New York Festivals

Festival Location: New York, NY, USA

Festival State: New York Festivals

Festival Type: Local Festivals

New York City, Atlantic City & Philadelphia - Favorite Shops, Restaurants and Festivals

By: © Maxine Sommers 2009

Recently I traveled to New York City, Atlantic City and Philadelphia and made it a point to check out several of my favorite stores and restaurants. My goal: to determine if the old haunts and eateries should continue to hold "most favored status" in my list of nifty shopping places and bistros.

To begin this tale of three-cities, I must tell you the ground transportation or air travel between these metropolitan cities can be time consuming and frustrating. In some instances there are no direct flights.

Several years ago I decided I would contract with a limousine service when I travel in and around large cities because:

Travel time is reduced and it is more convenient - you are picked up personally with no waiting for a taxi and you determine your own time schedule.
It eliminates stress - no sharing transportation with some gabby person who wants to tell you all about his/her latest operation (Your appendix did what?)
The cost is not appreciably more - on some occasions it is less than air transportation.

I use the following limousine services when I travel in the three cities mentioned above:

Between the New York airports and downtown Manhattan - the Carmel Limo Service, phone: 1-(800) 924-9954.
Between New York, Atlantic City and Philadelphia - the Royal Sedan Service, phone: 1-(800) 634-0850 (ask to speak to Les.) Their email address is: limoles3@home.com

The trip between New York and Atlantic City takes about 2 and a half hours, the trip between Atlantic City and Philadelphia takes approximately 1 hour and between New York and Philadelphia about 2 hours 20 minutes, depending on the traffic. Call the above number or check with the email address for further information.

New York City

The city is saturated with marvelous stores and restaurants, too many to mention all, but, when I am in town I make sure to visit the following locations.

Bloomingdales Department Store is located at 59th Street, between Lexington and Third Avenues. The store is packed with the latest fashions in designer clothing along with a unique restaurant situated at the rear of the 6th floor.

The restaurant - entitled, "Le Train Bleu" - is ensconced in a European Express Train car. Even though you are not actually traveling in the railroad car, you will have an excellent meal among a gregarious group of diners who create a soft cosmopolitan atmosphere as they carry on animated conversations in a multitude of languages. The menu items are fresh and tasty with attractive presentations. Try the Cream Brulee for dessert - a thick creamy custard with a crisp caramelized topping. Extraordinary! Call: 1-(800)-947-9006.

The Russian Tea Room is located on 57th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues) and is next door to Carnegie Hall and across the street from Central Park. When you enter this fabulous bistro, be prepared to be dazzled by the stunning decor of brilliant red and gold, along with an awesome display of stunning, silver Russian samovars - all framed by a multitude of gorgeous flowers. Diners are immediately embraced by the romantic ambiance of the lavish establishment.

The Russian Tea room is truly a legend in its own time. The history of the restaurant dates back to 1927 and was founded by members of the Russian Imperial Ballet, who fled to America following the Revolution. It served only tea and pastries until the end of Prohibition but expanded to full service during World War II, attracting a variety of artistic luminaries from around the world.

The offerings on the menu are a delightful variety of modern Russian cuisine with an international influence. From wild boar and coulibac of salmon to an elegant brunch of scrambled eggs with caviar and a Blini Royale - the presentations are worthy of the most discriminating tastes. The table settings are dramatic with charming floral arrangements gracing each table. The service is excellent.

Festival Fun

There are festivals going on somewhere every day in New York City. However, The Festivals of All Festivals - actually know to Italians as the Feast of Saint Gennaro is a grand experience. This extravaganza is an adventure in dazzling culinary and ethnic marvels. As you stroll from Mulberry Street to Houston Street (12 blocks) you are immersed in the rich sights and sounds of Little Italy. Try the vendor's red wine with peaches, or the all time favorite, the sausage and pepper hero (talk about heavy!) If your feet go on strike there are restaurants on every corner. For this day - forget your diet.

Atlantic City

Is a charming, old East Coast city that sports a glitzy pocket of hi-end gambling casinos. Attracting 34 million visitors annually, the draw for many to the city are the casinos. With twelve 24-hour gambling resorts, headline entertainment and a variety of restaurants, visitors are never bored.

