New Yorkers love Halloween! We plan some of the biggest parades and bashes in the country every year. October is already a great time to visit to see the Fall foliage and enjoy less crowds compared to the madness of the summer and the winter holiday season but seeing all the great decorations, costumes, and events makes it even better! Here at Top Dog we have rounded up some of the best activities and special events to consider if you will be with us this month. Best Spooky Decorations Many NYC locations go all out with their Halloween decorations each...
New York City Travel Tips
The Inside Scoop on New York Comic Con
Last year New York Comic Con brought 200,000 pop culture fans to the Jacob Javits Center and this year they hope to have even more! This yearly event is a favorite for New Yorkers and tourists alike. Whether you like to get autographs signed by big-time celebrities or you just like to see all the wild and crazy costumes, NYCC is the place to be. We are big comic book and movie fans at Top Dog Tours, here is our insider's guide on what to expect and where to go before and after! Is Comic Con sold out? As of...
TopDogTours Guide to Oktoberfest in NYC
Did you know that NYC was once home to one of the biggest German communities in America? In the 1800s “Little Germany” or “Kleindeutchland” stretched nearly 400 blocks of what is now called the Lower East Side and the East Village. It was home to nearly 500,000 people by the turn of the century. Today there are still some incredible German beer gardens, restaurants, and specialty stores here in NYC. What better time to visit them than during Oktoberfest? This annual tradition is based in Munich Germany but many American cities have all sorts of festivities for those who wish...
Discover New York Harbor in Style: TopDogTours and Atlantic Yachting Launch New Sailing Tour
When you think of New York City, you probably imagine towering skyscrapers, bustling streets, and iconic landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. But what if you could experience all that New York has to offer from a completely different perspective—one that lets you escape the hustle and bustle while enjoying the city’s beauty while relaxing from the water? That’s exactly what TopDogTours and Atlantic Yachting are offering with their new Sailing Tour around New York Harbor. This partnership brings together the best of both worlds: TopDogTours’ expertise in New York City history and Atlantic Yachting’s unmatched...
HBO’s Gilded Age: The Astor Family (B3:1)
It’s impossible to discuss The Gilded Age (both the show and the era) without mentioning the Astor Family. Founded in the 1780’s by John Jacob Astor, he made his fortune in fur and Manhattan real estate. The Mrs. Astor we keep hearing about in The Gilded Age was the wife of John Jacob’s grandson. Broadway great Donna Murphy is doing a great job of portraying Mrs. Astor and I’m becoming a fan of Amy Forsyth who plays her daughter Carrie. Carolyn Holding and Andy Taken make cameos as Helen Astor and James ‘Rosy’ Roosevelt in the first episode. Caroline Astor...
HBO’s The Gilded Age: The Van Rhijn Household (B:1-2)
Just like the Russell Family, I discussed in my previous blog (check out the link here), both the Brook and Van Rhijn Families are fictional. The Brook family is most likely of English descent and the name Van Rhijn is clearly a nod to the early Dutch arrivals to New York. I haven’t been able to figure out who (if any at all) this family is based off, there aren’t such obvious inspirations like the Russells. I thought in this blog, I’ll comment on the characters themselves and highlight some of my favorite Gilded Age New York Families. Marion Brook...
HBO’s The Gilded Age: Who Are the Russells? (B:1-1)
When I first heard Julian Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey, was writing a show about The Gilded Age in New York City, I was excited — extremely excited. Then I found out it would be full of some of Broadway’s brightest stars and I felt, Fellowes, had created a show for me personally. Like he reached into my mind and pulled this show out of all the places that give me joy. The Gilded Age has always fascinated me and the time period is one of my personal favorites in American History. Many of my colleagues and friends who aren’t...
10 Instagram Worthy Spots This Holiday Season
NYC during the holidays presents an overwhelming amount of places that make for amazing picture backdrops. With so much to do and so little time, we’ve compiled our 10 favorite holiday picture spots (5 of which can be seen on our Holiday Tour)! 1. Pulitzer Fountain Donated to the city by Joseph Pulitzer’s estate and installed in 1916, this beautiful fountain sits right across the street from the famed Plaza Hotel in Grand Army Plaza (right next to Central Park). This year’s decorations feature handcrafted animal sculptures, icebergs, and 5,000 feet of lights. Bonus: You can walk down 5th Avenue...
Broadway is Back! After a hiatus of 18 months, Broadway shows are reopening on the Great White Way.
There were quite a few shows that closed during previews that are now getting the chance for a real run, and a few that we are excited to see open next year. As a Musical Theatre major, I’m a little biased and am very excited about the 5 musicals I’ve listed below. Mrs. Doubtfire I had the pleasure of seeing this show in tryouts in Seattle in January of 2020 before Covid. I immediately fell in love with this re-imagined version of the 1993 classic which starred Robin Williams as a divorced Father dressing up as a Scottish nanny to...
TopDog Tours Holiday Tour is Featured by Travel + Leasure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSs6KqX42ns 0:00 Introduction to New York Holiday Landmarks 0:23 St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the Historical Origins of Christmas 1:34 New York Christmas Firsts 1:54 St. Patrick’s Cathedral Midnight Mass History 2:35 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree History 4:27 Radio City Music Hall History 4:48 The Rockettes History 5:56 Bryant Park History 6:30 Bryant Park Winter Village 6:57 Macy’s Store History 8:02 Macy’s Day Parade History 9:08 Macy’s Holiday Window Display
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