New York International Auto Show Drives Into Town

*Native Creative Concierge™ approved

Despite ubiquitous yellow cab, NYC may not be considered a driving town. What will all the glorious sidewalks and public transportation it's no wonder that many New Yorkers don't drive.

But the city is full of car drivers and car lovers. And the place to find them is at the New York International Auto Show. This year's event will be held from March 25 to April 3 at its home for the past almost 30 years - The Jacob Javits Convention Center. It's a great way to spend the day, and have the opportunity to meet NYC locals and car enthusiasts. It's a Native Creative Concierge recommended event!

Hours for the New York International Auto Show are 10 am to 10 pm Monday through Saturday and 10 am to 7 pm on Sundays (including Easter Sunday). For security reasons, backpacks are not allowed but cameras are so you can take as many photos as you like. We live in the Instagram Era so share your photos using the Auto show hashtag #NYIAS. I'll be sharing my images using their hashtag and the #NativeCreativeConcierge hashtag so you'll be able to find those here!

I love going to the car show! I started going almost 20 years ago with my brother. I still haven't lost my love for the event. It's exciting to see all these futuristic automobiles (it was the first place I saw gullwing doors in-person!) and my bro finally showed me what all the hype was about the James Bond cars. At the New York International Auto Show was where I saw a Duesenberg up close for the first time and got to sit in a pick-up truck (this was during my "I'm gonna drive cross country in a pick-up truck" phase)!

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Why Did I Start Native Creative Concierge?

Native Creative Concierge LLC - curated private excursions in New York City,
Abigail Ekue, CEO & Operator

I answered a media request from CEO Blog Nation where they were seeking stories from entrepreneurs on why they started their business. My submission wasn't published, so I'm sharing it here!


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"Where should we eat tomorrow night?" "Do you know which way is Madison Avenue?" These are questions I field on a regular basis from friends and strangers alike. It was a natural progression to start Native Creative Concierge, my service where I could provide firsthand experiences as answers to those questions.




I knew I didn't want to go back to a 9-to-5 office job and I needed an income. As a New York native, I know there's more to the city than Manhattan and the publicized tourist attractions that can also be tourist traps. There's so much more to NY than Times Square! -- I've adopted that catchphrase to combat the line of thinking that if someone visits those attractions, they've visited NY.

Wines to Drink For Your Summer Wind Down

I've recently taken a lover. If it's just a summer fling, it will go down in history.


Vinho Verde.


We met in late April at an event and it was love at first tingly awakening in my mouth. I was struck by the flavor and the slightly sparkling quality of the wine. I was gifted with a bottle of the Casal Garcia that was served that evening and haven’t looked back.

What was left of the bottle of Vinho Verde I received
at the event. I snapped this photo to send to a friend,
declaring my love of the wine.

Yes, it's ill-advised to consume alcohol when temperatures top 90 degrees as they have on numerous days in New York City this summer, but heat or not, people are going to drink wine. {The} Native Creative Concierge turned to a few good men to learn which wine they choose for hot August summer days in the city, afternoons at the beach or an evening picnic or BBQ with friends.



SO WHAT'S IN YOUR WINE GLASS?



Though far from being an ubriacona, I do admit to having quite the taste for wine this summer. I still sully myself with a Riesling, Sancerre blanc, Grüner Veltliner or Lugano on occasion. But now I choose Vinho Verde without hesitation and have no doubts it will get me through the rest of the summer.



Turns out I'm not alone. Jack Mason, Master Sommelier and the Wine Director of Marta also pours from the same chilled bottle. "Even as temperatures outside rise, I love a good glass of wine. One of my favorite wines on a budget for a hot summer day is a partially frozen bottle of Vinho Verde from Portugal. A slightly-effervescent, acid-driven white wine combined with an hour in the freezer creates the perfect, quaffable glass that maintains a cool temperature on even the hottest of summer days."

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NYC Success Story

Photo: Vysyn Photography

Last year there was an open call for the Raising The Bar NYC Stories talk. They were looking for New Yorkers or "people in NY" who have a NYC story - anyone who's made a name for themselves, succeeded in New York City.

