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reOrder Exhibition At The Brooklyn Museum

New York Minute Show — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 18:29:48 +0000

We stopped by the Brooklyn Museum recently and saw the very wonderful reOrder Exhibition which conveniently is the first exhibit you’ll see after entering. The first video shows the reOrder exhibit and the second video shows the new front of the museum.

Bonus Slideshow!

A Tower Rises

New York Minute Show — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 17:51:27 +0000

During my recent trip down to New York City I decided to check out the progress on the new Freedom Tower that will replace the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center. It has taken a long time to make progress but I’m happy to report that excellent progress is being made. At this point it looks like the main tower is at least as tall as any of the buildings in the area. I heard from a friend that the exterior of the tower should be completed early next year. This building is a very welcome addition to the Lower Manhattan skyline and will surely be one of the major city attractions once it is completed.

Please enjoy a few of the photos I took when I was in the area.

Some New York Steakhouses

New York Minute Show — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:03:28 +0000

Last weekend my wife and I were walking down Stanton Street on the Lower East Side when we were stopped by a group of French speaking people who were looking for a restaurant recommendation. Specifically they were looking to eat at an American steakhouse. I immediately thought of and recommended Peter Luger Steakhouse in Williamsburg which is also very close to the Lower East Side.

Peter Luger is perhaps the most well known steakhouse in New York. It has been around forever. Many celebrities go there. The scene is also quite unique with sawdust on the floors and gruff German waiters who do the ordering for you. Some might argue about whether it’s the “best” steakhouse or not. I think that most people would agree it’s worth the trip if you’re a visitor to the city who doesn’t mind spending a bit of money on good steak.

I thought my mission of helping was accomplished but one of the women in the group then asked if they could walk there. While Williamsburg is just a walk across the bridge it was probably more walking than they were looking for so I had to think again.

A few different steakhouses ran through my mind. There’s Del Frisco’s which is up on 6th Avenue and 49th Street. And just a couple of days before I had dinner at The Old Homestead Steakhouse at 9th Avenue and 14th Street. I have been to both of those places more than once and would definitely recommend them. Unfortunately neither of those places was in walking distance. Then an idea came to me.

A good friend of mine used to work at a place on Chrystie Street (near Delancey Street) called Sammy’s Roumanian Steakhouse. I have never eaten there but I have been inside at dinner hour to witness the live music, large family-style tables and frozen vodka…along with the steaks of course. Sammy’s is a place that is perfect for a group and also not very fancy or pretentious. Since there were a few people in the group and they were dressed in a casual manner I went with Sammy’s as the recommendation pointed the group west down Stanton Street to Chrystie Street.

At that point we went our separate ways. My wife and I had a nice dinner at a place called Antibes Bistro and then headed back towards Chrystie Street on our way to the Bowery Ballroom for a music show. It just so happened that we walked right by Sammy’s so we decided to peek in the window to see if the group we had sent over was there. The live music was playing, people were dancing, and we could see steaks and bottles of vodka on the tables. And sure enough our group was there. Some were seated at a large round table and a couple of others were dancing. It felt good to know that we had pointed some strangers to a good meal and a good time.

There’s a bit of irony of this scenario. Although the people asked to be guided to an “American” steakhouse they ended up at a Roumanian steakhouse that just happens to be in America. My first choice, Peter Luger, I consider to be more German than American in the style of the food, drink and the decor. The Old Homestead and Del Frisco’s are definitely more American-style steakhouses. That’s part of the beauty of New York though. You will often find many variations on a particular theme. Exploring all of those variations is a big part of the fun of the city.

New Tools To Help You Find Your Way

New York Minute Show — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:24:38 +0000

So I spent a nice weekend in the city with my family recently and I realized how much smart phone apps can change the experience of finding your way around New York. When we visit I usually go to many of my old favorite spots but I’m always interested in new places as well. One night we decided to go to a restaurant and I knew it would be someplace new. Unfortunately I didn’t have too much time to do some research about where to go.

Fast forward to around 8:30 PM that evening. I’m standing on the corner of 2nd Avenue and 6th Street with my wife. I asked her, “What type of food are you interested in?” She answered, “Mexican would be fun.” At that point I opened up the Urbanspoon application on my iPhone and searched for Mexican food “near me”. At the top of the list was a place called Mayahuel which I could quickly see had 6 of 6 “likes” which translated to a 100% rating. I checked a couple of review snippets that called the place “hidden” and mentioned “come for the drinks”. It sounded good so we crossed the street and realized that the restaurant was right there on the other side of the street. We almost passed it up (it really is sort of hidden) but we found the door and were quickly whisked by a helpful employee through a cozy bar to a small table on the second floor of a brownstone. The time from, “What type of food…” to seating was less than five minutes.

I thought that the whole process was pretty amazing. It really was the first time I had experienced such “in the moment” synergy with a mobile application. When I started this site I hoped to bring my experiences and opinions about New York City to a wide audience. Back then (in 2005) we didn’t have the iPhone, Android or app stores. I think blogs and podcasts still have a strong role to play in helping people to prepare for (or perhaps reminisce after) trips. But these new mobile applications play an important part in creating enjoyable experiences too. Apps like Urbanspoon are location savvy, which is wonderful. They offer access to the “crowd” right in your pocket or pocketbook. Twitter and Facebook also offer the possibility of near real-time feedback from your social connections too. In fact, after “checking in” using Facebook places at Coney Island I found out that an old friend had been there just before I was. Had I checked in sooner we might have met up. It’s all really great and something to consider before you travel to New York.

So you might be wondering how the restaurant was. It was good. We had a nice tortilla appetizer with salsa, salsa verde and guacamole. My wife had tacos and I had a nice plate of paella for an entrée. The drinks were definitely a highlight as mentioned in the review that I read on Urbanspoon. I even shot a photo prior to consuming the Blanco tequila flight that I ordered shortly after sitting down.

My Blanco tequila flight at Mayahuel

Under The Manhattan Bridge

New York Minute Show — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 23:34:15 +0000

A spot under the Manhattan Bridge is probably one of the more unlikely places for a relaxing afternoon but please don’t knock it til you try it. For years I have heard about the neighborhood called DUMBO. It’s not a Disney movie. It’s Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. DUMBO is a neighborhood with eclectic shops, some restaurants and bars. At the edge of the neighborhood right on the East River there is a small park that has a childrens playground, and a large patch of grass for relaxing. It’s a great place to spend some time with the kids, the dog or just your thoughts and a camera. You’ve got Lower Manhattan to your west, the Brooklyn Bridge just to your south and the Manhattan Bridge right above your head.

We got their by car taking the Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE) to Tillary Street and then turning down Jay Street. You can also get there by taking the F train to York Street. If you’re feeling so inclined you can also walk over the Brooklyn Bridge to get there.

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Do Watch That Taxi Meter

New York Minute Show — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:32:16 +0000

Flickr Photo by Tomas Fano

It was recently reported that New York taxi riders have been ripped off by drivers to the tune of $8 million dollars. The New York Post reported as follows.

Cabbies have illegally scammed unsuspecting riders out of a staggering $8.3 million by manually switching the meter to rates that only apply when they are driving outside the city, officials said.

In a bomshell report issued by the Taxi and Limousine Commission this afternoon, the agency said it uncovered that drivers illegally overcharged passengers by switching the meter from Rate Code 1 (the default setting used for trips inside the five boroughs) to Rate Code 4 (a higher rate only used for travel in Westchester or Nassau counties when cabs leave the city).

Oh my. How disappointing. After all these years of improvements to the taxi system in the city there are still drivers looking to make a quick buck off of unsuspecting riders. The thing is, this kind of fraud likely affects locals as well as tourists. I’ll admit that I never pay much attention to the numbers on the meter if I’m in a cab. I pay even less attention if the trip is a short one. But something like this can easily turn a $4 trip into an $8 trip. It may not be a lot of money but stealing is stealing. And it likely affects the amount of money you would spend elsewhere. What’s a taxi rider to do? Keep an eye on that meter!

Flickr Photo by Thomas Hawk

In the photo above you can see the number 1 on the far left side of the meter. That means you’re being charged the “within city limits” fare. If you’re in any of the five boroughs of New York that’s what you should see. If you’re in the city and see a number 4 there then you are getting ripped off. If you notice something like that you should alert the driver and ask him to change the fare code. If the driver refuses or gives you a hard time tell them to stop the cab but only after you’ve captured the info from their license which should be displayed on the dashboard. You can dial 311, which is the city’s all purpose information and problem reporting hotline, to report the rip off.

As great a place as New York is you always have to be aware when spending your money. I must also state that these sorts of things go on all over the world. I remember being in Prague and having to tell the taxi driver, “Taximeter prosim,” so he would run the meter instead of overcharging me a flat rate for my trip. After all what’s fare is fare. [Pun intended ]

Sheepshead Bay

New York Minute Show — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:20:02 +0000

Last weekend when we were down in the city the family and I took a ride to Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn for some fish at Randazzo’s Clam Bar. Sheepshead Bay is a little neighborhood on the south side of Brooklyn, just to the east of Coney Island. When I was a kid we used to go there for dinner and we’d walk along the water at the Sheepshead Bay Pier and watch the fishing boats getting ready to go out for the evening. This time we saw that they have a couple of party boats that go out at night for those who want to have some fun out on the water.

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Public Library Fall Preview

New York Minute Show — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:24:53 +0000

If you’ve listened to New York Minute #46 you know that I’m a fan of the New York Public Library, whose main branch is located at the corner of 5th Avenue and 41st St. It’s a great place to visit to see some great architecture and enjoy a variety of exhibits which are all free to the public.

The publicity team at the library dropped me a line recently to let me know what’s happening at the library during the fall season. They’ve got some interesting things going on including unique exhibits, discussions with artists, special film screenings, events for kids and more. What follows is a list of some of the more interesting events coming up for the fall season. Take note that some of the events take place at locations other than the main library.

Mapping New York’s Shoreline, 1609 – 2009
September 25, 2009–June 26, 2010
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
(Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street)

Mapping New York’s Shoreline, celebrating the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s arrival in New York Harbor, features a stunning array of maps, atlases, books, journals, broadsides, manuscripts, prints, and photographs drawn primarily from the Library’s Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division, augmented by items from other New York Public Library collections.

Lincoln Center: Celebrating 50 Years
October 15, 2009–January 16, 2010
The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
(40 Lincoln Center Plaza)

Lincoln Center: Celebrating 50 Years investigates the complex and symbiotic relationship between Lincoln Center and New York City over the course of a half century and the key role Lincoln Center has played in New York’s development as an international cultural capital. It is the first exhibition to focus exclusively on the evolution and influence of America’s first performing arts center, and features some 400 historic and contemporary objects including photographs, ephemera, correspondence, costumes, set pieces, props, and video recordings representing all 12 of the resident organizations.

Science, Industry and Business Library
Thursday, September 10, 5:30 p.m.
“Self-Recruiter® Changing the Rules: Lecture Series:Organizing & Managing Your Job Search”
In this presentation by author and career coach John Crant, you’ll learn how to plan, set goals, and manage your job search.

Big Jeff Halloween Routine
Saturday, October 31, 3 p.m.
Children’s Center at 42nd Street, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, Manhattan

A spooky fun way to celebrate this most playful and imaginative time! Come on out and Boogie with the Boogieman, get turned into a toad by a Mean Old Witch, and sing along with the Jack-O-Lantern Blues. Recommended for ages 3 to 8 years old with parent/caregiver.

These are just a few of the many events coming up at libraries across the city. You can keep tabs on all the happenings at city libraries at http://www.nypl.org/calendar.

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Weekend In The City With Kids

New York Minute Show — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:03:04 +0000

I recently returned from an extended weekend in New York City with my wife and our two children. It’s the first time we’ve had two little ones (age 1 and 4) with us and I have to say it was quite a challenge. Everything needed to be timed just right and we needed to carry along extra gear to make sure the kids were comfortable and happy throughout the day. We also did a lot less than we could have done without the children since we made time for naps and cut days short when they were tired and hungry. Here is a short synopsis of the trip.

Day 1 – Rockaway Beach

Rockaway Beach is exactly as I remember it from my days as a youth in Queens. There’s not much going on there except the boardwalk, the beach and the ocean. That’s fine with me. You’ll find many more locals than tourists at Rockaway. We went to Beach 108 St. which is usually quieter than 116 St. which is the last subway stop. The area in between 108th and 116th is even quieter since it’s further from the best parking and the subway stops. Lifeguards are on duty from 10AM – 6PM. When we were there two lifeguards (one in the chair and one at the edge of the surf) patrolled each stretch of beach. It’s important to note that the currents at Rockaway can be dangerous so it’s best to supervise kids very closely. Current aside the water was nice. I did some bodysurfing and we played with the kids at the edge of the surf. We drove to the beach and I think that’s the preferred mode of transport with the kids because you can leave and get comfortable much quicker than if you take public transportation.

