J! E! T! S! JETS! JETS! JETS!

By Beth, New York Guest Travel Planner

For most people you associate the Fall season with Halloween, pumpkin-flavored treats, the leaves falling, and apple picking. I on the other hand associate the fall with football. For as long as I can remember I have been surrounded by football. My grandfather coached, my dad coached, my brother played, my friends played, and the tomboy inside me wished I could play. I live in a house divided when it comes to who to root for. My Dad, Mom, and sister are New York Giants fans while my brother and I root for the Gang Green, the New York Jets.

I’ve had the luxury of going to a lot of Jets games in the last two years. Nothing beats the atmosphere of an NFL game. The tailgating before hand, the sea of fans in their favorite players jerseys walking in, and the eminent chants (If you are familiar with the Jets you will know that at the beginning of every game, and at every kick the fans will let out their J! E! T! S! JETS! JETS! JETS! chant). The action and excitement of a football game are a great way to spend a Sunday in New York! I love going to games and anticipate the season starting every fall.

 Whether you are a football fan or not, I highly recommend visiting MetLife Stadium for a Giants or Jets game. Contact me at blenowicz@newyorkguest.com or at (212) 302-4019 and I’d be happy to help you out with tickets. You can also check out tickets on our website or our Football Fanatic package!

GO JETS!

Follow Me to Brooklyn

by Louise, Community Manager

A walk across the Brooklyn Bridge is only the beginning!

Throughout my life in NYC, I’ve lived in Manhattan (where I grew up), Queens (for two years after college) and Brooklyn (for the past six years). I also commuted to a high school in the Bronx, so except for Staten Island I’m pretty well-rounded in my knowledge of New York. And I have to tell you, if you visit New York City without visiting the borough of Brooklyn, you are missing out. Here are just a couple of the reasons why I love BK so much:

The restaurants of Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens

If you’re a foodie like me, you have to take the F train to Bergen Street or Carroll Street (just 3-4 stops from Manhattan, or 1 stop from the Sheraton Brooklyn or Nu Hotel). The only problem you’ll have is choosing which of the amazing restaurants to enjoy, so here are some of my top choices:

 Pre Dinner Cocktails

The Clover Club's bar will make you feel like you've stepped back in time

Char No. 4 – specializing in bourbon and bourbon cocktails such as the Spicy Buck (Weller Antique bourbon & Blenheim SC spicy ginger ale)

Clover Club – a HUGE list of vintage cocktails in a romantic setting. I almost never get past the first page of the menu, but try the Parchment Fizz (Gin, pear eau de vie, bianco vermouth, lime juice, simple syrup, dash of absinthe)

Your Meal:

Buttermilk Channel uses seasonal & local ingredients to offer tasty dishes that tend to be exactly what you’re craving. Start with snacks like their addictive maple & bacon roasted almonds, then enjoy an ever-rotating menu of first and second courses (if the duck meatloaf is available, you should definitely try it). Plus, they offer three courses for $25 on Mondays

Seersucker is also seasonal and local, but the menu is inspired by southern cuisine. The chef/owner came to Brooklyn from Arkansas and does a great job giving New York’s seasonal offerings a southern flair.

And because I find it hard to narrow it down but don’t want to go on forever: also check out Chestnut, Frankie’s Spuntino, Prime Meats, and The Grocery.

Brooklyn Farmacy has a vintage soda shoppe vibe

Additional Dessert (you know you want it)

Head to the Brooklyn Farmacy, located in an actual former pharmacy and decorated like an old timey soda shoppe, serving up delicious ice cream and traditional egg creams.

If you’re in the area during the day you can also take the Eat Like a Local tour of Carroll Gardens and visit many local spots!

The Brooklyn Flea

You could spend all day at the Brooklyn Flea and still not see everything

If it’s a nice day, or really even if it’s not, you should definitely check out the Brooklyn Flea in Fort Greene on Saturdays from 10 AM – 5 PM. Just about 10 minutes into Brooklyn on the C train (to Lafayette avenue). At the Flea you’ll find everything you can imagine: hand-made crafts, vintage clothes, art, unique jewelry, and of course my favorite: local food artisans. You could spend a whole day wandering the stalls and collecting amazing finds, interspersed with stops for coffee, porchetta sandwiches, Solber Pupusas (2011 Vendy Award champions!), Calixto Huaraches, McClure’s pickles, King’s County Jerky, Blue Marble ice cream, and many other delightful treats.

