Answers to our New York City Trivia Stumpers

As promised, here are the answers to the 10 NYC Trivia stumpers that we posed the other day. How well did you do? We have even more questions up our sleeve we may post down the road.

 

1) Which section of New York would be the Fourth Largest City in America - after Chicago, Los Angeles, and the rest of NYC – if it stood on its own as an independent city? Brooklyn

2) In 2009 and again in 2011, an odor drifting over from the Frutarom flavor factoryin North Bergen, New Jersey, made parts of New York City smell like what? Maple Syrup

3) Who played the very last concert at Shea Stadium? Billy Joel

 

4)  In the last five years, two professional New York City based sports teams have won National Championships. Who were they? The New York Giants (Twice) and The Yankees 

 

 

5) Who was “Client 9” better known as? Former New York Governor Elliot Spitzer

 

6) In 1626, people from WHICH country purchased Manhattan Island from the Lenape Native Americans for 60 guilders (about $500 in today's currency)? Dutch/ The Netherlands

7) According to NYC eccentric Jimmy McMillan what is “too damn high”? The Rent!

 

8) Which actor made a bizarre appearance on David Letterman in 2009 that later turned out to be a hoax as part of his film “I’m Still Here”? Joaquin Phoenix

9) Which NYC annual event attracts around 2.5 million spectators & over 40 million television viewers each year? Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

10) What is Blue Ivy Carter’s claim to fame? Beyonce and Jay Z's Kid

New York City Trivia Stumpers

How well do YOU know New York City? Test your intellectual might with these NYC Big Adventure puzzlers.

While we prep for an epic return to more regular Big Adventuring early next year, we thought that we would toss out an early Holiday Gift to all with some of our favorite Big Apple trivia questions!

These ten particular questions were used on our 2012 "Big Adventure's Greatest Hits" Adventure. Many of them showcase some of the finer moments from the last 18 months in New York City. How many can YOU get right? We'll post the answers on Tuesday, Christmas Day.

 

1) Which section of New York would be the Fourth Largest City in America - after Chicago, Los Angeles, and the rest of NYC – if it stood on its own as an independent city?

2) In 2009 and again in 2011, an odor drifting over from the Frutarom flavor factory in North Bergen, New Jersey, made parts of New York City smell like what?

3) Who played the very last concert at Shea Stadium?

4)  In the last five years, two professional New York City based sports teams have won National Championships. Who were they?

 

5) Who was “Client 9” better known as?

6) In 1626, people from WHICH country purchased Manhattan Island from the Lenape Native Americans for 60 guilders (about $500 in today's currency)?

7) According to NYC eccentric Jimmy McMillan what is “too damn high”?

8) Which actor made a bizarre appearance on David Letterman in 2009 that later turned out to be a hoax as part of his film “I’m Still Here”?

9) Which NYC annual event attracts around 2.5 million spectators & over 40 million television viewers each year?

10) What is Blue Ivy Carter’s claim to fame?

Have we whet your appetite for even more scintillating trivia? Lucky for you, NYC is the home of a boatload of weekly bar trivia events. Three ongoing incredibly well done groups that the Big Adventure recommends are:

 The NYC Trivia League

The Big Quiz Thing

Trivia, A.D.

Listing of 2011 Display Windows

A Guide to the 2011 Holiday Display Windows at shops throughout New York City 

Flipping through the pages of our trusty Time Out New York Magazine (Holiday Issue on Newsstands now) we found the pub has once again posted this comprehensive list of NYC retailers with Holiday Windows. Following up on yesterday’s post about Bergdorf’s spectacular windows, this should give you a solid overview of retail stores throughout Manhattan who are putting their backside into decking the halls to create amazing displays. 

If you're visiting from out of town or trying to capture the spirit of the season in The Big Apple, taking to time gaze at the windows is a free, fun activity that is worth your time. Choose your route carefully - many stores are close in proximity to one another on and near 5^th Avenue in Midtown. With a little skill, you can knock out half a dozen locations in under 45 minutes and dodge some crowds. Check out the handy map below.

 Tons of images from windows (and this info) can be found at Time Out New York's Holiday Guide

 
Bergdorf Goodman - 754 Fifth Ave at 58th Sts (212-753-7300, bergdorfgoodman.com). –Winner of The Big Adventure’s Vote for Best Windows!

Dylan’s Candy Bar - 1011 Third Ave at 60th St (646-735-0078, dylanscandybar.com). 

Henri Bendel - 712 Fifth Ave at 56th St (800-423-6335, henribendel.com).