I stayed at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort. From the moment I first viewed the hotel, I was startled and amazed by it fantasy-world design. The gaudy hotel lobby is immense with a small army of staff rushing about. After the out-of-world-design of the lobby, my room was simple by comparison. (The accommodations for the high-roller guests are more elaborate.) While plain, my room was spacious and had a small safe tucked in the corner of the closet - no doubt for me to use in the event I won buckets of cash at the gaming tables.

The casino area on the lobby ground level is huge and the razzle-dazzle noise of the 4,500 machines never stops. As I walked through the casino on my way to a meeting at 8 A.M. one morning, I noticed some players looked intense, some appeared bored, and one casual fellow - listing dangerously over the edge of his chair, with a cigarette and a full glass clutched perilously in his hand - had closed his eyes and was sound asleep.

As I stood observing these happy campers, a white-haired-granny-type woman wearing a bright red, ankle-length skirt, a droopy peasant blouse and a spectacular smile, ran down the aisle with the speed of sound. As she sped past me, she turned to a startled bellman and shouted at him, "I love you baby!" (Did she win at the slots?)

The Taj Mahal has a wide selection of restaurants such as: the Bombay Café, the Casa Nicola and the Safari Steak House. My favorite is The Hard Rock Café - great food but the noise level is stratospheric. The dining room windows look out on the boardwalk. When you are seated and turn to look outside, be prepared to be greeted by a billboard-sized picture of "The Donald" with a massive sign that declares: "Welcome to my world!" What a humble guy.

Festival Fun

The New Jersey Fresh Seafood Festival is held the second weekend in June each year. The event is located in historic Gardner's Basin, a maritime park located on North New Hampshire Avenue, where working fishing boats ply their trade - a perfect setting for the freshly cooked seafood, crafts, amusement rides, educational and interactive marine science exhibits and musical entertainment. All reign supreme throughout the day.

Philadelphia

What can I say? I love this town! It is a city with a dynamic personality. In traveling from one historical site to another you will find the city residents friendly, open and eager to provide information to visitors.

Because William Penn fashioned the center of the city as a grid it is simple to find the points of interest. Buy a city map, and you are on your way. When your feet go on strike, hop on a city bus called the, "PHLASH." These brightly colored vehicles allow a person to travel all over the city for $4 dollars/day.

The Center City (downtown) area contains the central shopping district with over 2,000 stores, including Lord and Taylor (formerly the John Wanamaker Store). As you may know, the store houses the largest pipe organ in the world.

The Wanamaker Grand Organ has 28,500 pipes. Commanding these huge resources is an extensive console with six keyboards, 729 stop tablets, 168 piston buttons and 42 foot controls, weighs 287 tons and is valued at $57 million and was first heard in the store's seven-story atrium in 1911.

On the day I was in the store the concert began with the majestic, full-throated sounds of Allegro Appasionato, Sonata V. The thunderous notes poured from the golden pipes to fill the seven-story atrium with glorious music. I was stunned by its brilliance. People stood silently, absorbing the dazzling sounds with eyes closed, immersed in the beauty of the moment. The program continued with ten other selections, concluding with the Marche Triomphale, played with the organ and the Boston Brass. As the thunderous, booming sounds reverberated throughout the building, I felt as though the audience might simply rise up into the air and be blown out into the street. Awesome - a powerful performance. Concerts are held six days a week, twice a day. Do NOT miss this experience. Call (215) 241-6000 for further information.

Restaurants are in abundance. My favorite for a wide range of ethnic foods is the unconventional Reading Terminal Market. Located in a converted train station at 12th and Arch Street, it is packed to the brim with terrific food. Sample the following scrumptious repasts: Philadelphia hoagies, soft pretzels with mustard, Dutch apple dumplings, Italian pasta, fresh seafood, cookies and cakes (right out of the oven) and turkey sandwiches with the best bread you have ever tasted. Remember the old adage: "Everything from soup to nuts?" This is the place!

Festival Fun

Experience America's biggest birthday celebration in the countries birthplace during the "Sunoco Welcome America!" festival. This spectacular Independence Day extravaganza, takes place from late June through July 4. It features more than 50 free events including dazzling fireworks displays, concerts, parades, historic reenactments, colonial characters and fun in the grand-old U.S.A.

by Maxine Sommers

New York Festivals Dates and Location

New York City, Atlantic City and Philadelphia have festivals and events running all year round. For further information contact the tourist information centres in each city centre.