The Prospect Park Zoo

One of the zoo's most famous residents

Prospect Park is my favorite park in the city. It’s less crowded than Central Park so if you go for a picnic with your friends you’ll have more space to spread out. Then, situated on the north side of the park we have the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, always a beautiful place to visit, and then my favorite spot, the Prospect Park Zoo. Every weekend families crowd into the Central Park Zoo, meanwhile about half an hour south on the Q train (Prospect Park stop) there is a beautiful zoo that has just as wonderful animals without having to fight nearly as hard to see them. Sea lions, golden lion tamarins, wallabies, emus, red pandas, Meer cats and prairie dogs are just some of the animals you’ll encounter in your walk around the zoo. They also host animal encounters and sea lion feedings and have three areas where you can feed the animals yourself, for up-close and personal encounters. While not as big as the Bronx zoo or as, well, central as the Central Park zoo, you’ll find this zoo is really worth the trip, especially when combined with a walk through the Botanical Gardens and a delicious picnic lunch in the park.

Coney Island

The famous Wonder Wheel still towers over Coney Island

Just take the F, D, N, or Q train to the end of the line and you’ll find yourself in one of the most famed areas of the city. Coney Island has been a destination for well over a century, and while it has changed a lot in that time there is still a great deal of old-world charm to be found there. The “side shows” are still there if you want to find them, and you can still see a Burlesque show, but you can also relax on the beach (which is kept very clean, but it does tend to get crowded on weekends), head to Luna Park to ride the world-famous Cyclone and Wonder Wheel and many other rides, grab a Nathan’s hot dog, and check out all the marine life at the New York City Aquarium. There’s definitely no shortage of things to do!

The Brooklyn Academy of Music

The Howard Gilman Opera House, part of BAM

There is always something amazing going on at BAM, and it is conveniently located near one of NYC’s biggest public transportation hubs, the Atlantic avenue/Pacific street station. The latest indie movies will be showing in the BAM Rose cinema, while avant garde dance troupes will be performing in the Harvey theater. Many live theater and opera performances are scheduled, but you can also catch a live HD screenings of operas being performed at the Met in Manhattan for less than ¼ of what you’d pay to see it live. BAM also hosts art shows, lectures and live music. Rest assured you’ll be able to find something unique and interesting to see or do there during your visit!

These are just a few of my favorite features of Brooklyn – there are so many more! Stay at the Sheraton Brooklyn or the Nu Hotel and make Brooklyn the focus of your next trip to NYC – you won’t regret it! Got questions about visiting Brooklyn? E-mail me at lgeller@newyorkguest.com and I’ll be glad to assist!

An Uplifting Experience

By Laura, New York Guest Concierge

Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to attend a performance of Sister Act.

As the musical began I realized how invigorating and exciting Broadway is in New York. At the sound of the first musical note I was on the edge of my seat. This musical as it turned out not only had wonderful musical productions but comedy and a love story as well.

Dolores Van Cartier(Patina Miller) was starting her singing career when she witnessed a mob hit. The police decided to hide her in a local convent. At the police station Dolores meets Eddie, an old friend from high schoool. Eddie, who was very awkward had a school boy crush on Dolores. He vows to protect her and keep her safe from harm.

As Dolores arrives at the convent, Mother Superior(Victoria Clark) is very skeptical with the arrangements. She is not sure if Dolores will be able to conceal her identity fron the sisters. Dolores begins to teach the choir who is badly in need of musical help. The choir includes Sister Mary Patrick and Sister Mary Robert. Both sisters take an interest in Sister Mary Clarence(AKA Dolores) and begin to form a friendship.

As Dolores teaches the choir how to “Raise Your Voice”, the choir gains notorarity in the community. Friendship and compassion overcomes fear as all unravels for Dolores.

