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A Worldwide Journey Across Cultures, Flavors and Art

DYNAMIC CITY AND GLOBAL CULTURAL EPICENTER; NEW YORK, USA

USA, New York, Statue of Liberty

USA, New York, Statue of Liberty

USA, New York, View from Empire State Building

USA, New York, View from Empire State Building

USA, New York, Central Park

USA, New York, Central Park

USA, New York

USA, New York

Travel Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive New York, USA

There are direct flights to/from New York, USA from the major American cities, European hubs and Asian hubs.  We arrive at John F. Kennedy International Airport and take a taxi to our hotel.  We have dinner at Kappo Masa, a sophisticated Japanese restaurant in Upper East Side in Manhattan.

Note: Newark Liberty International Airport, located in New Jersey, is an alternative airport with an easy access to Manhattan.  New York City in the spring offers favorable hotel prices, fewer tourists and a lovely weather.  New York City has an efficient public transport network, a widely recognized New York Yellow Taxi Cabs and Private Chauffeur Services.  During our trip, we explore the city on foot and utilize both public and private transfer services.  We recommend two luxury hotels, conveniently located near New York’s top attractions: The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel, located in Upper East Side neighborhood of Manhattan and The Chatwal A Luxury Collection Hotel, New York City, located in Midtown Manhattan.

Day 2 – Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, Empire State Building

We arrive in the morning at Battery Park in Lower Manhattan (a few minutes’ walk from the South Ferry Station).  We take the ferry run by the Statue Cruises to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.  Note: We recommend purchasing the ferry tickets in advance and arriving a half an hour earlier before the ferry departure).  We disembark at the Statue of Liberty National Monument, and then visit the park museum and enjoy panoramic views of the New York Harbour.  Afterward, we board the ferry at the Statue of Liberty to the Ellis Island.  We visit Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration and use the historic arrival records to search for our great grandparents.  After a light lunch at Ellis Café, we take the ferry back to Battery Park in Lower Manhattan.  Subway Line 1 takes us from the South Ferry Station to 34 Street – Penn Station.  We walk a few minutes to the Empire State Building, an iconic 102-story skyscraper with Observation Decks at the 86th Floor and 102nd Floor.  After the visit, we walk 15 minutes to the Sen Sakana restaurant that serves a delicious Japanese-Peruvian cuisine.

Day 3 – World Trade Center, 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Brooklyn Bridge  

We arrive at the World Trade Center Transportation Hub, the train station house with a 335-foot-long skylight.  We walk outside to the 9/11 Memorial, an eight-acre outdoor space with two reflecting pools created at the site of the former Twin Towers.  The nearby One World Trade Center is a 104-story skyscraper with an observation deck at the 102nd floor.  We take the elevator to the One World Observatory and enjoy a 360-degree views of the city.  Next, we visit the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, learning about the history of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.  In the afternoon, we have lunch and enjoy luxury shopping at the Westfield World Trade Center.  Next, we walk a short distance to the northeast corner of City Hall Park, the entry point to the Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walkway.  A walk across the Brooklyn Bridge reveals the impressive Manhattan skyline.  Afterward, we take a taxi to Saju Bistro, a French bistro in Midtown Manhattan.

Day 4 – New York Library, Grand Central, St. Patrick’s Cathedral

In the morning, we visit the New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building located on Fifth Avenue between the 40th and the 42nd streets.  The historic building has masterly designed rooms, including the Rose Main Reading Room with a 52-foot-tall ceiling.  Afterward, we walk a few minutes to Grand Central, a historic railway terminal at 42nd Street and Park Avenue.  A walk through the Main Concourse reveals an impressive ceiling decorated with the constellations of the zodiac.  We visit the magnificent Vanderbilt Hall decorated with stunning chandeliers.  We stop for lunch at the iconic seafood restaurant, the Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant.  After lunch, we walk 10 minutes to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, situated on Fifth Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets.  The Neo-Gothic-style Roman Church is an architectural masterpiece.  We enjoy shopping on the Fifth and Madison Avenues, and then have dinner at Fresco by Scotto, serving modern Tuscan-style dishes.