"If you’ve lived here you know that once you succeed in New York, you can succeed anywhere. Whether its starting your own business, performing with your favorite musician, falling in love, or simply getting to the nearby subway station just in time for the train; winning in New York is a feeling unparalleled by any other. If you’ve lived here you’ve experienced the highest peaks and the lowest pits, and we want to hear your stories."

-- Raising The Bar 

Here's what I wrote in hopes of being able to share my story. It got me to the 2nd round - the Skype interview:

Best Cities for Tour Guides -- My 2 Cents

{The} Native Creative Concierge was interviewed for an article on ValuePenguin - Best Cities for Tour Guides. Although New York isn't that high up on the list, I was able to share the reason why I started Native Creative Concierge and give a little insight into what I include on my excursions.

“...there was a need for travelers to experience more of New York City outside of the usual tourist attractions. As a native New Yorker, I am able to provide that...

Client interested in Mediterranean cuisine? End the tour with a stop at an upscale restaurant and receive personal attention from the head chef...”

The NYC Food Bucket List (or Foods New Yorkers Eat Because We Have To or Love To)

Native Creative Concierge™ approved

Delicious Bodega Sandwich (Instagram)

I recently read an article listing 11 foods the writer thought every New Yorker must have at least once in their life. The list included cronuts and ramen burgers.


I'll wait while you roll your eyes as hard as I did.


I decided to compile this list of the foods many New Yorkers eat because it's 3 AM and/or we've been drinking, because it's what we can afford or because they're simply delicious.

Travel on the Water in New York City

Source: Abigail Ekue Photography

Whenever the weather warms up, I find myself drawn to the water more than during the winter. Even if I'm not getting my feet wet but just watching the waves, ducking deranged seagulls and making up stories about the people on their boats, being by the water is like setting a reset button for my energy.


The water is also a great way to get around. And I'm surprised more people don't take advantage of it. In New York, the most recognizable ferry for commuters and the one with the highest ridership is the Staten Island Ferry. With NY waterfronts in all boroughs being developed there will be a need for more transportation. In the coming years, New York Water Taxi, The East River Ferry and the rest of the ferries run by New York Waterway will see an increase in ridership.

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Mary Lee - A Great White in New York

Have you heard the one about the shark in NY? Sounds like the beginning of a tall tale or urban legend about a shark in the Hudson River or the sewer or the shark that "flew" here by way of tornado. But I'm talking about Mary Lee the Shark. She was tagged a few years ago off Cape Cod and recently has been tracked off the Jersey Shore. Could it be the warmer temperatures that brought her back? Is the food source in New York waters extraordinary like the food in NYC restaurants? Believe me, I get it, I will and have traveled for food.

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My First Solo Trip to Las Vegas

"You're the only person I know who goes to Vegas with plans to do all this other stuff besides the casinos," said my brother as I rattled on about what I was gonna do once I got to Las Vegas.


Don't get me wrong; give me a chunk of money and a hot streak and I'll gamble the night away and roll around naked in my winnings in the morning. I wanna be a whale; flying into McCarran International Airport on a private jet, driven to my villa and eat meals prepared by a personal chef.

But I can't resist the call of the other side. What's down that block? What's down that hole? What happened here 40 years ago?

So off I went to Las Vegas, camera in tow. Yes, I did The Strip and didn't care if I looked like the biggest tourist dork gazing upward most of the time and taking landmark selfies (1, 2, 3, 4). But I also had plans to walk along desert roads, experience the Las Vegas art scene, drink where the locals drink and channel my inner Danny Ocean.

Spirited: Brooklyn's Dessert Speakeasy

Spirited is Native Creative Concierge™ approved.

The Big Bad Brooklyn Blackout Cake and The Rosemor dessert-cocktail
paring at Spirited in Brooklyn, NY

The chalkboard out front greeted me with the message: Have your drink and eat it too.



