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New York consistently ranks in the top ten list of city breaks for tourist and its easy to see why.  With so many  places to visit and things to do it can be difficult to know what to see and do and it would be impossible to pack it all into a short or even a long stay.  Here at Fitzpatrick Hotels we have compiled a list of some of the hidden tourism gems that Manhattan has to offer, places that might not be on everyones radar but places that should be visited none the less.

Ghostbusters Firehouse

Manhattan is filled with famous movie locations but few are as iconic as the firehouse from the 1980’s classic, Ghostbusters. If you are a fan of the movie then a visit here a must. Still a working firehouse the exterior of the building hasn’t changed since the days that the Ghostbuster were residents.
The firehouse also appeared in the 2005 movie Hitch, an episode of Seinfeld and the 2016 reboot of Ghostbusters.
If you would like to see more movie or television show locations in Manhattan you can book a tour here and you will see where many world famous movies and TV shows were filmed.

David Zwirner

David Zwirner, one of New York’s better know galleries.  This a large space, taking up the ground floor of several buildings. If you happen to be here for an opening, you’ll be brushing up against  hipsters and business people alike with a bottle of beer in hand, always generously served from iced trash cans. The gallery often shows minimalist art such as Donald Judd’s empty cubes or John McCracken’s colourful planks, and lots of photography ranging from Thomas Ruff’s abstractions to Philip-Lorca diCorcia’s fashion.  For more information click on David Zwiner click here.

Children’s museum of Manhattan

Where better to bring children on a trip to Manhattan than the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.  A place that emphasizes early childhood education, creativity, health and world culture there is something that will attract the interest of any child.  The museum was founded by Betty Koram in 1973 and it continues to grow from strength to strength. Classes and exhibitions run frequently and they are a fun and creative way to learn and interact with other Children. This is a truly magical place that children and adults love.
For more information on the children’ museum of Manhattan click here.

Ripleys Believe It Or Not 

Definitely more offbeat than obscure, this destination will leave you amazed, intrigued, confused, and possibly even a tiny bit grossed out. While the building exterior may not be as wild as some of the other Ripley’s locations, inside it spans two massive floors and is a great way to kill an hour or two. If you have never tour a Ripley’s museum before, well then you might as well start with what is arguably one of their best. It’s located at Times Square and is imposible to miss.  For more information click here.

So after a long day of sightseeing don’t forget to visit Fitzpatrick Hotels and relax, unwind and have  something to eat or drink.  Our gorgeous rooms also make for a comfortable place to stay on your visit to New York.

 

All over America there are fantastic events to celebrate the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day and here in New York City it is no different. Throughout his life Dr. Martin Luther King Jr dedicated himself to civil rights, non violent opposition and community service. Since January 1986 when it became a nationwide holiday the people of New York City have commemorated his life by holding events and carrying out volunteer work all over NYC. If you’re visiting one of the Fitzpatrick Hotels in New York in January be sure to get involved and remember legendary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr at some of these events.

One of the great things about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day in New York is that there are fun and educational events for all the family. Now in it’s 29th year, the 2017 Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative March by Manhattan Country School eight – graders is a lovely example of events for all ages. The kids take to the streets of Manhattan and march to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The march is a inspiring demonstration of speaking out for civil rights with young kids giving speeches along the way and a perfect way to show our children what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr stood for. This year the theme is “ We Will Not Be Silenced: A Call To Action” starting at 10am at Riverside Church and finishing at Manhattan Country School at 1pm with stops and speeches along the way.

A little further afield but definitely worth the trip is the Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr presented by the Brooklyn Academy of Music. For it’s 31st year BAM welcomes Opal Tometi, a racial and immigrants rights activist to the Peter Jay Sharp Building to give his keynote speech at 10.30am. Tickets for the speech will be available from 8am in the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House lobby. If you don’t make it for the speech that’s ok as the day is only beginning. As New York City’s largest celebration in honor of the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, BAM offers many more world – renowned activists, poets, musicians and performers to make the day really special. Institutional Radio Choir and Sacred Steel band the Campbell Brothers are two that should not be missed. BAM is easily accessed by subway from either Fitzpatricks Manhattan or Fitzpatricks Grand Central so just ask us and we will be glad to point you in the right direction.

