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About Halloween
Halloween is an annual holiday celebrated each year on October 31. It originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts and evil spirits. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, dressing up and eating sweet treats.

The Village Halloween Parade
Head to The Village Halloween Parade. NYC’s creative and spooky procession—is one of the best Halloween events in Greenwich Village. More than 50,000 zombies, ghouls, witches, giant puppets and more things that go bump in the night take the streets for a night of costumed revelry. The parade takes place on October 31st from 7.00 pm-10.30 pm, on 6th Avenue, running from just North of Spring Street to 16th Street! This year’s theme is I Am Robot!

Pumpkin Flotilla
Taking place on October 28th at 4 pm, don’t miss out on this New Yorker favorite! Taking place in Central Park, enjoy ghost stories, check out a costume parade and partake in the pumpkin carving. Afterward, the Central Park Conservancy will partake in a traditional Pumpkin Flotilla, where 50 gourds will take a sail across the Harlem Meer at twilight.

Take a Ghost Tour
There’s lots of different ghost tours to do in New York, each with their own exciting offering. Some different options include The Haunted Broadway Walking Tour, Candlelight Ghost Tours of Manhattan’s Most Haunted House and The Greenwich Ghost Tour! Joining any of these tours is a spooky way to spend Halloween Weekend!

Wander the City
New Yorker’s take their Halloween decorations very seriously! For some amazing house decoration, a visit to the Upper East Side is a must! Houses covered in cobwebs, giant witches and ghosts and perfectly carved pumpkins will all greet you on your adventure!

Visiting New York this November? Well we’ve compiled a list of our top things to do and see in the city this month!

Winter in Bryant Park
1st November
With ice-skating, over 170 holiday shops and some of the best food stalls around! Winter in Bryant Park is a must for those visiting New York City over the Winter season! Enjoy a hot chocolate as you browse the Christmas gifts or watch everyone ice-skating

Fitzpatrick Oyster Festival
1st – 15th November
Join us for our annual Oyster Festival on the patio at The Wheeltapper! Each day we will have a different Oyster Special, including Deep Fried Oysters, Chicken and Oyster Gumbo and Herb Baked Oysters! A truly delicious festival, so make sure you stop by to say hello!

New York City Marathon
4th November
First run in 1970, The New York City Marathon is now the largest in the world, with more than 50,000 finishers last year. The 48th New York City Marathon course goes through all 5 boroughs! Even if you’re not taking part, it’s worth taking to the streets to cheer on the marathon runners!

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
22nd November
The annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, the world’s largest parade, is presented one of our favourite department stores Macy’s! This 3 hour event is one not to be missed if you are visiting New York City! Starting at West 77th Street & Central Park West, the parade travels through Manhattan finishing up at Macy’s Herald Square!

Hit the Sales on Black Friday
23rd November
After Thanksgiving come the Black Friday Sales! If you want a bargain, Black Friday is your best option to get one! Head out with the crowds and hit the sales!

Rockefeller Tree Lighting Ceremony
28th November
A symbol of the start of Christmas in New York! The tree lighting ceremony this year takes place at 7pm on Wednesday 28th November! Make sure you head along to enjoy music and the Christmas atmosphere!

In many American households, the Thanksgiving celebration has lost much of its original historical significance; instead, it now centers on cooking and sharing a bountiful meal with family and friends.

Thanksgiving takes place this year on Thursday 22nd November, so we decided to share some of our favorite Thanksgiving Traditions with you.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
The annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, the world’s largest parade, is presented one of our favorite department stores Macy’s! This 3 hour event is one not to be missed if you are visiting New York City! Starting at West 77th Street & Central Park West, the parade travels through Manhattan finishing up at Macy’s Herald Square! It’s one of Teddy Fitz’s favorite things to do on Thanksgiving Day before he heads to the hotel to meet all of our guests so make sure you keep an eye out and say hello to him if you pass him!

Try some of our Favorite Dishes
Thanksgiving is a time for friends and family to get together to share a meal with one another. Some of our favorite dishes include:
Turkey – this is a staple at any Thanksgiving table.
Stuffing – A delicious addition to any meal!
Pumpkin Pie – A seasonal dish that over the years has become the dessert choice for Thanksgiving.
Sweet Potato
Mac ‘n’ Cheese – This was an addition by Teddy Fitz, he’s loves this and make sure he adds it to his Thanksgiving Day table.

