September 11 Memorial distributes more than 24,000 passes in first day

by Sean McLachlan on

As we mentioned yesterday, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum started handing out free passes on Monday in anticipation of their opening to the public on September 12. Everyone anticipated a huge response, and there certainly was one. In just the first few hours that tickets were available, 24,000 were been handed out. Figures for the whole day are not yet available.

The memorial in New York City will open for a private ceremony for the victims’ families this September 11, the tenth anniversary of the attacks.

While the 9/11 memorial is free, because of high demand and limited space within the grounds, tickets must be reserved in advance for a particular entry date and time. Once inside, visitors may stay as long as they like, so this could mean slow lines. You can reserve your tickets online.

[Photo courtesy National Park Service]

Recovering from surgery? Now you can do it in The Pierre Hotel

by McLean Robbins on

The rich have long flocked to boutique recovery suites to heal themselves from cosmetic surgery nips and tucks – but how many can say they’ve spent their R&R in a five-star hotel? New York City’s Pierre Hotel has has partnered with Dr. Robert T. Grant, the Plastic Surgeon-in-Chief at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University and Weill Cornell Medical Center to house post-op patients.

Guests enjoy the services of a surgeon, nutritionist and stylist to pamper post-op patients and provide 24-hour care and privacy, including round-the-clock care from Dr. Grant himself, personal shopping, custom menu creation, private escort to and from the room, spa and salon services in-room, 24/7 masseuse availability, car services and more.

Hmm, sure does sound better than sitting in our own bed. But, like most good things in life, all of these services are available at an extra cost and start at around $650 (a nutrition consult and five follow-ups). Add that to the $600+ per night hotel charge and you’ll find that your recovery time just might be more expensive than the surgery itself, albeit a touch more pleasant.

9/11 Memorial advance tickets on sale today

by Sean McLachlan on


After many years of construction, the 9/11 Memorial at the site of the World Trade Center in New York City will open on September 12. Advance tickets go on sale today.

It’s officially called the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, and entrance is free but reservations must be made over the Internet in advance from the memorial’s website. A phone line will also open to handle group requests of ten or more people. Entry is carefully timed and all visitors must go through security. Once inside, however, visitors can stay as long as they like.

The museum’s opening ceremony will take place on September 11, but entry is reserved for officials and relatives of the victims.

Advance tickets are necessary because the memorial can only hold about 1,500 people at a time.

[9/11 Memorial photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons]

New York City opens America’s first elevator museum

by Meg Nesterov on

Going up (or down) to New York? Hit the button for Queens and head to the country’s first elevator museum. Former elevator repairman and collector Patrick Carrajat opened the museum last week to chronicle the history of the American elevator from the oldest Otis elevator in 1861 to an autographed photo from the movie Titanic of the ship’s elevator. Located in Long Island City, the “nexus of the elevator world” for its proximity to elevator companies and many of the city’s subway lines, the one-room museum is full of elevator paraphernalia but mostly serves as a showcase for Mr. Carrajat’s extensive knowledge and stories about his career. He hopes to eventually move the museum into a bigger space with room for an antique elevator.

The free museum is open weekdays and some Saturdays, check www.elevatorhistory.org or call

917-748-2328 for more details.

Want more ideas for a visit to Queens? Check out our Undiscovered New York guide to modern art in Long Island City.

Photo courtesy Flickr user Grevel.

Woodlawn Cemetery named National Historic Landmark

by Sean McLachlan on


New Yorkers have always known that Woodlawn Cemetery was someplace special. This Bronx burial ground is the final home for many of the rich and famous. It’s beautiful too, a parklike setting with 400 acres of ornate headstones and mausoleums, such as this one for Frank Winfield Woolworth. Yes, that Woolworth.

Founded in 1863 in an age when wealthy families vied with each other to have the most elaborate mausoleum, it attracts thousands of visitors a year who don’t even know anyone buried there. The public certainly knows of many of them: Harry Carey, David Farragut, Duke Ellington, Fiorello La Guardia, Frank Belknap Long, Herman Melville, Bat Masterson, and Joseph Pulitzer to name a few.

Now the cemetery has been named a national Historic Landmark, the highest honor that can be given to a U.S. historic site. Visiting Woodlawn makes a soothing and contemplative break from the high-powered vibe of New York City. If you like cemetery art, check out our picks of creepy and beautiful cemeteries around the world.

[Image courtesy Woodlawn Cemetery]