Posted: Dec 26, 2015 | 8:13 PM
by Jared Goldstein
2015 in NYC Attractions:
One World Observatory opens.
The newest Whitney Museum of American Art opening.
The suspension (closure?) of Carnegie Deli.
The new, 469th, Subway station, the Hudson Yards' new #7 terminus.
The East Village gas explosion.
The destruction of the Renaissance Ballroom in Harlem.
Sea Glass Carousel in Battery Park.
Opening of Battery Park after years of renovation.
Battery Park renamed The Battery to differentiate it from Battery Park City.
FAO Schwarz (and soon the Toys R Us flagship in Times Square) close.
The original Palm Steakhouse closed.
The expansion of Brooklyn Bridge Park, including new restrooms under the Manhattan Bridge part of it.
Thanks to my Tour Guide facebook friends for helping with these:
The new hit musical, "Hamilton."
New Rizzoli bookstore near Madison Square.
New pro sports team in the 5 boros: Islanders Hockey at Barclay's arena.
The openings of the Staten Island Museum in Snug Harbor Cultural Center and the National Lighthouse Museum at Lightouse Pointe.
The opening of the Kings Theater on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn - a restoration of one of the five "Wonder" theaters built by Loews that opened just before the Stock Market crash of 1929.
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Posted: Dec 6, 2015 | 4:13 PM
by Jared Goldstein
"You were awesome! Thank you so much for making our trip unforgettable!"
-P from Ky
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Posted: Dec 6, 2015 | 2:37 PM
by Jared Goldstein
"Hi Jared. Was on the Kentucky 60th Birthday Tour with you Thursday! Great job!"
-N
A walking tour through Central Park, then an NYC Bus, the Plaza Hotel, 5th Avenue's Department Store Holiday Windows, Rockefeller Center, New York Public Library, Grand Central, Brooklyn Bridge, City Hall, 9/11 Memorial, Wall Street, Bowling Green and the Charging Bull, Broadway, the Canyon of Heroes, the Statue of Liberty view, a subway, and an NYC Bus back to the hotel.
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Posted: Dec 6, 2015 | 2:23 PM
by Jared Goldstein
Today is Santa Claus' 205th Birthday.
We learn all about that on my NYC Santa Claus tour, "Santa Claus: the NYC Tour."
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Posted: Dec 6, 2015 | 2:03 PM
by Jared Goldstein
"[W]e enjoyed working with you ... and will keep you in mind for any future NYC tour."
This NYC Tour was for a group of African Students who competed in an academic contest.
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Posted: Dec 6, 2015 | 1:31 PM
by Jared Goldstein
Occasionally, I do a tour for that time of the wedding between the nuptials and the cocktails while the newlyweds are getting their pictures taken.
I step on a bus and take the guests around NYC for a tour for 60 to 90 minutes. Here's a review of my November tour which took us from Central Park, past Lincoln Center, the Holiday windows of Fifth Ave, Grand Central, Times Square and Hell's Kitchen.
"[O]ur group absolutely RAVED about you!
Thank
you for going above and beyond to give a truly memorable tour of New
York to our families. I know everyone from the seasoned New Yorkers to
the Texans learned something new and was thoroughly entertained."
-M, newlywed from CT
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Posted: Dec 2, 2015 | 4:31 PM
by Jared Goldstein
Santa Claus was invited to America to replace old St. Nick, the Dutch Sinterklaas on December 6th 1810, on St. Nicholas Day at the NY Historical Society.
December 6th - 25th 2015 is prime season for a New York City Santa Claus tour with Jared the NYC Tour Guide.
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Posted: Dec 2, 2015 | 4:26 PM
by Jared Goldstein
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Posted: Nov 24, 2015 | 4:58 PM
by Jared Goldstein
To paraphrase Andy Warhol: "You can put a little of the country in New York City, but you can't put a little of the city in the country."
One can write a book* about Central Park, its symphony of colors and picturesque views, sometimes with the exciting backdrop of the skyline; its amazing history; the over 300 movies and shows filmed there; its gorgeous architecture and landscaping (it is the birthplace of American Landscape Architecture); how the park is a glorification of NYC's pristine water system; and how a visit to Central Park is like little visits to China, Japan, and Italy.
My favorite part of the park is the middle: Belvedere Castle, the Ramble, Strawberry Fields, Cherry Hill, the Great Lake, Bethesda Fountain, Conservatory Waters / Boat Pond, and the Mall. I also like the southern end, and I like the the top of the northern end's Meer, Huddlestone Arch, and the Blockhouse. You can make a tour out of the sights that I listed.
Here's a tip: most of the light posts have four digits on them. The first two digits indicate what street that part of the park is near. For example, 7209 would be near 72nd Street if you stepped out of the park. However, unlike most of Manhattan, Central Park is 'off the grid,' so I recommend preparing yourself with a map and/or an app.
If you google "Central Parks Conservancy" you can get a map and an app. That website also has blurbs about each of the sights I listed. That site also offers affordable tours on their own schedules, or you can hire me.
If you are really enamored with the "Park of the People" "the Emerald Jewel of New York," "the Center of New York City," or "the Lungs of the City," read some of Sara Cedar Miller's *books about Central Park. The Central Parks Conservancy that she works for has raised $750 million to save and enhance the park, and it funds around 80% of the park's annual budget. They know what they are doing and talking about.
If you like birds, come early. The Boat House has a log of the 700 species that have been sighted. Sunsets are beautiful.
Don't go at night unless you are attending a special event, and, if so, stay with the crowd. Speaking of crowds, the park gets crowded on weekends when it is full of New Yorkers, so try a weekday, but if you can't, the weekend is still wonderful and you get to see New Yorkers playing congas, bicycling like maniacs, or recreating with their families.
Central Park is great right after a snowfall. The outdoor skating rink near 65th Street and 5th Ave has wonderful views in the winter, and is much larger than Rockefeller Center's rink.
Note: during winter, there are fewer bathrooms available in the areas that don't have concessions.
The Central Park Loeb Boat House has a great, affordable snack bar cafe. In warm weather you can rent a rowboat!
Central Park is as indispensable to the NYC experience as the Subway, the Skyline, and the Brooklyn Bridge.
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Posted: Nov 10, 2015 | 9:53 PM
by Jared Goldstein
"Thanks for a perfect tour yesterday. Perfect restaurant choice too. [the new Gallagher's Steak House] Best regards s. and H."
UK visitors to NYC for the day
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