HOLIDAY LIGHTS AND MOVIE SITES

 We had the opportunity to test drive the ever so popular and timely Holiday Lights and Movie Sites tour organized by On Location Tours that offers film and movie tours around NYC. The tour runs from November 28 to January 1 on Thursday, Friday & Sunday at 5:30pm and Saturday at 5:30pm & 7pm. If you're interested in taking one of their tours, see our concierge and he can set it up for you. 

We met our tour guide at the Shops at Columbus Circle where we were give a VIP shopping passes to use at the stores and restaurants at Time Warner Center. From there we hopped on the bus and drove through the Upper West Side to relive holiday scenes from Scrooged and New Year’s Eve making a stop at Lincoln Center for photos. Next we passed through Central Park while watching clips from countless holiday classics that were filmed in the park, such as Home Alone 2 and Elf. Once on the Upper East Side we saw Serendipity 3, the restaurant where Sara (Kate Beckinsale) and Jonathan Trager (John Cusack) share the famous Frrrozen Hot Chocolate, The Plaza Hotel, FAO Schwartz and the Unicef Snowlake. Next stop was at Bloomingdales to take a peek at the department store’s holiday window displays. 

From there we continued the tour through midtown to view more of the city’s most renowned displays of the season, like Bergdorf Goodman, Tiffany & Co., Saks Fifth Avenue, Henri Bendel, Harry Winston, familiar from Eloise at Christmastime and The Family Man. Continuing the journey down Fifth Avenue we passed Rockefeller Center for a view of the most famous Christmas tree in New York seen in Home Alone 2, Noel and Elf. We also stopped at Barneys windows as well as at Lord & Taylor to see their interesting "Journey Through Imagination" window displays.

The tour ended at the world famous Macy’s in Herald Square, home to the real Santa in Miracle on 34th Street. Their windows are also quite fabulous. Happy Holidays from all of us at The Salisbury Hotel!

BERGDORF GOODMAN

 Bergdorf Goodman is a luxury goods department store just one short block away from the Salisbury Hotel. It was founded in 1899 and began as a partnership between a talented tailor, Herman Bergdorf, and his young tailor apprentice Edwin Goodman. It has since blossomed into a fashion mecca on 5th Avenue with an estimated 160 000 visitor per month from all over the world.

 Today, Bergdorf operates two stores situated across the street from each other at Fifth Avenue between 57th and 58th streets. Bergdorf Goodman's main store, which opened at its current location in 1928, is located on the west side of Fifth Avenue and sits on the former site of Cornelius Vanderbilt’s mansion. A separate men's store, established in 1990, is located on the east side of Fifth Avenue, directly across the street. 

Edwin Goodman’s son Andrew Goodman and his family lived in for more than half a century in a 17 room penthouse above Bergdorf’s . 15 years ago the apartment was converted to a John Barrett hair salon, a place to get your hair done with a breathtaking bird’s-eye view of Fifth Avenue and Central Park. 

If you get hungry while shopping, Bergdorf Goodman's seventh floor restaurant  BG offers lunch and early supper with great salads and sandwiches (try their famous Gotham Salad), afternoon tea from 3pm to 5pm and gorgeous views.

MEET THE TEAM : FELIX

It is always sad to see one of our colleagues leave, but at the same time we celebrate the years we got to spend together and getting to know each other. Recently we said goodbye to a true character; Felix, our beloved houseman. He has been a cheery fixture of our hotel for the past 30 years so his retirement was very well deserved. Felix plans to split his time between his native home Dominican republic with Miami and NYC, just simply enjoying life and the freedom to travel.

Felix has been described as an ‘outstanding’ employee and human being with a ‘very pleasant personality’ by his peers. We’ll miss his playful nature and funny antics. Good luck and enjoy your retirement full-hearted, Felix.

The Salisbury Hotel Executive Housekeeper Rodney Velez and Felix

FALL FUN IN NYC

UNION SQUARE GREENMARKET

The Union Square Greenmarket is a breath of fresh air in the midst of city all year-round, but it's especially full of beauty and flavor in the fall time. Visit Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays between 8am-6pm for your pick of locally-grown pumpkins, squash, gourds and apples, plus seasonal baked goods, hot apple cider, maple syrup, jams, honey and more.

photo credit: times scare

TIMES SCARE

New York City's year-round haunted attraction Times Scare  (42nd St, & 8th Avenue) is rumored to be legitimately haunted. In the 1920s, it was a crematorium. Today, more than just a few ghosts are rumored to linger in the labyrinthine house and in one of the macabre bars. Although the FAQ says it's open to all ages, the recommendation is 10 and up.

