CARNIVAL DREAM We had the opportunity to tour Carnival’s newest ship – the DREAM – when she was visiting New York prior to her winter cruising in the Caribbean. It is a "DREAM"……. Carnival is attempting to…Read More

CARNIVAL DREAM

We had the opportunity to tour Carnival’s newest ship – the DREAM – when she was visiting New York prior to her winter cruising in the Caribbean. It is a "DREAM"…….
Carnival is attempting to change its image – appeal to a broader spectrum but still remain a "Fun Ship". It certainly appealed to us……As soon as you enter the 14 story atrium, you notice the more subdued décor than one is accustomed to on Carnival – and they tell us that eventually all ships will be refurbished in this décor. We especially liked the new "feel" of the atrium …………. The piano player performs on an elevated platform surrounded by seating areas and a long bar giving it a casual rather than a "stuffy" feel. If you prefer, you can sit on two upper balcony levels overlooking the atrium – still order drinks and listen to the music while your spouse browses the shops.
Our tour focused on the new type rooms offered – the Spa Suites are a stone’s throw away from Cloud Nine Spa area – these rooms provide private access to the spa, upgraded bath amenities, robes and slippers. The Cove Balcony Staterooms are on the lower decks – closer to the water and may appeal to families with younger children since they are enclosed by the ship’s hull rather than the staterooms on the higher levels whose balconies are glass and rails and…..and at value pricing. The Deluxe Oceanview Family Suites accommodate 5 (2 Adults and 3 Children). Quarters may seem tight for five, but I did like the expanded bathrooms – a full bath with shower and a washroom with sink and junior tub. There are also connecting rooms for families wishing more privacy. And, of course, the Penthouses that get all the Oohs and Aahs…
Food……Always a prime focus on a cruise – we only walked through the buffet area on the pool deck during lunch – It is a very large area with lots of seating – many different stations ( pizza, grill, carving station, salad bar, sandwich bar, stir fry, pasta station, deli….etc…etc…). No lack of choices here, no long lines and the food looked very good. We were served a four course lunch with wine – I was so impressed!!! We started with foie gras mousse and goat cheese rolls – followed by a salad of crisp greens with shaved beets and pumpkin topped with dried cranberries, honey roasted walnuts and a champagne vinegraitte…..Pasta was a fettuccini with eggplant belly and cherry tomato sauce decorated with a crisp parmesan fan. Main Course was a choice of Baked Salmon or Filet Mignon. Our filet was topped with mushroom sauce served on a bed on mini Mac and Cheese. The plate was decorated with grilled asparagus and a ring of Cheese Polenta. The desert presentation was a beautifully decorated plate with chocolate cake, fruit sorbet and chocolate dipped strawberries. This was probably the best filet that I’ve ever had on a cruise ship – the flavors and presentations were spectacular. The food was very very impressive.
Kid’s fun - Kids will LOVE this ship …… Carnival Waterworks is great fun for them – a splash area and three different kids of waterslides. Minigolf has real grass and basketball on the top deck will keep them occupied. Camp carnival for ages 2-11 is divided into three age appropriate programs. Young teens (12-14) meet to play games and join activities in Circle "C" while 15-17 year olds hang out in Club O2. There are planned parties, dances and smoothie tastings – even teen Shore Excursions such as kayaking and cave exploration take place on port days.
Adult’s Fun – This ship is not only about kids – Parents can "get away" too. A two level "Serenity" area has lounge areas, a bubbling whirlpool, attentive servers and – no kids allowed – no extra fee and it comes with an ocean view…..Cloud Nine Spa is a very relaxing area with a thallasso-therapy pool, steam rooms and a thermal suite. Again no fees - except for spa services. Four large whirlpools are situated to take full advantage of superb ocean views.
Nightlife – Lots of choices here – A Stage Show – Movies under the Stars - the Casino – A Supper Club – or you may prefer to dance the night away or to set quietly listening to jazz…….It’s all up to you!! We were treated to a great show following our luncheon – The Carnival Entertainment Team put on a fantastic production that was so energizing. Acrobatics combined with dancing, great voices and many costume changes had the audience standing and singing along. We all left with smiles on our faces.
We wished we could have stayed on and sailed away to the Bahamas – looking forward to sailing on the Dream…..You can enjoy videos of the ship by clicking on the highlighted words.
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I had read really good things about Dial 7, so I decided to give them a try. I was happily surprised and will definitely use them again! I reserved a sedan to pick us up from La Guardia airport to take us to our…Read More

I had read really good things about Dial 7, so I decided to give them a try. I was happily surprised and will definitely use them again!

I reserved a sedan to pick us up from La Guardia airport to take us to our hotel, then back to the airport, a few days later.

