News

Halloween Parade
October 31, 2005, 10:10.57 pm ET
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I was born and raised in New York, and for the life of me, I never made it to the Halloween Parade. I always wound up settling for the local news and pictures in the paper. It always seemed a little too crazy for me. But this year, I ventured out and was surprised by the energy and excitement that fills the air. It's like mardi gras New York Style.

I got buzzed by bees on skates, almost run over by a flock of chickens on bikes and dodged a huge ball, and had a blast in the process. Here's a glimpse of the Halloween Parade 2005.

I think I'll be back next year!

Getting Mooned at Prada
October 27, 2005, 10:19.39 pm ET
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Prada is known for doing things big. But they may want to do something about the oversized male mannequin in the window. I felt like I was being mooned by a giant as I passed Prada's SoHo location.

Maybe I'm just being a prude.

Got a comment, email us at thecitiblog@cititour.com

Food Prices
October 27, 2005, 10:10.28 pm ET
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Everytime I'm around Prince and Broadway I like to take a look at what's being offered at Dean and Deluca. I must say the vegetables were not as fresh as one might expect from the upscale shop with its upscale prices. Although, I must admit the giudia artichokes, perfectly roasted around the edges, and the wild mushrooms with truffle essence did look delightful along with most of the pastries. I was also transfixed on the bite-size chocolate caramel apples complete with a ring of crushed nuts and apple flavoring inside. But at $8 a pop it was a little hard to swallow. Even one of the workers admitted "they can stay there." And they did.

Got a comment, email us at thecitiblog@cititour.com

Scary Ninjas
October 27, 2005, 10:00.43 pm ET
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I got a kick out of Frank Bruni's review of Ninja New York in the New York Times. After being offered two paths by his ninja greeters, Bruni recommends "a third path: right back out the door." He goes on to obliterate the place over its food, cost and decor with a rare "poor" rating. I just have one question for Mr. Bruni. What did you expect to find when you walked into a place with ninjas running around - gourmet "ninja" grub?

Got a comment, email us at thecitiblog@cititour.com

Rats and Rockettes
October 26, 2005, 11:28.47 pm ET
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Well, this is a first for me. A giant rat threatening Rockefeller Center. No, it's not a rodent invasion.

It is a message though from the musicians union to the Dolans who run Cablevision that it won't be a very Merry Christmas if the musicians are locked out. Afterall, can you really enjoy the Rockettes with canned music? Come on guys settle this thing and bring back the band!

Ice Skating at Bryant Park
October 25, 2005, 10:53.14 pm ET
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Workers at Bryant Park are busy putting the finishing touches on the city's newest ice skating rink. The rink, which is scheduled to open on October 28th, is referred to as "The Pond." When completed it will be a state-of-the-art 170' x 100' rink.

And unlike the rinks opertated by The Donald and Rockefeller Center, this rink, with its picturesque views of the Manhattan skyline will be free, courtesy of Citibank. Skate rentals will run $7.50. For more information, visit the Bryant Park web site at www.bryantpark.org

A World Famous Panhandler?
October 23, 2005, 10:24.58 am ET
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I'll be honest I'm not a big fan of panhandlers on the subway. I rarely give because I feel it promotes a sort of in-your-face behavior that public places, particularly closed-in places like the subway, could do without.

But once in a while you come across raw talent that makes you take notice... and in some cases stops you right in your tracks.

This happened to me last Friday on the F train. I was traveling from 34th street to 14th street when all I heard was a single note... a beautiful note that resonated and filled the subway car and had all of the passengers looking for its source. One note turned into another and a melody arose. It was an opera. Now, I'm not a musician or an opera buff, but even I found myself not only impressed but wanting to know the source of such beautiful music. Emerging from the crowd was a petite woman with pulled back brown hair and a voice from the heavens. She not only generated applause, but a standing ovation. The woman next to me blurted out a single word - "wow."

And all I can say about this mystery singer too is "wow!"

If you have a comment or know who this woman is email us at thecitiblog@cititour.com

A New Space With A View
October 21, 2005, 10:43.27 am ET
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The financial district now has a new elevated space overlooking the FDR Drive to hang out in after a $7 million rehab. It's half park and half promenade on about an acre of commercial space. I say that because the park is located atop a parking garage at 50 Water Street. Finding it isn't an easy task since it cannot be veiwed at ground level. Even the local firehouse didn't know what the heck I was talking about when asking for directions (By the way, they are a great bunch of guys.). But after a bit of nosing around, and riding up two escalators, I finally spotted its landmark giant lantern which emits bright neon colors.