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Day 1 – Evening
My Mom was kind enough to sit with the kids for the evening so my wife and I could have an adult night out. We walked around the West Village, grabbed a beer at WXOU Radio Bar then dinner at our favorite Brazilian restaurant Casa on Bedford Street. Casa is very small, but has a nice elegant feel to it. We love the food and always have a caipirihna or three. The one thing I noticed when walking around the village is that there are more closed storefronts than usual. Several restaurants that we used to go to are closed. There are still many great places to visit though. It’s also worth noting that Bleecker Street between 10th St. and Hudson St. has gotten much more upscale with several high end clothing and shoe stores. We capped off the evening with a stroll up Bleecker to Rocco’s Pastry Shop. My wife had assorted cookies and I inhaled a fresh cannoli. We also spotted TV actor Nicholas Tuturro in Rocco’s enjoying some sweets with his family.

Day 2 – Top of the Rock / Grand Central Terminal
Top of the Rock is one of those sights I’ve talked alot about but never actually visited. It’s a series of observation decks at 30 Rockefeller Plaza (aka 30 Rock) that was closed for many years and re-opened several years ago. Top of the Rock is notable because you get a great perspective on the Empire State Building and also have a great view of Central Park. You can book times in advance so we did that on the website. Kids under 6 are free so that was very helpful for our budget. Once you’re up at the top there are three different levels and you can enjoy the view from indoors as well as outdoors. The elevator ride up to the 67th floor is pretty unique and the kids loved it. We brought a two-person stroller everywhere and there were elevators that allow you to take the stroller to any level. There are also bathrooms up there so kids potty emergencies aren’t a problem. One interesting note about departing. The elevator down dropped us off below street level so we had to find an elevator (there are more escalators than elevators) to go one level up so we could exit with the stroller.

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We continued on the meet a friend for lunch at Grand Central Terminal. My older daughter loved the giant main hall. The ceiling is worth a look for astronomy buffs (my daughter loves stars) since the constellations are depicted on the ceiling of the terminal. I think that Grand Central is a great stop if you have kids because it’s free, there is plenty of room for strollers, lots of food options and there are bathrooms. The Transit Museum Annex is also worth stopping in on because they have some unique transit oriented souvenirs (like subway map rain boots and umbrellas) plus a few small transit exhibits.

Day 3 – Staten Island Ferry / Battery Park
My daughter was excited to get a look at the Statue of Liberty up close so we headed to Lower Manhattan for our final outing of the trip. We decided to skip going directly to the statue in order to avoid long lines. Going right to the Statue of Liberty and seeing her from very close up is well worth the wait. But we also knew that the kids might not hold up well on a hot day in a large crowd of people. It was a good choice because when we got down in that area the line to get on the ferry to the statue was very long. Instead we hopped on the Staten Island Ferry for free and caught a glimpse from the harbor. When we got to Staten Island instead of rushing to get the ferry to come back (which departs almost the same time as you arrive) we stayed an extra 30 minutes and enjoyed the view of Manhattan in the distance. There’s a nice outdoor deck area where you can grab a bench and admire the harbor. It’s important to note that when getting on the ferry you want to make a beeline to the side of the ferry that faces the statue if you want to get the best view. There is an upper level where you can go up to as well but that wasn’t an option for us since it wasn’t stroller accessible.

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With the time we saved not waiting to get on the ferry to the Statue of Liberty we strolled around Battery Park and Wagner Park which is just to the west of Battery Park and hugs New York Harbor and the Hudson River. We were treated to an impromptu modern dance performance which we stumbled upon while walking along. Here’s something else that’s important to know. There are public bathrooms in Battery Park that had very long lines. If you walk further west to the outdoor restaurant called Gigino you will find bathrooms there that get less traffic and may be a bit cleaner. Plus there’s a great patch of grass there where you can admire the harbor view.

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Getting Around With Kids
Having a car was very helpful for us during our trips since we were staying outside of Manhattan. If you’re in Manhattan and traveling with kids then the subway is the best mode of transport for long distances. A sturdy stroller is invaluable if your children are very young. I saw lots of people with flimsy travel strollers. I think the streets are a little too rough and the pace a little too fast to bring a cheap stroller. We have a travel stroller that we’ve gone to other cities with but those are places where there is less walking, the streets are better paved and the pace is slower. So I say bring the full on stroller for the kids if at all possible. If you are driving in then prepare to pay for parking. If you can find an easy parking spot on the street then go for it. But rather than driving in circles for hours it’s best to bite the bullet and spring for a parking garage. This can cost anywhere from $20 to $50 per day. Most places have early bird specials on weekdays where you get a much reduced rate if you arrive before 10AM. You can use http://nyc.bestparking.com/ to research locations of lots and find lots that have special deals going.

New Stadium For The Mets

New York Minute Show — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:36:21 +0000

I recently had the opportunity to spend an evening at Citi Field, the new home of the New York Mets. I created a series of 13 videos to chronicle my visit. One is embedded below. You can head over to YouTube to view the entire playlist if you like.

Citi Field

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East End Beaches

New York Minute Show — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 01:23:42 +0000

Most people probably don’t come to New York for the beaches. They should though! There are some fantastic beaches and other sights on the east end of Long Island that are worth visiting. I prefer to go in the shoulder seasons of late spring or early fall since the east end gets crowded and expensive in the summer months. I recommend Sea Crest on the Ocean as an excellent place to stay if you do decide to spend a couple of days out east.

Amagansett Beach

Montauk Lighthouse

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Columbus Circle On A Summer Day

New York Minute Show — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:33:52 +0000

This is a view of Columbus Circle at the southwest corner of Central Park on a summer day.

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Buon Italia At Chelsea Market

New York Minute Show — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 21:04:37 +0000

A walk through Buon Italia with Chef Mark. Buon Italia is an Italian food store located in Chelsea Market.

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Sammy’s Romanian Steak House

New York Minute Show — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 18:42:58 +0000

Sammy’s is on the Lower East Side at 157 Chrystie Street New York, NY 10002.

