Category: Tourism Tuesdays

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Tourism Tuesday Featuring Grand Central Terminal, Main Concourse

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When it comes to traveling, few methods are safer than trains. Traveling by train is elegant and refined.  It says that I can travel at my leisure and nothing or no one will rush me. When it comes to train stations, none can compare to the remarkably glorious Grand Central Terminal. New York’s Grand Central Terminal also called Grand Central Station was first opened in 1913.  2013 is a very special year for the Grand Central Terminal because this year it turns 100.  Happy Centennial Grand Central Station! New York’s Grand Central Terminal is home to the world’s largest train station and the Main Concourse is its epicenter. Who says bigger isn’t better? When it comes to Grand Central Terminal, the Main Concourse is the place to be. The Main Concourse is the center of all the action. Everyday thousands converge, explore and travel throughout its massive corridors.

Historic Tour

In this day and age, knowledge is power and few lessons are free. One shining exception is the historic tours of Grand Central Terminal. Get your geek on and learn all about Grand Central Terminal’s creation and major events. By going on this tour, you will hear about all the effort it took to get it built and sustained. You’ll learn to appreciate a commodity that thousands take advantage of everyday. Go on and learn something new, just be sure to thank your knowledgeable tour guide.

Some Amazing Art

For people who long to witness artistic perfection, they should look no further than Grand Central Terminal, Main Concourse.  There are several different mediums to look at. The two most famous are the giant clock, that is reported to be worth from 10-20 million dollars, and some famous statues. There are three legendary statues including a Minerva, Hercules and Mercy which were created by an eminent French sculptor Jules-Felix Coutan. When this trio was unveiled, it was the largest sculptural group on Earth. This sculptural group is highly acclaimed even to this day. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to see a trio of masterpieces, go visit Grand Central Terminal, Main Concourse.

Food and Fun

For most travelers, a location is not viable without food. Grand Central Station does not disappoint. It has a plethora of kiosks to choose from. Whether you crave a little Italian or a good ole American sub, Grand Central Terminal, Main Concourse has you covered.  There are hundreds of venues to choose from and all of them serve amazing high quality food. If you are looking for food, don’t steer to the west though or you will be sorely disappointed. All the food venues are located on the East side of the Grand Central Terminal, Main Concourse.

Grand Central Terminal is an important and beloved attraction of New York City. Don’t miss out on all the fun. Go see it!

By Melissa Cooke

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Tourism Tuesday Featuring Times Square

Although there are many interesting things to see in New York, New York, one attraction stands far above the competition. Whether you want to see the ball drop on New Year’s Eve, catch the latest rendition of the Phantom of the Opera, or are just looking for the perfect pair of jeans, you can find what you are looking for in Times Square. It is at the center of all the action in New York City.  No other New York attraction can compete with its celestial energy.

Times Square is the soul of New York and is a vibrant and life-filled intersection where everything and every culture collide. New York’s Times Square is a sprawling junction, a bustling intersection that is filled with tons of people and a variety of things to experience, but one of the most exciting things to do there, is people watch. One quick glance around tells the exciting nature of what it means to be American. Nothing is bland in Times Square and there is always plenty to see. All sorts of unique cultures merge and mingle in harmony. Times Square is a mecca for tourists because no matter what culture you’re from, you will find something to relate to. You will also find something that will astound you, and the funny thing is, sometimes both things will be side by side. Go figure!

Tourists visit Times Square because it is home to many American icons including Broadway, newspapers, and famous television shows. It is also known world-wide for its plethora of food. When it comes to food, Times Square is really versatile. No matter what your tastes lean towards, there is a restaurant, food truck or food cart that will please your taste buds, as well as accommodate your wallet. Whether you’re a sophisticated critic that only deigns to eat at four star palaces or a blue collar brawler looking for the perfect slice of pizza, Times Square has what you need. Everything is more extravagant in Times Square including an Applebee’s franchise, which has a supersized location.

