Explore The History & Glory Of New York City This September As NYC & Company Names The Municipal Art

3/12/09

EXPLORE THE HISTORY & GLORY OF NEW YORK CITY THIS SEPTEMBER AS NYC & COMPANY NAMES THE MUNICIPAL ART SOCIETY ITS CULTURAL ORGANIZATION OF THE MONTH



 



—Special Discounts on Walking Tours and Bookstore Purchases throughout September—



 



 



New York, NY (August, 22 2006) — When savvy New Yorkers and visitors want to get an in-depth and insiders look at the city, they often turn to the fabled walking tours of the Municipal Art Society of New York (MAS). During September these walking tours, which shed light and insights on the history and cultural richness of the Big Apple, are offered at a special discount in celebration of MAS being named Cultural Organization of the Month by NYC & Company, the city’s official tourism marketing organization.



 



The Municipal Art Society, the non-profit membership organization that champions excellence in urban design and planning and the preservation of the best of New York's past, is also offering discounts at its remarkable bookstore in midtown Manhattan during September.



Visitors who participate in these acclaimed MAS walking tours will receive the member discount price of $12 for weekend tours and $10 for weekday tours. (Regular prices are $15 for weekend tours and $12 for weekday tours). Participants must mention “NYC & Company Cultural Organization of the Month” to the walking tour guide who will collect the fee on site. Reservations are not required.



Walking tour gift certificates are also discounted in September to those who mention “NYC & Company Cultural Organization of the Month.” The discounted price is $12 per person. Each certificate entitles walkers to participate in any unreserved weekday or weekend walking tour. (There is a limit of 10 gift certificates per person.)



For those eager to learn yet more about New York’s storied past, another discount awaits at MAS’s headquarters in the Villard Houses (457 Madison Avenue between 50th & 51st Streets). This 19th century landmark structure in midtown features exhibitions on the built environment and the highly regarded Urban Center Books, with over 10,000 titles available for purchase on urban affairs, architecture and the allied arts. At Urban Center Books, a 10 percent discount on purchases over $75 is available by mentioning “NYC & Company Cultural Organization of the Month” in September.



"The Municipal Art Society is an incomparable institution when it comes to embracing New York City's history and neighborhoods. It is a place where urbanism, community, and arts merge," Manhattan Borough President Stringer said. "I commend NYC & Company for recognizing MAS as one of the true gems of the Big Apple".



“NYC & Company is proud to honor The Municipal Art Society of New York as its Cultural Organization of the Month,” said Cristyne L. Nicholas, president and CEO of NYC & Company, the city’s tourism marketing organization. “By preserving New York City’s rich history and contributing to understanding of its aesthetics, New Yorkers and visitors can better appreciate this great city, its vast contributions, and those who worked so hard to keep it the best city in the world.”



Kent Barwick, president of The Municipal Art Society of New York said, “As the Municipal Art Society celebrates its 113th year of working to make New York City a more livable place for residents and visitors alike, we are especially proud to be NYC & Company's Cultural Organization of the Month for September. We invite you to the MAS headquarters in the historic Villard Houses to view our free exhibits, and attend timely forums on issues affecting the city. Or join one of our acclaimed walking tours, where informed commentators provide you with an insider's look at both familiar buildings and lesser-known neighborhoods. Above all, welcome. Let the MAS be your guide to the city's vastness, beauty and complexity.”



Founded in 1883 the Municipal Art Society of New York believes that the physical city -- its light, air, land, and open spaces -- and its sensible development are critical to New York's continued economic health and social well-being.