Auto Aficionado's Guide to New York

The New York International Car Show has brought with it loads of vehicular enthusiasts who will spend most of their time lusting after the automobiles and gear on display. We already tried to make our Detroit guests feel at home, but after all, there are plenty of folks in New York from elsewhere who still want to bone anything that rolls. And after the show moves on, there's still lots to see and do in NYC for the adventurous hoon. In the short term, here's a comprehensive guide of where to stay, what to eat, and how to fill your time after the car show closes for the night.

The New York International Car Show: Of course we need to list the big dance first. The show takes place from April 6-18 at the Javits Convention Center on the west side of Manhattan. Next year's models from all major car makers will be on the runway, along with this year's models and fantasy mockups. The show will include seminars, contests, symposiums, and conferences.

Sheraton New York Hotel: This Sheraton is the headquarters of the New York Auto Show, so it's both close and affordable for showgoers. It's located just a few blocks from the Javitz, and numerous conferences and seminars will be held in their event space. Another list of hotels with special car-show rates may be found here.

Bentley Dealership: After looking at cars all week, best get behind the wheel yourself. You have to be a "serious buyer" before the Bentley dealership on 41st Street will let you navigate Manhattan's busy streets in a new Maybach or Mercedes. Or pretend you're a journalist! That always works.

Classic Car Club: If you're from the area or just have cash to burn, check out New York's Classic Car Club in Tribeca. Members have access to the club's garages stocked with meticulously maintained Italian sports cars, British roadsters, and American muscle cars. You must fork over a $1,500 initiation fee and $7,000 in annual dues in exchange for 15-50 driving days, depending on which cars you choose to drive.

Image Rent A Car: For an exotic car rental while in town, hit Image Rent A Car. They've got all the flash rides, from Hummers to Ferraris to Vipers and Corvettes. If you don't want to pay specialty rates, standard chains like Hertz, Avis, and Budget are increasingly offering more exotic and luxury choices.

Keens Steakhouse: Keens has nothing to do with cars, but gorgeous cars get our blood pumping for some red meat. This is one of our favorite steakhouses in the city, and it's not as tough to get a table as in many other places (though it's still no cakewalk for walk-ins) . The large townhouse has wood-paneled walls, excellent service, and some of the most tender cowflesh in New York.

Manhattan Car Club: For an affordable (but admittedly less exciting) indulgence, check out Manhattan Car Club. The $15 annual fee gets you access to their cruise nights, garage tours, museum trips, and poker nights. The big cruise nights usually attract over 400 classic cars.

Meetup.com Groups: For an extremely casual car-club experience, go to Meetup.com. Groups meet occasionally to talk about cars, cruise, race ,and do all kinds of car-related things. The biggest groups in the city are focused on Jeeps and Mini-Coopers, but it's always easy on Meetup to start your own group or look for clubs in nearby cities.

Sex in Cars: True car enthusiasts love everything involving cars, including our favorite activity/high school memory -- sex in cars. Depending on the type of car-lover you are, messy sex in the back seat of your cramped 'vette is either extremely sexy (ooh, smell that new leather) or nerve-racking (will this stain my new leather?). If you're into it, we've suggested the Cunningham Park parking lot in our post about public sex in New York. Your mileage may vary.

The Strand: If you can't afford the new Ferrari or Toyota hybrid (if that's how you roll) but still love the car porn, get a coffee-table book. The legendary Strand bookstore has a huge collection of car-centric tomes on subjects from collecting to maintenance to car photography.

-- Amanda Kludt