Sister Act was an entertaining and uplifting evening!

Want to see Sister Act or another Broadway musical on your next trip to NYC? Contact us at info@newyorkguest.com for all your ticket needs!

Prepare Ye (for an awesome show!)

by Louise, Community Manager

Godspell starts previews on October 13th

I will admit without shame that there was a time in my childhood where I watched the 1973 movie version of Godspell (starring the ever-fantastic Victor Garber) more than once a week. So it has frankly been painful for me to wait for the revival to open. With just three weeks to go until previews begin, my colleague Kelly and I went up to Circle in the Square theater to check out the progress of the load-in and get the inside scoop on the production.

The theater lobby was filled with equipment and boxes, a strange sight considering I’ve only ever seen the space jammed with people before or after a show. When we walked into the actual theater I was so pleased to see that they’ll be using the space the way I happen to think Circle in the Square is best utilized: the center is the stage and there are seats on every side of it (see seating chart). Some productions choose to block off one section of seats to have a more traditional set-up, but I think this set-up is PERFECT for Godspell for so many reasons:

-          The actors are very likely to spend some time in the audience (this actually ends up happening at most Circle in the Square productions) because it is the easiest way to get on and off stage

-          It gives the theater an incredibly intimate feeling – there are 700 seats (still small by Broadway standards) but if you had to guess looking at it you might think there were 200.

-          Since Godspell is such an ensemble show, it gives the actors the opportunity to play to different sections of the audience at different times, meaning you could go to see it multiple times (I probably will) and see things you missed the last time.

-          This is always true of Circle in the Square, but the house is so intimate that there aren’t more than 11 rows in every section – even when you’re in the last row, you’re closer to the action than you can get in many other Broadway theaters!

It was an amazing experience to see the Broadway stage being built. The theater was full of tools and equipment and there seemed to be quite a bit of welding going on. There are beautiful chandeliers already hanging throughout the house, and some kind of pulley system seemed to be being hung above the stage. When I asked our guide about it, her lips were sealed but she did say that in this production we’d see a lot of things that we’d never seen before in a Broadway show. As much as I tried to get details, she wanted to keep some of the mystery alive, but I did secure this tidbit: Rather than having a section for the orchestra, band members will be seated in different sections throughout the house, which will give the show a surround sound effect. How awesome is that? She also confirmed that there will be some serious audience participation in this show – come prepared to dance!

I verified with our guide that the show will have the bright colors that you’d expect. She couldn’t reveal details about the costumes but she said that the designer has come up with some amazing stuff. I also inquired as to whether the show would be appropriate for all ages, because the movie does get a little intense at the end, and she said it would be great for kids – the beautiful costumes, amazing choreography, catchy music and overall joyfulness of the show will delight everyone.

Godspell opens for previews October 13^th. This production stars Hunter Parrish, Lindsay Mendez, Telly Leung and many other talented young actors. Godspell includes beautiful songs such as Day by Day, Bless the Lord, All Good Gifts, Light of the World and many more.

 I’ll follow up in a few weeks once the show has opened and I’ve been to see it to let you know whether the production meets my expectations (which I have no doubt that it will). In the meantime, contact us to secure your seats to this brand new production! Great for groups, individuals, families, and everyone else. E-mail me at lgeller@newyorkguest.com.

Jack’s: A Smart (& Yummy) choice for Times Square dining

As one of the most seasoned concierges at New York Guest, Megan was put in charge of one of the newest concierges, Cari.  Two foodies with a love for theatre and music, they instantly became friends as well as colleagues. Megan taught Cari the ins and outs of being a concierge, but there is always more to learn.  As a concierge in NYC, it is necessary to be knowledgeable in restaurants, theatre, sports, touring, and everything else!  Megan and Cari decided to expand their knowledge by visiting a highly recommended restaurant named Jack’s Restaurant and Bar on 40^th Street between Broadway and 7^th Avenue.

