5 CAN’T MISS EVENTS THIS WEEK IN NYC

Major superstarstars are coming to town, the Scottish celebrate their heritage and affordable art is to be bought this week in NYC

One of the biggest stars in the industry, Lady Gaga, is performing in the Roseland Ballroom – Wednesday, April 2

Image via ladygaga.co.uk

Affordable Art Fair Exposed will take place in  New York City this week at The Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea – Wednesday, April 2-6

Image via affordableartfair.com

Globe superstar Miley Cyrus is bring her Bangerz tour to the Barclays Center – Saturday April 5

Image via justinlovtrue.deviantart.com

This week New York will be colored with Tartan and deafen with bags pipes as the Scottish celebrate their 16th annual Tartan Day Parade – Saturday, April 5

Image via nyctartanweek.org

Juan Gabrielone, one of the best-selling Latin recording artists of all-time, will perform at the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden – Sunday, April 6

Image Via juangabriel.com.

5 Can’t Miss Events This Week in NYC

Photo: Flickr/Doha Stadium Plus

This week is Valentine’s Week, and these are 5 of the best events happening in NYC:

Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at The Garden Monday, February 10

Sesame Street Live comes to the theater at MSG Thursday, February 13

Kings of Leon come to rock MSG Friday, February 14

Ride of Fame Alum Marc Anthony does Valentine’s Day Weekend at Barclays Center Saturday, February 15 

The Harlem Globetrotters put on a show at Madison Square Garden Sunday, February 16

110 Things to Know if You’re Visiting NYC This Winter

It may not be winter yet, but it’s officially the holiday season. A few month back we brought you 108 things to know if you were visiting NYC this fall, and you loved it. So its only appropriate we outdo ourselves once again this winter. Some things still hold true, like staying out of empty subway cars, but all in all it’s updated to reflect the next few months. So brace yourselves because after this list you’ll definitely be ready to visit NYC.

Sports

1. Head over to MSG for the Big East Tournament from March 12 – 16
   
2. Catch the A10 Tournament at the Barclays Center from March 12 – 16
3. The Super Bowl will be held at MetLife Stadium on February 2
4. Super Bowl Boulevard will be held on Broadway between 34^th and 44^th Streets and will be free to the public from January 29-February 1
5. Yankee Stadium will play home to a pair of outdoor hockey games with the Rangers, Devils, and Islanders

Arts

1. The Intrepid is a museum on an aircraft carrier, which is awesome
2. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre has some amazing shows with cheap prices, too.
3. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is known for its unique building and is also a landmark of NYC
4. If you love spoken word you will have a good time at any poetry cafes in Manhattan
5. Harlem has some historic libraries, great dance schools, and art too.
6. Many Museums, including the American Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, have a suggested donation to enter, but you don’t have to pay anything at all. If you can afford to, you should pay the requested amount so that these museums will continue to be some of the best in the world.
7. Visit Radio City Music Hall this winter to see the famous Radio City Christmas Spectacular
8. MoMa also has five new exhibitions planned for this winter such as Ileana Sonnabend: Ambassador for the New on December 21
9. The Guggenheim has two new exhibitions launching this winter, including CARRIE MAE WEEMS: THREE DECADES OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO on January 24
10. Brooklyn Museum will have one new exhibition for the winter called Witness: Art and Civil Rights in the Sixties on March 7
11. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has four new exhibitions launching this winter, including Ink Art: Past as Present in Contemporary Chinaon on December 11
12. The Met is also now open seven days a week
13. There are like, a bazillion museums in NYC, not just the couple we named. You should check out as many as you can while in the city.
14. Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts has a lineup of amazing concerts, plays, and films throughout the winter
15. Visit Queens to see the Louis Armstrong House Museum which feature rare at home recordings of the jazz legend
16. It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play will be making its debut December 6^th at the Clarence Brown Theater
17. The Whitney Museum of Natural Art will be adding 2 new exhibitions this winter including Edward Steichen in the 1920s and 1930s: A Recent Acquisition
18. Check out the Chinatown’s Lunar New Year Parade festival celebration on February 2
19. Westminster Kennel Club 138 Annual Dog Show premiers on February 10
20. Head over to the Javits Convention Center to see the New York Progressive International Motorcycle Show on December 16
21. Join in the celebration of winter sports in the Winter Jam NYC being held in the heart of central park on January 25
22. The New York Jewish Film Festival is January 8 – 23
23. The Armory Show and Armory Arts week will be held on March 5 – 10
24. Head to the Joyce Theater shows like Focus Dance
25. The Theater at St. Clement’s will be showing the classic A Christmas Carol on January 4

