Where to Buy Your Bridesmaid Dress

RK Bridal (318 West 39th St. between 8th/9th Aves., 1-800-929-9512). Hours: M-F 10:30am-6:15pm, Th 10:30am-7pm, Sat 10am-3:45pm. Bridesmaid dresses run from $100-$300. You can also buy dyeable shoes there; take them to nearby Drago Shoe Repair (locations throughout the city) to have them dyed.

TATI: The Bridal Superstore from France (475 Fifth Avenue at 41st St., 212-481-8284). Hours: M, Tu, W, F 10am-7pm, Th 10am-8pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-6pm. TATI carries bridesmaid dresses priced from $135-$199.

The Bridal Party is a store devoted exclusively to bridesmaid dresses (243 East 82nd St., 212-861-2318). Hours by appointment Tuesday through Saturday; call ahead. Bridesmaid dresses are priced from $180-$400.

Kleinfeld's is a New York institution (well, technically, it's in Brooklyn: 82nd St. and Fifth Ave., Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, 718-833-1100). Hours: Tu, Th 11am-9pm; W, F 10am-6pm; Sat 9am-6pm, by appointment. Bridesmaid dresses priced from $135 to $275.

If you are lucky enough that the bride has allowed to choose your own dress, perhaps of a certain color, you can head to a department store to search for a "regular" dress. You'll find the widest selection and most reasonable prices at good ‘ole Macy's (151 West 34th St. between Broadway/7th Ave., 212-695-4400) Hours: M-F 10am-8:30pm, Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 11am-6pm. Slightly more expensive, but worth taking a look at is Bloomingdale's (59th St. at Lexington Ave., 212-705-2000) Hours: M-F 10am-8:30pm, Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 11am-7pm. Macy's and Bloomingdale's are also great places to buy accessories like satin handbags, tights, or costume jewelry. If you're looking for a cocktail-style bridesmaid dress, you might also check out Ann Taylor (locations throughout the city).

Where to Have a Bridal Shower
or Bachelorette Parties

"There are so many fun things to do here!" New Yorkers brag, often having done very few of them. Well, here's your chance to hit the town. Consider these ideas for either a bridal shower or a bachelorette party:

SPA DAY

Everyone knows brides-to-be are jittery, but bridesmaids need TLC too! Try the low-key, soothing Oasis Day Spa (108 East 16th St., 212-254-7722) Hours M-F 10am-10pm, Sat/Sun 9am-9pm; the California-style, earth-friendly, welcoming Aveda Salon and Spa (233 Spring St. between Sixth Ave, and Varick St., 212-807-1492) Hours M-F 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-6pm; or, for a real splurge, chill with celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow and Nicole Kidman at tony Bliss Spa (568 Broadway between Prince and Houston St., 2nd Floor, 212-219-8970) Hours: M-F 9:30am-8:30pm, Sat 9:30am-6:30pm. Prices vary by spa (expect to pay at least $50 for an a-la-carte massage) but all offer special packages.

BACHELORETTE DINNER

There are hundreds of restaurants to choose from in New York City (and if you really want to sort through all of them, check out ZAGAT.COM). For a classy, reasonably priced dinner, try hip Park Avalon (225 Park Avenue South between 18th/19th St., 212-533-2500) Hours: M-F 5:30pm-12pm, Sat/Sun 5:30pm-1am; or airy, Mediterranean Isabella's (395 Columbus Ave. at 77th Street, 212-724-2100) Hours: M-F 5:30pm-12:30am, Sat/Sun 5:30pm-1:00am, check out both Park Avalon and Isabella's at www.brguestinc.com.

Looking for a more dive-y feeling restaurant with great food? Enjoy the amazing tapas, sangria, and jukebox at Rio Mar (7 Ninth Avenue at Little W. 12th St., 212-243-9015) Hours: 6pm-2am. It's a hole-in-the-wall Spanish joint well worth a detour to the Meatpacking district.