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New York Minute Show On Hiatus

New York Minute Show — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:50:39 +0000

The blog and podcast has been silent for awhile now so it’s time that I got my act together and provided an update to the many wonderful people who subscribe and stop by the site. Don’t expect any new content on The New York Minute Show anytime soon.

I really love producing this blog but circumstances make it impossible to keep up with right now. When I started blogging and podcasting here way back in 2005 my first child was yet to be born and I was living on the doorstep of the city. Times have changed. I’m living further from the city, have two children and am also going to graduate school at night. That all adds up to little opportunity to do something interesting and no time to post updates. So that’s the bad news.

The good news is that I’m leaving the site up. So if you’re new to the site by all means explore the content. There’s a lot of good stuff here. More good news is that I am maintaining the site and domain because I know the day will come when I can get back into it again. There’s more good news in that people can feel free to leave comments here, as I will be watching the posts or email me at rob[at]newyorkminuteshow.com with any questions. I can’t promise the best answer but I’ll always do my best to help.

Finally, I am completely open to guest posts by bloggers and podcasters who know a thing or two about New York City and have something to share. If you’re one of those potential bloggers think of it as a great way to promote your own site. As long as the content is relevant and helps my audience I’m glad to include it here. Just email me to get started.

Thank you all and have a great holiday season.

Free Bon Jovi Concert In Central Park

New York Minute Show — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:00:16 +0000

In an event that will likely vie with the Billy Joel concerts at Shea Stadium for the title of biggest summer event, Bon Jovi will play a free concert in Central Park. The concert will take play on July 12th at 8PM.

According to the official announcement on MLB.com, “No more than 60,000 fans will be allowed to attend the event, which Bloomberg said he hoped would be the largest concert in the history of Central Park’s Great Lawn.”

Concert goers must have a ticket to attend the event. Tickets will be distributed starting at 9AM on July 2nd at four locations throughout the city. This is going to be a super hot ticket so you might as well start camping out now if you want to pick some up.

Ticket Distribution Outlets

Bronx:
Yankee Stadium
E 161st St. & River Ave., Bronx, NY 10451
Queens:
Shea Stadium
12301 Roosevelt Ave., Flushing, NY 11368
Staten Island:
Home of the Staten Island Yankees
75 Richmond Ter., Staten Island, NY 10301
Brooklyn:
KeySpan Park
1904 Surf Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11224

Crazy Pizza Guys

New York Minute Show — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:26:48 +0000

Back by popular demand. This is the tale of an unassuming gentleman who just wants one slice of pizza. Unfortunately a pair of crazy pizza guys have other ideas.

New York City Waterfalls

New York Minute Show — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:38:14 +0000

Waterfalls are coming to New York City. This is likely to be the biggest city attraction in the summer of 2008. A series of waterfalls are being installed in the East River at the following locations:

The Brooklyn Anchorage of the Brooklyn Bridge;
Between Piers 4 and 5 in Brooklyn Heights;
Lower Manhattan at Pier 35 (north of Manhattan Bridge);
The North Shore of Governors Island.

The falls will be on display from June 26th to October 13th, 2008. You can get a good view of the spectacle by taking either the Staten Island or Governors Island ferries. Both ferries are free so the experience will be light on the pocket book.

The project was designed by Olafur Eliasson and is being financed by the Public Art Fund. More information and photos are available at http://nycwaterfalls.org and via the press release.

Walking From Manhattan To Brooklyn And Back

New York Minute Show — Sun, 04 May 2008 16:03:39 +0000

Henry from Poland sent me a question about my recent Brooklyn Bridge video.

I liked the post about the Brooklyn Bridge trip. It also made me think of a question to you. Is it possible to make a walking trip, crossing Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan, walk up to Manhattan Bridge (my map shows it’s only a few blocks) and come back to the Manhattan borough using Manhattan Bridge.

You can most definitely do this. In fact, when you are walking across the Brooklyn Bridge from Brooklyn you see a sign for the Manhattan Bridge walking path as well. Based on the map below I estimate the distance of the trip to be about 2.5 miles, assuming your starting point is at City Hall in Manhattan.

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Video – George Washington Bridge

New York Minute Show — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 01:57:58 +0000

This is a video of the George Washington Bridge. It was taken from inside an Amtrak train heading south. The combo of the bridge, the sun and the Hudson River makes for a really nice setting I think.

Brooklyn Bridge Walk

New York Minute Show — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 11:55:39 +0000

A quick audio blog post captured while walking over the Brooklyn Bridge.

Around The Corner With Ralph Lauren

New York Minute Show — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:24:15 +0000

Ralph Lauren is producing a video series called Around The Corner which aims to provide some insider info on various destinations. The video embedded below shows a young lady stopping by a vegan bakery, a barber shop and a Mexican Cuban restaurant. These spots were all new to me so it’s worth taking a look.

In other news. I will be out and about in the city this weekend with video camera in hand. I hope to capture a couple of short videos to share with you here really soon.

The Seasons Of Central Park

New York Minute Show — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 23:29:15 +0000

My good friend Dave Rimington is working on a very nice gallery of photos from Central Park that I just had to share with you. You can view the original gallery at full size here.

Lodging Near The City and U.S. Open Tickets

New York Minute Show — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:27:56 +0000

A couple of good questions from Ray in United Kingdom.

To try and keep down the cost, we are considering staying outside of the main island and traveling in and I wondered what your thoughts of this are? Is it worth it to save decent money or should we just bite he bullet and make the most of our few days?

It really depends on what deals you are able to find within a decent proximity to the city. Some people stay over in Secaucus, NJ which is about fifteen minutes by bus to Manhattan with a little traffic. To the north of the city there is a Residence Inn by Marriott in White Plains that offers rooms with kitchens and is a couple of minutes walk from the Metro-North train into Grand Central Station. The ride is about thirty to forty minutes.

There are some other options in Queens as well if you stay at a hotel near La Guardia airport. The ambiance isn’t that great though and public transport from there is limited. The Best Western City View hotel in Long Island City might be a good option as well. It is close to Manhattan and is about half a mile from the Number 7 train into Manhattan. Take a look at Jersey City hotels as well. There is convenient access to lower Manhattan from there via the PATH train system.

I would advise that you shop around and see if the prices you find are considerably less that the deals available in Manhattan hotels. I would compare the outlying hotels with ones in Manhattan that are outside of the Midtown hot zone, especially avoiding from Times Square up to Central Park. Once you have a comparison that includes the lesser price hotels in Manhattan you can start to figure out if the travel time and cost will be worth it.

