Abby Ehrmann to Resurrect East Village Haunts this Halloween

Abby Ehrmann of Click + Drag is joining forces with The Jackie Factory to transform Theatre 80 into a nostalgic “olden-days” music hall. The audience can count on being transported back to a time when performances earned the East Village its disreputable reputation.

During the night, which is dubbed “Ghostlight: The Haunted East Village,” several groups will take the stage in turns, including the Pixie Harlots, Flloyd, Heather Litteer, Poison Eve, the Dueling Bankheads and a cast of others equally frightening.

Abby Ehrmann will play co-host with Paul Alexander and Chi Chi Valenti, assuring guests a spine-tingling good time. The event is not just a great thing to do on Halloween, but a fundraiser for the Howl Emergency Life Project. Tickets are priced at $15, and the show is scheduled for Monday, October 31st, 9pm until 2am.

Get a Bird’s Eye View of the Big Apple

Ground Zero from Helicopter

In just 15 minutes visitors to New York can see a huge chunk of New York from the most thrilling or perspectives; from the seat of an airborne helicopter.

For less money than you might have thought you can have the experience of a lifetime sailing above one of the world’s most magnificent and exciting cities.

While the pilot describes what you are viewing you will see such New York hot spots as the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Central Park, the George Washington Bridge and a lot more.

The unique architectural styles of such iconic New York symbols like the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building and others are better appreciated from the lofty perch of the helicopter.

Rides depart from the Downtown Heliport of New York. For more information visit Viator.

Ice Skating in Bryant Park

There are several really great places for ice skating in New York City. The more famous places, like Rockefeller Center of Central Park, can sometimes get crowded, especially during the holidays. But one wonderful, less popular skating venue is in Bryant Park between Fifth and Sixth Avenues and 40^th and 42^nd Streets.

Skating in Bryant Park can make you feel like you are in an oasis among the skyscrapers, just a short walk from the hustle and bustle of Times Square. In addition to skating, Bryant Park also has a Le Carrousel, chess tables, and sometimes entertainment. Bryant Park also offers WiFi as a “Hot Spot.” So bring your laptop and start surfing.

Bryant Park’s Citi Pond Skating Rink is opening in just two weeks, on October 27^th, and will be open until February 26^th, 2012. Visitors can skate every day of the week from 8am until 10pm, except for Friday and Saturday when the rink stays open until midnight. Skating on Citi Pond is free; skate rental is $14; Bag Check is between $7-$10 depending on bag size. So go on down and have some traditional New York ice skating fun.

The Bronx Museum is Off the Beaten Path

Museums are one of the primary ways a culture maintains itself. Museums educate, archive, and proclaim what is important to a society. In New York there are a huge number of museums, some with international recognition, and some geared more to the local crowd.

One such museum which is not overly well known, but is still very much worth a visit is the Bronx Museum of the Arts. Located at 1040 Grand Concourse in the Bronx, visitors will be pleasantly surprised to see such a world class array of exhibits in such a (relatively) out-to-the-way location.

One of the best ways the Bronx Museum engages the public is through its monthly events, such as Bronx Talks:Bronx Stories, which is free; First Fridays, where film, art and performances are showcased; and Family Affair, a program to support and promote the special bond children have with the important adults in their lives.

Check out the Bronx Museum, you will surely be glad that you did.

Unusual Bronze Sculpture on NYU Campus Worth a Visit

Bronze Sculpture of Miguel Cervantes

It is not as hard as you might have thought to have an interesting experience in New York without spending much money. You just have to be willing to go off the beaten path a bit, and be open minded.

Have you ever noticed on the campus of New York University a wonderful bronze sculpture of one of the world’s greatest literary figures to have ever lived?  Another hint: he lived in the 16th century. Well, if you thought of Shakespeare then you would be wrong.  The sculpture I talking about is of Miguel Cervantes, Spanish writer born in 1547 and died in 1616.

Cervantes is best known for his work Don Quixote which is considered by many literary types to be the best novel ever written.

The sculpture was given to the city of New York in 1986 as a gift from the mayor of Madrid. Cervantes was first placed in Bryant Park, but was removed when the park underwent renovation. The sculpture was originally meant to be placed in Washington Square Park, but official thought it would not be able to withstand the activity it would be subjected to there, and was instead placed at the end of the long narrow mews on the campus of NYU, just a short walk north of Washington Square Park.

Go take a look at the work of art, and think of this quote from Cervantes:

“A private sin is not so prejudicial in this world, as a public indecency.”

New York Loves Kids

Have some kids in tow? Don’t let that stop you from having an absolutely grand time touring around the Big Apple.

Here is a short list of some well-known hotels in town which have a great reputation with the under 16 crowd.

*·         The 70 Park Avenue Hotel: Special events just for kids, The “Kids Rule” rule, giagantenormous beds and Nintendo on the giant TVs make this hotel a big favorite of kids in New York 

*·         Affinia Manhattan is one hotel not afraid of larger-sized families. Great prices, big suites and great location make the Affinia a great choice for families 

*·         Doubletree Guest Suites offer a “Kids Club” program along with large suites, strollers, cribs and rooms that are childproof. Your kids will love the room service and in-room Sony Playstation.