10 Jun 2013
TOURISM IN NEW YORK CITY
In 2012, New York City welcomed a record 52 million visitors, generating $36.9 billion in direct spending and $55.3 billion in total economic impact. Tourism, now the City's fifth largest industry, employs 363,100 people in the hospitality and leisure sector. Home to more than 93,000 hotel rooms (and anticipated to reach 100,000 rooms by the end of 2014), New York City offers visitors more options to experience—and stay in—many of the City's vibrant neighborhoods across all five boroughs. New York City has the highest share of overseas travel to the US, growing its share from 28 to 33 percent over the last six years (each growth in share point represents $750 million in direct spending). In addition, the City is the nation's number one port of entry, has the highest number of international visitors and is the number one city destination for tourism spending. The City's enhanced quality of life has been instrumental in helping Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and NYC & Company reach their new goal of $70 billion in annual economic impact and 55 million annual visitors by2015, as well as increasing jobs directly linked to this growing and thriving industry. In 2013, NYC & Company is forecasting 52.9 million visitors.
WHAT'S NEW: NYC & COMPANY PROGRAMS
NYC & Company recently launched Neighborhood x Neighborhood, a new global communications campaign designed to support local businesses and encourage exploration in neighborhoods outside traditional tourist locations across the five boroughs (the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island). Each month new neighborhood highlights are unveiled with a press release, B-roll and photo packages and editorial content on nycgo.com/neighborhoods. Neighborhoods and featured highlights were chosen in collaboration with City Council officials, NYC Small Business Services, business improvement districts, community leaders and with consideration of NYC & Company's more than 2,000 members. So far, NYC & Company has highlighted Coney Island, the South Bronx, Lower Manhattan and Williamsburg/Fort Greene and Bushwick. To complement the Neighborhood x Neighborhood effort, NYC & Company's Tourism Development team has unveiled travel trade tool kits (nycgo.com/traveltrade) for specific neighborhoods including Long Island City, Queens; Downtown Brooklyn and Surrounding Neighborhoods; and debuting during IPW, Lower Manhattan.
New York City prides itself on appealing to a diverse range of visitors. In 2013, growing the family segment is a key deliverable—to accomplish that, NYC & Company recently announced Where's Waldo? as the City's new Family Ambassador, providing tips on what families can see and do in the five boroughs (nycgo.com/waldo). In 2012, New York City welcomed an estimated 15.2 million family visitors, a 2.7 percent projected increase over 2011, contributing approximately $15 billion in direct spending to New York City's economy.
This summer, diners can enjoy three-course prix-fixe lunches and dinners at some of the City's finest dining establishments during NYC Restaurant Week; dates are: July 22–August 16 (nycgo.com/restaurantweek); Mondays through Fridays with Saturdays excluded and Sundays optional; reservations open July 8. Guests can enjoy three-course prix-fixe lunches for $25 and three-course prix-fixe dinners for $38 (excluding beverages, gratuities and taxes). Diners can begin to make reservations at more than 300 participating restaurants starting July 8 at nycgo.com/restaurantweek.
NYC & Company will hold its next Broadway Week from September 2–15 (nycgo.com/broadway week). The program offers two-for-one tickets for consumers who are booking directly (not open to the trade).
NYC & Company's Signature Collection Third Night program will return June 24–September 2 (reservations open June 18), offering a complimentary Third Night at nine participating hotels after paying for two nights at the prevailing rate—the promotion applies specifically to hotel suites. More information at nycgo.com/signaturecollection. Other summer- and family-related hotel promotions are taking place from June to September—check nycgo.com/hotels for more details.
NYC & Company recently announced the City's first-ever Design Collection (nycgo.com/designcollection)program, showcasing hotels that exemplify great design in all its expressions. The 19 City hotels in the Design Collection are 6 Columbus, A Thompson Hotel; 60 Thompson, A Thompson Hotel; Chambers Hotel; Dream Downtown; Dream New York; Eventi, A Kimpton Hotel; Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC; Gansevoort Park Avenue NYC; Gild Hall, A Thompson Hotel; Hudson New York; The James New York; Le Parker Meridien New York; The Muse Hotel; Smyth Tribeca, A Thompson Hotel; Soho House New York; W New York; W New York – Downtown; W New York – Times Square; W New York – Union Square.
Information on what to see, do and enjoy in New York City this summer recently launched online under the banner “This is Summer. This is New York City.” See details at nycgo.com/summer.