Times Square is also an excellent location to go shopping. There is no sales tax in New York City and travelers can take full advantage. Many superstores have their foundations in Times Square. Two prime examples are MAC makeup and the famous Department store Macy’s. Since New York is one of the fashion capitals of the world, tourists flock to get their shop on. No matter what you are looking for it can be found in Times Square. Each day millions flock to this world famous section of the Big Apple. Take advantage and look important in front of millions. Travel in style, you can even take a NY prom limo to your Times Square destination.

By Melissa Cooke

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Tourism Tuesday Featuring New York City High Line

The New York City High Line is a one mile long city park which was built on an elevated section of the New York Central Railroad.  It is located on the western side of Manhattan.  The former railroad tracks have been converted into a beautifully redesigned aerial greenway.  The park goes from Gansevoort Street, through Chelsea, by way of 30th Street and onto the West Side Yard, close to the Jacob Javitz Convention Center.  Gansevoort Street is located just three blocks from West 14th Street, also known as the Meatpacking District.

This stunning and newly constructed park was designed by the architectural firm of James Corner Field Operations and architects Diller Scofidio and Renfro.  The designing of the plants was the responsibility of Piet Oudolf from the Netherlands.  Backers of the HighLinePark projects include Diane von Furstenberg along with her husband and children and hotel developer, Andre Balazs.

There are nine entrances into the park and four of those entrances are handicap accessible.  The park is open everyday of the week from 7:30 in the morning until 11:00 in the evening.  There are rules associated with the park, like everything else in life.  Most of the rules are pretty common sense like no walking on the plants, no bikes, no drinking and no littering.

The New York City High Line has attracted a lot in the pop culture scene.  In the 2007 smash hit “I Am Legend,” some of the scenes in the movie were filmed below the High Line as well as in the Meatpacking District.  In 2012, there was an episode of The Simpsons called “Moonshine River” where the family takes a trip to New York City.  Bart and an old girlfriend had taken an outing on the High Line.

The High Line features food vendors who sell products that are good to eat and good for the land as well.  As of 2012, there were nine vendors selling their food on the High Line.  Bark, for example, sells American classics that are created from ingredients that are not only local, but are of the highest quality.  Their signature Bark Burger is made from organic beef and seasonal vegetables, sure to be a delicious bite.  L’Arte Del Gelato, also in the park, was created almost a decade ago and makes gelati and sorbetti with first class ingredients.  They use milk that comes from Battenkill Valley Creamery in Salem, New York.  Melt Bakery sells delicious ice cream sandwiches, also made from local ingredients.  Their signature “Lovelet” sandwich is created from red velvet cakes with cream cheese ice cream, not friendly in calories, but very friendly in taste.

The spring and summer months will undoubtedly bring thousands of city residents and tourists to the High Line. Will you be one of them?

By Deana Clark

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Tourism Tuesday Featuring Carnegie Hall

If you want to be treated like royalty for one night hop into a New York prom limo and catch a show at Carnegie Hall. Carnegie Hall is one of the most well-known tourist attractions in New York City. It was designed by architect William Burnet Tuthill and built by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie in 1891. Carnegie Hall is considered to be one of the most prestigious venues in the world of classical and popular music and has its own artistic programming, development, and marketing departments all on site.

Carnegie Hall has many different theatres that put on a variety of shows, different from the main stage.

The Main Hall (Isaac Stern Auditorium/Ronald O. Perelman Stage)

The Main Hall’s five levels of seating seats 2,804 people. There is no bad seat in this theatre. The highest seat available, for those who love heights, is approximately 137 steps to the top balcony.  Being one of the most famous concert stages in the United States, most of all the popular musicians and classical musicians have performed there since 1891. The last time this hall has been renovated was 1986.

Zankel Hall

Zankel Hall, better known as the Recital Hall, was the first auditorium open to the public in April of 1891. It is quite a bit smaller than the Main Hall only, seating 599 people. It, like the Main Hall, was also renovated in 1896 and renamed Carnegie Lyceum. What is so interesting about this particular hall is its flexibility, in that it can be reconfigured into several different arrangements. Most recently, it opened in the space in September of 2003.