Lord & Taylor - 424 Fifth Ave at 39th St (212-391-3344, lordandtaylor.com).

Barneys - 660 Madison Ave between 60th & 61st Sts (212-826-8900, barneys.com).

Bloomingdale's - 59th St and Lexington Ave (212-705-2000, bloomingdales.com).

Macy's - 34th St and Sixth Ave (212-695-4400, macys.com). .

Anthropologie - 50 Rockefeller Plaza between 50th and 51st Sts (212-246-0386, anthropologie.com).

Tiffany & Co. - 727 Fifth Ave between 56th and 57th Sts (212-755-8000, tiffany.com) 

Saks Fifth Avenue - 611 Fifth Ave between 49th and 50th Sts (212-753-4000, saks.com).

Cartier - 653 Fifth Ave at 52nd St (212-446-3400). 

Fendi - 677 Fifth Ave between 53rd and 54th Sts (212-759-4646, fendi.com).

Louis Vuitton -1 9 E 57th St at Fifth Ave (212-752-4835, louisvuitton.com).

Enjoy the NYC Holiday Windows 2011!

The Top Five Holiday Windows in New York City

The Top Five Window Displays in New York City this Holiday Season

Ah, it almost goes against the spirit of the season to pick one window over another. Yet, due to popular demand, we're giving in and posting the best of the best in the Season Holiday Retail Storefront Windows throughout the city. This list was created after eye-witness judging, internal debates, heated discussion and absolutely no scientific criteria at all.... Honorable Mentions go to Bergdorf Goodman and Anthropologie who just missed our list.  


5. Macy's - 34th between 6th Ave and 7th Ave-  Along with the classic "Miracle on 34th Street" windows that is up year after year, The world's largest department store also has a great window for kids based on the "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" - All made of paper! Fun!


4. Barneys New York - 61st and Madison Ave-  We're not sure how to best describe this other than: Whimsical, Creepy and focused solely on celebrating American's love for...food and celebrity chefs. Seeing Paula Deen gathered around the Christmas Kitchen in a Snuggie is particularly intriguing/disturbing.


3. Lord and Taylor - 38th and Fifth Avenue - Always one of the most popular sets of windows due in part to their location (right at Rockefeller Center), they've gone classic with sets of detailed miniatures over 12 windows that tell the tale of Christmas stories over the past 100 years.


2. Henri Bendel- 56th and Fifth Avenue - We were surprised that this made our list, but we just couldn't get over the sheer elegance (that also reminded us we certainly can't afford to shop here). Designs inside and out focus on fashion intertwined with a stunning take on the Nutcracker. And, really, who doesn't love the Nutcracker?


1. Saks Fifth Avenue - 49th and Fifth Avenue - Amazing. The best in the city. The light and music show on the side of the building builds to a breathtaking crescendo. Check out the video below, but this is a must see in person. The light show combines with traditional windows themed of Snowflake and Bubbles and a young girl on Christmas morning. Truly, it is all heartwarming and exhilarating. If this doesn't put you in the holiday season then nothing likely will change your Grinch like spirit. Light show is every fifteen minutes through Jan 6th. 


Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

All About The Big Adventure

Click here to return to The Big Adventure homepage

A look back at some of our past NYC Big Adventures from 2010. Our Gallery includes:

To round out the list, Big Adventures before 2010:

The International Big Adventure

The Farewell to the W Line Big Adventure

The 24 Hour Big Adventure

The Letter C Big Adventure

The Winter Big Adventure

The Staten Island Yankees Big Adventure

The All-Irish Astoria Pub Crawl Big Adventure 

 

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A Guide to the Holiday Display Windows at shops throughout New York City 
(Nov 21,2010)

Time Out New York is on the ball again - they recently posted this comprehensive list earlier this week. While perhaps not the definitive list, it should give you a solid overview of retail stores throughout Manhattan who are putting their backside into decking the halls to create amazing Holiday themed Display Windows. 

These windows have become as iconic for the NYC Holiday season as the Rockettes and Tree at Rockefeller Center. The Big Adventure's favorite? Without a doubt, Barney's outshines the others year after year. Although, we've already seen Dylan's first hand and the Penguins using Gummy worms to Ice fish for giant Swedish Fish is pretty dang cute.

If planning a visit, choose your route carefully - many are stores are close to one another and you can knock out half a dozen locations in under 45 minutes...

Info provided by Time Out New York's Holiday Guide

Dylan’s Candy Bar - 1011 Third Ave at 60th St (646-735-0078 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              646-735-0078      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, dylanscandybar.com). 

