Indulge in the Green Scene

New Yorker's have their eye towards a greener future, and we want to tell you all about it. We have the inside scoop on the newest and trendiest green stores, buildings, parks, community gardens and other green places in New York City.

Let us give you the opportunity to chat one-on-one with green business owners, and learn how they made their company green. Your senses will be indulged as you get to see, touch, smell and sample green products from the local area.

We can also visit a green restaurant and dine on 100% organic, sustainably grown food. These restaurants goes beyond organic fare with eco-friendly packaging, recycled wood furniture, LED lighting and green-certified cleaning products.

To complete the day, we will endulge at one of New Yorks' green spas. Inhale and relax with sumptuous 100% organic spa treatments.

Fashion Week flees North

With New Yorkers always on the move, it usually comes as no surprise when restaurants open, venues close, and designers reinvent their lines to showcase the next best thing. But even with all the hustle and bustle, no one expected one of the biggest moves of all. Fashion Week, known worldwide for its weeklong showcase at Bryant Park, will be heading uptown. Lincoln Center will be the new home for the 70+ designers come September 2010, creating about 25% more space for models to strike a pose.

Want to be a part of the action? Let us know. We’ve got the behind the scene pass to the hottest designers and shows to hit the New York circuit.

Big Air in the Big Apple

New York will welcome the Red Bull Snowscrapers event on February 5, hailing as the largest snowboarding contest to be held in an urban setting. Set along the East River (near Hudson Street), come one come all as 16 of the worlds best snowboarders compete for a cool $100,000 prize purse.

The ramp, towering at over 90 feet tall, will bring boarders within touching distance of the Manhattan skyline. New York spectators may deem them insane, but then again, it’s just a New York state of mind…

Spring Foward

As New Yorker’s wait for their Island to thaw out and bring with it the warm Springtime sun, we thought we’d spring forward to the latest and greatest in water-side fashion. This year New York City will welcome the tallest ship to ever hit the Hudson River. At 160 feet long, with masts rising 120 feet off the deck, nothing will prepare you for the sensation of being on this amazing ship. This ship is New York's only tall ship, and one of the largest sailing boats still in operation. The ship itself holds up to 140 guests, and is the perfect setting for your next incentive - stunning views of the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan skyline included.

Rock-Out NYC!

So much amazing music has laid its roots in New York City. From the Ramones to Madonna, so many artists got their start in some of the small music clubs that grace the streets of downtown.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (the original in Chicago) just opened a brand spanking new, 25,000 square foot Annex location in the heart of Soho. This experiential, technologically advanced exhibition will focus on the greatest moments in rock history and will resonate with everyone from the casual music fan to the seasoned rock enthusiast. Visitors will discover the moments ignited by music revolutionaries like John Lennon, Billy Joel, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan. We know you've been practicing your skills on Guitar Hero... now check out some people with actual talent that will really rock your socks off.

Happy New Year!

Times Square has just welcomed it newest and perhaps most famous resident. The New Year’s Eve ball was sent back up towards the sky via a 141-foot flagpole this week, where it’s 2,600 Waterford Crystals will continue to sparkle. Its new home at One Times Square will remain lit until the next New Year’s celebration, making it the first time in history visitors can get a photo of the ball at anytime throughout the rest of 2009. Three... Two... One...

Trees the Season

(From left to right: South Street Seaport, Bryant Park, Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Museum of Natural History, Botanical Garden, Rockefeller Center)

With just near every New Yorker dashing throughout the city on last minute gift-runs, why not take a moment to take in the greenery of the Season. All throughout the City, many magnificent trees will be shining through the Holiday season, leaving us all with a little extra cheer.

South Street Seaport: Nicknamed the “Seaport Chorus Tree,” this 50 foot Douglas fir has the Big Apple Chorus performing in front throughout the season.

Bryant Park: Truly Canadian, this tree was shipped from Quebec and decorated by a designer from Toronto.

Metropolitan Museum of Art: This 20 foot Spruce is adorned with 18th century Neapolitan angels and hundreds of crèche figures.

American Museum of Natural History: Themed “Fold the Museum”, over 500 origami animals were created by volunteers to cover this tree.

Botanical Garden: Enjoy the elaborate train show and gingerbread displays that surround this 26 foot Fraser fir.

Rockefeller Center: The granddaddy of them all, this tree lighting in November marks the unofficial start of the winter holidays.

Topsy Turny

Don’t miss it! The second annual Major League Dreidel Competition will once again take place at Fontana’s on Eldridge Street. Come one, come all, as competitors will go for gelt as they spin the dreidel. Shmaltz Brewing Company will also be on site in case you prefer a different type of spinning sensation.

In case you need a brush up on your spinning technique, let’s revisit the official rules of Spinology:

1. The release: When a spinner winds and discharges the dreidel from their fingers.
2. The orbit: When the dreidel is spinning at its peak speed, tightness and control. A good spinner will have an orbit of 6 seconds, a true master over 8. The orbit is the most crucial phase of a spin, demonstrating the spinner’s true dreidel dexterity.
3. The wobbles: The conclusion of a dreidel’s orbit, when the dreidel loses speed, tightness and control.
4. The finish: The conclusion of a dreidel’s wobble, when the dreidel comes to a complete rest on its side, inside the Spin Zone.

Let It Snow...

With only one week until ChristmaHanuZwanzaka, New Yorker's today welcomed their first snowfall of the holiday season. While it wasn't quite enough to make a snowman, we still relished in the thought of a white Christmas.

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.