Jack’s is affordable but chic; it is quiet and calm, but still busy.  The service is kind and attentive without being overbearing.  The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming; it is an amazing place to have a meal.  Jack’s is famous for their tapas menu.  When Megan and Cari arrived they had already perused the menu, so the question was tapas or no tapas!  Tapas were the decision and the right one as well!  We ordered the five tapas platter including grilled steak, corn and roasted pepper bruscetta over naan bread, crispy Thai chicken spring rolls with a sweet chili sauce, chicken satay with spicy peanut sauce, grilled chorizo, tomato, manchego cheese and naan bread, and pan crisped crab cake with cilantro, mustard aioli and rice paper.  Everything was excellent!  The crab cakes were the perfect combination of breading and crab with an awesome sauce on the side — definitely Cari’s favorite.  Megan’s choice was surely the spring rolls for their great tasting sauce and crispy veggies and chicken.  The bruscetta, chorizo, and the chicken satay were all such fantastic choices that we found ourselves too full to even get entrees!  As foodies, this is not like us so we decided to get the next best thing: a platter of desserts!  A platter of 3 desserts arrived for us with chamomile tea and coffee: tiramisu, chocolate strawberry cake, and the special of the day, black and white chocolate mousse cake.  It was indeed very special and we both were in love with this last dessert.  The other two were delicious as well; the chocolate strawberry was perfect for any chocolate lover and the tiramisu was light and fluffy, without the usual lingering taste of alcohol.

We were both extremely impressed with Jack’s Restaurant and Bar.  Not only was the food excellent, savory, and ample but we felt no need to rush out.  We enjoyed a long, relaxing evening, with a well spaced out meal.   Jack’s has been the perfect recommendation for our guests in town because of its’ proximity to Times Square and Broadway theatres.  It is now our number one choice for an evening out!  Be sure to put Jack’s at the top of your list on your next visit to NYC!

The Farley Post Office

by Richard Williams, CEO

The Farley Steps

Here’s one more place you should visit when in midtown Manhattan – the Farley Post Office opposite Madison Square Garden. Built in the mid 1930’s, the Farley Post Office represents a step back in time. It’s a block from Macy’s, next to Madison Square Garden, and on your way to visit the Highline, New York’s newest/oldest must see.

Twenty huge columns grace the front of the entrance, creating an effect that looks a little like a side of the Parthenon in Athens. Leading up to raised entrance doors are a flight of stairs- maybe 20 /25 steps in all spread out over 75 or so yards. On a sunny morning or afternoon, the steps a good place for a stop and cup of coffee or light lunch – just watching the people passing by on their way to work and shop. Think of it as a less crowded alternative to the Metropolitan Museum of Art steps!

Named after James Farley, the Postmaster General under FDR, the building is grand in its design (Farley was the political insider of his day – he was also called ‘the Toastmaster General’ reflecting  his link to  the patronage that flowed from Washington).

It looks like soon (probably be 2020) the post office staff will move out and the entire building will be devoted to train and transit for Long Island and New Jersey commuters.   At that time the LIRR, New Jersey Transit, Amtrak and some of the subway lines will share the space. Sad for the USPS to give up such a beautiful building, but good news for those commuters who crowd into Penn Station every day!

In the meantime, head to the steps of the post office.  When you get in the mood to have a drink,   a ½ block away is a true Irish pub- Tir  Na Nog ; walk a few blocks to a wonderful friendly restaurant, Arno, or head to Uncle Jack’s Steakhouse a block away on 9^th Avenue

Wicked & Wonderful

By William Gozdziewski, New York Guest Concierge

Giant cogs!  Fantastic falsettos! Gilded faces! Dancing Munchkins! Emerald cities! Flying monkeys!  These are a few of the fabulously fascinating treasures which abound in Wicked, one of Broadway’s most popular shows, playing since 2003.  This musical comedy is performed by an extremely talented cast whose vocal power will leave you with goose prickles; whose witticisms leave your belly aching from laughter; whose energy pulls you in like an indelible tractor beam of excitement.

Wicked tells the tale of Elphaba, a smart and friendly little girl who is ostracized by society because she was born green.   By the time she is of school age, she is used to being shunned by her would-be friends, but still dreams of one day meeting The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.  Sent to school for the sole purpose of taking care of her sister, Nessarose, she quickly becomes the favorite of the head mistress when she demonstrates her innate magical powers.  The head mistress takes her under her wing, and sets her down the path that will eventually lead her to an audience with The Wizard.

