©2008
my NEW YORK
Theatre District Restaurant
Becco
(355 W. 46th St. between Eighth and Ninth Ave.Map it!)
“The food is delicious and it won’t hurt you in your wallet.”
Hotel View
Mandarin Oriental Hotel
(80 Columbus Circle at 60th St. Map it!)
“The Lobby Lounge on the 35th floor has a great view of Central Park and Central Park South.”
Brunch
Water Club
(30th Street and East River Map it!)
“A fabulous selection of food and a great view.”
Shoes
Lord & Taylor
(424 Fifth Ave. at 38th St. Map it!)
“Great shoes and great prices!”
Special Occasion Dinner
Bouley
(120 W. Broadway at Duane St. Map it!)
“Amazing food and great atmosphere! A dinner there will leave you with wonderful memories.”
LESLIE UGGAMS
Leslie Uggams is as lovely today as when she was an exuberant teenage soloist on the Sing Along with Mitch TV show. Actually, this Tony winner (for Hallelujah, Baby!) got her start even before that, on live TV talent shows and on stage at the Apollo Theater at age nine with Louis Armstrong. (No wonder she lists the Apollo as one of three “must see” places in her native New York!) Luckily for theater audiences, Uggams still loves acting onstage, and she’s won raves for her lead role in Signature Theatre’s off-Broadway revival of The First Breeze of Summer. Here, the divine Ms. U gives us her top picks around town.

What is your quintessential New York meal, and where would you eat it?
A bagel with cream cheese and Nova Scotia at Barney Greengrass (541 Amsterdam Ave. between 86th and 87th St. Map it!)

Who is your favorite New Yorker?
Me. I was born and raised here!

If you had to recommend three must-see places for visitors to New York, what would they be and why?
Statue of Liberty (ferry from Battery Park), Empire State Building (350 Fifth Ave. at 34th St. Map it!), and the Apollo Theatre in Harlem (253 W. 125th St. between Frederick Douglass Blvd. and Seventh Ave. Map it!).

Do you root for a New York sports team? Which one(s)?
Giants, Jets, Mets and Knicks.

What are three items that every New Yorker should own?
An umbrella, a MetroCard and a credit card.

What’s the biggest misconception about New York City?
That New Yorkers are not friendly.

What stereotype about New York City is true?
It’s the greatest city in the world.

What is your favorite neighborhood and why?
The theater district. You get to see life performances by talented actors and actresses.

Is there something you’ve always wanted to do in New York, but have not yet accomplished?
I’ve never sung the National Anthem at a football or baseball game in New York.

What do you love most about being part of the New York theater community?
How supportive we are of one another, whether it’s onstage or when in need financially.

What’s your most cherished New York theatrical memory—of a show you saw, or one you were part of?
My first Broadway show, Hallelujah Baby. My first day or rehearsal, I looked around and realized that I was surrounded by legends.