Sunday, December 25, 2011

New York's Best Fun is on New Year's Eve

One of the most exciting nights of the year in New York is undeniably New Year’s Eve. The selection of what to do is awesome. Here are just a few possibilities to have a great time while ringing in the New Year and escorting out the old.

•    How about the 2012 New Year’s Eve Party at the Chelsea Loft. You will enjoy a five hour premium open bar, great music and dancing with DJ Michael Demby at Center 548 reinvented as The Chelsea Loft. You can expect the most innovative and exciting loft party, guaranteed to be the talk of the town on January 1st, 2012.

•    Want the best view of the famous Times Square Ball as it drops over New York? Then come to the AMC Empire Theater on 42nd Street. Enjoy a seven hour premium open bar, from 8pm until 3am, fantastic DJ music and dancing, an arcade center, movies and best of all, the venue on level 3 is family friendly. Levels 4 and 5 are reserved for adults only.
Fireworks on New Year's Eve in New York

•    Prefer to meet your destiny on New Year’s Eve? Then reserve your place on the Destiny Yacht. Come to World Yacht Pier 81 at West 41st Street and 12 Avenue for a four hour premium open bar from 9:30pm to 1:30pm and begin your cruise down the Hudson River. Enjoy the gorgeous skyline and fireworks at midnight if weather permits.

This New Year’s Eve have the best time of your life, and get a great start for the coming new year.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

East Village Bed and Coffee Gets to the Heart of the Matter

At 110 Avenue C is a hotel which gets to the soul of the East Village. It is called the East Village Bed and Coffee, which is really just a bed and breakfast without the breakfast. The EVB & C is an affordable, clean and comfortable place to stay in one of New York’s most exciting neighborhoods.

It was deemed that no breakfast was necessary, since most people staying there would most likely be more interested in taking a bite from the Big Apple instead of having breakfast where they are staying. Right in the neighborhood are many great cafes, pubs, restaurants and bars to keep your head spinning.

The rooms are eccentric in a delightful way, reflecting the quirky history of the area. The hotel is modeled after European style guest houses, but with a New York “loft style” feel; with communal bathrooms, complete kitchens, free WiFi, computers with internet, and even a garden during the right time of year.



Check out the East Village Bed and Coffee. We think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Christmas in New York



What could be better than Christmas in New York City? Well, this year it looks set to be even better and brighter. For mega-tree lovers, check out Manhattan’s Rockefeller Center’s tree which will be alight well into the new year, until January 7.  You certainly can’t miss it as the tree for 2011 spans 74-feet high and boasts 30,000 lights.  Or, if you want to enjoy a less-than-traditional tree, check out the origami one at the American Museum of Natural History which will be available for viewing ‘til just after the New Year.

Take your kids to see the train and light shows, or get a great look at the cool gingerbread houses over the holiday season.  Then there is the Radio City Music Hall which will be having a festive Christmas Show or you can just enjoy the beauty of St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue over the holidays.

The whole family will also really enjoy ‘America’s Parade: Celebrating 85 Years of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade’ that is being hosted by the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.

Truthfully, no matter where you decide to lay your hat in New York City over the upcoming holiday season, you’ll be sure to enjoy the festivities that adorn the city.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

New York’s Best Bus Tour

Learn about what many believe is New York City’s best bus tour. Rated highest by both TripAdvisor.com and Viator Tours customer’s ratings take a look at this video and find out more about New York City OnBoard.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Historic House: Gracie Mansion

Today Gracie Mansion is the elegant of the Mayor of New York City, but it was not always that way.
Winter at Gracie Mansion

Built in 1799 as the gracious home of prosperous New York businessman Archibald Gracie, it was constructed 5 miles north of the City at a scenic bend in the East River.

Gracie was forced to sell his country house in 1823, and the property was purchased and sold several times until the City of New York took possession of the estate in 1896. The house was made a part of the newly-established 11 acre Carl Schurz Park.

The building was used as a concession stand and bathrooms for the park, and then became the place where the Museum of the City of New York was first housed. When the museum moved Gracie Mansion became an historic house museum  run by New York’s Parks Department.

During the tenure of Parks Commissioner Robert Moses, and under his influence the City was convinced to make Gracie Mansion into the official residence of the mayor of New York. In 1942 Mayor Fiorello H. La Gurardia became the first New York mayor to live there.

In 1966 the house was expanded, and in 1981 the Gracie Mansion Conservancy was created. In 1981 and 1984 major restorations were made on the house.  Again in 2002 restoration was done, creating the “People’s House” which is more accessible to the public and to City agencies. The mansion is also sometimes used to host visiting dignitaries, such as First Lady Rosalynn Carter and even South African President Nelson Mandela.