In general, I’d recommend staying someplace where you can catch a train into town, rather than relying on the buses. Bus service to outer areas can take a long time if there is traffic and might not run as frequently as the Metro-North or New York City subway trains.

We will also catch the start of the US Open Tennis and again wondered if you had any particular tips for getting tickets/visiting to see the stars in action.

The U.S. Open is a great sporting event. I’ve attended several times and always enjoy it. I believe that tickets for the event go on sale in May or June. You can typically buy them online via Ticketmaster. You can set up an alert on the Ticketmaster site to remind you of the on sale date. My advice is to know the date when tickets go on sale and be online and ready to buy at the time when the tickets go on sale. They do go fast! I remember that they have special early on-sale dates for American Express credit card holders. So keep an eye out for that if you happen to have one of those cards.

If you want to be able to relax and mingle with the players I recommend going for a day session early in the tournament. There are a lot of matches going on at that time. There are certainly a lot more players around. And during the day it’s easier to recognize the different tennis pros and personalities walking the grounds there.

Video – Central Park Carousel

New York Minute Show — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:54:43 +0000

On a warm summer day last August the family went to Central Park and our daughter got to experience the lovely and classic Central Park Carousel. The carousel in Central Park is a real fun experience for both kids and adults.

Ramble Through New York City

New York Minute Show — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:58:27 +0000

Fellow New York City podcaster Frank Nora has started a series of videos that he calls InRamble. Frank gives some nice, short glimpses of the city in his videos. In the clip below he gives you a view of Times Square.

In another recent episode Frank gives you a glimpse of his ride on a subway train.

Trata Estiatorio Restaurant Review

New York Minute Show — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 06:43:41 +0000

Another video blogger that I follow has posted a review of a Manhattan restaurant called Trata Estiatorio. Trata Estiatorio is a seafood restaurant on the Upper East Side. Looks like a good place to get a bite to eat.

View The Video

Video – Hotel Gansevoort

New York Minute Show — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 17:58:55 +0000

The Hotel Gansevoort is a very hip place in a very hot location. Rooms are sure to be priced accordingly.

The Gansevoort Hotel from Rob Safuto on Vimeo.

Video – Meatpacking District

New York Minute Show — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 18:48:12 +0000

I took a stroll for some holiday shopping in the Meatpacking District of New York City yesterday. I took this video clip at 9th Avenue and Little West 12th St. Things have changed a bit since I made a stop there for an earlier podcast. A new building is up. And there are new restaurants. Not too far away form where this was shot there is a new Apple Store at the corner of 14th St. and 9th Ave.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.

NYC Meatpacking District from Rob Safuto on Vimeo.

Madison Square Garden

New York Minute Show — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 22:09:38 +0000

Madison Square Garden bills itself as the world’s greatest arena. I’m sure that assertion could start a good argument. There’s no denying that MSG is a top shelf venue. Bands know they’ve made it to the big time when they sell out at The Garden. For bands like The Police selling out MSG is easy.

I’ve seen many great shows at The Garden including, Billy Joel, Billy Joel & Elton John, The Who (giving away my age here) U2, and now The Police. Here’s a clip from the show last night. If you come to New York City I definitely recommend seeing a music show at MSG if at all possible.

New York Is My Kind Of Town

New York Minute Show — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 19:12:04 +0000

We’d all love for things to stay the same in this life. Unfortunately they rarely do, especially on the web. That can be a good thing though.

I’m announcing via the blog, and soon via the podcasts, that I’m going to let The New York Minute Show go dormant while I focus on another project. The site will stay as is. I will still moderate comments and leave all files and feeds available as usual. There just won’t be any new content.

The good news is that the mission continues. I’ve decided to heed the same advice that I give to many others and focus. Lucky for you the focus will continue to be on New York City.

My mission is a simple one. Transfer my knowledge and passion for the city over to you. The new destination I’ve been working on is over at http://www.newyorkismykindoftown.com. I’m not finished with the branding yet but the guts of the site is in place. Please have a look and let me know if you find it useful.

Coney Island Rockabilly Festival

New York Minute Show — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 11:44:31 +0000

I got word via email of the Coney Island Rockabilly Festival. Its happening in Coney Island from August 16th – 19th. Info here.

Sky High View

New York Minute Show — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 00:19:37 +0000

This is a view of the Hudson River and New Jersey from the 40th floor of the Hearst Tower at 57th Street and 8th Avenue in New York City. You can see the outside of the building during my recent Midtown Walk video podcast.

New York Rock Benefit Jam

New York Minute Show — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 13:10:42 +0000

Video from the Blubrry Jam To Fight Cystic Fibrosis. This was a musical concert event held at the Canal Room on April 7th. Featured performers were HER & Kings County and Brother Love.

Comedy podcasters Keith and the Girl emceed the event. Jerry Cahill of the Cystic Fibrosis podcast thanked the crowd for their support. A good time was definitely had by all.

Live Acoustic Music from Natalie Gelman

New York Minute Show — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:29:24 +0000

Found this New York based musician on YouTube and just had to share her music.

A Walk Through The City

New York Minute Show — Thu, 31 May 2007 15:07:07 +0000

I took a nice walk from Penn Station, up through Times Square and then up the West Side to Columbus Circle yesterday. I had my camera with me and shot several clips along the way. So look for a video podcast on that very soon.

Panoramic City Photos

New York Minute Show — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 20:16:27 +0000

New York Minute Show follower Andre from Germany was nice enough to send me a bunch of wonderful panoramic city shots like this one taken at Top Of The Rock looking south with the Empire State Building in view. Click here or on the photo to view the full set.

Help Support A Great Cause

New York Minute Show — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 16:02:37 +0000

We’re bringing together podcasting, a New York Charity and a New York musician for a great cause. Blubrry, Brother Love and The Boomer Esiason Foundation are teaming up to raise money to benefit the Exercise For Life Scholarship fund.

The campaign, running from March 15th to May 15th is called The Blubrry Jam To Fight Cystic Fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis is a debilitating lung disease that ultimately proves fatal, cutting the life span of those afflicted to 37 years. This campaign is raising funds to help provide financial support for young people living with this disease.

You can support us by making a donation online via PayPal or by attending our musical benefit event in New York City on April 7th. The live event will be a great show and features Brother Love performing in his usual awesome style and playing songs from his new CD. Every paying entrant to the event gets a free CD.

