Discover New York, L.L.C.
60 East 42nd Street, Suite 1415
New York, NY 10165
tel +1 212-370-1319 • fax +1 212-370-1463
Sales@dnykg.com
  Issue 82 - April 2008

"We help you turn the ordinary into the extraordinary!"

Thank you for all of your comments about the monthly newsletter. We are delighted that you are enjoying it. Please do visit our new website for program details with pricing. You will find the prices for transfers, tours, helicopter rides, all listed there.




Thank you to Wendy Perrin and Condé Nast Traveler for choosing us as their exclusive “Destination Specialist for New York City” for the fourth consecutive year!  We are thrilled to be included amongst the top travel specialists around the world.

I didn't know you did that!

Can your help us create a fabulous girl's weekend girl's weekend in NYC?
Yes, planning the perfect weekend means understanding if this is your first or hundredth visit to NYC. What are the “must see must do things” on your list?  Do you prefer a small boutique hotel with a club floor so everyone can meet for breakfast and drinks at night or a chain hotel?  Will you arrive together on one flight or separately?  Do you prefer a nightclub, jazz club or Broadway Show or fabulous restaurant in the evening? Do you want to nibble your way through neighborhoods or shop in the best boutiques?  Would you enjoy meeting a costume designer and learn how the costumes are created for a Broadway show or work with a musical director to learn a song from the show and sing with a member of the cast?  The possibilities are endless. Call us with your dates at 212-370-1319 X1600. For quick ideas, see our website DNY Special Packages

http://dnykg.com/packages

Can you help us see “The NY Falls” this summer?
From mid July to mid October 2008, a major new work of temporary public art, The New York City Waterfalls, will be on display in New York City. The project consists of four monumental, man-made waterfalls installed for three months at four sites along the shores of Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Governors Island: one by the Brooklyn anchorage of the Brooklyn Bridge, one between Piers 4 and 5 in Brooklyn, one in Lower Manhattan at Pier 35, and one on the north shore of Governors Island. The 90 to 120-foot tall installations, which have been designed to protect water quality and aquatic life, will operate seven days a week, and will be lit after sunset, adding a striking element to New York City's iconic skyline.  Call us to book a variety of private and non private experiences to enjoy this wonderful opportunity at 212-370-1319 X1600.

We have an apartment in NY and travel a great deal; can you help have everything ready upon arrival?
DNY has a concierge division called Diamond Knoll.  Our consultants will work with you to make sure that your apartment has everything that you want upon arrival from fresh food in the fridge to floral arrangements in the vases, catering for dinners in your apartment so that you can dine with your friends, bookkeeping, dry cleaning, theater tickets, limousine services and a 1,000 ways to entertain your friends that come and visit you while you are in NYC.  Call us for details at 212-370-1319 X1500.

What Pre-Cruise options can you provide?
DNY can package any pre-cruise option for you including transfers from the ship to the airport with a behind the scene experience or a City Highlights tour.  To customize your transfer or create a two night package, call us for details at 212-370-1319 X1600.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Gem

5-Apr-08

12-Apr-08

New York

New York

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Gem

5-Apr-08

12-Apr-08

New York

New York

Holland America Line

Noordam

5-Apr-08

22-Apr-08

New York

Rome

Cunard

Queen Mary 2

6-Apr-08

16-Apr-08

New York

New York

Cunard

Queen Mary 2

6-Apr-08

16-Apr-08

New York

New York

Cunard

Queen Elizabeth 2

12-Apr-08

18-Apr-08

New York

London/
Southampton

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Gem

12-Apr-08

19-Apr-08

New York

New York

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Gem

12-Apr-08

19-Apr-08

New York

New York

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Spirit

13-Apr-08

19-Apr-08

New York

New York

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Spirit

13-Apr-08

19-Apr-08

New York

New York

Cunard

Queen Mary 2

16-Apr-08

22-Apr-08

New York

London/
Southampton

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Spirit

19-Apr-08

27-Apr-08

New York

New York

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Spirit

19-Apr-08

27-Apr-08

New York

New York

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Dawn

20-Apr-08

27-Apr-08

New York

New York

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Dawn

20-Apr-08

27-Apr-08

New York

New York

Cunard

Queen Mary 2

22-Apr-08

28-Apr-08

London/
Southampton

New York

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Spirit

27-Apr-08

3-May-08

New York

New York

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Spirit

27-Apr-08

3-May-08

New York

New York

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Dawn

27-Apr-08

4-May-08

New York

New York

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Dawn

27-Apr-08

4-May-08

New York

New York

Cunard

Queen Mary 2

28-Apr-08

4-May-08

New York

London/
Southampton


Local Knowledge

Tuesday, April 1

Poussin and Nature: Arcadian Visions, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street, 212-570-3764. Nicolas Poussin (1594-1665) painted some of the most influential landscapes in Western art. Runs through Sunday, May 11.

