Million population in 1870 The first great wave of migrants from Europe rolled into New York in 1836. House building could not keep pace with demand and the first slums came into being. After the end of the Civil War in 1865 former slaves fled here from the hostility in the south and the million inhabitants mark was passed. The five adative districts of central New City - Manhattan - together Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Staten Island formed the me-olis of Greater New York in -3. New York blossomed into a world-class city after World War I when the first skyscrapers thrust their way into the sky above Manhattan. One of the landmarks of that era is the Empire State Building. The view from its visitor facility remains one of the finest vistas of Manhattan. The building, with its elegant Art Deco facade, was built in 1931 on the site of the equally famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel that until then had accommodated the rich, beautiful, and famous in its 1,401 luxury rooms within a fine Art Deco building close to Grand Central Station.   Empire State Building

high season: mid-March to December
shoulder season: January to early March
Weather Information
While New York City claims more than 200 days of sunshine annually, temperatures do fluctuate drastically, both seasonally and between day and night.

New York City has chilly, snowy winters; hot, humid summers; and everything in between. Winter temperatures tend to be in the upper 30s and low 40s, and annual snowfall averages about 29 inches. Springtime is mild, with temperatures in the mid- to upper-50s in April that work into the upper 70s by June. Summers are hot and humid. Sea breezes occasionally temper the heat, but the city's dense infrastructure often hinders the air flow. Autumn brings a return to more palatable weather, with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s in September to the mid-50s in November. Precipitation amounts do not vary greatly from month to month.

Crowd Information
Even without the tourists, New York City is a crowded city. Subways and sidewalks are packed during the morning and evening rush hours, and traffic on major streets and avenues is often stop-and-go.

Autumn, Christmas, and spring are the most popular, expensive, and crowded times of the year. The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day are especially busy, because in addition to the regular tourists, tri-state area residents make day trips into the city to shop and see the Christmas decorations and shows. During the holiday rush, hotels charge higher rates and book up early, and many require a minimum two- or three-night stay; restaurant reservations are almost impossible to get.

There is no real low season, but there is a slightly less lofty high season. While more tourists are beginning to catch on, New York City is still emptiest in summer, the time most New Yorkers head out of town on the weekends.

Closure Information
New York City never sleeps, and it never really shuts down either. Most visitor destinations are open year-round. Times Square is as bright in March as it is in July. The exception to this is outdoor tours, some of which may go on hiatus or operate on a reduced schedule during the cold winter months. For example, the Circle Line, famous for its boat tours around Manhattan, operates on a reduced schedule during January, February, and March. 

Seasonal schedules like this, however, occur on a case-by-case basis. The best thing you can do, no matter what time of year you're traveling, is check before you leave to make sure the tours and sights on your to-do list are open and operating when you want them to be.

When to Save
Visiting New York City isn't cheap, but there are ways to cut costs. Hotels sometimes offer discounts or deals when hotel occupancy and visitation are lower, typically in January and February.

When to Book
Not surprisingly, when to book depends on when you are arriving and where you are staying. If you want to spend Christmas at a hotel near Central Park, book as early as possible, at least six months in advance. If you're visiting in February and don't care where your hotel is, you can probably hold out longer for a deal. Just remember that, in addition to the tourists, New York City has a large business and convention travel population, which operates independently of leisure travel trends. Be flexible with your hotel choices and locations, and check the city's events calendar, as well as the Javitz Center schedule for any big conventions.

Midtown boasts New York City's greatest concentration of hotels. Within Midtown, three popular tourist areas are: Midtown East, Midtown West, and Murray Hill. These neighborhoods, however, are also the most expensive. While it is possible to find deals, hotels fill up quickly and are often booked solid during the peak season of September through New Year's Day. Here's what to expect from these three popular areas:
Midtown West: West of 5th Avenue between 59th and 42nd, Midtown West is home to the majority of Manhattan's hotels, including many large chain hotels. The area is crowded and noisy, but if you want to be in the center of the tourist bustle, this is it: Times Square, Rockefeller Center, The MoMA, Broadway, Carnegie Hall, Avenue of the Americas, and 5th Avenue stores are all here. 
Midtown East: The east side of 5th Avenue between 59th and 42nd, Midtown East is still a major tourist area with both boutique and chain hotels, but it's a little less crowded than Midtown East. This neighborhood is within walking distance of St. Patrick's Cathedral, 5th Avenue stores, the United Nations, Grand Central Terminal, and the Chrysler Building. It's also just south of Museum Mile on the Upper East Side. 
Murray Hill: Roughly within the streets east of 5th Avenue between 42nd and 23rd Streets, Murray Hill is a slightly quieter neighborhood with many historic homes and several boutique hotels. This area is home to the Empire State Building, the New York Public Library, Bryant Park, and Madison Square Park. It's also close to Macy's at Herald Square, the Garment District, and Penn Station/Madison Square Garden.
Midtown is central, but may not offer the best value for many visitors. In a city with excellent public transportation and cabs that are cheap and plentiful, it's unnecessary to be right in the middle of Midtown. Attractions are spread throughout the city anyway, so one can never be within walking distance of everything. Even with added transportation costs, city hotels outside of Midtown tend to offer better value than those in the areas listed above. Recommended alternative Manhattan neighborhoods are the Upper West Side, the Upper East Side, the Chelsea/Meatpacking District, the Village, and the Financial District.