Henri Bendel - 712 Fifth Ave at 56th St (800-423-6335, henribendel.com).

Lord & Taylor - 424 Fifth Ave at 39th St (212-391-3344, lordandtaylor.com).

Barneys - 660 Madison Ave between 60th and 61st Sts (212-826-8900, barneys.com).

Bergdorf Goodman - 754 Fifth Ave at 58th Sts (212-753-7300, bergdorfgoodman.com).

Bloomingdale's - 59th St and Lexington Ave (212-705-2000, bloomingdales.com).

Macy's - 34th St and Sixth Ave (212-695-4400, macys.com). .

Anthropologie - 50 Rockefeller Plaza between 50th and 51st Sts (212-246-0386, anthropologie.com). Monday, November 22.

Tiffany & Co. - 727 Fifth Ave between 56th and 57th Sts (212-755-8000, tiffany.com). November 22 at 5pm.

Saks Fifth Avenue - 611 Fifth Ave between 49th and 50th Sts (212-753-4000, saks.com). November 22 at 6pm.

Steuben Glass - 667 Madison Ave at 61st St (212-752-1441, steuben.com). November 30.

Cartier - 653 Fifth Ave at 52nd St (212-446-3400). Opening TBD.

Fendi - 677 Fifth Ave between 53rd and 54th Sts (212-759-4646, fendi.com). Opening TBD.

Louis Vuitton -1 9 E 57th St at Fifth Ave (212-752-4835, louisvuitton.com). Opening TBD.

Enjoy the NYC Holiday Windows 2010!

Brooke and Phil’s Big Winter Adventure

Saturday, December 8th

We hope that you’ll join us on Saturday, December 8^th for a one-of-a-kind New York, Winter Adventure. Join us for some of it or join us for all of it or don’t join us at all. The more the merrier, so feel free to invite whomever you would like (I just need to make sure I have an accurate ticket count for the basketball game).

12:30 PM or so – Pre-Game Drinks & Dreidels– Location TBD. At a fine Yet-To-Be-Named Tavern. Meet us there, get your ticket, spin your dreidel, win some gelt. This will be on the Upper West Side near Columbia. You can meet us there before…

2:00 PM College Basketball - Columbia University vs. Loyola!

You don't get a chance to witness true Division 1A College B-ball often without paying through the nose. Tickets are a mere $10. Cheer on the exciting Colubmia Lions and their mascot Roar-ee(sad) as they wage war against Loyalo at Francis Levien Gymnasium - Broadway & 120th at The Dodge Fitness Center. We'll meet outside the main box office at about 1:45 (Take the 1 Subway line to 116th Street).

From the game, we'll take the subway down to Midtown (bring your MetroCard) to Grand Central for..

Grand Central Kaleidoscope Light Show

How do you make practical use of the busiest and largest train station in America? By illuminating the walls with a spectacular Holiday light show throughout the concourse. This is quickly becoming one of the New York’s premiere holiday events. See it now so you can say, “I saw it way back in 2007.” Not quite as cool as these guys but still should be pretty neat.

Grand Central Model Train Display

For the kid in all of us. Mighty impressive what they can do with a bunch of model trains these days. When I was little, I could barely get mine to go around the track. In this year’s festive display, model trains start off in a living room on Christmas morning, shuttle through a miniature NYC and assorted pastoral tableaux before arriving at Santa’s workshop in the North Pole. Fun! Maybe there will be a NJ Transit train that stops and shuts down periodically with little angry passengers inside.

5:30 PMish - Delicious Holiday Drinks and Food at Maggie’s Place - Madison Avenue at 47^th Street– One of the best true Irish bars in New York, Maggie’s was voted as a top stop for holiday drinks which range from their Famous Irish Coffees that use rare whiskey to Hot Ciders and a legendary Peppermint Paddy -a flirty hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps that’s served with a candy cane. More Holiday treats abound.

New York Midtown Holiday Window Gazing – Finally, we’ll walk up 5^th Avenue to see the best holiday storefronts in the world from Saks Fifth Avenue to Henri Bendel to Bergdorf Goodman to Barney’s and more. We can try and guess just how much that 34 carat diamond in the window of Tiffany’s costs.

We’ll likely end in the early evening at FAO Schwartz where Brooke will reenact the scene from Big on the actual piano with Robert Logia in person. From there….who knows? The Subway Inn has always been a delightful haven for shady patrons tired after a day of walking.

So, we hope that you’ll don a warm jacket and holiday spirit and join our festive December Saturday adventure. E-mail Brooke or Phil if you have questions….