Some Shots from The Coney Island and Carnival Big Adventure

Photos from The Coney Island & Carnival Big Adventure 

So, we are more than just a little bit delayed in getting these up and online, but wanted to pick the perfect images from the oh-so-many that were gathered on our most recent Big Adventure which was nothing short of a truly awesome day.

Below are a few pictures from our Coney Island and Carnival Adventure this past August. After gathering at Ace Bar, The Big Adventure embarked on a Carnival theme throughout New York City. The day involved A Skee-Ball Tournament, The Freak Show, The finest Zeppole in NYC, a visit to the best Tiki Bar this side of Tahiti and, of course, a nice visit to Coney Island. You can read more about the day from an old post by clicking here. 

If you would like to see the entire collection of photos from the day, feel free to swoop over and view them on Flickr

 

The Big Adventure Recommends: Pulsd NYC

The Big Adventure Recommends: Pulsd NYC

Pulsd is a relatively new offering in the endless world of online NYC deals that’s core purpose seems to be to sift through the endless garbage of doings and loop you into quality last minute and free deals throughout New York City. Yes, Online Services like these are becoming more ubiquitous than the annoying phrase “Going Viral” recently, but this one is worth making a short list of must visits.

What makes ‘em stand out? In short, a higher-caliber list of events and offers, constant update of listings (more than 30 a day) and an easy-to-navigate site that doesn’t bombard you with duds of listing that are clearly paid for (and clearly no one wants).

A few listings on Pulsd. that caught our eye just this morning was Free Coffee at 7-11 till the end of the year, a legitimate Open Bar this evening in Midtown, and 30% off at Bloomingdale’s. Granted, some of the listings (lighting of the tree at Rockefeller center) is news to no one. And one downside is that some offers are list minute or too far in advance, but there are really some solid opportunities revealed for all to see.

In short, Pulsd is one of those sites you can bookmark and scan regularly for some (seemingly) great opportunities. Other similar services require a nominal fee or registration  but there appears to be nothing like that (for now) on Pulsd. And like any quality deal offering web service, there is a twitter feed because we all love that Twitter.Our only complaint is that the lack of an E in their name is really driving the grammerian in us crazy.

Bonus: A San Fran option for those on the left coast.

http://pulsd.com/new-york/

Chapter One of the Big Adventure Winter Guide

Starting to look a lot like…The Big Adventure Winter Guide

With the arrival of the giant 62-foot-tall Tree into Rockefeller Center this morning (and for some reason an A.M. concert by Bon Jovi), It is starting to look a lot like Christmas in New York City! Decorations are going up all over town and The 77^th Annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular is seducing spectators thrice daily and even a new Broadway Musical based on the movie Elf (we’re skeptical). 

Aside from the cold and forthcoming snow slush, it certainly is one of the most wonderful times of year in the Big Apples (and, of course, one of the most tourist heavy). Over the next few weeks, The Big Adventure will be occasionally sharing some of the best Holiday Season To-Dos in New York City.

Thought we would start with a blast from the past by recounting our past Winter Big Adventure from a couple of years back. The stops still hold and this would make a tis-The-Season great self-guided Adventure:

 The NYC Big Winter Adventure

Lunch at Havana Central at the West End  Up at 116^th and Broadway -one of the most amazing restaurants in the city. Don’t settle for the other two locations. 

See A College Basketball Game at Columbia University-  Right across the street. You don't get a chance to witness true Division 1A College B-ball often without paying through the nose. Tickets are as little as $10. Cheer on the exciting Columbia Lions and their mascot Roar-ee (sad) 

Grand Central Model Train Display - At the Transit Museum Annex in Grand Central. For the kid in all of us. 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.  

 

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 “Must Sees”

Delicious Holiday Drinks and Food at Maggie’s Place -Across from Grand Central at Madison Avenue at 47^th Street–Maggie’s is often 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, 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. You can try and guess just how much that 34 carat diamond in the window of Tiffany’s costs. End at FAO Schwarz or take a load of at the shady but fun Subway Inn Bar. 

Nothing on that list tickle your fancy? More Holiday Big Adventuring to follow...

The Next Big Adventure is coming!

What do The NYC Institute of Culinary Education, NYC Actor Tracy Marrow and the Diamond District of Manhattan all have in common? Once you’ve figured out that riddle, you’re well on your way to determining the theme of the next Big Adventure on December 11th….

And while we're on the topic of the NYC Subway...

This is making big news on Yahoo! and some other major web portals:  A “Secret” Subway Stop. Before you grab your flashlight and make plans to explore the unknown, prepare for a bit of disappointment.