Day 5 NBC Studios, Top of the Rock, Jewish Deli, United Nations 

In the morning, we arrive at the Rockefeller Plaza to take a scheduled guided tour of the NBC Studios.  The tour takes us behind the scenes of the popular television shows.  After the tour, we visit the Top of the Rock, the observation decks of the Rockefeller Plaza building.  The indoor decks on the 67th and 69th floors, and the open-air roof deck on the 70th floor offer panoramic views of the city and the Empire State Building.  Afterward, we walk 30 minutes to the 2nd Ave Deli, located at 162 East 33rd Street between Lexington Avenue and 3rd Avenue in Midtown Manhattan.  We enjoy Jewish specialties for lunch, and then walk 15 minutes to the headquarters of the United Nations (entrance at 46th Street and 1st Avenue).  A one-hour guided tour includes visiting the General Assembly Hall and the three Council Chambers.  In the garden along the East River, we view a collection of artworks donated by UN members.  After the visit, we walk 20 minutes to Fig & Olive, a restaurant serving a Mediterranean cuisine, located on 52nd Street near Fifth Avenue. 

Day 6 – Metropolitan Museum of Art, Central Park  

We arrive at the Metropolitan Museum of Art at 1000 Fifth Avenue in the morning at the opening hour.  We spend many hours exploring the museum’s collection of over 2 million art objects.  Afterward, we visit the Met Rooftop Garden Café to have a light snack and enjoy the views of Central Park.  We spend our afternoon in Central Park, walking along the footpaths near the Belvedere Castle, the Lake, the Ramble, the Bethesda Terrace and the Strawberry Fields.  We have dinner at the Porter House, a contemporary American restaurant, located in the Time Warner Center and overlooking Central Park. 

Day 7 – The Guggenheim, Lincoln Center

We arrive at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in the morning at the opening hour.  The Guggenheim is a contemporary art museum, designed by the legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  We spend a few hours viewing its unique architecture and its art collection.  Early afternoon, we walk 30 minutes to the Lowell Hotel to enjoy An Afternoon Tea, served in the elegant Pembroke Restaurant.  We relax in Central Park before arriving at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre to see the “My Fair Lady” musical.  After the show, we have dinner at the Orsay Restaurant, a French bistro located near the Carlyle Hotel.

Day 8 – New York, USA Departure

After breakfast, we take a taxi to John F. Kennedy International Airport and take our flight home.

