The 86th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

America’s favorite holiday tradition returns once more to dazzle and enchant millions nationwide with its signature magic. On Thursday, Nov. 24, 2011 at 9 a.m., the 85th Anniversary Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® will take to the streets of New York City with a cornucopia of whimsical treats for the whole family. From new giant character helium balloons, including Paul Frank’s iconic monkey Julius and Sonic the Hedgehog, to out-of–this world floats including ZHU-NIVERSE! and Frozen Fall Fun, the magic begins at the sound of Let’s Have A Parade! This iconic phrase has catapulted gaggles of clowns, exciting performance groups, pulse-pounding marching bands, celebrities and the one-and-only Santa Claus down the streets of Manhattan for 85 years of unrivaled wonder.

In 1924, a foundation was set for an incomparable procession that has grown into a world-famous icon. Giving thanks while giving back to New York and the nation, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has become the benchmark for pageantry and the official kick-off celebration to the holiday season.

Before the event kicks-off, the ribbon must be cut and the iconic words “Let’s Have a Parade” must be shouted, as has been the tradition since 1924. Joining parade Executive Producer Amy Kule for this very special moment are kids from Tuesday’s Children, a family service organization that has made a long-term commitment to every individual impacted by the events of September 11. This ribbon-cutting is meant to signify both a moment of remembrance and serve as an uplifting tribute to the lives lost on that day 10 years ago.

Ready for it 85th anniversary edition, the parade of wonder will feature 15 giant character balloons; 44 novelty/ornament balloons, balloonicles and balloonheads; 27 floats; 1,600 cheerleaders, dancers and performance group members; 800 clowns; 11 marching bands; a host of celebrity performers, and the one-and-only Santa Claus.

Also joining the balloon procession is a special creation by world-renowned filmmaker and artist Tim Burton. B., a lonely balloon boy outsider with a special wish to fly in the Macy’s parade, will debut as the line-up’s latest acquisition for its “Blue Sky Gallery” series. The airborne gallery features inflatable versions of artistic works by world-renowned modern artists. Previous marches have featured balloons by Tom Otterness, Jeff Koons, Keith Haring and Takashi Murakami.

Rounding out the new balloon cast will be the extremely outspoken and affable Aflac Duck balloonicle, a recreation of the 1948 Harold the Policeman balloon, and the winning design of Macy’s nationwide Great American Elf Adventure which invited the public to design a new Elf balloon for the parade - Keith Lapinig’s Gazer.

Returning buoyant balloon favorites will include Buzz Lightyear, Clumsy Smurf, Diary of A Wimpy Kid, “Super Cute” Hello Kitty, Kermit the Frog, Kung Fu Panda™, Pikachu, Pillsbury Doughboy®, Ronald McDonald®, Sailor Mickey, Snoopy the Flying Ace, Spider-Man® and SpongeBob SquarePants.

The parade’s wonder-filled floating stages depict the familiar and the out-of-this world. From a hometown hockey game with a twist to a wonderland of fun, the five new floats set to join the parading fun will have audiences mesmerized, leaving behind a trail of enchantment. Completing the convoy of 27 floats the magic on board for the ride include scenes depicting a Turkey Day slap shot showdown on the Frozen Fall Fun float, the celebration of the nation’s beacon of hope and liberty on the Gift of Freedom, the special nod to Macy’s parade history on the Hats Off To Our Heritage float, the frolicking celebration aboard P.B. Polar Bear, and the zhany fun found on the ZHU-NIVERSE!

The returning float roster includes 1-2-3 Sesame Street, Big Apple, Bridge To The Future, Christmas in Central Park, Dora’s Christmas Carol Adventure, Elves Raise the Roof, Home Baked Goodness, International Cele-bear-ation Clock Tower, Jolly Polly Pirate Ship, Local Heroes Helping Everyday, Macy’s Parade Drum, Marion-Carole Showboat, Mount Rushmore’s American Pride, On the Roll Again, Pep Rally, Santa’s Sleigh, The Smurfs?, Snoopy’s Doghouse, Tom Turkey, The True Spirit of Thanksgiving, Wild West Express and Woodland Family Gathering.

