Thanksgiving in NYC

11/7/06

PR: Thanksgiving in NYC 2006

(11/7)

Contacts: Lisa Mortman / Arleen Kropf (212) 484-1270, nymedia@nycvisit.com



THANKSGIVING IN NEW YORK CITY



-- Festivities, Feasts, a World-Famous Parade and More Are All Part of the Fun in the Big Apple--


Note to editors: Images to accompany New York City travel stories are available at www.nycvisit.com/imagerequest. New York, NY (November 7, 2006) -- Thanksgiving in New York offers a feast of exciting experiences for visitors with fabulous hotel packages, fine food, fun events and the 80th annual Macy�s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Join the thousands of spectators as they kick off the holiday season at this annual celebration featuring spectacular floats, performances, marching bands and a whole lot more on Thursday, November 23. Exceptional experiences are in store the rest of the weekend with world-class shopping, culture and entertainment citywide.

Hotel Hospitality

In celebration of Thanksgiving, a number of New York City hotels are offering special packages complete with enticing extras from marvelous meals to prime viewing spots at the parade. Certain terms and conditions may apply to the following offers:The Affinia Dumont, an Executive Fitness Suite Hotel provides a guilt-free getaway with its �Thanksgiving Weekend Package.� Guests who book will enjoy a nightly room rate of $399 for a one bedroom suite, round trip car service on Thanksgiving Eve to watch pre-show parade balloons being blown up; a snack pack of seasonal favorites for the parade including hot chocolate, pumpkin seeds, granola bars, fruit and insider tips on where to stand, what to wear and where to go afterwards and a private consultation with the hotel�s Fitness Concierge with tips for holiday wellness. This package is valid only for the holiday weekend (November 22 through November 26, 2006) (866-AFFINIA or www.affinia.com). Guests who book the �I Love a Parade Package� at the Mandarin Oriental, New York will enjoy exclusive access to the Mandarin Ballroom which boasts the perfect panoramic views for watching the Macy�s Thanksgiving Day Parade and continental buffet breakfast on November 23. Guests will also enjoy a complimentary upgrade to a Hudson River View Room for one night; as well as caramel apples and cider upon arrival. This package is available November 21, 22 and 23 for $775 per night (212-805-8800, www.mandarinorientalnewyork.com). The New York Inns Hotel Group offers affordable accommodations for the budget-minded at its convenient locations the Murray Hill Inn, The Amsterdam Inn, The Union Square Inn and the Central Park Hostel. The rates at the recently renovated properties range from $99 to $189.00 (www.nyinns.com). Kids of all ages will go wild for the �Thanksgiving Parade V.I.P. Fantasy Package� available at The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park. The exclusive experience includes three-night luxury suite accommodations November 22 through 25 (suite options/prices vary); General Manager�s Welcome Party on Wednesday Evening; one-way transportation to the parade experience; Macy�s Thanksgiving Parade Skybox Experience for Two (indoor) including gourmet buffet brunch; a complimentary kid�s scoop of ice cream at the FAO Schwarz Ice Cream Caf�, Thanksgiving Dinner Buffet in The Ritz-Carlton Ballroom, buffet breakfast for two both Friday and Saturday mornings in the hotel�s 2 West restaurant and a special gift of the book Macy�s Thanksgiving Parade. Rates start at $3,742 USD for an Executive City View Suite, based on double occupancy and subject to availability. A $730 supplement applies for children 5 and older. This package has limited space and requires a non-refundable advanced payment. Stays can be extended at an additional charge. The package price is exclusive of tax and gratuity and subject to change (212-344-0800, www.ritzcarlton.com). The Wellington Hotel offers a special �Thanksgiving Package� November 19 through 27 featuring three nights for up to four people in one-bedroom suite for $1199, full American breakfast in the Park Caf� each morning, shopping discounts at Macy�s, a gift offer from B & H Photo Video Pro Audio, all taxes and free Internet