American Watercolor Society’s 2008 Annual Exhibition opens, The Salmagundi Club Galleries, 47 Fifth Avenue, 212-2068986.  Runs through April 27.

Wednesday, April 2 

Gallery Openings, Canvas Paper and Stone Gallery, 2611 Frederick Douglass Blvd., Studio 2N, Harlem, 212-694-1747 Canvas Paper and Stone Gallery is pleased to feature Francks F. Décéus and Charley Palmer, established artists who reveal, examine and deconstruct societal beliefs of identity in their work. Gallery Opening: Friday, April 4, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM. A studio talk is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM at the Gallery. Runs through Wednesday, April 30.

Thursday, April 3

Does Art Answer the Questions of Our Lives? Aesthetic Realism Foundation, 141 Greene Street, 212-777-4490. Two artists & two architects--M. Rackow, D. Ellison, D. Laurin & A. Romeo, answer Yes!  Looking at works of architects Piano & Koolhaas; the sculptor Smith; and artist Hokusai. Based on this great principle by Eli Siegel: "All beauty is a making one of opposites, and the making one of opposites is what we are going after in ourselves." 6:30 PM.

Jeni Slotchiver performs A Very American Program, Yamaha Artist Services 689 Fifth Avenue, 3rd floor, 212-339-9995. Jeni Slotchiver performs Native-American, African-American, Latin-American, and Creole-American, virtuoso piano compositions by, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Francisco Mignone, Carlos Guastavino, Frutuoso Viana, Ferruccio Busoni, Camargo Guarnieri, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Nathaniel Dett, and Louis Gottschalk.  7:30 PM.

Friday, April 4

Live Jazz Performance: Starry Night, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, 212-769-5200. Some of the world’s greatest jazz musicians play one-hour sets at 6:00PM and 7:30PM on the first Friday of each month. An extensive menu of delicious Tapas and beverages is also available. Free with Museum admission; seating is limited.

New York International Golf Show, Jacob Javits Center, 655 West 34th Street,  315-426-8741. The New York International Golf Show is the place to gear up for the 2008 golf season. From golf clubs and apparel to courses and seminars and much more. Free gifts for all attendees. Two huge driving ranges and simulators. Two putting contests and closest to the pin for cash prizes. April 4, 12:00 Noon –10:00 PM; April 5, 10:00 AM –10:00 PM; April 7, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM.  Runs through Sunday, April 6.

New York Antiquarian Book Fair, ABAA/ILAB, The Park Avenue Armory at 67th Street, 212-777-5218. "The best book fair in the world" - Andy Rooney, CBS "60 Minutes," 2007. Two hundred of the finest book dealers from all over the world will bring rare books, manuscripts, maps, and more to this exhibition and sale. Sunday, April 6 from 12:00 Noon to 3:00 PM.  Visitors can have their own books and manuscripts appraised by experts.  Runs through Sunday, April 6.

Saturday, April 5

10th Annual New York Tartan Day Parade, Sixth Avenue from West 45th Street to West 59th Street. 2:00 PM.

Music of Alvin Curran, Chelsea Art Museum, Chelsea Art Museum 556 West 22nd Street, 212-215-0719. Ne(x)tworks presents a full program of works by the radically innovative, award winning composer Alvin Curran. The tickets are $15 for general admission, $10 for Students/Seniors, and free for CAM Members.

Takashi Murakami at the Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn (718) 638-5000.  Morris A. and Meyer Schapiro Wing and Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Gallery, 4th and 5th Floors.  The most comprehensive retrospective to date of the work of internationally acclaimed Japanese artist Takashi Murakami includes more than ninety works in various media that span the artist’s entire career, installed in more than 18,500 square feet of gallery space. This is a wonderful exhibition for families to explore Brooklyn and the Brooklyn Museum.

The Botanic Garden will have cherry trees and magnolias blooming, so stay and enjoy lunch in the gardens.  Make a day of it and really see Brooklyn with one of our experts including Coney Island, the fabulous Victorian homes in Flatbush and the art galleries and boutiques in Williamsburg. Runs through Saturday, July 13.

