Queen Elizabeth, Live it Up in New York City!

New York City will roll out the red carpet for Queen Elizabeth when she heads into town on Tuesday, July 6 - her first trip to the Big Apple since the Bicentennial in 1976. Her Majesty's visit will be a short and solemn affair - a speech at the United Nations, a few moments of reflection at Ground Zero, and a ribbon cutting ceremony at the British Garden in Hanover Square ( a memorial to British subjects that died in the World Trade Center attacks). 

Despite this whirlwind day, Queen Elizabeth will not be spending the night in town - she and Prince Philip will fly back home to England at the conclusion of her official duties. However, if Her Majesty does change her mind and would like to spend a little more time in my fair city, here are a few places where she can enjoy the ambiance of Great Britain right here in New York City.

Afternoon Tea: Of course, the Queen deserves to relax with a lovely cup of tea and some delicious scones. For a real taste of Britain, a visit to Tea & Sympathy is a must.  In addition to the afternoon tea, the restaurant also serves English favorites such as bangers 'n' mash and treacle pudding. And, the Tea & Sympathy store stocks all manner of English goodies. Myers of Keswick, a traditional British grocery store in NYC, is another great spot to stock up on meat pies and other proper provisions. I wonder if the Queen likes Jaffa Cakes ("Original Sponge Cake Cookies with Plain Chocolate and a Smashing Orangey Bit in the Middle") as much as I do?

Hat Shopping:  Like every woman who visits New York City, the Queen is entitled to indulge in some retail therapy. She seems to love her hats, so I recommend a trip to Harlem to purchase a real show-stopper. Popular milliners include Harlem's Heaven Hat Boutique and Hats By Bunn.

Take Time to Smell the Roses: English gardens are legendary but New York City has our share of fantastic floral spaces. I can just picture the Queen strolling through the breathtaking Conservatory Gardens - Central Park's only formal garden. The Conservatory Garden's six acres is divided into 3 sections: French, Italian and English. Something tells me that Her Majesty will like the English Garden's magnolia scented walkways best of all!