Set to get the party started and bring the beat to the holiday spectacular, America’s best marching bands will hit all the right notes as they step into the spotlight. After more than a year’s worth of preparation, the 11 marching bands set to wow the crowds with their musical and marching ability are ready for the start of the holiday season. Representing their home state and local community, the bands in the line-up are truly the best of the best. Stepping-off to kick start the holidays will be Carmel High School, Carmel, IN; Dobyns-Bennett High School, Kingsport, TN; Na Koa Ali’l: Hawaii All-State Marching Band, Hawaii; Homestead High School, Cupertino, CA; Homewood High School, Homewood, AL; Legacy High School, Broomfield, CO; Miami University; Oxford, OH; Nation Ford High School, Fort Mill, SC; NYPD Marching Band, New York, NY; Plymouth-Canton Educational Park, Canton, MI; and Macy’s Great American Marching Band, featuring students from all 50 states.

The parade’s most ardent purveyors of razzle dazzle are the nation’s most entertaining performance groups. They add a dose of dance, pomp, cheer and vocal acrobatics that set the stage for a celebration. From cheerleaders to a Bolivian dance ensemble, this year’s parade features a host of unique performers. Set to wow the crowds are performers 610 Stompers, Alma Boliviana, Camp Broadway, CAP 21, Mobile Azalea Trail Maids, Spirit of America Dance, Stagedoor Manor, United We Sing and Varsity Spirit Cheer.
Taking the stage to help spread holiday cheer will be stars from music, film, stage, sports and television, who are set to perform for the nation at Macy’s famed red star mark on 34th Street. Stars joining the festivities this year include Rodney Atkins, the Big Apple Circus, Mary J. Blige, Cobra Starship, Michael Feinstein, The Fresh Beat Band, Cee Lo Green, Avril Lavigne, Shelby Lynne, Mannheim Steamroller, China Anne McClain, Scotty McCreery, Ingrid Michaelson, the cast and Muppets of Sesame Street, Savannah Outen, Power Rangers Samurai, Miss America 2011 Teresa Scanlan, Willard Scott, Straight No Chaser, U.S. Naval Academy Glee Club, Johnny Weir and Zendaya.

Since its first national broadcast in 1948, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has been the nation’s star attraction. Regularly one of the country’s most viewed events, millions of families tune-in from coast-to-coast to watch the telecast. This year, the TODAY Show’s Matt Lauer, Ann Curry and Al Roker will treat viewers from 9 a.m. to Noon, in all time zones in the United States, to Thanksgiving’s best entertainment special. On board to add an extra dose of star power are exclusive performances from some of the hottest Broadway shows including Daniel Radcliffe and the cast of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Sister Act, and Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark. In addition, the telecast will feature a special performance from the world-famous Radio City Rockettes?.

The 85th Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade will step-off this year at 77th Street and Central Park West. The procession will travel down to Columbus Circle, turn onto Central Park South before making a right turn to march down 7th Avenue to 42nd Street. The Parade will then turn east towards 6th Avenue where it will march down the Avenue of the Americas. At 34th Street, the parade will make its final turn west marching in front of Macy’s Herald Square. The Parade will begin promptly at 9 a.m. and end at Noon.

A Holiday Treat for Children Everywhere, the motto of the Macy’s Parade has stood for 85 years, and will continue to usher in the season of joy for years to come.

More information on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is available to the general public at www.macys.com/parade or via the Parade Hotline at (212) 494-4495.
PLEASE NOTE ALL TALENT, PERFORMANCES, LINE-UP AND INFORMATION INCLUDED ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Our thanks to Scott Buttrum, Oklahoma City LGBT Events Examiner for this great story……

The History of the NYC Marathon

This Sunday, November 6th, 2011, marks the 41st year of the ING NYC Marathon.