Music

1. Greenwich Village is known for having great live music
2. Madison Square Garden begins this winter with some big time headliners, including Billy Joel and Justin Timberlake
3. Barclays Center, The Garden’s Brooklyn counterpart, hosts some of the biggest names in Music this winter, including Pink, John Mayer, Beyoncé and Pitbull
4. The Beacan Theater will have a wide variety of holiday shows and act like Cyndi Lauper & Friends: Home for the Holidays,
5. New York Guitar Festival is January 10-29 at Brookfield Place Winter Garden, SubCulture, Merkin Concert Hall
6. NYC Winter Jazzfest is January 7 – 11
7. GlobalFest is January 12 at Webster Hall
8. Z100’s Jingle Ball 2013 is December 13 at MSG

The Holidays

1. The Holiday Season is bigger in NYC than in other places. We really get into it.
2. The Tree Lighting remains lit every day from 5:30 a.m. until 11:30 p.m., except Christmas and New Year’s Eve which have special hours. The Tree will remain lit until January 7, 2014
3. Come see the world’s largest Hanukkah Menorah at Grand Army Plaza
4. Time Square is the place to be on New Year’s Eve to watch their famous ball drop
5. Celebrate the holidays at the world famous Apollo Theater for their Holidays at the Apollo shows running all through December
6. Don’t Miss American Ballet Theater’s The Nutcracker premiering on December 13
7. Rockefeller Center has one of the world’s most famous ice rinks, right beneath the tree
8. Kick off your New Years by participating in the New York Road Runners Midnight Run at 72nd Street Transverse near Cherry Hill
9. Celebrate Valentine’s Day in New York with a nice romantic Carriage Ride in Central Park
10. Celebrate the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Fifth Avenue

Food

1. Four star restaurants have long waiting lists. Make your reservations now.
2. There are about 42 million fast food restaurants in NYC, but you shouldn’t go to any of them. At any given moment you will be within a 5 minute walk of low priced, better tasting burgers/chicken/tacos.
3. Our dollar slices probably taste better than what you’re used to, but if you want really good pizza, the extra money is worth it.
4. Don’t be afraid to try the pretzels at the hot dog stands
5. Food trucks are awesome, try them!

Transportation

1. The subway costs just $2.50 per ride, and can get just about anywhere in the city.
2. Save your metro card because it’s a $1 additional fee for a new one
3. If you’re staying for a week, you should buy a 7-Day Unlimited Pass which is good for unlimited subway and local bus rides for $30.
4. The subway runs 24 hours a day and 7 days a week
5. When waiting for the train, stand behind the yellow platform edge strip.
6. Don’t try to hold the door on the subway. People will hate you.
7. Don’t block the doorway on the subway. People will hate you.
8. Let people off the train before getting on.
9. If all of the subway cars are crowded except for one, which is empty, get on the crowded car.
10. You read that right, don’t get on the empty car. There’s a reason it’s empty.
11. Be aware of your surroundings
12. Trains usually run local or express, so if you are unsure you may want to ask a person or choose a local train
13. Make sure you know exactly where you’re going before you swipe your card, you can’t get a refund using the subway.
14. It can become very crowded on the trains. You will be surprised of the capacity.
15. Taxis tend to go out of service around the afternoon rush. Plan accordingly.
16. When catching a taxi you should get one in the direction you are going, it will save time and money
17. The Staten Island Ferry is free

Shopping

1. 5th Avenue has top of the line products, and prices to match
2. SoHo has less expensive clothing stores and trendy boutiques
3. Chinatown has incredibly cheap prices, and products to match
4. Union Square is one of the most popular places to shop.
5. Greenwich Village is filled with designer labels.
6. Herald Square has almost every chain store
7. Macy’s on 34th Street is the world’s largest department store and a registered NYC landmark.