I could have just taken a yellow cab into the city, but I wanted a nice car for my husband and I, so I made my reservations via their website.
Having lived in NYC, I knew that anything was possible, I mean the guy could have showed up in a beat-up, old VW bus, so I was a tad bit nervous.

My email confirmation said to call the toll free number after we retrieved our luggage, and the girl I spoke to gave me the number of my car and said he would be there in 5 minutes.

You have to cross over to the next curb and look for your driver holding a sign in his hand, out his window with the car number on it. He pulled right up, put our luggage in the trunk, confirmed where we were going and we were off. The car was a fairly new, nice, black Lincoln sedan. The driver was really nice and professional and we arrived at the hotel in about 30 minutes…not too bad in rush hour traffic.

The rate was a flat rate of $36.00 not including tolls or gratuity, which is a great rate so That’s why I reserved it. There was another car service that wanted to charge $85.00 oneway for the same kind of car, and a cab would have been about $35-$40, so I felt I was doing good.

Like I said, I was a little nervous about the shape the car would be in, because the cars are usually privately owned by the driver and not by the car service, so you never know, but I was pleasantly surprised in both instances.

When we were picked up at our hotel for the ride back to the airport, the driver was on time and the company even called me to make sure my car had arrived. VERY NICE.

The car on the way back was a cream colored Lincoln and not AS nice as the first one, but nicer than a cab.

At any rate, I absolutely recommend them to anyone wanting a nice ride to or from the airport.


www.dial7.com
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New York City Broadway Shows - exciting - and always a hightlight of our short stays......I'll share a few insider tips.1. Once we arrive in NYC our first stop is always the Visitors Information Center just across from TKTS near 48th and Broadway. I love…Read More

New York City Broadway Shows - exciting - and always a hightlight of our short stays......I'll share a few insider tips.
1. Once we arrive in NYC our first stop is always the Visitors Information Center just across from TKTS near 48th and Broadway. I love this place - Full of brochures....all sorts of discounts to restaurants, bars, sightseeing and info is always available on discounted shows - SRO (standing room only) - Student and Senior discounts - Rush tickets (last minute) and lottery tickets - more details later. There is also a booth that sells full price tickets. While at the visitors center you can avail yourself to 15 minutes of complimentary internet, use the rest rooms, have your picture taken with a variety of NYC backdrops ($10) and even be featured on a Time Square Marquis!!! .......Then with info in hand we head off to either.......
2. TKTS...Half price tickets sold mainly on day of performance for cash only....there's a location on 48th and Broadway and another at the South Street Seaport. The line starts to form about an hour prior to opening. Available shows are listed on a billboard and there is a $3/ticket surcharge. Matinee tickets are sold at noon on Broadway and the prior day at the Seaport. Evening performances are sold starting at 3PM. You can subscribe to e-mail updates from a few websites to monitor the trend of available shows.
3. SRO.....some shows that are "sold out" will sell standing room only on a first come first serve basis at the theater - the Visitors Center may have a list of sold out shows. These spots are located along the back wall behind the orchestra section - they are numbered and usually 12 spaces are allocated. The walls are chest high so this is not suitable for children, handicapped or very short people. Prices usually range in the $25 - $35 range. We have been fortunate enough to be offered an empty seat by the ushers after about 1/2 hour.
4. LOTTERY TICKETS - Each theater has it's own policy and only a handful of these tickets - the Times SquareVisitor's Center also provides this information. Call each individual theater to inquire about the time of the drawing....The procedure: Arrive at the theater 1/2 hour prior to drawing and fill out a form - only 2 tickets per form. At the designated time - tickets are drawn (about 24 tickets are usually available). We were fortunate enough to win front row seats to Wicked for $26 each.
5. COLLEGE STUDENTS and SENIORS - You need proper ID - some theaters offer last minute "Rush" tickets. Again - call the theater......some sell them all day and others only two hours prior to show time. We saw "Jersey Boys" for $25 each.
Chances are usually better for matinees and midweek performances. This does require some time spent on the internet or phone, but to us, it's well worth the effort.
6. AUCTIONS - We've also had good luck at Sky Auction - many times the show is combined with restaurant credits of $100 or so...We've had best luck at the Italian resaturants featured.

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And so I bought my ticket and landed on JFK. I finally wanted to find out whether it’s true what they say about New York. I especially remembered one quote from a movie, most likely Woody Allen saying: "The true New Yorkers understand that people…Read More

And so I bought my ticket and landed on JFK. I finally wanted to find out whether it’s true what they say about New York. I especially remembered one quote from a movie, most likely Woody Allen saying: "The true New Yorkers understand that people living anywhere else must be, in some sense, kidding". Now I can honestly say, I totally agree.

During my first days in NY I could only be compared to a child in a huge candy store on Christmas. With my eyes wide opened and my head facing up I walked the streets of Manhattan absorbing everything I saw. After a few days of this huge cultural shock, when I was finally able to think straight, I started exploring this amazing city.