Weill Recital Hall

Weill Recital Hall, which is named for Sanford I Weill and his wife Joan, was originally called Chamber Music Hall. This hall is still being used since it opened in 1891. It seats 268 people and has gone through many name changes until 1986 when it finally became Weill Recital Hall.

Carnegie Hall Archives

Not only does Carnegie Hall offer different rooms for your musical pleasure, it offers space for behind the scenes work as well. The Rose Museum contains working spaces for everyone from performing artists to rehearse, all the way to the architects, playwrights, and painters who design and create the shows.

Carnegie Hall is one of the last large buildings in New York that is built of masonry in its entirety. It  is unique in that there is no steel frame. The exterior of the building has Roman bricks with details done in terracotta and brownstone.

What is most interesting, is that Carnegie Hall is named after the person who financed it and not the person who actually created it like most buildings that you hear of.

Located at 57th St. and Seventh Ave. in Manhattan, Carnegie Hall must be on your list of things to experience when visiting New York City.

By Heather Wishart

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Tourism Tuesday Featuring 5Pointz Aerosol Art Center

When visiting New York, an amazing attraction that deserves a visit is the 5Pointz Aerosol Art Center. This awe-inspiring center is an outdoor attraction that is made up of spray paint and graffiti art covering a huge building that stretches almost a full block. The 200,000 square foot warehouse is used as an open canvas, attracting famous musicians and artists from all over the world to contribute to the walls. Notable celebrities have visited the amazing attraction, including Joan Jett, Joss Stone, and Grandmaster Kaz.

The basic idea for the 5Pointz Aerosol Art Center began in 1993 as an effort to stop graffiti vandalism. The idea was that, if graffitists had an area to display their work as art, vandalism would be decreased. The warehouse was called the “Phun Phactory” and in 2002, Jonathan Cohen was recruited to curate the work. Cohen, more commonly known by his tag name “Meres One”, transformed the “Phun Phactory” into what is now known as the 5Pointz Art Center. He manages and oversees the work and the walls of 5Pointz, selecting and approving artwork from specific artists, and then allocating space for their designs or tags.

The amazing outdoor art attraction has enticed people from all over the world to contribute their work to the center. The walls of the warehouse feature over 250 full color murals and images, projecting a bright, contrasting effect to the surrounding area. Jonathan Cohen views the designs and artwork of others, and then assigns the space for their work. His future plans are to convert the five story warehouse into a graffiti art museum. He also intends on opening an art school for students who appreciate the art of spray painting. New designs and names are frequently added to the warehouse, so there is always something new on this unique attraction.

Also called 5Pointz: The Institute of Higher Burning, this attraction is a unique and awe-inspiring experience. Simply viewing the outside walls of the warehouse are well worth the trip. For those who are interested in seeing more, though, 5Pointz offers a bi-weekly tour. For $35, guests are led on a tour throughout the warehouse by the founder and curator Jonathan Cohen, also known as “Meres One”. The tour also includes a painting demonstration, allowing guests to see how the artwork is done. The 5Pointz Aerosol Art Center is a truly amazing experience that shouldn’t be missed.

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Outsider Art Fair 2013

Expect to find works by both legendary and newly discovered artists!
Location: Center 548/ 548 West 22nd Street/New York, NY 10011

Founded by Sanford Smith in 1993, the Outsider Art Fair soon became a critical and commercial success and the leading, annual event in the field of Outsider, Self-Taught and Folk Art. Recognized for its maverick spirit, the fair played a vital role in building a passionate collecting community as crowds flocked annually to New York’s Puck Building, the event’s original site during its first 15 years.
Under Wide Open Arts, a new company formed by art dealer Andrew Edlin, the Outsider Art Fair has moved to Chelsea at the site of the former Dia Foundation and will continue to provide a dynamic atmosphere for dealers to showcase compelling and unusual artworks. The 2013 fair will also add new elements, including the sponsorship of guest curatorial projects and other special events. Visitors to the fair can expect to find prime examples of works by both legendary and newly discovered artists.

