Discover New York - Monthly Newsletter

"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 website for program details with pricing. You will find the prices for transfers, tours, helicopter rides, all listed there.

Thanks again to Wendy Perrin from Conde Nast Traveler Magazine for selecting us for the Fifth Year as their choice for Top Destination Specialist for New York City.

I didn't know you did that!

We’ve just had a corporate cutback in our meeting department. We have less staff and are being asked to do more. What can you offer to help us?
Helping you maximize your time, save money and access the very best that New York has to offer is the biggest advantage that DNY can provide to you and your team.

Your meeting can flow seamlessly from touch down to take off using DNY’s expert local knowledge and relationships with trusted suppliers. Guests will be met at the airport by our team of transportation specialists who will coordinate the luggage and vehicles so that they are on their way to the hotel quickly.

Save money and increase the service level by using DNY’s relationships with the hotels in locations that can save on transportation costs for off-site events.

Attendees learn and have fun at the same time because DNY has access to the best speakers and entertainers.

Your attendees experience the WOW factor that will make the meeting memorable because DNY provides the access to the places they want to go. Your DNY Destination Specialist will customize a program that meets your needs and your budget. You’ll receive one program package price that includes all services, taxes and gratuities so that you are working with a real budget with no hidden extras. Call +1-212-370-1319 for your consultation to help you make the meeting perfect.

What can you offer for a New Year’s Package that is very special and allows us to see the ball drop and not wait for hours in Times Square?
Take advantage of a terrific DNY package that can be customized just for you and your budget. Here is a sample of what you might want to consider:

Midnight Magic in New York City
Included in the Program Price are the following:

Round trip transfers to and from NYC Hotel – L Series Executive Town Car
Accommodations– Premium King Room with breakfast each morning and hors d’oeuvres and wine in the evening.
New Year’s Eve Package Included with dinner and your choice of watching the ball drop at New Year’s Eve from the rooftop or a special VIP section in Times Square.
6 Hour City Highlights Tour – Private Vehicle and Private Guide Included
Admissions to the Top of the Rock Observatory Deck
2 Premium Tickets to Wicked or Show of Your Choice
Backstage Tour of Wicked or show of your choice with a cast member
Admissions to the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Tour
2 Premium Tickets to Boeing-Boeing
NYC Shopping Tour with a Shopping Expert and Subway Transportation Included
All Lunch and Dinner Reservations
DNY planning, coordination and management fees.
Delivery of welcome package to hotel in advance of arrival
All taxes and gratuities.
The following items are not included in this Program:
Meals other than breakfast
Local transfer including taxi, ferry, rental car, etc.
Call DNY to custom design your package at +1-212-370-1319.

What shopping programs can you offer?
You can take advantage of the great shopping opportunities in NY this year using DNY’s relationships with the hotels to provide extra value. If you love watching What Not to Wear, and want personalized help making sure that you have clothes that fit, call a DNY Destination Specialist to book an appointment with the team that has been a resource for Stacey and Clinton for over 20 episodes!

Prefer to access the wholesale Garment District for bargains or explore the neighborhoods’ hot boutiques with lunch in one of the new restaurants? Your DNY Destination Specialist can create any combination of these exciting experiences just for you. Packages include airport transfers, shopping program, hotel with full American breakfast, two theater tickets with backstage access with a cast member to see the wigs, props, costumes and walk across the stage, dinner reservations, tickets to the Top of the Rock, welcome packet at the hotel, all taxes and gratuities and 24/7 access to your DNY Destination Specialist while you are in NYC.

What can you offer that includes cooking classes?
The comfort of good food can be creative and nurturing. Take advantage of a variety of cooking classes from private sessions with hot young chefs in their restaurant kitchens, or shared classes with professional cooking teachers. Learn why New Yorker’s eat what they do neighborhood by neighborhood and taste along the way. DNY has a variety of culinary experiences to tempt your taste buds. Call +1-212-370-1319 for more information about how you can book your experience. Visit our website for culinary suggestions.