Around the world, the word "marathon" evokes images of New York City. Before the New York race began, marathons were modest events run by a few athletes and followed by a few fans interested in the limits of human endurance. New York Road Runners and marathon co-founder Fred Lebow changed that. Today many marathons are huge media events that take over entire cities around the globe. None is as prominent as the ING New York City Marathon, but all city marathons are modeled on it. Modern marathoning owes its start -- and its world-class status -- to New York.
The first New York City Marathon, though, was a humble affair. In 1970, 127 runners paid the $1 entry fee to NYRR to participate in a 26.2-mile race that looped several times within Central Park. Fifty-five runners crossed the finish line.When Lebow redrew the course through all five New York boroughs six years later, not everyone could appreciate his vision. But 2,090 runners lined up at the start for the chance to run from Staten Island through Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx to Manhattan. The expanded course attracted two-time Olympic marathon medalist Frank Shorter, along with reporters and television cameras. Thousands of spectators lined the streets and cheered the runners. By reconfiguring the course, Lebow had drawn the city together and attracted recognition around the world.
The New York City Marathon's unique mix of athletics, neighborhood spirit, and international media attention soon attracted the world's best runners to the annual fall race. By the late 1970s, the running boom was exploding and New York was at the center. More than 9,000 people participated in 1978 when Norwegian Grete Waitz set a women's marathon world record, finishing in 2:32:30.
Several men's and women's records fell in the early years, but the New York race was soon about more than speed. When international sanctions against South African athletes were lifted in 1992, Willie Mtolo chose to run New York. He bested the field and garnered media coverage around the world. When Tegla Loroupe broke the tape at the Central Park finish in 1994, her win proved that African women were on par with the African men in their ability to run the 26.2-mile distance. She did it in New York, and the world took notice. Soon Kenyan women were invited to other major distance races.

While the marathon has always been a focus of community spirit, with more than two million New Yorkers lining the streets to support the runners, that aspect of the race was most apparent in November 2001. Less than two months after the September 11 terrorist attacks, the New York City Marathon became a race of hope and renewal for participants, spectators, and all New Yorkers, and patriotism ran high as the marathon hosted the men's and women's USA Marathon Championships.

Forty years after its start, the ING New York City Marathon continues to grow in size and to be the leader among marathons around the world.

Story courtesty of the ING NYC Marathon

Getting Spooky in NYC this Halloween

People have reported seeing ghosts in New York City for hundreds of years. These famous locations in New York City are purported to be haunted -- while you may not see a ghost in any of New York City's haunted spots, some of the stories that explain the haunting are just as scary. If you are out and about in NYC today, try visiting some of this spooky venues…

1. Bridge Cafe
279 Water St
The building dates back to 1794, but the Bridge Cafe's life as a drinking establishment first began in 1847 when it was opened as a porter house, making it New York City's oldest bar. Just under the Brooklyn Bridge, rumors of ghosts of the pirates who frequented the bar continue.

2. Belasco Theatre
111 West 44th Street
Numerous accounts of haunting at one of New York City's oldest theaters including sightings of the building's builder and namesake, David Belasco, who lived in an apartment at the top of the theater before his death in 1931. His ghost is said to interact with actors, offering kudos and handshakes, and many have reported hearing footsteps and the disconnected elevator running. Sightings of the Blue Lady, possibly Belasco's companion, have been reported numerous times.

3. Beth Israel Hospital
First Ave. at 16th St.
Many people have reported hearing unexplained footsteps, noises, and voices throughout the hospital.

4. Chumley's
86 Bedford St
This West Village speakeasy claims to be visited by former bar mistress and owner, Henrietta Chumley, who comes to drink a Manhattan. The former owner also makes her presence known by messing with the restaurant's jukebox.

5. The Dakota
Central Park West at 72nd St.
In the sixties, the ghost of a young boy/young man was seen by a couple of construction workers at The Dakota. A girl dressed in turn-of-the-century clothing was seen by painters working at the building several years later. John Lennon, who was murdered outside the Dakota in 1980, is also rumored to haunt the area around the undertakers gate. To add to the eerieness, the building was also the setting for Roman Polanski's Rosemary's Baby.

6. Ear Inn
326 Spring St
Haunted by Mickey, who was killed when he was hit by a car in front of the Inn, a sailor who lived in the Ear Inn when it was a boarding house.

7. Empire State Building350 Fifth Avenue
Various sightings have been reported of suicide victims who jumped from the Empire State Building's observatory.

8. Landmark Tavern626 11th Ave (46th St)
Opening in 1868, waiters at the Landmark Tavern believe the restaurant is haunted by an Irish girl and a Confederate soldier.

9. Manhattan Bistro
129 Spring Street
This SoHo building is haunted by a young woman, Elma Sands, who was murdered in December 1799 and dropped in a well which is now in the restaurant's basement. Sands alleged murderer, Levi Weeks, was never convicted despite strong evidence. Evidence of the ghost's presence include ashtrays knocked off tables, plates being broken on the floor, and bottles flying off shelves.

