Christmas at the Washington Jefferson Hotel

There is so much to do in the midtown Manhattan over the holidays – both for adults and children.  Experience the area with Gray Line’s “Holiday Lights” tour and enjoy the lights at Rockefeller Center, Central Park’s Tavern on the Green and Times Square.  For a bit of history, one cannot be in the area and not visit Macy’s – the first ever department store since the 1870s, to feature Christmas windows. And for those who want to turn their kids’ dream into a reality, the Gotham wintry wonderland is a must-see.

After the long day in the city,  Shimmie Horn’s Washington Jefferson Hotel offers a smart, chic, and tranquil place to lay one’s head. Other spots to see in the New York area include Lord & Taylor.

Lord & Taylor this year marks its 75th anniversary of festive displays, boasting Santa’s hipster hang, snowy peaks and more. And Saks Fifth Avenue will not disappoint either, offering a chalkboard animation with cameras projecting the visitor’s face into a snowflake kaleidoscope.  The light show plays every eight minutes from 5 ‘til 10pm.  Tiffany & Co., Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys and Bloomingdales make great entertainment stops for the whole family as well.

Christmas is truly a wonderful time for everyone – and this year – as in years gone by, midtown Manhattan is displaying the joy for all to see.

FC USA Opens Office in Midtown

While most companies today rely on their websites to drum up business, FC USA has just opened a 10,000 square foot storefront on Madison Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. FC USA is part of a global Australian travel company that owns Liberty Travel.

This new Midtown travel center of FC USA will occupy a space at 269 Madison Avenue between 39th and 40th streets. The space used to be occupied by the National Bank of Commerce of New York and was, most recently, used by Dallek Office Furniture.

Now, this new storefront will house Liberty Travel and other Flight Centre brands. This new center will have 40 employees and the plan is to increase this number to 63 within the next six months. The agency has a total of 159 storefront locations across 14 states and 23 Liberty Travel storefronts in the five boroughs.

As Henry Harteveldt of the Atmosphere Research Group explained, FC USA is trying “not just to create an office, but a 3-D travel planning experience, with iPads, content, experts, nice design and layout.” He continued, “Liberty also is very much fighting for its life with this. This is Liberty making a branding statement to consumers, airlines, hotels, cruise lines, other travel suppliers and online travel agencies that they’re still in business, that Liberty matters as a business and that they intend to remain in business.”

Thanking Employees in Extraordinary Times

In the wake of the hurricane that hit the New York and New Jersey area, many company owners showed their appreciation for the extra work that their team undertook during this difficult time. One such company owner was Daniel Straus CareOne, who took the time to write a letter to his 4000 employees in 29 healthcare centers throughout New Jersey.

In the letter to his staff, Daniel Straus wrote, "As Thanksgiving fast approaches, I wish to thank each and every one of you for your extraordinary efforts in recent weeks as you have dealt with the many adverse impacts of Hurricane Sandy on both your professional and personal lives."

As he continued, "Throughout these weeks you have time and again shown a steadfast dedication to meeting the highest standards of safety, care and services for CareOne residents. You have achieved this despite the fact that many of you faced serious obstacles – either at your homes or those of your loved ones – caused by the storm."

In conclusion, he added, "Please accept my deepest thanks to you and your families. Happy Thanksgiving."

Private Equity Firm KKR Buys Alliant Insurance Services Inc.

In recent New York business news, the private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) has agreed to buy Alliant Insurance Services Inc. from Blackstone Group L.P. (BX). The transaction terms were not disclosed, but Alliant employees own approximately 45% of the company and they will roll over “a substantial portion” of that investment to the new company.

As Alliant’s chief executive Tom Corbett explained, "We are pleased to be partnering with KKR and appreciate the positive role that private capital can play in helping us manage our business and execute a growth strategy.”

This is not the first time that Alliant has partnered with private equity investors. In August 2007, Blackstone bought Alliant for $1.2 billion and took over the stake from Lindsay Goldberg & Co. LLC, which is based in New York.

New Yorkers Flock to Midtown Manhattan for Columbus Day Parade

Thousands of Midtown residents and visitors flocked to Fifth Avenue this week to watch and participate in the 68^th Columbus Day Parade. The event, which celebrates Italian-American culture, runs from Fifth Avenue and 44^th Street to 72^nd Street.

