In 1982, President Ronald Reagan asked Lee Iacocca, then Chairman of Chrysler Corporation, to head a private sector effort to raise funds for the restoration and preservation of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation (SOLEIF) was founded.
The Foundation's fundraising drive sparked a dramatic response. The American people contributed more than $500 million (and counting!) to the repair, restoration, and maintenance of these two great monuments to freedom. All funds for the Foundation’s projects have come from the American people – no government funds have been used.

Girl of the Year 2013 Celebration. Celebrate the arrival of our newest Girl of the Year! At this special event, girls will learn about this new contemporary character, make fun crafts, and enjoy a delicious meal. Includes an American Girl book to take home. Reservations required. The NYC dates are January 11 and 18.
For girls ages 8 and up.The American Girl Place in New York City is a unique store where girls can find a paradise in a doll experience. Find shops featuring all of their characters – from historical favorites, where their stories come to life before your girl’s eye, to My American Girl® dolls to their current Girl of the Year – plus Bitty Baby and the Bitty Twins. Explore outfits, accessories and furniture that help make every doll’s world complete. Dress Like a Doll® by matching your girl’s outfit with her best friend’s, creates the perfect pair. Visit the bookstore where girls can find the books they love, losing themselves in exciting stories, solving puzzles or doing craft projects. Visit the Avenue AG, on the second floor, where you can explore mini-shops filled with adorable accessories, sweet and savoring treats, design-it-yourself tees, and more surprises just for girls and their dolls. Experience fun and fancy dining at the American Girl Café. Let your girl feel very special when she is served at a table with pretty white linens, bright daisy centerpieces, and sparkling silverware. Your girl will even take home a memento as a reminder of her special day!

The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge is a double-decked suspension bridge that connects the New York City boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn. It spans the Narrows, a body of water that separates the two boroughs, and is named after the explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, who was the first European to enter New York Harbor in 1524. The bridge was designed by Othmar Ammann, who was also the chief engineer of the George Washington Bridge, and was completed in 1964. At the time of its completion, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world with a main span of 4,260 feet. The bridge has six lanes of traffic on the upper level and three on the lower level, and is a major transportation link for commuters and commercial vehicles. The bridge also offers a spectacular view of the New York City skyline and the harbor. The bridge's opening ceremony was attended by various dignitaries including Robert Moses, the powerful NYC Parks commissioner and urban planner who had pushed for the construction of the bridge. The bridge is considered as an engineering marvel and a significant transportation link in the New York City.

Red Hook Boaters is a community of boating enthusiasts located in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. The organization provides affordable access to the waterfront for local residents and visitors, offering a variety of boating programs, classes, and events. Members have access to the organization's fleet of sailboats, kayaks, and rowboats, as well as the use of the boathouse facilities, which include a classroom and meeting space. The organization's mission is to promote boating as a means of connecting with the waterfront and fostering a sense of community among its members. They also focus on educating and training members on safety and boating skills, as well as promoting environmental stewardship on the water.
Red Hook Boaters offers a variety of programs including youth sailing, adult sailing classes, and community sailing events. They also participate in local regattas and races, and host events such as on-water BBQs and full-moon paddles.
In addition to boating activities, Red Hook Boaters also advocates for public access to the waterfront and works with local organizations and government agencies to improve boating infrastructure and facilities in the area. Overall, it is a great place for boating enthusiasts to come together and enjoy their passion for boating in the heart of Brooklyn.

The L.I.C. Community Boathouse is a boathouse located in Long Island City, New York. The boathouse provides access to the East River for the local community through various programs such as kayaking, rowing and sailing. The boathouse is a volunteer-run organization that aims to promote the use of the waterfront for recreational, educational and environmental purposes. The boathouse offers a variety of programs for people of all ages and skill levels. The adult rowing program is a popular option for those looking to get in shape and learn a new skill. The youth rowing program is also offered to young people, providing a great opportunity to learn teamwork and discipline. Kayaking programs are also available for both adults and youth, as well as sailing programs.
In addition to these programs, the boathouse also offers waterfront access to the community through its kayak and rowboat lending program, which allows individuals to borrow boats for free during the boating season. The boathouse also provides space for community events such as parties, picnics, and other gatherings.
The boathouse is located on the East River in Long Island City, next to the Socrates Sculpture Park and the Queensbridge Park. The boathouse is easily accessible by public transportation, with the F train subway line stopping at the 21st St-Queensbridge stop, which is a short walk from the boathouse.
The L.I.C. Community Boathouse is a great place for the community to enjoy the waterfront and learn new skills, while also promoting the use of the waterfront for recreational, educational and environmental purposes.

Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden will kick off its roster of 2013 events on January 12 with a concert by the Vincent Ruggieri Jazz Quartet and an exhibition of the work of two unique artists from the Snug Harbor Artist Residency Program (SHARP). The jazz concert, the first in the Island Sounds Music Mash-Up series will be from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Main Hall, Building C. The SHARP exhibition will be from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art in Building G. Refreshments will be served. Admission to both events is free. The Snug Harbor campus is at 1000 Richmond Terrace in Staten Island.
A short ferry ride away from Manhattan's powerful downtown financial district sits one of New York City's best kept secrets, The Staten Island Botanical Garden. Nestled within the grounds of the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, The Staten Island Botanical Garden with its Victorian charm and stately elegance is a "must visit" that should be on every tourists' list.

GET IN THE GAME!!! The NBA Store in Manhattan is your one stop shop for everything related to the NBA and provides fans with one of the most fulfilling shopping and entertainment experiences available in New York City. Whether you are a Knick fan, a Laker fan or any fan, the NBA store has your team’s gear at great prices. The sprawling 35,000 square foot store doesn’t just do team licensed gear but also has all of the basketball shoes you need to lace up and head to the court. Of course, if you are in the Manhattan store you don’t have to go far as part of the experience involves trying out your gear on the indoor half-court officially endorsed by the NBA. The fun doesn’t stop there - the store also has a consistent array of multimedia presentations that take you away from a basic shopping experience and instead puts you in front of 50,000 screaming fans on the court of your dreams. For a shopping experience like no other and a chance to look exactly like your favorite basketball heroes, look no further than the NBA Store in Manhattan!

Kayak Staten Island is an all-volunteer organization providing free kayaking for the public at the shoreline on South Beach in Staten Island.
Depending on attendance, there may be a wait for a boat to become available. Try-outs are limited to 15 minutes; it is first-come-first-served but paddlers are allowed to get back in line for another spin.

The Statue of Liberty was gifted to the United States from the people of France in 1886 to celebrate the centennial of American independence and to symbolize the friendship between the two countries. The statue stands at 151 feet tall, with the statue itself measuring 151 feet from the base to the tip of the torch and the pedestal adding an additional 154 feet.
The statue is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the United States. Visitors can take a ferry to Liberty Island and then climb the 354 steps to the crown of the statue for a panoramic view of New York Harbor and the surrounding area. Visitors can also take a tour of the statue's pedestal and museum. The statue has become an enduring symbol of freedom and democracy, and is a symbol of hope and inspiration for people around the world. The statue was closed for renovation for several years and reopened in 2013 with a new museum and new exhibits about the statue's history and meaning.
The statue of Liberty is one of the most iconic landmarks of the United States, and it is a symbol of freedom and democracy that has welcomed immigrants to America for over a century. It is a must-see attraction for anyone visiting New York City.

The New York Hall of Science is a place for everyone to explore, question and learn. It is the number one New York's hands-on science and technology center. It occupies one of the few remaining structures of the 1964 New York World's Fair in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in the borough of Queens in New York City, easily accessible by public transportation or by car.
NYSCI promotes science and technology as important tools that help us understand ourselves and the world we live in. Join this unforgettable visit where learners of all inclination and ages can touch, manipulate and interact with more than 450 permanent exhibits, including the award-winning Science Playground, Preschool Place, Life Beyond Earth, Sports Challenge and the new Rocket Park Mini Golf. From mini-golf to microscopes, no matter how you like to learn, you will find opportunities at NYS. In addition to the permanent exhibits, NYSCI features a dynamic schedule of feature exhibitions, events, programs and workshops. NYSCI both creates exhibitions that travel, and hosts exhibitions from other institutions. NYSCI exhibitions have traveled nationally and internationally. NYSCI also offers many opportunities to bring fun-filled learning experiences into your classroom! NYSCI has events down to a science, offering space and services for Birthday Parties, School Events, Private Parties and more, transforming ordinary events into extraordinary experiences.

