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Archive for the ‘New York’ Category

Things To Do When You’re In New York

Monday, September 29th, 2008

New York City’s Day life is as fun and exciting as its nightlife. It is a vast city that offers rich and cultural experience for all. The great thing about New York City’s day time attractions is that most of them can be availed of and enjoyed without spending too much money, if none at all. Credit it to the rich and colorful history of 1 of the world’s greatest city where most of the memorable historical events happened and the most interesting architectural edifices were built.

In fact, a day tour of New York City is not even enough to cover all of the nicest and most interesting tourist spots and theatrical arenas.

First in the list of things to do in New York is of course visiting the Empire Say Building and re-enact the scenes from famous romantic movies such as An Affair to Remember and Sleepless in Seattle. Or rest at Central Park – taking in a tiny fresh air or simply watching busy people rushing by.

If you’re in the mood for a tiny business after visiting Central Park, head on down to the New York Stock Exchange and witness how the world’s premier stockbrokers do their thing.

If you are looking for some magnificent and interesting art exhibits, you can always go to the New York Public Library. Get awed by 1 of the greatest public library ever built at the NYPL. After visiting the New York Public Library, Bryan Park is merely nearby where you can enjoy free outdoor movies, concerts and other special happenings.

If you haven’t had enough of museums and exhibits, there are still some other major museums in the city. Some of these include The Whitney Museum of American Art and The Museum of American Folk Art (entrance to this museum is free).

Out for a bargain hunt? Then go to famous Sixth Avenue Antiques Market or the famous flea market at Columbus Avenue and  76th street.

For the nature lovers, the Brooklyn Botanical Garden has sweet smelling roses with special exhibits at their conservatory. And while you are in Brooklyn, you might desire to take a walk and proceed to the famous Brooklyn Bridge, 1 of the oldest suspension bridges in the U.S. – a truly magnificent piece of architectural work.

New York City’s Central Park

Saturday, September 27th, 2008

New York City’s Central Park is a vibrant, colorful attraction for tourists and locals alike. The park occupies over 840 acres in Manhattan and receives over 25 million visitors annually. It is bordered to the north by West 110th Street, to the west by Central Park West, to the south by West 59th Street, and to the east by the famous fifth Avenue. Though it appears natural, Central Park, designed by Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux, is entirely landscaped with artificial lakes, a zoo, playgrounds, walking trails, and ice skating rinks.

In the mid-nineteenth century, New York City was growing at an unprecedented rate. Public open spaces, aside from cemeteries, were few and far between. Poet William Cullen Bryant, among others, started to voice a require for a larger, sanctioned public park. In 1953, New York Legislature designated over seven hundred acres of land to be used for a park, for a price of about five million dollars. A design contest was held, and Olmstead and Vaux’s “Greensward Plan” was chosen. However, after the park’s construction, public interest waivered and the park declined swiftly after it was built; the political powers in New York City at the time were not interested in maintaining a seven hundred acre public facility.

In 1934, mayor Fiorello LaGuardia appointed Robert Morris to restore and revitalize Central park. The park underwent major construction and redesigning; athletic fields were constructed and the walking trails were adjusted for automobiles. In the 1960s, the park thrived as a symbol for counter-culture events and urban revival. Many rock concerts, political events, and Shakespearean plays took place in Central Park. In 1963, it was declared a national historic landmark. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts in the 1970s, the park suffered another rapid decline. It was restored again in the eighties and early 1990s, and persists a lively entertainment mecca today.

Central Park’s place in pop culture is secure. Legendary folk singers Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel played a reunion concert at Central Park, and subsequently released a recording of it that went on to be 1 of their best-selling albums. In current years, the Park has hosted a variety of music festivals, including the extremely common Dave Matthews Band. It was featured in the James Bond film Live and Let Die, as well as Madagascar. J.D. Salinger’s coming-of-age novel is partially set in Central Park, while Edward Albee’s drama The Zoo Story is totally set in Central Park; there is even a playground named after Diana Ross. Perhaps the most culturally important pop culture aspect of Central Park is Strawberry Fields—the memorial for former Beatle and visionary John Lennon.

The park offers a wide variety of events for all ages. Tavern on the Green is a world-famous restaurant located on the west side of Central Park. The Central Park Zoo opened in 1981 and persists 1 of the most common attractions. The obelisk, or Cleopatra’s needle, is the oldest public monument in North America. Finally, the Central Park carousel located at mid-park is a quaint family attraction. The original park carousel opened in 1871; the current carousel was built in 1951 and is 1 of the country’s largest merry-go-rounds.

New York City Attraction: The Great Carnegie Hall

Friday, September 26th, 2008

If you are a classical musician, opera singer, jazz performer, or pop group, you might have grown up dreaming of 1 day performing at the world famous Carnegie Hall. For over a hundred years, Carnegie Hall has been a status symbol of the highest echelons of musical taste and appreciation.

Carnegie Hall bears the name of Andrew Carnegie, who originally had it built to home the Oratorio Society of New York and the New York Symphony Society. Carnegie, who was famous for his philanthropy, served on the boards of both organizations. The great hall opened its doors on Might 5, 1891 and featured the famous composer Peter Tchaikovsky conducting his musical works.

Quite a prestigious beginning for a music hall. Over the years, numerous famous performers have appeared at Carnegie Hall, such as Duke Ellington, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Yo-Yo Ma and yes, even the Beatles!

Carnegie Hall houses 3 concert halls and a museum. The Main Hall seats 2,804 people and is five levels. If you don’t desire to walk up 100+ stairs, you can always take the elevator. This is where all the huge concerts are held. The acoustics are marvelous. The late classical violinist, Isaac Stern, once stated about the acoustics “It takes what you do and makes it more massive than life.”