The Outsider Art Fair, a place to discover the Henry Dargers of the world, returns with its 21st edition. Now under the management of Wide Open Arts, a company formed by gallerist and art brut artist champion Andrew Edlin, this year’s fair takes place at the old Dia space in Chelsea and promises the same dynamic atmosphere of fairs past. Stop in to peruse art by both legendary and newly discovered self-taught artists or perhaps take in a talk or panel discussion. Also slated, is a special exhibit highlighting Renaldo Kuhler’s Rocaterrania. A preview gala kicks things off on Thursday night January 31, 2013 and the fair runs through Sunday February 3, 2013.

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Tourism Tuesday Road Trip: Brooklyn, N.Y.

Brooklyn is but one of the five boroughs of New York City, with a population of 2.5 million. Brooklyn was an independent city with a rich history of its own that became part of New York City in 1898.
It is a borough filled with the energy of diverse groups, with many neighborhoods offering authentic ethnic cuisines. While Brooklyn is one of the most densely populated areas in the United States, there are far more private homes than apartment buildings.
The Heart of Brooklyn area is a traditional example of using urban space on a grand scale, and includes the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Prospect Park, which was designed by the same landscape architect who designed Manhattan‘s Central Park.
Brooklyn is undergoing a renaissance, with a major new park, a sports and entertainment center and museums — not to mention fertile areas for business development. Many arts groups have found Brooklyn a congenial home, partly because real estate is much more reasonable than in Manhattan.
Yes, when people think of New York City, they‘re mostly thinking of Manhattan. A visit to Brooklyn will change that. Brooklyn has its own powerful allure, and no single trip can explore all of it. Royal Luxury Limousines encourage you to take a road trip through Brooklyn, making many stops along the way. Just a few attraction listed below will fill your trip with many things to see, learn, and do while in Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Bridge Park
Offering an iconic view of lower Manhattan across the East River, Brooklyn Bridge Park first opened in 2010 on a site with historic resonance to the Revolutionary War.
The park‘s 85 acres include play areas for children, sports fields, a picnic peninsula for fresh-cooked meals and fishing and boating.
Jane‘s Carousel in the Fulton Ferry part of the park is a restored 1922 carousel with 48 horses and three chariots. It was the first carousel to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Building 92, Brooklyn Navy Yard
The newest Brooklyn museum is Building 92 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The yard was established in 1801 as one of the nation‘s first five shipyards and during World War II employed 70,000 people. It was decommissioned in 1966.
After decades of neglect, the yard has acquired new life as an industrial park that is home to many small businesses. The museum offers tours of yard facilities which have been preserved. The second floor is the resource center, which houses photographs and artifacts.

Brooklyn Museum
Housed in a 560,000-square-foot, Beaux-Arts building, the Brooklyn Museum is one of the largest in the country. With roots back to the early 19th century, most of the museum‘s 1.5 million pieces were acquired in the early 20th century.
Although only a fraction of its total holdings are on view at any time, its commitment to Western and non-Western art is reflected in exhibitions of American, European, African, Asian, Islamic and Ancient Egyptian culture.
The museum offers daily guided tours and audio tours.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Founded in 1910, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden occupies 52 acres, with many specialty gardens and pavilions that are visited by 900,000 people annually.
The Japanese Hill and Pond Garden was constructed in 1915, renovated in 2000, and is the oldest of its kind in an American museum.
The Cranford Rose Garden is home to 1,400 kinds of roses, while the Shakespeare Garden has more than 80 plants mentioned in the Bard‘s plays. It was a gift from Henry Folger, who founded the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington.
Other gardens are designed for children and arranged by plant families to show their evolution. There are also three-climate controlled pavilions for tropical, warm weather and desert plants.