You can find out more, make a donation and buy tickets to the live show at www.blubrryjam.com.

Thanks in advance for supporting this very worthy cause.

New York City Taxes Are Crushing

New York Minute Show — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 15:12:57 +0000

While I try to be as much of an optimist about New York City as possible, it is important to acknowledge the drawbacks of life in NYC.

Costs for just about everything including food, housing and transportation are high. Taxes are high too. At 8.625% the sales tax in New York City is probably higher than anywhere in the country.

A new report confirms that taxes in New York City are higher than anywhere in the United States. The New York Post wrote an editorial on the topic yesterday. The news is not good.

According to their editiorial, “New York state and city taxes consumed $9.02 of every $100 earned during the 2003-2004 tax year – far above the big-city average of $6.16. “No other city even comes close” to New York, the report concludes.” Ugh!

The upside, if there can be one, is the fact that the city provides many services as a result of these tax dollars. The Parks Department alone spends a considerable amount maintaining our many city parks including Central Park. Tax money also goes to paying for our many Public Schools and Libraries around the city.

In a city like New York the taxes need to be high in order to support the massive services required by over 8 million residents.

Should you avoid moving to New York City due to the high taxes? I say no. Instead you should plan ahead. Learn about budgeting for personal finance. Create a budget and include taxes as one of your major expenses. This will help make your plans realistic and increase the chances that your experience in the city will meet your expectations.

Subway Map Mashup

New York Minute Show — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 19:03:14 +0000

Combine a Google Map with a New York City subway map and you get a very cool and useful resource for getting around town.

http://www.onnyturf.com/subway/

Lights Of The Season

New York Minute Show — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 18:52:05 +0000

For the first time in recent memory the Empire State Building was dark yesterday evening. The top of the building is always lit from nightfall to midnight. Then I realized that it was probably due to the funeral services for President Ford. The color scheme at the top of the building changes quite often due to holidays and special events. You can check the schedule here.

I just love watching the lights flick off at midnight. That’s the New York geek in me I guess. I’m also a big fan of Christmas lights. We made sure to walk our neighborhood often during this Christmas season so my daughter could check out the lights.

The picture above shows the Empire State Building from the New Jersey side of the Hudson River during one of our walks. Click the image to see more photos taken by my wife on that night. Frankly, the Christmas lights in my old neighborhood in Queens put the folks in my new neighborhood to shame .

[tags]New York, New York City, NYC, Empire State Building, Lights, Christmas Lights, Travel, Photo[/tags]

Digg The New York Minute Show

New York Minute Show — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 16:29:49 +0000

The very popular social news site called Digg has started up a podcast directory where people can submit and “digg” their favorite podcasts.

Lots of diggs are a great way to help raise the profile of this site. So I would appreciate it if you could take five minutes of your time to Digg The New York Minute Show.

I have no doubt that Santa will take note of this kindness and reward you accordingly

[tags]New York, Digg, Podcast[/tags]

NYC 2030

New York Minute Show — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 03:04:37 +0000

What will New York City be like in 2030? Its a question that New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg and his planning team have been pondering.

There are many challenges in dealing with a growing metropolis. The top three in the list that the city planners came up with should come of little surprise to anyone familiar with big city life:

The city will get BIGGER (as in a lot more people).
The infrastructure (the rails, the roads, the bridges) will get much OLDER.
The (already strained) environment will be AT RISK.

Kudos to the Mayor and the planning team for getting started on this effort. Unfortunately, identifying the problems is a lot easier than being able to take successful action to avert a crisis. So there’s a lot of hard work ahead. But lord knows that if any city can rise to a challenge than New York surely can. It’s all about the people.

The city has launched and official PLANYC2030 site to provide information and keep interested parties abreast of the situation.

[tags]New York, New York City, NYC, Plan 2030[/tags]

iTunes Video Back In Action

New York Minute Show — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 23:52:24 +0000

We had some problems recently with the link to our video podcasts within iTunes. For over a month the link to the video was pointing to the audio channel.

So for a while I actually had two audio channels in iTunes. Something like this is definitely not good for subscribership. Luckily the folks at the iTunes podcast directory were able to help me and get the video channel restored. This link will take you there.

Taxis Cost More, MTA Fare Hike On Hold

New York Minute Show — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 18:09:11 +0000

The new taxi fare rate hike went into effect yesterday. I reported on this back in September. You’ll now pay double the amount ($.40 vs. $.20) for the time you’re sitting in traffic. Some initial test runs by local reporters indicate that the effect on the overall fares is pretty significant. Not a shock. They tend to sell these things as a drop in the bucket and when they’re enacted you really see how much it hurts.

We got better news on the bus and subway front this week. Planned fare hikes have been put on hold until 2008. So it seems like a smart move to skip the cab fares and pick up a MetroCard.

[tags]New York, New York City, NYC, Travel, Subway, Taxi[/tags]

Intrepid Taking Off

New York Minute Show — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 14:08:20 +0000

The USS Intrepid, a retired aircraft carrier and one of the city’s biggest tourist attractions will soon be towed to Bayonne, NJ for some much needed maintenance.

According to the official museum website, “Unfortunately, the huge amount of silt that has accumulated underneath and around Intrepid over the past 24 years prevented the ship from being successfully removed.”

So although the Intrepid may be docked on the west side it is not open for business. The Intrepid is expected to return to duty in the Fall of 2008.

That’s a long time. I hope that they can get the museum back in business on schedule.

[tags]New York City, New York, NYC, Travel, USS Intrepid, Museum[/tags]

Free Ice Skating In Bryant Park

New York Minute Show — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 14:34:53 +0000

I was walking by Bryant Park recently and noticed that they now have a large ice skating rink in the center of the park.

According to the official Bryant Park website, “The 170′ x 100′ rink features free admission ice skating, in addition to high quality rental skates, skating lessons, skating shows, special events and activities.”

As I walked by I was tempted to rent some skates and hit the rink. Skate rentals will cost you $8.75 per pair. Bring a lock to use the free lockers if you have some things you don’t want to skate around with. The rink will be open until January 15, 2007.

More details on the official website here.

[tags]New York City, NYC, Travel, Bryant Park, Park, Ice Skating, Free[/tags]

NYC WiFi Access Lags

New York Minute Show — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 15:37:19 +0000

The New York Post reported recently that the state of wireless internet access in city parks is not good.

According to the report, “Parks spokesman Ashe Reardon conceded that only a handful of “hot spots” in Central Park currently work. Wi-Fi Salon, the company awarded the contract two years ago to take the parks wireless, claims Battery Park also is online.”

One place where I know the wireless works is in Bryant Park.

This is very disappointing news and goes hand in hand with some classicly botched city projects like the Wollman Rink renovation. In that case Donald Trump saved the day after years of cost overruns and many delays.

Hopefully the city can turn this one around as a I hate to see New York lag behind in availability of WiFi compared to other major cities.

[tags]New York City, New York, NYC, Wireless, Wifi, Parks, Bryant Park[/tags]

Mozzarella On Arthur Avenue

New York Minute Show — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 04:34:20 +0000

On the heels of my show highlighting some great things from the Bronx I came across the Off The Broiler blog which includes some nice posts about NYC area dining. There’s also a video section that includes this clip from Mike’s Deli on Arthur Avenue. Enjoy!

Direct Link

[tags]New York, New York City, NYC, Italian, Bronx, Mozzarella, Food, Off The Broiler[/tags]

Go Map Walking

New York Minute Show — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 19:46:41 +0000

CommunityWalk is an excellent tool/resource for travelers who want to plan a trip to New York or research the city. I’ve been using the service to build the City Sights Map used on this site.

The site also includes some other maps created by intrepid New Yorkers, including the Eating Clinton Hill map.

<a style=”display: none” mce_href=”http://www.communitywalk.com/map/2616″ xhref=”http://www.communitywalk.com/map/2616″>CommunityWalk Map – Eating Clinton Hill</a></center>

The service has added a number of feature upgrades and now has a redesigned front page. Consider heading over there to find more New York City resources or maybe even create a map to help plan your trip to the city.

[tags]New York City, New York, NYC, Map, CommunityWalk, Travel, Planning, Resource[/tags]

Fares For The Fall

New York Minute Show — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 18:55:28 +0000

The weather outside is telling me that the fall season is here. Fall is a great time to visit New York City. The weather is still warm here and there. Prices have come down from the summer peak tourist season. And you’re ahead of the holiday rush that happens between Christmas and New Years.

Why not splurge for a weekend around town so you can use the knowledge you’ve gained from The New York Minute Show?

Here are some sample low airfares that I found on Orbitz for flights to all three NYC area airports from select U.S. cities with an arrival date of November 2nd and a departure date of November 5th. Flights are non-stop.

Los Angeles (LAX) – $325 on American Airlines (JFK), $325 on Continental (Newark)
Chicago (Midway/O Hare) – $152 on Continental (Newark) and AirTran (Newark), $153 on United (LaGuardia and Newark) and American (JFK)
Dallas (DFW) – $274 on Continental (Newark), $249 on American Airlines (LaGuardia)

Jet Blue doesn’t show up on Orbitz so check their website for some good discounted fares as well.

Another important tip. If you use the airport code ‘NYC’ on travel search engines you will get results for all three New York area airports.

Newark (EWR)
LaGuardia (LGA)
Kennedy (JFK)

See you soon!

[tags]NYC, New York, New York City, Travel, Air, Airfare[/tags]

Kathy’s Smooth Sounds

New York Minute Show — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 14:10:18 +0000

Kathy Zimmer is a fabulous, jazzy singer who regularly plays music around town. She recently informed me of a gig she’s playing next week and I thought you should know about it.

Tuesday, Oct. 17, 8:00 p.m.
R & R, 416 W. 14th Street bet. 9th Ave. and Washington
212.675.1661, $8, 21+
http://www.rare-nyc.com

Hotness On Friday The 13th

New York Minute Show — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 23:08:19 +0000

Whenever Jason Yudoff announces a new show I take note of the event. This dude rips it live. Even if you can’t make it the performance is supposed to be simulcast live on the Bitter End website.

Get a taste of Jason and Co. on my Flow: Music…Liberated! video podcast.

[tags]New York City, NYC, Music, Blues, Funk, Live Music[/tags]

Safer Subway Rides

New York Minute Show — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 17:51:35 +0000

The New York Daily News is reporting that the city subways are as safe as they’ve ever been since 1969.

According to their story, “Subway crime is down 18.6% at this point compared with last year, thanks to a combination of surveillance cameras, undercover cops and sting operations at a time when ridership is at about 5 million a day, officials say.”

This is good news especially since the MTA is considering making people wait longer on the platforms for trains. It’s also nice to hear that the city is using some high tech tools to keep people safe even when there are no police around.

Bell Tolls For CBGB

New York Minute Show — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 03:26:06 +0000

After many months of anticipation, the bell is finally tolling for legendary rock club CBGB. The club lost its lease after 30 years of rocking the East Side of Lower Manhattan and has been on a month to month lease ever since.

So I read a story in the New York Post yesterday indicating that the last show will be Oct. 15th 2006 with poetic rock legend Patti Smith headlining the event. There’s no definitive word on when or where the club will resurface again, but Las Vegas (not kidding) is a possibility.

The closing will also affect CBGB gallery located right next door to the legendary club that hosted early performances by Blondie, The Talking Heads, The Police and about a thousand other bands.

If you want to get a taste of CBGB prior to the closing, check out the comedy special video I released back in March. It was shot on the stage at CBs gallery and you can hear the throbbing music from the club coming through the walls. Or check out the Bleecker St. soundseeing video where we end up across the street from CBGB at the corner of Bleecker St. and Bowery.

Transit Waits Could Get Longer

New York Minute Show — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 00:43:28 +0000

First rising cab fares, now longer waits for buses and subways.

Several outlets are reporting that The Metropolitan Transit Authority is thinking about cutting bus and subway schedules which will effectively increase wait times for buses and subways. The vote on this issue will occur in December.

This doesn’t make sense at a time when bus and subway ridership is at record levels. Then again, things don’t always make sense in a large and complex city like New York. Suffice it say that if I had a vote, it would be, “Nay!”

Taxi Fares Going Up

New York Minute Show — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 04:48:53 +0000

Enter this one in the sad but true category. In a city where everything is already too expensive now taxi fares are probably going up.

The Taxi and Limousine Commission is considering a rate hike that would double the waiting fee from $0.20 to $0.40 per minute. So the less the cab moves, the more you pay.

Bloomberg News reports that this action would increase the average fare by $1 or 11%.