The Wishbone
If you’ve enjoyed a turkey Thanksgiving, you will be left with a wishbone. This is to be snapped between two people, the person who gets the bigger end will have their wish granted in the coming year.

Take A Walk Around The City
One thing Teddy Fitz always recommends is a post dinner walk around the city. He loves to see the city on a quieter evening after the crowds from the parade have gone home for their dinner.

Football
A lot of people will spend the afternoon watching the Football games with their families. The first Thanksgiving Day football game took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Thanksgiving Day of 1869 and it has been a Thanksgiving Day tradition ever since!

All of us here at Fitzpatrick Hotels would like to wish you, your family and your friends a Happy Thanksgiving.

Are you planning a trip to New York December? We’ve put together a list of our must-see sights this December!

Winter in Bryant Park

With ice-skating, over 170 holiday shops and some of the best food stalls around! Winter in Bryant Park is a must for those visiting New York City over the Winter season! Enjoy a hot chocolate as you browse the Christmas gifts or watch everyone ice-skating.

5th Avenue

5th Avenue comes alive at Christmas! Stroll down one of the world’s most notable shopping streets and take in the Christmas buzz! First stop, Tiffany’s – their Christmas lights display is a sure sign that Christmas in New York has kicked off! Next stop off at Rockefeller Center to view their iconic Christmas tree and ice-skating rink! The Christmas windows that line 5th Avenue are always a treat and some of our favorites include Lord & Taylor, Henri Bendels and Saks Fifth Avenue!

Ice-Skating

Why not try your hand at ice-skating if you’re visiting the city this December? New York has a number of ice-skating rinks including Wollman Rink in Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park and Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers.

Go See A Show

Going to see a show in December is a great Christmas treat! Some of the classic Broadway Shows include The Book of Mormon, The Lion King and Wicked! Or if you really want to get into the Christmas spirit, why not go and see the Christmas Spectacular Starring The Radio City Rockettes which runs for the month of December.

With Christmas just around the corner, we’ve decided to share a list of our favorite things to do in New York this Christmas.

Christmas Display Windows

Christmas is the time when all of the stores in New York go all out for their Window Displays! Some of our favorites include Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Macys and Lord & Taylor! (Make sure you check out Lord & Taylor’s window display if you are in New York this year as the store is due to close their 5th Avenue location in 2019!)

Ice Skating

We may have mentioned this before but only because it’s a wonderful winter experience to enjoy while you visit the city! Some of our favorite locations include Bryant Park, Central Park and the Rockefeller Center!

 Rockefeller Center

Visit the famous Christmas Tree at the Rockefeller Center! It’s almost a New York tradition to take a photo in front of the tree! Although, if you are looking for the biggest Christmas Tree in New York, head to the New York Stock Exchange!

Go to see The Rockettes Christmas Spectacular at Radio City

This show runs through to January 6th and is a New York Tradition! The show is 90-minute long and features more than 140 performers combining singing, dancing, and humor with traditional scenes.

Light Show at Saks Fifth Avenue

The light show at Saks Fifth Avenue is one not to be missed! Running every few minutes and accompanied by music, it is a showstopper and you will often find a number of people stopped on 5th Avenue to watch the show!

Visit More & More Antiques

Located on the at 378 Amsterdam Avenue, More & More Antiques transforms from an Antique Store to a Christmas Shop each year! It’s filled with hundreds of ornaments and the perfect Christmas gifts!

New York and its iconic landscape is one of the world’s most popular destinations and as such there’s plenty of things to see and do! But with so much see it can become overwhelming not knowing where to start but here at Fitzpatrick Hotels New York we have devised our very own bucket list of New York recommendations!

Top of the Rock
The views over Manhattan are certainly a must see and at the top of the Rockeller Center you’ll be treated to views over Manhattan that will truly take your breath away! Up at the observation deck you will be greeted to 360 panormaic views of the city,Central Park and the Big Apple making it a New York must see!

New York Museum of Modern Art
For all Art connoisseurs this is one visit not to be missed. And with free entry on Fridays between 4-9pm it gaurantees not to dissappoint. With two locations to choose from and several exciting exhibitions there’s lots to enjoy.

