Monday Memo

Happy Monday Everyone!!!

Hopefully this weekend was just as beautiful most places as it was for me in upstate New York. I wanted to share with you my trip to Alexandria Bay in the 1000 Islands! This trip was absolutely beautiful and there was so much I brought back to blog about!!

Spending time on the water, anywhere, is really one of my most favorite things. I just love the peacefulness it brings. Even when the water is rough, it still allows for a soft landing, and a beautiful view no matter what.

So here’s the deal, I’m going to break down my weekend in a few different post’s. One relating to some of the amazing property in the 1000 Islands and how “Millionaires Row” is just a hop, skip, and a jump away from a camping village stuffed with RV’s. Another pertaining to some of the great food I enjoyed. Sometimes, saying “yes” to dessert is allowed. Finally, discussing what is essential to pack for a weekend getaway when you aren’t quite sure what you may doing, what type of dress code there may be and more.

Hope you all enjoy my posts. Again, Please feel free to comment anytime.

xx AJ

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New York City Tourist

No matter the time of year, New York offers a wealth of exciting attractions for both the first time visitor and the returning bunch. Whether the visit will last but for a single day, with plans to return in the future, for a week or more, or whether you call New York City home, the Big Apple has plenty to see and do for those of all ages and all interests. Think theatre, music, history, architecture and more, when you think of New York City, the city that truly never sleeps.

Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is a world renowned tourist icon in the City That Never Sleeps. The 102-story skyscraper stands 1,250 feet high and features observatory decks on the 86th floor. It was the tallest building on Earth for several years, until the World Trade Center’s North Tower unseated it in 1972. Today, visitors flock to the structure designated as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World for unequaled 360 degree views of New York City. In addition, there is a motion simulator located on the 2nd floor which simulates an aerial tour of the city. An additional fee is required for admittance to the ride. Buy tickets online at The Official Site of the Empire State Building to minimize long wait times.

Statue of Liberty
This longstanding monument, whose formal name is The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World, was the center dispute between the states of New Jersey and New York as to true jurisdiction. It took a federal judge to rule that The Statue of Liberty truly did belong to the Big Apple, even though it is technically closer to the Jersey shoreline. A true tourist Mecca, thousands of people visit this stunning icon each day, making it a must for out-of-towners. Since it sits in the New York Harbor, all visitors will need to purchase a ticket for boat transportation from Statue Cruises. Avoid some of the wait time associated with visiting The Statue of Liberty by buying boat tickets ahead of time at StatueCruises.com. Liberty Island rangers provide tours for visitors interested in the 125 year-old statue, and both these tours and entrance to the statue are provided free of charge.

Ellis Island
The Ellis Island Immigration Museum in New York Harbor is a popular site for visitors around the world and an inspiring icon of an early America as a lure for immigrants seeking a better life. Ellis Island functioned as the country’s busiest immigration inspection station from 1892 to 1954, and by its closing in 1954, had processed 12 million new Americans. Today, over half of the American population can trace its roots to entry through Ellis Island.The Ellis Island Immigration Museum offers a number of fascinating attractions, including self-guided exhibits that chronicle the immigration experience. They include oral histories, artifacts, photographs and more. In addition, alternating temporary exhibits and an interactive area called The American Family Immigration History Center allows visitors the opportunity to view passenger records, for a wholly unique experience. Visit the Ellis Island Immigration Museum site for guidelines on searching for an ancestor by way of the passenger logs. Like The Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island provides free admission; however, a ticket for boat transportation is required. Avoid wait times by buying boat tickets ahead of time at StatueCruises.com.

The Film Forum
For those that have visited New York a ton of times and are looking to get away from the usual tourist traps, film buffs can head to the Film Forum for a taste of hard-to-come-by film festival picks. Think Cannes, Berlin and Venice, along with a tad of the off-beat. Cinephiles rejoice! And visit Film Forum.org today for more information.

Bowery Ballroom
We haven’t forgotten the music lovers. For those with indie-rock tendencies that range from underground and local to truly up-and-coming, the Bowery Ballroom is truly your first stop. A live music buffet constantly on the refill, Bowery Ballroom offers two levels of entertainment and a whole chain of spin off venues. Visit Bowery Ballroom’s site today for information on upcoming acts.