USA, New York, View from Top of the Rock

USA, New York, View from Top of the Rock

USA, New York, United Nations, Security Council Chamber

USA, New York, United Nations, Security Council Chamber

USA, New York, One World Trade Center, 9/11 Memorial and Museum

USA, New York, One World Trade Center, 911 Memorial and Museum

USA, New York, View from Metropolitan Museum of Art

USA, New York, View from Metropolitan Museum of Art

Special Places

New YorkNew York State is located in the northeast of the United States.  The City of New York, also known as the Big Apple, is the largest city in New York State and has over 500 miles of coastline.  The East River connects the Upper New York Bay to the Long Island Sound.  The Hudson River originates in Upstate New York and flows south to the Upper New York Bay and serves as a boundary between New York City and New Jersey.  The New York Harbour has access to the Atlantic Ocean through the Narrows, the tidal strait between Staten Island and Brooklyn.  New York is a megalopolis, a global epicenter of culture, an ethnically diverse city and the world’s leading financial center.  The city is composed of five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island.  Each borough has its own unique identify.  Manhattan, a financial, economic and cultural center of New York City, has captivating neighborhoods and is the top tourist destination.  The Upper East Side is an exclusive residential area with access to world-famous museums and to the beautiful Central Park.  The American Museum of Natural History, located in the Upper West Side, is a renowned scientific and cultural institution founded in 1869, masterly presenting the world’s cultures and civilizations.  Lincoln Center, located in the Upper West Side neighborhood, hosts famous performing art companies, including the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic, the New York Ballet and the Juilliard School of Music.  The vibrant business district of Midtown has unique attractions, fashion shops and high-end restaurants.  Times Square, a very popular tourist destination, is a commercial and entertainment center located at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue.  The brightly illuminated urban space with skyscrapers, hotels and television networks is the location of the Annual New Year’s Eve ball drop.  The nearby Theater District is a high-energy cultural destination with an abundance of theatres offering Broadway and off-Broadway productions.  Situated on Fifth Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets, St. Patrick’s Cathedral is a magnificent Neo-Gothic-style Roman Church.  The cathedral, designed by James Renwick Jr, features a stunning white marble façade, vaulted ceilings and beautiful stained glass windows.  The cathedral is a place of worship and an architectural masterpiece.  The west side of Lower Manhattan is the location of Greenwich Village, a center of American Bohemian culture.  The neighborhood boasts tree-lined streets, jazz clubs, cafés and the beautiful Washington Square Park.  Chelsea, a sophisticated art district on Manhattan’s Lower West Side, hosts art galleries, trendy boutiques, restaurants and nightclubs.  The Financial District in Lower Manhattan features glittering skyscrapers with the offices and headquarters of major financial institutions.  A short distance from the World Trade Center complex, the City Hall Park shows the way to New York’s famous landmark, the Brooklyn Bridge.  The entry point to the Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walkway is located at the northeast corner of City Hall Park along Centre Street.  Brooklyn Bridge is a suspension bridge, passing over the East River and connecting Brooklyn to Manhattan.  A walk across the bridge shows the beautiful Manhattan skyline.  New York is a beautiful city with a multitude of cultural attractions, historic architecture, spectacular waterfront scenery and amazing restaurants.   

Metropolitan Museum of Art – The Metropolitan Museum of Art, established in 1870, is a repository of over 2 million art objects from around the world.  The museum is situated at 1000 Fifth Avenue on the edge of Central Park in Manhattan’s Upper East Side.  The museum’s structure has a beautiful Beaux-Arts façade and the stunning Great Hall, the entryway to the museum with giant ceiling domes and enormous arches.  The museum’s extensive collection consists of Egyptian Art, the American Wing, the Robert Lehman Collection, Medieval Art, European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, and the Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas.  The collection of Greek and Roman Art includes thousands of art works covering a broad period in history.  A walk through the museum reveals vast collections of European Paintings, Musical Instruments, Asian Art, Modern and Contemporary Art, and the Art of Arab Lands.  The Metropolitan Museum of Art masterfully chronicles global history and culture through the art.  Thousands of fashionable and regional costumes covering many centuries are also on display at the Costume Center.  Every year, the museum hosts the famous Met Gala, a fundraising gala to benefit the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.  This exclusive social event attracts the fashion industry’s elite, Hollywood’s biggest stars and business moguls.  After visiting the museum, the Met Rooftop Garden Café is a perfect place to enjoy snacks, drinks and wonderful views of Central Park.

Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island – The Statue of Liberty National Monument is a colossal neoclassical statue located on Liberty Island in New York Harbour.  French intellectuals, including French sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, imagined a gift from the French to the American people to celebrate the anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.  The Statue of Liberty, designed by French engineer Gustave Eiffel, is a 151 feet in height statue of Libertas, a Roman goddess and a symbol of freedom.  She holds a torch above her head with the right hand and carries a tabula ansata in the left hand, featuring inscribed in Roman numerals the date of the United States Declaration of Independence.  The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom and democracy, giving hope to the immigrants arriving to America by the sea.  Visitors to the Statue of Liberty Museum discover the inspiration, the design and the construction of the statue, and enjoy panoramic views of the New York Harbour from the Roof Deck.  Ellis Island, a small island on the Hudson River, is a historic landmark created in response to the increased immigration inflows to the United States.  The immigration influx from the Old World to America was influenced by war, political unrest, economic instability, famine, and the prosperity and the opportunity of the New World.  Ellis Island, owned by the federal government of the United States since the early 19th century, was used as a munitions arsenal for the Union army during the Civil War.  During the period of 1892 to 1954, the island served as the primary federal immigration center that processed millions of new immigrants arriving to the United States.  Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, opened to the public in 1976, chronicles America’s immigration history and displays a collection of artifacts.  In the Main Arrivals Hall, visitors can search the arrival records for their ancestors who arrived through Ellis Island to the United States.  Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty are only accessible by the ferry run by the Statue Cruises.  The ferry departs from Battery Park in New York (Lower Manhattan) and depart from the Liberty State Park in New Jersey.

