Thriving Thursday – Happy Halloween

Finding a way to spend your time isn’t a difficult task when you live in or around New York City. There are dozens of historic buildings, hundreds of restaurant, and countless other sources of entertainment. However, some of those places stand out from the rest. Some of the buildings have so much history that you can’t avoid them, and why would you want to? One such building is the Beacon Theatre. Located on Broadway in upper Manhattan, the theater is one of New York’s leading live music and entertainment venues, and is one of many controlled by MSG (Madison Square Garden Inc.). This historic theatre’s superior acoustics make it the ideal venue to enjoy a night of music.

 A Glittering History

The Beacon Theatre was originally planned as part of a chain of deluxe New York City movie theaters, ideal for silent movies. That wasn’t ever to come to pass, though. When the man behind the theater lost his fortune, the money behind the theater collapsed as well. With no funds to move it forward, it was abandoned. The nearly completed theater remained vacant and collecting dust until Warner Theatres obtained it. They cleaned up the dust and finished the theater, allowing the theater to finally open on December 24, 1929. The ‘Warner Beacon’ continued as a first-run movie theater into the early 1970s, until it was purchased by Steven Singer in 1974. Singer bought the theater to present live pop concerts and that was the beginning of a rich history in music and in 1982 the theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

A Faithful Run

Mentioning the Beacon Theatre requires a mention of the Allman Brothers Band. Starting in 1989, the band began a successful run of performances that lasted twenty consecutive years. Eventually, the band celebrated its 40th anniversary in the theater, inviting guests from many different genres to perform with them at the theater. This 2009 concert event lasted three weeks, and included famous names from an impressive array of music genres.

Continued Success

The Beacon Theatre isn’t just about its history. It has made its history, not the other way around. If had been a subpar theater, it wouldn’t have found the success that it did. But this building is just as important as those who have performed within it. It has provided a home away from home for many different artists over the year, and provides an experience to remember for those in the audience. The shows continue today because the theater is a beautiful and comfortable venue. It provides an atmosphere that creates a show that shouldn’t be missed.

The Beacon Theatre is a destination. It is a place to go and enjoy an evening of high class and entertainment. Built in a different era, for a different time, it has adapted perfectly to the present. The theater offers an experience that combines the comfort of the past with the entertainment of today. Together, those two elements make it a must-see in New York.

Tourism Tuesday – Ground Zero

There are some parts of history that are so tragic that we cannot ignore them. We may wish that they never occurred, or dream of a world in which they aren’t a reality, but we cannot ignore or forget the tragedy. The September 11 attack is one of those moments. Those who were old enough to understand will never forget where they were on that day, the first time they heard what was happening. The site of the once proud Twin towers, the World Trade Center, has been known since the attack as Ground Zero.

The World Trade Center

Sitting on 16 acres in Lower Manhattan, the World Trade Center once stood on the site tall and proud. The Twin Towers rose above the surrounding buildings. They were a part of the New York Skyline, and were an iconic site in New York. Until they were destroyed on September 11, 2001. Since then the site has been known as Ground Zero, a fitting term. Used to describe the point of a detonation closest to the Earth, the term can be used to describe both the physical location, and the reactive fires that spread through the people left behind.

The Memorial Museum

The National September 11 Memorial Museum is the country’s principal memorial to commemorate the September 11 attacks. Located on the former location of the Twin Towers, the Memorial is a monument to those who died in the September 11 attacks, as well as to those who died in the World Trade Center bombing of 1993. It was constructed as a reminder of those lives that were lost, and of the scars that have never quite healed. It will remain there, where the Twin Towers fell, a reminder of what once was, and where we must go now that it has changed.

Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives when the Twin Towers were attacked, and they should be remembered. The Memorial stands as a reminder not only of the victims who were within the towers, but also those who died attempting to rescue those within. On September 11, 2011, ten years after the original tragedy, the dedication ceremony was held at the memorial. The Memorial official opened the next day, allowing the public to remember. Within three months of the opening, more than 1 million people have visited.

More than twelve years have passed since the fall of the Twin Towers in the September 11 attack. Despite that, there are very few who do not feel the emotions with a fresh tang every time it is mentioned, every time thoughts stray to that 16 acre stretch of land. The scars of that day will never fully heal, and the memories of that day will never truly fade. Those who lost their lives that day should not be forgotten. This tragedy in the past should reflect itself in the way we live, in the way we strive to create a better future. Ground Zero will forever be a reminder, a memory of the things we want to outgrow. The Memorial Museum, and the other new buildings being constructed, will rise up to take the place of those that fell. They will stand as a reminder of what we’ve lost, and of the perspective that we have gained.