10. Morris-Jumel Mansion
65 Jumel Terrace (between West 160th and 162nd Streets)
Built in 1765 as a summer home for British Colonel Roger Morris and his wife, the Morris-Jumel Mansion is the oldest remaining house in Manhattan. Several ghosts are reputed to haunt the mansion: Eliza Jumel, former mistress of the mansion, has been seen wandering the house in a purple dress, rapping on walls and windows; the ghost of a young servant girl who committed suicide by jumping out a window has been seen in the mansion's servants quarters; and a soldier from the American Revolution, who's picture hangs on a wall in the mansion, has also been seen.

The Martinique Cocktail

Flashback to the 1880’s, New York was hopping with upscale bars, celebrity mixologists and finely crafted, complex cocktails featuring top-shelf liquors and fresh fruits and herbs.

The Party ended( officially, at least) in 1919, when the Volstead Act prohibited the production, sales and consumption of “intoxicating liquors.” Prohibition simply led to the speakeasy – where guests gained entry via a password and were encouraged to “speak easily” to avoid police raids.

During the 60 or so years following Prohibition’s repeal in 1933, cocktails evolved into the simple ( martinis and gin & tonics), the neat ( scotch on the rocks a’la Mad Men.) The bartender at the Martinique Grille in the Radisson Martinique, has reintroduced the pre-Prohibition cocktail–“ The Martinique Cocktail” mixed with Jamaican Rum, fresh fruit and juices. Enjoy this Century old cocktail – “Oh, and Bottoms Up! “

The History of the Martinique - Part 4

The Martinique in the Gilded Age…..and Now!

The heart of the Gilded Age of New York still survives, virtually intact, in the “Ladies' Mile District”. You can still experience the Manhattan of Diamond Jim Brady and Edith Wharton with its internationally renowned department stores and specialty shops, New York’s early skyscrapers, and its extraordinary Beaux-Arts architecture.

At the turn of the century, Richard Harding Davis of the New York Sun noted that "private carriages line the curb in quadruple lines, and the pavement is impressively studded with white-breeched grooms." It was here that the most elegant ladies came to buy the finest objects sold in America. First Ladies, such as Mrs. Grant and Mrs. Cleveland, came up from Washington to buy special outfits at Arnold Constable on Broadway at 19th Street. When Isabella Stewart Gardner came down from Boston to buy diamonds, she came to Tiffany's on Union Square.

New York Magazine and the New York Times christened it the Flatiron District, photographers call it the Photo District, real-state agents call it Midtown South, but its most nostalgic name is the old one: The Ladies' Mile. It was said that “all of America goes to New York for its shopping when it can."

The Ladies' Mile extended up Broadway to Madison Square. This intersection of Broadway, Fifth, and 23rd Street was a favorite corner for "people watching". The Ladies' Mile, however, was not just for ladies or their shopping. Concert halls, theaters, galleries, wholesalers, interior decorators Elsie de Wolfe and Associated Artists, and the offices of publishers and architects were clustered together in what is now called the Flatiron District. It was the center for the sale of pianos, with Steinway, Chickering, Sohmer, Knabe, Weber, and Decker among the dozens of showrooms for what was then a major New York industry.

Just as it was in 1900, The Radisson Martinique is a stunning Beaux Arts building in the heart of midtown Manhattan. Still amidst the excitement, it is within walking distance to the Empire State Building, Broadway Theaters, Madison Square Garden, Penn Station, Macy’s and the Chelsea Art Galleries and Restaurants.

The History of the Martinique - Part 3

The Founding of the PGA -
A long-running success story, The PGA of America grew from a meeting on April 10, 1916, in the 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.' "

The History of the Martinique - Part 2

The Roaring Twenties, also known as the Jazz Age, was an exciting time in New York City. Prohibition, the “Charleston, and the inimitable Flapper were in the daily headlines. One newspaper article of the time described the flapper as such: “Take two bare knees, two rolled stockings, two flapping galoshes, one short skirt, one lipstick, one powder puff, 33 cigarettes, and a boyfriend with a flask. Season with a pinch of salt and dash of pep, and cover all with some spicy sauce, and you will have the flapper”.

