Your Travel Specialist On: Going Behind The Curtain In New York City

By MAUREEN JONES (Star Patcher)

This is without a doubt, one of the most exciting cities in the world and well worth a visit. I go there for meetings, and always try and have some free time as well. Going to the theatre is a must, and of course, there is an excellent selection of restaurants and wonderful hotels. Our hotel collection gives our clients a free breakfast, early check in, late check out, a room upgrade when possible, and other benefits such as airport transfers, spa treatments, dining credit and this amounts to a considerable savings.

We can organize experiences so exclusive that even a lifelong New Yorker would be surprised by the unfettered access. The possibilities for privileged tutelage through our relationships with the city’s finest experts prove endless, paired with luxurious accommodations, your getaway will become a shining example of greatness.

With institutions like Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, the world’s most talented aspire to these stages. Be prepared to meet them. Immediately across the street from Carnegie Hall is the new Park Hyatt Hotel. Located within the One 57 Tower which touts the second tallest residences in Manhattan, you will revel in some of the largest rooms in the city. Then, hit the big stage nearby, welcomed to the private rehearsal of a sold out Broadway show by one of the cast members, a singular experience reserved for a distinguished few.

Sing your favorite show tune accompanied by a musical director and learn to dance steps to match. In the evening, sit close to the stage to catch the eye of one of your newfound cast member friends while enjoying VIP seats rarely offered to the general public.

Columbus Circle also serves as an incredible epicenter of musical pursuits when staying at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Your day might stay with a lap in the 75 foot long pool overlooking the Hudson River, followed by a champagne brunch at the hotel’s Asiate restaurant.

The matinee performance at the symphony is just an introduction to the musical variety in store. Whether you frequent your home town’s symphony orchestra or one day hope to riff with a jazz band, we can arrange for music lovers to enjoy a private lesson with a professional musician and meet a range of other performers on beat with the music scene.

Midtown Manhattan brims with timeless entertainment between the bustling blocks that host Time Square, Rockefeller Center and the iconic red and blue neon of Radio City Music Hall of the Rockettes, your private dance instructors. Lovers of dance can go beyond the benefits of front row seats to enjoy exclusive backstage access. Watch this glamorous dance company from the wings and learn a few steps. A highball on the rocks at one of the city’s speakeasies seems a fitting way to end the day. We’ll make sure you know the password to open doors at places as secretive as true Prohibition-era haunts like Please Don’t Tell.

To stay at the Mark on Manhatten’s Upper East Side is to be surrounded by French style and avant-garde design that begins with the graphic black and white floors lining the lobby of the 1927 landmark. It’s location is close to several premier art institutes, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Explore one of these famous museums before opening hours.

With its fashionable address on Fifth Avenue, just adjacent to Central Park, the Pierre sits on the catwalk of the Upper East Side. We can have you whisked into the Garment District showrooms of hand selected designers . Browse the season’s newest trends with access normally reserved by fashion buyers, personally meeting the designers and taking home finds for less than half of the retail price. With our connections, you can visit Mood, to shop the thousands of bolts of silk, cotton and chiffon at New York city’s renowned fabric retailer. A makeover from the team of professional stylists adds a finishing touch to a day. A coiffeur, a makeup artist and a manicure plus a professional photographer capture your chic transformation against the incomparable backdrop of the Empire State Building.

With over 25,000 restaurants in the city, we can arrange for you to have a chauffeur driven tasting tour.

Anything is possible with the connections we have. Go on our web site and review offer I.D M1271

Maureen Jones

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Maureen Jones is president of All Horizons Travel at 160 Main Street, Los Altos. Members of her staff are experts in business travel, cruises, and all types of leisure.