When visiting New York City, NYC & Company's Official NYC Information Center in Midtown Manhattan at 810 Seventh Ave. (bet. W. 52nd and W. 53rd Sts.) is the place to pick up the latest visitor guides and maps, purchase attraction tickets and MetroCards, speak to travel concierges and print out itineraries to explore the five boroughs. To find out all there is to see and do and plan your future trip to NYC's five boroughs, visit the City's official tourism resource, nycgo.com.
WHAT'S NEW: NEW YORK CITY BEACHES & PARKS
On May 24, at an event in Coney Island, Mayor Bloomberg and New York City Parks Commissioner Veronica M. White reopened all 14 miles of New York City's beaches for the 2013 season. These beaches—Coney Island/Brighton and Manhattan Beaches in Brooklyn; Rockaway Beach in Queens; Orchard Beach in the Bronx; and Midland, Wolfe's Pond, Cedar Grove and South Beaches in Staten Island—were badly damaged by Hurricane Sandy and underwent a $270 million-plus restoration to open them this summer, creating new access, making them more resilient and better protected. More than 20 million people are expected to visit New York City beaches this summer. Ferry service to the City has been enhanced, including expanded routes to the Rockaways in Queens and Red Hook in Brooklyn (see more information under Brooklyn and Queens below).
Free WiFi service in several parks throughout the City is making it easier for visitors to stay connected and better navigate all five boroughs. With the recent launch of NYC & Company's NYCMaps app that shows 90,000 locations in the City using logos, visitors will be able to more easily recognize and explore the key sights of interest (nycgo.com/citymaps).
WHAT'S NEW: NEW YORK CITY SPORTS
In 2014, the New York/New Jersey region will host Super Bowl XLVIII (48) on February 2. This is the first time the Super Bowl has been played in an outdoor stadium in cold weather. The game will take place at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and will be preceded by a week's worth of special events that will be open to the public. Among the announced plans for the region's first Super Bowl is the creation of a “Super Bowl Boulevard,” which will transform a portion of Broadway in Midtown Manhattan into a massive fan event with free admission (nynjsuperbowl.com).
New York City will host the 2013 Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 16 at Citi Field in Queens. The game is part of a five-day calendar of events for baseball fans that includes a fan festival at the Javits Center, a 5k Fun Run benefiting Sandy relief in Prospect Park and the Celebrity Softball Game, All-Star Futures Game and All-Star Home Run Derby at Citi Field mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2013.
College Basketball's most thrilling event comes to Madison Square Garden in March 2014 as New York City plays host to the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament East Regional. The regional will consist of four of the nation's top college basketball teams competing for a spot in the 2014 Final Four. Fans will be able to experience all of the energy and excitement of “March Madness” at one of the nation's most storied basketball venues, Madison Square Garden.
WHAT'S NEW: NEW YORK CITY TRANSPORTATION
New air lift will be launched to New York City beginning June 10, 2013, on American Airlines from Dublin to New York City (JFK). Delta Air Lines will also increase its Dublin–JFK weekly frequency in the summer months from seven to ten weekly flights, starting June 18 through September 29. Norwegian will launch new summer seasonal service beginning May 31 from Stockholm and Oslo to NYC (JFK). In late March, Air China launched four additional weekly flights from Beijing to JFK, bringing the total number to 11. Delta Air Lines has proposed a second flight between New York City (JFK) and São Paulo, which if approved by the Department of Transportation, would commence later this year. In April, Open Skies launched new JFK to Paris Orly service—it's the only airline that flies nonstop to the Paris Orly airport from the US. The addition of the JFK service to Orly complements the two daily flights Open Skies currently services from Newark to Orly. On May 31, XL Airways launched new seasonal service from Marseille to JFK.
The enhancement of New York City's waterfront has been a key focus of Mayor Bloomberg's administration. On May 25, 2013, an expanded free Red Hook Summer Ferry, operated by New York Water Taxi, began running from Pier 11 in Manhattan to the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn. This initiative comes through a partnership between Mayor Bloomberg and Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn in an effort to bring business back to the neighborhood that was heavily affected by Hurricane Sandy. The ferry is running from Pier 11 to a new stop at Van Brunt Street and then to IKEA in Red Hook from 10am to 9pm on Saturdays and Sundays. From Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend, ferries will run every 25 minutes, improving upon the current frequency, which is approximately 40 minutes. The City's ferry initiatives are part of the Waterfront Vision and Enhancement Strategy (WAVES), a citywide strategy launched by Mayor Bloomberg and Speaker Quinn, which lays out a sustainable blueprint for the City's more than 500 miles of shoreline (nycedc.com).