Parks

1. Central Park is the largest park in Manhattan, but the 5th largest in NYC.
2. Brooklyn Bridge Park has an incredible view of the Manhattan Skyline.
3. Riverbank State Park is a great park too including a gym, and kids facilities
4. The High Line is an old elevated railway converted into a park
5. Battery Park has a beautiful waterfront, and is where you pick up the ferry to the Statue of Liberty
6. All of NYC’s parks are free to enter
7. Bryant Park has a reading room, ping pong, games, carousel, free ice skating and chess.
8. Central Park has a pair of ice rinks, one at 59th, the other at 106th.
9. Here’s a list of parks with free Wi-Fi
10. Washington Square Park has never a dull moment with constant entertainment to enjoy like break dancers and artists.

Pro-Tips

1. Even numbered streets run east
2. 5th Avenue is considered the center of the city. Any address like E. 42nd street is east of 5th, and address like W. 42nd street is west of 5th
3. 6th Avenue also goes by Avenue of the Americas because of the statues on Central Park South where it meets 6th
4. The numbers on the lights in Central Park refer to the closest cross street
5. When hailing a taxi…
6. Download a city/subway map to your phone. One less awkward thing to carry, and you don’t have the “tourist” look every time you need directions
7. It’s safe to get lost on the street in Manhattan, it’s fun in any neighborhood and you get a chance to explore parts that a tour guide wouldn’t typically show you.
8. If you happen to see a person having trouble standing because of age or an infant, the subway etiquette is to give up your seat.
9. Be prepared to do the most walking you ever done in your life. Wear comfortable shoes.

Miscellaneous Tips and Facts worth knowing

1. Don’t forget to take pictures of things. NYC is a beautiful city and worth sharing with your friends back home.
2. When you take these pictures, if you abruptly stop walking in the middle of the sidewalk, people like you a little less. Don’t do that.
3. Try not to text while walking.
4. Think of walking like driving: If you’re going to walk slowly, stay to the right. If you want to walk fast you can “pass” on the left. The same rule applies for standing on escalators.
5. Always carry some cash. You won’t need it everywhere, but you will need it more than where you’re from (probably)
6. Tipping for quality service is a nice thing to do, and being nice is totally awesome
7. Remember New York City can be very expensive, so spend wisely so you can be able to see a lot of what New York has to offer
8. New York City is divided into five boroughs-Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, The Bronx, and Staten Island
9. Streets run east/west, avenues run north/south (in Manhattan)
10. SoHo is south of Houston (pronounced HOUSE-ton) Street
11. TriBeCa is the Triangle Below Canal Street
12. If you ever need help with something, just ask someone. Contrary to popular belief, New Yorkers tend to be very nice
13. Don’t worry about the cat in the bodega, it’s there for your benefit
14. Be prepared to see anything on the streets on NYC.

Important Information About Super Bowl XLVIII in NYC

Will there be another Super Bowl Parade in NYC in 2014?

The NFL Season may have just started, but we’re already getting excited about its conclusion. At the end of this season, for the first time ever, the Super Bowl will be played at MetLife Stadium, home to the New York Giants and New York Jets. This will be the first Super Bowl in the history of the NFL that will be played in an outdoor stadium in the northern United States, meaning that for the first time ever, frigid weather may play a huge factor in the game. It’s going to be an historic day, and right here we are going to provide you with all of the latest, most up to date info about the event. So bookmark this page and check back regularly so you don’t miss out.

When is Super Bowl XLVIII?

The 2014 Super Bowl in NY/NJ will be played on Sunday, February 2, 2014.

Where is the 2014 Super Bowl being played?

The Super Bowl will be played at MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Jets and New York Giants, in East Rutherford, NJ.