Thriving Thursday – The Local Haunts

This close to Halloween, everyone starts thinking about ghost stories, and the things that only come out at night, and perhaps only come out once a year. There are many buildings in New York and the surrounding areas that claim to be haunted, but are they really? Sometimes stories are just good for business, but whether they are truly haunted or not, these buildings are old, and have a long history. New York City itself is close to 400 years old, giving it plenty of time to gather a haunted building or two, or perhaps even more. No matter what list you find, or who you talk to, some of these buildings will always appear, rumors of their hauntings said to be far more than mere rumors.

The House of Death

With its ghastly nickname, it’s no wonder that this house appears on almost every list of the most haunted buildings in New York. Constructed in 1974 in Greenwich Village, this house is rumored to be inhabited by no less than 22 different spirits, including the spirit of Mark Twain, who once resided on the premises. Several deaths have occurred in the brownstone over the years, and there are many sources that claim it is the most haunted place in Manhattan. There are an endless amount of reports claiming that spirits have been seen walking the halls.

Morris-Jumel Mansion

This house has many ties to history, dating back even to the Revolutionary War. However, that isn’t what makes this house noteworthy and famous. Said to be Manhattan’s oldest home, there are claims of five separate spirits haunting these rooms, though the most famous by far is that of the old woman Eliza Jumel. She died alone while suffering from dementia, and many have claimed to see her spirit rambling and ranting while she walks through the rooms, frightening children as she goes. She is said to be disoriented and delusional when she appears, though when schoolchildren tour the home she has no difficulty in ordering them to be silent.

Kreischer Family Mansion

With its horror film looks and ominous history, it’s easy to see why this mansion lands on the lists of haunted New York buildings. Originally there were two mansions, identical, sitting side by side in Staten Island. However, its twin burned down, taking the Kreischer son and his wife with it. After its twin burned, that left only the single mansion, alone and creating the perfect atmosphere for stories of hauntings. It’s said that there are unexplained noises that come from the building, noises that have been attributed to the ghosts that are said to walk the grounds.

So, are these buildings really haunted, or have their sordid histories simply created fantasies that, much like the ghosts they speak of, refuse to die? It’s hard to know for sure which stories are real and which are fabricated when it comes to hearing ghost stories, but that doesn’t make the stories any less enjoyable. So, why don’t you travel to the more famous haunts, and see if you can’t scare up your own ghost stories?

Tourism Tuesday – Holland Tunnel

Originally known as the ‘Hudson River Vehicular Tunnel Project,’ construction for the Holland Tunnel began over 90 years ago, on March 31, 1922. The tunnel is a marvel of engineering, and was at the time a new design. It took years to complete the tunnel and to make it into the high traffic landmark that it is today. The tunnel itself was almost a bridge, as that would have cost less to build, but with passing ships, the bridge would have needed to rise nearly 200 ft. above the water, which was simply not feasible. Instead, the tunnel was imagined and eventually created. It took years of planning and construction in order to make it what it is today, a National Landmark

Designing the Tunnel

The design of the tunnel was begun by Clifford Milburn Holland, the man who eventually had the tunnel named after him. His vision provided the engineering genius that is the tunnel, a design that was revolutionary for its time. He put years of his life into the tunnel, and into making sure that it was the best of its kind. However, fate was not kind to him, and he died before he could complete his work. After he died, another engineer took on the job, but he too died shortly after. The third and final engineer, Ole Singstad, finished the tunnel and turned it into the National Landmark that it is today.

The Ventilation System

When the tunnel was being constructed, one of the largest obstacles was coming up with an adequate ventilation system. Since the tunnel was being designed to accommodate automobile traffic, the carbon monoxide levels were a concern, since no similar project had ever been constructed. The third engineer for the project, Ole Singstad, was the first to believe that ventilation was even possible, let alone to accomplish the feat. By creating a test tunnel and closely monitoring volunteers within it, he solved the problem along with the help of Yale University. The tunnel is ventilated transversely, an entirely new concept when it was first built. The circular tunnel has an automatic ventilation system with four ventilation buildings, two on each side of the Hudson. 84 fans provide a change of air every 90 seconds, keeping air quality within acceptable limits. Indeed, when it was first constructed many people claimed the air quality was better within the tunnel than it was on many New York streets.

