There is an electric current running through New York. The atmosphere seems to be pulsating to one, fun beat; it's about the “luxe life” and all that entails. Broadway is back! Restaurants are works of art! Nightclubs are hip again! Shopping can take days! This happy mood is prevalent despite fears about terrorism, spiraling gas prices, the situation in Iraq and a wobbly president. Even the most cynical New Yorkers (Woody Allen types) are smiling. Of course, navigating one of the coolest cities on the planet will require more insight than simply renting Annie Hall. Aside from the fact that you will feel like a walking ATM (bulging wallets are a must), there are so many fascinating neighborhoods to explore, each with their own distinctive character, chic boites and retail therapy. The best way to soak up the post-Sex and the City city is to slip on a pair of sexy Manolos and go.

Chino Maurice and Gisele Bündchen, pictured here at Stereo, are two of the many celebrities who can’t get enough of New York’s revamped, reenergized restaurant and bar scene.		The dining room at Destino.		Judy and Noah Tepperberg at Marquee.
Stereo devotees Samantha and Charlotte Ronson.		Nicky Hilton and Stella Schnabel at Christie’s.		Dirty dancing at Marquee.

And now is the time to visit: Over the last few months, a new crop of hotspots has launched (mainly in the trendy Meatpacking District) with much hype and fanfare. These restaurants-cum-lounges sport similar themes; they are mainly Asian-inspired, are decorated in the most cutting-edge styles, and feature enough space to comfortably park a 747. While the bigger-is-better trend has predominated in New York, some of these establishments are weighing in at 15,000 square feet. Buddakan is one such example of this incredible use of real estate. The brainchild of prolific Philadelphia restaurateur Stephen Starr, Buddakan comes to New York by way of Philly. This space, unlike other themey restaurants (which I will mention later), has been elegantly outfitted by French designer Christian Liaigre. It’s a cross between Marco Polo’s travels and a modern hotel lobby and cost a reported $13 million.

The Hotel Gansevoort.

The cuisine at Buddakan, as executed by chef Michael Schulson, is graceful Chinese fare. There are fusion dishes (such as the wildly popular edamame dumplings) and more traditional entrees (tea-smoked chicken). Do not skip the lobster dumplings or crab-fried rice, either. Good luck scoring a reservation, though. Not only is it nearly impossible to land a table here (although there is seating for 275), but the crowd is also very fabulous, especially in the library, where all the cool kids congregate. Nearby is Starr’s Morimoto, the Japanese cousin of Buddakan, which utilizes the talents of Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto.

Also mining this Asian trend is Megu (order the toro), Nobu 57 (the Midtown expression of Nobu) and Buddha Bar, which also recently emerged in a splashy manner in the Meatpacking District. While there has been so much buildup about this project (the original in Paris actually spawned the fad), it has taken far too long to open. Now it feels like a pale imitation of other establishments that have essentially emulated the Buddha formula, most notably Tao. At the American incarnation, just blocks away from its main competitor, Buddakan, I found the crowd to be cheesy a week after its unveiling. Perhaps all of the hipsters were squeezed into the glamorous-sounding, glass-enclosed smoking lounge, which actually resembles one of those cramped, carcinogenic smoking areas at the airport. Shudder.

	The Great Room at Buddakan.

Then there is Philippe, the showy spawn of the legendary Mr. Chow’s Chinese restaurant. This is not a sanctioned spinoff, however. Philippe Chow, the chef at Mr. Chow’s for 26 years, decamped the mother ship for a taste of his own fame, buoyed by seasoned backers Stratis Morfogen and Howard Stein. In fact, Chow (no relation to Mr. Chow’s owner, Michael Chow) hosts an energetic noodle show for the awestruck crowd at 9 p.m. every night at this East Side eatery. Who knew noodles could be so sexy? Seemingly, the elite of New York thinks so—luminaries such as Les Moonves and Julie Chen, Martha Stewart, Jay-Z, Matt Lauer, Usher, Gabrielle Union, Kid Rock and Andre Harrell. Go for the scene, salt-and-pepper shrimp and Peking duck.

Also new and noteworthy are these three diverse dinner destinations: Destino is for devotees of Us Weekly desperate to catch a glimpse of partner Justin Timberlake while slurping up capellini with clam sauce or shrimp scampi at this home-style Italian restaurant on the East Side. For more high-end, creative Italian cuisine, the prolific kitchen maestro Mario Batali (Babbo, Esca and Lupa) has just opened his latest homage to pasta and pesce, Del Posto. The Food Network star’s Del Posto delights with dishes ranging from fritto misto with bagña cauda to agnolotti of veal, pancetta, chicken, mortadella and Parmesan. On the other end of the spectrum, in the irony department, there’s La Esquina, a hipster’s paradise on Kenmare Street posing as a greasy Mexican joint. It’s as kitschy as one can get in this NoLita neighborhood.

A lounge at Philippe.

After you’ve gorged on New York’s finest food (you can work it off at one of the many chic Crunch gyms), it’s time to party. And thankfully, the stolid air that seemingly strangled Manhattan’s nocturnal scene has lifted. Crobar harks back to the ‘80s, when warehouse clubs were all the rage (remember Limelight, Tunnel and Mars?). This Chelsea hotspot is so cavernous that it actually contains an ancillary lounge called Pink Elephant. (You may recall Pink Elephant partner David Sarner from his days at Chaos in Miami.) Another familiar face, Greg Brier, is back in the bottle game with Aspen. This Colorado-inspired space is nothing like his former Miami hit, Groove Jet, and oozes a more sophisticated vibe (like a stylish ski lodge), as well as an indulgent tapas menu. Two other faddish spots are Cain, with its safari theme (as well as drummers and international DJs), and Stereo, an ‘80s-inspired watering hole influenced by the Ronson sisters (Charlotte and Samantha). Double 7, across the street from Lotus, is the most intimate and low-key choice in the Meatpacking District. Recently, Hulk Hogan took his daughter, Brooke, there to meet with Epic Records honcho Charlie Walk to discuss her new album. This is the type of lounge we wish we had on South Beach

	G Spa at the Hotel Gansevoort.