On May 28, 2013, Mayor Bloomberg announced the extension of weekday Rockaway Ferry service (seastreakusa.com), for at least six weeks, in an effort to further support commuters and visitors in their trips to and from the Hurricane Sandy–damaged area. Additionally, enhanced weekend service (newyorkbeachferry.com/) will commence on July 4 between the Rockaways and Pier 11 in Lower Manhattan, with one additional service run in each direction on Saturdays and Sundays. The weekend ferry will also make a new stop at Beach 108th Street.
Visitors can also take advantage of the Hornblower Hybrid(hornblower.com), the nation's first vessel powered by diesel, hydrogen, batteries, wind and solar energy; and the East River Ferry Service (nywaterway.com) launched in June 2011 to provide regular waterborne transportation from several new locations in Brooklyn to Manhattan from April to October.
The Number 7 Subway Line (mta.info) extension will bring the Flushing Line to 34th Street and 11th Avenue, at the heart of what will be Manhattan's newest neighborhood. New housing, restaurants and entertainment options are planned for the redeveloped area on the Far West Side. The new $2.4 billion project will extend the line by 1½ miles and service is expected to commence in summer of 2014.
WHAT'S NEW: NEW YORK CITY CRUISE
Norwegian Cruise Line's newest cruise ship, the NYC-themed Norwegian Breakaway (breakaway.ncl.com), was christened in her year-round home port of New York City on May 8, 2013. The 4,000 passenger ship, the largest ship to ever home port in the City, began weekly summer seven-day cruises to Bermuda May 12 before cruising from the heart of Manhattan to the Bahamas and Florida and the Southern Caribbean in the winter season (October 2013–April 2014). New York City's iconic dance troupe The Rockettes are serving as godmothers for the ship.
New York City's cruise industry (nycruise.com) generated a total economic impact of nearly $200 million in 2012. The 2012 Economic Impact Study, conducted by the New York City Economic Development Corporation, detailed an increase in passengers of 32 percent since 2009, when the City first began analyzing industry data. These passengers, along with crew, spent more than $120 million in New York City last year, an increase of more than 30 percent since 2009, and overall, the new study showed significant growth in all sectors of the City's cruise industry during this time. With a nearly 40 percent increase in ship calls and a 30 percent increase in spending over the last four years, the study's findings confirm that cruise continues to be an important component of the City's tourism industry and overall economy.
WHAT'S NEW: BOROUGH BY BOROUGH
THE BRONX
The Bronx is located north of Manhattan and is a lively and affordable destination where visitors can visit the world-famous Yankee Stadium, dine at some of New York City's best restaurants, and experience authentic Bronx culture. As the only section in NYC that is not an island, the borough's distinctive landscape boasts more parkland than any other borough and more green space than any other urban area nationwide. The Bronx can also lay claim to being the birthplace of hip-hop music (ilovethebronx.com).
The New York Botanical Garden's (nybg.org) new Native Plant Garden, which opened in May 2013, is a cutting-edge 3.5-acre installation with a dramatic 230-foot-long water feature as its centerpiece. It is the most contemporary garden design ever created at The New York Botanical Garden. The Native Plant Garden was designed by Oehme, van Sweden, landscape architects specializing in the New American Garden style, to harmonize a stunning designed terrain with the diversity of microclimates across the site. The layout, in the middle of the garden's historic grounds, is both sustainable and visually inventive, a radical blend of modern sensibilities along with environmentally friendly elements. Built to inspire and teach visitors about the beauty of native flora throughout the seasons, it also illustrates how native plants can be used to produce attractive and imaginative gardens. Another highlight at NYBG this summer is the groundbreaking, multifaceted exhibition Wild Medicine: Healing Plants Around the World, Featuring The Italian Renaissance Garden, on view through September 8, 2013.
Discover New York City's “real Little Italy” on Arthur Avenue (arthuravenuebronx.com) in the Belmont section of the Bronx. The neighborhood has a large number of establishments offering fine Italian-American foods, dining, housewares and other goods. You can buy bread, pasta, meat, pastries, espresso machines and more. One of the most beloved attractions is the Arthur Avenue Retail Market, an Italian bazaar that brings together under one roof all the shopping also found on nearby streets, from sausage makers to bread bakers and cafés to florists.
