Events

Guest Tours

Note: ACCT has arranged for 2008 Congress participants to get special discounts on select Broadway theater tickets, including Chicago, Gypsy, Grease, The Lion King and many more!  Many performances are 5% to 25% off the regular Broadway ticket price.  Click here for more information and to order your tickets online!

 

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 9 A.M. - 1 P.M.

Downtown Renaissance Tour

Guests will go downtown on a comprehensive journey through the old and the new. The history of the city begins downtown, where Dutch traders came into the area in the early 1600s. Evidence of Dutch roots can be found in names like Roosevelt, or the Bowery (Dutch for “farm”), and the colors of the New York City flag, which are the same as the Dutch flag (blue, white and orange).

The tour will start at the World Trade Center’s redevelopment site to highlight how the area has drastically changed since 9/11 and how it is being reborn. From here we go to St. Paul’s Chapel, the oldest church in the city (1766), past City Hall, Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange. Then it’s on to Battery Park, the oldest park in America. From here we can see New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. We then make a stop at the South Street Seaport, with its many shops and exhibits. For some bargain shopping, one of the best places is Century 21, the city’s largest discount department store and a destination in its own right!

Tour price: $95 per person

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 9 A.M. - 2 P.M.

Historic Welcome Tour

Guests will go to Battery Park to board the ferry to Liberty Island and Ellis Island (one ticket provides admission to both islands). The Statue of Liberty is probably one of America’s most well-known monuments. Miss Liberty was given to the U.S. as a gift from France in 1886, sculpted by August Bartholdi along with the help of Gustave Eiffel (creator of the Eiffel Tower).

At Ellis Island, visitors will be transported through time — by a story chronicling the fate of more than 12 million immigrants who passed through the doors of Ellis Island from 1892 to 1954. Here you may view the film “Island of Hope — Island of Tears” which will characterize the human drama of Ellis Island. Then take an audio tour through the museum- guests will receive individual audio cassette players that provide a fascinating commentary (available in several languages). The commentary will escort guests through the buildings, the story and the history of immigration.

Tour price: $130 per person; includes admission/ferry ticket to Liberty and Ellis Island for self-guided tour.

 

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 3 P.M. - 4 P.M.

Steinway Hall Tour

Note: Tour will depart from the 45^th Street Entrance of the New York Marriott Marquis. Please arrive 10 minutes prior to departure.

In a city filled with famous cultural and artistic centers, Steinway Hall stands as a musical treasure and the world’s most renowned piano landmark. Since opening in 1925, it has shared a vision with musical enthusiasts, students and professionals throughout the world: To create an environment rich with passion, to foster great art, and to provide a unique setting in which music lovers of all levels can select the piano of their dreams.

Today, Steinway Hall is recognized as the ultimate destination for everyone who loves the piano. The moment you walk through its doors, you are welcomed to a celebration of Steinway & Sons history and heritage, and the incomparable sound of Steinway pianos. You will view all levels of this magnificent cultural jewel, including the dramatic two-story rotunda that features a domed ceiling hand painted by Paul Arndt, the gallery filled with Steinway memorabilia, and the basement that features the legendary piano bank where accomplished artists have selected their Steinway pianos for more than 75 years.

The tour is being sponsored by Steinway & Sons and Lewis and Clark Community College, an All Steinway College.

Although there is not charge, advance signup is required. If you would like to participate in this tour, please e-mail acct@experient-inc.com. Tickets will be included in your registration Packet.

 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 9 A.M. - 1 P.M.

Lincoln Center & the Upper West Side

Guests will visit New York’s famous Lincoln Center, located on the Upper West Side. Begin with a behind-the-scenes tour of Lincoln Center where our guests learn about this great cultural institution (please note there is no access to the backstage areas during the tour). We will visit the opera house where you can view elaborate costumes worn by famous performers, visit the New York State Theatre, and perhaps see a rehearsal in progress.