A National Landmark

On its first day of operation 51,694 vehicles passed through the tunnel, and traffic hasn’t stopped since. Though the tunnel has been shut down to accommodate some major storms, it has continued to be used since the day it opened, and has become known as one of the most valuable contributions to tunnel design and construction. Due to this, the Holland Tunnel was designated a National Historic Civil and Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil and Mechanical Engineers as well as being designated a National Historical Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Unlike many public works projects, this bridge isn’t named after a famous or incredibly influential individual. Originally known as the ‘Hudson River Vehicular Tunnel Project,’ the tunnel eventually became known for the name of its first engineer, a man who died before completing his work. The tunnel itself has become more well-known than the man, as it is an engineering marvel and a National Landmark. Far surpassing the designs of its time, this tunnel has set the bar for many tunnels that have been created since, making it the first of many of its kind.

Thriving Thursdays: Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre

The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, or UCB, is a comedy theatre dedicated to fostering both an appreciation and an education of the arts through affordable and high quality comedic performances and classes. It is a fun destination and is open seven nights a week, at a very reasonable price. It provides an enjoyable experience and a comfortable theatre to enjoy the evening.

Those Before

The UCB comes with an esteemed list of alumni, including several performers and writers for many of the largest known comedy television shows of the day. Performers and writers from the UCB have gone on to work on Saturday Night Live, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, 30 Rock, The Office, and many other movies, TV shows, and other forms of media. Performers who have moved on to larger success haven’t completely moved on, though. There are many who still lend their talents to the theater and training center, spending time there both to perform, and to help others learn.

Amazing Talent

Tickets to UCB Theatre are $8 a person, but the theatre offers an amazing level of talent for the money. Many high level comedians have started, or performed at the UCB, and many of them continue to perform even though they are such high profile comedians now. The theatres are appropriate for all ages, and have at one point or another offered performances by Robin Williams, Mike Myers, Will Ferrell, Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, Conan O’Brian, and many others. Those individuals come back to perform often, supporting the arts and the theatre itself.

Learning from the Greats

The students of UCB Theatre are taught by many actors and writers, and are offered the help of excellent teachers. Taught sketch and improvisation comedy the students learn necessary skills and the theatre works on behalf of its students, giving them every opportunity to create their own voices, relationships, and careers.

Found at 307 W 26th St. the theatre offers quite a bit of talent and a very enjoyable evening for anyone looking for a night of laughter. It also offers a great place to learn comedy for those who are seeking a career in the industry.

Tourism Tuesday – The Lincoln Tunnel

Everywhere you turn, there is a history that can be told; this is especially true for the history behind the great constructions of all time. The History of the Lincoln Tunnel dates back to March, 1934 when construction began for this landmark.

The First Central Tube

Originally donned the Midtown Vehicular Tunnel, the Lincoln Tunnel as we now know it to be, was planned to be and was the first of its kind. This 1.5 mile long tunnel connects Weehawken, New Jersey to Manhattan, New Your City by a pathway that was constructed under the most famous, Hudson River. Designed by Ole Singstad, it was funded by the New Deal’s Public Works Administration. Construction began in March of 2934 and would be opened on December 22, 1937, charging travelers fifty cents per passenger car; the cost of this architectural landmark was $85,000,000.

A Marvel Design of its Time

Designed to be as two tubes, the construction on the second tube has been delayed in 1938 and then resumed in construction in 1941; due to a shortage of materials caused by World War II, it would not be completed until 1945. The construction of this second tube’s cost was $80,000,000. It was on February 1 of 1945 that Michael Catan, also known as Mr. First who was given this nickname after attending 525 opening day events, was asked to lead the way in and through the newly opened tube; over time it would be noted that a third tube could possibly be opened to create a better way of travel through the Lincoln Tunnel. After some negotiation, a third tube was constructed and opened on May 25 of 1957; located south of the two original tubes that sit side by side, the third tube is located a block away on the New York side of the tunnel.

Using the Tunnels Today

The cost of the toll today for cars using the tunnel going eastbound is $12, using cash; with E-Z Pass it costs $9.50 during the peak hours and $7.50 for the off-peak hours. In comparison to the past, there are 110,800 daily tunnel users. The tunnels are 21.5 feet wide, with each tunnel having two lanes, and a vertical clearance that measures 13.5 feet. The tunnels today are maintained by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; 2012 marked the 75th anniversary of the tunnel opening up. The Holland Tunnel is found in nearby New Jersey and is ten years older than the Lincoln Tunnel. Both tunnels are found to be prime terrorist targets, they require extra monitoring on a daily basis.