Sunday, April 6

Swing Dance, New York Swing Dance Society, St. Jean the Baptiste Church Hall, 184 E. 76th Street (at Lexington Ave.), 212-NYN-YSDS. Dance to the sounds of the amazing Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks; $15 General Admission; $11 Students & Seniors; Dance lesson at 7:30 PM.; dancing 8:00 PM – midnight; DJ plays between sets; #6 train to 77th Street.

The New York Autograph Show, Professional Autograph Dealers Association Helmsley Park Lane Hotel, 36 Central Park South (between 5th & 6th Aves), in 2nd floor ballroom, 877-428-9362. Nation's leading autograph show with major dealers from across the country offering for sale thousands of original letters, documents, photos, and books signed by famous people in history in all fields of interest. All autographs unconditionally guaranteed authentic. Admission $10 but free with copy of this notice. Sponsored by PADA.

More Magazine Marathon and Half Marathon New York Road Runners Central Park, 212-423-2236.  Join thousands of other remarkable women at the 2008 MORE Marathon and Half-Marathon.  Call for more information.

Children's Workshop: The Properties of Water, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, 212-769-5200. Water is unique: it is the only substance able to exist in three phases—gas, liquid, solid—in the normal range of Earth’s temperatures. This workshop will reveal why that is significant. (11:00 AM -12:30 PM  ages 4-6, each child with one adult; 1:30  PM -3:00 PM ages 7-9) Fee: $30

Monday, April 7

Backstage Bistro, The 23rd Annual Awards Presentation and Show featuring 2008 Bistro winners:  Gotham Comedy Club 208 W. 23rd Street, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM, General Tickets $45 (Two Drink Minimum); Premium Tickets: $75 (Two Drink Minimum) includes a reception with the Bistro winners from 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM and free champagne and hors d’oeuvres plus preferred seating in the showroom.  646-654-5702.

Tuesday, April 8

Spring Bird Walks in Central Park, American Museum of Natural History. Central Park West at 79th Street, 212-769-5200. Observe the spring migration of birds in Central Park with naturalists Stephen C. Quinn (Tuesdays), Joseph DiConstanzo (Wednesdays and Thursdays, 7:00 AM.), and Harold Fienberg (Thursdays, 9:00 AM.). Learn how to use field marks, habitat, behavior, and song as aids in identification.  Runs through Thursday, May 29.

Friday, April 11

Weaving Tales of Passion, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, 212-873-3400. Dozens of dazzling Oriental rugs and textiles will be the centerpiece of Woven Splendor from Timbuktu to Tibet: Exotic Rugs and Textiles from New York Collectors, a major New-York Historical Society exhibition examining the history of the Oriental rug in New York and the story of the Hajji Baba Club—the nation’s oldest rug collecting group at 75.  Runs through Sunday, August 17.

Saturday, April 12

Tartan Afternoon Tea, Fives at The Peninsula New York, 700 Fifth Avenue (at 55th Street), 212-903-3873. Hosted by Tea Master Elizabeth Knight, this special afternoon tea takes place during Tartan Week, a celebration of Scottish heritage and traditions. The Tartan Afternoon Tea features a selection of traditional tea sandwiches and pastries, including traditional Scottish favorites such as Scotch Eggs, Dundee Cake, Shortbread and Gingerbread. $50

Professional Lacrosse, New York Titans, Madison Square Garden, 212-599-3429. Come out and watch as the New York Titans of the National Lacrosse League play their home schedule at Madison Square Garden.

Keith Kirchoff. Dynamic Motion: American Ultra-Modernism, Chelsea Art Museum, 556 West 22nd Street, 212-215-0719. Featuring the music of Charles Ives, Carl Ruggles, Wallingford Riegger, John J. Becker, Henry Cowell, George Antheil, and Conlon Nancarrow, this recital explores the first forty years of the twentieth century, a pivotal period in the development of United States as an independent, creative, international music presence. Tickets- $15, $10-Students.

Jackie Robinson Weekend, Staten Island Children's Museum, at Snug Harbor Cultural Center, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, 718-273-2060. Celebrate a great athlete and a great man. Paint his silhouette on the field and learn about the nine values he lived by. Workshops are free with museum admission and start at 1:30 PM , 2:30 PM & 3:30 PM.  Runs through Sunday, April 12.

