Attraction of the Week - When Harry Met Seinfeld Bus Tour

By Go City Expert

Tom's Restaurant aka Monk's Cafe from Seinfeld / Photo by Tony Cenicola/The New York Times

People from around the world get to see New York city broadcast on screens at any time that they want. What's more rare is the opportunity to go to the exact same places in the city that your favorite stars have been and get background knowledge of each venue. On Location Tours is offering customers just that with the 'When Harry Met Seinfeld Tour'. The tour will allow visitors to jump into the screen and visit places like the townhouse where the Sheffield's and their Nanny Fran Fine lived, the famous Monk's Cafe from Seinfeld and locations from When Harry Met Sally. Obviously there are some great opportunities for photos on this tour but also some great insight on these historic film and television locations. Beginning in Columbus Circle and making your way through the upper East and West sides, the bus tour will come back down to midtown for its completion. By then you'll have sat in McGee's Pub like the cast of How I Met Your Mother and viewed the Plaza Hotel from Home Alone 2. Visitors can access the 'When Harry Met Seinfeld Tour' on Thursdays and Saturdays at 2PM. Overall, the tour lasts approximately 2 hours. Visit the tour website to make a reservation.

Continue reading

The Best Hot Chocolate in New York

Now that it’s November, we can move on from Pumpkin Spice Lattes and look at what’s really important—hot chocolate. It’s a bold move on our part, but we think we’ve tracked down the absolute best hot chocolate in New York. Just to be safe, why not try them all? Serendipity 3 Serendipity is about as New York an institution as it’s possible to be. They’re famed, of course, for their frozen hot chocolate—and justifiably so. We’d be remiss if we didn’t include it here; the chocolatey crystals, served in a tall icy mound, are a joy to behold on a summer’s day. (Although truthfully, we wouldn’t say no at any time of the year.) But they also have an extremely delish hot version, crowned with whipped cream, cinnamon, grated orange and shaved chocolate (because, why not.) This is the place to take out-of-town guests, your mother in law, your college BFF, or even yourself, to enjoy one of the best drinkable chocolates (ok, two of them) in New York. [caption id="attachment_3032" align="alignnone" width="3022"] Drink up! At Serendipity, you can get your liquid chocolate hot or frozen (Image courtesy of Serendipity)[/caption] Jacques Torres A cup of hot chocolate at Jacques Torres is something to be savored—it’s so thick and rich, it’s like having dessert for the next few months in one sitting (we mean that in the best possible way.) This hot chocolate--definitely among the best in New York--will satisfy the sophisticate as well as the kid in you—as well as that actual kid sitting next to you; it’s that good. And if you can’t bear to say good-bye to it when you leave the shop—hurrah! You can get your own tin to make some at home. (Better hide that though...) [caption id="attachment_3028" align="alignnone" width="4776"] Indulge at Jacque Torres! (Image courtesy of Jacques Torres Chocolate)[/caption] MarieBelle Want one of the best hot chocolates in New York? The hot chocolate at MarieBelle is so important that it has its own category. There it is, with pretty much a page all to itself. Wow. This is good, because you might temporarily be distracted by the other offerings. Do not be led astray. Stand (sit) firm. You are here for the hot chocolate. You can have dark hot chocolate (yes, please)—perhaps Aztec? Spicy? Hindu Cardamom? Tropical orange? Just...yes. You can also sample milk hot chocolate and white hot chocolate (maybe with Japanese matcha?) Make sure to get some containers to give as gifts (and for yourself, of course), and plan to linger in a space that feels like you’ve wafted into mid-century Vienna. [caption id="attachment_3030" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Where to enjoy New York's best hot chocolate? For starters, head to MarieBelle. (Image copyright MarieBelle New York)[/caption] Maman The lovely maman is probably best known for having a chocolate chip cookie that Oprah declared one of her “favorite things” a few years ago. They’re also known for their lavender hot chocolate—you could do worse than decide to have a chocolate overload and order them both together. (They also have a kids’ hot chocolate, just FYI.) Maman, you will not be surprised to hear, has a French vibe and a French influence, as well as several locations. Go see what the fuss is all about; you’ll thank us for pointing you towards one of the best hot chocolates in New York. [caption id="attachment_3056" align="alignnone" width="3575"] Try the lovely lavender hot chocolate at Maman (Photo copyright Victoria Morris)[/caption] L.A. Burdick A place that bills itself as a chocolate shop is a good bet for hot chocolate. Their “gourmet drinking chocolates” include milk, dark, and white; they’re so rich that it’s suggested you can add milk and use it as a dessert sauce. (You can get it to go, so you can make your own at home. Why would you not?) This is a rich, smooth hot chocolate that says, “Stay here for a few more hours! Your boss won’t care!” [caption id="attachment_3099" align="alignnone" width="800"] Hot chocolate makes everything better[/caption] The Chocolate Room Not surprisingly, the Chocolate Room serves very good hot chocolate, or ”drinking chocolate,” as it’s classily known here. For a kick, try the spiced, with Ancho and Chipotle chilies, plus cinnamon and cloves; or the Café Torino—dark hot chocolate with espresso and dollop of foam. Pretty much everything here is made with chocolate—you will probably feel it seeping out of your pores when you leave (not the worst sensation, honestly.) [caption id="attachment_3097" align="alignnone" width="2837"] It’s a chocolate world, and we’re just living in it (Photo courtesy of The Chocolate Room)[/caption] Honorable Mention: Starbucks Don’t judge us—for an on-the-go hot-chocolate fix, this one is a solid option—not meltingly sweet and unctuous, but a surprisingly satisfying choice. The smooth chocolate taste makes Starbucks’ hot chocolate a satisfying choice New Yorkers can not, sadly, live by hot chocolate alone. If coffee is calling to you, let us lead you to some new sources.