Rockefeller Center – The Rockefeller Center, a National Historic Landmark located in Midtown Manhattan, was a vision of John D. Rockefeller.  The complex was constructed in 1930s and consists of Art Deco commercial buildings, an underground pedestrian mall and an ice-skating rink in the lower plaza.  Every year at the end of November, the Rockefeller Center hosts a famous ceremony, the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.  The Rockefeller Plaza, the tallest building in Rockefeller Center, houses the Top of the Rock that consists of three levels of observation decks, offering 360 degree views.  Visitors can admire New York City from the indoor decks on the 67th and 69th floors, and the open-air roof deck on the 70th floor.  The Top of the Rocks offers the best views of the Empire State Building.  A spectacular Jolie Chandelier above the Grand Atrium lobby was made by Swarovski with 14,000 crystals.  The Rockefeller Plaza also houses NBC Studios that produce the popular television shows, such as Saturday Night Live and the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.  A guided tour of the NBC Studios offers a behind the scenes view of the television production process.  The Rainbow Room is an iconic dining and entertainment venue that opened in 1934, available for private events.  The Radio City Music Hall, located within the Rockefeller Center, is a renowned 5,960-seat entertainment center and a New York City Landmark.  The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is the famous synchronized precision dancing show, performed by the Radio City Rockettes

Empire State Building – Designated as a National Historic Landmark, the Empire State Building is an iconic 102-story skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan.  The entryway to the building is at Fifth Avenue, leading to the lobby decorated with an Art Deco Mural.  The Glass Elevators takes visitors to the 86th Floor Observation Deck at a height of 1050 feet and to the 102nd Floor Observation Deck at a height of 1250 feet.  The Empire State Building continues a tradition introduced in 1976 of illuminating the peak of the building with different colors.  The building utilizes a state of the art computerized LED lighting system capable of displaying 16 million colors.  In the evening, visitors can admire the awe-inspiring views of the New York skyline.

Central Park – A vision to create an urban oasis in the heart of Manhattan was turned into reality by landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux.  Central Park opened in 1876 and was the first artificial landscaped park in the United States.  It covers an area of 840 acres (340 hectares) between 59th and 110th streets, and between 5th and 8th avenues.  The masterly designed grounds comprise forested landscapes, expansive meadows, open-air theater, ice-skating rink, picturesque lakes, lovely bridges, bicycle paths and winding footpaths.  In the south part of Central Park, the Sheep Meadow is a 15-acre lawn and an ideal setting to relax in nature and enjoy outdoor concerts.  It is a picturesque setting for the iconic restaurant, Tavern on the Green.  A bronze statue of Balto is dedicated to a Siberian husky who led the team of sled dogs to bring medicine to Alaska during a deadly epidemic.  Strawberry Fields is a five-acre peaceful landscape and a memorial to the British musician John Lennon.  The design includes a mosaic in the pavement with the word “imagine” in the center.  The name of the memorial is connected to the Beatles’ song “Strawberry Fields Forever”.  In the center of the park, the Bethesda Terrace overlooks the large Bethesda Fountain, a 20-acre Lake and the Ramble.  The Ramble is a 35-acre woodland landscape with winding pathways, wild vegetation, man-made streams and pretty bridges.  The nearby Loeb Boathouse, a wooden boathouse on the eastern side of the Lake, opened in 1954.  Visitors can take a ride around the lake in rowboat or in a Venetian gondola and dine at the Lakeside Restaurant.  The Belvedere Castle, a miniature castle atop the Vista Rock, offers wonderful views of the surrounding landscape.  Art connoisseurs head out to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, situated on the eastern edge of Central Park, facing the Fifth Avenue.  Woodland landscape, grassy spaces and picturesque lakes create a tranquil escape from the bustle of city life.

New York Public Library – The donations of Samuel J. Tilden consolidated with the Astor Library and the Lenox library established the New York Public Library.  The architectural firm of Carrère and Hastings constructed a magnificent marble structure in the Beaux-Arts style on Fifth Avenue between the 40th and 42nd streets.  The New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, is the library’s main branch, storing a collection of fine art and humanities.  On the first floor, the Astor Hall features magnificent marble staircases.  The DeWitt Wallace Periodical Room, decorated with elegant chandeliers and the wall murals, houses a collection of periodicals, magazines and newspapers.  A walk upstairs leads to the Rose Main Reading Room, a magnificent space measuring 78 feet by 297 feet and featuring a 52-foot-tall ceiling decorated with elegant chandeliers.  A modern system enables patrons to request library material from the storage facility located underneath Bryant Park.  Located on the third floor, the McGraw Rotunda features a vaulted ceiling and remarkable murals created by American painter Edward Laning.  The Children’s Room on the ground floor houses original stuffed animals of Winnie-the-Pooh that inspired the famous children’s books written by English author Alan Alexander Milne.  The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is a National Historic Landmark and an architectural masterpiece.

Grand Central Terminal – Grand Central Terminal is a historic railway terminal at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan.  A collaboration of two architectural firms, Reed & Stem and Warrant & Wetmore, produced the extraordinary design of Grand Central.  Sylvain Saliéres, a French sculptor, carved the ornamental elements in bronze and stone.  During the first half of the 20th century, long-distance rail travel was a fashionable and luxurious experience.  Grand Central is an urban complex with railway lines, tunnels, shops and dining venues.  The Main Concourse, located in the center of the station, has an elaborately decorated ceiling with the constellations of the zodiac.  The four-faced Grand Central Clock above the information booth serves as a meeting point for New Yorkers.  Adjacent to the Main Concourse, the Vanderbilt Hall is a 6,000 square-foot space with a 48-foot ceiling and five stunning chandeliers.  The Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant, an iconic seafood restaurant on the lower level, has a vaulted ceiling embellished with terra-cotta tiles by Rafael Guastavino, a Spanish architect.  The Grand Central Market, located east of the Main Concourse near Track 19, is a food market featuring gourmet products sold by local vendors.  Outside the restaurant, the tiled arches by Rafael Guastavino create acoustical occurrences, hence the name “whispering gallery”.  Located in the Grand Central Terminal at 15 Vanderbilt Avenue, off 43th Street is Campbell Bar, a stylish lounge with a 25-foot hand painted ceiling and remarkable décor.  Grand Central Station is a historic and cultural destination, especially festive during the holiday season.

9/11 Memorial & Museum The Financial District, a neighborhood located in the southern part of Manhattan Island, hosts the offices of major financial institutions.  The World Trade Center, a commercial hub dedicated to international business, comprises office towers, shopping centers, restaurants and observations decks with views of the city.  The Twin Towers were the famous landmarks of New York City that were destroyed during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.  The rebuilt 16-acre World Trade Center complex includes high-rise office buildings, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and a transportation hub.  The World Trade Center Transportation Hub is a transit concourse that connects people around the city.  The hub includes trains connecting New York City, trains to New Jersey and direct connections to subway lines.  The Oculus, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, is an awe-inspiring train station house, featuring a 335-foot-long skylight.  The transportation hub includes also the Westfield World Trade Center, featuring luxury stores, restaurants and cafes.  The One World Trade Center is a 104-story skyscraper, measuring 1,776 feet in height.  The Sky Pod Elevators travel 102 floors in 47 seconds to the One World Observatory, an observation deck situated on the top of One World Trade Center.  “The Freedom Tower” is a symbol of the future and offers 360-degree views of Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge and the surrounding waters.  9/11 Memorial, a memorial commemorating the World Trade Center terrorist attacks, is an eight-acre outdoor space with two reflecting pools created at the site of the former Twin Towers.  The bronze panels around the pool show the names of the victims of the 1993 and 2001 terrorist attacks of WTC.  The 9/11 Memorial & Museum opened to the public in 2014 to present the history of the 9/11 attacks and honors the victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993.  Inside the museum, the Memorial Hall exhibits the remnants of the World Trade Center and profoundly moving work of art.  The artist Spencer Finch created an art piece, titled “Trying to Remember the Color of the Sky on That September Morning”.  In Memoriam is an emotional exhibition telling stories about the individuals who lost their lives during the attacks.  The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is a unique place of remembrance, contemplation and hope.