During rush hours, the center tube has a one traffic lane called XBL used as an exclusive bus lane. It is during the morning rush hour that the central tunnel is used only to go in the direction leading to Manhattan and during the evening rush hour, the central tunnel is used only to go in the direction that leads to New Jersey. Aside from that, outside of these rush hours, traffic is directed to flow in both directions. Each toll is collected on the New Jersey side and does not require any collections on return trips; each morning during rush hour, the tunnels see 1,700 buses and 62,000 commuters.

Thriving Thursdays: The Belasco Theater

If you are looking for a little more show in your theater experience, visiting the Belasco Theater may be just the right choice. The Belasco Theater is an excellent establishment that has been in business for over a hundred years. It is also said to be haunted, making it an especially excellent stop for October, with all the mystery of the month layering the air with ambience and atmosphere.

History of the Theater

Originally named the Stuyvesant when it opened in 1907, the Belasco is known as one of the ten most haunted theatres in the world. The original owner, David Belasco, was known for being one of the most colorful 20th century Broadway producers, and was said to be a lady’s man and was also known for, oddly, dressing in a monk’s robes. Over the years the Belasco has been home to some unsettling sightings. Belasco’s robe-clad figure has been reported to be seen in both his old apartment (now the office space) and the theater’s balcony. Some women have also reported feeling a mysterious pinch, which is, of course attributed to the colorful producer.

Productions over the Years

From the theater’s inaugural production of A Grand Army Man in 1907, with a cast that included Antoinette Perry, the theater set a high bar for productions and for theater in general. Over the next two decades, David Belasco produced and directed nearly 50 shows, some of which he also wrote. Now the shows are just as high quality, and they offer the promise of an enjoyable night, with perhaps a bit of a scare as well.

The Belasco Theater offers an excellent chance for a fun night at the theater, and the possibility of the little extra fun of a ghost sighting. In October both Twelfth Night and Richard III will be running, and both promise to be excellent shows and an excellent opportunity to enjoy the theater. And since it’s the Belasco, there may be a little more as well. So, do you believe in ghosts?

Theater Location

111 West 44th Street
Between 6th and 7th Avenue
New York, NY 10036

Tourism Tuesday – George Washington Bridge

Standing high above the Hudson River, the George Washington Bridge is found at stands its eastern end and rests on the shores of Manhattan; and its western end is found in New Jersey’s wooded bluffs of the Palisades. Being twice as long as previous suspension bridges, it was and still is a wonder of beauty of its time. To many it will always be the greatest of all bridges past and present. It spans the river to connect New York City and New Jersey; it gave many challenged planners and engineers, like Othmar Ammann, who was the brilliant minded, Swiss-born architect and engineer that proposed his bridge design and vision in 1923 to make something extraordinary that had ultimately been chosen above any and all other designs and ideas.

The Plan behind the Design

The Port Authority Construction was set to begin in October of 1927, with Ammann as the new chief engineer. It was Ammann’s design, so bold and with great foresight, it was to be an extraordinary 3,500-foot center span that was to be suspended between two 570-foot steel towers and have the strength to carry two levels of roadway or rails. In his vision, the physical construction of this bridge was itself to be a marvel of engineering. Designing is so that the four main cables were each composed of a single strand to be carried back and forth across the river at a high travel count of 61 times. Ammann thought that each strand itself should be a bundle of 434 individual wires-wraps around a stranded shoe in the anchorage before looping back toward the opposite shore; giving it the strength it would need. Each shoe was designed to be connected to a bar sunk deep into the anchorage that would hold the strand in its place.

Construction Continued…

Prior to anything else being done both of towers were built first; once the two towers were put into place, the four main cables, all four measured a yard in diameter, were then strung up from shore to shore and up over the top of each of the towers. Next, steel suspenders were hung from the main cables, to support the roadway. Finally, came the time for the bridge men to construct the road and foot by foot, out from the shores they hung it from steel suspenders as they worked.

Tidbits about the Structure of the Bridge

Anchored to the New York anchorage, it consists of 110,000 cubic yards of concrete; it weighs approximately 260,000 tons. The main cables are tied into the rock of the Palisades in front of the Hudson River; at the time of its construction it required an excavation of 200,000 yards of solid rock. The George Washington Bridge first opened up to traffic in 1931, a year later during the first year of operation, in 1932 over 5.5 million vehicles used the original constructed six-lane roadway; as the demands of traffic grew, an additional construction was deemed necessary. In order to find an easy solution to the growing demand, the two center lanes on the bridge that had been left unpaved its original construction, were then finished and opened up to traffic in 1946; increasing its capacity by one-third. In later year, six lanes of roadway on the lower roadway of the bridge were completed in 1962.