access to guests who book online. Package is subject to availability and advance reservations and cannot be combined with any other offer (212-247-3900, www.wellingtonhotel.com). All the TrimmingsThe Restaurant Capital of the world offers a cornucopia of choices for traditional Thanksgiving Day dining. The following is a sampling of places where visitors can enjoy bite in the Big Apple. The Thanksgiving Day Menu at Ben�s Restaurant & Delicatessen whets the appetite with a choice of homemade soup, roasted Empire Kosher Turkey, stuffing, a choice of candied, sweet or mashed potatoes, fresh vegetable, cranberry-pineapple sauce and endless helpings of Ben�s cole slaw, pickles and rolls. The restaurant starts serving at 11am (212-398-2367, www.bensdeli.net). The charming Caf� des Artistes offers a $75 prix-fixe meal ($35 children) complete with a choice of starters including sweet potato bisque, roasted golden beet carpaccio, smoked Long Island duck breast, potato gnocchi or chilled market selection of oysters. For the main course, diners can select from grilled Maine lobster, black pepper and rosemary-crusted center cut filet mignon, roasted cod, braised lamb shank or traditional turkey, and for desert there is a choice of pumpkin pie, pecan pie, chocolate pudding, ice cream or sorbets (212-877-3500, www.cafenyc.com).Surrounded by the architectural splendor of St. Bart�s Church, Caf� St. Bart�s will serve family style Thanksgiving Day meals from 12pm to 5:30pm including oven roasted turkey with fresh sage, traditional dressing, sausage, apple and sage dressing, Yukon Gold mashed potatoes with turkey gravy, sweet potato casserole with bourbon-brown sugar glaze, market greens with grilled pears, blue cheese and pecan pralines, creamed spinach, cranberry-port wine compote and desserts such as apple pie, pumpkin pie, pecan pie and Thanksgiving cookies and cupcakes for the children. (For reservations call 212-888-2664 or www.opentable.com). At Gallagher�s Steak House guests can enjoy a special Thanksgiving menu with corn chowder soup, mixed greens salad, roasted turkey, stuffing, saut�ed brussel sprouts, maple glazed sweet potatoes or mashed potatoes, orange spiced cranberry sauce, giblet gravy and a choice of pumpkin pie, apple pie, pecan pie or cheesecake. The cost is $45 per person plus tax and gratuity (212-245-5336, www.gallaghersnysteakhouse.com). At The Grand Hyatt New York, the Manhattan Sky Lounge is offering a Thanksgiving Colonial Harvest brunch which includes a variety of salads, charcuteries, entrees, breakfast items and dessert. The restaurant will have a special children�s buffet and a cookie decorating station. Brunch will be served from 11:30am to 2:30pm. The cost is $75 for adults; $38 for children ages six to 12 and complimentary for children five and under. The hotel�s Commodore Grill has a special prix-fixe, three-course Thanksgiving dinner. Guests can choose from starters such as butternut squash ravioli or duck confit salad. Entrees include roasted turkey, date and fig stuffed pork loin and wild striped bass. Delicious choices on the dessert menu include pumpkin pie, warm pecan praline tartlette or a trio of fall sweets. Dinner will be served from 5pm to 11pm and costs $48 per person (212-883-1234, www.grandnewyork.hyatt.com). In Bay Ridge Brooklyn, The Greenhouse Caf� will be serving Thanksgiving dinner on November 23 from 1pm until 7pm. Guests can choose from seven appetizers and five entrees including a course of roast Maryland turkey with sausage bagel stuffing, a variety of desserts, coffee and tea for $32 plus tax and tip. A children�s menu is available for $14.95 plus tax and tip (718-833-8200, www.greenhousecafe.com).In TriBeCa, The Harrison presents the seasonal contemporary American cuisine of Chef Brian Bistrong (212-274-9310, www.theharrison.com). Delicious Thanksgiving dishes such as pumpkin seed salad, roasted turkey with chestnut stuffing and gravy, candied yams and more are sure to delight diners (212-274-9310, www.theharrison.com). Havana Central, Times Square will serve a prix-fix $75 Cuban style Thanksgiving Feast which includes one of the restaurant�s signature mojitos, sangrias, margaritas wine or beer; a choice of appetizers