2013 Winter/Spring Season. Based on The Suit by Can Themba, Mothobi Mutloatse, and Barney Simon Direction, adaptation, and music by Peter Brook, Marie-Hélène Estienne, and Franck Krawczyk The renowned Peter Brook—whose 1987 production of The Mahabharata inaugurated the BAM Majestic Theater (now the BAM Harvey Theater)—returns with a music-filled adaptation of South African writer Can Themba’s piercing tale of simmering resentment and tragedy, The Suit. A wife caught in the act, her lover fleeing the scene, a suit left behind. It’s the perfect recipe for a husband’s punishing, humiliating decree: go on with business as usual, he says to his spouse, but take your lover’s suit everywhere you go as a ghostly reminder of your betrayal. Using an innovative staging that integrates live musicians directly into the action, Brook makes Themba’s volatile work sing. A hummed “Strange Fruit,” African melodies, and Schubert lieder thicken the tense, poisoned air of this apartheid-era summer in which a shared wound was not allowed to heal.
Dating from its first performance in 1861, BAM has grown into a thriving urban arts center that brings international performing arts and film to Brooklyn. The first BAM facility at 176-194 Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights was originally conceived by the Philharmonic Society of Brooklyn as a home for its concerts. It housed a large theater seating 2,200, a smaller concert hall, dressing and chorus rooms, and a vast "baronial" kitchen. BAM presented both amateur and professional music and theater productions. Performers included Ellen Terry, Edwin Booth, Tomas Salvini, and Fritz Kreisler.

Historic Richmond Town is a living history museum located in Staten Island, New York. It is a complex of buildings and structures that have been carefully preserved to give visitors a glimpse into the past and a better understanding of the history and culture of Staten Island and New York City. The museum features over 30 historical structures, including a colonial-era courthouse, a one-room schoolhouse, and a variety of homes and businesses that were once located throughout Staten Island. Visitors can experience what life was like in the past through interactive exhibits, tours, and living history demonstrations. The museum is also home to the Staten Island Historical Society, which is dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Staten Island and its residents. The society's collections include artifacts, documents, and photographs that provide a glimpse into the lives of the people who lived on Staten Island throughout history.
The museum is open to visitors throughout the year and offers a variety of programs, events, and activities for visitors of all ages. Visitors can take a tour of the museum's buildings and structures, participate in hands-on activities, attend lectures and workshops, and explore the museum's gardens and grounds. The Decker Farm is also part of the museum's property, where visitors can enjoy the bountiful harvests of produce from its well-maintained and beautiful organic fields, and learn about the farming practices used in the past.
In Historic Richmond Town, visitors can live vicariously through history and really gain a feel for the true American experience. It's a great place to bring friends and family to create memories that will last a lifetime. With its rich history, beautiful architecture, and engaging programs, it's easy to see why visitors keep coming back to this unique and historic museum.

Experience the beauty of Queens Botanical Garden (QBG), the place where people, plants, and cultures meet. Set on 39 acres in theheart of New York City's largest borough, the Garden is an oasis of green space serving our nations's most ethnically diverse county. More then 60 years after its birth as an exhibit at the 1939 New York World's Fair, QBG continues to welcome an international audience with rose, bee, herb, and perennial gardens, changing displays, and public programs accessible to all. QBG is just steps away from some of the finest ethnic restaurants in New York City and the cultural attractions of Flushing Meadows Corona Park, home of the 1939 and 1964 New York World's Fairs

Brooklyn Botanic Garden, called “the premier horticultural attraction in the region” by The New York Times, is New York City’s natural wonder, where no matter what the season, something is always in bloom. Stroll the many gardens within the Garden. Enjoy the serenity of the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, tour the fragrant Cranford Rose Garden, bring the family to explore the children’s Discovery Garden, or visit the Steinhardt Conservatory, containing the world famous C.V. Starr Bonsai Museum. Visit the Terrace Café and Garden Gift Shop.