Broadway in the 1890s was said to have a “cham­pagne sparkle.” “All the world came to Broadway to shop, to dine, to flirt, to find amusement, and to meet acquaintances,” wrote Henry Collins Brown, curator of the Museum of the City of New York. The Hotel Martinique opened in 1900 amidst the boom of hotel and theater life on Broadway. The Metropolitan Opera stood close by on 39th Street and a series of other fine hotels reached up to Times Square.

Shortly after the Hotel Martinique opened, plans to open Pennsylvania Station were announced and Macy’s opened on Herald Square while the PATH extended to 33rd Street. It was the perfect time for William R. H. Martin, owner and namesake of the Hotel Martinique, to submit the plans to double the size of the Hotel Mar­tinique. Martin hired the Hotel Martinique’s original architect, the renowned Henry Hardenbergh who also designed the Dakota Apartments, the original Waldorf Astoria Hotels and the Plaza Hotel.

On December 21, 1910, the enlarged Hotel Martinique opened with a total of 600 rooms. As a line of elegantly dressed guests arrived in horse drawn carriages at this Beaux Arts masterpiece they were immediately im­pressed. Guests entered into a vast lobby, which also featured an inspiring mosaic-tile floor and an 18-story spiral staircase, both of which are still very much intact today. The lobby proudly displayed a stunning, large, floor standing, historic clock. It was built in the 15th Century T.H. Crawford, Royal Clockmaker to King James I-King of Scots.

The History of the Martinique - Part 1

In the late 1800’s, developer William R. H. Martin (hence the name Martinique), had invested heavily in real estate in this area of the city. He built, and expanded he Hotel in response to the growth of entertainment, shopping, and transportation activities in this busy midtown section.

Martin hired the distinguished architect Henry J. Hardenbergh, who had acquired a reputation for his luxury hotel designs, including the original Waldorf and Astoria Hotels, as well as the Plaza Hotel. The Martinique was constructed in three phases; 1897-98; 1901-03; and 1909- 11. In Hardenberg’s hotel and apartment house designs, he created picturesque compositions based on Beaux-Arts precedents, giving special care to interior planning and appointments.

For the sixteen-story, French Renaissance-inspired style Hotel Martinique, the architect capitalized on the openness made possible by Greeley Square, to show off the building's boldly-scaled mansard roof, with its towers, and ornate dormers. The glazed brick, terra cotta, and limestone- clad structure also features rusticated stonework,balconies and prominent cartouches on all three of its main facades: Broadway,32nd Street and 33rd Street. Despite having been created in three sections, the building maintains a harmonious street presence on all three facades.

The Radisson Martinique is part of the National Trust Historic Hotels of America; a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation

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.

Fringe NYC Begins August 12th, 2011

The New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC) is the largest multi-arts festival in North America, with more than 200 companies from all over the world performing for 16 days in more than 20 venues. In addition to 1200 incredible performances. Although FringeNYC is a production of The Present Theatre Company, Inc., it takes:

75,000 audience members
5,000 artists
2,000 registered volunteers
1,200 performances
200 shows
20 venues
16 days
15 dollar advance tickets and
2 full-time employees

to make FringeNYC happen.

For more information about shows and locations, please visit http://www.fringenyc.org/

NYC Restaurant Week Extended!

Due to overwhelming demand and great success, NYC Restaurant week has been extended till September 5th, 2011. Enjoy great lunch and dinner deals at some of the most exclusive restaurants in NYC! Visit the official website for details and reservations...

NYC Restaurant Week Has Begun...

Celebrate the 20th annual NYC Restaurant Week July 11–24 with $24.07 lunch, $35 dinner, events, giveaways and more.

NYC Restaurant Week is New York City's original dining celebration. As the country's first-ever restaurant week, it debuted in 1992 when it was developed as a one-time culinary event to welcome the Democratic National Convention (DNC) to the City. Though created to appeal to delegates and other DNC attendees, the program—with 95 participating restaurants—also found a strong following among residents excited to dine at some of the City’s top restaurants for a fraction of the usual cost—$19.92 for a three-course lunch—and who wanted NYC Restaurant Week to be a recurring event.

Over the past 20 years, NYC Restaurant Week has grown tremendously yet has remained committed to giving visitors and residents the opportunity to experience the quality, variety and hospitality that embody the NYC dining experience.