The neighborhood of Woodlawn is best known for its Irish influences, with plenty of Irish pubs and restaurants to be explored. The area is home to Van Cortlandt Park, which housed the USA's first public golf course; and Woodlawn Cemetery, a designated National Historic Landmark, where a memorial to the victims of the 1912 Titanic disaster can be seen along with the final resting places of Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Joseph Pulitzer, Herman Melville and others. This year marks Woodlawn Cemetery's 150th anniversary, with special programs and events taking place to celebrate the Cemetery's position in the nation's history. Anniversary programs highlight the Cemetery's role as a cultural destination in New York City and look to the future, while commemorating its rich past.
Wave Hill House—part of Wave Hill (wavehill.org), a public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River—is undergoing transformative improvements that will restore major portions of this historic mansion and provide state-of-the-art amenities for conferences and celebrations. Wave Hill House reopens in July 2013.
Gray Line New York's Bronx Tour/Loop (newyorksightseeing.com)provides travelers with the opportunity to experience legendary and cultural monuments such as Yankee Stadium, the home of New York's signature baseball team; the Malcolm Shabazz Market, a market comprising traditional African crafts and textiles; and famed culinary gems such as Lenox Lounge, Sylvia's and Red Rooster. Complete tour schedules and tickets are available online.
BROOKLYN
The most populous of New York City's boroughs, Brooklyn is home to 2.5 million residents. From trendy boutiques and restaurants in Williamsburg to picturesque brownstones in Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope and Cobble Hill to the new Brooklyn Bridge Park on the waterfront, the borough offers authentic and diverse experiences. Over the last few years, Brooklyn has seen a significant increase in the number of hotels, offering guests everything from bed & breakfast accommodations to boutique hotels and full-service properties (visitbrooklyn.org) .
As part of the Dumbo Arts Festival in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Ilya and Emilia Kabakov are partnering with Studio In School to present The Ship of Tolerance, a globally celebrated project that educates and connects children from different continents, cultures and identities (shipoftolerance.org). From September 27–October 8, the project will showcase the artwork of hundreds of children from around the world. One hundred and fifty selected paintings will be sewn together to create the sail for the ship, which will travel on a barge from Brooklyn to Manhattan and finally finish its stay in Staten Island.
Brooklyn's Barclays Center (barclayscenter.com) opened in September 2012 and is the new home to the professional basketball team the Brooklyn Nets. This 675,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art sports and entertainment venue will host games, concerts, fine arts performances, circuses and more throughout the year and has already hosted performances by Brooklyn natives Jay-Z and Barbra Streisand.
Reopened in May 2013, Steeplechase Plaza at Coney Island is a 2.2-acre public open space serving as the western anchor of the Coney Island amusement district (nyc.gov/).
The reopening is anchored by the historic B&B Carousell, newly renovated by the New York City Economic Development Corporation, featuring 50 hand-carved horses. It is Coney Island's last remaining historic carousel and has been under renovation for eight years. Steeplechase Plaza is located on the site of the former Steeplechase Amusement Park, between West 16th Street and West 19th Street, in the footprint of the landmarked Parachute Jump and across from the historic Steeplechase Pier.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden (bbg.org), representing the best in urban gardening and horticultural display, opened a new garden space in spring 2013: the Native Flora Garden. This one-acre expansion of the century-old Native Flora Garden (built in 1911) creates a new immersive landscape for visitors and marks a major achievement in the conservation of rare and threatened native plant communities. In 2012, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden opened its new Visitor Center, a key component of the most significant renewal effort at the garden since its founding over a century ago. The Visitor Center expands the garden's offerings with capabilities to orient tour groups, expand store offerings, and other visitor amenities.
New to Brooklyn Bridge Park (brooklynbridgepark.com) is Jane's Carousel (janescarousel.com),a beautifully restored 1922 carousel housed in a transparent pavilion designed by award-winning French architect Jean Nouvel. Rides cost $2 for the timeless attraction, located in the newly renovated Empire Fulton Ferry portion of the park in DUMBO, which features an expansive lawn, boardwalk and fantastic views of the skyline between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. The carousel is open April–November, 11am–7pm (closed Tuesdays). Unveiled in March 2013, the Squibb Bridge allows pedestrians and cyclists to travel between Brooklyn Bridge Park and the Brooklyn Heights Promenade with speed, ease and noteworthy views. The W-shaped Bridge offers visitors a look at its famous neighbors: the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge.
The BRIC House (bricartsmedia.org) will debut in the fall of 2013 in Brooklyn's downtown cultural district. Billed as “A House for the Arts,” BRIC House will serve as a true home for artists and audiences—a place where emerging and established artists can create work that deepens their practice and engages the diverse communities of Brooklyn.