Brooklyn in the snow

Cold Weather Activities in NYC

A rainy (or snowy) day in New York can be a real blessing. It's a great excuse to hunker down and get stuck into the city's world-class museums, food, and merriment.

The Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting

Have you seen a big truck with a jolly, rosy-cheeked man on the side? The one with the big white beard? Perhaps you've seen him walking around New York. Maybe you've heard his dulcet tones on the radio. These days, he seems to promote everything. Some call him Chris Cringle. Some call him Santa Claus. Every year he brings joy to people little and large all over the world. Christmas is his time to shine. Every year he and his little friends work round the clock to make toys for boys and girls. It's true. And, well, when Santa starts popping up, you know the holidays are coming. And with them, a New York staple - the Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting. Read on, as we tell you absolutely, positively, every single thing you need to know about the Rockefeller Christmas Tree lighting. The first Rockefeller Christmas tree was erected in 1931, during the depression.Workers who were building the Rockefeller Center placed the 20ft tree and decorated it with cranberries, paper, and even tin cans. The following year, the tree became a Christmas tradition for the center. From 1932 to today, the Christmas tree has been lit every single year.Five years later, in 1936, the famed skating rink was first opened below the tree.2019's tree has been chosen. The lucky participant will be cut on November 7. It hails from Florida, New York, and will arrive at the Rockefeller Center on November 9.Where is the Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting? Unsurprisingly, it's at the Rockefeller Center. That's in Midtown Manhattan. Between 48th and 51st Streets. When is the Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting? This year, the tree will light up on Wednesday, December 4, between 8 - 10pm. Then, the lights will stay on until early January. And over Christmas Day, the lights will remain on for the whole day. That's 24 hours of Christmas goodness. With lights. Why should you go? Hey, where's your Christmas spirit?! In all seriousness, who wouldn't want to see more than 50,000 bulbs all light up at once on a giant Christmas tree? Plus, there's a huge Swarovski star on the top. Every year, thousands of people with Christmas fever line the streets to see the unveiling. And millions more watch it at home. But, why would you want to do that? Go outside, breathe in that sweet, crisp, Christmas air. Maybe grab a coffee to warm you on the inside. Just like Christmas does. Or if you're looking to warm your innards in a different way... And, once Christmas is over and it's time to take the tree down, they donate it to Habitat For Humanity. They're a charity that builds homes. So, the tree becomes the gift that keeps on giving. Isn't that nice?

Have a 5% discount, on us!

More savings? You're welcome. Sign up to our newsletter and receive exclusive discounts, vacation inspiration and much more.