One of the things that fascinated me about NY is that every newcomer like myself fits in. Nobody cares that you’re different, that you speak another language. Nobody discriminates. On the contrary, NY favors differences and encourages individuality. Some feel as just a tiny fraction in a huge anonymous crowd, but it’s this anonymity that draws people here. It’s like a magnet for those who want to feel free and start new lives from the scratch.

What’s also incredible about New York is its amazing diversity and the fact it can generate all kinds of emotions in a single day. Starting at the busy financial district with its famous Wall Street, going through the enchanting Little Italy and trendy Greenwich Village, passing through the hectic and always crowded and bright Times Square and finishing at the relaxing Central Park, NY just overwhelms with its variety of ambiances.

During my one-month stay in New York, all I can say is that thirty days are not enough to discover what this metropolis has to offer. I stayed in a tiny flat in Brooklyn where the rent was three times more than my rent in Europe, but all I cared about was that right outside my door there was a metro station that took me straight to my Manhattan’s favorite places. Many asked me how I managed to find an apartment there from one day to another. The truth is it was kind of risky, but I just took a local paper with ads and started calling people. As apartments in NY are as fresh bread, they sell from one minute to another. As I was struggling with my huge suitcase in a subway, one extremely nice new yorker helped me and referred me to some vacation rental sites I could look at to find an apartment.

In one of my favorite books about New York, Maria Kornatowska said that there are probably thousands of people who come to NY to start a new life. They want to forget their past, their social status and discover this other part of personality that was hidden deep inside of them to become somebody completely different. It’s something about the NY freedom that is so unique. Everybody can dress however they want, live their own lives and be lost in the colorful crowd. Everything is allowed and everything is possible, especially when you are an exotic foreigner who came from another part of the world.

I went to all the standard touristy NY spots such as Ellis Island, the NY Stock Exchange, "the Met" or the Empire State Building, but what I loved the most was just walking the streets without a map or any plan and observing the real New York.

Here are some of my favorite NY pastimes:

- Stargazing in the Battery Park with the view on New Jersey
- Visiting The Frick Collection, one of the most amazing private collections of art I’ve seen
- Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge and enjoying the NY City Skyline at sunset.
- Having dinner on the roof of "the Met" (the Metropolitan Museum of Art)

The list could go on and on but let’s leave something for the next chapters.Close

Visiting NYC in 36 Hours" You might be wondering why any visitor to New York City would limit his stay to a short 36 hours when the city is so jam-packed with things to do. The nature of my most recent visit was that of…Read More

Visiting NYC in 36 Hours"

You might be wondering why any visitor to New York City would limit his stay to a short 36 hours when the city is so jam-packed with things to do. The nature of my most recent visit was that of a surprise weekend getaway to celebrate my husband’s 65th birthday…a momentous birthday at that, which called for suitable recognition and a blow-out present.

The idea came to me when I read a glowing review of the play, "Pygmalion" which was due to close its run on December 16, 2007. I was immediately struck with the idea of whisking him away, while not revealing any information. I knew he’d be impressed with my efforts. But, could I keep the surprise?

The components would all have to be top shelf. as this was a birthday for which it was well worth splurging. I began with the choice of hotels. There are a few from which to choose in the Big Apple, but with a personal recommendation from close friends, it made the choice easier. I went with The London NYC which is a chic and sophisticated update of the former Rihga Royal Hotel. From the moment you enter the hotel, you can sense your every need will be taken care of. The sleek, modern lobby may not be vast in size but the efficiency and friendliness exuded by the front desk staff on arrival, more than makes up for whatever may be missing in square footage. The all-suite hotel is furnished in a clean and minimalist décor, with standard suites including two flat screen televisions, spacious work desk (appointed with high-speed access) and beds which have only the finest linens. On the chilly evenings over which we stayed, I comfortably snuggled under their warm comforter.

The hotel’s fine dining venue, Gordon Ramsay at The London, was among the top 4-Star rated restaurants on Forbes’ Magazine’s 2007 "All Star Eateries in New York". Our dining experience there did not let us down and lived up to that auspicious rating.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the hotel’s superb concierge staff. I utilized their services for theatre tickets and dinner reservations. They came through on every count! They recommended our pre-theatre dinner restaurant, Basso 56, where we enjoyed a superb meal.

Our time in New York City was much too short…merely a quick weekend. But we definitely proved that you can still enjoy a lot of the city even in what is aptly described as "a New York minute". The pace, the excitement and the range of activities is so off-the-charts, that you’d be hard-pressed not to have a good time there. It was worth the plane ride, it was worth braving the cold weather and it forever remains a city worth returning to again and again.

P.S. The surprise came off flawlessly...he never suspected a thing until we got to the airport. He was thrilled with the entire weekend and it will go down as one of our most memorable and special trips!