MANHATTAN
Much of what many envision of New York City—bright lights and yellow taxis in Times Square, sprawling green of Central Park, the tiered crown of the art deco Chrysler Building—is found in Manhattan. From uptown to downtown, from Broadway to Off-Broadway, East Village to West Village, Manhattan offers the best in hotels, dining, shopping, entertainment and performing arts.
The Statue of Liberty (nps.gov/stli) is set to reopen on July 4, 2013, after being closed since Hurricane Sandy hit New York City in late October. Liberty Island and the National Monument will be open to the public via Statue Cruises taking off from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan and Liberty State Park in New Jersey. Tickets are now available online at statuecruises.com or by calling 201-604-2800. Crown tickets are only available by reservation. At this time, visitors may reserve advance tickets for travel from July 4 through September 2. When the statue reopens, temporary screening operations will take place at Battery Park.
The 37th annual Macy's 4th of July Fireworks (macy's.com/fireworks) will take place this year over the Hudson River. In collaboration with global pop star Usher, Macy's will put on the largest fireworks display in the country, with over 40,000 pyrotechnic shells being used in a 26-minute display. Curated by Usher, the show will combine musical score with choreographed pyrotechnics and visual design cues, as part of the theme “It Begins with a Spark.”
Time Warner Center (theshopsatcolumbuscircle.com) is New York's only destination where one can dine at multiple Michelin-star restaurants, sleep in a five-star hotel, shop and play—all in one luxurious location that attracts 16 million visitors annually. Behind the iconic, soaring glass wall that overlooks bustling Columbus Circle is a reimagined destination where shoppers can access the latest in fashion, home decor, music, wellness, technology and cuisine. Last year marked the property's biggest transformation to date over the past eight years, with 10 shops and a new bar joining the existing portfolio of specialty retailers, award-winning restaurants, entertainment and luxury hotel accommodations. Recent additions include Center Bar restaurant; Moleskine shop; C. Wonder; and H&M, which includes their first-ever men's suit shop. The destination, being positioned as “NYC's urban resort,” continues to evolve throughout 2013, with exciting developments leading up to Time Warner Center's 10th anniversary in February 2014.
Through August 25, 2013, the Public Art Fund (publicartfund.org) brings Thomas Schütte's monumental bronze, United Enemies, to Doris C. Freedman Plaza, Central Park. Standing on tripods instead of legs, the two separate pairs of male figures are literally bound together as they simultaneously push apart. The work, which has previously been on view in Turin and London, makes its US debut to coincide with the opening of The Armory Show.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (metmuseum.org)recently broke ground on the new David H. Koch Plaza, which will open to the public in 2014. The $65 million project will feature a renovated plaza, new fountains that will operate year-round, 100 new trees (double the former number), permanent and temporary seating areas and new energy-efficient and diffused nighttime lighting. OLIN, the landscape architecture, urban design and planning firm, has been retained by the museum as the leading design consultant for the project. The front steps of the museum—which are the primary path for visitors into the museum—have become a popular area for visitors to sit and enjoy the outdoors. Last year, The Metropolitan Museum of Art welcomed 6.28 million visitors. As of July 1, 2013, museum will be open seven days a week, with operating hours of 10am–9pm, Friday and Saturday; and 10am–5:30pm, Sunday through Thursday.
Also at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Pakistani artist Imran Qureshi has created a site-specific work atop the museum's Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden. Considered one of the leading figures in developing a contemporary aesthetic integrating motifs and techniques of traditional miniature painting with contemporary themes, Qureshi is the first artist to create a work that is painted directly onto the surfaces of the Roof Garden. The installation relates to elements from his earlier works while responding to the broad vistas of Central Park as well as the area's architectural and historical contexts.On exhibit through November 3, 2013, weather permitting.
Starting May 1, 2013, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) opened to the public seven days a week on a year-round basis, in response to increasing demand. MoMA's new operating hours are 10:30am–5pm, with the exception of Fridays, when the museum is open until 8pm. In 2012, MoMA received nearly 3 million visitors (moma.org) .
Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum (cooperhewitt.org) is the only museum in the nation devoted exclusively to historic and contemporary design, and is housed in the former residence of Andrew Carnegie, a New York City and National Historic Landmark. The campus also includes two historic townhouses on East 90th Street and the Arthur Ross Terrace and Garden. The museum is currently undergoing a renovation, which will enable it to expand gallery space by 60 percent, and will reopen in 2014. Within the Cooper-Hewitt Museum, a spectacular, new third-floor gallery will be created, as well as an expanded gallery space on the second floor, resulting in four entire floors dedicated to exhibitions and public programming. With more than 16,000 square feet of gallery space, Cooper-Hewitt will be able to showcase significantly more of its collection and present major design exhibitions. The renovation will be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified.