What is Super Bowl Boulevard?

In the week leading up to the big game, the stretch of Broadway between 34^th and 44^th streets will be closed down for a free, outdoor, interactive football themed experience for fans. Super Bowl Boulevard will be open to the public from January 29-February 1, between noon and 11 p.m. daily.

What can I do at Super Bowl Boulevard?

• Toboggan Run: Ride down a winter themed slide that stretches from 40^th to 41^st streets
• The Numerals: Take a picture with the oversized XLVIII Roman Numerals which will be on 42^nd street
• The Lombardi Trophy: Each of the four days, the holy grail of football, the Vince Lombardi Trophy, will come to Super Bowl Boulevard for fans to see and take pictures
• Autograph Sessions: Between 39^th and 40^th streets you will find current and former NFL players signing autographs from noon until 6 p.m.
• Concert Stage: In the same spot beginning at 8 p.m., stop by to see nightly concerts on the Super Bowl Boulevard Concert Stage
• Macy’s Video Show: NFL Films will be projecting 10-minute video shows on the façade of Macy’s at Herald Square
• More activities are expected to be announced in the months and weeks leading up to the big game

What’s the weather going to be like during Super Bowl Week?

It’s tough to tell at this point in time, but if you put stock in the Farmer’s Almanac, a giant snow storm will hit NYC between Feb. 1 and Feb. 3, so there’s that…

Remember, bookmark this page and check back soon so you can stay updated on all of the happenings of Super Bowl XLVIII in NYC!

 

2013 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

It’s about that time of year that you’re making plans for the holiday season. Are you going to visit New York to see the tree? Should you fight the crowds to watch the ball drop in Time Square? Before we get carried away, why don’t we just slow down a little bit and talk Thanksgiving.

This year, Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 28. One of New York City’s greatest traditions is the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which is held every Thanksgiving morning and broadcast across the country. If you’re interested in attending the parade or just want to watch on TV, keep reading. We’re about to answer all of your parade questions.

What time does the parade start?

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade begins at 9 a.m. EST on Thanksgiving morning, November 28.

What route does the Thanksgiving Day Parade take through NYC?

The parade begins at 77^th Street on Central Park West and travels down to the Macy’s flagship location on 34^th Street. Use this picture via Google Maps as a guide:

Do I need tickets to attend the parade?

Grandstand seating, which is where the performances take place, is only available to Macy’s employees and select charities. If you don’t fall into one of those categories, you are encouraged to line up anywhere else on the parade route where you will be able to see all of the floats, balloons and bands pass by.

Where is the best place to stand to watch the parade?

Per Macy’s:

Depending on your preferences, different areas make for the best viewing location. For example, early risers may want to camp out beginning at approximately 6am, along the west side of the street on Central Park West from 59th to 75th Streets to get the best spots for the start of the march. At this location, the Parade begins at 9:00am and runs through about 10:30am. For spectators who prefer to arrive later in the morning, further down the route on 6th Avenue may be the best option as the Parade does not reach portions of this area until about 9:30am. Viewing is not suggested on 6th Avenue between 34th and 38th Streets or in front of Macy’s Herald Square which provides very limited viewing due to the national television broadcast.

Can I watch the balloon inflation the night before the parade?

Of course you can! Balloons begin being inflated at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27th. Head up to the American Museum of Natural History on 79^th Street where you can view the balloons go from nothing into something incredible.

How can I participate in this year’s Thanksgiving Parade?

Macy’s accepts voluenteers every year to participate as balloon handlers, clowns, and more. Visit the parade website to apply now.

I don’t want to go to the parade, but I want to watch on TV. What channel will the parade be on?

The 2013 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will air on NBC from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m.

UPDATE: Who will be in this year’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?

The 2013 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade lineup has been announced, and though it is a living list, so far it looks fantastic. The parade will feature Balloons, Floats, Balloonicles, Marching Bands, Clowns, Novelty Balloons, and Performance Groups. As always, be on the lookout for Santa’s Sleigh at the finale of the parade.