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NYC & COMPANY CELEBRATES WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH 2021

2/23/21

IN CELEBRATION OF WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH, NYC & COMPANY ENCOURAGES NEW YORKERS AND VISITORS TO SUPPORT WOMEN-OWNED AND WOMEN-OPERATED BUSINESSES IN MARCH AND BEYOND



City’s Official Tourism Organization Promotes “NYC-Cations” with Itinerary Suggestions Including Hotels, Arts and Culture, Dining, Shopping and Outdoor Sites Across the Five Boroughs



New York City (February 23, 2021) – In celebration of Women’s History Month kicking off March 1 and International Women’s Day on March 8, NYC & Company, the official destination marketing organization and convention and visitors bureau for the five boroughs of New York City, is encouraging New Yorkers and visitors to support women-owned and women-operated businesses including hotels, restaurants and shops and to explore countless cultural offerings and sites of historical significance all year-round, with an “NYC-cation” in the five boroughs.



"As Women's History Month kicks off, NYC & Company proudly celebrates all the women who have made and continue to make an indelible mark on New York City.  Female-owned and -operated businesses are so vital to our City and our industry, and we invite New Yorkers and visitors to support these enterprises now and into the future. It’s my honor and privilege to celebrate these women today and every day alongside my wonderful and talented female colleagues at NYC & Company," said Nancy Mammana, NYC & Company's chief marketing officer.



Those exploring the City are asked to wear masks, practice social distancing and frequently wash and sanitize hands, as indicated in NYC & Company’s Stay Well Pledge, and check with individual businesses for current operating status and hours, as well as health and safety protocols, prior to visiting.



Below is a brief selection of staycation ideas and women-led businesses to support during Women’s History Month and beyond:   



Stay at Hotels Owned and Operated by Women:













  • The

    Boro Hotel

    in Long Island City, Queens is both owned and operated by women: Owners and sisters Liz and Antonia Batalias and General Manager Mary O’Sullivan oversee the property, which is known for its industrial décor and breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline.

  • The 463-room

    Conrad New York Downtown

    offers luxurious suites, high-end service and contemporary art throughout the hotel, all in the heart of Lower Manhattan. Marlene Poynder has served as the hotel’s General Manager since 2017.

  • Just 20 minutes from Lower Manhattan, Owner Lois Nicotra and General Manager Kimberly Pintus’

    Hilton Garden Inn New York/Staten Island

    features more than 400 acres of beautiful grounds, indoor and outdoor art, a Butterfly Meadow, and more.

  • InterContinental New York Times Square

    offers chic rooms and a tranquil guest experience in the Crossroads of the World. General Manager Gul Turkmenoglu oversees the iconic 36-story property.

  • The

    Lotte New York Palace

    , led by General Manager Rebecca Hubbard, is just steps from St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Rockefeller Center. With 909 guest rooms and suites and five-star service, the hotel is a true New York City landmark.

  • General Manager Nur Ercan-Magden leads the team at

    The Marmara Park Avenue

    , a sleek boutique property where guests can experience luxury amenities such as a subterranean Lap Pool & An Authentic Turkish Bath.

  • The New Yorker, a Wyndham Hotel

    is known for its iconic Art Deco architecture and proximity to Herald Square, the Javits Center and Hudson Yards. Ann Peterson was named President & General Manager in 2012.

  • Near Central Park,

    The Whitby Hotel

    is led by General Manager Kathrin Apitz. Part of Firmdale Hotels, the unique property’s 86 rooms and suites are all individually designed by Kit Kemp.

  • The Williamsburg Hotel

    is known for its boutique style and loft-style rooms, also owned and operated by women. Owner Toby Moskovits and General Manager Julita Kropiwnicki oversee the property.



Explore Arts and Culture Spotlighting the Lives and Work of Women:













  • The

    Alice Austen House Museum

    honors the life and work of celebrated photographer Alice Austen, who lived in the historic Staten Island home during the early 20th century. Also a national site of LGBTQ+ history, the museum will offer private afternoon tours, Tuesday through Friday.  

  • From March 20-21, Harlem’s iconic

    Apollo Theater

    will offer its fifth bi-annual

    WOW - Women of the World Festival

    . This year’s virtual event is themed

    Black Women Transcending!

    a

    nd will include music, film, workshops, panels, performances and more.