Coffee & Tea Festival NYC, Metropolitan Pavilion / Starfish Junction Productions, 125 West 18th Street, 631-957-7035. The first Coffee & Tea festival was a huge success, the highlights of which have been seen on the Food Network show Unwrapped. The two-day festival will feature everything related to coffee and tea and will offer opportunities to sample different coffees and teas from around the world. Tickets are available at www.coffeeandteafestival.com.  Runs through Sunday, April 13.

Sunday, April 13

International Experts on Climate and Religion to Host Public Forum Cathedral of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Avenue (at 112th Street), 212-316-7474. A group of international experts on climate and religion, including Rajmohan Gandhi, grandson of Mohandas Gandhi, will gather to apply Gandhi's concept of satyagraha to modern global climate concerns. The evening will feature performances by music legends Odetta and Philip Glass. The event is free, open to the public and begins at 7:00 PM.

Run As One, TGL Classic, New York Road Runners/JP Morgan Chase Central Park, 212-423-2236. Join the fight against lung cancer by running in this 4-mile race or 1.3-mile walk to honor former Chase Manhattan Bank chairman and nonsmoker Tom Labrecque. Join JP Morgan Chase to "run as one" and raise money to support the cause. Post race and children's activities follow the event!

Tuesday, April 15

3rd Annual Young Professionals Charity Casino Night, at Studio 450, presented by The Catalog for Giving, 450 West 31st Street, Penthouse, 212-765-8212. The Catalog for Giving and its Young Leadership Council will present their 3rd Annual Games of Chance Casino Night on April 15 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Featuring open bar, hors d’oeuvres galore, Texas Hold ‘Em tournament and fabulous prizes! For tickets please call 212-765-8212 or visit www.catalogforgiving.org.

Friday, April 18

Earth Day New York's Annual EarthFair, Vanderbilt Ave at Grand Central Station, Vanderbilt Ave at Grand Central Station, 212-922-0165. A large exhibit area highlighting not-for profits, green businesses, organic food and environmental groups will include interactive displays that will not only educate, but provide an opportunity to take positive action for the environment. There will also be live musical entertainment including numerous performers and New York City-based bands!  Runs through Saturday, April 19.

Saturday, April 19

Warps & Wefts: A Children’s Weaving Workshop, The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Avenue at 112th Street, 212-932-7347. 10:00 AM -12:00 noon. Families view textiles in the Cathedral then head to the workshop to explore the stages of weaving. Weave colorful strands of yarn on two different looms, use cardboard for weavings and explore recycled materials. Recommended for ages 4 and up. $5 per child, with accompanying adult.

Hudson River Park's Spring Eggstravaganza, Hudson River Park's Pier 45 at Christopher Street & the Hudson River, Hudson River Park's Pier 45, Christopher Street and the West Side Highway, 212-757-0981. Come celebrate the spring season in Hudson River Park’s estuarine sanctuary with a fabulous family celebration! This FREE family event includes an Egg Hunt, Egg Dyeing, Egg relays, Fishing, Game Stations, Arts & Crafts, Storytelling, Face-painting, live performances by the Hudson River Ramblers and more!

Sunday, April 20 

Passover Begins. 

Central Park Earth Day, The Central Park Conservancy & Green Apple Festival, Rumsey Playfield (Enter Central Park at 72nd Street & Fifth Avenue), 212-310-6638. Celebrate Earth Day in Central Park with live music, planting & mulching projects, tree care & composting demonstrations, and crafts with recycled materials. Pack a picnic and bring a blanket for FREE music and activities for all! 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM. Rain or shine. Presented by Chase. 

Adidas Run for the Parks 4M/Kids Races, New York Road Runners, Central Park, 212-423-2236. Think and run green in this 4-mile race that supports City Parks Foundation (CPF). Proceeds from the day benefit CPF's free citywide programs. You can bring the whole family to participate in the kids races and have fun at the post-race reception. What's the ideal location for your Sunday run? Central Park, of course. 

Monday, April 21 

Chianti Classico & The Tuscan Nose, 583 Park Avenue / Chianti Classico Consortium, 583 Park Avenue, 212-929-7700. An evocative tasting of over 200 Black Rooster wines produced in the Chianti region. Two sessions, the first for the trade from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, and the second for consumers from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Special educational seminars, one for the trade (2:30 PM) and the other for consumers (6:30 PM) will be conducted by noted author and sommelier, David Lynch. 

