Bodies, The Exhibition is located at the South Street Seaport, you can’t miss it as the pictures plastered on the outside are enough to draw you in.  This museum has real, full bodies that have been preserved so they will not decay for your educational viewing pleasure.  While some people may not be able to handle looking at real bodies and organs, those who are interested in the exhibit will find it fascinating.  Organs with certain diseases are shown and bodies are sliced so you can see the different layers inside, after leaving the exhibition you’ll have learned a great deal about your own body and what could possibly happen to it.  These bodies are from China of people whom have died of natural causes, so don’t be too worried about how they got there.

The Bodies Exhibit is in a great area, where you can go shopping afterward and get something to eat.  The Heartland Brewery is right across the street, and there is an Uno Chicago Grill around the corner.  Be sure to allot a substantial amount of time for the museum, as there is a lot to see inside.

Bodies the Exhibition NY

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Sanctuary Tea is a tea haven that all can enjoy. The restaurant is located on Grand Street and West Broadway and had a wide selection of tea that is given to you in a booklet, ranging from black, chai, herbal, green, fruit, white and more. My favorite tea is the Geisha Beauty, a black and green tea with touches peach flavor, absolutely amazing. The best part of Sanctuary Tea is getting the tea service.  You are given a giant vase of your tea to share with the table, which is kept warm with a candle underneath and you can refill your cup as you like. The tea is served in cups where the inside of the cup does not touch the outside of the cup, so the hot liquid does not burn your hand! You get a stick of rock candy to sweeten your tea (depending on the type of tea you choose), making it all the more fun. The decor is chic and stylish, a great place to hold parties, they even throw tea parties!

Don’t skip the dessert, especially the giant freshly baked chocolate chip cookie, served with strawberries and whipped cream.  Also try the fondue with melted chocolate, and fresh fruit and rice krispy treats to dip, what’s better than tea and fondue?  They’re having a couple New Years Eve specials, and I would say that Sanctuary Tea is a good spot to go out and celebrate in.  There’s a bar with creative drinks that you can bring in the new year with!

Sanctuary Tea

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Lombardi’s Pizza on Spring Street is America’s first pizzeria, serving up original coal fired oven pizza since 1905. Expect to wait for your table when arrive, but if it’s only you and a date, it’s much more likely to get a table faster. The unique thing about Lombardi’s is that they have speakers outside, allowing you to wait outside of the restaurant and still be able to hear your name when it’s called. The pizza that is served at Lombardi’s only has the finest ingredients, and for over 100 years, they have been making one of Americans most popular food in a simple, fresh way. Gennaro Lombardi was the one who opened the place, first as a grocery store, so we can owe it all to him. Pictures are up on the walls here that proudly show the history that the restaurant has been through. It’s not a fancy pizza place, nor is it too casual, it has just the right balance. Everything on the menu is straight to the point, you can choose from a small and large pizza , white pizza or plain, or add a choice of about a dozen toppings. The pizza is perfect in every way, with a thin, crispy but not too crispy crust, original Italian sauce, and smooth mozzarella. Lombardi’s is a local and tourist favorite, plus they also deliver if you don’t want to wait on line.

Lombardi’s Pizza

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The South Street Seaport is an area in Manhattan that no one wants to miss. Right by the Brooklyn Bridge, the Seaport is filled with shops, restaurants and museums, you can easily spend a couple hours exploring the area.  Down here you’ll find ships, the bodies museum, even a mall (a rarity in Manhattan).  The Seaport is currently being renovated and there are many new, exciting plans that are on their way.  For all of you ice skaters out there, watch out because another rink is about to open at South Street Seaport.  Yes this new 8,000 square foot rink is going to be opening January 2009.  With general admission at $5, and skate rental $7, there’s no reason not to go.  Enjoy your winter season and see what the South Street Seaport has to offer.  There are always events going on, street performances, singing and dancing.  All around, it’s a good time.

The New Seaport

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New Years Eve in Manhattan is famous for its giant crystal ball that drops at midnight in Times Square.  Gather around 42nd street on December 31st (less than a week away!) to witness the madness that goes on here.  If you plan on going, I suggest getting there a couple hours ahead of time to get a good spot in the crowd.  Expect to see hundreds of thousands of people here, the same area where the city has been having outdoor New Years Eve parties since 1904.  The ball that drops has been a tradition since 1907, excluding years 1942 and 1943 during the wartime “dimout.”

The new ball shown above will be revealed this year, and big news: the ball will be an attraction in Times Square, year round!  So if you don’t get a chance to see the ball on New Year Eve, you can go visit it any other time that you are free. It is a 12 foot geodesic sphere, making it double the size of previous balls, and weighs 11,875 pounds. If you can’t make it down to Times Square, make sure to watch it drop on TV.

New Years Eve Times Square Website

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