Cute subway conductor prank

   Our subway system is a marvel of old school infrastructure. The oldest section is almost 110 years old! And the technology of subway service really hasn't changed much in that time. The trains are not controlled by computers but by two dedicated civil servants. One who drives the train from the front, and the conductor in the middle car who opens the doors and makes announcements. When a train pulls in, a striped board hanging from the ceiling tells the conductor the train is correctly stopped in the station. But to be extra sure, the MTA requires the conductors to actually POINT at the board, so that they don't get lazy and forget to look. So someone thought of some fun to have with this regulation.
 

Keen's steakhouse lives up to the hype

   There are lots of famous eateries in New York. Some, like Katz's or Grimaldi's live up to, or at least deserve the hype. Other things like Magnolia Bakery or street vendor hot dogs hardly make the top picks in their genre, let alone deserve citywide hype. Just the memory of the now-defunct Tavern on the Green is enough to sadden a true food lover.
   So in this world of hyperventilating food magazines, shows, and their ilk, I'm happy to say that I think Keen's Steakhouse deserves all the accolades it collects.

SO many ways to see the Statue of Liberty! (part II)

  Seeing Lady Liberty up close on Liberty Island is always exciting. But it is time consuming to go through security, and if you're like me you hate waiting on line on vacation. The good news is that there are a ton of other ways you could get a great photo of the statue.

   Battery Park: This park at the southern tip of Manhattan is the easiest spot to sneak a peak. But she is more than a mile offshore from this vantage point. This is usually the spot from which people utter the oft-heard phrase, "I thought she'd be bigger." So while you will get to see her, it's quick and a little disappointing.

   Staten Island Ferry: This is one of the world's classic voyages. It might be a stretch to call a 25 minute ferry ride a voyage, but the view of the Manhattan skyline is truly epic. And not only that, the ferry passes alongside Liberty Island from about half a mile or so. Check out the view at sunset.
 

SO many ways to see the Statue of Liberty! (part I)

    How to see the Statue of Liberty (part I)

    One of the most common questions asked on my tours is the ideal way to see the Statue of Liberty. She is one of the most iconic sights in the U.S. after all. But she's out there on her own island (not very creatively called Liberty Island) and it takes some planning to pay her a visit. In fact, the best way to see her is going to require some very advanced planning. For the best experience, you have to do something difficult under any circumstance: Get inside a woman's head.

    Inside the crown of the Statue of Liberty 

Picnic Time!

    The weather in New York City has been absolutely gorgeous this September and October. The elms and willows in Central Park are turning yellow and the maples are turning bright orange and red. The cooler weather makes for more activity and musicians and performers in the parks and streets. Just look at my reading spot yesterday! Doesn't it make you want to take a picnic to the park?


  So that being said, all of you visiting NYC need to know the best spots to get a picnic to take to the park. And not just Central Park, all the parks have great picnicking suppliers to give you a great afternoon in sunshine. But let's start with Central Park: