If you like big casinos, the biggest one you will find in New York State is the Seneca Niagara Casino (in Niagara).
Seneca Niagara Casino is New York State's first full-service casino featuring reel-spinning and video slot machines. Just a few blocks from world-famous Niagara Falls, the Casino is located at 310 Fourth Street.
The 112,590 square feet gaming floor houses more than 3,200 slot machines.
If table games are your preference, choose from over 100 tables including Blackjack, Craps and Roulette.
Posted by Peter Parker
in Tuesday, 21 October 2008
New York City is a photographers heaven and here are my favourite cool New York pictures.
Here are some pictures of the poinyant New York memorial lights.
On topic, I am looking to go to New York this Christmas and I would like some advice from anyone who has any recommendations of where to stay in New York. I have looked at many luxury hotels in New York but not sure which is the best location to visit all the major attractions, shopping and theatres etc. Any ideas, would really appreciate it. Thanks.
20 Cool facts about New York. Did you know that in New York City, more than 26,000 people live in each square mile? Or that the island of Manhattan was purchased from Native Americans for about $24? In fact, New York City is not only the largest city in the United States, but is made up of five separate boroughs: Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, and Manhattan. If you think you know everything about the Big Apple, think again.
Here are my top 20 Interesting Facts About New York City, some you might have heard and others I guarantee you haven't.
1. Dutch explorer Peter Minuit purchased the island of Manhattan (really its southern tip) from the Algonquin tribe for trinkets and tools worth about $24.
2. The first known name for Manhattan was New Amsterdam, which referred to the southern tip of Manhattan, a Dutch trading port.
3. New York City was the U.S. capital from 1789 to 1790
4.New Yorkers travel an average of 40 minutes to work each day.
5. More than 47 percent of New York City's residents over the age of 5 speak a language other than English at home.
6.New York's Central Park is larger than the principality of Monaco.
7. The New York City Council consists of 51 members and is the legislative branch of city.
8. According to Crain's New York Business, the average sale price of an apartment in Manhattan during the 4th quarter of 2007 was a whopping $1.49 million.
9. New York's Yellow Cabs are yellow because John Hertz, the company's founder, learned from a study that yellow was the easiest color for the eye to spot. He was right.
10. The Federal Reserve Bank on New York's Wall Street contains vaults that are located 80 feet beneath the bank and hold about 25 percent of the world's gold bullion.
11. In 2007, 46 million international and domestic visitors came to New York City. They spent approximately $28 billion while there.
12. The average daily room rate in New York hotels in 2006 (the most recent year surveyed) was $267.
13. More than 250 feature films are shot on location in New York City each year.
14.An average of 4.9 million people ride the New York City subway each weekday.
15. The New York City subway system runs 26 routes with 6,200 subway cars that stop at 468 different subway stations.
16. More than 12,700 licensed medallion taxis work the streets of New York City.
17. More than 18,600 restaurants and eating establishments do business in New York City, and the average cost of a dinner in 2006, according to the Zagat Survey, was $39.43. That includes a drink, tax and the tip.
18. As of the 2000 Census, 8,008,278 people live in New York City.
19. Approximately 790,000 companies operate in New York City.
20. Although many legends exist about the origin of New York City's nickname, the Big Apple, most historians agree that it can be traced back to a writer who covered horse racing in the 1920s. In The Morning Telegraph, he wrote that stable hands often referred to New York as the Big Apple, meaning that any thoroughbred that raced in New York had reached the pinnacle of racing.
New York highlights video
For those looking for luxury hotels in New York then visit http://www.luxique.com/boutique-hotels/united-states/new-york-city/
Here are the top 10 tourist attractions in New York.
The Empire State Building The 1,453-ft “cathedral of the skies,” opened in 1931. How could you not take the ultimate romantic trip to the top? http://www.esbnyc.com
The Statue of Liberty Next to the flag, America’s most famous symbol for freedom, standing 151ft above New York harbor since 1886. http://www.StatueOfLiberty.org
Times Square The exciting, vibrant, historic landmark in the heart of the city. Great shopping, eating and nightlife. http://www.timessquare.com
Central Park An oasis offering New Yorkers and visitors a refuge from the hustle and bustle of city life. http://www.centralpark.com Ground Zero A solemn reminder of the events of September 11 2001 – a day that will be forever remembered in the hearts of all Americans. http://www.projectrebirth.org United Nations When you enter its gates, you’re actually leaving New York City, as the 18-acre site is an international territory belonging to all the member countries. http://www.un.org
Chrysler Building The elegant, art-deco edifice considered by many to be the quintessential skyscraper design with its beautiful tapered stainless steel crown. http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Chrysler
Broadway The Great White Way, a street synonymous with great shows and great stars. http://www.broadway.com Ellis Island The nation’s premier federal immigration station, through which 12 million people came to start a new life. Now a museum. http://www.nps.gov/elis
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A collection of useful travel tips when visiting New York.
Language
George Bernard Shaw once said that England and America were two countries separated by a common language. The language is English but delivered in a way only New Yorkers know how. On the other hand, you might hear Spanish, Portuguese, Cantonese or Italian as these communities – and many more – live side by side in the Big Apple.
Currency And Tipping
The American dollar or greenback, made up of 100 cents. And just in case you need to know, a nickel is 5 cents, a dime is 10 and a quarter 25. The customary tipping rate is 15-20% for taxi drivers and waiters; bellhops are usually given $2 a bag in luxury hotels and $1 elsewhere; hotel maids should be tipped $2 a day. A doorman who hails or helps you into a cab can be tipped $1 or $2. You should also tip your hotel concierge for services rendered.