What can you offer for Fashion Week?
Fashion Week packages can include:

Round Trip Transfer to and from NYC Hotel – L Series Executive Town Car
Accommodations in the hotel of your choice.
VIP tickets to 2 Fashion Shows with hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and gift bags
Visit to a rehearsal studio to meet with a costume designer and learn what it takes to create a Broadway show
2 Premium Tickets to Show of Your Choice
Backstage Tour of show of your choice with a cast member
NYC Shopping Tour – Your choice of either Garment District Shopping or Neighborhood Shopping with one of our Experts
Spa package with your of services.
All Lunch and Dinner Reservations
DNY planning, coordination and management fees.
Delivery of welcome package to hotel in advance of arrival.
All taxes and gratuities.
The following items are not included in this Program:
Meals

Call DNY to custom design your package at 212-370-1319.

For more ideas about what you can do in NY, click here.

December Local Knowledge

Starting this month, access information more quickly than ever by date of your arrival using DNY’s new website. The calendar of events is listed in a monthly format and includes the sporting events for the Jets, Giants, Knicks, Rangers, Islanders, Yankees, Mets, Radio City Music Hall, plus special concerts, cabaret evenings at the Carlyle, Algonquin and Feinstein’s, Metropolitan Opera Schedule, NYC Ballet and ABT in addition to special events.

Tuesday, December 2

Rock and Roll Annex, 76 Mercer Street opens.

Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation Presents:

The Lost Waterfront: The Decline and Rebirth of Manhattan's Western Shore

A Slide Lecture with Shelley Seccombe, 6:30 PM -8:00 PM, St. Luke's Church Dining Room, 487 Hudson Street at Grove Street in between Christopher and Barrow Streets. Free; reservations required to rsvp@gvshp.org or (212) 475-9585 ext. 35

Wednesday, December 3

76th Annual Tree Lighting at Rockefeller Center, Rockefeller Center between 49th and 50th Street at Fifth Avenue. 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Tree is lit at 8:55 PM. If you don't want to brave the crowds for the tree lighting ceremony, you can also see the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree from 5:30AM to 11:30PM daily from December 3rd, 2008 through January 9th, 2009 (and all day long on Christmas Day).

Wednesday, December 10

Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation Presents: 1965: Preservation Around the World When New York City Signed Its Law, A Lecture with Anthony Tung, 6:30 PM -8:00 PM, Grace Church School, 84 Fourth Avenue in between E. 10th and E. 11th Streets. Free; reservations required to rsvp@gvshp.org or (212) 475-9585 ext. 35

This event is co-sponsored by the Historic Districts Council and Neighborhood Preservation Center.

Saturday, December 13

New York Boat Show, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, 655 West 34th Street, Eleventh Avenue at 35th Street, 212- 216-2000, Runs through Sunday, December 21.

Sunday, December 21

Hanukkah Begins at Sunset

Wednesday, December 24

Christmas Eve

Thursday, December 25

Christmas

Empire State Building Holiday Hours:

Christmas Eve: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Christmas Day: 10:00 AM - 2:00 AM

Friday, December 26

Kwanzaa Begins

Empire State Building Holiday Hours:

Christmas Eve: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Christmas Day: 10:00 AM - 2:00 AM
December 26th through December 30: 7:00 AM - 1:00 AM

Empire State Building Holiday Hours:

New Year’s Eve: 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
New Year’s Day: 9:00 AM - 2:00 AM

Wednesday, December 31

Happy New Year!
There are a variety of options for you to consider for New Year’s Eve. Call and speak with one of our Destination Specialists to customize a program for you. +1-212-370-1319.

New York City’s ice rinks:
In addition to the mentions in the October Issue of our DNY newsletter, here are some additional locations. Please note that all previous issues of our newsletters are listed on our website so that you can refresh your memory about the great package opportunities available to you.