Shake Shack
You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to food in New York but Shake Shack is a New York must see! Serving up some of New York’s finest burgers this is an essential trip for any New York visit!

China Town
Chinatown is a bustling area with lots of restaurants, cafes and Asian markets. Located right below little Italy and spanning from Broadway to Essex, Chinatown brings together a host of Asian dishes and ingredients that can’t be found anywhere else in the city. Renowned for its unique Asian dining experience it is indeed a New York must see experience!

Broadway
Lights, Camera, Action! Broadway is indeed one of New York’s most famous attractions. Nestled right in the heart of the city you’ll be spoilt for choice! This month features many favourites including The Lion King, Wicked to Phantom of the Opera so something for every age group!

Times Square at Night
Amidst the hustle of bustle of New York is the magnetic lights of Times Square which at night are certainly not to be missed. Times square is one of the busiest streets and there you’ll find people from all over the world congregrating to enjoy the New York atmosphere!

Walk the Brooklyn Bridge
There’s no doubt about it that walking across the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most quintessentially New York things to do & is a must see for anyone visiting the city. Spanning over the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn, this famous bridge was the world’s first steel-wire suspension bridge and was termed ‘a daring act of engineering’ by the New York Times in 1983 so be sure to take a walk over this historic bridge!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and during the festive Season New York offers an unforgettable experience, perfect for getting you into the holiday spirit! And here at Fitzpatrick Hotels New York, we’ve complied our Top 10 Things to do during the holiday season!

1. Bryant Park Winter Village

Located between Fifth and Sixth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, this holiday market offers the ultimate Christmas experience. This market offers over 125 shopping kiosks and food vendors along with a 17,000 square foot ice rink perfect for transporting you to a winter wonderland! This is the merriest of Christmas markets and the rink and fair run right through to the 2nd January 2018!

2. Christmas Windows

The Christmas windows in New York are truly unforgettable. Enjoy the magic as you browse the shops around the city where you’ll be greeted to elaborate and extravagant decorations, which will have you feeling festive in no time as you make your way through the streets. As always, stores including Bloomingdales, Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue show off all of their festive windows in style, which does not disappoint!

3. Radio City Christmas Spectacular

Christmas shows are on everyone’s mind during the holiday season and the annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular is on top of everyone’s list! This Christmas delight features Santa, Wooden Soldiers and the world famous Rockettes and is certainly a New York must see!

4. Rockefeller Center

Soar up to the Top of the Rock and enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the city. After taking in the sights from 850 feet above street level, head back down to ground level and enjoy ice-skating at the famous Rockefeller Center. This event is not to be missed and you’ll be feeling festive as you skate around the stunning 76 foot Christmas tree!

5. A Christmas Carole at Merchants House

Another great New York event taking place this Christmas is the Charles Dickens Christmas Carole at Merchant’s House. This enchanting show is performed by Candlelight where audiences are treated to a one-hour performance of this classic tale with a modern day twist. This performance also takes place at the stunning 19th-century Merchants House which provides a spectular backdrop for this show. Audiences will even be treated to mulled wine and tasty snacks!

6. The Nutcracker

The amazing Tchaikovsky’s Christmas Ballet returns again this Christmas to Lincoln Center. This magical 1954 production performed by the New York City Ballet Company is an enchanting show featuring an onstage blizzard and a Christmas tree that grows from 12-40 feet and we definitely recommend booking tickets!

7. Elf The Musical

The much-loved Broadway musical adaption of the popular Will Ferrell comedy Elf returns to Madison Square Gardens for the holiday season! This hilarious show features the tale of a human boy who has been raised as an Elf at the North Pole who finds himself in confused in wintry New York City, in search of his family! It will have you and the family laughing out loud this festive season!

8. The Apollo

Another great family friendly activity takes place at the legendary Apollo. These weekly amateur nights feature the recent winners of the ‘Apollo Stars of Tomorrow’ which showcases a range of gifted young musicians, singers and dancers which will entertain the entire family this Christmas.

9. Central Park

Spending the holiday season in New York is like no other and no trip is complete without a visit to this famous park. With the snow glistening and the picturesque scenery it has become synonymous with many a wedding proposal!