Along the way there is a plethora of charming occurrences; a hysterically funny feud forms between Elphaba and her exceedingly popular roommate, Galinda, which soon turns into a lasting friendship.  Galinda’s “prince charming” comes to the school, and she quickly falls for him.   And we learn that Elphaba is a huge animal rights activist as she comforts her slighted teacher, Doctor Dillamond, a goat and the school’s only animal professor.  When Elphaba gets her wish to meet The Wizard, we find out that things aren’t always as they seem.

Filled with many delightful and humorous references to both the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and L. Frank Baum’s classic novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz this show is a wonderful evening out for families, couples, or anyone who was ever a child.

If you are traveling to NYC this fall, give us a shout at lgeller@newyorkguest.com. Packages including one night at the Algonquin Hotel and tickets to see Wicked in the orchestra or front mezzanine start from just $300 per person this October & November.

Obama’s Arrival in NYC for UNGA

A lot of folks have been asking us why available hotel rooms are so hard to find this week in NYC, and why the ones that are available are so much more expensive than usual. Well, here’s the answer! This week, the UN delegates all meet for the UN General Assembly, or UNGA. For every important delegate that comes to the city, several, sometimes dozens are hotel rooms are reserved for the delegate and everyone who accompanies them on their trip. For many delegates, rooms are booked at multiple hotels and the final hotel selection is made at the last minute. The result is that there are very few rooms in the city for the rest of us!

So it’s a crazy week to be in NYC, but an exciting week too! Our CEO Richard was lucky enough to be downtown yesterday to catch Obama’s arrival in the city!

**

I had an appointment down in lower Manhattan this afternoon and, as luck would have it, got to watch the arrival of the President via helicopter. Pretty impressive scene even for a New Yorker used to seeing all kinds of celebrities and stars.

Looking out over the harbor, I first noticed a half dozen different types of boats and ships – from a Coast Guard cutter to a FDNY inflatable circling very fast, another one positioned near the Wall Street heliport. Then add a dozen or so police vehicles and the scene is set for the President’s arrival.

We saw three dots off in the distance, maybe a mile or so away, out over the harbor. They seem to stand still for 5 minutes and then rapidly approach. As they got closer, you could identify 2 helicopters as Marine 1 types and one as a twin blade Chinook.  At a point just near Governors Island, one of the Marine 1 helicopters peeled right, banked sharply and approached the heliport. A minute or two later the other Marine 1 moved left and headed toward the heliport. You never know which Marine 1 helicopter is being used to carry the President; it’s an attempt to provide increased security.  In the meantime, the Chinook helicopter circled rapidly over and around the area.

From the arrival to Obama’s departure via limo took about 10 minutes and probably cost a few million in equipment and personnel. A small price to pay to protect the President.

With literally thousands of tourists downtown yesterday evening, very few were even aware of his arrival. Best seats in the house were aboard the Staten Island Ferry just arriving in Manhattan.

Welcome, Mr. President!

Seven Restaurants on the 7 Line

By Jeannette, New York Guest’s Director of International Sales

When I moved to Queens 7 years ago ( yes, there is something about 7), I was familiar with Astoria and Flushing and the land in between was just somewhere I sat in traffic in as child traveling to and from the city. In the last few years, Queens has experienced a culinary re-birth making it a Foodie destination. From Gastronomic tasting menus to Street food tacos, an afternoon spent eating in Queens is a definitive just for any Food lover.

New York Guest works with several new hotels that have opened up along the waterfront area in Long Island city, so when I was tasked with sourcing out some of the best places for our guests to dine, I put on a loose dress and took my willing boyfriend on food adventure of lifetime.