Visitors are welcome to tour the mansion. There are general tours which last 45 minutes and charge a fee; Tea tours can be arranged for large groups of between 25 and 50 visitors for a fee of $25 per person; and school children are welcome to visit the historic site for free as part of an organized class trip.

For more information go to “A Visit to Gracie Mansion, The People’s House.”

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Delicious French Cuisine at the Tree Bistro

At 190 1st Avenue, in the heart of Manhattan’s East Village, is a French Cuisine restaurant that stands alone.

The Tree Bistro prided itself on its homemade, in-house food preparation, with only the freshest ingredients, prepared exactly to order.  Indoor dining is in the intimate dining room, while it is possible, weather permitting, to enjoy your scrumptious meal in the canopied and walled garden. And if you just don’t feel like venturing outside your cozy abode, The Tree Bistro has delivery service.

New York Magazine reviewed the Tree in April, 2007 and had this to say, in part:

“[she] wandered in one night just before curtain at Theater for the New City down First Avenue and found chef-owner Andrew Robinson eating at the bar. ‘I’ll have what you’re having,’ she said, ‘if I can eat and be out in twenty minutes.’ Now she’s hooked on his crusty short ribs atop bow-tie pasta—a variation of the menu version with its wonderfully savory chorus of root vegetables.”

Check out their web site or call 212-358-7171.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Oasis in the Village

The Creative Little Garden is a tranquil space set aside for the use of anyone who feels a desire to get away from   stress of life in New York City, even for just a few precious moments. The Garden is found at 530 East Sixth Street, between Avenue A and B, and is open from 11am until 6pm every day from April to October, with longer hours during the months of summer.

The garden was begun in 1982 after the building that had been on the site burned down and was demolished in the early 70s. Francoise Cachelin was the leader of the project; she was an outspoken supporter of individual and community rights, making a name for herself as a member of the French resistance during World War II . She was able to gain help from  city officials to begin the garden, and although she died in 2003, she still inspires the volunteers from the neighborhood who continue to maintain the beauty and peace found at the Creative Little Garden.

In May 2011 the Creative Little Garden was officially designated as a National Wildlife Federation Habitat, meeting all the requirements of providing food, water, cover and places to safely raise young for local wildlife.

The Garden is operated under the auspices of the NYC Parks Department, through its special “Greenthumb” program. The Garden receives a bit of support from the NYC Council on the Environment and elsewhere for construction and maintenance, voluntary donations being the sole method of funding for the Garden. There are expenses despite the fact that there is no salaried staff. All donations are tax-deductible.

In the months of November and December hours are more limited, with closures during especially windy days, or rain, and of course closed for snow or when the temperature plunges below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The garden is always closed before dark.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Abby Ehrmann to Resurrect East Village Haunts this Halloween

Abby Ehrmann of Click + Drag is joining forces with The Jackie Factory to transform Theatre 80 into a nostalgic “olden-days” music hall. The audience can count on being transported back to a time when performances earned the East Village its disreputable reputation.

During the night, which is dubbed “Ghostlight: The Haunted East Village,” several groups will take the stage in turns, including the Pixie Harlots, Flloyd, Heather Litteer, Poison Eve, the Dueling Bankheads and a cast of others equally frightening.

Abby Ehrmann will play co-host with Paul Alexander and Chi Chi Valenti, assuring guests a spine-tingling good time. The event is not just a great thing to do on Halloween, but a fundraiser for the Howl Emergency Life Project. Tickets are priced at $15, and the show is scheduled for Monday, October 31st, 9pm until 2am.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Get a Bird’s Eye View of the Big Apple

Ground Zero from Helicopter
In just 15 minutes visitors to New York can see a huge chunk of New York from the most thrilling or perspectives; from the seat of an airborne helicopter.

For less money than you might have thought you can have the experience of a lifetime sailing above one of the world’s most magnificent and exciting cities.

While the pilot describes what you are viewing you will see such New York hot spots as the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Central Park, the George Washington Bridge and a lot more.

The unique architectural styles of such iconic New York symbols like the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building and others are better appreciated from the lofty perch of the helicopter.

Rides depart from the Downtown Heliport of New York. For more information visit Viator.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Ice Skating in Bryant Park

There are several really great places for ice skating in New York City. The more famous places, like Rockefeller Center of Central Park, can sometimes get crowded, especially during the holidays. But one wonderful, less popular skating venue is in Bryant Park between Fifth and Sixth Avenues and 40th and 42nd Streets.