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You've decided to cruise on the QM2 - you've chosen a date, decided on dining early or late at a smaller or larger table - now you must choose a cabin. Too many choices...lots of things to consider and #1 may be your budget -…Read More

You've decided to cruise on the QM2 - you've chosen a date, decided on dining early or late at a smaller or larger table - now you must choose a cabin. Too many choices...lots of things to consider and #1 may be your budget - #2 your itinerary, and #3 the time of year.

PENTHOUSES: In this luxury category are a few two story penthouse suites with butler service overlooking the aft pool. These have a super sized deck, his and her bath and dressing rooms, King master suite, office and now amble on down the spiral staircase and on the lower level you'll find a living room, dining room another bath and a butler pantry. Even an elevator to take you directly into the Queen's Grill dining Room.

SUITES: Suites with butler service are mainly located on Deck 9 and 10 - Many have a separate living area and all have balconies and butler service. Depending on which category suite you choose, you are assigned to either the Queen's Grill or Princess Grill Dining Rooms - the best advantage with these private dining rooms is that you are assigned a table for the evening - you may dine at any time between 6:30 and 9pm and these two dining rooms feature specialty items - lobster, truffles and foie gras on a regular basis. You also have access to a private cocktail lounge, pool, and club room with free Internet and small food offerings throughout the day.

VERANDAH ROOMS: The best of the category (deluxe) are on Deck 11 and 12 - These rooms are good sized and have a pull out sofa and sliding glass doors opening on to a plexiglass balcony with cushioned, teak lounge furniture. Booked into these rooms, you have the advantage of seating in a separate section of the main dining room with a flexible schedule to dine - anytime from 6:30 - 9pm. Verandah rooms other than on Deck 11 and 12 are assigned to either an early or late seating in the main dining room (Brittania).

PREMIUM BALCONY ROOMS: Don't be fooled by this name..."premium does not mean better...it means better value "aka" cheaper... These are also known as "hull balconies". If you look at the QM2's deck plan, you'll see that the decks below the life rafts have rectangular opening - this is the "window" that is cut out of the hull for the balcony...so...if you are sitting out, you feel enclosed by the metal. You cannot see the water unless you stand up, but you do have a view of the sky. This hull also makes your room quite dark. Balconies above the life boats have plexiglass rails allowing unobstructed views. I do not recommend these verandah rooms. Some guests were "upgraded" from an oceanview to this type of balcony and they were not happy... Beware!

OCEANVIEW: These rooms are spacious and have large windows and most have a pull out sofa. The price varies according to the deck they are situated on. These are blow the lifeboats but have a good view and brightness in the room - recommended...

OBSTRUCTED OCEANVIEW: The least expensive of the oceanview rooms, but on this ship the view is truly almost totally obstructed...I walked in and thought we are in a dockyard! The lifeboats are very large and are truly an eyesore. A hint...If you look carefully at the deck plan (Deck 8 )...there is one smaller life boat - so that cabin may be more acceptable.

ATRIUM: Only a few in this category...the newest kind of room in the past few years. They overlook the atrium. A nice idea instead of an inside cabin...but...basically, you have no privacy. Nice to look out and see what is going on on the floors below...but...people can see in because the glass elevators run alongside the 12 or so rooms on each of three
decks. Of course there are shades that you can draw - but it's not the same feeling as looking out at the water and knowing that no one will see inside without the draperies drawn.

INSIDE: We chose an interior room on our trans-Atlantic cruise because of the "special pricing". We rationalized that it would be fine because it was April and the ocean waters were cool, the ship travels at a high speed and that there were no views of land for 6 days...but I was still skeptical, because we usually opt for a balcony. We were pleasantly surprised. One of the better interior cabins that we've had, both in way of size and decor. The interior rooms on the QM2 have their own corridor, making them very quiet, since there is no traffic, except for the guests in the five or six cabins around you.

HINTS: On a trans-Atlantic crossing, there is nothing to see but water - (yes it is nice but you'll see it all day long), you won't be coming into ports daily and you won't see islands, other ships or any lights from shore. The QM2 sails at 25 knots, making for a very breezy sailing - your balcony or any outside deck will be quite cool. Traveling in winter months in the Atlantic or Mediterranean, it will be very cool because of the water temperature. If you ever need to sail on a budget - this is the time...

In the Caribbean - a different story - at least an oceanview cabin would make your vacation more interesting and a balcony would be worth the splurge...Cappuccino when you come into port and wine on your deck as you depart make for wonderful memories.Close

I had the pleasure last night to go to the Museum of Sex for a lecture and booking signing from a woman named Barbara Carellas who just wrote a book called Urban Tantra. When I arrived at the museum, we were ushered into the first…Read More

I had the pleasure last night to go to the Museum of Sex for a lecture and booking signing from a woman named Barbara Carellas who just wrote a book called Urban Tantra. When I arrived at the museum, we were ushered into the first exhibit that the museum has to offer where dozens of folding chairs set up in a half moon formation. At the forefront of the chairs, there was a small table and a high chair waiting all waiting for the speaker to take the reins of this sled.