Spectators, officials and police officers all donned red, white and green, while the music of bagpipes and marching bands set the upbeat mood.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg spoke out before the Manhattan parade, advising all New Yorkers to admire the conceptual art installation that surrounds a 13-foot statues of the explorer with a living room. A popular attraction in NY, the ‘Discovering Columbus’ exhibit was created by Tatzu Nishi, a Japanese artist.

Bloomberg said: “It’s the only time in your life you’ll be able to get close to it.”

The parade was filled with New Yorkers with Italian heritage. Rosie Leone, 23, said: “My parents are from Italy. So, it’s a celebration of our heritage, where we come from.”

Concetta Bologna, 52, feels the same way, adding: “Let’s never forget who made this country what it is today: Christopher Columbus. It’s just a great day for Italian pride.”

The Best of Japan in Midtown Manhattan

For those looking for an elegant and well-priced meal before the theater, there is a gem in the Washington Jefferson Hotel. Shimizu, a sushi and shochu restaurant, sits inside the regal hotel owned by hotelier Shimmie Horn.  With its menu of seasonal specials, sushi rolls, appetizers and more, it’s the perfect place for a pre-show meal or for a late dinner after the entertainment.

For those who like to attend the show on a full stomach, Shimizu has the perfect solution. They offer a prix fixe meal from 5:30-7:30 Monday through Saturday and it’s the perfect way to begin the evening. It includes miso soup or salad, an appetizer, the choice of entrée, and a dessert. For less than $30 for the entire meal, it’s an outstanding choice prior to a night on the town.

For people looking for a nightcap, Shimizu offers the authentic Japanese experience with their extensive list of shochu and sake choices. Shochu is a Japanese distilled beverage that is usually distilled from barley, sweet potatoes or rice. With an alcohol content of 25%, it has a higher concentration of alcohol than sake. Sake is made from fermented rice and typically contains anywhere from 9-15% alcohol, depending on how it is made and served.  Both are available in an extensive beverage menu at Shimizu.

Moving off of the beaten path and finding an out-of-the-ordinary eatery can certainly enhance anyone’s experience in New York City. Shimmie Horn’s Washington Jefferson Hotel, and the Shimizu restaurant offer travelers, businesspeople and locals the chance to enjoy a refreshing taste of Japan right in the heart of the city.

Horse Freaks Out on Tourist Ride

It’s one thing to quit a job, but it’s quite another to quit while on the job. That’s what Oreo – a horse which had seemingly had enough did when he was meant to be leading a tour by Columbus Circle last week.  While the driver tried to keep his “employee” under control, it seemed the horse was too strong for him – both in body and mind – leading to him being dragged too! And it wasn’t only the driver and tourists who were affected.  A few cars were struck by the carriage that spiraled out of control too.  Finally some police officers caught the horse and managed to get it into an NYPD trailer and by early evening Oreo was back in its stable.

This event brings into question the safety and responsibility of the horse and carriage. Indeed, the group New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe Streets (NYCLASS) argued that what happened is proof that the time has now arrived for there to be a ban on horse-drawn carriages in New York City.

Advantages of Horse-Drawn Carriages

However, it would be such a shame for tourists – and residents who have the time – to no longer able to see the wonder of the city through the fun, traditional method of horse-drawn carriages. It truly is a spectacular way of experiencing Central Park’s glory and being exposed to a fun view of life in the Big Apple.

Indeed, given that Midtown Manhattan is one of the world’s busiest and most crowded areas, surely there must be alternatives to this way of experiencing it. There is so much to see and a whole slew of fascinating stories to hear, wouldn’t it thus perhaps be better to go on foot? That is what Free Tours by Foot would have one believe.    The company offers a two hour tour for those wanting to get a taste of Times Square, Grand Central Terminal, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and lots of other stops in between.

Another way of seeing Manhattan in style is via the hop-on, hop-off bus tours with top-deck only seating offering awesome views of the city, its attractions and neighborhoods. Indeed, given that today there are so many great, innovative and exciting ways to really experience Midtown Manhattan, the question is, is it really necessary for the horse-drawn carriages to continue operating?  There are guided tours of New York, cruises in New York, helicopter rides, the Woodbury Common bus from New York shopping day trip and more. For those looking for a somewhat darker view of the city, they can check out the Night Tours where they will be privy to an illuminated view of Manhattan’s skyline.  There are clearly thus a lot of pros and cons to bidding farewell to the likes of Oreo and his four-legged friends in the business of leading tours around Midtown Manhattan.