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5 Amazing Ways To Spend July 4th

June 30, 2017 by sabelsohn Leave a Comment

There’s really no better place to enjoy July 4th than in New York City. With the huge of variety of things to do, places to see, and delicious things to eat and drink, the options are endless. From taking in the sun rays at Rockaway Beach, to enjoying the rollercoaster at Coney Island to watching the most spectacular firework show, here are our fave things to do on July 4th.

Watch the Macy’s July 4th Fireworks Show: The 41st annual show is said to be their largest display in more than a decade. The fireworks can be viewed between 24th Street and 41st Street on the East River. The fireworks start around 9:25 p.m., and the show will last 25 minutes. From Manhattan, you can watch the show at the following locations: E 42nd Street & FDR Drive, E 34th Street and FDR Drive, E 23rd Street and FDR Drive, E 16th Street and Avenue C and Houston Street and FDR Drive. For more info, please click here.

Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks

July 4th Beach Party: Enjoy the holiday surrounded with live music, booze, delicious food, fireworks and a beach view. Get their early to get a good spot and be ready to take in the beautiful NYC sun rays all day long. The party ends with an incredible firework display at 9:30PM. For more info, please click here. Coney Island, Brooklyn.

July 4th- Coney Island- NYC — *Coney Island, NYC*

Riis Park Beach Bazaar: This annual summer-long market and concert series is back and better than ever for this holiday weekend. The boardwalk will be filled with tasty food vendors and you can sunbathe and swim while enjoying some live music. For the special Fourth of July edition, Dirty Boogie, Edward Askew and Big Vic and Bekah will be DJing. For more info, please click here. Rockaway Beach, Queens.

Midsummer Night Swing: David Ostwald’s Louis Armstrong Eternity Band: On July 4, Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing will play the music of Louis Armstrong when David Ostwald’s Eternity Band delivers hits by the American trumpeter. Be ready to dance all night and if you need a warm-up, come early and take a free dance class. For more info, please click here. Lincoln Center, NYC.

July 4th- Lincoln Center- NYC — *Lincoln Center*

Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest: You can’t celebrate fourth of july without eating a hot dog, are we right? Celebrate the holiday right and indulge your senses by entering (or watching) Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. Taking place on July 4th from from 10am to 2pm, trust us- this is one event you do not want to miss! For more info, please click here. Coney Island, Brooklyn.

July 4th-Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest-Brooklyn — *Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest*

Looking for a last minute stay to enjoy July 4th in NYC? Book our best available rate and enjoy the long holiday weekend in the best city of all!

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6 Ways to Enjoy Summer in NYC

May 26, 2017 by sabelsohn Leave a Comment

New York City is known for world-famous Summer events, including Shakespeare in the Park and the Central Park SummerStage. But there are also an incredible number of lesser-known but just as fabulous festivals and summer activities in NYC. Here are some of the most memorable:

1.Taste of Times Square

Grab your foodie friends and come to #TimesSquare’s annual food & music festival, Taste of Times Square! On June 5, you’ll be able to feast on delicious dishes from over 50 restaurants while listening to live music.

2. Museum Mile Festival
Billed as the biggest block party in NYC, this cultural festival features free admission to many of the world’s premium art exhibits during extended evening hours. Covering 23 blocks and seven museums, the celebration also includes plenty of outdoor fun, like live music, face painting, street chalk drawing, and countless other offerings. June 13th.

3.River to River Festival
A tradition started over 15 years ago, the River to River Festival fills downtown Manhattan with 10 days of free cultural exhibitions, performances, and events. Enjoy the many artistic experiences offered along the waterfronts and in parks, plazas, hotels, historic landmarks – and even vacant offices. Music, dance, art, drama, and so much more fill these spaces with movement, energy, and light.

4. NYC Summer Streets
For the first three Saturdays in August, almost seven miles of NYC streets, reaching from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park, are taken over by the public so they can walk, run, bike, and play safely. Celebrating the most valuable public space available in New York City, this festival focuses on encouraging healthy recreation and the use of public transportation. All activities are free of charge and enable everyone to enjoy NYC from a different vantage point.

