Tag Archives: new york city

Summer LEGO Mania

My 8-year-old is a LEGO Friends fanatic. My dishwasher is not. I know this because of the horrible sounds it’s been making since swallowing one of the tiny plastic bricks meant to stabilize the slide on my daughter’s Heartlake City Pool set. I’m this close to tossing out the rest of the set and booking a trip to New York City.  That’s where Nathan Sawaya’s massive LEGO display is being showcased for kids of all ages to enjoy.  Perhaps, immersing my child in another LEGO lover’s colorful brick designs will take her mind off her mother’s moratorium on LEGO play. … Continue reading →

Big Apple Savings

Vacationing in the Big Apple can put a BIG dent in your wallet.  According to a recent travel survey, the average price for a hotel room in the heart of New York City will run you about $300. Not exactly cheap, though the hit to your travel budget could sting a lot more if you stay at luxury four-star chains, such as Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and Sheraton properties. So what’s a frugal traveler to do if he wants to visit Manhattan without going broke? Fortunately, there is good news for budget-conscious tourists looking to explore the nation’s most expensive hotel … Continue reading →

NYC Bus Strike is Still Going On

In New York City, the school bus drivers have been on strike for three weeks. This leaves parents struggling to find ways to get their child to and from school without the use of the busses. It also forces children with special needs out of the routine they rely on. The strike will have a negative impact on the students who require the most help. The school bus strike in New York City is now in its third week. According to a Department of Education spokesperson, there are a total of 7,700 school bus routes, citywide. On Thursday, January 31, … Continue reading →

How the NYC Bus Strike has Affected Kids with Special Needs

Last week, the union that represents the bus drivers in New York City went on strike. A total of 152,000 students rely on those busses to get to and from school. Around 22,500 of them are students who have special needs. The strike has already negatively affect these students and their families. Local 1181 of the Amalgamated Transit Union went on strike last week. It represents more than 8,000 school bus drivers and matrons. The matrons are the people who accompany children on the bus and make sure that the children get on and off the bus safely. The dispute … Continue reading →

The Benefits of Bundling

We all know about the bundling options available for cable TV, Internet and phone service, but did you know there are similar ways to save money when it comes to traveling? Package deals and all-inclusive options give frugal travelers the opportunity to get more bang for their buck.  When selecting an all-inclusive travel deal you pay one price up front to cover a range of travel expenses, including airfare, hotel accommodations, ground transportation, plus meals and beverages. In other cases, you may opt to stay at an all-inclusive resort.  These properties are attractive to budget conscious travelers who are looking … Continue reading →

NYC Bus Strike Will Affect Kids With Special Needs

A union that represents New York City school bus drivers may strike this week. The result will force parents to find some other way to get their children to school. It will provide additional hardship for the parents of the students who have special needs and who rely on those buses. There seems to be an endless supply of news stories that talk about bussing and students who are in Special Education. Often, the stories are about incidents that are not positive ones. This story would fit that description as well. There are about 152,000 students in New York City … Continue reading →

Destinations for Daring Travelers

You don’t have to be daring to tour New York City’s Museum of Modern Art, unless you are a parent with a young child, who decides to visit the legendary art institute during a nude exhibition. Ironically, it’s not the naked models you have to worry about. Rather, it’s the perverted patrons, who are touching the nude performers that you’ll want to shield your kids’ eyes from. According to museum officials, more than a dozen visitors have been escorted out of the gallery after pushing, prodding, and poking nude performers. The performers are part of Marina Abramovic’s new exhibition highlighting … Continue reading →

New York Restoration Project’s Hulaween Fundraiser

It is time again for the tenth annual Hulaween Ball to benefit the New York Restoration Project. In case you haven’t heard of this event, it is one of my favorite occurrences – when pop culture, green, and Halloween collide! The New York Restoration Project (NYRP) was founded back in 1995 when entertainer Bette Midler organized volunteers to clean up the Fort Washington and Fort Tryon Parks in NYC. Since then, it has been Bette’s goal to work towards a cleaner, greener city. NYRP often tries to focus on uncared for parks that are in low-income neighborhoods. To raise money … Continue reading →

Scary Places: The Hotel Chelsea in New York City

Ever notice how ghosts tend to haunt old dwellings where many tortured souls lived? Such is the case of the historic Hotel Chelsea in New York City. The Chelsea was built in 1883, when that particular area was the center of the theater district. Maybe that is why it always seemed to attract talented, yet troubled artists. It was first divided into private apartments, and then turned into a hotel, but regardless, it has seen its share of celebrities. (This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5) Sir Arthur C. Clarke penned “2001: a Space Odyssey” while … Continue reading →

Big Apple Helping Fitness Fanatics Take a Bite Out of Healthier Living

If you travel around New York City via the subway you may have been pleasantly surprised to see expletive-free reading material posted in select cars this week. The new additions come courtesy of the city Health Department and while they may not make you as sick as the graffiti they help cover up, the posters still have some riders clutching their stomachs. After reading that your burrito lunch (complete with sour cream and guacamole) contained more than half the calories you should eat in a day, you should be feeling ill. The informative posters that now hang in about 1,000 … Continue reading →