Professional Soccer in NYC

October 11, 2011

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Sport plays an enormous part in the lives of all people in New York city, with all of the teams playing in various sports attracting thousands of people. Soccer despite not being the main sport in the United States, does have a solid following and NYC is a city where you can enjoy professional soccer.

One of the best known teams internationally is New York Red Bulls, a football (soccer) team which plays in the top flight of the American leagues. The reason that Red Bull are so well known is that they have developed a habit of signing top quality players from the best leagues around the world, projecting both the team and the league into the spotlight with people around the globe fascinated to see how the team will progress.

This season promises to be one of the most successful yet for Red Bull, due partly to the fact that the players have had a chance to mould as a team with players such as Thierry Henry having had a chance to settle into the style of play in the USA. There is a very good chance that, with the brand of football that they adopt, New York will enter the playoffs this year and progress to the final. A visit to the Red Bull Arena this season will enable you to savour the fluent footballing style that New York adapt whilst enjoying the great atmosphere that the New York fans create.

One of the best games to watch New York play will be the match against LA Galaxy who include David Beckham, Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan in their ranks, three world class players at the peak of their game.

Read our guide to shows on Broadway NYC yet? Read more NYC travel ideas before you visit the Big Apple.

Winter Time Events in New York, USA

June 26, 2011

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Winter time in New York is a wonderful thing, and just like there are some fun activities carried out during winter, so are there winter time events in New York, USA.

Some of the winter time activities in New York, USA include: doing your Christmas shopping at world famous stores like Macy’s, ice staking outside the Rockefeller Centre or enjoy a sleigh ride through Central Park. It is no wonder that during the festive period of Christmas, the city of New York puts on a series of events that are extremely popular with locals and visiting tourists.

Lighting the Rockefeller X-mas Tree – a key winter time event in New York, USA

Rockefeller Christmas Tree

Rockefeller Christmas Tree

One of the biggest events in New York’s festive calendar is the lighting of the Rockefeller Christmas Tree. It is the largest Christmas tree in the city, and each year attracts hundreds of viewers.

The tree is traditionally lit up just after Thanksgiving, and symbolises that Christmas has officially come to the Big Apple.

Radio City X-mas Spectacular NY winter event

Radio City, NY

Radio City, NY

Another popular attraction is the Radio City Christmas Spectacular which goes on throughout the whole of December. It often features performances by groups like the Rockettes, and the show is popular with families of all ages whereby tourists from all walks of life, together with the young and old all gather for this key winter event in New York, USA.

Cultured winter events in NY – The New York City Ballet

Nutracker Ballet, NYC

Nutracker Ballet, NYC

If you are looking for a bit more culture however, then the New York City Ballet will once again be putting on their annual performance of George Balanchine’s, “The Nutcracker”.

Performances go on throughout December with the last show being held on the 2nd January.

Other winter time events in New York City

Lincoln Center, NYC

Lincoln Center, NYC

The Lincoln Centre also puts on a number of festive events including: a large Messiah Sing In, nativity plays and other festive performances.

Other caroling services are held in the West Village, with the West Village Messiah Singing being held at St. Luke’s Church.

Whatever you decide to do, there are plenty of sights and sounds in New York that can cater for everyone’s tastes and festive desires, regardless of the season, as has been illustrated here, there are more than enough winter time events in New York, USA that the whole family can enjoy.

Park to Visit in New York

February 8, 2011

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When one thinks of visiting New York, most people think of the built up city centre and the attractions held within it. Whilst this is not an entirely inaccurate perception of what the city has to offer, there are certain other aspects of the city which are sometimes neglected. One such aspect is the various parks which offer a stark contrast to the concrete jungle. Below are some great parks to visit in New York City:

Best Parks

Best Parks

Central Park – Probably the most famous park in New York, Central Park in Manhattan is a vast space in the centre of the city. The park has featured in various films and is popular with a wide range of people. At any given time you can find a range of sporting activities taking place, but that doesn’t mean that there is no room to take a peaceful seat and enjoy a picnic.

Greenbelt Park – It is surprising how much nature can be found in such close proximity to one of the most built up cities in the world. GreenBelt Park NYC is an extensive area of land which is perfect for hiking, relaxing or having a picnic. A wide range of different trees and birds call the park home and there is a series of beautiful lakes.

Marine Park – This park in Brooklyn is made up of a number of recreational parks where families and groups of friends find haven in the pleasant green surroundings. The park has a vast natural habitat of small to medium sized animals which live amongst the trees and ponds which are spread throughout.