While compelling, the news is a bit misleading and really romanticizes a relatively empty shell of a station. The City Hall station has been a well-known closed station to locals for years. Right in the heart of downtown, it is kinda hard to miss. In fact, they open the station on a regular basis for tours and they even held a gala there when the NYC Subway System turned 100 year. While a nice station, The Big Adventure would not classify it as the "most gorgeous gems in the world of Mass Transit". 

Granted, it is a nice treat that you can now ride through the station as the 6 Train terminates and goes back into services, but the cars don't stop, the station is not lit up and you'll probably see more rats than archways. 

Instead, we recommend bringing your camera and checking out the unique art exhibit "Life Underground" installed at the A-C-E 14th Street Station at Eighth Avenue. Much more interesting. http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/artwork_show?21


But, if you're still interesting, here is more information than you'll even need on the abandoned City Hall station: http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/stations?5:979

Visit NYC's Most Secret Art Gallery via Subway...sorta.

Send to us by Friend-Of-The-Big-Adventure Dan, this seems to be the ultimate hidden Big Adventure: A Secret Art Gallery in an abandoned NYC Subway Station.

Dubbed “The Underbelly Project”, this giant make-shift galley features stunning work by several talented graffiti artists in a giant empty space. Created over an 18 month period, these pieces stretch from ground to ceiling. Completely free and open 24 hours a day. The catch? No one knows where the secret gallery actually is. And you have to travel down the tracks from an active Subway Station to get there. Hey, unsafe AND slightly illegal!

But they pay off is supposedly worth it – huge untouched canvases of over 100 pieces in untouched splendor. Ah, wacky artists. On this one, getting there alone might be the reward.  We don't want to spoil the quest, but finding the station doesn't take a lot of work with some online digging and a subway pass. We like these final thoughts from our friends at the Second Avenue Subway Blog:

"It is a dangerous thought about a morbid project that somehow captures both the recklessness of a bygone era, the foolhardiness of this undertaking and the mystery of an abandoned aspect of the New York City subway system. I don’t think Arts for Transit will approve."

 

Read more at Gizmodoo and check out the amazing images from The NY Times:

http://gizmo.do/cNZYEw

http://nyti.ms/dwTo0o

http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/11/01/a-subway-art-project-in-the-abandoned-underbelly/

NYC November "Must Do" Event #2: Be part of a Live TV Studio Audience in NYC

The Big Adventure Presents NYC November "Must Do" Event #2: Attend a Live Television Taping in NYC

While watching the debut of Conan O’Brien’s new show last night and digging into the late night snacks, The Big Adventure starting counting all of the television shows that tape in New York City. People tend to forget that of all the unique, media oriented events that happen in the city the opportunity to see their favorite shows taped live is one of them. We know first hand what a fun experience it is ; something that we really recommend.

And here is the dirty secret: All of the tickets are free. The producers tend to need the audience more than the audience needs them. Letterman probably wouldn’t be the same without 500 cheering, laughing fans each night. Universally, all TV tapings are the price of e-mail and it is relatively easy to procure tickets. On the downside, most tapings are in the middle of the day during the week and you have to be at the studio about three times the length of the actual show.

Shows that tape in NYC include the iconic Saturday Night live, Live with Regis and Kelly, Martha Stuart, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Rachel Ray, The View, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Colbert Report,  and, of course, Late Night with David Letterman. Plus a NUMBER of different pilots, limited run, comedy specials and more. 

Getting tickets is relatively easy – as long as you manage your expectations.  Step 1, visit the website of the show you want to see. Some have tickets only four to six weeks in advance others take your request six months ahead of time. Shows tend to post tickets and tape at different times.  Each show does it a little bit differently. Step 2,  skip the big guns with hard to secure seats like SNL and Live with Regis. Instead opt for shows with big crowds that tape nightly like The Daily Show, Late Night and Letterman.  Step 3, get there early and show enthusiasm. They offer more tickets than they have seats and they tend to put the really excited folks in the front row to get on camera,

The best part? It’s a tie between realizing how different things are when you’re not watching on a 32” screen or DVRing the show and seeing if you can see yourself in the audience. 

Bonus: We know for a fact that Who Wants to be a Millionaire with Meredith Viera has open spaces for tickets throughout November.Plus, you can audition while you are there.Check it: http://www.dadt.com/millionaire/tickets/

Also, these sites will give you a solid overview of all shows…

http://www.nycgo.com/?event=view.traveltrade&id=80890

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/newyorkcity/0021021209.html