After a brief banter from the crowd, we were all hushed by the speaker’s partner and told a short introduction of who the speaker was and what we were to expect. Then the speaker, Barbara, took the stage and opened our eyes to the world she (and others) had created. She started with a brief history of Tantra and how no one really knows when it started because it was forced underground for so many years through years of religious oppression. Then she transitioned into how and when Urban Tantra came to be.

She had been working as an actress in New York in the early to mid eighties and a lot of her friends were dying from the GRID (AIDS) disease. She had sought out a support group that she had heard about for people in different avenues of life who were facing the same problem of losing multiple friends a week to the disease. Through this group, things started to seem better and people with the disease attending these groups were actually living longer than doctors had suggested. She then somehow hooked up with a former sex professional named Annie Sprinkle and went to a seminar where sexual exploration was added to the group feeling, making everyone feel that much better.

Her obsession to feel better and make others feel better was an all consuming power that gave her the feeling of the super human power of healing. She ending up traveling to Australia for five years to explore further in her ideas of adding sexual exploration with group consciousness to make everything flow better internally and externally. The reason she pick Australia was because it was a country founded by convicts instead of the US where we were founded by puritans. It was a cool premise to think that response would be better there than here; and she was right.

While in Australia, they were giving a seminar to heterosexual men about sexual pressure points in woman when the two instructors and one test body started to be overwhelmed with unknown possessions. They initially thought they had gone too far and now were possessed by the devil. When they reached their hotel, they received a phone call from America asking if they were ok. Baffled, they asked what they were talking about. The response was that there was a 35 person massacre in Tasmania at the same time while they were freaking out. In hind sight, they surmised that their energy was so high that the passing souls passed through them like conduits to the other side. It was a freaky story.

After seminar was over, the "live art" exhibitions started. Barbara had two guests who were going to perform two live art exhibits based off concepts in Urban Tantra. The first demonstration was from a man named Corey Alexander and his partner, who were both huge Tantric fans and students. Their demonstration was a BDSM demo using knifes and intense slapping. The second demo was given by a women named Isis Phoenix who was yoga specialist specializing in Naked Yoga. Her presentation was amazing; she got naked and orgasmed in front of everyone using Fire breathing techniques explained in the book. It was an interesting hour since people were just roaming around watching and talking as people were being beaten and orgasming all over the place. Strawberries and chocolate penises and vaginas were passed and wine was served in large quantities. As people intermingled, ideas and connects were made and nurtured. Writers of prestigious sexuality books were here mingling around asking as many questions as everyone else.

So, apparently, there are workshops that were rated number one by Time Out New York magazine that Barbara performs. How to find these workshops eludes me, but I imagine you can Google it. But, if you can, pick up Barbara’s book, Urban Tantra (www.amazon.com/Urban-Tantra-Sacred-Twenty-first-Century/dp/product-description/1587612909) and give it a thorough read. Also, you should hit up the Museum of Sex’s website (www.museumofsex.com/) for the different lectures that are given all year long. They are a real jaw dropper and eye opener and completely worth it. Close

Thanksgiving Eve A favorite with New Yorkers is to watch while the giant balloons are inflated. This extravaganza takes place on side-streets around the Museum of Natural History on Central Park West. Don't expect to catch much action before 11pm. Crews work through the night…Read More

Thanksgiving Eve
A favorite with New Yorkers is to watch while the giant balloons are inflated. This extravaganza takes place on side-streets around the Museum of Natural History on Central Park West. Don't expect to catch much action before 11pm. Crews work through the night as Betty Boop and comrades swell under streetlamp spotlights.


Disregard risk-myths about being out after dark. Not only is there safety in numbers, mashed within the masses provides extra body heat; this night was always frigid as well as exceptional.

If fighting crowds isn't your thing, don't bother!

The local blue and orange subway lines, which have a CPW-stop at the museum, should be avoided due to congestion. I highly recommend taking local red lines up Broadway, exiting in the 80's and walking east to the museum.

For those staying in midtown, consider walking back to your homebase by heading south down Central Park West. The night was always charged with excitement and energy that invites prolonging the occasion. Crowds have dispersed within a few blocks, giving way to magic of the night as leaves crunch underfoot and breath hangs heavy in the frosty air.


At 62nd street's Central Park entrance, Tavern on the Green is the perfect nightcap whether stopping for a drink, or simply walking around the exterior. The grounds are always lit year-round, but special holiday decorations are spectacular. Be sure to venture around back to the courtyard, which also allows viewing of elaborate decorations inside the dining rooms.