photo credit: amnh.org

AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY HALLOWEEN PARTY

Fun event for the whole family includes trick-or-treating in the Museum's iconic halls, live music performances, The Big Apple Circus' "Dr. Finklestein’s Zombie Show", spectacular magic of Robert Austin, arts and crafts, origami and roaming characters like Clifford, Curious George, Miffy, and Cookie Mouse.

photo credit: nybg.org

THE HAUNTED PUMPKIN GARDEN AT THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN

This year, The Haunted Pumpkin Garden combines the spooky fun festivities with an astonishing display of the most eye-catching and intriguing pumpkins and gourds. On October 18 & 19, Ray Villafane will work his carving magic to create intricate pumpkin sculptures, while the largest pumpkins from North America will once again call the Garden home on October 25 & 26.

photo credit: madison square park

MADISON SQUARE PARK KIDS FEST

Join for a day of free fun and fall festivities with your family on October 18th from 11am-2pm in Madison Square Park. Take home a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, walk away with a cool craft, play games on the lawn and dance to live entertainment. Additionally, there will be other great activities such as face painting, snacks, storytelling, the magic of movies, and costume parades. 

photo credit: centralparknyc.org

PUMPKIN FLOTILLA IN CENTRAL PARK

On Sunday October 26th from 3:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m. enjoy live music, spooky stories, pumpkin carving demonstrations at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center in Central Park. The best part of the evening, many would say, is the signature pumpkin flotilla, which sets sail across the Harlem Meer at twilight. 

VILLAGE HALLOWEEN PARADE

This is one of the most fun events of the year and it's not to miss if you happen to be visiting NYC during this time. Friday, October 31st starting at 7pm hundreds of puppets, 53 bands of different types of music, dancers and artists, and thousands of others in costumes of their own creation will march up along 6th Avenue from Spring St. to 16th St.

MEET THE TEAM : ERIC

Eric is a native New Yorker, who has spent most of his childhood in the Upper East Side, and has been with the Salisbury for 17 years. He now does primarily accounting (accounts receivable), working closely with our travel partners such as Expedia/Hotels.com, Gulliver's Travel, Virgin Holidays and Swanson's Travel.

He is an avid model train hobbyist and frequents on the best model train stores in New York: The Gotham Model Trains at 35th St. The Red Caboose is another great place to find model trains and it's located near Times Square at 45th St. New York City also has a not-to-miss Holiday Train Show from November through January at the beautiful New York Botanical Garden that features  extensive model train layouts in festive winter wonderland surroundings. 

image source

What do you think is the best thing about NYC?

"Central Park. It reminds me of Westchester suburbs where I was born. I like taking long bike rides there or just walking around, admiring nature. Central Park Zoo is also a fun place to visit. The 6.5 acre zoo features polar bears, sea lions, monkeys, a petting zoo and much more."

If you had just one day to explore the city, what would you do?

"I'd visit the Empire State Building's 102nd floor. It was not open when I was a kid and I never got to go there. Another thing I'd do would be to walk the Highline Park." The last stretch of High Line officially opened last Saturday. This final half-mile section finishes the 22-block walkway of abandoned stretch of elevated rails that's been turned into a beautiful park filled with flowers, grasses and trees. Worth the visit!

VISITING SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL

13 years has passed since the day that changed so many lives in ways unimaginable. The 9/11 Memorial is breathtaking site and if you're planning on visiting, take a moment to remember those who lost their lives in the attacks, and also the loved ones they left behind who are still grieving every single day. 

The National September 11 Memorial is open daily from 7:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. It is a tribute of remembrance and honor to the nearly 3,000 people killed in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center site, near Shanksville, Pa., and at the Pentagon, as well as the six people killed in the World Trade Center bombing in February 1993. The Memorial’s twin reflecting pools are each nearly an acre in size and feature the largest manmade waterfalls in the North America. The pools sit within the footprints where the Twin Towers once stood.

9/11 Memorial Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. *Last entry at 7 p.m. The Museum serves as the country’s principal institution for examining the implications of the events of 9/11, documenting the impact of those events and exploring the continuing significance of September 11, 2001. The Museum’s 110,000 square feet of exhibition space is located within the archaeological heart of the World Trade Center site—telling the story of 9/11 through multimedia displays, archives, narratives and a collection of monumental and authentic artifacts. The lives of every victim of the 2001 and 1993 attacks will be commemorated as visitors have the opportunity to learn about the men, women, and children who died.

9/11 Memorial Museum Store at 20 Vesey Street is open daily from 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.  Sept. 22, 2014 - Dec. 19, 2014 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Free admission.

How to get there: From the Salisbury Hotel walk to 7th Avenue and 57th St. and take the subway R going downtown to Cortlandt. Street.

