Celebrate St.Patrick’s Day in New York

March 16, 2010

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Outside of Ireland, the best place to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day (March 17th) is New York. The city hosts the biggest and oldest (2010 will be its 249th edition) St. Patrick’s Day event in the world, with 200,000 participants and drawing two million spectators along Fifth Avenue. Unlike say, the Macy’s Day Parade, the Saint Patrick’s Day parade is endearingly old-fashioned; no cars or floats are allowed, and instead brass bands and members of various Irish

St.Patrick's Cathedral in NYC

St.Patrick's Cathedral in NYC

societies march up the avenue to the beat of traditional Irish music in a spectacle of green and gold.  Each borough also holds its own event, and the city’s hundreds of Irish bars and pub ring loud with the sounds of Celtic revelers well into the night. For the really deal, head to McSorely’s Old House at 15 E 7th Street—it’s the oldest Irish Pub in Manhattan.

For the liveliest local celebrations, don your best green clothing and head to Riverdale in the Bronx, an historically Irish neighbourhood. If you prefer to celebrate St. Patrick’s spiritual significance you could even attend mass at the beautiful neo-Gothic Saint Patrick’s cathedral. Or why not catch a performance of the Irish dance spectacular ‘Riverdance’? This worldwide hit returns to Radio City Music Hall for five days during Saint Patrick’s Day week in New York. Learn also about St Patrick’s day in Korea.

Two Wheels Good in New York City

February 23, 2010

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With its congested streets and heavy foot traffic, New York City may not seem like the ideal place to go cycling. But even New Yorkers need to slow down their place once in a while, and over the years the city’s cycling community has been successful in reclaiming stretches of the city for two-wheeled use. Riverside Park, along the Hudson River, offers a long narrow track that goes on for miles.  The Battery Park area is also good, though be careful of the bumpy, cobble-stoned streets around Wall Street. Over the bridge in Brooklyn, there is a fabulous bike loop around Prospect Park and bikes are allowed on the Coney Island boardwalk in the afternoons and evenings.

Of course visitors to New York will need to hire a bike in order to be able to enjoy any of the above. Another option, which is perhaps better for the first time visitor, is to take a bike tour.  Bike Rental Central Park (www.bikerentalcentralpark.com) both hires out bikes to be used within the vicinity of the park and offers tours. Bike

Cycling in NYC

Cycling in NYC

and Roll (www.bikeandroll.com) offers tours over the lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Whether you go with a tour or go it alone, keep these things in mind: you must wear a helmet and it is illegal to ride on footpaths and wear headphones. Oh be very careful of opening car doors! With that said, happy cycling in NYC!

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.

Getting around New York City

November 25, 2009

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If you are flying into New York City for a Christmas Shopping trip for the firt time, you might be a little apprehensive about the local transportation system. NYC certainly sounds and appears to be a big city and it indeed it. The thing is though that NYC is a great city for getting around.

NYC Subway – The subway system is much safer to use these days and it is cheap extensive and trains run often. If

NYC Transport

NYC Transport

you are staying in Manhatten, as many tourists so, you can pretty much get everyhwere you want using the subway system.

Local Buses - A lot of visitors use the subway because it is easier to immediately know the routes. The bus service though is very good and can sometimes be more direct. The real benefit though is that you get to see a lot more of NYC by travelling at street level rather than undergound.

Budget flights into NYC

September 7, 2009

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There are several airlines who offer cheap and budget flights into NYC and these can save really save you a few dollars.

The main choices are:

  • Southwest Airlines – Fly into La Guardia airport to a wide range of destinations. You can book directly online with Southwest and the earlier you book the better.
  • Airtran – Fly from and into Newark and La Guardia and also offer we wide choice of locations.
  • Jetblue  – fly from and into all 3 NYC airports including JFK. Destinations are to all parts of the U.S.
  • NYC Budget Flights guide -A general look at cheap flights to the Big Apple.

Between the 3 airlines above you can get to most parts of the United States at if you book early enough, at a fairly decent price.

Summertime in Central Park

July 27, 2009

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Central Park used to have a reputation as a rough and dangerous place years ago, but these days it is a quite amazing place to hang out in the summer time. If you stick with the lower side and keep to daylight hours then you should be able to enjoy the beautiful summer weather in the park.

I used to walk to and from work through Central Park a few years ago and expect in the summer months to see:

  • Dozens of roller-bladers learning, getting fit and sometimes themselves travelling this way to work.
  • Several people out in boats on the lake.
  • People playing instruments and practicing to play in different corners and places.
  • A number of people playing sports including a spot of baseball, throwing a footbal around or kicking a soccer ball around.
  • Sunbathers using the vast space to enjoy some relaxation.
  • Joggers using the very large central lake as a route for running around.
  • Tourists visiting well-known parts such as Strawberry Fields.

Central Park is almost like a mini city in its own way. I cannot think of anyway better on a sunny day and it is one of the things I love about living here!!!

