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InterContinental Times Square is NYC's largest LEED certified hotel
The brand new InterContinental New York Times Square Hotel is the largest hotel in New York City to achieve LEED certification, as well as the largest new hotel in The Big Apple to open since 2002. The 36-story, 607 room hotel is a shining example of eco-friendly green luxury.
Floor-to-ceiling windows let in the view — which includes Times Square, the Hudson River and Central Park — and cuts down on heating requirements in winter and the need for lights during the day. Green roofs on the second and seventh floors feature low-maintenance plants that retain heat in winter and absorb sunlight and heat in summer. Motion sensors in stairwells and storage areas reduce electric usage, along with use of LED and flourescent lighting in guestrooms.
Housekeeping uses only green, eco-friendly cleaning supplies, and the hotel restaurants — including a high-end Todd English restaurant – are composting food scraps and waste. The green IntercContinental Times Square New York was constructed with 20% recycled materials, most of which was from within 500 miles of Times Square, which reduced both transportation costs and the pollution associated with moving construction materials long distances. Eco-friendly green paints, carpeting and other materials, with reduced volatile compounds, are used throughout for better air quality.
There are discounts galore from airlines and hotels. Act fast, since these travel bargains don’t last forever.
AirTran Airways has a getaway sale valid for travel on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. You have to book your flights by July 8, 2010, but you can travel through November 16, 2010. Sample fares are $114 each way between [...]
Macy's Annual July Fourth Fireworks in NYC is largest in US
The Fourth of July and fireworks displays go together like hot dogs and mustard, kids and ice cream. Here are five of the best places in the United States to watch Fourth of July fireworks:
New York City — The biggest and best, of course, is the annual Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks display. This year again, the pyrotechnics are from barges parked in the Hudson River, near the Statue of Liberty, who will be basking in the glow of 40,000 shells in a 26-minute display synchronized to music. A special symphony of patriotic music, Broadway show tunes and other favorites is being provided by The New York Pops orchestra, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir as well as a capella, gospel, choral groups and barbershop quartets. There’s a FREE download of the music on the Macy’s website. The show is being televised by NBC at 9 p.m. EST, which will be broadcasting from the brand new cruise ship Norwegian Epic, berthed in the Hudson River.
Book Expo America, NYC
Author Book Signing Peaceful Places NYC
My new travel guidebook
Cuba
Havana, Cienfuegos,
Trinidad, Santa Clara
San Francisco
Launch, 2011 Ford Fiesta
Dubai
Bangkok, Chang Mai
Beaver Creek, Colorado
Where I’ve Been
January
Beaver Creek, Vail, Colorado
2009
Miami - Audi A8 launch
Los Angeles Auto Show
Detroit - GM, Ford
St. Lucia
Guadalajara, Mexico
Frankfurt Auto Show
Stuttgart, Munich, Augssburg
Edmondton, Canada NASCAR
Churchill, Canada, "Polar Bear Capital of the World"
Taos, Albuquerque