Broadway
Even if you’ve neither the time nor money to sit in on a Broadway show, a stroll down Broadway, with its forty professional theatres lining the theatre district. Considered by most to be the highest standard of commercial theatre, taking in a show on Broadway is definitely the highlight of many a visitor to New York. Generally speaking, Broadway productions run Tuesdays through Saturday evenings with afternoon matinee performances on Wednesdays and weekends. For information on purchasing tickets to a Broadway play visitBroadway.com.

Sporting Events
New York City is home to nine professional sports teams, including two Major League Baseball teams, two National Football League teams, two National Hockey League teams, a National Basketball Association Team, a Women’s National Basketball Association team and a Major League Soccer team. New York also, from time to time, hosts many athletic events of global interest, such as the U.S. Tennis Open, The New York City Marathon, the Amateur Boxing Golden Gloves Competition and the National Football League’s Super Bowl. No matter the time of year you happen to find yourself in New York, there will likely be a sporting event worth attending. To grab tickets to the sporting event of your choice, visit a reputable seller beforehand, such as Ticketmaster,Tickets.com or Stub Hub.

Live – Laugh – Love – Travel

AJ

Elizabeth Taylors Auction!

New York City is my favorite city, so I am very partial.  My next post will talk about some standard things a tourist must do when visiting the city.  It’s pretty plain and simple… not too exciting but I figured it was a good piece.  I had been asked to write about activities for visitors and what makes New York the greatest city in the world.  This time of year is by far the prettiest and best time to experience it, because of the millions of lights and decorations, but everyone should visit the city at least once in their lifetime no matter the time of year.

I am taking my mom to Christie’s (Auction) for The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor Fine Jewelry.  I know this is going to be a once in a lifetime experience and I cannot wait!  Her collection is held in New York from December 3-17th!

Live – Laugh – Love – Travel

AJ

Luxurious Manhattan Loft Party

One of my dearest friends lives in a gorgeous Manhattan Loft.  We threw a little get together this past weekend, and it made me think about writing this piece on Luxurious Manhattan Loft Parties!

There are a lot of great places to party in New York City, if you have the money to do so. The best way to re-create the downtown scene without spending thousands of dollars in the process is by doing it in your own loft. While throwing a party and at the same time trying to bring Manhattan style and glamor to it can be expensive if you let it, there are some tips that can help you keep costs at a minimum while putting on a very worthy affair.

Most importantly, people remember a party by the people they met and the conversations and interactions they had with other guests. This makes the layout of the party very important. Your party area should be set up in a fashion that allows people to mingle freely. A mixture of short and long tables gives people the ability to find different spots to talk, or even to take a break from talking or standing for a moment. Create comfortable sections with your existing furniture so that people can face each other when interacting. Do NOT put chairs and sofas against your walls; this will create a high school prom atmosphere, which is definitely not what you want.

As far as décor goes, low lighting and luxury are what you should go for. An easy way to save money while going for luxury is to use white tablecloth on all your tables, with accents in black or silver. These colors work all year round, so you do not have to worry about matching your party with a color theme. Fall parties can benefit from orange, brown, or yellow floating candles in glass bowls. Winter is easy; add some snowflakes or blue accents to get the effect you want.

Your musical choice is always important. Remember, it’s not about what you like, it’s about what people will enjoy without being offended. Try to go for something universal, like jazz turned low, or rock classics like the Beatles or the Who.

Food is also really important; a lot of people remember parties because of the great food that they ate. The first option is to have the party catered, if you know of an affordable caterer. Making the food yourself can be much cheaper, and often the food is much better. Appetizers are what you should focus on, as people will be chatting and interacting, and won’t be sitting down to eat. Finding popular hor d’oeuvres on sale can be effective, such as mini-quiches, or meatballs done with a special sauce. A cheese fondue with bread is also a glamorous and fairly inexpensive idea.

Drinks are the final touch. There is no reason to buy every kind of liquor on the planet. You can even have a drink theme to your party, such as flavored martinis. My all time favorite, and go to is the popular Cosmopolitan!  Always have been and a wine box in case your guests don’t drink liquor, and soda for those who drink any alcohol at all.

Do not fret; following these steps will allow you to actually afford a fabulous party that people will remember for a long time!

 

Live – Laugh – Love – Travel

AJ