Month: October 2013

Eat and Play Wednesday: The Guggenheim Museum

Welcome to Eat & Play Wednesday, where each week Gray Line New York will be highlighting one of our friends who offer discounts with the Eat and Play Card. Today we are taking a look at The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, who offers 20% off with the card.

History

The Guggenheim is an internationally famous art museum, known as one of the most important architectural icons in the world. At one time, The Guggenheim Museum was considered a vital cultural center, an educational institution and the heart of an international network of museums. Today visitors can check out modern art, take classes with lectures from artist and critics, see performances, take tours of the museum as well as enjoy film screenings. The Guggenheim is a museum truly devoted to all art of the 20th century and beyond.

Operating Info

Guggenheim is open 7 days a week, Sunday through Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. -5:45 p.m., and Saturday from 10 am – 7:45 pm. The Guggenheim is closed on Thursdays.

With the Eat and Play card you receive 20% off the price of admission at the door.

5 Quick Facts

The Guggenheim building is made of 700 tons of steel and 7,000 cubic feet of poured concrete
The distance between the Guggenheim rotunda floor to the top of the building measures 97 feet 9 inches
It took $3 million to build the Guggenheim Museum 1943-1959. The restoration of the exterior 2005-2008 cost $29 million
Movies filmed at the Guggenheim include Bye Bye Birdie, Woody Allen’s Manhattan, Men in Black, The International & When in Rome
The Guggenheim is the only New York City landmark that has been compared to an inverted cupcake, giant Jell-O mold & washing machine

You can purchase your Eat and Play Card online here, or in person at our visitors’ center at 777 8th Avenue.

How to Spend Halloween in NYC with Kids

Halloween is fast approaching, and if you’re in New York City with young kids, you definitely want to find out what great events they can go to. Below is a fantastic list that isn’t to be missed!

Hometown Halloween – Financial District
Thursday, October 31 3-7:30pm
74 Trinity Place between Rector and Thames Streets
FREE! Everyone from 2 – 92 can trick-or-treat in the historic church’s graveyard. Starting at 6pm, Older children who can handle more spooky activities can watch a screening of the silent 1920 classic Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde inside the church complemented by the church organ.

Asphalt Screams – Upper East Side & Battery Park City
Thursday, October 31 4-6pm
FREE but online RSVP required
555 East 90th Street between York and East End Avenues
212 North End Avenue between Warren and Murray Streets
Both spots are throwing zombie-themed parties that are a must to attend. Enjoy games of Zombie Freeze Tag, a Spook-tacular Soccer Shootout and much more. First 300 kids to arrive will receive a ghoulish goody bag. Although this is a free event, a donation of $20 per family is highly appreciated.

Halloween 313 – Fort Greene
Thursday, October 31 5:30-9:30pm
313 Clinton Avenue between Lafayette and Dekalb Avenues
FREE
Every Halloween, volunteers at this house put on a a spectacular and over-the-top show for children of all ages. This year’s theme is 20,000 Screams Under the Sea: A Steampunk Adventure. Expect creepy simulations of Victorian glamour. Performances run approximately every 30 minutes and take place outside. It gets crowded quickly, so get there early to get a good view.

Where ever you go this Halloween, make sure you are safe and having a spooky and sweet time.

Alisa Vilabrera is a blogger for CheapOair. A leading travel website offering a large selection of discounted flight deals, hotel rates and car rentals.

NYC Activities for the Week of October 28

The Shops at Bryant Park

It’s Halloween Week, sports are coming back to The Garden, and after two years, Marathon Day is this Sunday. Here’s what’s going on in NYC this week:

New York Television Week 28-30

Rangers Hockey is back in Madison Square Garden 28

The Knicks home opener in Madison Square Garden 30

18th annual Halloween Celebration at the American Museum of Natural History 31

Village Halloween Parade 31

The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park open 1

Fall foliage photography exhibition at the Dana Discovery Center in Central Park 2

The New York City Marathon 3

Eat and Play Wednesday: Ripley’s Believe It or Not!

Welcome to Eat & Play Wednesday, where each week Gray Line New York will be highlighting one of our friends who offer discounts with the Eat and Play Card. Today we are taking a look at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! who offers 20% off with the card.

History

Ripley’s Believe It or Not was founded by Robert Leroy Ripley who was born in Santa Rosa, CA and moved to New York in 1913. Ripley developed a fascination with oddities and his collection of them began when he started to travel around the world. In July 1933, Ripley opened an auditorium with a showcase of all his weird collections. The collection brought in nearly two million visitors. Ripley died at the age of 50, however his collection endured with the first Ripley’s Believe It or Not opening in St Augustine, Florida in 1950.Today there are over 30 Ripley’s Believe It or Not around the world. Time Square opened their auditorium in 2007.

Operating Info

Ripley’s Believe It or Not is open 7 days a week, from 9am – 1am

With the Eat and Play card you receive 20% off the price of admission at the door.

5 Quick Facts

Robert Leroy Ripley was born on Christmas.
Ripley quit school before graduating to support his sick mother
Ripley’s first trip abroad was to Belgium and France
John Arthur opened the first Believe It or Not museum
Ripley played semi-professional baseball back in Santa Rosa

You can purchase your Eat and Play Card online or in person at our visitors’ center at 777 8th Avenue.

New Year’s Eve Open Bar Cruise 2014

It’s time to start planning to ring in the New Year’s in NYC!

This year, we’re bringing back the premiere event of the year with our 2014 New Year’s Eve Open Bar Harbor Cruise! Hop on the CitySightseeing New York boat and ride around New York Harbor with an open bar, live DJ, desserts, coffee, and a champagne toast at midnight. And don’t forget to watch the fireworks as they soar over the Hudson River when the clock strikes 12.

New Year’s Fireworks Cruise details: