Jacques Torre, Frenchman and chocolate master extraordinaire, has opened two shops in New York City, one in Brooklyn, known as D.U.M.B.O, and the other on Hudson Street. D.U.M.B.O, in pure European style, offers handmade delicacies by Torre himself, and allows visitors to view the entire chocolate-making process from huge windows within the store. Café-style tables welcome visitors to rest while they taste these delightful creations. In the Hudson Street store, Torre makes chocolates out of beans using authentic vintage equipment and, again, allows visitors a peek into the marvelous process.  

The MarieBelle flagship store on Broome Street in New York City, named for its founder and designer, Maribel Lieberman, is true heaven for chocolate lovers. This is where gifted confectioners let their imaginations run wild with the finest chocolate ingredients, eclectic ingredients and innovative ideas to create true works of art, wrapped up as beautifully as the aesthetic surroundings in the store. Visitors can mingle among antique furniture and glass cabinets as they select whatever their hearts’ desire. 

Finally, visitors won’t want to miss a chocolatier with a difference. Kee Lee Tong Kee’s Chocolates, founded in 2002, has taken the city by storm and has earned itself a global reputation among top connoisseurs. Situated in the fashionable SoHo suburb, Kee Chocolates uses the finest ingredients – some seasonal and some available all year round - to create delicious hand-made offerings at reasonable prices.

New York City features some great chocolate walking tours.

August is a great time to enjoy many free concerts and activities in the many parks scattered around the city. Shakespeare in the Park, for example, is a much-loved summer time theatrical event that has brought some of the best plays written by the Bard to over four million people since it began in 1954.

Central Park SummerStage is another venue that culture vultures should head out to during August. This location hosts numerous shows, dance and musical events throughout the summer, many of them for free. Visitors are encouraged to bring blankets to spread out on the grass and enjoy the magical atmosphere.

Film buffs will love August’s Bryant Park movie screenings, when a huge screen is put up in the park every Monday night, and some of the best film creations are shown under the open stars. Movies begin typically at sunset and this type of excursion makes a romantic night out for those looking for something a little different.

Harlem Week is an event that actually covers nearly the whole month of August and pays tribute to the urban, culture, ethnic and recreational contribution of the colorful neighborhood of Harlem to the nation. This event is America’s largest cultural celebration and attracts literally millions of visitors each year to enjoy the smells, tastes and trends of what many see as the epitome of New York.

Other things to look out for August include baseball season and Women’s Liberty Season.

A visit to New York in August calls for extra packing considerations. Tourists would be wise to take with closed (preferably water resistant) walking shoes, a light sweater (to keep warm in air-conditioned museums and other public places), as well as an umbrella and waterproof picnic blanket (for those wonderful free concerts in the park).

For visitors who want to see as much as they can of this exciting city during August but feel that walking tours in the heat are too much to handle, air-conditioned bus tours are a great way to see New York. As evening falls on the city, August is also a wonderful time to take in some free festivals, concerts and films in New York’s beautiful parks and other outdoor locations.

Exciting August events in the city include the Met Opera in the Parks event, the New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Park, the HBO Bryant Park Film Festival and - of course - baseball season!

As long as visitors remember to drink plenty of water in order to keep hydrated, the Big Apple in August can be a wonderful, exciting place and will definitely give a feeling of being true New Yorkers!

On display each day from 7 am. to late at night, the 90 – 120 feet tall waterfalls can be viewed from a number of strategic points around the city, although the best way to see them up close would be from the water. Visitors have the option of taking a half hour Waterfalls Water Tour that runs over a dozen times a day from Southstreet Seaport. Another alternative would be to take the free daily Staten Island Ferry or the free Governors Island Ferry that runs over the weekend.

The four waterfalls, situated at Brooklyn Bridge, Governors Island, Pier 35 in Manhattan and Piers 4 and 5 in Brooklyn, can also be viewed from the waterfront.

Eliasson, whose work is inspired by the natural elements such as wind, light and water, and who is considered one of the world’s most influential contemporary artists, has taken great care to produce his four masterpieces with an environmental agenda. Filtering systems protect the fish and aquatic life in the water around the waterfalls, and green energy and building practices were used at all times.

The project’s curator, Rochelle Steiner said: “He has found a way to integrate the spectacular beauty of nature into the urban landscape on a dramatic scale.”

After sunset, the four waterfalls will be illuminated to allow visitors from miles around to enjoy these magnificent man-made creations and the beautiful New York City shoreline.

Click for the official site of the New York City Waterfalls.

A Catered Affair combines just the right elements of humor and humanity to bring the audience a thoroughly entertaining Broadway musical. Described as an “enthralling 90 minutes of emotional power”, the show tells the story of a typical Bronx family in the 1950s faced with a difficult decision. Starring Tom Wopat, Faith Prince and other established stars, the show is directed by John Doyle, with music and lyrics by John Bucchino.  

Wicked, the untold story of the Witches of Oz, is another brilliant Broadway musical that is sure to have the audience riveted in their seats. The show, based on the bestselling novel by Gregory Macguire, features music and lyrics by Steven Schwartz, and is directed by Tony Award winner Tony Mantello. The show relates the story of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glenda the Good Witch and how they land up in their roles. The show has played to rave reviews and Richard Zoglin of Time Magazine said: “If every musical had a brain, a heart and the courage of Wicked, Broadway really would be a magical place”. 

Finally, Mamma Mia is the latest music that has taken the world by storm. Some of the most unforgettable songs once performed by the Swedish group, Abba, including “Voulez Vous”, “Take a Chance on Me” and “Dancing Queen”, are woven into a poignant love story. Created by Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson of original Abba fame, Mamma Mia has been seen by over thirty million people around the world and it is not for nothing that this show is considered a global smash hit.

For an up-to-date listing of the Broadway and off-Broadway shows, head to NewYorkJourney.com.

What could be more American than celebrating the Fourth of July in a city that knows how to party?! Festivities for this great day range from hot dog eating competitions, cruises and concerts to the much-loved Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks Display that begins at around 9 pm. A patriotic flyover by the U.S Air force precedes the magnificent fireworks that have become a symbol of New York. There are also displays dotted around the city, including East River in Midtown and South Street Seaport. 

Culinary fans will delight in July’s Restaurant Week, where some of the city’s top eateries present the public with an opportunity to sample their best dishes in the form of three-course lunches for a fraction of the price.  

Summer in New York means outdoor festivals and concerts in the many parks around the city – the majority of them for free. The Met Opera in the Parks offers performances of two different operas for visitors to enjoy and the opportunity to meet under the stars, socialize and listen to some of the best music ever written. 

Shakespeare in the Park is also an excellent chance for culture-vultures to enjoy the Bard against a New York skyline. This enormously popular event, which attracts 1500 people to each performance, has played to over 4 million since it first began in the 1950s. 

Other cultural events include the New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Park, as well as productions at Central Park’s Summerstage and the HBO/Bryant Park Film Festival.

Firstly, remember that average highs are 29 degrees and average lows dip to 21 degrees. With these facts in mind, you should pack for your visit accordingly. Lightweight cotton clothing, comfortable, closed walking shoes and an umbrella are definite essentials. You might also want to pack a light sweater to keep you warm in stores and museums where the air-conditioning might be turned on too high for your liking. Remember to drink a lot more water than you usually do, as you don’t want to dehydrate!

One of the reasons that people visit New York in July is because there is so much to do and see, and many of the events are absolutely free. Check out the schedules for the many outdoor festivals and concerts in the park such as the Met Opera in the Park and Shakespeare in the Park. Don’t forget to pack a picnic blanket to make yourself comfortable on the grass while you watch. The 4^th of July is a great day to be in New York and enjoy the festivities, including the traditional Macy’s Fireworks Display. July is also a good month to get in some walking tours.

To get in a different city experience this summer, head to the Big Apple this July and feel like a true local! New York Journey features lots of interesting articles and information along with several hotel reviews.

For holistic rejuvenation and the ultimate in five-star pampering, the spa at the Mandarin Oriental New York is the place to head for. Here, visitors can enjoy 14,500 feet of complete luxury, complete with a naturally-lit pool, a high fitness center, six multifunctional rooms with private showers, and a VIP Spa Suite equipped with everything to spoil the visitor, right down to a fireplace! An amethyst crystal steam room, and oriental tea lounge rounds off the picture in this perfect oasis, 35 floors above the buzzing city of New York. 

La Prairie Spa at the Ritz Carlton Central Park in Manhattan is where Swiss perfection greets visitors with their first step through the door. Six treatment rooms offer the very best in terms of beauty and relaxation. From unique facials, jet-lag therapy and body treatments, to Swedish massages and aromatherapy, this Spa has it all. Private trainers and instructors will guide visitors at the 24 hour a day fitness center, which comes complete with a state-of-the-art training room and sauna/steam room. 

Finally no visit to New York City spas will be complete without a pampering session at the Four Seasons Hotel Spa, where guests can take their pick from a number of luxurious massages, body treatments and facials, such as the DNA Molecular Regenerator and oxygen cellular renewal. In addition, this location offers whirlpool, sauna and steam facilities to sweep away the stress of the city.

Let me know about your experiences at a New York City hotel spa.

Zabars on Broadway at 80^th Street is considered by many to be a New York icon. This family-owned store, which has been providing New Yorkers with top quality specialty food for over 70 years, caters to over 40,000 people each week and it is not difficult to understand why. Zabars offers unique coffee blends, pastries, imported products, smoked fish and an impressive selection of cheeses, to name just a few. Visitors can sample the food or purchase gift baskets to take home as a special New York memento. Click for Zabars.com.

Any cake lover can tell you that the best cheesecake in the world is Junior’s Cheesecake. The secret recipe for this cake has been in the Rosen family for generations and visitors to the Big Apple can now sample this delicious masterpiece and other offerings by visiting one of three Junior’s Cheescake stores in the city – in Brooklyn, at the Grand Central Station and at Times Square.  Click to go to JuniorsCheesecake.com.

Finally, Murray’s Cheese and Specialty Store, considered New York’s best cheese shop for decades, has two stores for visitors to enjoy – in Greenwich Village and at Grand Central Terminal. The stores offer an array of some of the best food in the world, from chocolate and confections to olives and antipasto, fruits and bread. However, their focus is on cheese and these stores present a mind-boggling selection, where knowledgeable staff can guide visitors about making their best purchase. Click to visit MurraysCheese.com.

For great reviews on NYC shops, visit NewYorkJourney.com.

This year’s 30^th Museum Mile Festival take place on Tuesday June 3^rd at Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum, with an opening ceremony at 5.45 pm. Visitors are then free to spend the rest of the evening visiting the other eight museums, that comprise: El Musio del Barrio, that celebrates the diversity of Caribbean and Latin American art and culture; the Museum of the City of New York, that explores the past, present and future of the Big Apple; the Jewish Museum, devoted to the scope and diversity of 4000 years of Jewish art and culture; the National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, that promotes the fine arts in America through instruction and exhibition; the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, that houses one of the worlds finest collection of modern art; the Neue Galerie New York, a center devoted to German and Austrian art; the Goethe Institut/German Cultural Center, which supports cultural events that present German culture and, finally; the Metropolitan Museum of Art, celebrating 5000 years of art. 

The Museum Mile Festival runs from 6pm until 9pm on the day, and will take place irrespective of the weather. Visitors should expect waiting lines – over 50,000 people attend the festival each year – however, these move fast and there is enough space for everyone to see the cultural wonders of New York during the festival.

Click for the official site of the Museum Mile Festival.