Duck and Hide

While many other cities have already welcomed the Duck to their home turf, none can beat New York’s. This half boat/half bus has been spreading its wings throughout the city, offering a unique tour of both land and sea. The 1 hour tour begins in the heart of Times Square, followed by a trip to the Hudson River for a taste of the high seas. Want to give the duck a spin? Be forewarned – each guest on the Duck is equipped with a “quacker”, which the company’s ensures will give each guest a “quacken good time”. There are a few other words that come to mind when I hear the outbreak of quacking devices by 50 tourists in duck hats as I’m trying to enjoy a leisurely stroll down the block… Foie Gras and duck confit to name a few.

Going Local

While Los Angeles may be the hub of all things celebrity, New York has proven they can hold their own. NYC & Company has launched a “Just Ask the Locals” campaign where our favorite celebs tell us their hot spot of the hour. From restaurants to shopping to nightlife, superstar locals like P. Diddy, Robert De Niro, Matt Lauer and Ivanka Trump have all cast their vote on what’s hot in the city that never sleeps. The campaign will be featured throughout JFK Airport and New York’s Port Authority, but don’t blink your eyes – Hot spots like these are here and gone in a New York minute.

Yo Mario!

Noted as the only time you’ll get anything for free in New York, Mario (you know, of Mario & Luigi) was stationed outside Midtown today hailing cabs for our busy New Yorker’s. Mario’s free rides are thanks to the promotion of Nintendo’s new racing game - Mario Kart Wii. The game, due to hit stores on April 27, is packages with a Wii wheel controller, which creates the feel of a real race car when steered. But why buy the game when a simple New York cab ride will simulate racing through obstacles (aka pedestrians) at record speeds, risking life and limb at every turn? Sign me up.

Earth to New York

Looking for something to do this weekend? Why not help out our fellow Earth. Grand Central Terminal is hosting an all-weekend festival to celebrate and school us in easy ways to go green. With more than 60 environmental companies, non-profit organizations, and Earth Day New York sponsors, there will be plenty of product samples, Yoga lessons, and volunteer opportunities to satisfy all 8 million of us New Yorker’s. Still not sold? Experience the wall climb – on the side of a 36 foot, vegetable oil powered bus. We aren’t sure if the bus will be moving while we scale it, but we hope it will be.

Hands off the Pope Mobile!

The vatican is not taking any chances with the Pope this week after seeing what happened to the olympic torch recently.

Gettin' Figgy With It

Along with the beautiful weather we’ve been experiencing this week, comes another beautiful restaurant that we couldn't afford to pass up. Last night Fig & Olive opened their 3rd location, in the heart of midtown, with a private reception and tasting of their most scrumptious creations. The 5,000 square foot space boasts a collective of olive oils, a 50-foot marble bar, and 2 floors to get your fig on. On tap for the evening was their signature raspberry mojito, but they also boast an extensive wine list (which we had to sample, to confirm that is was indeed extensive).

Polar Bear Attacks New York Subway

So, the headline isn’t exactly true, but eye catching none the less. This is exactly what NYC art student Joshua Allen Harris had in mind when creating inflatable animals out of garbage bags. While to the naked eye the animals look like nothing more than a pile of garbage on a subway grate, they quickly take on a life of their own with the updraft of a subway train going by below ground. As the wind blows upward through the grates, Harris’ animals fill with air and inflate to life-size animals. After the train has left the station, the bags gracefully deflate into just another piece of trash. Keep an eye out – included in Harris’ entourage is a 6-foot giraffe, ready to jump up on unsuspecting dwellers.

Cherry Watch

As the winter months wither away, the Brooklyn Botanical Garden is flourishing in the annual month-long Cherry Tree celebration. Beginning this weekend, BBG’s 220-plus cherry trees will be flowering into breathtaking blooms. Along with the blossoming buds, the Garden will be showing its appreciation to the Asian ancestry of the Cherry tree with Japanese calligraphy lessons, traditional tea ceremonies, and Asian-inspired gifts at the Hanami gift shop.

Take it to the Streets

While many of us pass it daily, most may not realize that a piece of Germany’s history stands proud amongst the skyscrapers and hubbub of the City.

There are at least five portions of the Berlin Wall located within the New York City. While pieces are located at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum, Gateway Plaza, North Cove Marina, and the World Financial Center, our favorite resides in a somewhat unlikely place. Situated in an alcove on 53rd Street between 5th and Madison Avenues, this segment of the wall was originally located at Waldemarstreet in Berlin. So while you’re walking to work, out shopping, or just looking for something to do – take a look at this magnificent piece of history just outside your door. Peace out.

Toronto Takes a Bite Out of the Big Apple

Starting today, Toronto folks will now be able to fly direct to the Big Apple thanks to Porter Airlines. With 7 daily direct flights from Toronto City Centre to Newark Airport, Porter Airlines will take passengers from Bay Street to Wall Street in a New York minute.

Makeover at the Morgan

It’s renovation central in New York City, with the latest being the renovation of the Morgans Hotel. The chic midtown hotel will begin its $9 Million facelift on May 18 with a total overhaul of the entire hotel. Slated to be completed in September, the hotel will eventually boast a refurbished lobby, guestrooms and penthouse. A high-tech business center will also be added.

But don’t fret just yet – The hotel group’s other stylish hotels – the Royalton and the Hudson, will remain open and welcome to guests during the renovations.