Long Island City: 47-32 32nd Place, 718-706-666, $5 weekdays; $8 weekends $6 skate rental

South Street Seaport: Pier 17, South and Fulton Streets, 212-661-6640, $5 skating $7 rental

American Museum of Natural History: Columbus Avenue and 79th Street, 212-769-5200, $10 adults, $9 students and seniors $8 children, $2 less for members Free skate rental

Flushing Meadows Corona Park: Avery Avenue and 131st Street, Queens, 718-271-7572, Year Round skating, $5 weekdays, $8 weekends $7 skate rental

Prospect Park: Near Parkside Ocean Avenue entrance Brooklyn, 718-287-6431, $5 adults, $3 children $6.50 skate rental (cash only).

Chelsea Piers: Pier 61, West Side Highway at 23rd Street, 212-336-6100, $12,50 adults, $10 children $7 skate rental

Riverbank State Park: 679 Riverside Drive at 145th Street, 212-694-3600, $5 adults, $3 children $5 skate rental

Rockefeller Center: Rockefeller Center between 49th and 50th Streets between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue. Admission: Adults: Monday – Thursday $10, Friday – Sunday 7 Holidays $14 per session. Lunchtime Skating Monday – Thursday $5.00 excluding holidays 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM. Children Under 11 and Seniors: Monday - Thursday, $7.50; Friday – Sunday & Holidays, $8.50 per session. Skate Rental per session $8.00.

Lasker Ice Skating Rink: Central Park, Entrance just south of park entrance at 110th Street and Lenox Avenue. 917-492-3857; Admission: Adults: $4.50, Seniors (60 & older): $2.25, Children (12 & under): $2.25; Skate Rental: $4.75, Lock Rental $2.75 + $4.00 deposit for lock. (Deposit will be returned to the customer upon return of the lock.) Programming: Adult hockey, youth hockey, open hockey, hockey classes, Learn to Skate, Learn to Skate Holiday Camp, private & semi-private lessons, birthday parties. Adult Open Hockey every Saturday night from 7:15 PM - 8:45 PM.; $10 admission, free for goalies.

The Pond at Bryant Park: Bryant Park, between 40th and 42nd Streets at 5th and 6th Avenues, 866-221-5157, Open Friday, October 24, 2008 through Monday, January 26, 2009. Opens 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM Monday -Thursday. Friday and Saturday evenings open until midnight. Admission: Adults: Free, Seniors (60 & older): Free, Children (12 & under): Free, Skate Rental: $10.00. Lock Rental: Lockers are free, but locks cost $10.00. Skating Lessons available.

Wollman Rink: Central Park, Central Park at 63rd Street, 212-439-6900. Admission: Adults: $9.50 on weekdays; $12.00 on weekends, Seniors (60 & older): $4.75 on weekdays; $8.25 on weekends, Children (12 & under): $4.75 on weekdays; $5.00 on weekends, Skate Rental: $5.00, Lock Rental: $3.75 + $6.25 deposit, (Deposit will be returned to the customer after lock is returned.) Programming: Ice dance sessions: Freestyle & Ice Dance: Monday - Friday 6:30 a.m.; Social Ice Dance: Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Wollman Skating School: USFA "Skate with Us" Basic Skills Program, Innovative Group Figure Skating Curriculum, group & private lessons, Central Park Co-ed Youth, Hockey Program

Click here to view our new and improved Calendar of Events!

Theater & Entertainment

The list of Broadway and Off-Broadway shows are listed on our website with descriptions, locations and times.

Opening this month:

Liza’s at the Palace, December 3 and runs through December 28.
Slava’s Snowshow, December 7
Shrek, December 14
Pal Joey, December 18

Closing this Month:

A Man for All Seasons, December 14
The Seagull, December 14

The following shows will close starting in January so it is a very good idea to book tickets now if you wish to see them:

13, January 4
Hairspray, January 4
Gypsy, March 1
Spamalot, January 11
Young Frankenstein, January 4
Spring Awakening, January 18

For a complete listing of what's playing in NY click here.