New York City's leading Latino cultural institution, El Museo del Barrio (elmuseo.org) recently announced La Bienal 2013: Here is Where We Jump, the seventh biennial exhibition featuring 35 Latino, Caribbean and Latin American artists who live in New York City. La Bienal will take place from June 12, 2013, to January 4, 2014, and will showcase the materials used by artists with a focus on creating relationships between artists and institutions.
In an effort to revitalize the area following damage from Hurricane Sandy, Brooklyn Flea (brooklynflea.com) has recently debuted SmorgasBar at the South Street Seaport. The Flea has curated a dozen food and beverage vendors to set up on Front Street (between Beekman and Fulton Sts.) in the pedestrian-only area of South Street Seaport every day, through October. Alongside the food booths and carts, the Flea operates a full bar inside a shipping container, serving local and other beers, wines and spirits. An additional bar is located on Fulton Street on top of another shipping container. In addition, six non-food Flea vendors operate pop-up retail shops inside shipping containers on Fulton St., through July 7 (possibly longer). Hours are Sunday through Thursday, 11am–10pm; Friday and Saturday, 11am–11pm.
Expected to open in fall 2013, the SeaGlass Carousel is Battery Park's new aquatic-themed ride, aimed to entertain, inspire and educate visitors. The stainless-steel and glass structure is shaped like a shell, and will feature an installation of 30 multicolored fiberglass fish in which visitors will ride, imitating an underwater experience on the rotating pavilion. The carousel will also incorporate sound, atmospheric lighting and film projections of marine life to further enhance the experience. In a Topping Off Ceremony on April 18, the City Parks and Recreation Department, Battery Conservancy, City officials and downtown stakeholders celebrated the final phase of the build-out: the installation of the final roof panel (thebattery.org).
In December 2012, the Museum of Mathematics, MoMath, opened (momath.org) to the public. The only math museum in the US, MoMath strives to enhance public understanding and perception of mathematics in daily life. The museum's dynamic, interactive exhibits and programs geared for families and adults will present mathematical experiences that are designed to stimulate inquiry, spark curiosity and reveal the wonders of math. MoMath is located at 11 E. 26th (between Fifth and Madison Avenues.).
Four Freedoms Park (fdrfourfreedomspark.org), a memorial to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, opened to the public on October 24, 2012, on the southern tip of Roosevelt Island. The island lies in the East River, across from Midtown Manhattan. Construction on the park began in March 2010, 38 years after the project's original announcement.
Macy's Herald Square (visitmacysnewyork.com), Macy's world-famous flagship, is undergoing an unprecedented four-year, $400 million renovation. New luxury shops Gucci, Burberry and Longchamp opened at the “World's Largest Store” in winter 2012. The main floor of the store will be the centerpiece of the Macy's flagship, with side-by-side, multilevel shops soaring three levels and spanning a city block. Macy's recently debuted the Herald Square Café in September 2012, within the “World's Largest Shoe Floor” on level 2 of the store. The café features exotic coffees, artisan chocolates and fine champagne. In March 2013, Macy's debuted a modern Italian restaurant, Stella 34 Trattoria. Overlooking Broadway, this Sixth Floor destination features an authentic Neapolitan menu created by Executive Chef Jarrett Appell in collaboration with renowned Lincoln Ristorante Executive Chef Jonathan Benno.
The Space Shuttle Pavilion, housing Space Shuttle Enterprise, the original NASA orbiter that paved the way for America's successful space shuttle program, is scheduled to reopen on July 10 at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum (intrepidmuseum.com), located at Pier 86 (46th Street and 12th Avenue), in Hudson River Park. The new Space Shuttle Pavilion, which replaces the original structure that was damaged by Hurricane Sandy, is currently being constructed around Enterprise and will be completed over the coming weeks. Visitors will still be able to walk underneath Enterprise which sits 10 feet off of the ground, view it from a larger observation platform and watch a film narrated by actor Leonard Nimoy. In addition to Enterprise, the pavilion will be the new home to the Russian Soyuz space capsule and incorporate new experiences designed to immerse visitors of all ages in the sights, sounds and stories of the space shuttle program.