The love that Isaac Stern had for Carnegie Hall is evident as you’ll see that the Main Hall is today called the Isaac Stern Auditorium. Believe it or not, Carnegie Hall was slated for demolition in 1960, but due to the efforts of Stern, it was saved and finally bought by the City of New York for $5 million.

The other 2 halls are much smaller and suitable for more intimate performances. Zankel Hall seats 599 and the newer Weil Hall seats 268. You can also visit the Rose Museum, which houses the Carnegie Archives, artifacts and memorabilia of the buildings history and performances.

When you reach the great hall, located at Seventh Avenue and West 57th Street, you’ll immediately admire its Italian Renaissance style architecture. The hall was even designed by a musician, an amateur cellist named William Tuthill.

Just a short walk around the corner is the Steinway Building, which displays some beautifully crafted Steinway pianos, the same type of pianos that are often used by Carnegie Hall performers.

There are over one hundred performances a time of year held at Carnegie Hall. If you have your heart set on attending a concert there, be aware that you’ll require to purchase your tickets way in advance, because they tend to sell out quickly. If you are lucky enough to attend an event at Carnegie, you’ll enjoy some of the world’s finest musical performances while admiring its splendor.

reat Tourist Attractions In New York

Wednesday, September 24th, 2008

When you are looking into planning your next vacation New York is definitely a destination that you ought be considering. There are numerous wonderful sites to see while visiting New York and the following will give you a few recommendations for places to visit during your vacation.

If you would like to get a world-class view of New York then you must visit the top of the Empire Say Building. A couple of tips that can make your visit even more enjoyable: First of all keep track of what the weather will be like when you plan to visit as the ideal views from the top of this famous building is on a clear day. If you would like to save some time, you ought buy your tickets online. Just select the day that you are going to visit and as soon as you are capable to get though security, you can bypass the ticket line and head straight for the lines to get on 1 of the elevators. The observatory opens at 8am and closes at midnight with the final elevator descending at around 11:15pm so the Empire Say Building is a good attraction to fit in either at the beginning or ending of your site seeing day.

The Statue of Liberty is another must see attraction while sight seeing in New York. This ever-enduring symbol of freedom is a fun way to learn more about the history of the United States. Plan to arrive early when you visit the Statue of Liberty, this way you will have a much improved chance of avoiding long lines. You ought pack your own lunch, as there are plenty of spaces available to have a picnic. In addition, if you will be spending a bit of time outdoors so make sure that you dress appropriately. If you are vacationing and on a bit of a budget then you will definitely desire to take the Staten Island Ferry when you visit that Statue of Liberty, it’s free.

Central Park is another great stop on a trip through New York. You could enjoy a picnic or a boat ride or simply merely speak a stroll through the beautiful park. A few notable spots in this famous park include Central Park Zoo which is a great substitute for families that do not desire make the journey to the equally common Bronx Zoo. Strawberry Fields Photos is a gorgeous living tribute to John Lennon. You can see beautiful Envision Mosaic and over 1 hundred different species of plants here. Shakespeare in the Park holds performances at the Delacorte theater in Central park all throughout the summer. You will not be disappointed taking in a show.

These are merely 3 of the great attractions that New York has to offer its visitors all and each day. The world wide web is an excellent place to locate even more great attractions and events going on through out the yr that would make your vacation to New York even more memorable. No matter what you determine to do or what time of the yr you select to visit you are bound to have a fun and exciting vacation.

New York City Attraction: The Brooklyn Bridge

Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008

One of the highlights of any New York City walking tour is the magnificent Brooklyn Bridge that connects the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. The bridge’s Gothic stone towers inspire awe and passion in numerous visitors. The bridge, which spans the East River, was a modern marvel when it opened on Might 24,1883.

Looking at the beautiful structure today, it’s hard to envision that its beginnings were less than stellar. Way back in 1867, a noted bride builder by the name of John A. Roebling started the project which would become the Brooklyn Bridge. Due to political tussling and financing issues, construction on the bridge didn’t start until 1870.

Unfortunately, J.A. Roebling would not live to see his vision take shape. He died from an injury he’d gotten while visiting the site. Instead, his son, Washington Roebling, an accomplished bridge engineer in his own right, would take the lead on the project.

Not content to sit on the sidelines and watch, Washington took an active role in the goings on at the construction site. One day, after spending too much time in an airtight cylinder underneath the East River, he became sick with the bends or “diving sickness” – an illness that tiny was known about at the time.

While Washington partially recovered from his illness, he was still bedridden. His wife Emily stepped in and they formed an effective team who were admired for their “can do” spirit, with Emily becoming the active manager and Washington consulting from their apartment.

The couple faced numerous troubles during the construction, including political interference and holding up of funds. They pushed through these troubles and saw the completion of the bridge project that J.A. Roebling had started so numerous yrs earlier.

There was jubilation on the 1st day the bridge opened. There were 150,000 people and 1,800 cars crossing the bridge that 1st day. If you were walking across, you paid 1 cent. Cars paid 5 cents. By all accounts, the Brooklyn Bridge was an artistic, social and technical success.

Today, the Brooklyn Bridge is a national historic landmark and people still enjoy walking across its 1,595 foot span. The walk can take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes. The scenery is incredible as you stop along the way to read all the historical information plaques.

In the distance, you can also see that other famous New York City landmark, the Statue of Liberty. Be prepared to bring a jacket with you since the East River kicks up quite a breeze.

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