After our tour, we will explore the Upper West Side neighborhood, starting at 59th Street on the west side of Central Park, this area is rather chic, with glamorous restaurants and expensive apartment buildings. The stretch of Broadway in the 70s and 80s is loaded with New Yorkers’ favorite food shops like Zabar’s, Citarella and Fairway.

Tour price: $95 per person

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 9 A.M. - 1 P.M.

Grand Central Station & United Nations Tour

Visit two of New York City’s most well-known landmarks — Grand Central Station and the United Nations. The day starts at Grand Central Terminal, which opened in 1913, and which is a wonderful example of Beaux Arts style. Grand Central has undergone a dramatic revitalization and restoration which has returned it to its former elegance. It holds many interesting aspects including a vaulted ceiling, based on a medieval manuscript of the zodiac; the Grand Staircase, styled after the grand staircase in the Paris Opera; and various statuaries on the facades of Mercury, Hercules and Minerva.

Next, we visit the United Nations — a building of great international importance. We will enjoy an informative 45- minute guided tour and learn the duties and functions of its members. Many pieces of art and sculpture are displayed throughout the building, mostly donated by the various member nations.

Tour price: $105 per person; includes tour guide and deluxe roundtrip motorcoach transfers to/from Marriott Marquis Hotel, a tour of Grand Central and 45-minute guided tour of United Nations.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1 P.M. - 5 P.M.

Top of the Rock & Circle Line Cruise

Guests will see New York from high above the city and from the water. We start our tour with a visit to Top of the Rock. Top of the Rock is an experience in history and scenery that culminates with unparalleled views of New York City from the newly renovated Observation Deck on the 70th floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, in the heart of midtown Manhattan at Rockefeller Center. An amazing view with an even more amazing history!

Next, we visit the Hudson River for a twohour cruise around the tip of Manhattan. Departing from the Westside of Manhattan, guests can cruise the New York Harbor enjoying the majestic skyline of lower Manhattan, including the skyscrapers of the Financial District, plus the East River and its photogenic bridges (the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge and Williamsburg Bridge).

Tour price: $115 per person

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1 P.M. - 5 P.M.

NBC Studios & Radio City Music Hall

During the NBC Studios Tour, guests will learn the secrets of television production by going back in time to NBC’s launching of the Golden Age of radio. Then, we’ll fast-forward through many of the landmark TV programs that established NBC’s reputation for innovative and quality programming. From radio to television, these studios carry memories that date back to 1933. The tour will take guests to some of the most famous studios: NBC Nightly News, Late Night with Conan O’Brien and Saturday Night Live, among others. Guests will walk through a working facility on an un-staged tour. Because of fast-breaking news events and changes in the broadcasting schedule, the tour may vary from day to day. (Note: subject to availability and scheduling at NBC)

The next tour stop is Radio City Music Hall — “over 60 years of magic and mystery!” Guests will take the Stage Door Tour, where they will be guided through this famous theatre, venue for some of the world’s biggest performers (Tony Bennet, Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion), gala awards shows (such as the Academy Awards), and wonderful stage shows (including River Dance, and the music hall’s own Christmas Spectacular starring the worldfamous Rockettes). Learn about the history of this grande dame of theatres as well as some of the technical wonders involved in producing the various shows and events. The theatre recently underwent a major renovation is now grander than ever.

Tour price: $105 per person

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 4 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.

A Jazzy Night in Garage

Guests will visit downtown to experience the heart of the city with a jazz backbeat. The evening begins with a visit to the World Trade Center’s redevelopment site to pay homage to the rich history of the area and vibrant future that is being created there.

Then on to the popular Garage, in Greenwich Village. The restaurant features rich tones of exposed rafters, brick walls, inlaid wood floors and a double story stone fireplace. Multilevel dining allows everyone to have the best seat in the house. Guests will enjoy the great cuisine and casual atmosphere while listening to live jazz.

Tour price: $205 per person; dinner at The Garage (pre-set dinner and soft drinks), all additional beverages are paid directly by guests.