The Restaurant World of New York

Whether you would like to have a taste of New York dining or build your own swanky restaurant, one fact remains: New York City is the place to be if you desire gastronomical pleasure.
New York is a lot of things to a lot of people. Some consider New York, albeit a bit ethnocentrically, as the center of the world. To others, however, New York is just one of the most expensive cities to live in. For some, New York would always be a tragic reminder of the September 11 tragedy. But to food connoisseurs, New York would no doubt claim a place in their hearts forever.

Whether you find yourself downtown or in one of the small unknown streets of New York City, there’s no doubt that you’ll be able to find whatever it is that you’re looking for, may it be Japanese sashimi, Italian risotto, English pudding, Spanish paella, genuine larger than life American burgers…you name it, at least one restaurant in New York would definitely have it. The only worry you’d problem yourself with is which restaurant you think would best cater to your taste buds and of course, which restaurant can your pockets afford.

But fortunately for you, New York truly has just about everything under the sun. From the amazingly cheap value meals to the downright expensive gourmet dishes, New York restaurants certainly can boast to have it all.

But enough with the claims; this article aims to back up everything with proof. We’ve recently read reviews about the New York restaurant scene and came across with several delightful restaurant finds. So read on and we hope that you encounter a restaurant to your liking!

Harlem Grill : this restaurant consistently grabs a spot in any Top 10 New York Restaurants survey. And certainly there’d be no doubts in your minds why the moment you a) catch a glimpse of the place and b) take a bite of any of the sumptuous feasts they offer. Owned by Tony Nominee and actor Keith David, Harlem Grill is making great waves in the restaurant scene and would no doubt continue to do so. The Harlem Grill is located at 2247 Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard, incidentally also where another famous restaurant, Wells, once stood.

Michael Jordan’s The Steakhouse NYC : If you’re a great fan of the basketball legend then you surely must have heard of this place. And if you had but you still haven’t taken time to check it out then you are certainly no fan of Michael Jordan. With an interior that practically has Michael Jordan’s sense of style stamped all over it and a menu that could please even the snobbiest of food critics, a visit to New York wouldn’t be complete without grabbing a bite in this restaurant. The Steakhouse NYC can be found on the North and West balconies of the Grand Central Terminal.

Teodora : If you’re out to impress your date with a beautiful romantic dinner in New York then you must be looking for a place exactly like Teodora. After all, Italians are renowned for their passion, ardor and pasta so it’s no surprise that when it comes to building restaurants with heartbreakingly romantic ambience, it’s also Italian restaurants that set the bar. Teodora is located at 141 East 57th Street, New York City.

The History behind the New York Post

New York is known for many things, the Statue of Liberty, New York fashion week and among other things, HBO's Sex and the City. But before we forget, oftentimes overshadowed by the immensely popular the New York Times, there's another popular New York daily newspaper that has actually been around as far back as in the 1800s. 

The New York Evening Post or the New York Post, was actually founded by Alexander Hamilton, who then chose William Coleman to be its first editor-in-chief way back in the New York Post's humble beginnings. After William Coleman's short reign as the New York Post's editor-in-chief, he was then replaced by another William, a William Cullen Bryant, way back in 1829. 

A fruitful 50 year reign as the New York Post's editor-in chief, William Cullent Bryant was a staunch believer of defending the rights of those who are being enslaved, William Cullent Bryant also showed strong support for the emerging trade union back then. He even went as far as defending the strike of the Society of Journeyman Tailors by trying to link their strike with slavery back in June 1836.

The year 1881 had the New York Post welcoming Henry Villard at its helm. Henry Villard was a German immigrant possessing strong political views, had a profound influence on the New York Post. He then tapped Carl Schurz who was another German radical thinker to be the new managing editor of the New York Post. But Carl Schurz career with the New York Post was short-lived, he was actually replaced by the former editor of the Nation (another publication that was owned by Henry Villard), a man named Edwin Godkin stepped  up to manage the New York Post.

