CityListen has partnered with NYC & Company and American Express to give customers double Membership Rewards (R) then they use their American Express card to purchase CityListen Audio Tours. This promotion runs until Labor Day.

There is actually a whole bunch of stuff going on this summer as part of this promotion. You can find a list of merchants and activities - including hotels, restaurants, events - as part of this “Get More NYC” event.

For CityListen customers, you need not do anything different. Just buy your tours using your American Express card and your points double. Sure, it’s just a handful of points in the scheme of things - but it could be that extra little bit that pushes you over the top for that free vacation you’ve been working towards. And the promotion will actually extend to all tours purchased on our site, not just our NYC tours.

Apologies for the blatant self-promotion - but we’re excited to be part of this campaign with American Express. And, you’ve now got one more reason to take an audio tour with CityListen this summer.

Cheers.

Guest blogger: Carol Cain, The Adventures of a NYCity Mama

Most guide books for New York City don’t take their readers past The American Museum of Natural History and there used to be a time when most newly arrived residents of New York thought Manhattan ended on 86 St. However, go further North in Manhattan and you will find all the delights of older neighborhoods still holding on to the traditions of their rich history. It is certainly worth the trip uptown just to experience the food, and when you do, you will be submerged in the epitomy of what New York represents to those who first came here so long ago.

If ever on the East side, by Central Park, and you decide to go beyond that invisible line often found in most guide books and tourist maps, you will find yourself in Spanish Harlem, or El Barrio. A neighborhood currently known for its vibrant Puerto Rican community, but originally established by Italian immigrants. Walk through the streets of Spanish Harlem, and you will get a hint here and there of both cultures, mostly in the name of the streets, and various restaurant choices.

Spanish Harlem has given birth to many musical talents renowned world wide. Musical geniuses such as Ray Barreto andTito Puente.

Conservatory Garden

Enter Central Park on 105th and 5th Avenue and you will lose your breath at the beautiful site of the Conservatory Garden, a popular location for photographers and painters alike. Originally established in 1898 as a greenhouse, it has gone through several reconstructions that have lead to the beautiful garden it is today.

Three Dancing Maidens

Honoring both the French, Italian, and English artistic styles, its center is decorated by the Three Dancing Maidens fountain designed by German sculptor Walter Schott. The amazing flower arrangements and they absolute escape it offers from city life and noise make this worth the adventure North.

El Museo del Barrio

Only a block down from the Conservatory, on East 104th St., is El Museo del Barrio where you will see Latino art of all genres surround you. This recently renovated museum is the pride and joy of Spanish Harlem, one which has stayed true to the neighborhood and culture in which it resides.

Other great museums to visit while in Spanish Harlem are the The Museum of the City of New York which showcases the City’s cultural diversity through its exhibitions and family-friendly programs.

mmmm Patsy's

If you have the time, venture further North and East to 1st Avenue and 118th St. This is where you will find Patsy’s Pizzeria. This is true New York style pizza, one of the originals, keeping alive the passion and pizza making tradition of the Lancieri family since 1933. It is very much like the often featured, but impossible to get into tourist spot, Grimaldi’s. The pizza tastes similar because Grimaldi, Lancieri’s nephew, learned to make pizza from him in the 1940s.

For a taste of authentic Puerto Rican cuisine you must visit La Fonda Boricua for true Puerto Rican culinary staples, as well as entertainment, and ambiance. There is a vibrant theater community as well, with theater houses and cultural groups such as Taller Boricua, Puerto Rican Traveling Theater, and the National Black Theater.

Spanish Harlem is on the East side of Manhattan and extends from 96th St. to140th St. You can access Spanish Harlem by public transit via the 4, 5, or 6 train.
Next time you’re in Manhattan, break the barriers of your hand held guide book, and discover El Sabor of New York City.

Artist working with Harlem kids

Carol Cain is a freelance travel writer and native New Yorker. She is a former publishing and public relations professional, with an MBA in International Relations. She is the founder of The Adventures of a NYCity Mama, a family travel site that was nominated for a Nickelodeon Parent’s Picks Award in 2009. Carol herself was nominated Best Latina Blogger in the same year by Latinos in Social Media. She lives in New York City with her husband and three boys.

Explore NYC with audio walking tours from CityListen. Any 2 for just 20 bucks!

Guest blogger Isabelle from Isabelle`s Travel Guide

I`ve been a few times to Madrid and I`ve most enjoyed this walk, because of the sights that cross your path.

You start at Puerta del Sol, which is the heart of Madrid. This is the spot to meet friends or hang out, go shopping,.. Or start your tour to see the city. It`s famous for its new year’s celebrations with the Twelve Grapes when the clock strikes 12 times. It`s also the center of the radial network of Spanish roads, with a plaque on the ground “Kilómetro cero” indicating the symbolic center of Spain.

Walk towards Calle de Alcalá. If you walk down this street your end stop will be the Parque del Retiro with several highlights along the way. You`ll walk by the Iglesias de las Calatravas and the Edificio Metrópolis, which is a beautiful office building.

You`ll see the lovely Plaza de Cibeles with on one corner the Banco de España and the other corner the beautiful Palacio de Comunicaciones.

Just before you see the main entry to Parque del Retiro, you`ll pass Puerta de Alcalá. The Alcalá Gate is a monument in the Plaza de la Independencia.