Brooklyn Academy of Music
A multiarts center, the Brooklyn Academy of Music dates to the mid-19th century and includes an opera house, a smaller theater, and movie theater and rehearsal space.
The academy became an important center for innovative performance arts — music, dance and theater — during the tenure of executive director Harvey Lichtenstein (1967-99). Upcoming productions include operas by New York City Opera, French baroque opera conducted by William Christie, the Royal Ballet of Cambodia and Dance Africa, jazz concerts, visual arts and talks.

Barclays Center
A multipurpose sports and entertainment arena, the Barclays Center opened in September with a concert by Jay-Z and is home to the Brooklyn Nets NBA team.
The indoor arena is the first built in New York City since 1969 and cost $1 billion. It was designed for basketball, seats more than 17,000 and offers a close connection to the action.

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Tourism Tuesday Featuring The Empire State Building

A symbol of aspirations and dreams; beacon for the domestic and international tourist alike. This National Historic Landmark is the world’s most famous office building that soars a quarter mile over the heart of Manhattan. The Empire State Building is the most visited tourist attraction in New York City. This is why Royal Luxury Limousines is focusing our first Tourism Tuesday on this amazing landmark.

Visit The Observation Decks

The observatories on a clear day will allow visitors to see Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Delaware and Pennsylvania from the 86th and 102nd floor. The glass-enclosed pavilion and open-air promenade offer a panoramic view from 1,050 feet above the city’s streets. If you head up another 200 feet, to the 102nd floor observatory, there is a serene and private perch in the middle of NYC.

Opened in 1931 this landmark has around four million visitors each year. For you’re viewing pleasure the observation decks are home to high-powered binoculars, and for those who need it, it’s wheelchair-accessible.

A Little About The Empire State Building

Did you know that this building soars an amazing 1,454 feet over Midtown Manhattan? This building has been deemed “Worlds Most Famous Office Building” Attracting first-rate tenants, with a diverse array of industries that are represented from around the world. The Broadcasting technology that this skyscraper contains, supports all the major FM radio stations and Major television stations in the New York Metropolitan market. The observatory is the world’s most beloved attraction and tourist destination in New York City.

Enrich Your Visit By Visiting The New Documentary-Style Exhibit On The 80th Floor

The Empire State Building is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, and as a special tribute to this global icon’s astonishing history, they are unveiling a permanent exhibit to showcase the astounding history, construction and engineering. Illustrating three main themes in this exhibit. The first main theme is about speed. Showcasing how the original construction took only eleven months starting on April 7, 1930 and the completion of this monumental office building was on March 31, 1931. Next you will see the Scale theme. This record-breaking tower is gigantic in every dimension, and required immense equipment and materials. It is the largest man-made structure in the world. Lastly, they focused on Steel as a theme. Intricately designed the buildings’ steel frame is made with remarkable proportions. Every aspect of the construction is extraordinary.

This exhibit shares remarkable facts, and reproductions of nostalgic mementos and photos that showcase over 3,400 workers who helped to make this historic building. This also showcases documents and stunning period photographs, architectural renderings and sketches, daily bookkeeping, construction notes and so much more.

Visit Any Day Of The Year

The Empire State Building welcomes visitors 365 days a year from 8:00a.m till 2:00a.m. When you go to the Empire State Building don’t forget to visit all the restaurants and shops that are located in the main lobby to help enhance your experience.

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Royal Luxury Limousines Brings You A Close Up Of World Renowned Central Park

New York City is renowned for its many features, attractions, Broadway shows, Nightlife, and some of the greatest tourist attractions in the world. When visiting New York City Royal Luxury Limousines suggest that you stop in and visit Central Park. There is something to discover there for everyone. From sports, guided tours, or relaxing in this extraordinary park.

Learning About Central Park

Have you ever wondered how big the park actually is? There are 843 acres, which actually equals 6% of Manhattan’s acreage. 150 acres are in 7 waterbodies; 250 are of lawn, and 136 are woodlands. If you were to walk the whole length of the park, you would have to walk 6 miles. Other than having a large amount of land for all your park pleasures, this park is host to 21 playgrounds. These are spread throughout the park in different locations. If you are looking for a more artistic view of the park, it offers 48 fountains, sculptures, and monuments. Central Park is host to 275 species of migratory birds for your viewing pleasure, and gives you a great chance to take some pictures of birds you may not see elsewhere. There are also eight designated quiet zones for all your relaxing pleasures.