  • On March 5, the

    Brooklyn Museum

    will unveil

    Lorraine O’Grady: Both/And

    ,

    the first retrospective of the contemporary feminist artist, on view through July 18. The museum is also the permanent home of

    The Dinner Party

    , an iconic piece of 1970s feminist art.

  • The Met Fifth Avenue

    will present

    Alice Neel: People Come Firs

    from March 22 through August 1, showcasing approximately 100 pieces by the radical feminist painter and champion of social justice who called East Harlem home.

  • From March 11 through September 6,

    MoMA PS1

    in Queens will spotlight over 100 artworks by French American feminist and activist artist Niki de Saint Phalle in

    Niki de Saint Phalle: Structures for Life

    .

  • Morris-Jumel Mansion

    is Manhattan’s oldest surviving residence, built in 1765 for British Colonel Roger Morris and his wife, Mary Philipse. The Washington Heights museum, which is currently open to the public, also offers a glimpse into the home’s first female owner with a Virtual Parlor Chat:

    Who was the Real Mary Philipse Morris?

  • On March 18, the

    National Museum of the American Indian

    will present

    Native Women Making Change

    as part of its

    Youth in Action: Conversations about Our Future

    series. In this free virtual program, Aidan Graybill (Wyandot Nation of Kansas) and Representative Christina Haswood (Diné [Navajo]) will discuss the roles Indigenous women uphold within their communities and society at large.

  • While temporarily closed to the public, New York Public Library’s

    Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

    in Harlem is presenting

    Femmetography: The Gaze Shifted

    , an online gallery and resource exploring photography from the perspective of Black women, curated as part of the center’s Teen Curators program.

  • Celebrating the centennial of the 19th Amendment, which gave American women the right to vote, the

    Staten Island Museum

    is exploring the borough’s role in the suffrage movement in

    Women of the Nation Arise!

    .



Enjoy Female Chefs’ and Restaurateurs’ Culinary Offerings:















  • Owned by Regina Migliucci-Delfino,

    Mario’s Restaurant

    is a staple on Arthur Avenue, offering classic Neapolitan fare in the Bronx’s “real Little Italy” for more than 100 years.

  • Astoria, Queens is home to

    Comfortland

    , a comfort food spot with vegan options that is co-owned by baker Montana D’Alessio Barbier; and beloved creole restaurant

    Sugar Freak

    by owner Michele Addeo.

  • Top Chef

    finalist Lisa Fernandes opened the modern Asian restaurant

    Sweet Chili

    in Bushwick, Brooklyn in 2019, serving up unique twists on Southeast Asian comfort foods. A short walk away is Francesca Chaney’s

    Sol Sips

    vegan café, which the young entrepreneur opened in 2018 with the goal of making plant-based food accessible to all.

  • Brooklyn’s Gowanus neighborhood is home to

    Insa

    , offering karaoke and Korean BBQ dishes by Seoul native, James Beard-nominated Chef Sohui Kim.

  • Harlem is known for several acclaimed women-led restaurants, including Northern Italian restaurant

    Lido

    by James Beard Award-winner Serena Bass and owner Susannah Kotten; Melba Wilson’s eponymous comfort food spot

    Melba’s

    and brand-new

    Melba’s Mussels

    restaurant debuting in March with a women-led team; and

    Sylvia’s Restaurant

    , founded by the “Queen of Soul Food” Sylvia Woods and now led by Sylvia’s family members including granddaughter, Tren’ness Woods-Black.

  • On the Lower East Side, diners can try vegetable-focused eatery

    Dirt Candy

    by James Beard Award-nominated chef and owner Amanda Cohen; and

    Pig & Khao

    , serving Southeast Asian cuisine inspired by owner and

    Top Chef

    contestant Leah Cohen’s Filipino upbringing.

  • Greer Fredericks opened

    Peaches Low Country Kitchen

    in Lower Manhattan in November 2020, serving fast-casual southern fare including fried chicken and gumbo, as well as vegetarian and gluten-free options.

  • At

    Lakruwana Restaurant

    in Tompkinsville, Staten Island, chef and owner Jayantha Wijesinghe serves gourmet Sri Lankan cuisine in an ornately-decorated dining room.