Whether returning to the sidewalk or snuggling under the streetlamps of Central Park's loop, it's a short 3-block walk to Columbus Circle at 59th & Broadway, where subways and taxis are available.

The Best of... NYC's Holidays
Glimmers of Christmas begin appearing the week of Thanksgiving, but the Big Apple doesn't fully deck its halls until the following week. Nothing used to conjure the holiday spirit better than this walk through my old midtown neighborhood.

Whether you set-out in the daytime under a wintery gray sky, or wait until after 5:00pm when twilight prevails, no place in the city shows-off the season better! If time permits, see it by day and by night.

From anywhere in the lower 40's, head north along 6th Ave and be prepared to cross back-and-forth; especially for taking photographs. Streetside courtyards and fountains are ablaze as precursors to illuminated lobbies of the towering office complexes. At night, brilliance is magnified with lights reflecting off both sides of glass and water in fountains.

The animated feature outside Radio City Music Hall is a sidewalk stopper. Other massive displays loom within these few blocks, closely guarded by Nutcracker soldiers, standing at attention while knee-high-to-a-grasshopper pedestrians rush by.

Depending upon time, walkers can head east once reaching the New York Hilton, or round-up the tour by continuing to 57th St. and turning right.

This block has plenty of shops and remains decorated with white lights year-round. Nighttime walkers should look above illuminated trees for buildings which mirror skylines.

The intersection of 57th and 5th is embellished with a multi-dimensional snowflake. It's a NYC blizzard all-in-one flash, suspended over the center ready to take-out a city bus just as quickly if falling as the real thing.

Turning right, heading south down 5th passes along exclusive stores the Avenue is known for. Whether entering heavily armed with plastic, or simply browsing from the sidewalk hoping Santa is monitoring mental wish lists, no place represents the economic boon of Christmas better than this stretch.


Holiday Window Decorations are one of the city's oldest traditions that have since fallen to marketing tactics. Seasonal displays are now mostly compromised with merchandise ranging from provocative to ostentatious.

Lord & Taylor, located along the right-hand side between 37th/38th streets, were my annual all-time favorites maintaining the observances of yesteryears. Shoppers and pedestrians gather around the frame-sized windows depicting nostalgic images and animated scenes like you'd expect to find.

In passing along this far, the 5th Ave. segment also includes opportunities for taking-in the decked interior of Trump Tower, tasteful trimmings of St. Patrick's Cathedral, and the angel-adorned walkway, ice rink and Christmas tree of Rockefeller Center.

The New York Public Library and Bryant Park, which border 42nd Street between 5th & 6th Ave., is adorned with giant wreathes, including the imposing lions out front. The location is great for warming-up with a cup of hot chocolate at one of the parkside cafes, and is convenient for catching public transportation as an end to this tour.

If still wanting more, The Empire State Building is nearby at 34th & 5th. For all the streetside twinkles, nothing compares to the city lights which sprawl in all directions for as far as eyes can see. Whether as part of this jaunt or done separately, holiday visitors definitely should monitor weather when planning ascents. Clouds, wind or precipitation determine whether observation decks are opened. Going to the top without getting outside is hardly worth the effort.

From here, head west across 34th Street one-block to Herald Square where 6th Ave. and Broadway converge, and the world's largest department store is across the street. Macy's is the other must-see when it comes to holiday window decorations.

Since this institution takes up an entire city block, coming here is like a full tour with decked perimeters along Broadway, 34th Street, and 7th Ave. Interior decorations are just as astounding as are holiday bargains for shoppers.

Yet in thy Dark Streets Shineth...
Here's a downtown recommendation loaded with inexpensive shopping and an ethnic twist. Take one of the local green or yellow subway lines to Canal Street and the heart of Chinatown. This thoroughfare is jammed with boothes selling a bit of everything, including designer knock-offs.

When ready to eat, Excellent Dumpling House at 111 Lafayette between Canal and Walker, is my Chinatown favorite but Italian is just around the corner.


What's left of Little Italy can be found on Mulberry Street, a few blocks east, off the left of Canal. Street decorations pale in comparison with how restaurant owners adorn establishments, including hand-crafted decorations from the homeland. It's worth a holiday stroll even with no intentions of dining, though sidewalk maitre de’s are hard to resist.

The real treats, regardless of season, are found inside Ferrara's Bakery, on the righthand side, just off Canal. You'll likely smell this place before seeing it. During holidays, they specialize in old-world Italian favorites that compliment pastry cases and to-die-for gelatos. Over-indulging is inevitable so here's to walking it off!

On Canal, head south down Centre Street which passes along the City's impressive court buildings. Beyond on the right, City Hall and its Park are lit-up with decorations. At the tip where Broadway converges, take a left heading east on any sidestreet. Nassau Street is a pedestrianized shopping area, but Fulton Street is where you're headed.