10. Years Eve in New York

Ringing the New Year in New York is one unforgettable experience! As the city comes alive with an all night party with a host of concerts, shows and fireworks to enjoy it provides the perfect way to ring in the New Year! It is recommended that you keep an eye on all of the ticket announcements so that you don’t miss out!

Jet Ski Tour

Looking to take in New York from a unique and different perspective? Why not witness some of New York’s most iconic and captivating sights from a Jet Ski? The NYC Harbor Jet Ski is a 4 hour excursion to Manhattan, where you will have a front seat to all New York’s greatest attractions. Landmarks and attractions you will see on your water based adventure are The Statute of Liberty, Coney Island, Verrazano Bridge, Eilis Island, Brooklyn Bridge, the World Financial Center along with much much more. Whether you are a tourist or alocal from New York you will not want to miss this exciting and adrenaline boosting sight seeing tour.

To find out more check out the website.

Big Bus Tour

An enjoyable and a convenient way to see New York, the open tip Big Bus sightseeing tour allows you to take in the city’s famous landmarks like the Statute of Liberty and the Empire State Building. The bus operates on a hop -on and hop-off policy, meaning you are free to explore and visit New York’s tourist attractions like the American Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. During the bus tour you will learn about the city’s history from informative and entertaining commentary. There are a number of ticket options to choose from to suit your budget and your preferences. The Big Bus Tour is a great way to see New York and visit the cities most iconic landmarks and attractions. Please visit the Big Bus Tour website for more details.

Food and Culture Walking Tour

There are a multitude of different walking tours you can take in New York, why not take a walking tour with a difference that includes enough tasting on the menu for lunch? The Chelsea Market and Meatpacking District Food Tour is a three hour tour through the Manhattan neighbours of Chelsea and the Meat packing district. The tour includes a visit to the historic indoor food market mecca in Chelsea plus a short walk on the cobblestone streets of the trendy Meatpacking district as well as a visit to the famous Highline- the park in the sky. Participants on the tour will experience the sights, sounds and flavours of this 118 year old historic building that hosts the renowned market as well as learning why the Chelsea Market has become the ultimate food paradise destination by tasting your way through. A stroll along New Yorks only elevated outdoor park with magnificent views of the Hudson River while learning about the bustling and trendy Meatpacking district, finishes off the tour perfectly. If this tour sounds like something you would like to take part please visit the website for more details.

Helicopter Tour of New York

What better way to get a clear birds eye view of New York city then in your own chartered helicopter? The helicopter tours give you an exciting and the unobstructed up-close view of the city and its landmarks and attractions.
There are a number of packages to meet your preferences whether it is visiting a number of attractions or a more specific liberty tour, airport transfer to NYC or a general helicopter ride around the city, the tour can be tailored to you. The chartered flights can be scheduled any time of the day or night. New York Helicopters prides itself on its commitment to affordable, safe, convenient and efficient transportation services that has earned its reputation as New York’s leading provider of helicopter tours. To find out more information on the different packages you can avail of or to get more information on the helicopter tours please visit the website for more details.

Visiting New York is an incredible experience and there is always so much to see and do; you could spend years in the city and not experience half of it. If you are in New York for a short visit it can be difficult to know what to see or put off until your next visit. We at Fitzpatrick Hotels have compiled a mini guide for first timers visitors to New York City compromising of some of New York City’s most famous and well known landmarks.

The Statue of Liberty:

Globally recognised as the symbol of freedom the statue of liberty is a must visit destination. Gifted to America form France in 1886 this iconic monument is located on Liberty island in Upper New York Harbour. To get to the Statue of Liberty you will need to take a short ferry which will bring you directly to the island. From here you will begin your tour which lasts for 30-45 minutes. The tour provides a general history the island, the statue and of the many emigrants who’s first sight of America was of the Statue of Liberty. A visit to the Statue of Liberty is a must for any tourist visiting New York.

Empire State Building:

The majestic Empire State Building is one of worlds largest skyscrapers. It is located in Midtown Manhattan, New York, and it dates back to the 1930’s. The observation deck on the Empire State Building is one of the most popular in the world and has been visited over 110 million times by people from all over the world.
On the second floor of the Empire State Building is a motion simulator attraction which was opened in 1994. This is a cinematic presentation that provides a virtual aerial tour of New York lasting approximately 25 minutes.
Queues to enter the Empire State Building are legendary and a trick to beat the crowds is to arrive between 8am and 11am.
While in New York a visit to the world famous Empire State Building is a must and it is an experience that you will never forget.

