Every February Alpen Schatz packs its bags with lots of Alpine goodies and sets up a booth at the Westminster Dog Show in New York City - one of the worlds largest dog shows.
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| 2015 Westminster Champion |
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See this year's amazing behind the scene
Alpen Schatz Westminster pictures HERE!
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| Just blocks away... |
Uh-hum...back to the subject....New York City! This means that we get to spend a whole 10 days in the Big Apple where we get to stay in a fantastic hotel, eat at amazing restaurants, shop at our favorite stores and engulf ourselves in culture galore.
For this segment of ALPEN TRAVEL TIPS AND PICKS I wanted to share with my Alpen Travel Enthusiasts my favorite haunts that I cannot resist frequenting every time I visit this enrapturing world-class city.
Hotel Tip - a WOW Hotel in NYC
For my annual 10 day long trip to New York City, THE AVALON HOTEL on 16 East 32nd St (between 5th and Madison) wins hands down as my favorite hotel choice for a number of reasons.
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| Palatial Suites |
After staying in multiple hotels over the years from 5 star Classics (such as the Waldorf Astoria) to quaint Boutique hotels, the Avalon stands out among the rest for the following reasons: It has THE most friendly STAFF, a great LOCATION, large and immaculate ROOMS, palatial BATHROOMS, and although downtown, it is extremely QUIET.
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| Double Queen Suite - my pick! |
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| Living area with pull-out couch |
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Large marble bathrooms with
shower AND full bath |
The Hotel is centrally located - only a block away from the Empire State Building and blocks from Macy's and lots of shopping as well as the Theater District. The staff are courteous, professional and very helpful. The rooms and bathrooms are newly refurbished, clean and well appointed. I always book a Double Queen Suite with two Queens AND a pull-out sofa bed, as I never know how many of my volunteers for my booth will need a place to spend the night. The rooms are exceptionally spacious and quiet which is unique for New York City.
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| Empire State Building a block away... |
See my full review on Trip Advisor
NYC Restaurant & Entertainment Tips - My Favs...
BUKHARA GRILL - INDIAN
217 E 49th St (Between 2nd and 3rd Avenues), New York, NY 10017
(212) 888-2839
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| An Indian Feast at the Bukhara Grill |
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| Check out that NAN! |
One of the things I love most about travelling to New York City is the vast variety of ethnic cuisines from which to choose. One of my favorite ethnic cuisines is
Indian - addicted to after living in England for so many years, where Indian restaurants can be found in every village, town or city - with the BEST that Indian Cuisine can offer.
THE BUKHARA GRILL is the top Indian restaurant I have ever found so far in North America, with fantastic Pompadoms and pickles with which to start, through to perfectly spiced dishes for all tastes. My favourite is Tandoori Chicken along with garlic or keema Nan bread and a Saag (Baji) dish as a veggie side.
My number one tip is that any ethnic restaurant is good one when one is actually the minority...AND each time I have dined at the Bukhara Grill, the place has been packed with New York City's finest Indian residents and visitors.
The Bukhara Grill is a
must if you love Indian cuisine.
RIPOSO 46 - WINE BAR
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Owner and his
great staff |
667 9th Avenue & 46th St, New York, NY 10036
(212) 247-8018
A cozy, intimate restaurant with gourmet small plates and fabulous wines,
RIPOSO 46 is another one of my repeat favorites whilst visiting New York.
Creative dishes made from organic ingredients,
Riposo 46 boasts creative, flavorful dishes such as (some of my personal favorites): Wild Mushroom Grilled Flat Bread, house made Cheviche, and Grilled Asparagus with Prosciutto di Parma, Parmesan and Truffle Oil - divine!
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| Grilled Asparagus - Yum! |
The owner and his staff are wonderful and actually remember me year after year.
This great bistro is also my pick when I go swing dancing at
SWING 46 - not even a block away!
If you like great wines, fantastic food and a cozy atmosphere, Riposo 46 is the perfect place!
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| Great wines to choose from. Cheers! |
SWING 46 - RETRO SWING DANCE & SUPPER CLUB
349 West 46th Street, New York, NY 10036
(212) 262-9554
A few steps away from Riposo 46 is a unique 1930's look and feel Supper & Dance club with live big band music nightly: SWING 46.
As a Jazz musician myself as well as a lover of all forms of dance, I cannot resist spending at least one night in New York dancing the night away at SWING 46.
Whether a swing, boogie-woogie or jive dancer, jazz music aficionado or both, you will enjoy listening to top jazz artists playing everything from Glenn Miller to Benny Goodman while sipping a cocktail in their swanky atmosphere in-between tearing it up on the dance floor.