On September 21, 2012, Mayor Bloomberg hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction on the third and final section of the High Line (thehighline.org). Located between West 30th and West 34th Streets to the south and north, and Tenth and Twelfth Avenues to the east and west, the final section of the elevated railway, called the High Line at the Rail Yards, extends half a mile beyond the current northern end of the High Line park, which has welcomed more than 10 million visitors since it opened in 2009. The High Line at the Rail Yards surrounds Related Companies/Oxford Properties Group's Hudson Yards project that is anticipated to start construction this autumn. Construction on the estimated $90 million extension of the park will proceed in phases, and be financed by a combination of public and private funds. The first phase is projected to open in 2014, extending the High Line park to West 34th Street and connecting the Meatpacking District and West Chelsea with the future 7 line subway station, the Javits Center, and the future Hudson Yards neighborhood.
Grand Central Terminal (grandcentralterminal.com), which stands as one of America's greatest transportation hubs and one of New York City's most iconic buildings, celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2013. The terminal plans a yearlong celebration with many events to commemorate its milestone. A public centennial kick-off event, including a rededication of the terminal and performances throughout the day, took place on February 1. Family- and visitor-friendly events during the year include a major multimedia exhibition about the terminal in February and March, the Grand Centennial Parade of Trains in May, a variety of free lectures and panels about transportation and railroad history, exhibitions on the future of the terminal, daily guided tours, self-guided audio tours in several languages and much more.
The Javits Center (javitscenter.com), the City's premier convention facility, will complete its renovation in fall 2013, with the installation of the second largest green roof in the US including high efficiency rooftop mechanical units; the replacement of exterior doors; replacement of curtain wall glazing units; and the repair, replacement and upgrade of building systems including life safety systems, security systems, mechanical electrical and plumbing systems and lighting systems.
Lower Manhattan, the area below Chambers Street in Manhattan, has undergone a dramatic revitalization over the last decade with an enhanced waterfront, increased ferry service and a tripling of the number of hotels. A centerpiece of the area is the new 9/11 Memorial (911memorial.org), whichopened to the public on September 12, 2011—a day after the 10th anniversary of the attacks. It consists of twin reflecting pools nearly an acre in size, making them the largest man-made waterfalls in North America. A free, pre-reserved visitor pass is required for entry. The National September 11 Museum is scheduled to open in spring 2014. The new One World Trade Center tower is scheduled to open in 2014. The One World Observatory is a three-story observation deck atop what will be the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere upon completion in early 2015. At 1,250 feet, the observatory will offer stunning views of New York City, dining, a gift shop and events for visitors to enjoy. NYC & Company is debuting a new Lower Manhattan travel trade tool kit during IPW, designed to assist the trade in selling this rejuvenated neighborhood (more information at nycgo.com/traveltrade).
New Manhattan restaurants opening in 2013 include Andrew Carmellini's Lafayette (380 Lafayette St.), RedFarm UWS (2710 Broadway), The Butterfly (225 W. Broadway), Ristorante Morini (1167 Madison Ave.), Carbone (181 Thompson St.), Juni (12 E. 31st St.), ABC Cocina (38 E. 19th St.), Tavern on the Green (Central Park and W. 67th St.), and Brooklyn Fare Manhattan (431 W. 37th St.).
QUEENS
For a vibrant sampler of culture of all kinds, Queens is the perfect destination. It serves up multi-ethnic cuisine, including Indian and East Asian food in Jackson Heights and Flushing, Greek and Brazilian fare in Astoria, Mexican in Corona and Irish and Thai in Woodside. Queens is also a sports and cultural destination. The borough has seen a dramatic increase in the number of hotels, especially in Long Island City, which now has 20 new hotels representing 1,500 rooms with five more properties and 650 rooms under construction (queensnyc.com).
A great way to experience Queens is on New York City's 7 line subway train, known as the “International Express” (mta.info/nyct/service/sevenlin.htm). The train makes stops in multi-ethnic neighborhoods in Queens that are Chinese, Irish, Italian, Turkish, Romanian, Indian and Mexican. The subway line is elevated most of the way and has excellent views of the City, both on and off the train. It begins in Flushing at Main Street, passing Citi Field and Flushing Meadows–Corona Park and then travels through Jackson Heights, Woodside and Long Island City and into Manhattan.
The Museum of the Moving Image (movingimage.us), in Astoria, Queens,reopened on January 15, 2011, with a newly expanded and redesigned building. The $67 million project doubled the size of the museum, which is dedicated to the history, culture and technology of film, television and the moving image. New additions to the building include a café, store, screening areas and a 10,000-square-foot outdoor garden. Recently, Mayor Bloomberg announced that a new Jim Henson gallery will debut at the museum in winter 2014–2015 through a donation of nearly 400 puppets, props and costumes by Henson's family and The Jim Henson Company. Best known for his Sesame Street and Muppets characters, his legacy will live on in the new 2,200-square-foot Henson Gallery, which will also showcase Henson's sketches, storyboards, scripts and video clips.
