Whether you live near the ocean or can only dream about being out in the water, you can achieve those sun-kissed locks and cheeks, that stellar physique, and the no-holds-barred spirit of the quintessential surfer girl. Get in the swim with this one-of-a-kind guide to all things surfer, which will answer your questions, including:

•How can you find a surf break that’s right for you?

•Why wear a leash and what does it mean to be goofy footed?

•How early in the morning do you really need to get out there?

•Can you surf without wrecking a fresh pedicure?

•What should you say to a hottie pulling a hang ten?

•How do you find a cute bikini that won’t fall off when you get worked in the water?

Angelika Taschen knows New York. She’s been behind the velvet ropes, explored the secret, unmarked restaurants and beloved neighborhood delis, scoured Soho, Nolita and Tribeca’s stylish stores, and scoped out hotels uptown and downtown, from sleek and chic to hidden charms. She provides an all-access pass to parts of New York even most locals don’t know. Dictionary-style cutout tabs make it easy to flip through, and a pocket-sized map of Manhattan lists all the shops, hotels, and restaurants in the book. With this guide in hand, New York is yours for the taking.

Featuring the Maritime Hotel, a former sailors’ dorm, now Chelsea’s coolest hotel; Robert De Niro’s Greenwich Hotel, with its authentic Japanese spa; the cheap but chic Pod Hotel. Learn how to get the best table at the Waverly Inn, Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter’s exclusive salon for the glitterati; how to find Soho’s hidden basement bar subMercer; the Shake Shack, for a terrific burger in the shade of Madison Square Park; Rao’s, the Spanish Harlem Italian joint run by the Sopranos’ actor who turned Madonna away; where to buy New York’s best cheesecake; and Greenwich Letterpress, for hand-printed cards to send to envious friends who didn’t make this fabulous New York trip!

Photos by Poul Ober
Texts by Daisann McLane
source: Taschen