The Jackson Diner
Stop: 74th Roosevelt
The mecca of Indian, this large Indian restaurant that easily can serve over 300 people has been a staple in the Jackson Heights community since their opening in the 1980’s. Long before the gentrification on Jackson Heights, city folk would ride the 7 Train here for somosas and dosas and curries that will have your grasping for water or a Mango Llasi. We had the chance to dine here with 200 students and had a great sampling of Tandoori, Palak Paneer ( Cheese and spinach) and special Lamb. A real New York experience for this group of college bound students. Afterwards, we took some of the more adventurous kids for a walk along 73rd Street where they haggled with the street vendors selling the uber sweet traditional Indian candies and Kulfi ( Indian frozen custard )

Legends BBQ
Stop: 74th Roosevelt
At first glance, I wanted to runaway. From the outside, there is nothing inviting about this non descript storefront on residential block off the BQE. But then the door opens, you close your eyes, and the soft smell of tangy BBQ resonates the NYC air and in a second I am brought back to my college days in North Carolina and the BBQ joints that lined the country roads of the foothills. Feeling a bit more enthusiastic about this stop, we opened the door and quickly found ourselves a place at the crowded bar. Mike, our bartender, gave us a some quick facts on the place , like they often cater Clubhouse events at Citifield and got us started with a couple of pints. We settled on one of their sampler platters that rang in under $25 for both of us, plus plenty of left over bones for the dog! We fought each other for last bites of some of our favorite cuts, including the smoked pork and Texas Sausage and the tasty Freedom fries completed the meal and secured their spot on our definitely return list!

Taco Trucks
Stop: 69th Roosevelt
Along Roosevelt Avenue from 61st to 73rd Street are a series of small trucks where you can buy some of the best tacos in the city. For the more adventurous, try a tongue taco or Intestines or stick to regular chicken or pork with a side of avocado sauce and limes and radish, these are the real deal. No cheese, no sour cream and definitely no chiwawas here, just real Mexican street food for around $2.00!

Sapori d’Ischia
Stop: 61st Woodside
What do you get when you cross a top Zagat rated restaurant and Italian wholesale market, well a whole bunch of amazing We recently took a friend whom is chef in Chicago to this small restaurant hidden in the industrial area between Woodside, Sunnyside and Jackson Height and we had a feast! Asparagus roasted in fresh pecorino cheese, followed by short ribs and prosciutto de parma pizza this is place is the real deal. Throw in a opera singer, a few women in fur coats and lots of Mercedes, and you can almost see a Gotti in the corner! Reservations definitely recommended on weekends or be prepared to hover in their wine bar

Saints And Sinners
Stop: 61St Woodside
A traditional Irish pub, Saints, as its called by the locals, has quietly become known for having one of the best burgers in Queens and definitely the friendliest staff. My boyfriend is from Limerick, so a trip to Saints for him means a douse of home cookings like his gram used to make with their Shepards pie and Fish and Chips. Featuring a large bar with separate dining room and cozy living room area with a fireplace, it’s like you have followed the rainbow and ended up at a small pub in Ireland.

Quaint
Stop : 46th Street
A neighborhood gem, this small Queens restaurant with a hidden garden serves up simple American comfort food with out of this world flavors. My most recent trip found my new obsession in one their daily specials, Fried Chicken! Piping hot, extra crunchy, surprisingly greaseless with healthy side of mashed potatoes and some field greens for the heart, a meal worth a subway fare!

Café Ole
Stop Queensboro Plaza ( 10 minute walk)
My family loves Spain and we love food. It is totally normal for a conversation between any of us to start out with talking about a museum or historical monument that inspired us but by the end of the conversation its more like, yes, I love Toledo, it is beautiful and totally amazing but remember that restaurant, you know, where we had that pork, At by end, we spend an hour on the best places to eat Pork in Spain. And it’s a fact, Pork is bit of a Spanish obsession, somewhere after Wine and Soccer. So when we went to Café Ole for my birthday, I was utterly charmed by the owner and his love of Tapas. We let him do the ordering and we were not disappointed. From the succulent mussels to the spicy Bravas, he had me singing Ole Ole all the way home

So where ever your adventure may take you, here are a few geographical hints for other culinary delights.