With more than 320 restaurants participating this summer—a new record—there are even more reasons to celebrate NYC Restaurant Week, one of the City’s most exciting and anticipated events, and a pioneer in the dining community.

Fleet Week in NYC

Since 1984, New York City has held Fleet Week to honor the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The week features extensive military demonstrations, as well as the opportunity for the public to tour some of the visiting ships. The Memorial Day commemoration is a highlight of the week's festivities, featuring the singing of Taps and a military aircraft fly over in honor of those who lost their lives in service to the United States.

What Is There To Do During Fleet Week?:
•Tour visiting ships
•lectures
•watch the parade of ships in the harbor
•watch competitions, including tug of war and eating contests
•Memorial Day ceremony
•musical performances by sailors and marines

All events are free, unless they are held at the USS Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, which means you'll need to buy tickets to enter the museum (though admission to the Intrepid is free for active and retired military). All events are held in Manhattan, unless otherwise indicated.

For more information visit The Offficial Intrepid Air, Sea and Space Museum website.

Pet Friendly Stays at the Radisson Martinique

Did you know that the Radisson Martinique is a pet friendly hotel offering special packages for pet owners and their furry friends?

"The Privileged Pet Package” :

For You: - Overnight Accommodations with Breakfast
For your Pooch: - Doggie Welcome Bag - Dog Walking Map with list of nearby parks and play areas, resource guide for groomers, pet boutiques, taxi and emergency services. - Privileged Pooch Room Service Menu - Pet Deposit and Fee included in Rate.

To book this package online click here

King Kong Takes Manhattan

This month in New York City History, King Kong made his famous appearance at the top of the Empire State Building. King Kong opened at the 6,200-seat Radio City Music Hall in New York City and the 3,700-seat RKO Roxy across the street on Thursday, March 2, 1933. The film was preceded by a stage show called Jungle Rhythms. Crowds lined up around the block on opening day, tickets were priced at $.35 to $.75, and, in its first four days, every one of its ten-shows-a-day were sold out - setting an all-time attendance record for an indoor event. Over the four day period, the film grossed $89,931.

The film had its official world premiere on March 23, 1933 at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. The 'big head bust' was placed in the theater's forecourt and a seventeen-act show preceded the film with The Dance of the Sacred Ape performed by a troupe of African American dancers the highpoint. Kong cast and crew attended and Wray thought her on-screen screams distracting and excessive. The film opened nationwide on April 10, 1933, and worldwide on Easter Day in London, England.

Kong did not receive any Academy Awards nominations. Selznick wanted to nominate O'Brien and his crew for a special award in visual effects but the Academy declined. Such a category did not exist at the time and would not exist until 1938. Sidney Saunders and Fred Jackman received a special achievement award for the development of the translucent acetate/cellulose rear screen — the only Kong-related award.

The film has since received some significant honors. In 1975, Kong was named one of the 50 best American films by the American Film Institute, and, in 1991, the film was deemed "culturally, historically and aesthetically significant" by the Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. In 1998, the AFI ranked the film #43 on its list of the 100 greatest movies of all time.

King Kong remains a staple in american pop culture and one of the many films to highlight New York City and the Empire State Building.

ON this Date in NYC History

On this date in NYC history a panel is appointed to plan the layout of streets for a growing New York City. Its members will ultimately recommend a grid pattern running east-west and north-south.

Manhattan's population was growing so rapidly around 1800 that the state government realized it needed a plan for organizing the land on the island. The government wanted to simplify how land was bought and sold and to promote public health by encouraging "free and abundant circulation of air" between buildings.

Back then, much of Manhattan was still filled with forests, hills, ponds, and swamps. Rather than let nature determine the city's layout, a commission -- lead by Mayor De Witt Clinton -- proposed reshaping the land and planning for its future development. This meant leveling hills, filling in swamps, and laying out a plan for future streets, as the city expanded to the north.div>


n 1811, the commission presented its plan on an eight-foot map. It recommended that New York be divided up into twelve avenues running north to south, and 155 streets running east to west. This plan sliced Manhattan into about 2,000 blocks. In the spirit of democracy, the avenues and streets were assigned numbers rather than names.The commission was clearly looking toward the city's future, since fewer than 100,000 people lived in Manhattan at the time. The 1811 grid was planned for a day when the population would be more than a million!