Marquee and Bungalow 8 are both veterans on the nightscape, but their celebrity quotient only seems to escalate with each passing year. At Marquee, you can expect to quaff champagne next to Mark Wahlberg, Joaquin Phoenix, Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Britney Spears, Gisele Bündchen and her Victoria’s Secret model posse. Thursdays are the best nights to visit, especially since everyone departs for the Hamptons on half-day Fridays. Starlets and socialites are on the list at Bungalow 8, which is ruled by club queen Amy Sacco. Those velvet ropes aren’t going to part unless you are on The O.C., have the last name Olsen or intend to sleep with Brett Ratner. G Spa at the Hotel Gansevoort is also extremely exclusive and populated with A-listers—especially since this basement-level lounge accommodates just 75 guests—including Sean Penn, Kevin Spacey and Nicky Hilton. Oh, and it’s also a spa! This spa-by-day/nightclub-by-night concept really works, too. I had a massage here in the a.m. (ask for Dennis to rub you down) and there was nary a trace of Red Bull, Belvedere or contraband cigarettes. In the evening, the massage bed and facial steamers are replaced by cocktail tables and champagne buckets.

	The Red Vase Room at Buddakan.

Speaking of the Gansevoort, it is the accommodation of choice for in-the-know travelers. This two-year-old hotel exemplifies cool without forgetting amenities guests yearn for. My suite was decked out with flat-screen TVs, complimentary wireless Internet, 400-thread-count sheets (including a customized, embroidered Frette blanket for my dog, Golda), a cordless phone and rubber ducky in the bathtub. There’s also a happening rooftop deck (with a glass-enclosed pool), mandatory Jeffrey Chodorow restaurant (Ono) and the aforementioned G Spa. Look for the Gansevoort experience to travel south next winter, when the hotel (and complementary condo project) takes over the former Roney Plaza on Collins Avenue. Miami locals will be clamoring to gain access to this ultrafabulous rooftop bar and trilevel beach club. Other hip resting stops include The Maritime Hotel, SoHo Grand Hotel and 60 Thompson, whose sister location, 6 Columbus, is opening this month on the West Side near Central Park. And for pure luxury, check into The Regency, where the mood is upscale, grown-up and luxe.

In terms of gossip, everyone is tittering over the ruckus at the New York Post concerning its “Page Six” column, which pitted contributor Jared Paul Stern against supermarket mogul Ron Burkle in a juicy extortion scandal. The Daily News and The New York Times are gloating the loudest (obviously). However, individual players are staying out of the crossfire because “Page Six” (embattled or not) is still the mightiest column in the country.

The bar at Marquee.

Other wags are drooling at the prospect of a suddenly single Russell Simmons, who was a notorious p-hound before his marriage to consumer queen Kimora Lee. Now that his Louis Vuitton shackles are off, look for Simmons to flash his winning smile to the prettiest girls in Gotham. Bookers, you’d better keep a close eye on your models. In a similar vein, It Girl Lindsay Lohan is like a kitten in heat when it comes to meeting men in New York. Despite her underage status, she has even had the audacity to hit on heartthrob George Clooney at Bungalow 8—a feat actresses twice her age are too demure to attempt.

Even braver is Julia Roberts, whose Broadway introduction in Three Days of Rain has not been pretty for the Pretty Woman star. The New York Post “hated it,” and Oprah reportedly had to console Roberts after the reviews came in. Luckily, the play (see it for the novelty factor) only runs until June 18th. Another show with the worst buzz is Lestat, Anne Rice’s vampire chronicle. It should have been a home run with a score by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, but the critics have put a stake through this one. Skip it. But here’s the good news: Aside from those two productions, Broadway is brimming with talent. The number-one show is Jersey Boys, the true-life tale of Frankie Valli’s rise to fame. It’s the equivalent of Mamma Mia! meets The Sopranos, with hits such as “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.” Jersey Boys should sweep this month’s Tony Awards.

Bungalow 8 queen Amy Sacco with Zac Posen.		The crowd at Marquee.
Janice Dickinson (center) with Brittny and Lisa Gastineau at the Hotel Gansevoort.		Woody Allen and Donna Karan at Pastis.

Tarzan is the latest offering from Disney (they’ve had a hit or two with The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast) and is the $15 million musical version of a boy raised by a gorilla tribe. The Wedding Singer is a stage adaptation of the Adam Sandler flick of the same name and pays homage to everything ‘80s—from Michael Jackson’s gloves to hair bands. In another pop-culture twist, Ross from Friends is also on Broadway. That’s right, David Schwimmer is attempting Herman Wouk’s masterpiece, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, in the role Henry Fonda made famous in 1954. If you want to see even more celebs emoting on the Great White Way, check out Jonathan Pryce (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Ralph Fiennes (Faith Healer), Julianna Margulies (Festen) and Carol Kane (Wicked).

While these recommendations should safely equip any modern traveler with enough suggestions for a weekend fling in New York, this is only the tip of the island of Manhattan. There are museums galore, eclectic boutiques (see the list that follows), street fairs, art galleries, ethnic neighborhoods to explore, jazz clubs, educational seminars, cooking classes, and celebrities to stalk. Or you can just pound the pavement and discover New York City for yourself.