Skating in Bryant Park can make you feel like you are in an oasis among the skyscrapers, just a short walk from the hustle and bustle of Times Square. In addition to skating, Bryant Park also has a Le Carrousel, chess tables, and sometimes entertainment. Bryant Park also offers WiFi as a “Hot Spot.” So bring your laptop and start surfing.

Bryant Park’s Citi Pond Skating Rink is opening in just two weeks, on October 27th, and will be open until February 26th, 2012. Visitors can skate every day of the week from 8am until 10pm, except for Friday and Saturday when the rink stays open until midnight. Skating on Citi Pond is free; skate rental is $14; Bag Check is between $7-$10 depending on bag size. So go on down and have some traditional New York ice skating fun.

Monday, October 10, 2011

The Bronx Museum is Off the Beaten Path

Museums are one of the primary ways a culture maintains itself. Museums educate, archive, and proclaim what is important to a society. In New York there are a huge number of museums, some with international recognition, and some geared more to the local crowd.

One such museum which is not overly well known, but is still very much worth a visit is the Bronx Museum of the Arts. Located at 1040 Grand Concourse in the Bronx, visitors will be pleasantly surprised to see such a world class array of exhibits in such a (relatively) out-to-the-way location.

One of the best ways the Bronx Museum engages the public is through its monthly events, such as Bronx Talks:Bronx Stories, which is free; First Fridays, where film, art and performances are showcased; and Family Affair, a program to support and promote the special bond children have with the important adults in their lives.

Check out the Bronx Museum, you will surely be glad that you did.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Unusual Bronze Sculpture on NYU Campus Worth a Visit

Bronze Sculpture of Miguel Cervantes
It is not as hard as you might have thought to have an interesting experience in New York without spending much money. You just have to be willing to go off the beaten path a bit, and be open minded.

Have you ever noticed on the campus of New York University a wonderful bronze sculpture of one of the world’s greatest literary figures to have ever lived?  Another hint: he lived in the 16th century. Well, if you thought of Shakespeare then you would be wrong.  The sculpture I talking about is of Miguel Cervantes, Spanish writer born in 1547 and died in 1616.

Cervantes is best known for his work Don Quixote which is considered by many literary types to be the best novel ever written.

The sculpture was given to the city of New York in 1986 as a gift from the mayor of Madrid. Cervantes was first placed in Bryant Park, but was removed when the park underwent renovation. The sculpture was originally meant to be placed in Washington Square Park, but official thought it would not be able to withstand the activity it would be subjected to there, and was instead placed at the end of the long narrow mews on the campus of NYU, just a short walk north of Washington Square Park.

Go take a look at the work of art, and think of this quote from Cervantes:

“A private sin is not so prejudicial in this world, as a public indecency.”

Sunday, October 2, 2011

New York Loves Kids

Have some kids in tow? Don’t let that stop you from having an absolutely grand time touring around the Big Apple.
Here is a short list of some well-known hotels in town which have a great reputation with the under 16 crowd.

         The 70 Park Avenue Hotel: Special events just for kids, The “Kids Rule” rule, giagantenormous beds and Nintendo on the giant TVs make this hotel a big favorite of kids in New York 

         Affinia Manhattan is one hotel not afraid of larger-sized families. Great prices, big suites and great location make the Affinia a great choice for families 

         Doubletree Guest Suites offer a “Kids Club” program along with large suites, strollers, cribs and rooms that are childproof. Your kids will love the room service and in-room Sony Playstation.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Chinatown Noodles on My Mind

Looking for something new in Chinatown? Check out the New Peel Noodle Joint

Do you remember five years ago when peel noodles first arrived in New York? The idea behind peel noodles is that they are shaved with a knife (peeled) from a large cylinder of dough, creating worm –sized noodles perfect in soup, stir fries with egg or baby bok choy.

Still peel noodles never really got the recognition they deserved, and instead all the glory has gone to Lanzhou noodles, which are hand-pulled wheat noodles. The number of establishments serving Lanzhou noodles is up to about a dozen, while the appeal of peel (or knife) noodles has languished in only one restaurant.