These are just two of the biggest events happening in New York City on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day to honour the great man but there are plenty more happening around NYC, so if you’re staying at a Fitzpatrick hotel or just dropping in, please ask and we will help you find the event that suits you.

 

For a city that is so far from Italy, New York City has a lot of really good pizza restaurants. That’s because New Yorkers love pizza and at Fitzpatrick Hotels New York it is no different, we really love pizza. So it is no surprise that we look forward to National Pizza Day every year and this year we thought we would share our favourite pizza restaurants in New York City with our guests. Now you will have no excuse not to celebrate this great day with some of the best pizza NYC has to offer.

Up first we have Joe’s Pizza in Greenwich Village. Joe’s has been open since 1975 and has been delivering us with great New York Style pizza since. Always made fresh means that the slices are mouthwateringly hot with Joe’s own pizza sauce and fresh mozzarella cheese. Available to sit in but I wouldn’t get your hopes up, Joe’s is small and because of the quality, always has a lot of business. Joe’s would be perfect for anyone staying in the Fitzpatrick Hotel Grand Central and wanted to head out to grab a quick slice or two on the go.

Next up is Kesté Pizza & Vino, another fabulous pizza establishment in West Village. Kesté Pizza & Vino was established in 2009 by Roberto Caporuscio. Born and raised outside Naples, Italy, Roberto knows a lot about Italian pizza and more importantly, he knows a lot about making Italian pizza. Kresté offer Neapolitan pizza with a wide range of toppings cooked in a wood fired oven to give them a real authentic Italian finish. Reasonably priced and not to far from Fitzpatrick Hotel Grand Central, Kresté Pizza and Vino is one of the staffs favourite in Fitzpatrick Hotels NYC.

Located in Brooklyn, Roberta’s is a little bit further afield from our Manhattan Hotels and even with the queues that can sometimes last hours rather than minutes, we still had to include it. Labelled on Google Map’s as “Hipster Italian dining plus takeout”, Roberta’s is certainly different with graffiti on the walls and picnic tables but the reason Roberta’s gets on our list is how good the pizza is. With really creative toppings, Roberta’s never fails to satisfy that pizza craving. We definitely recommend making the the trip and sticking out the queue.

How could we finish our list of best pizza places in New York City without mentioning the first pizzeria in the United States. Located in the Little Italy area of Manhattan, Lombardi’s New York City was founded in 1905 and the pizza is still great. With great pizza and good atmosphere, Lombardi’s is a good one if you are visiting New York as a family.

So there you are, no excuses to not embrace National Pizza Day and get stuck into some of the best pizza New York City has to offer. As always, just ask us in one of our Fitzpatrick Hotels NYC if you need any assistance or if you need to wash down all that pizza with a drink we would love to have you. Enjoy.

Presidents’ Day weekend has arrived! If you are visiting New York for the weekend you are in for a treat as it is Presidents’ day weekend. This public holiday is celebrated every year on the third Monday of February. This holiday was originally dedicated to the first President of the United States, George Washington, but now this day is an occasion to honor all persons who have served as President. There are a number of events and activities happening in New York over the course of the weekend. We have created a list of the best kid friendly activities for this long weekend.

The New York Historical Society Museum and Library

The New York Historical Society are holding a number of President themed events over the long weekend. There will be a Presidential Scavenger Hunt daily, kids of all ages can search for images and objects relating to presidential history inside the museum. Children will also be able to show off their creative flair by making portraits of Presidents allowing them to flex their arts and crafts skills.  For more details click here.

The Big Quiz Thing’s Presidents’ Day Family Trivia

This quiz is a fun and challenging quiz on U.S history with a focus on past, present, and future U.S. presidents. Kids ages 6 and up and their parents take part in “figureoutable” trivia questions and video and audio puzzles (everyone gets to play), culminating in the stupendous Buzzertastic Finale. There are fantastic prizes from the New York Historical Society.
This event is hosted by Andy Peeke and is a fun activity for all the family.  For more details click here.