Introduction to “Thriving Thursdays

In a city of thousands it is sometimes difficult to stand out. That goes for buildings as well. It can be difficult to find the best places to go, and the best destinations for a night of fun. Thriving Thursdays will provide information about the best destinations in the area, finding those places and putting the information all in one place.

City ‘Hotspots’

What’s popular changing from week to week, and from day to day. The ‘hotspot’ is never the same from one weekend to the next. Keeping up with the ‘place to be’ isn’t always easy. Well, now it is. Each week will feature a new, popular destination. The perfect place to spend a night on the town, enjoying the finer points of life. Knowing where to go to spend the perfect evening is easy, they’re all in one place.

Hidden Theaters

Living in New York, or even on the other side of the world, everyone has heard of Broadway. It’s not hard to know that there are always great plays to be seen, and amazing actors performing them. However, there are a lot of other theaters in the area as well. Hidden treasures that are less known, but no less worthy of visiting. Features about hidden theaters offer the opportunity to find a new place to visit, and maybe even find that perfect, cozy theater to go back to again and again.

Getting There in Style

Finding the perfect place to spend a night doesn’t help anything if there’s no way to get there. Arriving at a theater, or a club, in a Royal Luxury Limo gives the opportunity for that perfect entrance. Whether a fun night on the town visiting the hottest clubs, having a date night meal at the best restaurants, or settling in to a theater for a night of entertainment, a limo is the perfect way to travel, eliminating the need to a designated driver, adding a touch of class, and making the night truly special.

Planning the weekend is a whole lot easier with a weekly update on the best destinations. Thriving Thursdays provide information about all the best destinations, and all the best places to be. And since it appears on a Thursday, it’s just in time to plan the weekend and know exactly how to spend that perfect Friday night.

Tourism Tuesday – The Brooklyn Bridge

When you think of New York several things come to mind; one of these things more often than not is, the Brooklyn Bridge. If you have yet to have the chance to experience New York and the great city it is best known for, you are missing out on one of the best experiences of your life. New York, also known as the “Big Apple”, is the mecca state of excitement and much more.

As a tourist, I have always believed that in this great country of ours, New York City is the place to be, at any given time of the year; to visit and take in the attractions such as the Brooklyn Bridge. The creation of this beautiful piece of living art began in 1870 and completed in 1883; one of the oldest suspension bridges known in the US, the Brooklyn Bridge has been one attraction that draws in the crowds each day. The size of this famous bridge, it spans across the East River at nearly 1600 feet; the Brooklyn Bridge was also the longest bridge until the year 1903.

The Location of the Brooklyn Bridge and Nearby Subways to the Brooklyn Bridge

Connecting lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Bridge gives access to the pedestrian walkway in two ways; the first one coming from Brooklyn at Tillary Street and Adams Street or by a staircase located on Prospect Street between the Cadman Plaza East and West. In Manhattan you can access the Brooklyn Bridge near City Hall Park at Park Row and Centre Street. Aside from the foot traffic, the ease of access to the Brooklyn Bridge is highly regarded as an experience that is unlike any other.

In order to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan, you can take the 4/5/6 to the Brooklyn Bridge at City Hall, or if you rather you can travel from N/R to City Hall; and the last option would be the 2/3 to Park Place.

In order to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge from Brooklyn, you can take the A/C to High Street or the 2/3 to Clark Street; either way, the access to the bridge is not very difficult. More than anything, it will be the foot traffic you will have maneuver. Also take note of the hours and admission.

The Brooklyn Bridge is open 24 hours. There is no charge for walking across and no toll if driving. You can find more information at the Brooklyn Bridge Official Website by visiting, http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/bridges/bridges.shtml#brooklyn

Let me tell you about the Brooklyn Bridge

There is so much for you to learn about the Brooklyn Bridge; more than anything the experience of walking across this iconic bridge. This historic monument has been a part of New York City since 1883, it is the most used of New York’s East River bridge crossings; with its highly talked about views and architectural features of the Neo-Gothic Towers. The traffic pattern alone at either end of this bridge is a boardwalk unlike any you will ever see. Do not forget to bring your camera; this experience, for many, only happens once in a lifetime.