Garner Hotel Preston Samlesbury

Come walk and discover New York - city and state - with the Street Teacher - take a step into a new world! Although primarily giving tours around New York City, I am available for tours in Philadelphia and Boston, if any should desire - and I love taking people to Washington D.C. But perhaps what I most like is taking people on walks across some of the great bridges around our city: the Brooklyn Bridge, and especially the Williamsburg Bridge - and don't forget the great George Washington Bridge - for walks along the Palisades!

Located in New York City’s founding neighborhood, Pier 17 is drenched in history. A stone’s throw from the Financial District and The World Trade Center, the area has more recently been synonymous with Wall Street workers and tourists visiting the 9/11 Memorial. But this summer changes all that with the re-launch of Pier 17 at the Seaport District NYC. Home to the Seaport Museum and the city’s largest concentration of restored maritime buildings, Pier 17 is being reclaimed for New Yorkers via dynamic food, drink, art, architecture, retail, and entertainment concepts that foster community and engage the city’s denizens, year-round. Pier 17 and the surrounding Seaport District comes out of its tourist trap shadows as its new tenants incorporate the neighborhood’s rich past, while embracing its future as a port of discovery. For history buffs, Pier 17 is one of the most interesting places in NYC. The economic growth of New York in the first half of the 19th century was driven by the Port of New York’s position as an import–export exchange and cargo center for emerging American and global markets. The Seaport and Pier 17 became a gateway for international shipping, maritime activities and the wholesale fish trade. South Street was known as the “Street of Ships” and the Wavertree, which is docked alongside Pier 17 to this day, arrived in New York City in 1895 en route to Calcutta with jute cargo aboard. The ship was acquired by the South Street Seaport Museum in 1968 and went through a 16-month, $13 million restoration. “These are the kinds of ships that built New York,” says Jonathan Boulware, executive director of the South Street Seaport Museum. A hub of commercial virtue (the finance, sea trade and printing press businesses were all located in this dense port) and accompanying vice (the area is home to some of the city’s oldest drinking dens, which played host to all manner of illicit activities back in the day), the Seaport was the first 24-hour district in New York, hence the phrase “the city that never sleeps”.

La Belle Helene is a refined brasserie in the heart of the Queen City serving French classics with a modern sensibility. Located in Uptown Charlotte, this restaurant is owned and operated by 5th Street Group and features a warm, inviting atmosphere, incredible service and a menu steeped in classic French culinary tradition created by Chef Partner and Top Chef Alumni Chef Jamie Lynch and Regional Culinary Director, Sherief Shawky. Experience French culture and cuisine with the 5th Street Group twist at La Belle Helene.

Brought to you by the team from Church & Union Charleston, Church & Union Charlotte, La Belle Helene, and Church & Union Nashville, Tempest is a new upscale seafood restaurant. Voted 2020 Best New Restaurant by USA Today’s 10 Best. Located in the former historic Harriott Pinckney Home for Sailors, next door to Church & Union Charleston. Tempest features hyper-local, sustainable South Atlantic seafood, with a seasonal menu curated by Top Chef Alum Chef Jamie Lynch, Executive Chef Tyler Cook, and Chef Adam Hodgson. Tempest’s noteworthy raw and roast menu features both chilled and charcoal roasted options. Impressive single, double and three tier seafood towers are also featured.

Harmony of old-world history and contemporary elegance close to Boston Harbor and Faneuil Hall. Stay at The Bostonian Boston Faneuil Hall Hotel in North End Boston. Immerse yourself in history while treating yourself to luxury. The Bostonian Boston Faneuil Hall Hotel is a AAA Three Diamond rated hotel nestled in one of the city’s most coveted locations. Set amid the hustle and bustle of North End Boston near South Station, our redbrick façade and classic interiors are an iconic blend of old and new. With most major attractions within walking distance, like Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market and The Freedom Trail, we invite our guests to fully immerse themselves in the city’s historical past. Urban explorers and families can tour the city and rest easy in our spacious rooms, with charming amenities like Juliette balconies to peer at the view below and working fireplaces for those blustery wintertime visits. From the moment you’re greeted at the door, our hotel near Faneuil hall offers you an impeccable level of comfort and award-winning service that will make your visit to Boston even more memorable.

In 1992, New York Offstage began, when founder, Bev Sambrotto, left her role as Assistant Director of Visitor Services at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Her tenure at Lincoln Center gave her invaluable experience as a producer of refined cultural events. This experience included talent recruitment and coordination with world-class talent from Lincoln Center’s companies, cutting edge event planning and production for Fortune 500 corporations, and creative, interactive program content for patrons, and international travel and luxury group clients. New York Offstage flourished as the industry leader in these immersive, behind-the-scenes experiences showcasing New York’s cultural world. As the company grew it was evident that its services and business model could be copied in other leading cultural destinations and in 2007 the brand was renamed The Offstage Group. Until 2012 The Offstage Group served groups of all sizes. The company had weathered several economic downturns and as a safeguard changed its business model to include memorable experiences for individual travelers. Your VIP Pass was born!

Aba is a Mediterranean restaurant originating from Chicago’s historic Fulton Market District. Aba, meaning father in Hebrew, incorporates Chef CJ Jacobson's lighter style of cooking with influences from the Mediterranean, including Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, and Greece. The bar program, crafted by Liz Pearce, showcases rare Mediterranean-inspired wines and spirits.

Our mission is to provide one-of-a-kind culinary experiences that leave you and your guests with lasting memories and satiated palates. Every detail is meticulously thought out, and our commitment to hospitality, with over 40 years of experience working in some of the world's most acclaimed restaurants, brings a level of excellence rarely found in the catering industry.

Step outside what’s not only the tallest building in Chicago but the third-tallest building in the Western Hemisphere! The viewing tower offers spectacular views spanning up to four states, but there’s also The Ledge, a glass balcony extending four feet outside Willis Tower’s 103rd floor. At 1,353 feet in the air, its glass boxes extend out 4.3 feet from the Skydeck. An all-new, 30-60 minute interactive experience in the viewing tower shares Chicago highlights and the rich history of the tallest building in Chicago. If you’re wondering what to do in Chicago today that will be fun and educational, this is a great addition to your 103rd-floor Skydeck visit!

Against all odds, we have opened up our newest restaurant, Serafina, This little gem of a restaurant, perched on top of Nob Hill, has truly been a labor of love, as we were set to open at the end of February, and then had to do so during the ensuing pandemic....We are so excited about Serafina, which has been a concept in the making for many years for us. Serafina was Maurizio’s grandmother, and the name of her eponymous restaurant in the heart of Trastevere (Rome), where Maurizio first began making pizzas at the age of 14. She was a tough woman and wonderful chef.. an inspiration for his love of cooking then, and inspiration of how he is determined to persevere despite the difficult circumstances of today. We hope to create a warm, elegant space where neighbors and friends can come together. We have an amazing team with our partner Giuseppe Terminiello, the co-owner of Piccolo Forno with us (we also own Ideale, in North Beach as well), and Umberto Cannarsa, an accomplished and incredibly talented chef from Rome, who had his own successful restaurants there.