including ajiaco (a soup made of Caribbean root vegetables and white rice), octopus salad, avocado salad and chorizo con queso frito. For the main course, diners can select from pavo asado (Cuban roast turkey), Churrasco, lobster paella or berejena rellena (stuffed eggplant) with sides including sweet potato mash, steamed yucca, string beans, roasted peppers, Havana corn, and rice and beans. Afterwards guests can satisfy their sweet tooth with their choice of pumpkin flan, mini chocolate empanadas, bread pudding or rice pudding (212-398-7440, www.havanacentral.com). Heartland Brewery and Chophouse in Times Square (646-366-0235), Heartland Brewery & Rotisserie in the Empire State Building (212-563-3433), Heartland Brewery in Union Square (212-645-3400) and Heartland Brewery & Barbecue (646-572-2337) at the South Street Seaport join spread holiday cheer with a tantalizing Thanksgiving menu including butternut squash soup, red leaf lettuce salad, fresh roasted turkey and sage stuffing and a dessert choice of pumpkin pie or New York cheesecake. The four-course prix-fixe meal, which will be served from 12pm to 8pm, is $27.50 and $13.95 for kids 12 and under (www.heartlandbrewery.com). A unique dining experience is in store at the entertaining Jekyll and Hyde Club. The restaurant is offering a Thanksgiving Special on Thanksgiving Day only. For $34.95 per person (not inclusive of tax and gratuity), diners can enjoy fresh ambrosia salad with Boston bib lettuce, herb roasted turkey with homemade gravy, candied yams with bourbon, southern cornbread stuffed, green bean casserole with fried onions, cranberry-orange relish and pumpkin cheesecake (212-541-9505, www.eerie.com). Located in the historic Hotel Pennsylvania, Joe O�s Restaurant offers diners a $35.95 prix-fixe menu for adults and $14.95 for children plus tax and 18 percent gratuity featuring a choice of one appetizer including butternut squash soup, Caesar salad, tossed green salad, penne pomodoro or mozzarella with tomato and basil. Selections for the main course include a roast turkey platter, roast turkey and ham, broiled filet mignon, baked filet of salmon and grilled Mediterranean vegetable gateaux. Guests also have a choice of one desert including pumpkin pie, apple pie and Pavlova with tea or coffee (212-290-9200, www.joeosrestaurant.com). McCormick and Schmick�s Seafood Restaurant offers a traditional turkey dinner with all the fixing on Thanksgiving Day from noon to 10pm. Menu items such as oven roasted turkey, butternut squash casserole, candied sweet potatoes, fresh cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and more will make for a marvelous meal (212-459-2474, www.mccormickandschmicks.com). Meli Melo Restaurant on Madison Avenue celebrates Thanksgiving with a $35 pre-fixe special (not inclusive of gratuity and taxes) featuring a choice of any appetizer on the menu, a selection from entrees such as lamb tagine with desert spices and Mediterranean vegetables and dessert. Traditional Thanksgiving dishes will also be featured. The restaurant starts serving dinner at 4:30pm (212-686-5551, www.melimelorestaurant.com). The Parisian-style bistro Orsay Restaurant celebrates the holiday with a three-course $45 pre-fixe menu featuring butternut squash ravioli, roasted organic turkey with all the trimmings and a spiced kabocha squash tart with ginger ice cream (212-517-6400, www.orsayrestaurant.com). The celebration at Shula�s Steakhouse lasts all day with the restaurant serving a special three-course pre-fixe menu from 12 to 10pm. For starters, guests have a choice of a Beefsteak tomato salad and gorgonzola cheese, traditional Caesar with herbed croutons or lobster bisque. Entr�e selections include oven roasted Tom turkey with cornbread stuffing, filet of beef with Bearnaise, cowboy steak or prime rib or Atlantic salmon, with scrumptious sides such as Fall vegetable medley, mashed potatoes and glazed sweet potatoes. Decadent desserts apple cobbler with Haagen Daz Ice Cream, pumpkin pie and chocolate bread pudding will end dinner on a high note. The three-course pre-fixe Thanksgiving dinner will be served at $79 per person and � price for children up to 12 years old (212-201-2776, www.donshula.com).