Now that is all changing. Stop by Kuaile La Mian Hand Pulled Noodle, and you will find peel noodles also on the menu. If you visit and are brave, pay some attention to the peel noodles, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Marvelous Music in New York

New York is one of the world’s top cities for music. The town is bursting with clubs, concert spaces and a whole host of other venues for the most avent garde, contemporary or unusual music. Here is a list of just a few spots and what’s happening there today:
Chris Lemmon

1.    The Metropolitan Room is in the Flatiron area of Manhattan, on West 22nd Street. They are famous for a cabaret, pop atmosphere and hold amateur contests which are a great opportunity to discover the latest talent in the city. On Sunday, September 25th come on over and enjly the cool sounds of Chris Lemmon, son of Jack. He plays piano and will share stories of growing up with the funny, talented actor.

2.    Le Poisson Rouge is on Bleeker Street, which if you stop by you will notice is on the same spot where the iconic Village Gate used to be. Not only is this a venue for some of the most eclectic sounds around today, like John Cage, Deerhunter of ‘Crooked Disco,’ you will be challenged. Order some Cajun food or watch sports on the giant LCD screen for a bit of less cultured fun.

3.    The Black Eyed Peas will be in Central Park on September 30. Need we say more?

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Shimmie Horn’s Triumph Hotels Sparkle at the Washington Jefferson

Shimmie Horn’s Triumph Hotels are an integral part of the heartbeat and soul of New York City. Take for example the Washington Jefferson Hotel, located smack-dab in the center of the “Great White Way,” the wonderful nickname for New York’s theater district running along a small slice of New York’s world famous Broadway.

The Washington Jefferson is located at 318 West 51st Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues, just under two blocks from Broadway, a five minute walk south to Times Square, five minutes north to Central Park, with Lincoln Center, Columbus Circle and Rockefeller Center not much more than a few steps away.

Shimmie Horn invites you to visit the elegant, but not overpriced Washington Jefferson Hotel and experience a real, quintessential piece of New York life. Like the other Triumph Hotels in New York, there is no detail which has not been thought of and attended to so that guests feel at home and pampered. With New York awaiting you, Shimmie Horn invites you to visit and experience the best of his Triumph Hotel chain at the Washington Jefferson.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

The JP Morgan Library and Museum on Madison Avenue

Want to learn about the famous industrialist J.P. Morgan in depth? Then get yourself over to the Morgan Library and Museum, located in the former home of John Pierpont Morgan. The recently renovated museum features his enormous art collection, but also showcases books, prints, and some ancient artifacts. Letters and documents are also on display, and the museum also holds special exhibitions of both historically and artistic relevance.

The facility also houses a theater showing a short film on the life and legacy of JP Morgan, and visitors can also enjoy themselves at the cafĂ© and restaurant on the premises. There is a Gutenberg Bible on display, which alone is worth the $15 entrance fee.  Go to Madison Avenue between 36th and 37th Street and learn about this amazing man and enjoy the artwork and other artifacts he collected throughout his lifetime.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

New York’s Trinity Church is a Taste of History

Are you thinking of visiting New York, or do you already live here but are just looking for something special to do which is a bit quirky?

Here is a visit that is certainly not an ordinary New York hot spot. How about a visit to Trinity Church on Wall Street? The first church built on this location was constructed in the late 17th century. The building that is standing there now is the third church on that spot, and it was built in 1846. But the interior has stayed true to its origins and has maintained a good portion of that classic English church look. There is vaulting galore, dark wood pews, low lighting, and of course wonderful stained glass windows. The doors are made of bronze and make a great, gorgeous impression. There is a lovely inverted-tree sculpture right outside, with an adjoining cemetery with some quite ancient graves, truly worth a look at.

Perhaps most kitschy of all is the sign outside the Trinity Church proclaiming that, “On this spot stood Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of her gracious visit 9 July 1976. His Royal Highness the Prince Philip stood nearby.”

Thursday, September 1, 2011

The New York Yankees, a Living Legend

What would New York City be without the New York Yankees? The Yankees are unquestionably one of the most famous of baseball teams, but did you ever wonder how the Yankees became so well-known?
Well, believe it or not the team was first established in Baltimore of all places. They were founded in 1901 as the Baltimore Orioles (how confusing) but moved to New York only two years later where they took on the moniker of the New York Highlanders. In 1913 their name was officially changed to the “Yankees” and has remained that ever since.  From 1923 until 2008 their home field was in Yankee Stadium. In 2009 a new home was completed for them, and the Yankees moved into a new stadium going by the same name. After all, what else could it be called?

The Yankees have had some of baseball’s most incredible players on their team through the years, including such luminaries as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra. The Baseball Hall of Fame has inducted forty-three Yankees players and eleven managers. The Yankees leads their league in titles, including winning 27 World Series and 40 American League pennants. They also lead their league in income.

There is no question that the Yankees are a New York icon, helping to give New York its own special vibe.