Central Park NYC

Central Park NYC

Experience The Beast Speed Boat

July 3, 2009

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If you are a true daredevil you definitely have to go on board with ‘The Beast’. Captain Mad Dog guides his speedboat through the harbor during a half hour race. Skyscrapers and other sights passes you. By the Statue of Liberty, ‘The beast’ stops for a short while to give you the opportunity to shoot some nice close-up photo’s of the Statue.

Before you know it, you are back on track with a high speed of 90 kilometers per hour. ‘The beast’ can hold 145 passengers at a time and is the largest and fastest speedboat in New York. It has more than 90 speakers, and people are entertained with popular music. Many people from all over the world are coming to New York to experience this

Beast speedboat NYC

Beast speedboat NYC

crazy mad boat ride only daredevils can handle. You can make a ride with Captain Mad Dog every weekly day from the 3rd of May until the 28th of September from noon to sunset.

In the month October, people can also enjoy ‘The beast’ during the weekend. The boat departs from the Hudson River in midtown Manhattan. The departure time is every hour from 12pm to 7pm and the departure time are on a first-come first-served basis. The ticket price for adults is $21.99 and the price for children is $15.99 per ride. The return is the same has the departure point.

Join us down at the Tribeca Film Festival

June 15, 2009

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After the attacks of 9-11 movie star Robert de Niro and film producer Jane Rosenthal organized a new film festival in the TriBeCa area in New York in Lower Manhattan. The Tribeca Film Festival was founded in 2002 and held in this area because of the consequent loss of vitality in this neighborhood. The aim and mission is ‘to give the international film community and the general public the possibility to experience the force of film by redefining the film festival experience’.

The festival was also established to celebrate New York City as a big filmmaking center. In 2006 and 2007 there were over 250 films and 1.000 screenings. Because of that, the Tribeca Film Festival has now become one of the leading film festivals in the world. Documentaries as well as narrative features and family-friendly films will be shown.

Furthermore, there are panel discussions with persons of the entertainment world and a music lounge which is produced with ASCAP, in order to showcase up and coming artists. A distinctive element of the Tribeca Film Festival

Tribeca movies

Tribeca movies

is the Artists Awards program where upcoming and renowned artists are celebrating filmmakers by providing original works of art that are given to the filmmakers competition winners. Some artists who have participated this program are Chuck Close, Alex Katz and Julian Schnabel.

Looking for Tribeca accommodation? There are some very goodshort term rental options and also with the area quite close to Little Italy, there are several excellent Italian restaurants in the area for a meal before or after the film festival.

The Mermaid Parade arrives at Coney Island

June 2, 2009

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The Mermaid Parade is an annual event, held nearby the sea in Coney Island New York on the 20th of June at 2pm. This event is the nation’s largest art parade and officially, the parade was celebrated because the summer is started.. The Mermaid Parade was founded in 1983 by Coney Island USA which is a non-profit art organization. Their purpose is to defend and maintain the honor of the American culture through innovative and extraordinary performances.

During this event, people wear handmade extreme costumes. Every year there are, Neptunes, various sea creatures, the occasional wandering lighthouse, Coney Island post card or amusement ride, antique cars, marching bands and

Coney Island

Coney Island

drill teams. People throw fruit in the sea to calm the Sea Gods. After the parade, is the Mermaid Parade Ball, this is where participants can come together and enjoy the live music, purchase raffle tickets and watch acts performed by some of New York City’s hottest burlesque stars.

They also produced other festivals like Coney Island Circus Sideshow, Ask the Experts, Burlesque at the Beach, The Coney Island Tattoo and Motor Festival and the Creepshow at the Freakshow.

During this event, people can eat everywhere since Coney Island is the birthplace of the Hot Dog. Of course there are restaurants such as Coney Island Surf and Turf, Nathan’s Famous and Totonno Pizzeria Napolitano.

The New York International Fringe Festival

May 18, 2009

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The New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC) is a large multi-art festival in New York. The festival is held from the 14th of August and lasts until the 30th.
This event is the largest multi-art event in North America and has more than 200 companies performing from all over the world in more than 20 venues.

NYC festivals

NYC festivals

FringeNYC is organized by The Present Company. People can participate this festival as a volunteer, intern, donor, sponsor, advertiser or staff person. To make this event a huge success there are more than 200 shows, 1500 volunteers, 4500 artists and audience of 75.000 people needed to make it all happen. The performances are from 2pm to midnight and in the weekends from noon to midnight.

It all started in 1996 when The Present Company produced Brian Park’s Americana Absurdum. The company started with only one employee and those who hung out after our daily jobs.

It doesn’t matter if you are an alumni, a fan, a volunteer, a participant, a staff member, a writer, an actor, a dancer, a teen, child or senior. The New York International Fringe Festival is accessible for everybody.

The entrance price depends on the type of ticket. The prices vary from $8 to $500. The $500 ticket allows you to see all the shows. For visiting 5 shows the price is $ 70.00 and for 10 shows it is $ 120.

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