Want to enjoy some warm-weather outdoor dining? Head over to the bustling 79th Street Boat Basin Café (West 79th St. at the Hudson River, 212-496-5542). Hours: M-F 12pm-11pm, Sat/Sun 11am-11pm. Chill out with frozen margaritas, great grilled food, occasional live music, and a killer view (it's of the Hudson River and New Jersey, but you'd be amazed how great it looks after that third margarita . . .)

Be forewarned: Even "reasonable" New York City restaurants become expensive when you add in wine, tips, etc.; you might want to consider hosting a pot-luck bridal shower luncheon at someone's apartment. Or, for a warm-weather bridal shower, how about an al fresco picnic in Central Park?

A POTTERY PARTY

At Our Name is Mud (store locations at the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, and Greenwich Village) you can have a blast making pottery for the bride-to-be or for yourself. Hey, you don't have to get married to get new dinnerware; single girls deserve new serving platters too!

TEA TIME!!

For an exceptionally ladylike bridal shower, head over to the elegant, soothing Lady Mendl's Tea Salon (Inn at Irving Place, 56 Irving Place between 16th and 17th Streets, 212-533-4600). Teatime: W-F 3pm, Sat/Sun 2pm and 4:30pm. Be forewarned, it's pricey, starting at $35 per person; a slightly less expensive alternative is the T Salon and Tea Emporium (11 East 20th Street between Broadway/5th Ave., 212-358-0506) Hours: Daily 10am-8pm. Afternoon tea costs $22.50 per person.

COOKING CLASSES

In a city where almost everyone orders take-out and delivery, cooking is a rare talent. For a yummy girls' night out, try a hands-on group cooking class at Peter Kump's New York Cooking School (50 West 23rd St. NYC 10010, Phone: 212-847-0700) Hours: Daily 8:30am-11:00pm.

PUT ON YOUR BOWLING SHOES

Relive those kiddie birthday parties with a night of grown-up night of bowling at New York's funky Bowlmor Lanes (110 University Place, NYC 10016, Phone: 212-255-8188) Hours: M 10am-4pm, Tu/W 10am-1am, Th 10am-2am, Fri/Sat 10am-4am, Sun 10am-1am. Bowlmor is a New York landmark, and has hosted past bowlers including Richard Nixon, The Rolling Stones, and Cameron Diaz. You can reserve a lane for your group for 3 hours for $155 (extra for food, drink, and shoe rentals) from 7pm-10pm on a weekend night; the price goes up to $180 for a 10pm-1pm time slot.

LOOKING FOR A MORE RAUCOUS EVENING?

It's true that former Mayor Guiliani sanitized the city, but there's still plenty of low-down bachelorette party fun to be had. Gather the girls for a truly unique dining experience at La Nouvelle Justine (101 East 2nd St., 212-673-8908). Hours: F, Sat 6pm-4am, Sun-Thurs 6pm-1am. It bills itself "the world's first S & M restaurant"; though you can just sit back and enjoy theatrical performances by fetish attired waitstaff, customers may choose services for themselves from the "Special Fare" menu! Next, head over to Hogs & Heifers (859 Washington St., 212-929-0655) Open till 4am, it's a rockin', raunchy bar that defies New York chic. Tell the bartender, and anyone else you meet, that it's the bride's bachelorette party and let the good times roll.

Once everyone has lost their senses, how about embarrassing the bride with some karaoke (remember My Best Friend's Wedding?) at Mr. Biggs (596 Tenth Ave. at 43rd St., Phone 212-246-2030, Karaoke Tuesdays and Saturdays at 10PM) or The Elbow Room (144 Bleecker St. between Thompson and LaGuardia, Karaoke Wednesdays 11:30pm-4am).

Got the munchies after your late-night prowling? Head back to someone's bachelorette pad and top off the evening off with an X-rated cake you've ordered from Masturbakers (at the Old Devil Moon restaurant, 511 E. 12th St between Avenues A & B, 212-475-0476), Hours: M-F 10am-4pm. With three days' notice, they can custom-design an erotic cake (use your imagination . . .); a cake serving 10 people starts at $40. A wide array of naughty cakes are also available from Erotic Bakery Of New York (72-11 Austin St., Queens, 866-396-8429) Local and worldwide delivery available.