ONE DAY ITINERARY FOR MANHATTAN

We often get people staying with us at the Salisbury Hotel that are just passing through NYC on their way to another destination and have just one day to see the city. It may feel that there's so much to do that seeing it all in one day is impossible. However, with the right plan, a one-day visit can be a really great introduction to NYC. Here's our suggestion for a one day itinerary:

 Morning

Central Park

First, head two blocks up to Central Park. This massive common space is a green oasis in the middle of the big city and perhaps the world's most famous public park. Take a bike tour with a guide or rent your own bike. Central Park hosts meadows, bodies of water, more than 26,000 trees, 58 miles of walking paths, 36 bridges and arches. It's a sight every NYC visitor should see.

Museum Mile

East of Central Park is Museum Mile, but if you only have one day, you won't be able to browse through all 10 museums on this stretch. Pick one that interests you the most. At The Metropolitan Museum of Art, at East 82nd Street, you can view limited-time exhibitions as well as objects in the museum's permanent collection, which consists of more than 2 million works of art that span the breadth of human history. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum features scores of modern and contemporary masterpieces. See the full list of museums along the Museum Mile by clicking here.

Afternoon

Rockefeller Center

From the Salisbury Hotel walk down to 50th St. and Rockefeller Center that houses NBC Studios and Top of the Rock Observation Deck. The deck provides one of the best views of New York City's legendary skyline and cityscape,as well as the Statue of Liberty.  After you've made your way back down, head three blocks north to The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) to visit one of the world's finest collections of contemporary art, ranging from painting and sculpture to film and live performance.

Downtown

Catch the nearest downtown train and find the stop closest to City Hall where you can view the beautiful architecture of the structure, one of the nation's oldest still-functioning civic buildings. From the City Hall grounds, walk towards east to the Brooklyn Bridge. From there, walk through the historic South Street Seaport area to Battery Park and catch a roundtrip on the Staten Island Ferry. Enjoy the breeze and rest your legs while passing the Statue of Liberty and taking pictures of the beautiful NYC skyline. Since you're already downtown, from here you can also hop in a cab or subway heading north and go see the 9/11 Memorial.

Evening

Greenwich Village

The last item on your one-day NYC agenda is an evening in the West Village. Stroll through the Washington Square Park and stop to listen for impromptu music performances or even a magic show. There is also variety of bars, restaurants and jazz clubs with nightly offerings of live music. Try the Village Vanguard, Smalls Jazz Club, Cafe Wha? or Blue Note. West Village is also home to numerous restaurants serving delectable food, helping you to recharge after a busy day.

4 THINGS TO DO IN CENTRAL PARK

One of the best features of the Salisbury Hotel is its' proximity to the world's most filmed location: Central Park. These 843 acres of playground are basically our backyard! The park has everything you can imagine: restaurants, ice-skating rink, amusement park, green meadows, beautiful ponds, boat rentals, lush gardens, 36 bridges and arches, performance centers, more than 26 000 trees, playgrounds, zoo, pool, 58 miles of walking paths, educational facilities, places for picnics, concerts, baseball, lawn bowling and classical architecture. Best way to see the park is to rent a bike and explore it at your own pace. There's so much to see so we narrowed it down to few of our favorites. 

Belvedere Castle

 Belvedere Castle's observation deck offers breathtaking views of the park and the New York City skyline. Since 1919 the castle has also been the location of the official Central Park weather station. It can be found mid-park at 79th Street, surrounded by some of the park's most beautiful attractions, like Delacorte Theater, Great Lawn, Turtle Pond and the Ramble.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

 The Metropolitan Museum of Art is located on the east side of the park on 5th Ave between 80th and 84th streets. The museum's collection is so large that you could easily spend an entire day there. 

Bow Bridge

The Bow Bridge is the most photographed bridge in Central Park and has been captured in many big Hollywood movies. Find it mid-park at 74th St., just west of Bethesda Terrace.

Carousel

The original carousel opened in 1871 and was powered by a mule and horse who walked in a hidden compartment underground below the attraction. The animals were trained to start and stop with a foot tap from the ride’s operator above ground. It is located mid-park at 64th Street. 

BEST FOOD MARKETS IN NEW YORK

Combining communal dining space and artisan grocery shopping has caught fire in New York City in the past few years. Since the opening of Todd English's upscale food court at the Plaza Hotel this style of dining and shopping has become a fast growing trend. Here's 5 must-visit food halls in NYC.

HUDSON EATS

Hudson Eats opened in June 2014 and is an upscale dining terrace overlooking the Hudson River featuring 14 fast-casual eateries. Vendors include, but are not limited to Black Seed Bagels, Mighty Quinn's BBQ, Umami Burger, Little Muenster and their creative grilled cheese sandwiches, Dos Toros burritos, Num Pang Cambodian sandwiches, Tartinery open-faced tartines, Chop't salads, Dig Inn seasonal health food, Sprinkles cupcakes and Blue Ribbon Sushi. Great place to get something to eat when visiting the 9/11 Memorial and Museum or the Battery Park.