Discover All That Central Park Has To Offer You

Enjoy The Woodland

The Conservancy provides visitors with a series if tools and programs to help experience all 130 acres of woodland that you wouldn’t be able to enjoy otherwise. The park has three woodlands, The Rumble, The North Woods and The Hallett Nature Sanctuary. These provide an oasis of nature in the most densely built urban environments around the world. Although you may think, these parks are natural, they, have in, fact been specially designed to provide visitors a rustic escape from their urban life.

Try Something Different With The Harlem Meer Social Hour

When you want time out, but don’t want to be stuck in a crowed bar, or nightclub, you can come on down to the Harlem Meer Social Hour. Here you will be introduced to a new way to enjoy happy hour. Every Thursday from 6:30pm till 8pm the Conservancy host a different program from nature walks, live jazz, composting workshops, seasonal cooking demonstrations, book signings and readings, film screening and much more. The program is free to all adults who want to try something different.

Things To Enjoy During Your Visit

If you travel with your pet, there is a program that’s called central Park Paws that allows you and your pet to walk through the park and meet other owners and the dogs can play and burn off their energy. If you enjoy softball or baseball, you can sit and watch a game on any of the 26 ball fields. Do you have a love of checkers or chess? Then you can play against other individuals in the park at the chess & checkers’ house, while surrounded by the parks natural beauty. Finish the day off, relaxing at the catch-and-release fishing center.

There is so much to do in Central Park, that you could spend the whole day there and not see or experience even half of what this amazing park has to offer. There’s a reason this park is known around the world, you should stop in and find out why for yourself.

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Royal Luxury’s Introduction to Tourism Tuesday

Striving to become leader in the transportation and entertainment industry, we are always looking for new ways to make our customers traveling experiences as simple as possible. This is why we are excited to announce that in 2013, we will be adding “Tourism Tuesday” to our website features.

What Is Tourism Tuesday All About?

Each Tuesday we will be posting an in depth look at one feature of New York City. One week may be New York Hotels. Providing information on the most exclusive hotels or the best hotels to lodge at when you are on a tight budget and all it’s services, surrounding entertainment, cost, or any other pieces of information that you may find useful.

The following week we could take a look into the best shows on and off Broadway. The prices for these shows, things to do before and after a show that can all be found in the same area. The best tours when you’re on a budget or when price is not an issue for all your sight seeing adventures. We will work our way through attractions that New York City is famous for, and ones they may not be known for.

Of course we cannot forget shopping! One thing to do when visiting NYC is to shop. We will dive into where’s hot, where’s not, where to shop when money is no object, or the best designer stores that are meant for any budget. Of course while in NYC you need to know the most dynamic and diverse restaurants to dine in, and where to find them, along with what price range you should be looking at. We will be including spas that will meet all of your relaxation needs and many more highlights to be found while visiting New York City.

We will look at items from a business trip perspective to a family vacation, or a weekend away with friends. Our goal is to provide individuals with as much information all located on one web page for all their requirements while in New York City.

Offering More Than The Average Website

Our Tourism Tuesday will be a great addition to our new Flash Forward Fridays. Our Flash Forward Friday posts will highlight the most popular attractions, Broadway events, Activities to do, and nightlife clubbing in New York City in the upcoming week.

Royal Luxury Limousine is already the leader in providing a vast range of limos for all your special days, corporate events, business trips, and girls or guys’ nights out on the town, for the big game, or any other reason you need to hire a limousine. With fifteen customized limos to suit your taste, we offer our valued customers the option that if they want a vehicle that is not on our website, to let us know, and we will find it for you.

Royal Luxury is aiming to be your one stop shop for all your New York City informational needs, and transportation requirements.