Let There Be Light

Today marks the official lighting of Rockefeller Center's most beloved resident. Before the actual lighting of the tree, stars Beyonce and The Jonas Brothers will also be lighting up the stage with live performances. The 30,000 solar-powered LED lights will be shining every night from 5:30pm til 11:30pm through January 9th.

Who would have thought New York as a Buyers Market?

It is now. I recently read a Crain's New York Business article quoting numerous hoteliers as "feeling the pain" through declining vacancy rates. They lay the blame directly at the door of Wall Street, but seriously, does the stock market solely run your company's meeting budget? If it doesn't, then right now is the best time of all to be in New York. The forecasters who predict a 20% increase in the cost of rooms for Europeans are forgetting the law of supply and demand. The power of the Dollar and Euro may be in question, but the power of negotiation is reaching peak value. The market adjusts and just yesterday, while walking back to the office, I saw the same restaurants I know so well do the same business as always. Why? They, like all of us, adjusted for the times and are providing more value to their customers than ever. The strengths of New York have always been its diversity and resiliency. Wall Street's struggles will never put the city that never sleeps to bed.

Merry Merry Manhattan

New York's most beloved Christmas tree is on its final course to Manhattan today. A 74-foot tall Norway spruce was hand chosen to decorate Rockefeller Center this season, where it will remain through the New Year. While the official lighting isn't until December 3rd, crews will be 'pining' away through the upcoming weeks to 'spruce' up the 8-ton tree.

Congrats, Mr. President

In a historic moment, on November 4th Barack Obama has been elected to be the 44th President of the United States of America. Having spent 4 years at Columbia University on the Upper West Side of New York City, he is no stranger to the Big Apple and what it has to offer. Officially taking office on January 20th, 2009 we would like to congratulate him on his success.

Happy Halloween!

Channeling Chanel

Chanel in Central Park? A somewhat unlikely combination, but not this fall when the spaceship-like Chanel Pavilion lands smack dab in the middle of it. Zaha Hadid, a London based artichect, was hired to design the 7,400 square foot steel structure, pieced together with white plastic panels. Already on display in Hong Kong, the exhibit will travel from New York to Moscow to Paris over the next year. The sleek, timeless style pays homage to the haute couture brand Chanel. The free exhibit is on display through November 9.

It's Halloween for Hounds

In celebration of man (and woman’s) best friend, this Sunday Times Square will welcome our furry friends to the Fourth Annual Dog Day Masquerade. The afternoon of canine camaraderie will include a costume contest while also raising awareness for one of the City’s largest animal adoption agencies, Animal Haven. What’s better? The infamous Naked Cowboy will be on hand to judge the costumes, with best in show going to the pup that best encompasses the aura of Times Square.

Fall Into Autumn, Part III

It’s once again that time of year to lace up your skates and head out to the rink. This week marks the opening of a number of rinks throughout the city for you to take a spin on. And while you’re at it, why not learn a little bit of the history behind these famous rinks.

World’s Fair Skating Rink – Located in Queens, this ice rink was constructed for the 1939-40 World ’s Fair, and became the first year-round skating facility in the park system.

Abe Stark Rink –Abe Stark named this Coney Island rink after himself when he became a pseudo-celebrity for his sign in Ebbet’s Field (home of the Brooklyn Dodger’s) advertising “Hit Sign, Win Suit. Abe Stark. Brooklyn's Leading Clothier.” Only one suit was ever awarded.

The Pond at Bryant Park – The newest rink on the scene, this Manhattan rink constructed in 2005 welcomes free ice skating. Surrounding the rink is a free standing holiday marketplace modeled after Europe's Christkindlmarkts.

The Rink at Rockefeller Center – More renowned than the Rink itself, Paul Manship’s highly recognizable bronze guilded statue is displayed prominently over The Rink at Rockefeller Center. Featuring the Greek Titan Prometheus, some sources site it as the fourth-most familiar statue in the United States, behind the Lincoln Memorial, Mount Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty. Manship was not particularly fond of it.

Wollman Rink – Perhaps the most famous of city rinks, Wollman Rink was opened in Central Park in 1949, thanks to a $600,000 donation by Kate Wollman. Now owned by the Trump Organization, the rinks official name, Trump Wollman Rink, welcomes nearly 4,000 visitors a day.

Fun Fact: Before Central Park was constructed in the 1870’s, city dwellers would skate on the famous Lake, which was drained to lower levels so no one would crack the ice.

Wine & Food Festival Update

Update: The Bobby Flay demo was great! We were practically within touching distance of Master Chef Flay, who sliced and diced his way to a full Thanksgiving meal. We even got a surprise visit from Giada De Laurentiis, who arrived a bit early for her own demonstration to say hello to the crowd. And of course, no celebrity visit is complete without a book signing, which we scored inside of Chelsea Market where all of the culinary stars were ‘stirring’ about.

Food & Wine & Celebrities, Oh My!

