Hotel News: Keeping up with the changes in the hotel business here can be a full time challenge.  Many times, you might wonder which property makes the most sense for your stay.  We are happy to help you choose the best property for your needs.

• The RIHGA Royal Hotel has been purchased by the Blackstone Group.  $40 million has been marked for renovations
• The Plaza Hotel: Following three months of negotiations with Local 6 (labor union), Elad Properties, the new owner of New York City's Plaza hotel, has adjusted its plans for converting hotel rooms into condominiums. About 350 rooms will remain guest rooms, up from a previously planned 150 and the Grand Ballroom will not be converted to retail space though the property still will feature a retail component. The hotel closes April 30 for an 18-month conversion process.
• The Essex House: Starwood has sold the Westin Central Park South Hotel for $62.50 Million to Bass Hotels and Resorts.  The property will be known as Central Park Inter-Continental New York.
• Marriott began building a 34-story, 280-room on 125th Street, the first hotel to be built in the neighborhood since the Hotel Theresa closed in 1970.

Hotels that have closed:  To refresh your memory, the following hotels have been sold and are being converted to condominiums: The Stanhope, The Empire, The Mayflower, The Inter-Continental on Central Park South, Helmsley Windsor and Delmonico.

Street Festivals: Some of you love them and ask that we include the list under local knowledge so that you can attend.  Others want us to include them so you can plan your stay and avoid them and the traffic that they create.  Every weekend from now until the fall, getting around NY on the weekends will take longer than you expect, so please allow for extra time to make your dinner and theater times.  Explore the neighborhoods and participate in local community events.

• Thursday, April 28th – Saturday, May 14th
  Annual Madison Avenue: Where Fashion Meets Art. A unique partnership between over 100 of Madison Avenue's most prestigious luxury boutiques and galleries that explores the nexus of fashion and art.
  
  
• Sunday May 1st
  Cuban Day Parade, 1:00 PM, 6th Avenue from 35th Street to 59th Street.
  
  
• Thursday, May 5th – Oct. 30th
  Jim Hodge’s stainless-steel sculpture “Look and See” will be on view in front of The Ritz Carlton, Battery Park.
  
  
• Saturday, May 7th
  Music Memorabilia Show, Tip Top Shoe Building, 155 West 72nd Street, 4th Floor, (near Broadway). Purchase a wide variety of music memorabilia from 10am-2pm with free admission. Merchandise includes LPs, 45rpm, 78rpm, sheet music, photos, posters, books, etc.
  
  
• Saturday, May 7th
  Federation to Preserve the Greenwich Village Waterfront Street Fair, Greenwich Avenue, between 6th and 7th Avenues, 11:00am – 6pm.
  
  
• Saturday, May 7th
  Cures Not War Marijuana March, Broadway from Houston St. to Battery Park, 12:30pm.
  
  
• Saturday, May 7th
  Street Fairs: Gramercy Visiting Neighbors, Third Avenue between 14th St. and 23rd Street 11am – 6pm; Riverside Church Street Festival, Broadway between 116th and 120th Street, 11am – 6pm. 
  
  
• Sunday, May 8th (Mother’s Day)
  Street Festivals: Friends of LaGuardia Place, Bleecker Street between LaGuardia Pl. and Lafayette St., 17th Precinct Community Council Street Fair, Lexington Avenue between 42nd Street and 57th Street, 11am – 6pm; Committee for Environmentally Sound Development Street Fair, Broadway between 60th and 65th Streets, 11am – 6pm, Cinco de May Festival, 116th Street between Lexington Avenue and Second Avenue.
  
  
• Thursday, May 12th   
  Grand Gourmet – The Flavor of Midtown Vanderbilt Hall, Grand Central Terminal/Grand Central Partnership, East 42nd Street at Park Avenue.  An annual dining event with unlimited tastings from more than 30 of New York's finest restaurants from 7pm-9:30pm. This fun and appetizing event will give attendees a sample of savory dishes, delicious wines and microbrews from the most superb spots in Midtown.
  
  
• Saturday, May 14th
  Village Crosstown Trolley Street Festival, Astor Place between Broadway and Lafayette St., 11am – 6pm, Gramercy park Neighborhood Association, Park Avenue South between 17th Street and 23rd Street, 11am – 6pm,
  
  
• Saturday and Sunday, May 14th and 15th
  Annual Ninth Avenue Food Festival from 37th Street to 57th Street.  This is fun for the family that loves to try new foods.
  
  
• Sunday, May 15th
  Amsterdam Avenue Street Festival, Amsterdam Avenue between 77th Street – 90th Street, 11am – 6pm.
  
  
• Sunday, May 15th
  Martin Luther King Parade, Fifth Avenue from 61st – 86th Street, 1 pm.
  
  
• Saturday, May 21st
  Street Festivals: Christopher Block & Merchants Assoc. Street Fair, Christopher Street between 7th Avenue South and Bleecker and Hudson, 5pm – 11pm, Bedford-Barrow-Commerce Block Association Street Fair, Bedford, Barrow and Commerce Streets between 7th and Hudson St., 10^th Precinct Community Council Street Fair, 23th Street between 7th and 8th Avenue, 11am – 6pm, Forum’s Children Foundation Street, Avenue of the Americas between 42nd Street and 56th Street, 11am – 6pm.
  
  
• Saturday, May 21st
  15th Annual Rites of Spring Garden Pageant.  Earth Celebrations East Village/ Lower East Side Gardens.  A day-long parade (10am-6pm) and mythic pageant to celebrate and preserve the community gardens of NYC. The parade features: giant puppets, musical bands, and spectacular costumed characters. Performances of dance, music, and poetry performed at gardens along the route.
  