Monday-Friday 7am-9pm Saturday 10am-9pm Sunday 11am-7 pm
Brookfield Place, 200 Vesey St.

EATALY

Eataly is a massive Italian food hall with over 700 employees offering imported groceries and multiple eateries, each with its own focus. The marketplace, located near the Flatiron building in Manhattan, is a unique combination of sandwich stands, market-style stalls and full-fledged restaurants. Many products made on the premises are both for sale to the public and used to supply the restaurants on site. Grab a quick sandwich, buy some handmade pasta for dinner, or host a dinner party for friends in one of the eateries here. Eataly has it all.

Monday-Sunday 10am-11pm (Caffe Lavazza opens at 8am for coffee & pastries)

200 Fifth Avenue (at 23rd Street)

CHELSEA MARKET

Chelsea Market is an enclosed urban food court and shopping mall located in the Chelsea neighborhood. It has become in just fifteen years one of the greatest indoor food halls of the world, with more than thirty-five vendors purveying everything from soup to nuts, wine to coffee, cheese to cheesecake and also features multiple restaurants, bakeries and unique gift stores. Good option to come to when visiting Highline Park and the West Village area.

Monday - Saturday: 7am-9pm, Sunday: 8am-8pm  
75 9th Avenue (Between 15th and 16 Streets),

GOTHAM WEST MARKET

Gotham West Market features eight premier, artisanal food purveyors, serving fish tacos, pulled-pork sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs with Chinese mustard and tripe chili, and tapas. The Brooklyn Kitchen has a retail store and demo space where chefs and cookbook authors will teach classes and make public appearances; Blue Bottle is serving New Orleans–style iced coffee; and noodle master Ivan Orkin has opened his first restaurant outside of Japan, Ivan Ramen Slurp Shop. This would be a great place to get something to eat before or after your sightseeing cruise that leaves from 42nd St. and 12th Avenue, or when visiting the Intrepid (46th St. and 12th Avenue).

 Monday-Sunday 7am-11pm
600 11th Avenue (between 44th and 45th)

THE PLAZA FOOD HALL

The Plaza Food Hall is located at the concourse level of the Plaza Hotel, and it gets its' influence from European food halls not typically found in the United States. It offers a diverse range of specialty foods and prepared dishes for take away or to enjoy in one of eight seating areas, including: Wine Bar, Cheese & Charcuterie Station, Sushi Bar, Burger Bar & Rotisserie, Asian Noodle and Dumpling Bar, Pasta Bar, Brick Oven Pizza, and a Fish and Seafood Grill. 

Monday-Saturday 8:00am-9:30pm Sunday 11:00am-6:00pm
 Fifth Avenue at Central Park South

VEGGING OUT IN NYC

New York City truly is the world’s melting pot, and its diverse community has made sure that our city is among the Top 5 most vegetarian/vegan friendly places in the USA. It is a plant-based eaters paradise offering many options ranging from vegetarian friendly to raw vegan restaurants, bakeries, ice cream parlors and food trucks. We at the front desk have noticed the increased number of people asking for restaurant recommendations for vegetarians instead of the ever so popular steakhouses. Although almost every restaurant, even the steakhouses, offer good vegetarian options, you might want to pay a visit to some of the delicious vegan restaurants and be prepared to be blown away by the flavors. 

We have quite a few vegetarians on our staff, one of them being Katariina, a long-time vegetarian and a holistic Health Coaching student. She shared her top 3 favorite restaurants even a carnivore would love.

Candle Cafe West

2427 Broadway (between 89th-90th St.)

Serving fresh, local, organic farm to table fare and wide selection of organic wines, this restaurant is famous for its friendly and swift service and beautiful interiors. Whether you just wanted to have a glass of green juice or a 4-course gourmet dinner this place will satisfy your needs. Souvenir tip: buy Candle Cafe's colorful cooking books here.

Blossom

Multiple locations

Pairing specialty cocktails with gourmet dishes made from fresh, local, organic produce, Blossom epitomizes ethical eating. Order multiple dishes and share them with your table to get the best experience. Same goes with desserts. Blossom has three locations in Chelsea, West Village and Upper East Side with fourth location coming soon. 

Pure Food and Wine

54 Irving Place (between 17th-18th St.)

This upscale raw vegan restaurant is located on Irving Place, just one block from Union Square. Their menu is entirely plant based and does not include any processed ingredients. Nothing is heated above approximately 118 degrees in order to preserve vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. During the summer months request a table in their gorgeous garden. Make sure to leave room for their delicious desserts. Souvenir tip: just around the corner from Pure Food and Wine is their take-out location One Lucky Duck that sells healthy house-made snacks, cookies, chocolates, superfoods, t-shirts, tote bags and cooking books written by the restaurant owner Sarma Melngailis.