Henry Villard's death back in the 1900s brought the New York Post to the hands of Villard's son, Oswald Garrison Villard, who, like his father, also had radical views and opinions concerning politics, women's suffrage, reform in the trade union and (like his father) fighting for equal rights African Americans.

A true advocate for human rights, Oswald Garrison Villard was one of the founding members of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People or NAACP as well as the American Civil Liberties Union or ACTU. In spite of being headstrong with his advocacies, Oswald Garrison Villard was also a popular pacifist, he highly opposed for the American's participation in the first World War. But this proved to backfire on him as his readers were strong supporters of patriotism so Oswald Garrison Villard, due to the protests of his readers and the pulling out of his advertisers, was forced to sell the New York Post in the year 1918.1939 saw the New York Post with Dorothy Schiff at its helm. 

Schiff then asked Ted Thackrey as its new editor-in-chief, who actually turned the daily into a streamlined tabloid. Still its politics driven format was still being incorporated by the New York Post's new editor-in-chief, it highly supported progressive politics and was actually the only newspaper in New York City who openly supported the campaign of the democratic party's presidential bet, Adlai Stevenson.

But Schiff's stay with the New York Post ended with Australian Rupert Murdoch acquiring the newspaper back in 1977.  

Tips To Find the Ideal Hotel in New York

You’ve finally got the vacation you deserve after slaving on a desk for half a decade. You saw fit to reward yourself with a trip to the Big Apple; New York, New York, here you come…you’ve got the brochures ready, the traveling checks are in your hand bag and you’re wearing your best Gucci shades to keep you from the harsh glare of the sun. But haven’t you forgotten something?
Like..maybe knowing what New York hotel you’re going to stay?

Touring New York would no doubt be something akin to paradise with all of the tourist spots it can boast of but no doubt at first glance, New York prices would make your eyebrows raise and possibly, gulp at the exorbitance of it. But remember, everything comes with a price and rent or living space is usually the hardest to tackle when it comes to New York. When choosing a hotel to stay in New York then, it’s imperative that you ask yourself the following questions so you can determine what place is ideal.

1.) What part of New York do you plan to stay in?

New York can divided into several districts and these districts usually determine the range of hotel fees you’re going to encounter. Do you want your hotel to be situated in Manhattan, where most New York attractions can be found? If you want, however, to stay in a funky upbeat district then the hotels in Soho and Greenwich and the likes are probably what you’re looking for.

2.) How much can you afford?

Now that we’ve got a specific location in mind, the next step to take is to count our available dollars. Hotels in New York range from the exorbitant to the wonderfully cheap. Naturally, the features are somewhat dependent on the price.

3.) Who are you with?

If you’re bringing kids, then not all hotels in New York can of course, open their doors to welcome you. With children in tow, we can suggest hotels like the Doubletree Guest Suites and the Hilton Time Square, hotels that are both famous for reliable, warm and efficient service. And then there are the pets. If you’re the type to bring around your Dalmatian or Siamese with you wherever you go then the lists of prospective hotels in New York that you can stay on would narrow further. For travelers accompanied by their furry friends, try checking out hotels like 70 Park Avenue Hotel and Carlyle Hotel, which even offers dog-walking services just in case you find yourself busy touring New York City.

4.) What features / services do you need?

If you’re on some sort of business trip, then definitely you’d prefer a hotel with Internet access. If you’re planning to host some sort of gathering then you’ll also be interested to check out hotel facilities and see what best suits the event you have in mind. Also, not all hotels in New York come with Olympic sized pools, Grade A spas and fitness centers so you must take all these things in consideration as you try hit upon the best place to stay in New York.
If and when you do find a hotel to stay in New York then we will leave you with just one more tip: be wary of pickpockets, have fun and don’t forget to take a picture of the Empire State Building!