For Kitt's opinions about what is currently playing on Broadway, click here.

Kitt's Footnotes

New Destination Specialist:

Please welcome Erik Zakrzewski to our Destination Specialist team this month.

Last Minute Travel Experiences:

Travel memories come in a variety of price points. There is still time to book a great trip to NYC and there are values now that you can take advantage of for the holiday season. Call to speak with one of our Destination Specialists and let them know what is on your wish list so that they can custom design a trip just for you.

The holiday windows will still be on display the first week of January, the stores will be offering great sales, the museums and galleries will be showing a variety of exhibitions and the restaurants will be offering some special menus. Broadway is offering some very good ticket prices. DNY can help you choose the best fit for your interests and include backstage access with a cast member. Using our relationships with the hotels, our specialists can create a perfect gift certificate for you, or to present to colleagues, family and friends.

DNY New Website Format:

Take advantage of our new website to allow you to keep up to date with events taking place in NYC. By request, many of our readers have asked us to include a calendar of events so that you can see what is happening several months from now. Under the heading Theater and Entertainment you will see a drop down menu showing Calendar of Events listing the sporting events, concerts and entertainment options that run each month. Our team will make every effort to keep the calendar updated for you so that you are able to take advantage of as many things as possible during your stay.

The Theater section still lists the Broadway and Off-Broadway shows that are playing with a description and time for each show. Kitt’s Picks will provide my personal opinion of the show so that you can determine if this is the best option for you. There is no official rating code for Broadway like there is with movies. Some of the language and content can be challenging for our clients. Please, call us to discuss the best fit for you.

DNY is part of the “Go Green” group of companies that is working to cut down on printing materials. If you wish to send information about New York to your friends and clients, DNY’s newsletter now has two separate links. You can subscribe by clicking the envelope at the top of this newsletter, or send a subscription to one of your clients or friends by clicking the present wrapped with the bow at the top of the newsletter. That way, you can provide a free gift of sharing information without having to send a brochure to keep up with what is happening in NYC. It’s a great way to maximize time whether you live in NYC or want to visit.

You can also open any of the web pages under DNY Experiences and choose a program that provides access to the people and places that you most want to experience. Simply go to file, send page as an e-mail and the recipient will be able to see what you have in mind that would be of interest to them.

Holiday Wishes:

During this holiday season, please take time to count the blessings that we do share for family and good health. Celebrate our commonality in different places of worship. New York offers a variety of special places that can help you to focus no matter what religious beliefs you hold dear.

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine celebrated the renovation of the entire building this past weekend restoring the building after the fire of 2001. St. John is the largest gothic cathedral in the world and home to the Episcopal Diocese of New York. St. Thomas Episcopal Church is an example of French gothic style. It is famous for its Boy’s Choir. St. Patrick’s is the main Catholic Church in Manhattan. It is the largest decorated gothic-style Catholic Cathedral in the United States and has been recognized throughout its history as a center of Catholic life in this country; has ticketed mass on Christmas Eve. Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church’s hand painted coffered ceiling is beautiful as is Central Synagogue’s interior. The Islamic Cultural Center of New York is the largest mosque in Manhattan. Abyssinian Baptist Church is an icon in Harlem. Riverside Church is home to The Carillon, a gift to The Riverside Church by the late John D. Rockefeller, Jr., in memory of his mother. It contains 74 bronze bells ranging in weight from the 20 ton (18 metric) Bourdon (hour bell) to the smallest treble bell of 10 pounds (4.5kg.). The Bourdon is the largest and heaviest carillon bell ever cast. The total weight of all the bells is over 100 tons (91 metric).

All of us at DNY wish each of you a very Happy Holiday season and very Happy New Year. We all have a lot to be thankful for this past year and look forward to sharing health and happiness with one another during this season.