  • In the West Village,

    232 Bleecker

    offers vegetable-forward dishes by Executive Chef Suzanne Cupps; while chefs and partners Jody Williams and Rita Sodi serve up Italian fare at the critically acclaimed

    Via Carota

    ,

    I Sodi

    and

    Bar Pisellino

    , and French cuisine at

    Buvette

    .

  • One of Williamsburg’s most celebrated eateries,

    Lilia

    is known for its handmade Italian pasta and wood-fired dishes by chef and owner Missy Robbins. Following Lilia’s success, Robbins opened nearby

    Misi

    , focusing on pasta dishes and vegetable antipasti.

  • With eight locations across the Manhattan and Brooklyn, Chef Christina Tosi has created a dessert empire with

    Milk Bar

    , a bakery with cereal-inspired cakes, ice cream, cookies and more.



Shop Female-Owned Retailers:












  • In Crown Heights, intersectional feminist bookstore and coffee shop

    Cafe con Libros

    offers book clubs, monthly subscriptions, merchandise and more. Owner Kalima DeSuze opened the business in 2017.

  • Catbird

    is a Brooklyn-based fine jewelry company started by Rony Vardi, featuring all recycled gold and conflict-free, responsibly sourced stones.

  • Fishs Eddy

    , co-founded by Julie Gaines, is a NYC staple in Manhattan’s Flatiron District, known for its unique and quirky dishware and other home goods.

  • Bronx native Noëlle Santos opened the borough’s first and only independent bookstore,

    The Lit. Bar

    , in Mott Haven in April 2019. Book-lovers can also take advantage of The Lit. Bar’s wine bar, online shipping offerings, virtual programs and more.

  • Mackenzi Farquer’s

    Lockwood Shop

    , a go-to boutique for home wares, paper goods, clothing and more, has locations in Astoria and Jackson Heights, Queens and Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

  • Owned by Sarah McNally,

    McNally Jackson

    is one of New York City’s most-recognized independent bookstores, with locations in Nolita, the Seaport District, Williamsburg, and Downtown Brooklyn.

  • María Herron opened

    Mil Mundos Books

    in Bushwick in 2018, with the goal of ensuring community access and empowerment. Nearly half of the bookstore’s titles are available in Spanish.  

  • Started by Eliza Blank,

    The Sill

    plant shop has locations on Manhattan’s Lower East Side and Upper West Side, and in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. The company also offers a plant delivery service, online workshops, gift cards and more.



Visit Parks and Outdoor Sites Honoring Women:










  • On Manhattan’s Far West Side near Hudson Yards,

    Bella Abzug Park

    is named in honor of feminist, civil rights activist, lawyer and U.S. Representative Bella Abzug.

  • In March 2017, the

    Fearless Girl statue

    symbolizing female empowerment was unveiled in front of Lower Manhattan’s Charging Bull statue. Now located opposite the New York Stock Exchange, the four-foot bronze statue was created by artist Kristen Visbal.

  • Brooklyn’s East River State Park has officially been renamed

    Marsha P. Johnson State Park

    , in memory of the influential LGBTQ+ civil rights activist. The park, which is undergoing renovations to be completed by June, is New York’s first state park honoring a LGBTQ+ person and transgender woman of color.

  • Honoring the first African American Congresswoman and first woman and African American to run for President,

    Shirley Chisholm State Park

    in Brooklyn offers trails for biking and hiking, fishing, birding and more, all with panoramic views of NYC and the New York Harbor.

  • At

    Woodlawn Cemetery

    in the Bronx, honor women who helped shape the nation and New York City today, including women’s suffrage supporters Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Carrie Chapman Catt, Mary Garrett Hay and Alva Vanderbilt Belmont.

  • A new

    Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument

    was unveiled last year on Central Park’s Literary Walk, the park’s first statue depicting nonfiction female figures: women’s right activists Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony and Sojourner Truth.



To learn more about prominent female figures in New York City’s history, check out NYC & Company’s guide to The Women Who Made NYC History.



The “NYC-cations” initiative supports All In NYC: Staycation Guides, which is part of NYC & Company’s All In NYC.

About NYC & Company:
NYC & Company is the official destination marketing organization and convention and visitors bureau for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide. For all there is to do and see in New York City, visit nycgo.com.



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