The news may not be all bad though. The commission is considering enacting a flat fare to JFK Airport from Manhattan. Traffic from Manhattan to JFK Airport is typically horrendous and the doubled waiting fee could drive the cost to get to JFK much higher if a flat fee is not imposed. Save yourself a few bucks in the meantime and take the Air Train which I mentioned in Show #58.

I Will Not Forget

New York Minute Show — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 01:18:35 +0000

The year was 1973. It was the first day that the World Trade Center was open for tourists to view the city from the observation deck. My Mom took my brothers and me to the top of the towers. What a view, let me tell you. We took a few photos that day and thanks to my scanner I was able to preserve them.

I have my own story of Sept. 11th. The people I knew who were lost and the people I knew who were scarred by the trauma. To quote Bono, “There’s been a lot of talk. Maybe too much talk.” For now I’ll just say that I will not forget.

Hear My Song

Download audio file (RJ_Safuto-Hollywood_And_Superheroes.mp3)
[tags]New York City, NYC, WTC, World Trade Center, 9/11[/tags]

Map Of Sights

New York Minute Show — Sun, 19 Mar 2006 05:37:55 +0000

Something I’m working on to enhance the show experience. View the full version here. Your comments are welcome.

Photo Set – Snowstorm

New York Minute Show — Tue, 14 Feb 2006 17:30:14 +0000

As requested by a subscriber to the show, here’s a link to set of photos from the snowstorm this past Sunday.

Flickr Photo Set

Maintenance Underway

New York Minute Show — Sat, 11 Feb 2006 12:23:31 +0000

I’m doing some maintenance right now. Check back a little later and we’ll be back online. I’m well into the process of switching servers now. Most things should be back up. The Event Calendar has been wiped and the Forum is inaccessible for the time being. Some files from the earliest shows might not be available either. Thanks for your patience.

Oh and if you haven’t done so, why not add yourself to the Frappr! Map over at http://www.frappr.com/newyorkminuteshow.

Join The Show Map

New York Minute Show — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 02:47:37 +0000

Hello folks. I’ve started one of those new fangled Frappr! maps over at http://www.frappr.com/newyorkminuteshow. These maps are a fun and easy way to identify yourself as a fan of the show and a way for you to connect with other folks who have like interests. Just head over and click the Add Yourself To Map link to plant your flag.

Happy New Year

New York Minute Show — Sat, 31 Dec 2005 04:45:33 +0000

Happy New Year to everyone. Thanks for making The New York Minute Show a big hit in 2005. Looking forward to lots more fun in 2006. If you happen to be reading this before the New Year and are interested in getting the NYC experience via the web you can check out MSN Entertainment’s New Year’s Eve Special. It’s a six hour webcast covering all the action from Times Square. This seems like a great way to experience the excitement I’ll be downtown near the Brooklyn Bridge myself.

Also worth mentioning is the cool, interactive site developed by the Times Square Alliance. It includes a schedule of events, countdown to 2006, Times Square facts and much more.

File Hosting Problems

New York Minute Show — Fri, 04 Nov 2005 04:26:10 +0000

A quick news flash for New York Minute show subscribers, etc. For the last several hours, the service that hosts my MP3 files has been experiencing problems with their servers. As a result, many of the show files, both audio and video are currently inaccessible. I have no idea how long this issue will last and i’m supremely bummed. In the meantime, if you want to download a show and are unable to do so you can type a slightly changed link into the browser to make it work.

Using last week’s show as an example, if you want to access http://libsyn.com/media/podcastnyc/PodcastNYC-NYM-37.mp3 then you should change the link to the audio file to http://libsyn.org/media/podcastnyc/PodcastNYC-NYM-37.mp3 and paste it into your browser.

Accept my apologies for this temporary inconvenience.

***UPDATE***

As of 7PM this evening (NYC time of course) it appears that all is back to normal on the file hosting front.

iTunes Top 100

New York Minute Show — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 22:40:40 +0000

As of this morning, The New York Minute Show is #63 in the iTunes top 100 podcasts in the U.S. This is a great acheivement and I want to thank all the folks who listen to the show and contribute to the show via comments and suggestions. I’ll strive to continue to measure up to the other big dogs on the list. Thanks again!

Rob

Shout Out To The Gulf Coast

New York Minute Show — Wed, 31 Aug 2005 02:29:29 +0000

Portions of the Gulf Coast of the United States including Gulfport & Biloxi, Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana have been absolutely devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Cities are flooded, homes and businesses destroyed, power out and unfortunately numerous deaths. My heart goes out to those affected. It appears that relief efforts in certain areas are being hampered by widespread flooding. Some of these towns rely heavily on tourist business to sustain their economies. Much of that business is likely to be lost for the forseeable future until these areas can be reconstructed. Once that does happen, I’d recommend a leisure trip to the Gulf Coast of the U.S. to help those folks get back on their feet again. For those who want to make a more immediate impact, various relief organizations like The American Red Cross could probably use a donation or two to support their tireless efforts to help those affected by the storm.

Jet Blue To Service Newark Airport

New York Minute Show — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 21:43:11 +0000

Jet Blue airlines has just announced plans to service Newark Airport. Beginning October 5th, they will begin flights from Newark’s Liberty International in New Jersey. Jet Blue will offer introductory fares for as low as $69 one-way from Newark to Florida cities, including Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Tampa and Fort Myers. Later on November 17th, Jet-Blue will begin flights from Newark to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

This is a very good thing for travelers to and from the city. Jet Blue is a discount airline known for their low fares, straightforward pricing and unique service. All of their planes are one class with leather seats and live satellite television available at every seat. I’ve flown them before and had a very good experience. The move to Newark is excellent because it means that travelers from Manhattan will have easy access to Jet Blue via the rail service that goes directly from Penn Station to Newark in about 20 minutes for a cost of about $11. Previously, Jet Blue only flew out of Kennedy Airport which is difficult to get to and from via public transportation. It’s also good because Continental Airlines (with whom I have hundreds of thousands of miles) will likely adjust their prices to compete with Jet Blue’s discounts.

London Sentiments

New York Minute Show — Thu, 07 Jul 2005 22:22:12 +0000

All condolences to the people of London who’ve experienced a terrible attack today. I got word shortly after feeding my daughter this morning. It brought back some (not good) memories of seeing the news on the morning of September 11th, 2001. It sounds like there were many tourists, as well as Londoners, directly affected by this series of idiotic acts. Your friends in NY are thinking of you and wishing you the best.