Be part of the audience in NYC

May 25, 2010

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If there is one thing as synonymous with New York as hot dogs and yellow cabs, it is  live TV shows. Emblematic American programmes such as Good Morning America, The Today Show, David Letterman and many others are either taped or transmitted lived from the Big Apple, often with the city’s dramatic skyline blazing in the studio background.

Most of these shows need audiences and being part of them is a fun thing to do on your visit to New York (albeit perhaps you won’t see the they type of mayhem portrayed in 24 Rock, a comedy series about the making of a live variety show).

NYC Free shows

NYC Free shows

Tickets, which are free, are very much in demand by locals too, so you’ll need to be persistent and act quickly.

Good Morning America (ABC Network)

If you don’t mind heading to the Times Square studio at 7am, make a request for tickets well in advance via their website (www.abcnews.com). If not, arrive at the studio by 6:45am and try your luck for a standby ticket.

The View, (ABC Network)

If you are prepared to wait a year or two, you may be able to score tickets for The View, the hugely popular, all female panel discussion show led by Whoopi Goldberg. Apply now through the show’s website: http://theview.abc.go.com/

Late Show with David Letterman (CBS Network)

The holy grail of the live audience tickets, you can either register on-line or in person at the Ed Sullivan Theatre (where the show is taped) Monday through Thursday from 9:30am to noon, or on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 6pm. You’ll be called if you get lucky but its not over there; you’ll also have to answer a question about the show in order to get the tickets.

The Daily Show with John Stewart (Comedy Central)

My personal favourite for its mix of politics and irreverence, simply email requesttickets@thedailyshow.com for tickets. They are generally booked well in advance but give them a good reason why you should attend and you just may get lucky.

Other Live Events in New York City

There are always a number of live events and many of which are free and others do cost. Events such as the frequent Belly dance Intensive workshops run by Madam Raqia Hassan are certainlt worth considering.

Pounding the Pavement in NYC

April 12, 2010

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New York, ‘the Capital of the World’, offers something for everyone, and no matter what your taste or interest there’s bound to be some enthusiastic specialist ready to show it to you.

NYC walking tours

NYC walking tours

Most people have heard of the ‘Sex and the City’ tours, where you’ll tread in the footsteps of Carrie, Samantha and Co, visiting, amongst other things, the SoHo art gallery where Charlotte worked and the boutiques where the girls loved to go shopping. But for something a little more highbrow, you could choose to take an historical tour. Big Onion Tours specialise in off-beat walking tours, with themes including ‘The Gangs of New York’ tour, which tells the legends of the infamous Five Points neighbourhood, and a walk along The Bowery, New York’s original ‘Skid Row’.

Gotham Walking Tours is another respected company who offer a host of tours. As an introduction to New York, their ‘Big Apple Sampler’ is a great idea; Lasting over seven hours, it takes in al the major areas and sites, such as Ellis Island, the Financial District and Chinatown. They also have a handful of indoor tours (a good option in bad weather) that let you discovers landmarks such as Grand Central Station and the Rockefeller Centre.

Naturally, with New York’s dining scene being the most diverse on the planet, there are plenty of food tours to choose from too. The gourmet guides at Foods of New York show you around the specialist food shops and ethnic eateries of New York, with plenty of sampling along the way. Interested also in Brazil and Rio travel, from NYC? A quick shameless plug for our friends who have started the Rio Travel portal.

Get ready for the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival

February 3, 2010

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Film buffs have a date in New York City April 1 to May 31 this year for the Tribeca Film Festival. The festival was founded in 2002 by the actor Robert de Niro, along with producer Jane Rosenthal and the well-known philanthropist Craig M. Hatkoff.  The thrust behind the project was to rejuvenate the Manhattan

Tribeca film festival

Tribeca film festival

neighbourhood of Tribeca area post the 9/11 attacks (TriBeCa means ‘Triangle Below Canal Street).

Eight years later, it has become one of the most important film festivals in the world. Not only does it give directors and producers a chance to show their work to a savvy New York audience, but also the calibre of the festival is such that the panels, discussions, workshops and other related events are some of the most awaited of the year. One of the

unique elements of the festival is the ‘Artists Awards’ whereby established artists donate their works as prizes to budding filmmakers. The Tribeca Film Festival has also travelled abroad; this year a mini-version was held in Doha, the capital of Qatar.

Tickets are best bought on-line at www.tribecafilm.com and can be picked for as low as US$10. If you can, try and see a show in the Tribeca Cinema, which De Niro purchased in 2003 as the flagship venue of the festival. Tribeca hotels and accommodation is also avalable online.

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