Teddy Bears for Teddy Roosevelt at the Museum of the City of New York

A little known fact is that teddy bears got their names from Teddy Roosevelt. Celebrate Presidents’ Day at the Museum of the City of New York, where you can learn about President Roosevelt’s time as the Police Commissioner of New York, discover his friendship with Jacob Riis and make your very own teddy bear. This event is educational and fun and kids will love it. Suitable for ages 6-12, it runs from 11am – 5pm with entry free with museum admission.
For more details click here.

After your activity packed day, you can relax in your oasis of calm in the Fitzpatrick Manhattan or Fitzpatrick Grand Central Hotel. Book and stay before March the 5th and receive 20% off for Fitzpatrick Manhattan Hotel.

St. Patrick’s Day is a celebration of Irish culture and if you are in New York for March 17^th you are in for a treat as the city celebrates everything Irish. The date is marked by the death of Saint Patrick, Ireland’s most celebrated patron saint who brought Christianity to Ireland.

 St. Patrick’s Day Parade

There are a number of events being held throughout the week and on St. Patrick’s Day itself, the most famous and noteworthy being the St. Patrick’s Parade. New York is the host of the world’s oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day parade taking place every year since 1762, before the declaration of Independence was even signed! The parade is one of the biggest events in New York in March, it starts at 11 am on 5^th Avenue and runs between 44^th and 79^th. It marches past a number of New York attractions such as St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Central Park, before finishing at around 5:00 pm at the American Historical Society at East 80^th Street. Pop on your finest green attire and celebrate one of New York’s oldest traditions.

Annual St. Patrick’s Day Open Day

Join the Irish Arts Centre as it welcomes visitors with open arms for a fun filled day celebrating Irish culture. Visitors can enjoy watching traditional dance and music performance,  they will also have the opportunity to learn how to play the tin whistle and pick up a few words in Gaelic Ireland’s native language, as well as some football skills. With face painting as well as Irish music, dancing, craft workshops and a delicious Irish tea flowing, this is set to be a day the whole family will enjoy.

Sober St. Patrick’s Day

Celebrate the Irish Culture without the Irish Whiskey’s and pints of Guinness at the St. Patrick’s Youth Center Gym. There will be just as much Irish fun with Irish step dancers, traditional music, food and refreshments and more. Acts will include John Whelan Band, Fiddler Dylan Foley and dancing by the Donny Golden School of Irish Dance. Located at 270 Mulberry Street. Don’t miss out and join in the fun.

St. Patrick’s Day at Fitzpatrick Hotels

In Fitzpatrick Hotels we are marking the occasion with a week long festival celebrating all things Irish. Join us in the Fitz or the Wheeltapper and not only will you receive a great Irish welcome, depending on the day, there will complimentary samples of whiskey offered on arrival or activities such as Irish cocktail making classes. The Wheeltapper, which was named one of the Top 5 Irish restaurants in NYC by Time Out NY Magazine will be holding its annual Party All Day Long on St. Patrick’s Day with our special St. Patrick’s Day Menu full of Irish specialties. Help us celebrate all things Irish and join us for a mighty good time!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from all at Fitzpatrick Hotels New York.

The hotel business is VERY competitive. Those serious about it approach hospitality with a level of commitment that is almost like a religious calling. Here at Fitzpatrick Hotels, our mission is to exceed the expectations of our guests by providing personal attention and unparalleled service that inspires them to return again, and again. We live this mission every day.

We don’t often offer praise to our competition – the type of professional passion we are talking about just does not allow for it. But something significant happened last week that warrants an exception to this rule. On March 1^st, when their last guest checked out at 12pm, the great Waldorf Astoria shut its doors and closed.

Located at almost the midway point between our two hotels on Lexington Avenue, ours were two of the closest hotels to the Waldorf Astoria. However, it was not just another competitor.