  
• Saturday, May 21st
  World Music Extravaganza!  World Music Institute 20th Anniversary Benefit.  Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd St.  Artists from various traditions join together for a celebration of World Music Institute's 20th anniversary at 8pm including Zakir Hussain, Ustad Sultan Khan, Giovanni Hidalgo, Bailo Bah, Dende, Simon Shaheen, Steve Gorn, Adam Rudolph, Sylvain Leroux, Arturo Martinez, Ali Jihad Racy, Min Xiao-Fen, John Joe Kelly, and Brian Finnegan.
  
  
• Saturday May 21st
  Turkish-American Day Parade at 12:00 Noon.  Was 56th Street from Madison to 2nd Avenue, 2nd Avenue to 47th Street -- New route to be determined. Check when you arrive.
  
  
• Sunday, May 22nd
  Cuban Day Parade, Sixth Ave. from 35th – 59th Street.
  
  
• Sunday, May 22nd
  Street Festivals: Greenwich Village Youth Council Arts & Crafts Fair, Bleecker Street between Bank Street and Christopher Street, 10am – 7pm.; Turtle Bay Association Street Festival, Second Avenue between 43rd and 55th Street, 11am – 6pm; Project Open at Lincoln Center Street Fair, Broadway between 66th Street and 72nd Street, 11am – 6pm; Valley Restoration LDC Street Festival, Amsterdam Avenue between 96th Street and 106th Street, 11am – 6pm.
  
  
• Wednesday, May 25th
  Society of St. Anthony of Giovanazzo Feast, Mott Street between Canal and Hester Streets, 11am – 11:30pm.
  
  
• Wednesday, May 25th - May 30th
  Fleet Week, Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum, West 46th Street at 12th Avenue. The Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum is proud to participate in New York City 's 18th Annual Fleet Week and to continue its mission to "Honor our Heroes, educate the public and inspire our youth." Activities include: Parade of Ships reception, Fleet Week Gala, Stem to Stern Relay, Tug of War competition, Best Chow competition, & Memorial Day Ceremony.
  
  
• Thursday, May 26th - May 30th
  2005 Classical Singer Convention & Expo, Marriott Marquis, Times Square.  Multi-day event for anyone interested in classical singing - will include workshops and master classes by the best in the business, a concert by Tim Noble, a countertenor mini-convention, and a fashion show featuring Catherine Heiser. 50 colleges will talk with 1,000 students looking for choral programs.
  
  
• Friday, May 27th – October 10th
  Mulberry Street becomes a Pedestrian Mall.  This is great fun to walk down the street and have lunch or dinner at one of the restaurants with outdoor seating and just “people watch.”
  
  
• Saturday, May 28th - May 30th
  Butterfly Blast, Bronx Zoo, Boston Rd and Bronx River Pkway.  Celebrate the opening of the Bronx Zoo's new Butterfly Garden. Festivities include stilt-walkers, crafts, storytelling, and special performances.
  
  
• Saturday, May 28^th
  Street Fairs: 2 Bridges Neighborhood Council Street Fair, Third Avenue between 6th and 14th Street, 11am – 7pm, Chelsea Reform Democratic Club Street Fair, Sixth Avenue between 14th Street and 23rd Street, 11am – 6pm.
  
  
• Saturday, May 28th, Sunday, May 29th and Monday, May 30th
  Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit, University Place between West 3rd Street to West 12th Street, Noon – 7PM.
  
  
• Sunday, May 29th
  Street Fairs: LOISAIDA Street Fair, Avenue C between 5th and 12th Street, 11am – 6pm, Coalition of Italo-American Association Street Fair, Seventh Avenue between 57th Street and 57th Street, 11am – 6pm; Coalition of a Livable West Side/Safe Haven Street Fair, Broadway between 72nd Street and 86th Street, 11am – 6pm.
  
  
• Monday, May 30th
  Street Fairs: Innovative Community Enterprises Street Fair, Madison Avenue between 42nd Street and 57th Street, 11am – 6pm.

Spring has finally arrived!  It’s been rather a long winter for everyone.  Sit outside and enjoy watching the spring buds turn into flowers and leaves.  Spring brings a welcome breath of color from the gray of the winter. 

Tom Colicchio’s “witchcraft kiosks” will open in Bryant Park to offer a variety of places that provide casual food to anyone who wishes to stay in the park.  An additional 600 chairs will be brought in to provide seating.

Danny Meyer’s Shake Shack is located in Madison Square Park.  Patience here is the key.  After a 50-minute wait on the line, it was time to place our order.  Basically, you are looking at a hamburger and frozen French-fries.  Not sure that it’s really worth the wait.

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 8^th.  There are a variety of locations that will allow mother to enjoy the day and the view.

• Café Botanica, in the Essex House, 160 Central Park S. (between 6^th and 7^th Avenues), 212-484-5120.
• River Café, 1 Water St. (between Furman & Old Fulton Sts.), Brooklyn, 718-552-5200.
• The Boathouse in the Park, Central Park, enter on E. 72^nd Street (Central Park Dr. North), 212-517-2233.
• Barbetta, 321 West 46^th Street (between 8^th and 9^th Avenues) 212-246-9171.
• Barolo, 398 W. Broadway (between Broome & Spring Sts.) 212-226-1102.

First Performances this month include:

• Love/Life, May 1
• Captain Louie, May 4
• Flight, May 8
• The Paris Letter, May 13
• Thrill Me, May 16
• B.F.E. May 19 

Opening this month:

• Glengarry Glen Ross: May 1 (See Kitt’s Picks Theater for Kitt’s Comments)
• Spelling Bee, May 2
• Sweet Charity, Mar 4
• Captain Louie, May 8
• Flight, May 16
• Memory House, May 17
• After the Night and the Music, May 19
• Thrill Me, May 26