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

NY is for the birds!  Did you know that we have 285 different species of birds migrating through Central Park each year?  September, October, April and May are the peak migratory season for our feathered friends to fly across the sky.  The Empire State Building’s lighting policy has been in effect for decades, and now many other buildings over 40 stories will voluntarily shut their lights at midnight too, including the Chrysler Building and glass buildings along Battery Park. The birds cannot recognize glass as a barrier and avoid it and tend to mistake reflections for the sky.  The number of birds crashing into buildings is in the thousands and this little extra step will help them continue their journey. 

Grand Central Terminal really is grand!  Enjoy the beauty of this fabulous historic landmark building with a private tour.  The netting came down this week and the freshly cleaned facade looks gorgeous.  The interior spaces are elegant and fun and we’d love to be able to share its history with your friends and colleagues.  We can tie in a walking tour of the building with either a private luncheon or dinner to meet virtually any budget. 

The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park has a Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Fantasy Package November 23 - 26 (mandatory three-night stay) 

• Three-night luxury accommodations in a Harbor View Accommodations (option to upgrade to a suite)
• One-way transportation to the Parade Experience                      
• Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Skybox Experience for two: Private 8^th floor indoor skybox viewing (floor to ceiling windows) of the parade on Broadway including a catered Brunch with kid-friendly food.  Seating is available for brunch and throughout the parade, but there is no seating in viewing spots directly next to the windows.
• Thanksgiving Dinner Buffet in The Ritz-Carlton Ballroom              

Café Opaline at the Dahesh Museum of Art extends its hours on Thursdays & Fridays to 7pm. Located at 580 Madison Avenue, The Dahesh Museum of Art is the only institution in the United States devoted to collecting, exhibiting, and interpreting works by Europe's academically trained artists of the 19^th and early 20^th centuries. The Dahesh serves a diverse audience by placing these artists in the broader context of 19th-century visual culture, and by offering a fresh appraisal of the role academies played in reinvigorating the classical ideals of beauty, humanism, and skill.

• Saturday, October 1
  Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, Avon Foundation, The Avon Walk brings together thousands of people to spend a weekend walking to support the Avon Foundation's mission of funding access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer.
  
  
• Sunday, October 2
  68^th Annual Pulaski Day Parade, General Pulaski Memorial Parade Committee, Inc. Fifth Avenue from 29^th to 53^rd Streets at 12:30pm. This year's theme is "The Accomplishments of Pope John Paul the Great" and will proceed up Fifth Avenue from 29^th Street to 53^th Street.
  
  Chile Pepper Fiesta, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn.  Join in New York's hottest fall tradition, where the energy of a big Brooklyn block party fuses with the spirit of the scorching chilehead lifestyle and it all takes place outdoors in BBG's beautiful 52-acre oasis! Enjoy hot musical performances and spicy dance workshops while relishing the tangy zip of chile-infused arts from around the world.
  
  Great Read in the Park, The New York Times, Bryant Park, 42^nd Street (between 5^th & 6^th Aves.). The day-long celebration will feature all things book-related: hundreds of author signings and readings, a literary brunch and tea, panels on writing and publishing, and other special events and performances related to books and reading. The event also kicks off the 70^th anniversary of The New York Times Best Sellers list.
  
  NYC Pickle Day, The Fifth Annual International Pickle Day.  Orchard Street between Houston and Stanton Streets.  Fun for all and free tastings! 11am to 4:30pm
  
  
• Thursday, October 6 – Sunday, October 9
  Off The Main: Show of African, Caribbean & Latin American Contemporary Art
  The Puck Building, 295 Lafayette Street. A fine art fair showcasing paintings, sculpture, graphics and photography. Forty-one exhibitors representing over 200 artists from 20 countries. The only art fair in New York to feature works by artists of Continental African, Caribbean & Latin American ancestry.
  
  
• Friday, October 7 – Monday, October 10
  The New York Fall Antiques & Fine Art Fair, St. Paul the Apostle Church, Columbus Avenue at 60^thStreet.  Manhattan's Upper Westside gets its own world-class antiques show! The prestigious event features treasures from around the world. Admission $15. Special preview day: Thursday, October. 6, to benefit THE MOMENTUM PROJECT, that provides meals & supportive services to persons living with HIV/AIDS & their family members. Admission $50 for the entire weekend.
  
  
• Saturday, October 8 – Sunday, October 9
  Open House New York Inc., America's largest celebration of architecture and design, excites and inspires interest in the City's architecture, history and cultural heritage. The event is packed with guided tours of secret spots in neighborhoods throughout NYC, activities for families, talks with designers, performances, concerts, exhibits and workshops - all free of charge!
  
  
• Monday, October 10
  Columbus Day Parade, Columbus Citizens Foundation, Fifth Ave., 44^th -79^th Streets, then to Third Avenue.  Starts at Fifth Avenue at 44^th Street.  11:45am – 3pm.
  