In Queens, Water�s Edge Restaurant provides a pleasant setting to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with a wood-burning fireplace and piano music playing in the background. A complimentary water taxi from 34th Street and The East River takes guests right to the restaurant. Water�s Edge will serve its dinner menu from 12 to 8pm (781-482-0033, www.watersedgenyc.com). Tantalizing international flavors are worth trying at Zenon Taverna. The special Thanksgiving Meal is $18.95 per person and comes with salad, cream of turkey soup, koupepia (stuffed grape leaves), keftedes (Cyprus meatballs), roast turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, coffee and pumpkin pie (718-956-0133, www.zenontaverna.com).

Sail through New York harbor aboard the elegant Bateaux New York featuring all the Thanksgiving favorites and live music (212-727-2789, www.bateauxnewyork.com). World Yacht also promises a memorable experience with Thanksgiving dinner, dancing and dazzling views of the city skyline and the majestic Statue of Liberty. Boarding is at 6pm and sailing takes place from 7 to 10pm (212-630-8100, www.worldyacht.com). For those that want to leave the cooking to someone else, The Riverdale Garden in the Bronx offers a Thanksgiving to Go menu with savory selections such as lightly smoked upstate free range turkey, hearty herb crusted leg of lamb, truffled butternut squash, maple-glazed yams, cornbread sage stuffing and deep dish apple-cranberry pie (718-884-5232, www.theriverdalegarden.com).

The Union Square Caf� hosts a �Morning Market Meeting for Kids.� Chef de Cuisine Carmen Quagliata and friends will lead children on a treasure hunt through the restaurant to find all the ingredients for stuffing, a dish which he also shares a simple recipe for little one. The morning will conclude with a tour of the Greenmarket to get started on Thanksgiving food shopping. This activity is open to kids ages 8 to 11, each of whom must be accompanied by an adult. Price is to be determined. The meeting starts at 8:30am and concludes by 10am (Contact Stephanie McLellan for reservations at 212-989-3510 ext. 24, www.unionsquarecafe.com).

Holiday DelightsThe fun doesn�t stop at the end of the Macy�s Thanksgiving Day Parade with the start of the winter holiday event season in New York City. Here a just a few of the event highlights happening over the weekend following Thanksgiving.Marvel at jugglers, acrobats, equestrians, aerialist, horses and more during the brand new Big Apple Circus production Step Right Up! International performers including the Zhengzhou Acrobatic Troupe and the French clown Francesco will bring the show�s wondrous �Amusement Resort by the Sea� theme to life through January 6, 2007 under the big top at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (Tickets: 800-922-3772, www.bigapplecircus.org). On Friday, November 24, Big Onion Walking Tours is offering its �Annual Post-Thanksgiving Multi-Ethnic Eating Tour� featuring the historic and gastronomic delights of the Jewish East Side, Chinatown and Little Italy. Participants learn about the diversity of New York City while noshing on everything from plantains to pickles to dim sum and mozzarella. The tour starts at 1pm and costs $19 for adults, $16 for seniors and $14 for students. The meeting place is the southeast corner of Essex and Delancey Streets. Reservations are requested (212-439-1090, www.bigonion.com)Find family-friendly fun at the Bronx Zoo during the colorful Holiday Lights extravaganza featuring sculptures of pink flamingos, leaping green frogs, animated monkeys and more which all can be seen nightly during the event. Every evening during the Holiday Lights celebration visitors can enjoy storytelling; see sheep and goats at the Children�s Zoo, experience ice carving demonstrations and listen to choral performances among other activities. Holiday Lights is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings from 5pm to 9pm (718-367-1010, www.bronxzoo.com). The classic holiday production George Balachine�s The Nutcracker returns to the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. This magical ballet warms the spirit as it enters a wondrous world of Marie and company including mischievous mice, adorable children, marching toy soldiers and more (Tickets: Center Charge 212-721-6500, www.nycballet.com). The Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the world-famous Rockettes delights all ages with entertaining numbers and show-stopping favorites such as the Parade of the Wooden Soldiers and Living Nativity November 9 through December 30 at the legendary Radio City Music Hall Tickets: Ticketmaster, 212-307-7171, www.radiocity.com). No trip to the Shopping Capital of the World is complete without indulging in a little retail therapy at notable New York City department stores Bloomingdale�s (Two locations: 59th Street and Lexington Ave., 212-705, 2000 and 504 Broadway in SoHo, 212-729-5900, www.bloomingdales.com), Lord & Taylor (212-931-3344, www.lordandtaylor.com) and Macy�s (212-695-4400, www.macys.com). For more information about all there is to see and do in New York City, log on to nycvisit.com or visit New York City�s Official Visitor Information Center at 810 Seventh Avenue at 53rd Street or the kiosks located at the Apollo Theater in Harlem at 253 W. 125th Street and in Lower Manhattan at City Hall Park, and in Chinatown at the triangle where Canal, Walker and Baxter Streets meet.







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