2010 Winter Restaurant Week set for Jan. 25 to Feb. 7
NYC Winter Restaurant Week will return Jan. 25 through Feb. 7 with prices frozen at the same rate as in recent years: $24.07 for three-course prix-fixe lunches and $35 for three-course prix-fixe dinners.
The deal does not include beverages, tax or tip. It’s suspended on Saturdays and only some restaurants partake on Sundays.
The dates were announced today by NYC & Co. the city’s official tourism marketing group, but participating restaurants have not yet been named.
City pays $96 mln for Coney land, plans new rides in '10
The City of New York inked a $95.6-million deal to buy 6.9-acres of Coney Island property along the boardwalk to create a massive year-round 27-acre amusement and entertainment district, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced Thursday.
The city has been in tumultous negotiatons with developer Joe Sitt of Thor Equities who bought much of the property in recent years and kicked out many tenants, including Astroland. Sitt — who said at the Thursday press conference that his high school nickname was “Joey Coney Island” for playing hookey at the beach — will retain ownership of an adjacent 5.6 acres for future hotels and shops.
“This is a win for all of us in New York City. This is a win for all of us in America that want to see this great brand brought back to life. And this is a great win internatioanlly for all the folks that have followed along,” Sitt said. “It was a brand, forgive me, that was left almost as a legacy that was gonna die out.”
In the near-term, the city will invest $150 million for infrastructure improvements, including underground projects, more repairs to the boardwalk and a brand new Steeplechase plaza, the mayor said. The plan is to return Coney to a sparkly “people’s playground” like in its heyday a century ago.
“Beginning this coming summer, we anticipate that nearly 10 acres of the amusements and attractions will be open for busnesss, which is about double what it was this past summer,” Bloomberg said.
Coney Island is currently home to the Cyclone roller coaster, the Wonder Wheel, the New York Aquarium, the Cyclones minor-league baseball team, the original Nathan’s Famous hot dog stand and the Coney Island Polar Bear Club.
Empire State opens annual Valentine wedding contest
When the Empire State Building puts out a request for proposals, qualified applicants must be willing to say “I do.”
The city’s tallest skyscraper allows weddings only once a year - at Valentine’s Day.
Fourteen couples will be chosen to marry, renew their vows or affirm their commitment to each other in ceremonies atop the Empire State Building on Valentine’s Day weekend, 2010. Each couple will get a free, private 30-minute ceremony with up to 20 of their guests.
“From big-screen movie love scenes to sky-high proposals, this destination has always been a symbol of romance,” said Carley Roney, editor in chief of The Knot, which is sponsoring the event.
To enter the contest, applicants need to submit their romantic story, photos and reasons for wanting a skyscraper wedding to The Knot or Empire State Building by Dec. 9.
Winners will be chosen based on originality, creativity and their connections to the building.
The newly commissioned USS New York departed New York City this morning. The warship, made with seven and a half tons of steel recovered from the World Trade Center towers, officially joined the US Navy fleet Nov. 7.
The last one to charge a fee, the Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site, dropped its $3 admission charge as of Oct. 1.
The only caveat, a parks spokesperson told NewYorkology, is that a few of the sites charge transportation-related fees, such as the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, which may only be reached by a ferry operated by Statue Cruises. But once visitors reach the island, admission is free.
Other National Parks sites in New York include the African Burial Ground, Federal Hall, General Grant National Memorial, St. Paul’s Church, Floyd Bennett Field, Fort Wadsworth, Fort Tilden and Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.
LimoLiner cuts Boston fare to $69, ends Hartford route
It’s not quite a cut-rate $1 advanced fare, but the luxury bus between New York and Boston, LimoLiner, will reduce its one-way fares to as low as $69, the company announced late Tuesday.
The fare is available for new reservations for travel after Nov. 20. While it will apply to “many seats on many trips” other seats will be priced at $79 each way, and $89 for peak travel.
By mayoral proclamation, today is Sesame Street Day in New York City.
To mark the 40th anniversary of the New York-based children’s show, the city erected a temporary “123 Sesame Street” temporary street sign at 64th Street and Broadway, across from Sesame Workshop’s corporate headquarters.
NYC & Co., the city’s official official tourism marketing group, and Toys R’ Us and Babies R’ Us are marking the occasion with a line of co-branded plush toys and clothing, including an NYC fire fighter, police officer, taxi driver and sanitation worker.
Museums, zoos, ice rinks, clubs open Thanksgiving Day
In case you find yourself in New York City on Nov. 26, 2009 looking for something to do besides share a bird with your beloved family members, here are some places that will be open on Thanksgiving Day in NYC:
The Macy’s 83nd Thanksgiving Day Parade will begin at 9 a.m. at 77th Street and Central Park West. The new route this year starts out the same, traveling south down Central Park West to Columbus Circle. But this year it will skip Broadway,and instead turn onto Central Park South and then south on 7th Avenue. Once it reaches, 42nd Street, the parade will head east until it reaches Bryant Park at 6th Avenue. The parade will continue south on 6th (Avenue of the Americas) until it reaches 34th Street, where it will turn towards Macy’s at herald Square.
Cirque du Soleil’s “Wintuk” at Madison Square Garden - performances at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Broadway Thanksgiving Week schedule includes Thanksgiving Day performances of “Hamlet” at 7:30 p.m. as well as “Chicago,” “Oleanna,” “Phantom of the Opera” “West Side Story” and “White Christmas” at 8 p.m.
Kids' Night on Broadway tickets go on sale for February
Tickets go on sale at noon today for the February installment of Kids’ Night on Broadway, which allows a full-paying adult to get an additional ticket for free as long as it’s used by a child ages 6 through 18.
Broadway’s “Billy Elliot,” “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Chicago,” “Fela!,” “Finian’s Rainbow,” “Hair,” “In the Heights,” “Lion King,” “Mamma Mia!,” “Mary Poppins,” “Memphis,” “Next to Normal,” “Oleanna,” “Phantom of the Opera,” “Ragtime,” “South Pacific,” “Superior Donuts,” “West Side Story” and “Wicked” are all scheduled to take part. Off-Broadway’s “Stomp,” Altar Boyz” and “Avenue Q” will also offer the buy-one, get-one-free deal.
The Kids’ Night on Broadway offer is available February 2, 3 and 7. Expect the popular shows to sell out quickly. Not all shows are appropriate for all ages.
Kids’ Night on Broadway, which was previously an annual event, switched to a monthly schedule, but that only lasted a few rounds before the program went on haitus.
'Present Laughter' to sell Broadway tickets from $10
Tickets go on sale today for the Broadway revival of Noel Coward’s “Present Laughter” with Victor Garber.
And since the comedy is a production of the Roundabout Theatre Company, 100 tickets will be sold for only $10 each, but only to the first four preview performances starting Jan. 2. Tickets may be purchased online, via phone (212) 719-1300, or at the box office.
“Present Laughter” will play the American Airlines Theatre, 227 W. 42nd St., map. Opening night is set for Jan. 21; the play is set to close March 21.
