Cities - The Real New York 2 of 2 - BBC Travel Documentary

Cities - The Real New York 2 of 2 - BBC Travel Documentary, recorded 23.10.2010

This Saturday sees the third episode of BBC World's five-part travel series, The Real... , this time visiting New York. The Real... New York takes a unique look at the Big Apple, taking viewers behind the more familiar scenes of the city to find the hidden highlights that the guide books don't show you.

The Real... New York, sponsored by InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, transmits on Saturday 1 December at 1230 GMT, and is repeated on Sunday 2 December at 1030, 1730 and Monday 3 December 0230 GMT.

Our guides to New York are three of the city's most famous residents, who give a uniquely personal tour of their home city. The contributors include:

ALEK WEK, Supermodel and author
Born in southern Sudan, Alek Wek fled the war-ravaged country to become a refugee in London, where she was spotted by a model scout while still in her teens. Alek has combined her successful modelling career with charity work, including work on the U.S. Committee for Refugees and AIDS awareness, and written a book about her life experiences. She has also created her own handbag range - Alek Wek 1933.

Alek begins our tour in Brooklyn, close to where she lives. The area boasts an eclectic mix of shops, her favourite being Layla Boutique. Inside the shop Alek rummages through the clothes, scented oils and towels, enjoying the vibrant mix of colours, fragrances and designs. While browsing the clothes rails she even shares with us some fashion tricks of the trade when it comes to mixing and matching clothing.

Alek then takes us to visit Brooklyn Bridge Park, as she so often does at the weekend. The bustling park is enjoyed by locals, children at play, photographers and theatrical performers alike, all there to enjoy a little slice of nature in the middle of the urban jungle.

We then visit Hue-Man Bookstore in Harlem, a favourite store of Alek's and the location of her first book signing. The store offers a wide variety of literature, as well as a laid back coffee shop, and a parade of interesting customers, many of whom stop Alek to say hello and remark on how inspirational she is to young women.

MADHUR JAFFREY, Television chef, actress and author
Madhur Jaffrey is a TV presenter, actress and writer, perhaps best know for her Indian and other Asian cookery programmes on BBC Television.

Madhur takes us to Chinatown on a tour of her favourite food shops, where she buys the ingredients for use in all of her Asian dishes. She guides us around the array of fresh produce, suggesting recipes as she goes, giving us a glimpse of her famous culinary skills. Then she takes us on an extended tour of the tiny back streets and byways of Chinatown; we are right in the heart of Manhattan, but feeling as if we are in Asia.

Madhur then shares with us one of her favourite places to eat in Chinatown, Wanton Garden. The restaurant offers a huge range of delicious noodles and toppings, all presented with authenticity and skill. Madhur orders a take-away lunch for herself and her husband and then jumps in a taxi before it has time to go cold.

SPENCER TUNICK, Artist
Spencer Tunick is an American installation artist who documents his works using photography and video. He is best known for his installations that feature large numbers of nude people posed in artistic formations, with the largest gathering to date taking place in Mexico City's main square, which featured more than 18,000 people .

Spencer first takes us to Printed Matter, a bookshop in Chelsea that he visits when looking for presents for his friends, family and himself. The shop sells limited edition books and artwork, making it a perfect place to find something unique. Spencer then takes us round the corner to The New York Book Art Fair, an annual fair of contemporary art books, catalogues and magazines, and is "a fair unique to New York".

As the sun fades over the city that never sleeps, we emerge from the fair and head for one of Spencer's favourite bars, Max Fish, on the Lower East Side. The walls around Max Fish are covered in art, as it is a place where emerging artists can display their work. Wall space is given over to some fantastic graffiti, and the pinball machine, pool table and jukebox all add to the atmosphere. When Spencer first started out as an artist he used to go to Max Fish to hand out prints to people to encourage them to pose for his nude installations.

For more information, see http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworld/worldstories/pressreleases/2007/11_november/real_new_york.shtml .

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