Dress Code
New York’s summer can be very hot and humid – wear light clothing, walk on the shady side of the street and try to think cool thoughts. But take an umbrella – torrential downpours can occur. Winters can be very severe. Dress in layers because stores and restaurants keep things pretty warm and you’ll need to disrobe. Many of New York City’s finer restaurants require that a jacket blazer be worn at diner, so check in advance.
Safety
New York’s reputation as a dangerous city is largely a thing of the past. However, as in any other big city, there are pickpockets in tourist areas. Keep an eye on belongings at all times and stick to streets where others are walking late at night.
Travel
Manhattan is best seen on foot. Although the city might seem enormous and intimidating, the grid system is easy to negotiate once you’ve got yourself a good map. It’s really great for walking because it can be broken down easily into manageable sections.
When walking, always obey pedestrian signs! The subway is available if you need to cover a larger distance. New York’s subway system is used by five million people a day. The system can seem complicated at first but it’s logical once you get the hang of it. Letters or numbers are used to distinguish the trains, and colours are used to denote different lines, with stations named after their street location. New York’s bus system is far-reaching and allows great views of New York street life at a more leisurely pace. Have the exact change ready.
Language
George Bernard Shaw once said that England and America were two countries separated by a common language. The language is English but delivered in a way only New Yorkers know how. On the other hand, you might hear Spanish, Portuguese, Cantonese or Italian as these communities – and many more – live side by side in the Big Apple.
Currency And Tipping
The American dollar or greenback, made up of 100 cents. And just in case you need to know, a nickel is 5 cents, a dime is 10 and a quarter 25. The customary tipping rate is 15-20% for taxi drivers and waiters; bellhops are usually given $2 a bag in luxury hotels and $1 elsewhere; hotel maids should be tipped $2 a day. A doorman who hails or helps you into a cab can be tipped $1 or $2. You should also tip your hotel concierge for services rendered.
Dress Code
New York’s summer can be very hot and humid – wear light clothing, walk on the shady side of the street and try to think cool thoughts. But take an umbrella – torrential downpours can occur. Winters can be very severe. Dress in layers because stores and restaurants keep things pretty warm and you’ll need to disrobe. Many of New York City’s finer restaurants require that a jacket blazer be worn at diner, so check in advance.
Safety
New York’s reputation as a dangerous city is largely a thing of the past. However, as in any other big city, there are pickpockets in tourist areas. Keep an eye on belongings at all times and stick to streets where others are walking late at night.
Travelling Around
Manhattan is best seen on foot. Although the city might seem enormous and intimidating, the grid system is easy to negotiate once you’ve got yourself a good map. It’s really great for walking because it can be broken down easily into manageable sections.
When walking, always obey pedestrian signs! The subway is available if you need to cover a larger distance. New York’s subway system is used by five million people a day. The system can seem complicated at first but it’s logical once you get the hang of it. Letters or numbers are used to distinguish the trains, and colours are used to denote different lines, with stations named after their street location. New York’s bus system is far-reaching and allows great views of New York street life at a more leisurely pace. Have the exact change ready.
There are direct flights to New York from most European cities, with British Airways, Virgin and most major US airlines offering fare deals in the off-season. Most US and Canadian airlines also fly direct to New York from all major cities and again, special deals are available.
Flights from abroad arrive at JFK International or at Newark International in New Jersey. La Guardia is used for domestic flights. With each, there’s a variety of options for getting into the city. From JFK, taxis are the easiest way in. The driver is required to take passengers to any destination in the five boroughs. Expect to pay around $50.
Licensed cabs are yellow with medallion shields on the hood (bonnet) and medallion numbers on the roof. Another option is the regular New York Airport Service Express Bus, which travels to mid-town Manhattan in 45-60 minutes for $15. A third option to get you into Manhattan is the AirTrain to the (A),(E),(J),(Z) Subway Lines and Long Island Railroad (LIRR). Newark is 16 miles from Manhattan across the Hudson River. If you're not intending to take a cab, the Newark Airport train is the best way to get into the city. A free monorail will take you to the airport station and then it's a 20-minute journey to Penn Station. The fare is $13.
La Guardia - the closest to Manhattan - has the New York Airport Service bus, which goes to Grand Central and Penn Station for about $12, leaving from outside all terminals every 15 minutes.
By Train
If you travel into New York by train, you’ll arrive at either Grand Central Terminal or Pennsylvania Station. Both are in the centre of town, connected to the subway and are within easy walking distance of many attractions and hotels. Amtrak now offers the 150 mph First and Business Class express Acela rail service between New York, Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Boston.
By Road
Manhattan, being an island, is accessed by a series of bridges or tunnels and has two main arteries, the West Side Highway and the FDR Drive. However, driving a car into Manhattan or around New York City is probably not the best advised as the roads seem to be congested for a better part of the day and parking can be expensive.
The Port Authority Bus Terminal is the major hub for short and long-distance buses, including national Greyhound services and regional bus companies. If you want to travel to or from Philadelphia, Washington DC or Boston, consider the Chinatown bus services, whose fares start from as low as $12.
New York is everything you ever read about it – loud, energetic, sassy, glamorous – the planet’s urban epicentre, if that’s not too big a claim.
The Big Apple has also shown its courageous side – fighting back from the horrors of 9/11. Its mesmerising appeal comes in different forms from other world-class cities: the lights that hold back the night, the zany and cosmopolitan characters on the street, the tall, tall buildings and the exhilarating pace of life. It’s cinematic – the backdrop for more than 200 movies a year.
It’s musical - getting name-checked in more songs than any other place on earth. There’s top-notch art, architecture, food, shopping and entertainment. There are landmarks that could tell a thousand stories: Times Square, 42nd Street, the Empire State Building … New York is a city of sights, sounds, smells and tastes and it won’t take you long to feel the vibe.
If you like big casinos, the biggest one you will find in New York State is the Seneca Niagara Casino (in Niagara).