What pairs best with food and wine? Celebrities of course. Enter the New York City Wine and Food Festival, kicking off today with a matchup of the best of all things culinary. Tastings, book signings, and cooking demos will be held around the city this weekend (catch us at the Bobby Flay demo at Highline Ballroom this Saturday). Plenty of giveaways and celebrity sighting are a given, but if you watch (and smell) closely enough, you may even learn a thing or two.

Looking for a Celebrity Chef for your next private event? Ask us about dinner in the test kitchen of one of New York’s most famous chef’s– who will create and execute a menu just for your event!

Fall Into Autumn, Part II

5 Years of Horror. Need I say more? This Lower East Side autumn mainstay has once again come to give New Yorker’s a run for their money. Dubbed ‘Nightmare New York’, this classic walk-through haunted house isn’t for the faint of heart. Their newest fear factor - SAW V room – is a chilling ode to goblins and ghouls from back in the day. Check 'em out, now through November 8. Boo.

Intrepid Makes Waves

The two year renovation of the Intrepid is finally complete! New Yorker’s will welcome back the acclaimed 41,434 ton steel air-craft carrier today, which was commissioned to serve in World War II. Behind the Scenes is what it’s all about, with guests now able to view areas like the Foc’sle (aka the area of the ship that controls the anchors) and crew quarters, giving a real perspective on life aboard the Intrepid. While the official opening date isn’t until November 8, the partnering Museum next door is full steam ahead for incredible events at this one-of-a-kind venue.

Word on the Street

Say what? Magnolia Bakery to open a 3rd location near Rockefeller Center? Say it isn't so.

The latest Word on the Street is that Sex & the City's favorite cupcake shop is slated to open on 49th Street and 6th Avenue before the end of the year.

Sushi Goes Italian

From gray skies to sunny Rome, a great new addition is about to hit Midtown Manhattan. Obika’, the cheese-tastic eatery first opened in the Eternal City, will be landing in the IBM Building this December. Modeled after Japanese sushi-bars, Obika’ is replacing fish with cheese to create delicious concoctions like Mozzarella rolls (Rolled and Sliced Mozzarella di Bufala Campana with Speck and Radicchio) and its own Mozzarella Bar. Bon appétit!

Did Ya Know?

Want to stay in the know on the latest and greatest in NYC? Why not sign up for email updates straight from the source? Just click on the link below, and voila, Shackman Associates will keep you in the loop - free of charge. What could be better?

Batman

Our favorite Illusionist is at it again. David Blaine, the Brooklyn-born magician, will be dangling above Wollman Rink in Central Park – The same spot where he will remain hanging for the next three days. While this is just a stint in the long list of ridiculous stunts (remember the 72 hours emerged in ice?), Blaine is claiming this one to be the most difficult. Calling on sheer willpower inspired by his hero, Harry Houdini, he will hang without sleep or food for the next 60 hours. We checked out David in all his glory this morning, and must say, this one is better left to the winged-creature of the night.

Fall into Autumn, Part I

In ode to my favorite season/holiday/weather in the New York City, this next month will be dedicated to welcoming Fall. Now presenting - Fall into Autumn, 2008.

Just in time for fall, they City Borough’s are heating things up with some food and fun for the masses.

Check out the Queens County Farm Museum Apple Festival, featuring cider-press demos, hayrides, and apples tastings. This year the Musuem plans on breaking the nation’s record for the largest apple cobbler ever baked.

Pick Your Own at the Greenbelt Pumpkin Festival in Staten Island. Along with pumpkin picking, face painting, arts and crafts and a Victorian carousel will be offered, free of charge.

To inspire your inner goblin, the Puppetry Arts Theatre in Brooklyn is presenting its third annual Haunted Halloween Carnival. The theater will be providing puppetry workshops, along with a super-spooky haunted house and silent auction.

The New York Botanical Garden will be offering lessons on how to prepare the garden for the frigid months. Hang around and take some sketches of the beautiful fall foliage.

Pin Up

Looking for a place to wear two-tone shoes, slide across freshly waxed floors, and knock down the competition? Typical run-of-the-mill bowling alleys are no longer making the cut?

Enter the latest in luxe bowling. The newest bowling venue in the city, boasting 26 state of the art lanes, will be setting up pins this October. The main floor is situated into private suites separated by dramatic draping, and includes 2 large screen TV’s, lounge seating and its own billiard table. The venue will also feature an upscale private room, labeled the Luxe Lounge. The Lounge, featuring 4 lanes of bowling, a private bar with lounge area and a 3D (24 foot!) movie screen will be sure to show your employees how VIP they are.

Bullseye Bodega

The official opening day for the Target Bullseye Bodegas proved to be too much to handle. Today swarms of New Yorker’s looking for a bargain bombarded the Bullseye pop-up stores in an effort to snag chic wares for less coin. Over 22 designers are selling their chic wares in the 4 pop-up Target brand stores located throughout the city, with one each in Union Square, Midtown, Soho and the East Village. We took a stroll over to the Midtown store (located in the former Delta Sky 360 Lounge) to take in the show. Sigerson Morrison flats and Anya Hindmarch clutches were flying off the shelves faster than Delta’s fee hikes. Too bad this store will be here and gone in a New York minute.

7 Years Strong, In Memory Of