Sunday, February 27, 2011

My day at the New York Times Travel Show - Feb. 2011

The New York Times Travel Show is a yearly event held at the Javits Center in New York City. I have never had the chance to go, but now with living in that area I decided I wanted to go.

Pretty much the event has booths set up and you can visit tour companies, hotels and more all over the world. Many are offering prizes, but I was a big fat loser that day! There are some booths with food and snack samples from that destination. There are stages in each area of the world set up for entertainment.

The other part of the show which I really felt was the best part was the seminars. I got to go to 3 seminars.

Karen Brown Guides - which were guides I loved to use when I was a practicing travel agent - Best B&B and Inns in many destinations all over the world


Another seminar was done by "Rick Steves" with Suggestions for traveling through Europe's back door. http://www.ricksteves.com/ I found his suggestions to be great, because I agree that you need to travel and just not do touristy stuff. Going to Europe and doing what the people of that area do, makes you really feel part of the country you are visiting. There is so much more to see than just the tourist trap stuff!! So read and explore before you arrive so you see more! Do your homework!!


Last I saw Samantha Brown - who was very lively, spunky and funny. A native of Brooklyn NY and working for Travel Network now for 11 years. I always like watching her Europe shows, though they are a few years old already, now the newest are Asia travel shows. I highly recommend watching one of her shows if you are going to that destinations I really find them helpful.




I definitely recommend considering going to the New York Times Travel Show when it returns in 2012! Worth 15.00 per ticket and if using the AX card my tickets were only 12.50 each! That is a bargain for a day of fun, entertainment and traveling all the continents of the world.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

El Quijote & D Bar in Chelsea

Another weekend into the city!! Two in a row! Yes! We are on a roll.

Once again 25 mile per hour winds! The picture on our wall on the 27th floor blew off the wall! Holy Moly! When I step outside and have to walk against the wind I feel like my feet our moving but I am standing in one spot still! So Saturday during the day was pretty much a bust, though got to clean and do some chores. One thing I learned from living in the city is there is just so much dust all the time in the apartment. Even if the window is closed there is dust .... lots of dust! Where does it all this dust come from!

Saturday night was made for parties! We met up with family to celebrate my brother in laws birthday and of course we met up at one of our families favorite to dine "El Quijote" I believe I have mentioned this before but this place is a must if you love Lobster! I have been going here for 28 years and ordering the "Daily Double" Lobster special (broiled - you must get it broiled - delicious stuffing) When I first went there when I was 19 years old the Daily double - Two 1 1/4 lb lobsters was only costing 17.95. Today it sells for 34.95 and I still feel it is a bargain.
http://www.elquijoterestaurant.com/
226 West 23rd Street, Chelsea, NY , NY - Below the Historic Chelsea Hotel





After we headed out to a place my brother in law picked to have more drinks and listen to piano music, but that did not work out when the 6 of us couldn't even fit into the place to get a drink. Right near by we came upon a cute, romantic, cozy bar called "D Bar" , so we wandered in and ordered some great different mix of drinks they have on the menu. We enjoyed it there so much we closed down the place. Drinks are pricey, but different and fun. High energy music is playing, but low enough that you can still have conversation.

http://nymag.com/listings/bar/dbar/
Dbar (263 W. 19th Street; 212-493-5150)

Sunday, February 13, 2011

I'm BACK!! Old fav Mario Trattoria, The Fighter Movie & Food Parc in Chelsea

Finally back in the "Big Apple" to continue my "Living like a tourist in NYC". Only have the apartment for another 7 months and we missed much of January and 1/2 of February coming here.........so we better step it up. Though it still has been difficult cause it has been so WINDY and COLD!!

So due to the climate we did some local favorites and a movie on our first Weekend back.

Friday night - back to our little local favorite place "Mario Trattoria" in Hell's Kitchen - 493 Ninth Avenue between 37th and 38th Street. I can not say enough of how we love dining here. The waitress is so sweet, the decor very quaint, cozy and romantic. The food really delicious. To top it off this restaurant is offered on http://www.restaurant.com/ so you can purchase 25.00 gift certificates when they are sale for only 2.00! Sign up so you know when the sales happen to pay a low price for the certificate. I have 6 for this restaurant waiting to be used. You have to spend a minimum of 35.00 on food and you can use one certificate a month. (see more details on restaurant.com site)

Saturday we went to see - The Fighter - I let my husband pick a movie for a change, and wondering if he choose this one so I would see that his family is not so dysfunctional after all. It is based on a true story about "Irish" Mickey Ward. Boy his family was nutty!! It was an enjoyable movie, not sure I would highly recommend it.






Sunday, even though COLD out we wandered over to Food Parc at the Eventi hotel in Chelsea. I have had it on my list of things to do during my "Living like a tourist in NYC" so we went over for lunch. http://www.foodparc.com/ (6th Avenue and 29th Street) This is a modern food court, with great choice of a variety of foods to order from. They have computers set up so you can order from more than one venue at a time and pay by credit card.


We just wandered up to the counters though. We ordered from "Fornetti". Their baked flat breads were delicious looking so we ordered the Mozzerala and Grilled chicken one and it was really delicious! We would like to go back and order from "Red Farm Stand" since I heard great things about thier dumplings, maybe next time. Follow them on twitter for daily specials discount codes @FoodParc

Friday, February 4, 2011

Please bear with me during my winter Sabbatical

Be back when the snow and ice and brutal COLD weather is gone. Then back to my NYC weekends in Hells Kitchen!