New Years Eve at One Times Square.

If you are lucky enough be in Times Square on New Years Eve. You will be part of a throng of revellers, waiting for the iconic and historic count down to midnight and the dropping of the spectacular Waterford Crystal New Year's Eve Ball above One Times Square. This dramatic event brings in the New Year with a flurry of confetti, fireworks and joyous, celebratory and expectant wishes for the forthcoming year.

The party begins early in the evening with celebrities performing on stage, viewed on huge screens by the thousands of spectators lining the streets of New York and broadcast around the World.

See New York by Regular Buses.

Getting the bus on vacation in New York is a great way to see the City, yes it can be time consuming and it definitely is quicker by Subway, but, sharing in the every day life of this amazing metropolis is a great adventure.

Plenty of information is on hand to find destinations and timetables and the method of payment used is by Metro card, which are easily accessible from subway stations. The fare is $2.50 or exact change (December 2013).

Most bus stops display a route map and bus schedule and can be found on street corners with a round sign showing the route number and bus emblem.

Share food at this festive season in New York.

There are people in New York that are lacking the means to feed themselves for many reasons. Local communities, businesses and individuals have the opportunity to donate food or money that can be distributed to shelters, soup kitchens and food pantries through the area. 

At this season of festive sharing, 'Food bank NewYork City' and 'City Harvest' will help you help others.

http://www.foodbanknyc.org/ 

http://www.cityharvest.org

I was not disappointed at my first sight of New York.

My first impression of New York was emerging from Penn Station having travelled by train from Newark Liberty Airport, going up the escalator and out onto a very busy 7th avenue, crossing, and mid way turning to look left, to an amazing sight of skyscrapers lining the road into the distance. I was awestruck momentarily but then realised I was in the middle of the road with yellow cabs, trucks and buses all ready to move forward as soon as the lights changed.

Safely on the other side, I walked a few steps and was at our Hotel, Hotel Pennsylvania, a grand sight with American flags flying outside and went through the revolving doors into the art deco reception area decorated very tastefully, the hotel is full of character, being a very old building you feel the history. Our room overlooked the Empire State Building! Macy's is a short walk away,Time Square five minutes walk and Madison Square Gardens is opposite.

Dear Santa. A Christmas Wish....

Dear Santa,

For Christmas please could we have a trip to New York, so that we can have a 'Second Impression of New York'? !!

A Visit to F.A.O. Schwarz.

A visit to FAO Schwarz is a popular destination for a 1st time visitor to New York, this famous historic toy store, on 5th Avenue has not only toys for sale but shopping experiences.

At the shop entrance you will be greeted by a Character Toy Soldier offering a photo opportunity. Then walk into the store filled with toys, games, puzzles, stuffed animals large and small, train sets, construction sets, dolls houses and furniture, a candy department full of eye catching and mouthwatering candy. 

Customise your own Muppet in the Muppet Whatnot Workshop, visit the Big Piano featured in the film 'Big' starring Tom Hanks and perform your own version of Chopsticks, or have your fortune told by Zoltar, the fair ground fortune telling machine also featured in the film 'Big'.

You can hire a personal shopper to assist you in your purchases.

Customers can also book a tour guided by a Toy Soldier for a unique browse of the store and learn of its history etc.

Newark Liberty Airport (EWR) to Manhattan

1st timers flying into New York staying in Manhattan, have the decision to make of which transport system to use, taxi cab, train, or bus. All of which are easy and accessible to do.

Transit options train or bus from Newark Airport (EWR) deliver you to either the Port Authority Bus Terminal or Pennsylvania Railroad Station in Midtown Manhattan the heart of the New York metropolitan area. Connections are then made via taxi cab, subway or bus.

If your accommodation location is not immediately adjacent to either hub, a taxi cab is almost definitely the best route to take, until you get to know the lie of the land. Please don't panic about using cabs, see our post 'Taxi Cabs Explained'.....

Taxi Cabs Explained

There may be much confusion and some fear of using taxi cabs in New York.The process though is simple, low- cost and efficient. Each ride fare is for the use of the cab not the number of people or items of luggage. A tip of 10-20% is usual, dependent on how much the driver helps you with luggage etc. There are various sizes of cab to choose from, dependent on your party size, don't pick a small fuel efficient cab if you are a party of 3 with luggage. as you enter the cab greet the driver and say where you want to go- from that moment onwards the driver is contractually obliged to take you to that destination as safely and efficiently as possible. if there are any problems with your journey take the drivers number and report it immediately.

Broadway and Off-Broadway, New York.

When walking through the streets of New York you cannot help notice the bill boards advertising the latest 'must see' shows 'on Broadway'.

In Midtown Manhattan, around Times Square, is the area of Broadway and off-Broadway theatres. Showing musicals and productions such as...The Lion King, Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia, Matilda, Rock of Ages, Cinderella, Motown the Musical and many many more magnificent shows.

Words to Describe New York.

A few words that aptly describe New York City....Lively, buzzing, entertaining, stimulating, spirited, vivacious, active, high spirited, playful, bubbling, vibrant, dynamic, energetic, electrifying, charismatic, magnetic, vitalising, alluring, fascinating, captivating......and so on.

New York in December.

December in New York City is a wonderful spectacle of coloured lights, Christmas trees, superbly and lavishly decorated store windows. folks dressed up in warm coats, wooly hats, scarves and fur boots. Chestnuts being sold by the street vendor along with the classic hot dogs. Steam rises up from the grates on the sidewalk as you walk along, you hear the thundering beneath you as a subway train travels underground. Ticket touts spot the tourist and try to sell tickets for various attractions..The Empire State Building, a helicopter ride, a sightseeing bus tour, cycles to hire, but when refused, they graciously bid you to 'Have a Nice Day'. 

You constantly hear the sound of bells as the Salvation Army make themselves known, asking for a donation of spare change for the needy.

The hustle and bustle seems to be on the go twenty four hours a day. if staying in a Hotel in the centre of town, you are right in the heart of it, highly recommended, as you get a great buzz and everything is so close to get to.

A Walk in the Park.

Central Park is in the Centre of Manhattan, it's tree lined and open spaced areas are well established and looked after, but have the appearance of 'being lived in'. You feel comfortable walking on the grass and having a picnic under a tree. There are hills within the park that give one an extra perspective of viewing the city of New York skyline with it's magnificent sky scrapers.

Hire a bike, ride a romantic horse driven coach, or just saunter around amidst the dog walkers, joggers and sightseers.

You can walk in any part of Central Park, but there are restrictions for cyclists to stick to designated routes.

 

A hot pie from Pie Face.

On a cold winters evening there is nothing like a hot pie. Scattered around the streets of Manhattan you will find Pie Face locations. Their extensive range of pies, pastries, sandwiches and wraps are just what you need for a quick internal heat up. The pies, themselves, have a face drawn on them - a Pie Face. Each location has a quirky (and risqué) graffiti designed wall that gives you something to read while you munch. The coffee tastes good too.

New York leaves a lasting impression on a person.

Whatever you're looking for in the New York City... It is vibrant, alive, full of many people from all walks of life, wonderful architecture, history, friendly locals always willing to help with a special kind of humour, food establishments in abundance, shops for every pocket, plenty of police presence giving a sense of security and very busy highways but with a safe crossing system for pedestrians. This blog will cover all aspects of your - First Impressions of New York.