Maya Angelou...A Phenomenal Woman Phenomenally

Dr. Maya Angelou is one of the most renowned and influential voices of our time. Hailed as a global renaissance woman, Dr. Angelou is a celebrated poet, memoirist, novelist, educator, dramatist, producer, actress, historian, filmmaker, and civil rights activist. Born on April 4th, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri, Dr. Angelou was raised in St. Louis and Stamps, Arkansas. In Stamps, Dr. Angelou experienced the brutality of racial discrimination, but she also absorbed the unshakable faith and values of traditional African-American family, community, and culture. Angelou is one of the most honored writers of her generation. She has been honored by universities, literary organizations, government agencies, and special interest groups. Her honors include a National Book Award nomination for I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, a Pulitzer Prize nomination for her book of poetry, Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie,a Tony Award nomination for her role in the 1973 play Look Away, and three Grammys for her spoken word albums.In 1995, Angelou's publishing company, Bantam Books, recognized her for having the longest-running record (two years) on The New York Times Paperback Nonfiction Bestseller List. In 1998, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.She has served on two presidential committees,and was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2000 and the Lincoln Medal in 2008.Musician Ben Harper has honored Angelou with his song "I'll Rise", which includes words from her poem, "And Still I Rise." She has been awarded over thirty honorary degrees. Happy Birthday Dr. Angelou, your work continues to inspire us...

The 2011 Macy's Flower Show

Spring is in bloom Sunday March 27th and Sunday April 10th 2011 at the annual Macy's Flower Show! Step into Towers of Flowers and discover a magical world of soaring floral architecture, magnificent rolling landscapes and specialty gardens bursting with color, fragrance and imagination. Featured Gardens - Main Floor Antebellum Garden Featured along the main aisle, this new garden is inspired by the flora of the American Southeast. Transport yourself to the gardens of Charleston, Savannah and Atlanta as you take in the palmetto palms, dogwoods, gardenias, magnolias and camellias. Japanese Garden Presented by Carnegie Hall's Japan NYC Festival, the Japanese garden, located along the 35th street aisle, is a quiet, peaceful space featuring plants, materials and design from the Far East. Look forward to seeing different kinds of bamboo, heavenly palms, azaleas, pines, cypress and mums. Presented by Carnegie Hall Japan NYC. Tropical Garden A celebration of the earth's bounty to humanity, the Tropical Garden features trees and shrubs that grow in equatorial areas around the world and produce everyday delicacies such as cacao (chocolate), coffee, kumquats, mangos, sugar cane, citrus, papayas and bananas. Hydrangea Garden One of the most beloved flowers of spring, the beautifully big and colorful hydrangea gets its very own garden in the 34th street aisle. Enjoy a gorgeous variety of this crowd favorite including hydrangea trees, oak leaf hydrangeas, lacecap hydrangeas, viburnums opulus, nikko blue and endless summer hydrangeas. Desert Garden If you can stand the heat, head over to our cactus and succulent garden. An array of unusual beauties from hot, dry and arid regions, this garden features barrel cactus, euphorbia, kalanchoe, air plants, saguaro cactus and more. Take a Guided Tour! Experience Macy's Flower Show to the fullest by taking a 20-minute guided tour. Learn how the show was installed, plus get incredible details on this year's flowers and plants. Tours are complimentary and available every half hour between 11 am and 4 pm at Macy's 35th and Broadway entrance.

St. Patrick's Day Parade in NYC

The St. Patrick's Day Parade is one of New York City's greatest traditions. On this day, everyone is Irish in the Big Apple!

The Parade marched for the first time on March 17, 1762 - fourteen Years before the Declaration of Independence was adopted and today it is the largest Parade in the World.

This annual parade has been held for the past 248 years in honor of the Patron Saint of Ireland and the Archdiocese of New York. The Parade is reviewed from the steps of Saint Patrick's Cathedral by His Eminence Cardinal Edward Eagan, Archbishop of New York in the same manner as the Archbishop of New York did in the early days of the Parade at the Old St. Patrick's Cathedral in Lower Manhattan when the Parade was held in Lower Manhattan before the new St Patrick’s was built on Fifth Avenue.

Often regarded as the most popular parade in New York City, the Parade is the largest and most famous of the many parades held in the city each year.