  
• Friday, October 14 – Saturday, October 15
  The Manhattan Vintage Clothing & Textile Show, Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 W 18^th St. (bet 6^th & 7^th Aves.) Over 80 of the country's most important vintage clothing and textile experts gather for this event, making it a "headquarters" for some of the country's most fashionable vintage resources. Designer labels, coats, lingerie & more to satisfy every taste & pocketbook!
  
  
• Friday, October 14 – Sunday, October 16
  D.U.M.B.O. Art Under the Bridge Festival, Dumbo Arts Center, Jay St. between John and Plymouth Sts. and Washington St. between Front and Plymouth Sts., Brooklyn. Open studios, parade of concepts, gallery exhibitions, site-specific installations, live music, dance, street theater, short film/video festival, spoken word, and simultaneous projections.
  
  
• Monday, October 17
  9^th Annual Brooklyn Eats™ Tasting, New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge, 333 Adams Street, Brooklyn.  It's an annual October tasting event showcasing Brooklyn's best foods and beverages. Unlimited tastings! Remember: Brooklyn Food–It's New York's Home Cooking!
  
  
• Thursday, October 20 – Sunday, October 23
  Postage Stamp Mega Event Fall 2005, American Stamp Dealers Association, Madison Square Garden at the Expo Center.  Over 100 National and International Stamp Dealers, Societies, Clubs and Postal Agencies, United States Postal Service, United Nations Postal Administration. Events include US & UN First Day of Issue Ceremony, 180 Frame Dealers Choice Awards, Exhibits, Special Shows, Show Souvenir Cards, Free Lectures & Appraisals.
  
  
• Thursday, October 20 – Friday, October 28
  Singapore to New York Food Festival, Millennium UN Plaza Hotel, One United Nations Plaza, 44^th Street between 1^st and 2^nd Avenue. Award-Winning Master Chef Chan Kwok of the Renowned Hua Ting Restaurant, Singapore, Joins UN Plaza Executive Chef Scott Rossi in the "Singapore - New York Food Festival" to showcase haute Asian cuisine at the Ambassador Grill & Lounge at the Millennium UN Plaza Hotel from October 20 – October 28, 2005.
  
  
• Friday, October 21 – Sunday, October 23
  First Annual Broadway Cabaret Festival, The Town Hall, 123 West 43^rd Street.  A glorious 3-day weekend featuring many of NY's best Broadway talents, including Ann Reinking, Euan Morton (of Taboo), Louise Pitre (of Mamma Mia!) and many more.
  
  The 30^th International Vintage Poster Fair sponsored by Wine Spectator
  Poster Fairs International, 870 Seventh Ave. at 56^th St., between 55^th & 56^th Streets. There will be 30 exhibitors there and thousands of posters for sale from 1890-1980's. Tickets cost $12 each day. The fair runs Fri. Oct. 21 from 5pm-9pm, Sat. Oct. 22 from 10am-7pm, and Sun. Oct. 23 from 11am-6pm.
  
  Whole Bead Show New York
  The Hotel Pennsylvania, Penn Top & Sky Top Ballrooms 18^th Fl. 401 Seventh Avenue at 33^rd Street. Find beads of precious & semi-precious gems, silver and gold, vintage & contemporary glass and crystal, handmade & hand blown, natural & plastic, buttons, findings, charms, pendants and some pre-made jewelry. The Whole Bead Show® is open to the public as well as to the trade.
  
  The 2005 World Sumo Challenge: Battle of the Giants, Madison Square Garden. This major international sporting event will attract 24 of the world's top Sumo wrestlers from Japan, Asia, Europe and North America.
  
  
• Monday, October 31
  Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, Greenwich Village, Sixth Avenue from Spring to 22^nd Streets. The most creative Halloween event in the world features costumes from the whimsical to the over-the-top. Sixth Avenue from Spring to 22^nd Streets.

First performances this month at the theater include:

Einstein’s Gift, October 1st Five Course Love, October 1st Sweeney Todd, October 3rd Jersey Boys, October 4th The Odd Couple, October 4th See What I Wanna See, October 11th A Mother, A Daughter and a Gun, October 14th The Ark, October 14th Manic Flight Reaction, October 20th Bingo, October 21st Captain Louie, October 26th Seascape, October 28th The Woman in White, October 28th

Closing this month:

Lennon, September 24th All Shook Up, September 25th Joy, September 25th Belly of a Drunken Piano, October 9th Fran’s Bed, October 9th Colder Than Here, October 15th Dedication of the Stuff of Dreams, October 16th Once Around the Sun, October 16th The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow, October 16th Kissing Fidel, October 18th The Ladies of the Corridor, October 23rd One-Man Star Wars Trilogy, October 30th