In October 2013, the Queens Museum (queensmuseum.org) will be a transformed institution. Building on 35 years of success, it will grow to be one of the most interesting and enjoyable cultural institutions in the greater New York area. The museum's expansion will double its size, to 100,000 square feet, which will create one of the most refined museum spaces in the country. Grimshaw Architects has developed plans for a stunning facility that will engage diverse communities and make the Queens Museum into a model for the urban American museum of the future. The $65 million project includes a new 220-foot-long illuminated glass façade and entry plaza on the Grand Central Parkway side of the building, a new entrance and expanded outdoor space on the Flushing Meadows–Corona Park side of the building and a generous skylit atrium in between. The museum is currently closed during the renovation.
The Resorts World Casino (rwnewyork.com)—New York's first casino—opened in Queens in October 2011 with video slots and other electronic games (there are no table games and no dealers). Connected to the Aqueduct racetrack in South Ozone Park, Queens, and run by Genting New York, the casino features 5,000 video gambling terminals, a number of restaurants, electronic table games, including craps and a popular Asian dice game known as sic bo, restaurants and plans for an expansive outdoor terrace.
STATEN ISLAND
With so much to do in such a verdant, multifaceted borough, Staten Island proves an original, bucolic destination worth exploring for any New York City visitor. Ride the free Staten Island Ferry for scenic views of the Lower Manhattan skyline and disembark in St. George, a neighborhood of art galleries, bars and the St. George Theatre. A short walk south, Little Sri Lanka bursts with flavor in the neighborhood of Tompkinsville. Explore the borough further to try some of the City's best pizza; tee off at many of the golf courses, go to one of the borough's beaches such as South Beach and see a Staten Island Yankees Game. Staten Island is home to a growing number of accommodations, including the Hilton Garden Inn New York/Staten Island and Hampton Inn & Suites Staten Island, both of which are a short, 20-minute drive from Newark Liberty International Airport (visitstatenisland.com).
On September 27, 2012, Mayor Bloomberg unveiled plans to build the world's tallest Ferris wheel and a retail complex on Staten Island's North Shore. At 625 feet, the New York Wheel will be taller than the Singapore Flyer, the London Eye and the High Roller wheel on the Las Vegas strip and will be built at a cost of $230 million. Construction on the new project is expected to commence in early 2014 with a targeted opening by the end of 2015. The wheel, comprised of 36 capsules, each designed to carry up to 40 passengers, will accommodate up to 1,440 people per ride and an estimated 4.5 million visitors a year. A 350,000-square-foot retail complex featuring 100 designer outlet stores and a 120,000-square-foot hotel are also part of the new plan. Imagery here: flickr.com/photos/nycmayorsoffice/sets/72157631638564789/
Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden (snug-harbor.org), one of Staten Island's cultural treasures,is currently presenting ISLAND SOUNDS: A 500-Year Music Mash Up until December 2013. The yearlong, interactive, multimedia exhibition will be mounted in the Main Hall on the Snug Harbor campus at 1000 Richmond Terrace and will include memorabilia, instruments, artifacts, photos and videos from musicians and artists who were born or based on Staten Island throughout history. ISLAND SOUNDS also celebrates the 120th anniversary of Snug Harbor's Music Hall. In October 2011, Lady Gaga filmed her biopic music video Marry the Night in the Music Hall and several other Snug Harbor locations that are represented in the exhibition.
The Staten Island Museum (statenislandmuseum.org), which serves over 80,000 people each year, is realizing a dream 40 years in the making: the expansion to Snug Harbor Cultural Center, a nationally significant historic site that was saved from demolition through the leadership and efforts of museum members in 1965. In June 2011, the museum broke ground and began the construction of a 21st-century, fully climate-controlled museum facility, housed within the interior of a 19th-century landmarked structure that had been built in 1879 to serve as a dormitory for “aged, worn out and retired seamen.” It is anticipated to open in Spring 2014 and will employ a geothermal heating and cooling system and meet the requirements to be a green, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental design) Gold–certified structure.
For general information on New York City, see nycgo.com and for press information, see nycgo.com/press. For media inquiries, please contact NYC & Company's Kimberly Spell or Christopher Heywood – press@nycgo.com / 212-484-1270 in New York City.
For images of New York City, please see nycgo.com/pressphotos.
Follow NYC & Company's press team on twitter @nycgo_ press.