The story behind the New York Daily Post

Rich and just basically brimming with culture and history, New York CIty actually has a million or more stories to tell about its decadent past and how things around this cosmopolitan city all came to be. Considered to be as one of the United States' biggest newspapers, whose circulation is actually well more over 700,000 copies.

The New York Daily News, a newspaper printed using a tabloid format has actually started its newspaper journey way back in the year 1919. Mortimer Zuckerman was actually the founder of the New York Daily News while also having the catch phrase, "New York's Picture Newspaper" (which has over the years, was changed to "New York's Hometown Newspaper"). Still, in spite of the various changes, the New York Daily News has continued on printing their tabloid format newspaper still with a lot of photographs. Of course, the whole point of being a newspaper just simply means that the New York Daily News also contains lots of news (obviously, it's not called New York Daily NEWS for nothing).

Gossip about celebrities and other famous people also abound in the New York Daily News Page 6 columns, it is where people often turn to just to read about the hottest, freshest and juiciest gossips about the who's-who in the industry. As like with other newspapers, the New York Daily News also contain a classified ads section, a popular comics section as well as an equally well-read sports section and an opinion section. New York Daily News really packs in the punch with its varied features and scopes of interest. Here's a fun fact about the New York Daily News: Bill Gallo is actually the much celebrated sports cartoonist of the New York Daily News.

The New York Daily News was actually founded by Joseph Medill Patterson who's family were actually the publishers of The Chicago Tribune, the New York Daily News has also been able to establish WPIX-TV and WPIX-FM. During the whole history of the New York Daily News, there was actually a time, during the early part of the 1990s that the New York Daily News almost went to bankruptcy. Fortunately for the New York Daily News however, was the financial assistance that was brought about by Robert Maxwell, a millionaire who offered to help the New York Daily News stay in the media business. However, due to Robert Maxwell's death, his company didn't any more felt the need to continue on publishing the New York Daily News.When it comes to their opinions section however, the New York Daily News try to set its self apart from its various competitors. The well-respected New York Times have actually set very liberal standards for their newspaper's opinions column, while fellow tabloid, the New York Post differs from the New York Daily News' opinions pages by being a staunch rightist.

However, the New York Daily News has actually been able to acquire ten Pulitzer prizes since it was first established but due to its fierce competition with fellow tabloid, the New York Post, the New York Daily News has actually resorted to some sensationalism as a counter-tactic against the New York Post wherein the New York Daily News has been touted as the newspaper with the most creative headlines and captions for its photos in all of journalism. 

The Ultimate Hotel Guide To New York City

New York City is the city that never sleeps, es verdad? Well, it’s certainly no wonder with so many places and stuff that would please all the senses. There’s the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the Madison Square Garden and God knows what else. But the question is...where do you stay in New York City?

Admittedly, the cost of living, especially rent expenses, is still rocketing sky high in New York City. If you know where to look, a lot of restaurants offer affordable yet tasty dishes so food’s no problem. When it comes to shopping, don’t think that New York City is just all about Macy’s. Of course not! There are a lot of bazaars that are ongoing throughout New York City and all you need is an efficient guide to help you out. For tourist spots, you shouldn’t believe either that everything in New York City comes with a ticket price. Nuh-uh! In fact, just walking in downtown New York is already a sight to behold.

So the only problem is, yes, where to stay?

Before I launch on a list of New York City hotels that could interest you, first, I have to warn you that what’s termed as “affordable” in New York City may not be “affordable” in your vocabulary. So if you’re cash strapped, better check first if you’ve got some friends living in New York City who’d lend you a room for a week or two as you go sight-seeing.

New York is a city of high rise towers and a number of those are hotels that you can take your pick of. These buildings range from the five star hotels to the funky ones to hotels with “affordable” packages.

Four Season Hotel : if you’ve got kids, then you should consider staying in this kid-friendly hotel because guests under 18 can stay for free. The tallest hotel in New York City, it also provides its family guests with coloring books, a video lending library and welcome gifts for kids.