It felt a bit like an urban oasis with fantastic views of the East River, and the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges. It's also just far enough from South Street Seaport that it shouldn't be inundated with tourists. I do believe it will be a hot spot for newlyweds looking for just the right photo with a panoramic view.

Got a comment? Email us at thecitiblog@yahoo.com

Why I Say Forget The I-Pod Generation
October 17, 2005, 10:56.17 pm ET
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OK, so everyone and their mother now own an i-pod. I for one do not and here's why I probably never will. Every day, the i-pod zombies are plugged in, white wires protruding from their ears. My pal Sue is one of them. She also doesn't agree with me, but I find i-podders to be the rudest people on the planet. They are oblivious to the world around them and totally anti-social. Case in point, I was on the train the other day and a bit lost, and I gestured to the woman standing next to me if she could help me with directions. She pointed to the white plugs in her ears, too busy to lend an ear. I felt like saying something obscene, or better yet pulling the ear plugs from her ears, but I feared the air would escape from her brain.

Got a comment, email us at thecitiblog@cititour.com

Subway Ride From Hell
October 15, 2005, 12:17.50 am ET
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So after eight days of steady rain here in the Northeast, the subways are finally feeling the effects. This morning's commute was a nightmare. Water dripping (or I should say pouring) through parts of the tunnel. On board, things weren't much better. A Q train got stuck at 34th Street and threw everything off. It was stop-and-go, stop-and-go, stop-and-go... you get the point. It took about 15 minutes to go two stops. It felt like eternity. Then, when we finally got to 34th Street, there's an R train sitting across the platform. So, instead of the conductor saying which train was going to leave the station first, we were all playing a game of MTA Russian roulette. Some people running to the other side, others taking their chances on the N train that I was on. Each time an announcement was made people would run from one train to another. This went on for about ten minutes. Some people were so frustrated they simply left. When the trains finally left, the same thing happened at 42nd Street. I opted to walk in the pouring rain to 49th St. It was a milder form of water torture.

Got a comment, email us at thecitiblog@cititour.com

Welcome to The Citiblog!
October 10, 2005, 9:54.58 am ET
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Welcome to The CitiBlog, the newest edition to the Cititour family. You'll want to keep an eye on this space for news and tidbits about New York City life, as well as emails from folks like you.

First, a bit about us. I started Cititour back in 1999 when internet dreams were big and so were the dreams of big profits. We survived the bubble and managed to build the company into what it is today. Along the way we picked up folks like Brian Scott Lipton, who has his pulse on New York's restaurant scene, especially in the Theater District. Unfortunately, Brian no longer provides theater reviews (he found a better paying gig.). And Andrea Strong, who I consider to be the "Sex and the City" reviewer. Her love of food and her love life often crop up in her restaurant reviews. But one thing I can say is Andrea knows her stuff and we're very lucky to share her work with you. You can also catch her weekly "Buzz" at www.andreastrong.com .

My nephew, who I refer to as Stevie K, has been with me since the beginning and since he was in grammar school. I tapped his brain and computer skills. Now, in his first year of college, he's still working hard at our music calendar. He's a speed demon on the computer and we couldn't have done it without him.

Pamela Grossman, who is our resident shopper, keeps tabs on shops that truly have the feel of New York. Recent arrivals also include Lesley Alexander and Diane Snyder, who now provide us with Broadway reviews.

My pal Jacqui Ferrari has the unenviable task of keeping up with the city's numerous events. She does a faboulous job and is a great person to work with. In fact the entire staff is wonderful.

Another person we need to acknowledge is Harvey. He's the guy who created our nifty new site. Harvey Kreiswirth owner of Big City Partners (http://www.bigcitypartners.com) and computer geek. He's good!

And I'm Sam. I hope you enjoy what Cititour has to offer. If you look closely you'll find thousands of events, concerts, clubs, restaurants and shows. New York City never sleeps and neither do we. If you've got something to add or want to shoot the breeze , email us at info@cititour.com .

Thanks Again,

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