The Minds that Move the World Speaker Series Radio City Music Hall, 50th Street and Sixth Avenue. Tucker Carlsom, James Carville and Arianna Huffington with Anderson Cooper. (Series package available-May 2: Vice President Al Gore, May 28: John Edwards and Rudy Giuliani with Tim Russert, June 17th: President William Jefferson Clinton.  Call 212-370-1309 X1600 for tickets. 

NBA Store Spring Jam- Free Events for Family, NBA Store, 5th Ave and 52nd Street, 212-407-8478. The world famous NBA Store on Fifth Avenue tips off its third annual Spring Jam – a week full of free events for the entire family - Monday, April 21 through Friday, April 25. Spring Jam events include a basketball clinic hosted by the New York Knicks, Broadway musical performances, NBA dancers, activity stations, special prizes and more.  Runs through Friday, April 25. 

Wednesday, April 23 

Crime Scene Investigation - Ages 6 and up. 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, The NYC Police Museum, 100 Old Slip, 212-480-3100. This program emphasizes the type of work engaged in by NYPD detectives everyday, and provides children with the opportunity to use some of the same critical thinking skills used by real NYPD detectives. Lessons include hands-on demonstrations of various forensic techniques, such as fingerprinting. 

Thursday, April 24 

5th Annual Spring Benefit for Harlem Academy, The Powerhouse at the American Museum of Natural History, 79th Street and Columbus Avenue, 212-348-2600. Harlem Academy, a non-profit elementary school, presents its 5th Annual Spring Benefit. Come help celebrate Harlem Academy's young rising stars, participate in the live and silent auctions and enjoy refreshments, live entertainment and special guests Soledad O'Brien of CNN and Sway of MTV.

From Bella to Hillary: Women, Media, and Politics, The Paley Center for Media, 25 West 52 Street (between Fifth and Sixth Avenues), 212-621-6805. Beginning in the seventies, women politicians have gained ever-increasing prominence and media attention. Our panel will look at how the media covers female candidates, from the days of those political trailblazers through this pivotal election year. In Person: Donna Edwards, Carol Jenkins, Marlene Sanders, Gloria Steinem, Marie Wilson. 6:30 PM –8:00 PM.

Friday, April 25

TriBeCa open Artist Studio Tour, various locations. 212-479-7317.

Late Night Dance Party: One Step Beyond, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, 212-769-5200.  Flavorpill, New York’s online cultural attaché to young professionals brings the party to the American Museum of Natural History with One Step Beyond.  This is a monthly event featuring the biggest names in techno, electronica, indie rock, and hip-hop. Guests can get their groove on and enjoy screenings of a Space Show. Cocktails keep party going. Fee $20.

16th Annual Antique Garden Furniture Show and Sale at the New York Botanical Garden.  Runs through Sunday, April 27.

Saturday, April 26

Spring International Art & Antiques Show, Seventh Regiment Armory, 643 Park Avenue at 67th Street, 914-437-5983. 

Sunday, April 27

NYC GROWS Garden Festival, Union Square Park South Plaza, 212-238-6305. "NYC GROWS Garden Festival" presented by Target. Free activities for everyone. Kids Gardening, City Gardening, Healthy Choices. 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

Kite Flight: Paper Play! - April 27, 2008, 11AM-2PM (Rain or Shine) Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Boulevard at Broadway, Long Island City, 718-956-1819. Socrates Sculpture Park and The Noguchi Museum present this annual kite-making event. Children and their families are invited to build and decorate kites, and then fly them in the Park. This year, Kite Flight: Paper Play will use newspapers and other repurposed paper products to explore the potential of recycling. All materials will be provided.



The nominations for the Tony Awards will be held on May 6th.  Therefore all shows must be open to qualify so you will see a lot of new shows opening this month.  For Kitt’s opinions about each show, please click on Kitt’s Picks http://dnykg.com/kitts_theater to help you decide if your choice is the best option for you.  For a complete list of shows, click on Theater and Entertainment.  http://dnykg.com/theater  

When to use Discover New York to purchase tickets:

  • Access to the best seats to sold out shows, concerts, Fashion Week and sporting events.
  • Access to the DNY Team of Experts for any additional services that you might wish with each ticket purchased including hotels, limousines, restaurant reservations and private experiences.
  • Access to backstage with a cast member before the show.
  • Access to rehearsal studios to meet with your choice of a Producer, Director, Casting Director, Costume Designer, Choreographer or Musical Director. Discover New York can also arrange for a panel discussion from these experts to enhance your knowledge and appreciation of the theater. Ask questions, and take photographs with a cast member from the show.
  • Access to Oscar Hammerstein III to learn about the history of musical theater. DNY would be delighted to arrange a private luncheon or dinner for you.

Call us at +1 212-370-1319 or e-mail us at sales@dnykg.com for further information about rates and availability.

 

First Performances 

  • The Country Girl, April 3
  • Les Liaisons Dangereuses, April 11
  • Thurgood, April 12
  • Top Girls, April 15
  • Rafta, Rafta, April 16
  • Boeing – Boeing, April 19
  • John Lithgow: Stories By Heart, April 20
  • Glory Days, April 22
  • Good Boys and True, April 23 

Opening this month:

  • The American Dream, The Sandbox, April 1
  • Something You Did, April 1
  • Almost an Evening, April 2
  • South Pacific, April 3
  • Macbeth, April 8
  • The New Century, April 14
  • A Catered Affair, April 17
  • Cry-Baby, April 24
  • The Country Girl, April 27
  • Thurgood, April 30

Closing:

  • The Homecoming, April 13
  • The Seagull, April 13


This has been a busy month of travel. At the end of February, I flew to Istanbul and stayed at the Four Seasons. Then it was off to Athens for four days of sightseeing and meetings at the Hotel Grand Bretagne. The rooms are dark with high ceilings and mine faced an inner courtyard so if you are looking for quiet that would be an option. The rooftop bar overlooks the Parthenon which is fabulous at night when lit.

The new Acropolis Museum is still under construction with an opening date to be determined. We had lunch there and had an idea of what the finished product will look like so it will be a huge advantage over the current museum option.

A trip to Hydra is a relaxing way to spend a morning. The little village reminded me of Honfleurs in France with small tourist shops curving around the horseshoe shaped harbor. Make time to go to the museum and understand the pride and heritage of this historic site.

Then, it was back to Istanbul--such an amazing city. The combination of colors, textures, architecture and shopping blend east and west. The food is fabulous, whether it is a formal dinner in the Çirağan Palace or in a tiny neighborhood spot.  My favorite dishes were lahmacun: ground beef, onions, carrots, cabbage, and parsley wrapped in a flatbread called lavash.  It’s a slightly different version than what I eat at Moustache, my little neighborhood place in the West Village.

We are so spoiled with 20,000 restaurants in NYC.  It’s like opening a treasure chest of colors, textures and flavors to eat in NYC.  I also tried the Gozleme at a little stand specializing in this dish.  The lavash is grilled and stuffed with goat cheese, and cooked on a flat surface powered by propane.  Think blintz on steroids. It was delicious.  It’s impossible not to gain weight in Istanbul.  Walking through the Spice Market, the merchants are all tempting the customers to “just try” whatever it is that they are selling.  The stuffed apricots and dates are filled with pistachios and hazelnuts, both local products.  They are simply beautiful to look at and delicious.  The spices are all freshly ground and the aroma is perfume for the cook!

Enjoy the Museums, many of which are old Ottoman Palaces, shopping in the Grand Bazaar and gaze from the roof top of a hotel’s dining room overlooking the city.  The views seem to be a fairytale in real life as the illuminated mosques seem as if Tinkerbelle just flew over them with her magic wand and touched it with twinkling lights.

The Four Seasons at Sultanahmet is a small property with 65 guest rooms.  Suites open to a courtyard.  The property was created from a century-old neoclassic Turkish prison steps from the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace.  There is an expansion underway with the addition of a new tower.

The new Four Seasons on the Bosporus uses an old Ottoman Palace as the main building and connects with underground passages to two perpendicular wings facing each other in what will be called the garden view. Make sure that you book only Bosporus rooms or switch over to the Çirağan Palace next door where the majority of the hotel has rooms facing the water and one of the world's best breakfasts!  It's truly an amazing feast for all your senses.  I stayed at the Çirağan Palace for the second part of my stay and the entire team there was incredibly helpful.

Miami's Ritz Carlton has undergone some great changes since I was there several years ago. The new nautical décor is very nice and the service has improved immensely.  Book the Club level and enjoy champagne and hors d'oeuvres overlooking the beach and Atlantic Ocean. You can easily skip dinner with the choices if you are tired.

Chicago's Ritz Carlton--is really a Four Seasons. The Four Seasons and the Ritz Carlton are managed by the same sales team.  The two properties are similar with lobbies well above street level and spacious rooms and good service. The Four Seasons decor is contemporary while the Ritz has kept its traditional look.

We look forward to helping you go beyond the New York that you already know!

visit us on the web at:
www.dnykg.com


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