We’ve all seen the movies, read the books, watched the plays. We know New York can be as romantic as any European hot spot. But how, where, when?
Here are a few suggestions to experience some of the more tender New York moments that can be had in the big, beloved apple.

South Street Seaport

South Street Seaport District- Conveniently located walking distance from Chinatown; you will enjoy people-watching, relaxing and souvenir shopping in this lovely little area. South Seaport Pier 17 is a bustling touristy place which is the old fish market converted into wonderful shops and restaurants. This is a great place to get a fantastic view of the ever-impressive Brooklyn Bridge.

Saks Fifth Avenue

Fifth Avenue- For many people Fifth Avenue is the heart of New York’s classy reputation. Well known as one of the premium bits of real estate anywhere in the world, taking a walk down Fifth Avenue makes you feel fabulously wealthy just by osmosis. Some of the sites to be had on Fifth Avenue are of the Empire State Building, the New York Public Library, Rockefeller Center, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim Museum. The best of Fifth is all within about a one mile wonderful walk, from 34th Street to 59th Street, with lots of unbelievable, typically New York, shopping.

Chrysler Building

Chrysler Building– This building is a classy alternative to a visit to the Empire State Building. Its classic ArtDeco Style is an iconic symbol of New York and one of the city’s most renowned skyline features. Chrysler was the first building to reach beyond 1000 feet, but its role as the world’s tallest building was short-lived as only 11 months later the Empire State Building reached even higher towards the heavens. A visit to this gorgeous testament to 1930s architecture will not be in vain.

As one of the more venerable of US cities, New York has a lot to offer history buffs. Here are a few New York landmarks which you may have heard of, but my guess is more likely not.

•    The Atlantic Avenue Tunnel- This is officially distinguished as the ‘world’s oldest subway tunnel.”  Built in 1844 underneath one of Brooklyn’s busiest streets in what was then the City of Brooklyn, the tunnel is one half-mile long and carries two standard gauge railroad tracks.  The tunnel took only 7 months to build, using the ‘cut-and-cover’ method, using only hand tools and simple equipment. The tunnel was rediscovered by Bob Diamond in 1980.  In 1982 The Brooklyn Historic Railway Society was created in order to preserve, publicize and allow public access to the tunnel. The tunnel is found today within the Cobble Hill and Brooklyn Heights Historic Districts as well as within a U.S. Historic District. The Atlantic Avenue Tunnel is a landmarked and protected historic site.

•    The Beacon Theatre- This theater, located at 2124 Broadway, seats 2,894 people in three tiers, and was opened in 1929. Although it was originally opened to present motion pictures and vaudeville shows, the Beacon is most famous as a music hall, which is what has been its primary function since the 1970s. An annual spring concert series which is still going on today featuring the Allman Brothers also had such classic bands as the Grateful Dead, the Rolling Stones, and others. The décor is ornate neo-Grecian with a trademark two-story, circular lobby. Both sides of the stage are adorned with statues of 30-foot-tall Greek goddesses.
•    St. Paul’s Chapel- built in 1766, St. Paul’s is an Episcopal church, and is New York’s oldest continuously used building. On inauguration day the first US President, George Washington, prayed here on April 30, 1789. Over the alter, in the chapel is the ornamental design of “Glory,” which is the work of Pierre L’Enfant, the designer of Washington, DC. The “Glory” illustrates Mt. Sinai in clouds with lightning; the word for God in Hebrew is in a triangle, and the tablets of the Law with the Ten Commandments.  More recently St Paul’s played an important role as a resting station for rescue workers during the days following the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, due to its location right across the street from Ground Zero. Today visitors to St. Paul’s can view the exhibit, “Unwavering Spirit: Hope and Healing at Ground Zero” which chronicles the special history of St. Paul’s and its volunteer ministry during the weeks and months following September 11th.
•    The Little Red Lighthouse- no longer in use, it is still possible to see the Little Red Lighthouse next to the George Washington Bridge in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan. Considered the most ‘beloved of American lighthouses,” the Little Red Lighthouse was made famous by the children’s book, “The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge” by Hildegarde Swift and Lynd Ward in 1942. In 1921 the lighthouse was brought to Jeffrey’s Hook by the US coastguard to aid navigation along the Hudson River. It served well for ten years until the brighter lights of the George Washington Bridge made the lighthouse obsolete. In 1948 the lighthouse was decommissioned by the Coast Guard, and the light was put out. The Coast Guard planned to auction off the lighthouse, but a public outcry and an outpouring of support, inspired in great part by the book, helped to save it. In 1951 the Coast Guard gave the property to the New York Parks Department, and in 1979 the Little Red Lighthouse became part of the National Register of Historic Places.

New York is full of surprises. Here are a few outings which are guaranteed to astound, excite or inspire, coming up this summer.

• Thrilling Fireworks- Macy’s sponsors one of the most incredible displays of fireworks anywhere in the country every 4th of July. Come to Hudson River Park on Monday night at 9pm at the conclusion of this year’s Independence Day holiday to witness in person with about 3 million spectators in addition to many millions nationwide who will watch the show on television. The largest of the nation’s fireworks shows, Macy’s will send over 40,000 blasts into the sky above the Hudson River for an unforgettable celebration of the 235th birthday of the USA.

Macy's Fireworks 2010

• Family Fun- This year’s Columbus Avenue Summer Festival will take place on Sunday, June 19th on Columbus Avenue (Duh!) between 86th and 96th Streets. Enjoy the wonderful arts, crafts, plants, antiques, games, entertainment. Get there early and have a fantastic day!

• Monkees Music- Whether or not you are old enough to remember the hit TV series “The Monkees” you will enjoy a trip down musical memory lane with this iconic pop-rock band. This rock group was artificially assembled not as musicians (although it so happens they were and are musicians) but mostly as actors to play the parts of musicians in a zany, cool and much loved late 1960s TV show. Go see them in two New York locations, part of a larger nation-wide tour, this Thursday evening, June 16 at the Beacon Theatre, and on Friday night June 17, at the Capital One Bank Theatre in Westbury, New York.

The Monkees Then

The Monkees Now

June is a great month to feast on some of New York’s special theatrical presentations. From Broadway to Central Park to some less known venues, treat yourself to some amazing performances this month.

•    Fish Eye: Playwright Lucas Kavner brings to life the love story of Max (Joe Tippett) and Anna (Betty Gilpin) which is a told in a loopy, time-warped fashion, but the narrative is never disjointed. Adrienne Campbell-Holt, director, makes sure everything runs smoothly while the cast delivers natural, convincing performances. Catch “Fish Eye” until June 18th at the HERE Arts Center, 145 Sixth Avenue, $18. Phone 2112-352-3101 for more information.

•    All’s Well That Ends Well: Until June 11th you can bask in the wonderful New York tradition of enjoying, for free, a Shakespeare play in Central Park. One of Shakespeare’s ‘tragicomedies.’ The story tells the unlikely romance of Helena, a simple doctor’s daughter, to Count Bertram, an unwilling partner in this forced marriage, believing that he is marrying below his station.  The play is full of twists and turns, one of Shakespeare’s “bed trick” plays, a case of mistaken identity during a sexual encounter. Delacorte Theater, June 11th through July 30th.

Shakespeare in the Park

•    Best of Broadway 2011: Fast-paced, great songs, fabulous dancing and exciting staging and choreography will make you glad you stepped out for some great musical nostalgia.  Check it out at the Tropicana Showroom in Atlantic City, 2831 Boardwalk, 800-843-8767