Not a dancer, but want to learn,? Check out their calendar, as they offer dance lessons on select nights of the week!
They do serve food in cozy booths surrounding the dance floor and I would highly recommend reservations if you plan on dining. The food is good, but it is not inexpensive - the price for a great table next to the dance floor all evening as opposed to the bar.
PETIT POULET - FRENCH BISTRO
52 W 33rd St (Between 5th and Broadway), New York, NY 10001
(212) 244-0440
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Finishing off the meal with a
perfectly chocolate dipped
Strawberry. |
Not far from the Avalon Hotel is a gem of a French restaurant called PETIT POULET. It is tucked away in the back of the Historic Beaux Arts HOTEL MARTINIQUE (a Radisson Hotel). Designed by the same builder of the famed Waldorf Astoria, the whole building boasts an air of French Renaissance elegance with mosaic tiled floors and classic tinned ceilings - setting the perfect scene for this charming French Bistro.
Their French Onion Soup is to die for, their Beef Tartar divine and of course their rotisserie Cornish Hen is a must to try.
They have an extensive wine list of fine French wines that I always take delight in perusing through and of course ordering a fine cuvée each time.
The atmosphere is romantic and the staff professional and knowledgeable.
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Cured Meats, Pate and European Cheeses are hand picked from
their own extensive deli counter |
BALTHAZAR - BRUNCH BRASSERIE STYLE
80 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
(212) 965-1785
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| Relaxing with Mimosas and a great Brunch |
A New York City institution since 1997, BALTHAZAR is one of the most unique 'hip' restaurants in the city. Complete with high ceilings, large mirrors and great train station size clocks adorning the walls, this French Brasserie serves from morning to late night and is a place to see and be seen.
I like to go for their champagne Sunday Brunch, for which they are famous, although I have also been spotted having a late night dinner now and again, which is their other unique specialty (they serve up until midnight nightly and until 1pm on Fridays and Saturdays!)
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Posh Spice, Victoria, leaving after
a Balthazar Brunch |
Their menu is reminiscent of those French Brasseries I visit when in Paris, full of such savory dishes such as Chicken Liver and Foie Gras Mousse (YUM!), Salade Nicoise, Steak au Poivre and of course the classic Moules Frites.
On one occasion, as we arrived for Brunch, there were masses of people and paparazzi outside peering in the window. We waltzed through the crowd and were give a prime table near the grand entrance. We then found out that British Soccar star David Beckham and his wife, Victoria (Posh Spice of the Spice Girls) were having brunch with their children only a couple of tables away.
Indeed, Balthazar, for its great food, amazing dining hours and European atmosphere is another one of my favorite haunts when I visit Manhattan.
NICHOLAS ROERICH MUSEUM - A UNIQUE CULTURAL NYC EXPERIENCE
319 West 107th Street
New York NY 10025
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On the upper West Side is a small non-descript stone house tucked away in a residential neighborhood. However, this is no ordinary abode, for it houses the Collection of one of the most prolific Russian artists of the 19th-20th Century: NICHOLAS ROERICH.
My fiancé just happens to be an artist with Nicholas being a strong influence behind his own paintings. He insisted that we visit the Roerich museum, and boy was I in for a treat.
Nicholas Roerich was not only one of Russia's most prolific artists, but a 20th Century Renaissance man, with his additional talents in writing, archaeology, theology, in addition to also being an enlightener, philosopher and public figure.
His art is said to have a hypnotic quality...which I saw and felt the moment I entered his gallery. So if you love art and want to avoid the crowds in all of the larger galleries - be sure to visit the Roerich Museum - you won't be disappointed!
IRISH PUBBING IT UP - NYC STYLE
Being half Irish, I cannot resist frequenting at least one (or multiple) New York City Irish pubs for food, drink and good old fashioned Irish cheer.
Two of my favourites are Tír na nÓg in the Threater District & Midtown and St James Gate (not far from the Roerich Museum) on Amsterdam, upper West Side.
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| Smoked Salmon & Shepard's Pie - two of my favourites! |
Both pubs have stellar food and (of course) a great choice of beverages of every description.
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A fine selection of beverages
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My friend Claire and I
"Slàinte!" |
315 W 39th St, New York, NY 441 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY
(212) 760-0072 (212) 362-6202
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These are just a few of the many places/things I enjoy whilst on my visits to this bustling city - more in another post down the road. In any case...
ENJOY YOUR NEXT VISIT TO NEW YORK!
Cannot attend, but interested in the Bernese Mountain Dog Breed ? Visit these informative websites on our PARTNER PAGE of AlpenSchatz.com. 
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