On the corner of Vanderbilt Avenue and Bergen Street stands Spirited, a dessert speakeasy owned by Kimberly Wetherhell. The idea for Spirited dates back to 2010 but it wasn't until 2012 when she baked liquor-infused Thanksgiving pies -- filling 40 orders at $40 a piece -- that she knew the idea was a viable one.



From decision to conception it's taken a year and a half for Spirited to open its doors.Two weeks in and Sprited is full of...well, spirit! "It's like throwing a party every night," says Executive Baketender® Kimberly Wetherell. Her experience in the entertainment industry comes in handy in running a house of cake and cocktails.

 

Executive Baketender® Kimberly Wetherell

Root and Bone, Part Dinner

Bucket of Birds, root & bone, NYC

The opportunity arose to have dinner at Root and Bone. Of the things I had my eye on, I was only able to cross the Bucket of Bird and Macaroni and Cheese off the list. But don't go feeling sorry for me. I still left Root and Bone that evening satisfied with a doggie bag to boot.



We arrived a little before 6:30 on a Friday. Again, it really is like having a meal in someone's kitchen. The hostess greeted us warmly and seated us. Where do we start? Do we order a starter? Our drinks? Put our whole order in at once? Decisions!



This evening we were paired with David. He fielded our questions about the cocktails to start. I had a Lady J Ivory. Yes, I'm a woman of vodka habit. My friend ordered The Twisted Mustache (Russell's 6 Year Bourbon, Swedish Punsch, citrus and ginger). It was the bomb-diggity. Ok, she may not used those words but her expression after she took her first sip said so.

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Root and Bone is Native Creative Concierge™ approved.

Root and Bone Alphabet City

Root and Bone is Native Creative Concierge™ approved.

Fried Chicken and Waffle Sandwich at Root and Bone, East Village, NYC

My proclivity for chicken and waffles has been well documented. It even resulted in my being quoted on Eater NY. So when I received emails announcing the opening of Root and Bone in the East Village I planned a visit.

Picture it:

Saturday afternoon. Across Ave B is the usually boisterous brunch crowd. Outside Root and Bone, on East 3rd Street, was dotted with diners waiting to be seated and others waiting for  their take-out orders. I left my name with the host and was told it'd be a 30 minute wait. Not so. My friend arrived about five minutes later and we were called in about five minutes after that.

The set-up is a cross between a home kitchen, a front porch and classroom. They went old school with the chairs. There's even a cubby under the chairs that the host put my bag in when it fell off the back of my chair. It's a very cozy atmosphere. 

Lower Manhattan Tuesdays

Native Creative Concierge™ approved.

(Source)

Lower Manhattan -- that area south of Chambers Street that many only equate with courthouses, "Ground Zero", Century 21, Wall Street and being a ghost town after 5 PM or on the weekends -- is now home to the promotion Lower Manhattan Tuesdays presented by the Downtown Alliance for New York. It will run every Tuesday from May 27 to September 30.


Sign up to get your Redemption code for special deals and promotions to use at participating businesses. You can also get a promo code with 9/11 Memorial Museum tickets.

A few of my recommendations:

Stone Street Tavern -- A friend chose this restaurant as the site of my birthday dinner a few years ago. Surf and turf was enjoyed by all. The location is a draw too as I'm a sucker for cobblestone, windy streets that bring me back to Old New York.


The Iron Horse -- skip Hogs and Heifers and go here. That is all. Oh, get on the giant swing too. And I know this is about Tuesdays but if you go on Sundays and buy a drink you get a free burger. Ok now, that is all.


City Sports -- their promo is for the Run Club but while you're there buy yourself a pair of supportive and ergonomically-correct sneakers for the miles that you'll cover and track on your pedometer that you'll also buy at City Sports.

Judgmental Map of New York

Source

This one will surely upset and offend some people. It will make others laugh.


This latest Judgmental Map of New York by RBD Enterprises features only The Parts [of NY] That Matter.



That right there is sure to set some people off.


The glaring omissions of most of The Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens and Staten Island are the first offenses and the inclusion of part of New Jersey are the first offenses.

