37 The way we were
The Lower East Side Tenement Museum shows how immigrants shaped the city. It's unbelievable to see how they lived, crammed into small, windowless apartments with 11 other people. Information: 108 Orchard St., 212/431-0233, tenement.org, $17, closed Mon. Gina Knorr, Glenside, Pa.

38 It's a shoe-in
New York is the only place where there's a department store, Saks Fifth Avenue, with a shoe floor that has express elevators and its own zip code (10022-SHOE). Information: 611 Fifth Ave., 212/753-4000, saksfifthavenue.com. Vincent Poole, Richmond, Va.

INTERACTIVE MAP! Explore these New York City locations • Launch the map GOTHAM IN NINE SHOTS Cheryl Lemanski of Chicago was one of the winners of our 10th Anniversary reader contest. We sent her out to photograph nine iconic spots in New York City. She brought back these nine terrific images. • Launch the slide show

39 Mac dandy
S'MAC serves variations on macaroni and cheese—mozzarella, manchego, and so on. Kids love it. Information: 345 E. 12th St., 212/358-7912, smacnyc.com, from $4. V. Bhatt, Edison, N.J.

40 Spice of life
I always go to Sahadi's, a Middle Eastern food store in Cobble Hill. It embodies what I love most about New York: Local businesses are supported in a way that you wouldn't expect in such a large city. Information: 187 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn, 718/624-4550, sahadis.com. Emily Day, Boston, Mass.

41 City slicker
In Central Park, there's a slide cut into the side of a red-granite hill. It's in the back of Billy Johnson Playground, north of the Children's Zoo. Dennis Moore, El Paso, Tex.

42 Bronx cheering
Nothing is more fun for a Red Sox fan than riding the Yankee Clipper, a boat full of Yankee fans on their way to a game. Information: 800/533-3779, nywaterway.com, $22 round trip. Jason Colbert, North Reading, Mass.

43 Start spreading the news
New York has become my fail-safe suggestion to anyone who asks where they should go on vacation—and even some who don't. Sue Tasa, Pleasant Hill, Calif.

44 Real simple
If you don't need fancy, Hotel St. James has clean rooms with air-conditioning, cable TV, and a private bath from $115. Information: 109 W. 45th St., 212/221-3600, hotelstjames.net. Cora Waschkowski, London, Ont.

45 Happily stranded
The Strand is 18 miles of books—and this bibliophile's idea of heaven. Information: 828 Broadway, 212/473-1452, strandbooks.com. Nancy Mackler, Saxtons River, Vt.

46 Fasten your seatbelts...
A taxicab ride is more thrilling than any roller coaster. Iris Crannell, Orem, Utah

47 What the Frick?
Art lovers will enjoy the paintings and sculptures at The Frick Collection, and others will appreciate the historic furnishings of what used to be a mansion. Information: 1 E. 70th St., 212/288-0700, frick.org, $15, closed Mon. Maria Surovy, Cleveland, Ohio

48 A touch of Tokyo
Takashimaya department store is as gorgeous as a museum, only you can touch the art. Information: 693 Fifth Ave., 800/753-2038, ny-takashimaya.com. Eve Tai, Seattle, Wash.

49 Low dive
At Rudy's Bar & Grill, the beer is cheap, the red-vinyl seats are held together with duct tape, and there's a gigantic pig by the front door. Information: 627 Ninth Ave., 212/974-9169. Kristin Templin, Auckland, New Zealand

50 The last word
New York is inconvenient. It makes you work a little harder. It forces you to interact—with taxi drivers, street musicians, people riding the subway, people talking on cell phones, people talking to themselves. With life. I love it. Unconditionally. Stephanie Najor, Detroit, Mich.