This eventually feeds into South Street Seaport, which has the authentic New England ambience as one of the city's oldest neighborhoods. Compared to midtown, this is like entering an entirely different world. Aside from streetside adornments, Christmas trees are attached to overhead masts of ships along docks.

Pier 17, a 3-story waterfront shopping mall, is rather hit-and-miss with expensive shops and restaurants frequently going out of business, but it's worth going to rear of the upper level for observation decks which have magnificent views of the Brooklyn Bridge.

For returning, the closest subway stops are half-way back along Fulton, or the rest of historic downtown is easily explorable from here.

In Memory of...
Holiday anxieties were realized early-on when some went separate ways while others stayed in NYC. Homesick for the islands, I promised eating, drinking and dancing just as if we were all back in the Caribbean, together. Parties at the Winter Garden became annual tradition, where towering palms reigned over Christmas trees as thick as a holiday rainforest.

The World Financial Center barely survived 9/11, just across the Westside Highway from Ground Zero. The refurbished complex is assuredly bigger and better, but I've had no desires to revisit any of this fateful area. However, that doesn't mean holiday happenings in this heavenly enclave aren't available. It's probably still one of the city's most unique, hidden finds of the season.
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It stuns me to think that as recently as the mid-50s, the way most people got to Europe was on an ocean liner. Jumbo jets have become so common, they are so fast, and tickets on them are so cheap, that it seems a million…Read More

It stuns me to think that as recently as the mid-50s, the way most people got to Europe was on an ocean liner. Jumbo jets have become so common, they are so fast, and tickets on them are so cheap, that it seems a million years ago that booking passage on a liner was the inevitable beginning of a tour of Europe. So when my mom suggested that we make a crossing on the Queen Mary 2, I was intrigued, especially as I have never been on an ocean liner or cruise ship before.

How would it be to arrive in the UK without jet lag? In Southampton rather than at Heathrow or Gatwick? Most importantly, could I keep myself entertained for the 5-sea days that make up the bulk of the crossing?

I started to research, and soon my Mom and I had found a good deal--a late May sailing from Manhattan with a balcony cabin (obstructed view, but view seems unimportant when you see nothing but fog or open ocean for the majority of your time on board), one way airfare back to New York, and a $125 per person on-board credit. Total cost: $1,550 per person.

Now all we had to do is wait for departure—and make some additions to our wardrobes, so that they would support the 4 formal dress nights that they would have on board.

Finally, on the last week in May, our departure date arrived. We took the train into Manhattan, and then grabbed a cab to the new cruise terminal at Red Hook in Brooklyn. Our cabbie (in fact, most cabbies, since the terminal is quite new) didn't know precisely where the terminal was, but Mom had come armed with directions and we found the terminal without incident. It's hard to miss, once you get to a place where you can see the water—the ship looms over the waterfront.

Arrivals are staggered in two hour intervals, a good thing considering that the ship was totally full when we sailed. The line to check in looked daunting, snaking back and forth through the terminal, but it moved quickly. As we stood in line, we filled out cards about our health, then proceeded to the check in area, where we had our pictures taken and were issued an ID. The ID was both our room key and a charge card for any services that we purchased on board. The whole check-in process took perhaps 20 minutes.

From the check-in counter, we headed towards the gangway, past photographers who snapped a singularly unattractive picture. Fortunately we weren't obliged to buy it.

You enter the ship on Deck 3, in the mezzanine level of the Grand Lobby. The lobby itself is vaguely art deco (as is most of the ship's decor), with floral arrangements the size of shrubs surrounded by small sofas and chairs for sitting (while you wait for the line at the nearby purser's desk to subside, I suppose). The most impressive element is the two-story tall stainless steel art piece that is mounted in the atrium—a bas relief of the prow of a huge ocean liner, lit in gold.

From the lobby mezzanine, we passed the champagne bar (a nice view, if you want to splurge on a glass of champagne and some caviar), and headed to the main bank of elevators. These, strangely, seemed not to be running at full bore, but nevertheless, we were in an elevator and heading for our cabin on deck 8 within 15 to 20 minutes.

The cabin itself was surprisingly spacious, done in light woods with cream walls. There were two twin beds, a small sitting area with a sofa and table, two built in wardrobes, a safe, a small but well designed bathroom with shower, and a glass wall that led out to the balcony.

Deck 8 is the lifeboat deck, so the view from our balcony was obstructed by the lifeboats, but we didn't find this an issue. The fact that deck 8 houses the Todd English restaurant and a fine 8,000-volume library, and is directly above the Canyon Ranch Spa, the casual dining, and the promenade deck more than made up for a view of boats and davits.