5. Feast of San Gennaro
Marking the end of summer and taking over the streets of Little Italy, this delicious festival in lower Manhattan offers 11 days of ethnic celebration. From parades and religious procession to live music and celebrity guests, there’s something for everyone here. And, of course, incredible Italian food, served fresh from street vendors, local restaurants, and charming cafes.

6. Coney Island Mermaid Parade
Celebrating the start of the summer season in Coney Island, the annual Mermaid Parade is a magical, colorful tribute featuring floats, marchers, and antique automobiles, all rejoicing in the arrival of the summer solstice and the opening of popular Coney Island activities. Blending ancient mythology with seaside honkey-tonk traditions, this spectacular pageant attracts hundreds of thousands of participants and celebrants each year. June 17.

Take in the NYC summer like a local & enjoy a picnic in Central Park surrounded by all the lush greenery our beautiful city has to offer. When you book our summer package enjoy two cocktails upon arrival, complimentary Wi-Fi, plus a picnic basket that includes two sandwiches, a bottle of Rosé and a blanket.Just ask our concierge for directions to these or other exhilarating summer events.

6 Awesome Ways to Spend Spring in NYC

April 12, 2017 by sabelsohn Leave a Comment

Ready to take a trip to New York this spring? You’ll discover an unbelievable array of activities, festivals, and events throughout NYC and the surrounding state. These are five of the best – but there are still plenty more to choose from! And just remember – our friendly desk attendants are always happy to provide personal recommendations and point you in the right direction!

Tribeca Film Festival

Held this year from April 19^th through the 30^th, the Tribeca Film Festival in lower Manhattan is well worth attending at least once. Dedicated to helping filmmakers reach the broadest possible audience, the festival highlights both local and international artists. You’ll find a diverse selection of films and activities including talks and events, with celebrities ranging from Ethan Hawke and Jane Fonda to Lily Hamlin and Chris Rock headlining. While some events require purchasing tickets in advance, many are free to the public.

Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival

Sakura Matsuri offers over 60 events and performances that celebrate traditional and contemporary Japanese culture on April 29 and 30th. There’s also a Japanese tea room, an art gallery and a mini flea market hawking loot such as mouthwatering Raaka chocolates, wall scrolls and silk wraps. Get ready for a jam-packed schedule of entertainment, which includes Taiko drummers, cosplay actors, samurai sword masters, J-rock bands, stand-up comics and dance parties. There’s also food and drinks for sale.

Sakura Matsuri at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Cherry Blossom Festival — Sakura Matsuri at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Cherry Blossom Festival

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TAP NY Craft Beer & Fine Food Festival

On April 29 and 30th, you can enjoy this incredible craft beer and food event at Hunter Mountain in the Northern Catskills. First held in Hyde Park 20 years ago by the Culinary Institute of America, TAP® New York showcases the best selections from area breweries. Whether you prefer lagers and IPAs or stouts and ales, you’re sure to find plenty on tap from over 120 craft breweries offering more than 300 beers. All of these great beers are complemented by cooking demonstrations and food galore. It offers a fun-filled day of indulgence – for adults only.

tap new york craft beer festival nyc — Tap Craft Beer Festival

Imagine RIT

Held at the Rochester Institute of Technology on May 6^th, there is no cover charge to attend this innovative event. The campus-wide festivities showcase the pioneering and creative spirit of students, faculty, and staff. Experience incredible interactive presentations, hands-on demonstrations, multiple exhibitions, and intensive research projects all around the campus. Multiple stages featuring live music and entertainment make this a popular event for all ages and interests.