• 61St Woodside: Thai Restaurants
• 69th Street – Phililipino and Central American
• 74th Street- Korean and Indian
• 82nd Street Colombian and Chinese
• Flushing Main Street- Chinese and Korean

Interested in staying close to the Gastronomic Wonderland that is the 7 line? E-mail info@newyorkguest.com and tell your travel planner you want to stay in Long Island City!

Cruisin’ the New York Harbor

Hello BlogWorld!  To all of you reading, a great big hello from one of New York Guest’s newest concierges, Cari!  I have been a Jersey girl my whole life, living right across the Hudson River, nestled in the suburbs, an easy commute away.  New York City has always been like my backyard, a place where I could escape anytime I felt like it.  I worked there, I auditioned there, I saw Broadway shows, I went out to eat with friends, and I commuted home.  I thought I knew all there was to know about this city I’ve practically grown up in but I realized I was taking advantage of the amazingness right across that river! 

Each day I work for New York Guest I feel like I get to uncover another one of New York City’s secrets.  The other night I uncovered a wonderful secret- on the water!  On Friday evening, when the weather was absolutely perfect, my boyfriend and I set sail on the CitySights Twilight Cruise. 

 (A quick pause to dish about a great place to eat!  We hit BRGR on 7th Avenue between 26th and 27th street.  This is a-get-it-at-the-counter-and-we’ll-bring-you-your-food place.  We were looking for something quick.  We were blown away by the taste of these grass fed burgers!  I got a burger with avocado, bacon, and american cheese, he had a burger with mushrooms, cheddar cheese, and avocado, and we split a combo of onion strings, sweet potato fries, and russet fries.  This burger is in my top 5 best list of all burgers I’ve ever had and the man agrees with me!  Onion straws were awesome but we give even bigger thumbs up to the sweet potato fries.  Quick but delicious food!)

 Back to the cruise!  We arrived at 38th and 12th, the NY Waterway terminal, and we looked for the signs saying CitySightseeing.  Big, red and easy to find!  We decide to sit on the open air deck on the second floor to get the whole view and I’m so glad we did.  Benches next to a heater and we were in business!  Danny, our tour guide, was hilarious and shared lots of fun and little known facts about the city.  The sun was just about setting as we began this romantic 90-minute cruise. 

We took in the Empire State Building in all its glory, the Frying Pan restaurant that I’m dying to try, South Street Seaport all lit up, tons of sailboats and kayakers, and the growing Freedom Tower where the World Trade Center used to stand.  The bridges were my favorite part. Our tour guide Danny joked that their order was BMW like the car: Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, and Williamsburg Bridge.  I don’t think I ever recognized the beauty of these bridges.  They were lit up and glorious as the sun set in the background.  I couldn’t stop myself from snapping pictures on my phone, thinking how great it was to feel like I was seeing it all for the first time.  Next up was Battery Park, Tribeca (we saw the building where Leonardo DiCaprio lives and where the Titanic was supposed to dock- very close-by!  Ironic, isn’t it?), the United Nations, Governor’s Island, the captivating Ellis Island, but then we laid eyes on Lady Liberty herself.  I visited the Statue of Liberty as a child, I’ve picnicked at Liberty State Park in NJ, and I’ve toured Ellis Island in the past couple of years but seeing Lady Liberty and her torch burning bright on this beautiful night topped off the night, making me feel proud that I live in such a fabulous place.  We sailed back, reliving all the sights we had seen, retiring the camera and just enjoying the view again on the loop back to the dock.  Our last sight was the Empire State Building lit up in red, white, and blue.  Can it get any better? 

 We walked off the boat giddy from the ride but mostly just grateful.  (They had NY Waterway buses to take you wherever you needed to go!) Tonight we got a night off from being locals and got to look at the beauty of what we have in front of us every day.  The city is so full of hustle and bustle; millions visit every day.  Today we stepped away from the hustle and bustle and got to enjoy the same glories as the rest of our amazing visitors.  Whether you have lived here your entire life or are visiting for the first time, whether you are here with your husband, mom, or kids, the NY Waterway twilight cruise is something you don’t want to miss.

Planning a trip to NYC? Check out the cruises/boat tours section of our website by clicking here, or e-mail info@newyorkguest.com to start creating your dream vacation!