A New Yorker Not From New York

Abigail Ekue Photography

"I’ve learned I don’t care for people who say they’re from New York when they’re not. If you’ve lived here 13 years -- or even just eight years -- you can call yourself a New Yorker, but you can’t say you’re from New York."

That statement by David Blend in his post, "What I Learned Living in NYC for 13 Years" received an audible, "yes!" response from me.


I'm sensitive about some things. That is one of them. People who live here are New Yorkers. There's a reason we specify "Native New Yorker" and "New Yorker". Being from New York means something, considering our numbers are shrinking. I am from New York. I even have my own lawn! (well not really, but you get the idea)



What else did I agree with David on?


There really are a lot of Jews in New York. Including Black Jews. I wonder if he's visited or spent time in the Orthodox and/or Hasidic communities in Brooklyn. I've had immediate next door neighbors erect sukkahs (Crown Heights, I miss you!). I drove through Williamsburg on the night of Purim this past March -- a whole 'nother world.

South Bronx Culture Trail

 

 

This week it was announced that Casita Maria Center for Art & Education, City Lore and Dancing in the Streets were partnering to create the South Bronx Culture Trail. According to the Associated Press, they are currently in the process of identifying culturally significant sites which will be designated with physical markers. 

I "got my start" in the South Bronx (940 Grand Concourse!) and then came back during junior high and high school. It will be great to learn more about the living history I may have been oblivious to as a kid and to be able to share it with Native Creative Concierge clients. I have a family visiting next month that requested a stop at Yankee Stadium. I'll include surrounding areas during their private excursion. One of the landmarks that will be highlighted on the South Bronx Culture Trail will be 1520 Sedgwick Ave where DJ Kool Herc created hip hop in the early 70's.

There's So Much More To New York Than That

Native Creative Concierge client snapping photos at Fort Washington
during our half day excursion
(Source) 

A friend recently shared a commercial by an Israeli company in which he appears. Two things jumped out at me when I watched the ad - the role he was cast in and the product the commercial was for.

Guys & Dolls and Native Creative Concierge

On Saturday, February 22, 2014, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will host its 14th Annual Guys & Dolls Bachelor/Bachelorette Auction. To date, Guys & Dolls has raised close to two million dollars in funding to cure cystic fibrosis and virtually every approved drug for cystic fibrosis was made possible because of support from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.


Guys & Dolls hosts a gala each year with 700 attendees who come together for food, entertainment and charitable giving in the name of cystic fibrosis research.

Bowery Mission Continues Its Mission in New York

The Bowery Mission,  NY (Source)

I remember last spring a pair of visitors from Germany wanted to see homeless people huddled over a fire burning in a garbage can to keep warm. After my eyes widened and I laughed, I let them know that image of New York they were fed isn't the reality anymore.


And while there's no more skid row here in NY, The Bowery Mission, on the Bowery which was New York's skid row, still provides services to the homeless and people in need. This week, I worked with a client whose interest was in criminal law and social services provided to New Yorkers. I took her to The Bowery Mission as part of her immersion.

Super Bowl XLVIII Week in NYC

January 27 to February 2 will be affectionately known as Super Bowl Week in New York City. Well, affectionately known to me but to others it'll be known as a traffic-jam, clogged-sidewalk causing nightmare. Either way, it will be a high-energy time in NYC no matter how cold the temperatures may be.


I'll be working with the NY/NJ Super Bowl XLVIII Host Committee at various tourist welcome sites and along Super Bowl Boulevard perimeter. This gig is right up my alley. Need directions? Need help purchasing a metrocard? Need help hailing a taxi? Need help getting to your terminal to catch your flight? Need to know where to go to avoid all the Super Bowl Madness? Need to make sense of the madness that will be Penn Station, Times Square, Grand Central, or the PATH trains (the game will be played in New Jersey)? It's just a small part of what I do as {The} Native Creative Concierge and it's what I'll be doing during Super Bowl with for the Host Committee.