and trendy clothing to the young masses. Rumor has it that Chanel is also scouting for a presence on Bleecker Street.

Fashionable Flatiron: Los Angeles-based athletic manufacturer LF Sportswear will open a concept store at 150 Fifth Avenue, joining its first boutique, which also opened in Soho.

In Noho: Bond Home Gallery has found a new home at 19 Bond Street, just steps away from Creed (Bond No. 9).

In Tribeca: Home furnishing paradise Art et Maison is open at North Moore and Lafayette Streets.

On the Lower Eastside: French native Marine Penvern has opened at 166 Orchard Street, bringing her edgy, urban designs to the eclectic neighborhood.

Tourists sure seem to “love NY” as both domestic and international visitors flock to our City, resulting in the slew of new hotels popping up and existing hotels receiving facelifts to become more elegant.

For instance, the Lambs Club is being renovated on West 44th, between Sixth and Seventh, and will open this winter. One block over, on 45th Street between Sixth Avenue and Broadway, Andre Balazs plans to open a price conscious “euro” style hotel with bunk beds. On the other end of the spectrum, Balazs is also developing Manhattan’s first Standard Hotel in the ever exciting Meatpacking District. This boutique hotel will be bordered by West Street, West 13th Street, Washington Street, and Little West 12th Street.

Robert DeNiro and BD Hotels are joint venturing a new hotel at Greenwich and North Moore Streets in 2005. Next month, the 205-room 70 Park Avenue Hotel will re-open at the former site of the 17-story Doral Park Avenue Hotel on East 38th Street and Park Avenue. Macy’s and Madison Square Garden will see a new neighbor; Hampton Inn Midtown Herald Square is planned to debut at West 31st Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues.

Later this fall, another Hampton Inn-Seaport/Financial District will debut on Pearl Street, between Peck Slip and Frankfurt Streets and next to the Brooklyn Bridge. In September, the much-anticipated translucent opaque glass-wrapped Hotel on Rivington Street, also known as Surface, located on the Lower East Side between Essex and Ludlow, will open.

Construction will also begin on the Marriott Courtyard on Park Avenue, between 124th and 125th Streets, and a few blocks away, near the famed Apollo Theater, Starwood Hotels is planning a W Hotel at the site of the former Loew’s Victoria Theater. Renovations are now being completed on the Westpark Hotel at 308 West 58th Street, across from The Time Warner Center, and a luxury boutique hotel called 6 Columbus Circle will feature a “nouveau” restaurant.

Brasserie LCB has reopened at 60 West 55th Street and Master chef Jean-Jacques Rachou has transformed La Côte Basque into a looser environment, hopefully attracting the faithful as well as a younger crowd.

The Chrysler Center, at 155 East 42nd Street, is now home to Capital Grille, the steakhouse chain based in Atlanta that features soaring prismatic glass and metal supports designed by Philip Johnson to reflect the architecture of the building.

Also taking Manhattan’s restaurant industry by storm is Reve, located at 1347 Second Avenue at 71st Street, opened by Renaud LeRasle, a former executive chef at the Russian Tea Room who was P. Diddy’s personal chef. The restaurant features seasonal French cooking with an Asian flair.

So many new wonderful shops, fantastic hotels and fabulous restaurants – it is no wonder New York is called “the City that never sleeps.” Happy autumn!