United Nations – The United Nations is an international organization created in 1945 to maintain international peace, to protect human rights and to uphold international law.  The headquarters of the United Nations, an 18-acre area on the banks of the East River in Manhattan Island in New York City, is considered international territory.  The headquarters comprises the General Assembly Building, the 39-story Secretariat Building, the Library Building and the Conference Building that includes the Council Chambers.  All 193 Member States of the United Nations are members of the General Assembly, one of the principal organs. Inside the General Assembly Hall, the UN Secretary General, the President of the General Assembly and the Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly sit in the center of the podium.  The 193 delegates utilize earphones to hear interpretations in the six official languages: English, French, Russian, Arabic, Chinese and Spanish.  The General Assembly Hall is decorated in blue, green and gold, and features a 75-foot ceiling.  A guided tour also explores the Conference Building and its three Council Chambers.  The Security Council Chamber, designed by Norwegian architect Arnstein Rynning Arneberg, features a horse-shoe-shaped table and a mural by Norwegian artist Per Lasson Krohg.  The Trusteeship Council Chamber, designed by Danish architect Finn Juhl, features a wooden statue of a girl carved by Danish sculptor Henri Starcke, symbolizing Mankind and Hope.  The Economic and Social Council Chamber was designed by Swedish architect Sven Gottfried Markelius.  The United Nations Art Collection includes artworks donated by UN member states, including sculptures displayed in the garden along the East River. 

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum – The Guggenheim is a contemporary art museum established by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation in 1937.  The 20th century building, designed by legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright, is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  It opened in 1959 at the corner of Fifth Avenue and East 89th Street, on the periphery of Central Park in Upper East Side.  The Guggenheim is a sculptural masterpiece, featuring a cylindrical shape, white concrete walls and an expansive glass dome.  Inside the museum, a continuous ramp spirals around the Atrium upward to the rotunda.  The white-walled gallery around the rotunda houses a collection of artworks by modern masters.

USA, New York, St. Patrick's Cathedral

USA, New York, St. Patrick's Cathedral

USA, New York, New York Library, Rose Main Reading Room

USA, New York, New York Library, Rose Main Reading Room

USA, New York, Grand Central Terminal, Main Concourse

USA, New York, Grand Central Terminal, Main Concourse

USA, New York, Grand Central Terminal

USA, New York, Grand Central Terminal

Favorite Adventures

Historic ArchitectureManhattan is dynamic borough with a multitude of cultural attractions and historic architecture.  Situated on Fifth Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets, St. Patrick’s Cathedral is a magnificent Neo-Gothic-style Roman Church.  The cathedral, designed by James Renwick Jr, features a stunning white marble façade, vaulted ceilings and beautiful stained glass windows.  The New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, was designed in the Beaux-Arts style by the architectural firm of Carrère and Hastings.  The masterly designed Rose Main Reading Room is a magnificent space measuring 78 feet by 297 feet and featuring a 52-foot-tall ceiling decorated with elegant chandeliers.  The Grand Central Terminal is a historic railway terminal in Midtown Manhattan.  A collaboration of two architectural firms, Reed & Stem and Warrant & Wetmore, produced the extraordinary design of Grand Central.  Sylvain Saliéres, a French sculptor, carved the ornamental elements in bronze and stone.  The Main Concourse has an elaborately decorated ceiling with the constellations of the zodiac.  Adjacent to the Main Concourse, the Vanderbilt Hall is a 6,000 square-foot space with a 48-foot ceiling and five stunning chandeliers.

