85 Annual Feast of San Gennaro

The 85th Annual Feast of San Gennaro, New York City’s longest-running, biggest and most revered religious outdoor festival in the United States, will be held Thursday, September 15, through Sunday, September 25, 2011, on the streets of historic Little Italy, the lower Manhattan neighborhood which served as the first home in America for hundreds of thousands of Italian immigrants who came here seeking to improve their lives beginning in the early part of the 20th century.

Presented annually since 1996 by Figli di San Gennaro, Inc. (Children of San Gennaro), a not-for-profit community organization dedicated to keeping alive the spirit and faith of the early Italian immigrants, this year’s Feast is expected once again to attract more than one-million people from the four corners of the globe to the streets of Little Italy to participate in the annual Salute to the Patron Saint of Naples.

Although this is an annual celebration of faith, the Feast of San Gennaro is known the world over for its festive atmosphere, an 11-day event featuring religious processions and colorful parades, free musical entertainment every day, a wide variety of ethnic food delicacies, charming restaurants and cafes and even a world-famous cannoli-eating competition! The central focus of the celebration takes place every September 19th, the official Saint Day when a celebratory Mass is held in Most Precious Blood Church, followed immediately by a religious procession in which the Statue of San Gennaro is carried from its permanent home in the church through the streets that comprise Little Italy.

"This Feast of San Gennaro holds a special place in the place of Italian people everywhere,” says Joseph Mattone, President of Figli di San Gennaro, Inc. "It is a festive period of faith and redemption, a time for remembrance and reconciliation, and a time for celebration. The delicious food, the free musical entertainment that reflects Italian-American culture and heritage are all there. The Feast brings the world to Little Italy and Little Italy to the world.”

For Event Schedule please Click Here

NYC Celebrates the Founding of the PGA

A long-running success story, The PGA of America grew from a meeting on April 10, 1916, in the Radisson Martinique's diminutive boardroom where 78 professionals were elected to membership and formed the springboard into the world's largest working sports organization with 27,000 men and women professionals.

The PGA of America needed a catalyst at its founding, and the support came through department store magnate and philanthropist, Rodman Wanamaker.

"Mr. Wanamaker was a visionary," said PGA Past President Roger Warren of Kiawah Island, S.C. "He, too, was willing to support those who had dreams. By encouraging them, he helped them financially. And so we owe a lot to the fact that Rodman Wanamaker saw something in these golf professionals in their dream and their vision, and said, 'I want to help and support you.' "

on August, 31st, 2011, the PGA Gallery at the Radisson Martinique officially opened in grand style with a ribbon cutting ceremony led by Susan Anselona and members of the PGA. To celebrate the event, Mayor Michael Bloomberg proclaimed August 31st PGA Day in New York City. The Radisson Martinique was presented with a Proclamation that will be displayed in the new PGA Gallery at the Martinique.