Soho Grand Hotel : if you’re the type of traveler who can’t bear to leave your behind, have no fear because there are several hotels in New York that can accommodate furry guests, just like the Soho Grand Hotel. Upon checkout, you’ll even be given a goldfish to remember your New York holiday.

Affinia 50 Suites : this particular hotel has no difficulties in landing a Top 10 spot in any survey when it comes to being the best hotel in New York City. Previously known as the Plaza 50 Suites, this is a no-fuss-comfort-zone for travelers who want basic accommodations that would also be easy on the pockets. Large suites equipped with kitchenettes are also available if you so prefer.
Hilton Time Square : Never mind Paris Hilton and her notorious antics. At least her family still hasn’t stopped in being one of the best when you’re talking about hotel services. The Hilton Time Square is one of the poshest hotels in New York City, with a twenty-five-seater theater and even its own wax museum! And just because it’s posh, don’t assume that the staff would turn its nose up on noisy, bratty kids or dirty, scrambling house pets. Nuh-uh! The Hilton Time Square aims to please all forms of guests, human and non human, adult and kids.

So now, all you need to do is choose which hotel you’re going to stay, pay the bill, enjoy the scenery and of course, tour New York City!

The Thespian’s Guide to Acting Schools in New York

These are the facts and myths that most know or believe of the city:

New York is the city that never sleeps.
New York is one of the costliest places to live in.
New York is the center of the whole world.
New York is inhabited by people who love to love, hate, argue and haggle.

Now being a peace loving writer, I certainly shan’t argue about which one of those is true and which one isn’t. But if you’re a thespian in search for good acting schools, then you certainly won’t care about that. But you’d naturally care about the list that I’m about to provide below.

New York is a cosmopolitan city where a lot of good acting schools abound. In fact, if you truly are in search for excellent thespian education, New York isn’t a bad place to start. Naturally, the tuition fees of these acting schools are comparatively more expensive than the acting schools in your local state but they’re worth it. And if you’re looking for more proof, all you need is to do a little research work and I assure you that a lot of Hollywood big stars owe their talents to the very acting schools I’m about to enumerate.

Assuming that finances are not a problem for you, there’s just only other thing then to tackle: admissions. Several acting schools in New York are quite choosy when it comes to the students they’d let in their hallowed halls so to improve your chances of getting accepted, make sure that your school or the proper figures of authority furnish you with glowing recommendations. Neither does it hurt to have high GPAs to back you up.

With those two warnings then, here are some New York acting schools that you can try applying to.

ACTeen: Acting For Teen: Operating for almost three decades already, the ACTeen is the pioneering on-camera acting academy for teens, particularly those aged between thirteen to nineteen years old. If you or your child is serious about pursuing acting for a profession then you should consider contacting this particular acting school and view their curriculum. Besides learning everything about film and theater, students are also provided with a choice of over fifteen electives.

Ted Bardy Studio Inc. : To echo their tagline, this acting school provides their students with intense and personalized acting instruction. Everyone’s welcome to be a part of their workshop (limited to a small number to ensure personalized instruction), may it be amateurs, intermediate actors or professionals out to seek to improve their craft. The Ted Bardy Studio Inc. uses the Stanislavski / Meisner approach in guiding their students through their uniquely designed 3 phase program. Ted Bardy Studio Inc. is located in the Union Square section of New York City.

Actor Theater Workshop : ATW is a professional, non-profit theater company and under it, the Scott Acting Conservatory operates to train professional actors and have them realize original creative techniques to further improve their craft.

Lee Strasberg Theater Institute : this acting school hopes that the techniques of the acting legend, Lee Strasberg, continue to live on through their students.

East End Ensemble : A school that started two years ago as a local acting workshop set up in a private home and meant to improve the communication skills of their adult students. If you want to have fun while learning, this funky acting school may be what you’re looking for. East End Ensemble can be found in Brooklyn, New York.