USA, New York, 2nd Avenue Deli, Pastrami Sandwich

USA, New York, 2nd Avenue Deli, Pastrami Sandwich

USA, New York, 2nd Avenue Deli, Cabbage Salad and Pickles

USA, New York, 2nd Avenue Deli, Cabbage Salad and Pickles

USA, New York, Sen Sakana Restaurant, Tuna Sashimi

USA, New York, Sen Sakana Restaurant, Tuna Sashimi

USA, New York, Kappo Masa Restaurant, Negi-Toro Roll

USA, New York, Kappo Masa Restaurant, Negi-Toro Roll

Selected Cuisine

New York Cuisine – New York is a fascinating city with cultural and ethnic diversity.  The New York food scene resembles an international food festival, featuring cuisines of the world.  An authentic Italian cuisine can be found in Little Italy, a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan.  Chinatown in Manhattan is a culinary hub of authentic cuisines from diverse provinces in China.  The French culinary culture is celebrated in many world-class French restaurants, classic bistros and cafés in New York City.  The Japanese cuisine is served in city’s countless dining establishments, including Michelin-starred Japanese restaurants.  Eastern European, Russian and Jewish restaurants serve classic dishes, regional specialties and comfort foods.  New York Bagels are ring-shaped yeast breads, brought to New York by Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe.  New York’s delicatessen shops offer variety of bagels with sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried garlic, dried onion or mix of everything.  The Pastrami Sandwich, a traditional dish in Jewish restaurants, comprises a thinly-sliced pastrami layered on rye bread.  It is often served with a pickled cabbage salad and pickles on the side.  The 2nd Ave Deli (2ndavedeli.com) is a Jewish restaurant that serves traditional Jewish delicacies.  New York is a top culinary destination with a great variety of dining venues.  We select a few restaurants we enjoyed while visiting the city. 

Kappo Masa (kappomasanyc.com/home), a sophisticated Japanese restaurant located near the Carlyle Hotel, serves creative, delicious and expensive Japanese cuisine.

Orsay Restaurant (orsayrestaurant.com), a French bistro located on Lexington Avenue near the Carlyle Hotel, prepares classic French specialties and modern French cuisine.

Pembroke Restaurant (lowellhotel.com), a chic dining venue in Lowell Hotel in Upper East Side, serves a lovely afternoon tea in an elegant dining room.

Fresco by Scotto (frescobyscotto.com), an Italian restaurant located in Midtown Manhattan, features seasonally inspired, modern Tuscan-style dishes.

Porter House (porterhousenyc.com) is a contemporary American restaurant that features prime steaks and superb seafood, and offers views of Columbus Circle and Central Park.

Sen Sakana (sensakana.com), situated in Midtown Manhattan, serves a delicious combination of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine, known as Nikkei Cuisine.

Saju Bistro (sajubistronyc.com), a French bistro located in Midtown Manhattan, serves a delectable French Provençal cuisine.

Fig & Olive (figandolive.com/location/fig-and-olive-nyc-fifth-avenue/), located on 52nd Street near Fifth Avenue, creates a refreshing and flavorful Mediterranean cuisine.

USA, New York, The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel

USA, New York, The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel

USA, New York, The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel, Evening View

USA, New York, The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel, Evening View

USA, New York, The Chatwal A Luxury Collection Hotel, New York City

USA, New York, The Chatwal A Luxury Collection Hotel, New York City

USA, New York, The Chatwal A Luxury Collection Hotel, New York City

USA, New York, The Chatwal A Luxury Collection Hotel, New York City

Preferred Accommodations

The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel – The Carlyle is a 35-story upscale hotel, located on Madison Avenue in Upper East Side in Manhattan.  It is situated within walking distance to famous Central Park, to art museums, upscale boutiques and restaurants.  A collection of lavish rooms, elegant suites and Residences await loyal guests and seekers of style and luxury.  This iconic hotel is a favorite place for celebrities, cultural figures, heads of states and moguls.  The Carlyle boasts elegant dining venues and hosts cultural events at the Café Carlyle and the Bemelmans Bar, performed by famous and talented artists.

The Chatwal A Luxury Collection Hotel, New York City – The Chatwal A Luxury Collection Hotel, New York City is a luxury 76-room boutique hotel situated in Midtown Manhattan.  The beautiful Art Deco building was constructed in 1905 by prominent architect Stanford White and restored by architect Thierry Despont.  The hotel offers a collection of stylish rooms, unique suites with private garden terraces and elegant penthouses.  An Art Deco décor and artwork create an appealing and welcoming atmosphere.  The Chatwal A Luxury Collection Hotel, New York City boasts a premium location, within walking distance to iconic landmarks and cultural sites of New York City.