Frieze New York

Every May, Randalls Island becomeshe epicenter of the art world for four days thanks to Frieze New York, the art fair housed under a massive tent. The sixth edition of Frieze New York, happening May 5th through the 7th, brings together more than 200 galleries showing today’s most significant international artists – from emerging talents to seminal and rediscovered 20th-century masters. You will be able to view and buy art from more than 1,000 of today’s leading artists and experience a curated program of talks and site-specific artist commissions.

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Marathon Music Fest

On Sunday, May 28^th, the Herald of Victory Marathon is accompanied by an all-day music festival. With venues Downtown and on the West Side of Binghamton, New York, you’ll find music and events for every taste. There’s even a microbrewery festival and race after-party held within the Metrocenter Courtyard downtown. Whether you go to watch the racing or simply to enjoy the festival, you won’t regret experiencing this fun-filled event.

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Wondering where to stay when you make your NYC escape this spring? Book our spring fling deal & enjoy 25% off, 2PM late check out and a bottle of wine to get your spring fling in the city of lights started right.

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How to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in New York

March 7, 2017 by sabelsohn Leave a Comment

Top 3 Things to Do on St. Patrick’s Day in New York

Back in the 1600s, the Catholic Church made the decision to commemorate the arrival of Christianity in Ireland by creating a feast of celebration which was called St. Patrick’s Day, that feast has turned into an all-out festival referred to worldwide as simply St. Paddy’s Day. If you’re planning to be in New York City for St. Patrick’s Day this year, you’ll find celebrations all around you. We’ve highlighted some of our favorites below.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Our country’s oldest and proudest Irish traditional parade started in NYC over 250 years ago – fourteen years before the Declaration of Independence! Honoring the Patron Saint of Ireland and the Archdiocese of New York, this epic event has only increased in popularity over the years. Everyone enjoys the “wearing of the green” as they line up along the bustling streets of New York City to watch this incredible pageant.

Irish New York Walking Tour

Prefer walking to standing in the middle of a crowd? Explore the area of the Lower East Side once known as Little Ireland. This low-key walking tour of the 19th-century neighborhood that once housed more Irish residents than Dublin itself is especially moving on St. Patrick’s Day. Stop by the founding site of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, see Al Smith’s home, visit the Five Points, tour the first Catholic Church in NYC, and view a variety of additional sites associated with New York’s rich Irish heritage.

Visit an Irish Pub or Create Your Own Irish Bar Crawl

Raising a glass in celebration is a time-honored way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. These bars offer a great way to get a true feel for this tradition. Stop by one of these famous Irish pubs, or visit several on a personal tour of NYC for your own St. Patrick’s Day bar crawl.

McSorley’s Old Ale House

Established in 1884, McSorley’s lays claim to the title of NYC’s oldest saloon. Worldwide celebrities from Abraham Lincoln to John Lennon have wet their whistle here. Woody Guthrie supposedly started the original union movement from his seat at a table at McSorley’s, and civil rights attorney’s Faith Seidenberg and Karen DeCrow fought all the way to the Supreme Court to gain access to this hallowed drinking establishment in 1970. Stop by for a drink – and to savor the multileveled history of this iconic address.

Stout NYC

Offering three different NYC locations for your convenience, with its flagship bar near Madison Square Garden, Stout is known for great drinks and lots of character. Each location has its own unique ambiance, but all offer drink menus highlighting multiple premium whiskeys and huge craft beer selections. The food focuses on the best in Irish pub fare, and the staff is always welcoming.

Wilfie & Nell

Located in the West Village, Wilfie & Nell takes pride in serving locally-sourced food accompanied by good drinks. It has a classic pub feel, and the menus play homage to the owners’ Irish heritage. Their weekend brunch is a particular local favorite, and you’re bound to find a slew of folks celebrating St. Patrick’s Day here.

Find your luck in NYC… book our St. Patrick’s package & upon arrival receive Irish beers and snacks to get the party started and two green vitamin waters. So get out your green gear and get ready to watch the Empire State shine with the color of the Irish.

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Our helpful concierge will be happy to help you find the perfect way to celebrate good old St. Pat!

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