This Spud's For You

While most of New York avoids carbohydrates much like a flesh-eating disease, we welcome with open arms the newest in a string of “specialty” restaurants. Totally Baked, a 14-seat counter-service restaurant has opened on West 18th Street, with only one item on the menu – the Potato. But buyer beware, this is no ordinary spud. The 14-ounce, stuff your own potato comes with your basic toppings like cheese, sour cream and bacon, but dares to be different with add-ons like seared Ahi Tuna and Clam Chowder. Our favorite is the Wild Mushroom potato, loaded with chanterelle, shitake, oyster and crimini mushrooms, topped with challots, chives and a heaping of manchego cheese. Dare to be different? Try the $55 Truffle potato, which comes loaded with truffle butter, truffle oil, truffle salt, and of course, a clogged artery.

Life's A Beach

Long Island City’s favorite playground, Water Taxi Beach, has just received their newest shipment of you guessed it – sand. New Yorker’s can now sink their feet into the revived Beach, which will nearly double its size for the 2008 season. Burgers, beers, and volleyball games will all be in full effect when the beach officially opens this May. The additional 500 tons of sand is being shipped directly from Long Island, so for those of you who can’t make it out to the Hampton’s this summer (or can’t afford to), you can bring a little piece of the Hampton’s glamorous sand to you. Dig in.

Soho Takes it to the Streets

Starting Memorial Day, Soho-savvy shoppers will get to enjoy their jaunts car-free. The area, best known for its avant-garde clothing and flea market bargains, will be shutting down Price Street to vehicles every Sunday, so that fashion-forward eyes can roam freely through the streets. The city’s plan to introduce Sunday strolling has led some residents to worry that the free roam will turn into a boisterous festival rather than a public promenade, but the Department of Transportation confirms that “This is not San Gennaro – there’s no funnel cake.”

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Today, New Yorker’s all have a little-bit-o-Irish in them as we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. New York has their own distinct way of celebrating all things Irish - Wearing Green. Green attire and green hats are standard, but you'll also find green beers, green bagels, green water fountains, and even a green Empire State Building for an American spin on the traditional holiday.
Want to honor thy Irishman? Search no further than St. Patrick’s Roman Cathedral. Looking to take your pride to the street? Show your Gaelic love and cheer on the St. Patrick’s Day Parade (on 5th Avenue, from 44th to 86th Street). Feel that your love is best shown through your passion for beer? Stop by Connolly’s Pub where they have live Irish music, delicious brews and the almighty “Irish corned beef”.

Monster Bash at the MoMa

Last night, the Museum of Modern Art opened its doors to us for a private reception and first-hand view of the two newest installations at the Museum. The first, Color Chart, reflects some forty artists (including Andy Worhol and Frank Stella), and is the first major exhibit devoted to the transformation of color throughout time. The second, and perhaps one of the most awesome exhibits on display, is Design and the Elastic Mind. Put simply, the exhibit shows a designers ability to take advances in technology and turn it into usable art. The exhibits are wild – but none beats the interactive “Shadow Monster” exhibit.

The low down – Standing in front of a projection screen, your hand is magically morphed into a shadow monster, which changes into different “puppets” as you move. Monster-licious sound effects included.

So go on and let your inner monster out of the closet. We won’t tell.

M-E-T-S Mets, Mets, Mets!

We are finally nearing home plate with the completion of the new Met's Stadium. The latest additions? An eye to the environment. While we aren’t changing the team color to green just yet, included in the designs for the new Stadium are a “green roof” on the administration building, recycled steel throughout the core of the stadium, low-flow plumbing and energy efficient lighting for the field. The new stadium, dubbed Citi Field, is set to open for the 2009 season.

In other Mets news, Shea Stadium has announced that their final 2008 season will officially be designated a “Smoke Free Zone”. No longer will smokers have the luxury of smoking butts throughout the Stadium, including the ramps. Like the rest of New York City, smokers will be summoned to go great measures to get their smoke on – Limited to a reserved area outside of the Stadium gates. My heart pours out to you, old faithful smoker, as not even a Triple Grand Slam can keep you in your seat to enjoy your last season at Shea.

Water-less Fountain

In New York’s ongoing quest to go green, we have welcomed yet another spectacle to the infamous Rockefeller Center. Now through April 4, check out the Electric Fountain, a spectacular 3D light sculpture, which will illuminate the Plaza at Rockefeller Center. The 35 foot public artwork is made out of 3,390 LED bulbs, created to replicate the movement of water. With nearly 350,000 people strolling through Rockefeller Plaza complex each day, the Fountain will be sure to make a splash.

Vodka Dreams

In our city’s never ending search for what’s hot, things got down-right chilly as we attended the Vodka on Ice event at one of the city’s premier venues. The Loft, located at Rockefeller Center, offers a beautiful raw space with a huge rooftop garden and reflecting pond. It was here that we were introduced to a variety of organic vodkas, all paired with fruit purees – lollypop style (yummy!). The pops were seated on a bed of ice and displayed with fruit fusion name tags like razzmatazz raspberry and lavender lemon. We mingled, we sipped, and by the end of the evening, things were buzzing in more ways than one!

The Plaza is Back

On our ventures around town this weekend, we couldn’t help but be drawn in by the hundreds of tourists and New Yorker’s alike flocking to the reopening of the famed Plaza Hotel. Two years after closing its doors for renovation, the $400 million project is leaving people with something to talk about. One of the highlights of the restoration – an 1,800 square foot stained-glass ceiling in the Palm Court dining room, portraying a backlit yellow and green geometric design trimmed with roses.
The new renovations have also added something modern to the hotels old-fashioned opulence. Included in each room is a flat-screen TV, iPod docking station, and digital touch screens, but they have kept in the true name of the Plaza with 24-karat gold plated faucets, crystal chandeliers and mosaic tiled bathroom floors.
Although the Plaza looked more like the latest tourist attraction than a five star hotel this weekend, the true Grand Opening is not set until May 10. By then, the famous Oak Bar will be running, as well as a new lounge called the Rose Club. And for our inner-fashionista’s, over 160,000 square feet of high-end retail space will be in place.