NYC HOLIDAY MARKETS

 This holiday season shop wisely. Forget about the mass-produced merchandise and crowded stores, get the people you love unique gifts and support small businesses. New York City has a great variety of holiday markets where you can spend time browsing, admiring and talking to the friendly vendors. Here's five of our favorites:

The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park
November 14 - January 5 

This outdoor market boasts more than 125 artisans selling everything from clothing and accessories to food and hot drinks. Here you can also go ice-skating, take a ride on the carousel, have dinner under the heat lamps at Celsius restaurant or Southwest Porch and admire the beautiful 50 feet holiday tree (will be lit up December 3rd)in the middle of it all.


Bryant Park, 42nd St, between Fifth and Sixth Aves. From the Salisbury Hotel take the subway F to 42nd St.- Bryant Park.

Columbus Circle Holiday Market
December 3 - December 24 

This annual holiday bazaar is within a short walk from the Salisbury Hotel and features handmade items from local artisans and snacks from vendors. Market is the perfect place to enjoy a hot meal or snack, shop for holiday gifts and spend time with friends and family. Hours of operation are Weekdays 10am - 8pm, Saturdays 10am - 8pm and Sundays 10am - 7pm.


  Central Park South, at Central Park West

Grand Central Holiday Fair
November 18 - December 24 

Featuring 76 micro-boutiques illuminated by golden chandeliers suspended from a 50-foot-high ceiling, this elegant market has everything from contemporary jewelry and art objects to African crafts and Christmas ornaments. And since it's situated inside the terminal itself, you won't have to worry about shivering while you're browsing the goods.


42nd St, between Vanderbilt and Lexington Aves

Union Square Holiday Market
November 21 - December 24

Purchase gifts from more than 150 vendors at this outdoor bazaar. Gorgeous handmade jewelry, ties, cuff links and other men's fashion items, luxurious truffle salts, olive oils and vinegars, chic bags, scarves, tights and shoes, holiday themed crafts and decorations, warm food, drinks and festive atmosphere. Hours of operation are Weekdays 11am to 8pm, Saturday 10am to 8pm and Sunday 11am to 7pm. The market is closed on Thanksgiving Day.

 14th St to 17th St, between Broadway and Park Ave South 

Artists & Fleas at Chelsea Market
November 14 - January 5 

Brooklyn purveyors set up shop across the river at Artists & Fleas’ seasonal pop-up bazaar, situated inside Chelsea Market. Expect to find trendy and noncommercial holiday-themed gifts. Every item is locally made and well crafted. 


75 Ninth Ave, at 16th St

TISCH CHILDREN'S ZOO IN CENTRAL PARK

The Tisch Children's Zoo is located within a short walk from the Central Park Zoo. Created solely with kids in mind, you won't find a more child-friendly and fun attraction in all of New York City. It features a petting zoo complete with several domestic animals, the Acorn Theater that performs daily shows, and the Enchanted Forest where you'll see live turtles and frogs along with birds in a complete habitat. Small bronze sculptures of the animals stand next to each pen. When a child touches a sculpture it emits the appropriate cry or squawk. 

Sweet, friendly Othello, the only cow in Manhattan.

  The zoo offers young visitors the unique opportunity to pet and feed animals, as well as plenty of places to play, climb and explore. Here children can get close to goats, sheep, a cow and a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig. Make sure to bring quarters to buy nutritious food for the animals to nibble out of your hand. 

With the admission ticket to the Central Park Zoo you also get admission to Tisch Children's Zoo at no extra cost.

The Central Park Zoo is open 365 days a year. 

November 4, 2013-April 4, 2014 Daily 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.* 
April 4, 2014–November 2, 2014 Monday–Friday 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.* Weekends & Holidays 10:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.* 

*Last ticket sold 30 minutes prior to closing.

MEET THE TEAM : DIXIE

Hotels around the world are taking preventive measures in order to keep bed bugs at bay.

Salisbury Hotel has a preventive program in place that involves one adorable, but highly professional bug detective, named Dixie. We are proud to have Dixie as a member of the Hotel team. Her training allows us to feel confident that we are proactively protecting our guests from this international travel problem.

Dixie started her bed bug sniffing career four years ago. She was profiled to be genetically fit as a scent detection dog. She was evaluated to have the drive needed to be successful on the job. Dixie has been trained and certified to sniff out any possible trace of bed bugs. This eliminates unnecessary chemical treatments. The key to using dogs for inspections is the teamwork between the dog and its handler.Dixie lives with her trainer Steve in the countryside where she gets plenty of exercise. When not hard at work, she relaxes playing outdoors and chasing butterflies.

University studies have shown that canines are 98% effective in detecting bedbugs, compared with humans who are only successful 30-40 % of the time at low level exposures. There are many misconceptions about bedbugs. Cleanliness doesn't prevent bedbugs and they don't transmit disease. They are most commonly transferred in the luggage of unknowing travelers. It is a good practice to have your luggage shrink wrapped at the airport to avoid exposure in the freight compartment and storage areas.

Hotel management ( and Dixie ! ) will continue to do be vigilant to protect our guests.

Dixie with her handler Steve