When we arrived in our cabin, we were surprised to find a bottle of champagne (courtesy of Cunard—my Mom had sailed with them before) and a bottle of chardonnay and plate of canapes (complements of our travel agency, Moment's Notice). We opened our champagne and ate our canapes on the balcony, finishing just in time for the safety drill, and departure.

Leaving Manhattan was a highlight of the trip. It was a lovely sunny day, and the skyscrapers glistened in the afternoon light. We sailed past the Statue of Liberty, and, most impressive, underneath the Verrazano Narrows bridge and out to sea. The ship only clears the Verrazano by about 10 feet, so if you look upwards as you sail under it, it seems as if the funnels will be knocked off. No such trouble happened to us, though, and we sailed uneventfully into the Atlantic.

On our first sea day, my Mom and I headed to the library—handsomely paneled, with comfortable chairs to sit in and computer to use if you don't want to go to the Internet area on deck 2. We each picked out a book, which we could keep out until noon the day before we arrived in Southampton. Then we went to the desk at the Canyon Ranch spa to reserve treatment times for the next morning.

Thereafter, the trip fell into a comfortable, relaxing routine. We would wake at 8:30am or so and head to breakfast—either a three course meal in the main restaurant, or a quicker self-serve breakfast from the food court on Deck 7. Then we would walk a mile around the promenade deck--three laps is just over a mile. I would then head upstairs to read for awhile, or just explore the ship. My Mom would keep walking until she had finished four miles. Then we'd meet up for lunch, head back to our cabin for a nap and see a show or watch a movie. At 3:30pm, we would stop what we were doing for the formal tea, served in the elegant Queen's Room by tuxedoed waiters who carry trays to the strains of a string quartet. After tea, it was up to our room to shower and change for dinner. After dinner, more reading, or a show, or some peaceful time in the mostly empty pool and Jacuzzi up on Deck 12.

So things went for a very relaxing 4 days, until we arrived in Southampton. That required waking up early, but it was worth the break in routine to see the ship glide up the Solent, crawl to a halt, and slowly slowly slowly turn around in preparation for docking.

Docking turned out to be the easy part—it takes a good long time for 2,600 passengers to disembark. If you are in a rush, your best bet is to carry your own luggage off. This way, you will be off the boat about 45 minutes after docking, as opposed to 1 to 3 hours for the passengers who are having their luggage removed by longshoremen.Close

Though I was slightly dissapointed that I did not end up going to a comedy club with my friend on Friday night, my fortunes were completely reversed the following day. Another friend of mine (yes, I''m amazed I have more than one also) happened…Read More

Though I was slightly dissapointed that I did not end up going to a comedy club with my friend on Friday night, my fortunes were completely reversed the following day. Another friend of mine (yes, I''m amazed I have more than one also) happened to have an extra ticket to Yankee Stadium. If you've ever been to Yankee Stadium, then you know that rooting for another team is probably not the smartest thing to do in the House that Drops 500-Pound Concrete Chunks on Fans. In the bleachers, the mere suspicion that you do not bleed Yankee navy can get you hassled or worse. Now, I am not a Yankee fan. In fact, I hate the Yankees with every fiber of my being; it's possible that I take more pleasure in hating the Yankees than I do in loving the Mets. So needless to say, I would not have been all that excited to go see a baseball game in the Bronx were it not for the fact that the Mets and Yankees were playing one another. While interleague play may not produce very exciting matchups in most of the rest of the nation, it has revved up the New York baseball world tremendously. Since interleague play has arrived, all six Mets-Yankees games have sold out completely. The only thing better than seeing the Mets beat the Yankees at Shea Stadium is seeing it happen at Yankee Stadium, in front of 55,000 of the proudest, most stubborn, and most misguided people in the country. And, of course, that's what happened on the previous night while I was eating sushi. The Mets rolled to victory 12-2, completely overwhelming their feeble opponents. So spirits were high, and I relished the opportunity to be in Yankee Stadium, a cadre of Mets fans backing me up, to see the same thing happen again. Plus I'd be able to scream and rant about how much the Yankees sucked without actually getting my butt kicked. Things went pretty well for the first few innings, and a 5-3 Mets lead helped to shut up the home fans. This was beneficial for two reasons: first, it's rather satisfying to see Yankee fans rationalizing the situation which their team faced, and second, chants about Yankee ineptitude really tend to hit home when they are losing. Suddenly, a dark cloud came over the stadium, the Yankees took the lead, and my fun was over. Luckily for my friend (who is also a Mets fan) and I, we had to leave early so he could get to work on time. While we stayed long enough to see the Mets fall behind, we were spared the indignity of seeing them get blown out, which they did. Leaving early also, in all likelihood, saved us from getting spit upon. The moral of the story is this: if you want to go see a real baseball game in New York, go to Shea Stadium. If you absolutely must, go to Yankee Stadium, but don't say I didn't warn you. And one final thing...if the Yankees start winning, get the hell out of dodge! Close