Frequently Asked Questions we get about NYC!

Combing through the ole e-mail inbox, we get a ton of questions from travelers, visitor and others just seeking something specific in a NYC experience that is inexpensive, unique, and a little bit off the beaten path. We thought that we would post some of those here!

What Times Do the Lights Go On at The Empire State Building? Since The Big Adventure is often asking "Why is the Empire State Building this particular color tonight?” we’ve always found this handy: The official daily lighting schedule for the Empire State Building. You can preview the ESB color scheme for upcoming weeks and check out the lighting occasions over the course of the last year. Of course, the standard colors of white, white and more white make up the lighting pattern about half of the time. But the ESB can also accommodate blue, red, green, yellow, orange, pink and purple as well. Want to take it a step further and become a "Lighting Partner" with your own private colors? The application is right there on the site. Who knows? Maybe you can have it the building lit in your favorite colors on your birthday.  Where can I find The Best Guinness in NYC? Who has the Best Pint of Guinness in New York City? Well, we've enjoyed enough of Ireland's best stout in enough bars to be smart enough not to get tangled up in this debate: There are too many great bars, great bartenders and just amazing locales in the city to coin on as "The Best."  We created a whole list that you can review here! Is there gold in the New York City federal reserve? Are you planning a heist? In fact, there is! More so than in Ft. Knox and almost anywhere else in the world! You probably didn't know that the NYC's Fed Bank is one of 12 regional banks in the Federal Reserve system.  Mostly because that's not very interesting. You also probably didn't know that downtown New York City is home to the largest gold deposit in the world. The vaults at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York holds more than 200 billion dollars of gold most of being held for foreign countries. Well, you might have known that if you saw Die Hard III.  The best part about it all is that you can actually visit the vaults where all of the gold is tightly guarded and kept safe. The Federal Reserve offers free tours daily of the bank. We suggest a visit a while back! Read all about planning your trip here. What was the last movie to run at Radio City Music Hall? Strange that multiple people asked this, but who are we to judge the knowledge that others seeks. The answer is Caravans starring Anthony Quinn in 1978. There have been some special exceptions since then, but it has be 35+ years since the venue was used as a part-time movie house.  We wrote all about the fascinating history of Radio City Music Hall here! Your Adventures look like a lot of fun! Can you help me plan a day in NYC that is exciting, unique, inexpensive and custom for me and my crew? Yes! We'd be happy to take our encyclopedic knowledge of NYC and help give you pointers and tips. We've spent years combing the streets and digging up countless gems.  E-mail us at Info@NYCBigAdventure.com or send us a message on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TheBigAdventure and we'll make it happen, Cap'n!

Guide of Things to See & Do in NYC Continued - Indulge in Some American Classics

The Big Adventure recently hosted an event in NYC that brought scores of people to town. We had gathered some recommendations of various places to see and go for first time visitors and seasoned travelers alike. In the end, we had a list of restaurants, bars, activities, and museums  that are unique to New York City,relatively inexpensive and eye-opening. In short, A Big Adventure "Best Of" list. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing some of our suggestions here…

Fantastic Food Options Continued

 

Shake Shack

www.shakeshack.com

Southeast Corner of Madison Square Park (Near Madison Avenue and E. 23^rd St.) -Multiple Locations

This world famous burger and shake joint was originally founded as part of a city initiative in Madison Square Park.  Due to its delicious burgers and creamy milkshakes, they have continued to expand and even have a location at Citi Field and in Dubai.   Yes, the lines may scare you away, but if you’re feeling the urge for a quality burger and want to visit a NYC staple, it is 100% worth it.

Five Napkin Burger

www.5napkinburger.com

630 9^th Avenue (between 44^th and 45^th Streets) – Multiple Locations

The burger you’ll find here is much different than any fast-food burger…this is a burger experience.  It truly does require 5 napkins as the juices are guaranteed to run down your fingers and make a delicious mess.  You can stop in or make a reservation, but either way, if you are looking for a more gourmet burger, this is a great bet.

Crif Dogs

www.crifdogs.com  

113 St. Mark’s Place (between 1^st Avenue and Avenue A)- Location in Brooklyn as well

 

You may be used to having hot dogs over the campfire or at a ball game, but these are like no other hot dogs you’ve had before.  Billed as “NYC's Number 1 Weiner", Cirf Dogs come wrapped in bacon, covered in avocado, or even smothered in mayo and sliced pickles.  No matter what, these tasty dogs are definitely something you’ll remember from your trip to the city. Side bonus: you can watch people attempt to get into somewhat secret bar PDT via a phone booth in the wall of Crif (really).

Coming on Sunday - Big Adventure Suggestions for Brunch in The Big Apple