Before everyone calls it a night, surprise the bride with a parting gift of sexy undergarments from Between the Sheets (241 East 10th St. between 1st/2nd Ave., 212-677-7586) Hours: M-Sat 12pm-8pm, Sun 12pm-6pm; or Victoria's Secret (565 Broadway at Prince St., 212-274-9519) Hours: M-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 12pm-7pm; call 212-274-9519 for other branches.

Not ready to call it a night without seeing some naked guys? New York no longer has Chippendale's, so we recommend the quintessential bachelorette party entertainment, Hunkmania Male Dance Revue "for ladies only" (212-560-4359). Or, for a more intimate gathering, they'll deliver a hunk right to your door and entertain you and your giggling gal pals.

Or, if you want full-frontal nudity without having to bring a roll of singles, head over to Puppetry of the Penis (John Houseman Theatre, 450 W. 42nd St. btwn 9th/10th Aves, shows Tu-Th 8pm; F/Sat 7& 9:30pm; Sun 7pm, tickets $29.90-$44.90, bachelorette party info. 212-245-1009.) Hey, it's worth going just for the title alone! Simon Morley and David Friend, masters of "genital origami,"contort their, um, you-know-whats into interesting approximations of things like hamburgers and kangaroos. The show is a huge hit in London and Toronto, and is, um, growing in popularity in New York City. Enjoy the view!

Where to Buy the Gifts

It's easy to buy engagement, shower, or wedding gifts from popular New York stores with gift registries. Shop in person (or, even easier, online) at Bloomingdale's (59th Street at Lexington Ave., 212-705-2000, Hours: M-F 10am-8:30pm, Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 11am-7pm); Crate & Barrel (650 Madison Ave. at 59th St., 212-308-0011, Hours:M-Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 12pm-6pm ); Fortunoff (681 Fifth Ave. at 54th St., 212-758-6660, Hours: M-Sat 10am-6pm, Th 10am-7pm); Macy's (151 West 34th St. between Broadway/7th Ave., 212-695-4400, Hours: M-F 10am-8:30pm, Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 11am-6pm); Pottery Barn (1965 Broadway at West 67th St., 212-579-8477, Hours:M-Sat10am-9pm, Sun 11am-7pm ); Restoration Hardware (935 Broadway, 260-9479, Hours: M-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 11am-7pm); Tiffany & Co. (Fifth Ave. at 57th St., 212-755-8000, Hours: M-Sat 10am-6pm, Th 10am-7pm); and Williams Sonoma (20 East 60th Street at Madison Ave., 212-980-5155, Hours: M-F 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 12pm-5pm).

For more unique gifts (you mean you don't want to purchase Casual Place Setting #6?), try specialty boutique shops like Etcetera (489 Third Avenue between 33rd/34th St., 212-481-6527, Hours: M-F 10am-9pm, Sat 10am-7:30pm, Sun 12-7pm; and 1465 Second Ave. at 76th Street, 212-794-2704, Hours: M-F 10am-9pm, Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 12-7pm); Anthropologie (375 Broadway, 212-343-7070, Hours: M-Sat 11am-8pm, Sun 12pm-6pm) for European and Asian-inspired gifts like handbags, jewelry, candles, and picture frames; Kate's Paperie (1282 Third Av. at 73rd St., 212-396-3670, Hours: M-F 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-6pm) for classy, pretty photo albums, journals, and other paper gifts); or, for inexpensive, funky gifts like picture frames, gift books, as well as cards and gift wrap, head to La Brea (four locations, two on the Upper East Side and two on the Upper West Side, check www.labrea.com for locations and store hours).

• more information about gifts (and more unique gift ideas)

Where Else to Look?

Still haven't found what you want? For a head-spinning amount of shopping, dining, and entertainment ideas, check out www.newyork.citysearch.com, www.nytoday.com, and www.zagat.com.

Coming soon. . . to a city near you! BridesmaidAid.com hits the road and tells you where to go and what to do in Boston, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C. Check back soon!