The Parade starts at 44th Street at 11 am and is held every March 17th except when March 17th falls on a Sunday; it is celebrated the day before, Saturday the 16th, because of religious observances. The parade marches up Fifth Avenue past St. Patrick's Cathedral at 50th Street all the way up past the Metropolitan Museum of Art and American Irish Historical Society at 83rd Street to 86th Street, where the parade finishes around 4:30 - 5:00 pm

To this day, the St. Patrick's Day Parade remains true to its roots as a true marchers Parade by not allowing floats, automobiles and other commercial aspects in the Parade. Every year the Parade Committee hosts the 150,000- 250,000 marchers, along with many great bands; bagpipes, high school bands and the ever-present politicians in front of the approx 2 million spectators lining Fifth Avenue. The Parade is televised for four hours on WNBC Channel Four to over half a million households and will be web streamed for the first time in 2008.

The first St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York was held on lower Broadway in 1762 by a band of homesick Irish ex-patriots and Irish military serving with the British Army stationed in the American colonies in New York City. This was a time when the wearing of green was a sign of Irish pride and was banned in Ireland. The parade participants reveled in the freedom to speak Irish, wear the green, sing Irish songs and play the pipes to Irish tunes that were very meaningful to the Irish immigrants who had fled their homeland.
For the first few years of its existence, the parade was organized by military units. After the war of 1812, the Irish fraternal and beneficial societies took over the duties of hosting and sponsoring the event. Originally, the Irish societies joined together at their respective meeting places and moved in a procession toward Old St. Patrick's Cathedral in Lower Manhattan on Mott & Prince Streets where the Archbishop of New York would address the crowd before revelers dispersed to celebrate.
Around 1851 the individual societies merged under a single grand marshal and the size of the parade grew sharply. This was when the "Irish" 69th Regiment began to lead the marchers and the Ancient Order of Hibernians became the official sponsor. In the early 90's, the Parade was attacked for its traditional values and in the resulting law suites the organizers rights were up held all the way to the US Supreme court. These attacks continue today. In 1992 the National AOH directed all AOH organizations to form separate corporations to run events such as the Parade. The Parade is run today by members of the AOH under a separate corporation, St Patrick’s Day Parade Inc.

Since the first Parade, 248 years ago, the Parade today is still escorted by a unit of soldiers; and for the past 150 years or so“The Irish Infantry” National Guard 69th Regiment have lead the Parade up Fifth Avenue, and they are followed by the various Irish societies of the city, the thirty two Irish county societies, and various Schools, collages, Emerald societies, Irish-language, and nationalist societies.

The 2002 parade was dedicated to the 'Heroes of 9/11, ' honoring the police, fire and all rescue workers. At midday, the entire parade paused for two minutes, the Parade at that time stretched one and a half miles and the entire Parade turned around and faced South towards the “TWIN TOWERS” as the Cardinal said a prayer for all the victims of 9/11. This was the first time in history, in the City that never sleeps, one could hear a pin drop on Fifth Avenue, a fitting tribute to the men and women who lost their lives on that fateful day in 2001.
The 2002 Parade was the largest Parade to date with an estimated 300,000 marchers and three million spectators lining Fifth Avenue. This was the first time in history, the President of Ireland (Mary Mc Aleese) reviewed the Parade.

information courtesy of the official St. Patrick's Day Parade Website

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week -
February 10th - February 17th 2011
Lincoln Center

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (previously called Olympus Fashion Week) is a week long series of runway shows where over 70 designers show off their collections for upcoming seasons. There are also lots of parties and celebrations during New York Fashion Week.

Lucky Facebook Fan Giveaway! Win a Weekend for Two!

The Toughest Sport on Earth Returns to NYC

Toughest Sport on Earth!™ returns to Madison Square Garden this January and New Yorkers will once again be treated to unique sights and sounds --- 700 tons of dirt... the top 40 bull riders... and the rankest 2,000 pound bulls in the world!

Don't miss New York's toughest event of the year - the 2011 PBR Madison Square Garden Invitational. This is not a rodeo... this is the one and only PBR!

THREE ACTION-PACKED PERFORMANCES!
Friday, January 7th - 8pm
Saturday, January 8th - 8pm
Sunday, January 9th - 1pm

For more information visit http://www.thegarden.com/events/2011-professional-bull-riders-0111.html