Jaunted - Tag: New York City

New York: Slankets, Sliders and Southwest Ale at NYC's Bryant Park

JetSetCD — 2009-11-20T16:04:30-05:00

Almost six months ago, Southwest Airlines gave New Yorkers an outright gift: the Southwest Porch, a relaxing, open-air venue in the middle of the city at Bryant Park. During the day, workers from offices in Midtown would sit in the adirondack chairs and on the cushioned lounges to eat their packed lunches, and at night, they can return for a drink and snacks when the bar opens.

The Porch is a pleasant surprise for its lack of pretension and excess of good food choices (being from Top Chef Tom Colicchio' s 'wichcraft chain). We expected it to close down for the winter when the leaves began to fall, but instead the Porch has re-inaugurated itself via a winter menu and introduction of fire pits and slankets, the slankets in celebration of Southwest's recent SkyMall cover.

Join Us In NYC To Talk Travel With The NYT, Virgin America and More

JetSetCD — 2009-11-16T17:39:15-05:00

What is going on with travel today? Airlines are throwing out all these new fees, hotel rooms start from $1, and everybody's twittering about it all from 35,000' up. Here at Jaunted, we make sense of it all for you with the latest news, our own tried-and-true travel experiences, and of course— any free WiFi codes to keep you connected. If you follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or just regular old right here, then why not follow us in real life for a night?

On Thursday, December 3, we're talking with a few top travel friends at the 92Y Tribeca. The event, "Travel Gets Social: The New World of Travel Media," brings together Bowen Payson, Virgin America Manager of Online and Digital Marketing, NY Times Frugal Traveler Matt Gross, Adam Wallace, New Media Director for Roger Smith Hotel and others, moderated by the man who started it all: Mark G. Johnson, founder of Jaunted, HotelChatter and VegasChatter.

All the details, after the jump.

Queens: Neighborhoods To Know And Go: NYC's Astoria

JetSetCD — 2009-11-13T14:04:26-05:00

Of the five boroughs of New York City, Manhattan is obviously the most visited, most well-known, but whether or not tourists realize it, they actually set foot in another borough first. This is Queens, otherwise recognized as the home of both LaGuardia and JFK airports, but it's a whole area simply packed with unique neighborhoods and small, family businesses, all the things that visitors expect from Manhattan but no longer find.

We focus in particular on the Astoria section of Queens, between the East River and LaGuardia, a neighborhood that—like the typical idea of NY—flourishes with immigrant populations ranging from Greek to Arab and everything in between. In addition, it's ever so slowly becoming the new Brooklyn, as more Midtown professionals and creatives make their homes here after being priced out of both Manhattan and Brooklyn. Indeed we find ourselves coming here more and more often, in quest of the best Greek souvlaki and views of the city.

Join us in Astoria, after the jump.

New York: NYC's Winter Restaurant Week Returns In 2010; Better Get Booking

JetSetCD — 2009-11-13T12:24:27-05:00

The bass restaurant week entree at NYC's Asiate restaurant

Foodies, unite! Book your trips to New York City now for the end of January or beginning of February, since the dates for Winter Restaurant Week were just announced. Some of the best and most famous restaurants in the Big Apple will be offering up prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus from January 25 to February 7.

And although restaurant week has been around in NYC since 1992, the prices haven't changed for the menus since 2006, meaning that 3-course lunches are a set $24.07 and 3 or 4-course dinners are $35.

Of course they're breaking out the prix fixe menus during the low period before Valentine's Day, but that's just means more foodie fun to brighten up dreary winter days. We're already plotting our reservations, and although you won't be able to book tables until probably sometime around New Year's, it's the right time to plan an indulgent trip to the city. Put our the airfare alerts now!

Related Stories:
· NY Restaurant Week Is Up For A Second Helping Through Labor Day [Jaunted]
· Restaurant Weeks coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Jaunted]

Rio de Janeiro: Skip The Macy's Parade For Four Nights In Rio This Thanksgiving

Heidi Atwal — 2009-11-10T15:34:24-05:00

If it's good enough for Madonna and Jesus, then it's good enough for you. As we reported today, the transformative Queen of Pop recently landed in Rio de Janiero for "humanitarian" work and quite possibly to meet her boyfriend's parents. We're not sure if this contributes to Rio's international appeal or detracts from it, but we did happen to stumble across a four-night travel package, airfare included, for Thanksgiving travel to the Brazilian city.

Travelzoo recently posted a $699 (base price) all-inclusive deal which includes roundtrip travel from New York City, daily breakfast, four nights accommodations, and the option to tack tour extras onto your package. The catch is, as we mentioned, the date that you'll have to depart—either dangerously close to Thanksgiving on the 19th, or the day itself. So, you'll have to decide whether forgoing turkey, football, and that yearly screening of the MACY*S parade is worth the $700 pricetag.

New York: How To Get Tickets To See The Rockettes' Radio City Christmas Spectacular

egw — 2009-11-10T09:29:24-05:00

Native New Yorker or one-time tourist, everyone should see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes once—preferably while you're either old enough or young enough to appreciate the spectacle. The velvet seats in NYC's Radio City Music Hall, the elaborate costume changes, the ridiculous souvenirs—well, those you can enjoy as well at home, but the point stands.

Performances of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular start Friday, November 13 (yes, really, Scrooge) with most days holding at least four performances. Picking a non-peak performance (every day till Nov. 26, then weekdays till Dec. 18) will save you money—$7 off the third mezzanine up to $60-$160 on premium seats—so if you can convince your guests to go on a weekday during the Christmas season, much better. For our money's worth, you can see just fine from the 3rd mezzanine, but some people like being front and center, and we admit, it is awesome to be close enough to hear the dance steps as they land.

New York: The Yankees Just Won The World Series, And This Is Where They Went...

egw — 2009-11-05T12:50:18-05:00

That sonic boom you heard emanating from the tri-state area was the sound of millions of Yankees fans, having been cruelly denied a World Series title, finally ending a 9-year drought last night with a 7-3 victory in Game 6. After the game, third baseman Alex Rodriguez and his girlfriend Kate Hudson hit the Meatpacking District, partying at 1Oak with his mom and sister and shortstop Derek Jeter and his girlfriend ("Friday Night Lights"' Minka Kelly).

Even the revelation that Rodriguez has a painting of himself as a centaur in his bedroom failed to slow the Yankees in the rush to their 27th title. Other celebrity Yankees fans include Alec Baldwin, who was spotted in the stands during Game 1, and Jay-Z who performed "Empire State Of Mind" at Yankee Stadium before Game 2. Game 6's celeb ticket holders included Will Forte, Spike Lee and Regis Philbin. (None of them were at 1Oak to the best of our knowledge, though.) On the other hand, it might be appropriate to buy a drink for Will Smith, Tina Fey and Vice President Joe Biden, all Phillies fans.