Grand Central Station:

Often referred to as Grand Central Terminal, Grand Central Station is a commuter and railroad terminal at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. This station is a throwback to the olden days of incredibly detailed architecture. Look in wonder at the incredible ceilings or have some drinks in the legendary Oyster bar. Visit the Whispering Gallery and tell your partner a secret or visit the gourmet culinary market and try exotic and different food. Even if you are not taking a train anywhere you can spend hours exploring the magical Grand Central Station which has loads to see and do. You can also take the grand tour of the station which is provided daily.

Central Park:

The world famous Central Park is an urban park located in middle upper Manhattan. It is the most visited park in the United States with over 35 million visitors per year. The park is a beautify and welcoming hiatus for tourists and New Yorkers alike who might be looking to get away from the busy city for a while.
There are many ponds and lakes in the park and during the winter months there are two ice rinks open.
The Central Park Zoo, Strawberry Field gardens (named after the famous Beatles song) and Belvedere Castle are also some of the many things to see in Central park. Central Park is free to explore and with only a few amenities inside the park charging an entrance fee. Well worth a visit Central Park is a unique attraction of outstanding beauty.

To find out more about Fitzpatrick Hotel Manhattan as well as the other hotels in the Fitzpatrick Group please click here and book your stay today!

The area around Grand Central serves not only as one of the busiest transportation hubs in the world but is a great destination for shopping and dining. The Fitzpatrick Grand Central hotel is only a stones throw away from the iconic landmark and the exceptional shopping facilities that come along with it.

Grand Central 

The Grand Central Terminal is one of the largest train stations ain the world as well as a cultural icon, having been the backdrop of many historic event and films. The iconic building  is renowned for its beautiful Beaux- Arts architecture; it was designed in 1912 and is a magnificent historic landmark.

Shopping at Grand Central

Why not indulge in some retail therapy while you are staying in Grand Central. Pick up a souvenirs in the array of gift shops and convenience stores available or shop in the popular boutiques of Banana Republic, the Apple store, Kenneth Cole, Aveda and Hermes. There are also toy stores and children’s apparel to keep the kids happy as well as a range of cosmetic, hair care, speciality food stores and electronic and service stores to cater to all your shopping needs.

Dining at Grand Central

All that shopping will make you work up a healthy appetite and thirst. Luckily there are a number of great restaurants available in the busy station with an Oyster bar, Café Spice and Manhattan Chilli Company to name a few. 

Shopping near Grand Central

For many visitors no trip to New York would be complete without a visit to New York’s most famous shopping district Fifth Avenue.  Within a short walking distance of Grand Central and in the heart of Manhattan, Fifth Avenue has a mix of exclusive high-end fashion stores as well as the more high street commercial stores.  Visitors to Fifth Avenue are spoilt for choice for shopping, dinning as well as taking in some of the New York’s landmark buildings such as the Rockefeller Center, St. Patricks Cathedral, the Empire State Building and the Public Library.

Fitzpatrick Grand Central

The Fitzpatrick Grand Central is as its name suggests next to the famous station with its appealing retail shops. Like its sister hotel 12 blocks away, the Fitzpatrick Grand Central prides itself in providing a warm Irish hospitality in an elegant atmosphere against the backdrop of the bustling city. Situated directly opposite the Grand Central station visitors can benefit from the easy accessibility to all parts of Manhattan. The hotel is also within walking distance of New York’s most famous attractions such as the Empire State Building, the Rockefeller Center as well as the Theatre District.

The newly renovated hotel consists of 144 deluxe rooms and 11 suites. The rooms are ideal for both business and leisure visitors to the city, visitors can relax in their spacious and comfortable surroundings, luxurious canopied beds, separate sitting areas and work stations.

The Wheeltrapper Pub is located just off the hotel’s lobby and is a popular destination for both locals and hotel guests alike. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the pub daily and the heated outdoor Patio.

For more information on Fitzpatrick Grand Central and our sister hotel Fitzpatrick Manhattan please visit our website and book that New York shopping trip you have been day dreaming about today.