The Waldorf really put the hospitality industry on the map here in the United States. The original Waldorf opened in 1893, and it moved to its current location 86 years ago, in 1931. It was the tallest hotel in world at the time, and remained so for almost 35 years. It made a splash quickly, and became the “Mecca” for lavish hospitality and opulence, in its rooms, in its restaurants and in its function spaces. The largest of these functions spaces is its Grand Ballroom, which has ceilings almost 50 feet high, and can seat 1,500 people for dinner.

The Waldorf was an innovator in so many ways. They invented room service, which other hotels quickly copied. Then, they invented 24-hour room service, which wasn’t as easy to copy. Talk about progressive? In 1931, they were the first hotel to hire women as chefs, long before Julia Child came along to make it fashionable. Many food and beverage favorites were invented there – the Rob Roy cocktail, Red Velvet Cake, Eggs Benedict, the Martini (yes…THE Martini), and of course, the Waldorf Salad.

The Waldorf was the first hotel in the U.S. to become a “celebrity haunt” – a place where people went specifically to be seen. The list of famous guests is endless, but notables included Queen Elizabeth II, Elizabeth Taylor, Gregory Peck, Charlie Chaplin, Judy Garland, John Wayne, Muhammad Ali and the Dalai Lama.

Some celebrities even used the hotel as their residence for long periods of time. This list includes Marilyn Monroe, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and Frank Sinatra, who lived in “The Cole Porter Suite” and hung out in Sir Harry’s Bar, right of the lobby.

Every President of the United States going all the way back to Herbert Hoover has stayed at the Waldorf while in New York. It might have been the only hotel in the world where the term “Presidential Suite” was completely literal. Although, we come close at Fitzpatrick Manhattan, where every Irish President stayed since opening in 1991.

All of this buzz very firmly established the Waldorf as the yardstick by which other hotels were measured. This pushed other hotels to elevate their product and service, and by extension reshaped the hospitality industry into a bona fide professional field here in the United States. For that, we say “Thank you, Waldorf Astoria”.

Like many institutions, the Waldorf had aged a bit in more recent years, and while she may not have had quite the same luster that she used too, the Waldorf still had a certain mystique that was completely its own.

I’m sure many other hoteliers around the world – especially those here in New York – also felt a pang of remorse at the closing of the iconic Waldorf’s doors. We would like to take this opportunity to raise a glass to the Waldorf and thank the iconic hotel for raising the bar in hotel hospitality, giving us all something to aspire to.

We at Fitzpatrick’s realize that many regular guests of the Waldorf might need to find a new hotel near the Waldorf when in New York. We would love to welcome you, please mention this tribute to our reservations team, or use the promotional code WALD10 on our website, and we would be delighted to offer you a 10% discount of off our Best Available Rate. Please click here for Fitzpatrick Manhattan and here for Fitzpatrick Grand Central.

As the weather cools down and the trees begin the change, the stunning and vibrant colors come to life in NYC. Fall in New York provides you with a multitude of activities to immerse yourself in all that the city has to offer. Some highlights include:

Ice Skating at the Rockefellar Center:
Ice skating at the iconic Rockefellar Center is an experience not to be missed. Located right in the heart of the city you’ll be lost in the atmosphere as skaters pass you by!

NYC Food and Wine Festival
For all you foodies this festival is a must. This is New York’s largest food and wine festival and brings together a unique collection of New York’s favourite dining establishments! With over 100 events ranging from individual tastings, dinners and a backyard barbecue on Pier 92, food enthusiasts won’t want to miss this!

 

Halloween
October in New York is all about Halloween! With Giant Pumpkins on view at the Botantical Gardens and the famous Village Halloween Parade, you’ll certainly be able to immerse yourself in all that New York has to offer this Halloween.

Basketball
As the basketball season ramps up, the Pre-Season begins this Fall at the famous Madison Square Gardens. This October the first pre-season game features the Brooklyn Nets and New York’s very own New York Knicks and is a must see event!

Central Park
No trip this fall would be complete without venturing into the famous park. Take a stroll around this stunning landscape and enjoy the beautiful autumnal colours. For anyone visiting with kids a visit to the Central Park Zoo is also not to be missed!

At Fitzpatrick Hotels we’re centrally located close to all of action that New York has to offer this Fall so be sure to book now!

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!