Hotel Roger Williams: The staff at this hip but low-key Murray Hill hotel is as bright and cheery as the hotel design. The ubiquitous New York City fire-escape-view rooms are rendered serene with Japanese sliding screens across the window sills. The generous continental breakfast is included in packages. Rooms start at $179. 
The Affinia 50: The Affinia 50 offers luxury at a reasonable price in Midtown East. The 207 spacious rooms come equipped with kitchens and perks such as sightseeing kits. The hotel offers executive workspace and high-speed Internet for business travelers, and pull-out sofas and suites to accommodate families. The Club Room common space has a fireplace and flat-screen TV. Rooms start at $449 during the week, but only $319 on weekends. 
The Franklin Hotel: This Upper East Side hotel has a real boutique feel with its mixture of vintage charm and elegant modern furnishings. Rollaways for $50 turn larger rooms into accommodations for three adults. In addition to the daily gourmet European breakfast, coffee, tea, and fresh fruit are available all day. Rooms start at $180. 
Library Hotel: The Library Hotel in Midtown East has abundant common spaces and perks. Each unique room has books and decor specific to a topic in the Dewey Decimal System. Common spaces include a writers' den with fireplace, a glass sunroom, two terraces, and a large reading room full of books. Refreshments, such as coffee, tea, lemonade, and light snacks, are served in the reading throughout the day, plus wine and cheese most evenings and a complimentary continental breakfast every morning. Rooms start at $335. If you book online, call the hotel directly to request a specific room in advance of your arrival. A room menu is listed on the hotel website. 
The Gracie Inn: The Gracie Inn on the Upper East Side comes with quirky decor and a tiny elevator, but has much to offer. Each of the 12 apartment-style rooms is equipped with a full kitchen, private bathroom, free Wi-Fi, and satellite TV. The hotel also offers rollaway beds for free. The two duplex suites have terraces. While there is no restaurant, the front desk will supply guests with the area's best take-out menus, and continental breakfast is delivered to the room every morning. Rooms start at $139.
If you want…
In a city as large and popular as New York City, visitors have wildly varying ideas about what constitutes value. For some, value will be largely dependent on price, while others may be most concerned with comfort, location, or the hip factor. Depending on what experience you're seeking—a serious splurge, super trendy, or something designed to fit your lifestyle—you can find a hotel that satisfies and feels like money well spent. Here are some of the best value picks if you want…

The ultimate splurge
Award winners: With three hotels garnering Mobil Five-Star, AAA Five-Diamond, and Conde Nast Traveler Gold List honors, there is ample choice when it comes to luxury in New York City. The Four Seasons in Midtown East has rooms starting at around $525. Rates start at $650 per night at the Ritz-Carlton Central Park, and $695 at the St. Regis.

Splurge under $350: The elegant Hotel Giraffe is a slightly more reasonably priced splurge. Fifty-one of the 73 charming 1930s style rooms have French-door balconies, many overlooking Park Avenue. A complimentary continental breakfast is served daily, as are wine and cheese most evenings. Cappuccino, other beverages, and light snacks are served all day in the fashionable lobby or (for a small fee) at the rooftop garden terrace with its view of the Met Life building. Rooms start at $329.

Coffee Shop, 29 Union Square West at 16th St. (212) 243-7969 
The predominant majority of the waitresses here are models, or drag queens dressed up that way. A strange hybrid of bar and diner, on weekends the Coffee Shop closes only for 1 hour. The food is quite good, varying from diner food to fine Brazilian. 

Carnegie Deli, 854 7th Avenue at 55th St. (212) 757-2245. Open til 4am 
The giant stuffed delicatessan sandwiches are a perfect late night snack.

DT/UT, 1626 2nd Ave between 84th and 85th Streets. (212) 327-1327. Open 8am-Midnight Sun-Thu, 8am-2am Fri-Sat 
DT/UT (Downtown/Uptown) is a great upper east side dessert bar hangout with live performances.

Empire Diner, 210 10th Avenue at 22nd Street. (212) 243-2736. Open 24 hrs daily 
Right near the Roxy, you'll find all types of late night clubbers hitting this place for chow at 4am. An elegant refurbishment of a 1929 diner, you'll find excellent quality food and a bar to boot. It has been reported that Bette Davis considered this her favorite diner. 

Florent, 69 Gansevoort Street between Washington and Greenwich Streets. (212) 989-5779. 9am-5am Sun-Thu, 24 hrs Fri-Sat 
The hip fashion crowd hangs out at this Hell's Kitchen dining establishment, near the meat district. Formally considered a cafe, look for the small pink neon sign with the same name. Open around the clock. 

Le Figaro Coffee Shop, 184 Bleecker Street at MacDougal. (212) 677-1100 Open Fri-Sat 10:00am- 4:00am and Sun-Thu 10:00am-2:30am. 
Le Figaro is a fun place to hang out and people-watch. 

Tom's Restaurant, 112th and B'way. (212) 864-6137. Open 24 hours, Thur-Sun. 
The same Tom's that Suzanne Vega sang about, and the one seen on Seinfeld every week. Your typical greasy spoon, but it has a friendly atmosphere and is open 24 hours from Thursday to Sunday. Favorite dishes include gravy fries, chicken dinner special and the split pea soup. Ask them to make your burger "nice"!