Prospect Park is a public park located in Brooklyn, New York. The park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, who also designed Central Park in Manhattan. Prospect Park covers 526 acres and offers a wide range of recreational opportunities for visitors. The park features several notable attractions, including the Long Meadow, a 90-acre meadow that is popular for picnics and sunbathing; the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, a 52-acre garden that features a variety of plants, flowers, and trees; and the Prospect Park Zoo, which is home to over 300 species of animals. The park also has several lakes and ponds, including the Lullwater, which is popular for boating and fishing. Prospect Park also offers a variety of recreational activities for visitors, including bike and boat rentals, horse-drawn carriage rides, and ice skating in the winter. The park is also home to several playgrounds, sports fields, and courts for basketball, soccer, and handball. The park is also home to several cultural institutions such as the Lefferts Historic House, the Prospect Park Carousel and the Brooklyn Museum, which is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the country. The park also hosts various events throughout the year, including concerts, festivals, and outdoor movie screenings.
Prospect Park is easily accessible by public transportation, with several subway and bus lines stopping at the Prospect Park station, which is located at the park's main entrance. The park also has several parking lots for those who choose to drive.
Prospect Park is a great place to spend a day with family and friends, with something for everyone to enjoy, and is considered as one of Brooklyn's most popular and important public spaces.

The Bronx is a microcosm of the story of America. The only one of New York City's five boroughs that is actually part of the mainland. The Bronx is home to 1.2 million people with a rich diversity of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Since colonial days, The Bronx has stood at the crossroads of American History.
The Bronx County Historical Society was founded in 1955 to preserve the heritage of this thriving community. The Society administers the colonial era Valentine-Varian House, which serves as the Museum of Bronx History; The Bronx County Archives; an extensive Research Library; and Poe Cottage, the final home of America's great 19th century poet and author, Edgar Allan Poe. Both historic houses are listed in the National Register of Historic Places

The New York Botanical Gardens is a premier educational institution. Located just a brisk 25 minute bicycle ride from Sound View Park via Dr. Theodore Kazimiroff Blvd, this NYC attraction is surprisingly bicycle accessible and encourages travel as such. The Gardens offers many educational programs including the opportunity to graduate with certificates in botany, floral design and horticulture, just to name a few. Ongoing hands-on gardening activities for the whole family are also available, so check their schedule online, or just give them a call. The Everett Children’s Adventure Garden is a year-round world of its own, boasting mazes, larger than life flowers, and many real time activities for your curious explorer. A prize bloom in the collection of Bronx attractions, it also actively participates in community outreach programs that expand nutritional education. Make sure you check out the Green Market, which carries a variety of produce available for purchase. Health-related screenings offered the 2nd Wednesday of every month by staff from both Montefiore Medical Center and St. Barnabas Hospital are another of the services that demonstrates their involvement in the surrounding communities. Their dedication to the conservation of the plants and fungi of the world through various scientific research associations places them on the world map.

The best way to connect to nature in New York City is by visiting the Bronx Zoo, the world’s largest urban zoo. With world-class exhibits such as the Wild Asian Monorail, the Tiger Mountain, the Congo Gorilla Forest and the newest exhibit, Madagascar, the Bronx Zoo features more than 600 different species, including mammals, birds, reptiles & amphibians and insects. Check the daily schedule of feedings and enrichment demonstrations and then customize your trip with their interactive trip planner. Find your inner animal on the Animal Activity Trail; watch amazing aerial tricks at the World of Birds; experience a very unique form of New York City transit when you ride a camel around Wild Asia Plaza; feed and watch Magellanic penguins come out of their dens and bob for fish; watch one of the most popular attractions, the Sea Lion feeding and training demonstration; visit the Butterfly Garden, a wild meadow and spacious greenhouse where you can identify different butterflies, smell the flowers and learn how to plant a nectar-rich garden. No matter how you plan your trip to the Bronx Zoo.

In 1960, the Perkins-Freeman family deeded Wave Hill to the City of New York; Wave Hill, Inc., was formed in 1965 as a non-profit corporation. Today, as one of 33 City-owned cultural institutions, Wave Hill provides an oasis of serenity and offers programs in Horticulture, Environmental Education, Woodland Management and the Visual and Performing Arts. Through the arts and sciences, Wave Hill seeks to foster connections between people and nature.