When you`ve passed this monument, you`ll see the entrance to Retiro Park. It`s a big park that offers peace and quiet in the vivid capital of Spain. The locals like to come here on Sundays to relax, walk around, picnic or make a boat ride. It`s a lovely place to experience the city in a different way!

Extra Tip: When you`ve ended your tour around the park, you`re also close to Museo del Prado and Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza.

Isabelle is a passionate traveler who built her own website, Isabelle`s Travel Guide, that’s filled with personal experiences, travel tips and information to help others create their own memorable vacation. There’s nothing more Isabelle loves than traveling the world, experiencing new adventures and discovering new destinations. With her website, Isabelle hopes to be an inspiration and help others in their ventures to explore the world. Follow  IsabellesTravel on Twitter.

Guest blogger: Erin Kiskis from Ruba Travel (www.ruba.com)

Spring has finally sprung in gorgeous San Francisco! Walk down the street and you can practically see the visions of beach bonfires, sailing to Angel Island, and baseball games at AT&T Park dancing in their eyes. All the excitement has had me thinking – I wonder what all my fellow San Franciscans have planned for their summers. Luckily I happen to work for the very website that can answer my question!

Photo courtesy of David Paul Ohmer

Ruba has always been a great site for browsing locals’ and travelers’ favorite spots around the world through the visual travel guides featured on the site, but now it’s even easier to find answers to your specific travel related questions using Ruba. We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our Local Experts Q&A section, where you can ask any and all travel related questions for destinations around the world or even as close as your own backyard. Wondering where the best place to escape a rainy day in Chicago is? Or the best restaurant to propose to your girlfriend in Paris is? Or great new ways to explore New York City on foot? Look no further, friends. Ruba’s local experts are ready and waiting to answer your questions about their hometowns. So ask away!

And since I’m sure by now you’re dying to know what my favorite picks for a gorgeous San Francisco summer day would be, here goes!

Sample Local Produce and Artisanals at the Ferry Building

I love this place any time or day of the week, but it’s especially fun to visit during the Farmer’s Market which happens every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday in and around the Ferry Building. Locals come out for the delicious fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and more. Many of the stands sell unique snacks (softshell crab sandwich, anyone?) that are definitely worth a try.

Photo Courtesy of Sam’s Café

Set sail to delicious brunch

Any San Franciscan will tell you to pack a sweatshirt or jacket for chilly summer mornings, but even we need a break from the fog every once in a while. On Saturdays and Sundays you’ll find us pouring onto the Tiburon-bound ferry for a sunny brunch in Marin. Check out Sam’s Anchor Café in Belvedere or hop on the Sausalito ferry instead and enjoy a sunny stroll down Bridgeway where you’ll have your pick of delicious bayside restaurants with views you won’t soon forget.

Photo courtesy of Adam UXB Smith

Catch some rays and a sweet treat at Dolores Park

On a sunny afternoon in San Francisco this park in the Mission District fills up with locals playing guitar, reading magazines, playing Frisbee with their dogs, and chasing the elusive SF suntan. And when you get too hot, walk across the street to Bi-Rite Creamery, where you can enjoy some of the best ice cream in the city with flavors like Salted Caramel and Ricanelas.

Photo courtesy of: The Baseball Collector

Catch a Home Run – in a Kayak

Sure you can catch a baseball game in any major city across the US, but in how many cities can you watch the game from the comfort of your own kayak parked out on the bay? Even during night games you’re likely to see a few diehard fans out in McCovey Cove directly behind the game waiting to catch home run balls with fishing nets.

What’re your favorite summer hotspots in your hometown? Head on over to Ruba to share them or discover new places around the world!

CityListen audio walking tours of San Francisco. North Beach and Haight-Ashbury. 2 tours for 20 bucks. Promo code: 2for20.

Guest blogger: Jeanine Barone, J The Travel Authority shares 8 great tips for experiencing the capital of Iceland.

Reykjavik's picturesque harbor

It seems that all the recent headlines about Iceland revolve around two things: their economic downturn and the lava-spewing volcano in the south. Sure, Iceland has been in the news over the past year because of its economic downturn. What I love about Icelanders is that they remain an optimistic, resilient people that adapt to their ever-changing climate, as they’ve done for centuries. (Boarded up shops now become venues for impromptu art exhibitions; and top chefs are following more of a locavore route, relying on locally-sourced ingredients.)

An overview of Reykjavik's quaint old town

There’s much to make you fall in love with Reykjavik, the world’s northernmost capital.

After all, it’s spic-and-span with ubiquitous heated outdoor pools — warmed by the same geothermal sources that heat up the tap water — and has a scenery that can’t be beat: an expansive harbor front with dramatic snow capped peaks beyond. Brightly painted corrugated metal houses line the snug, ultra-walkable old town center. Yet amidst this small town package is big city sophistication. The main shopping streets, Laugavegur and Skolavordustigur, are lined with upscale design emporia that stand side by side with unique craft shops. (One exhibits luxe handbags made of dried codfish skin while another sells stylish women’s clothing modeled on the color palette of this country that’s born of fire and ice.) A vibrant restaurant scene continues in Reykjavik where the chefs regularly garner top awards for their culinary delights.

Yet,every time I visit Reykjavik, I’m tickled by some of the curiosities: some locals snack on fermented shark bits the way we would dig into potato chips; and a snag in a construction project can be blamed on mischievous elf activity, requiring an elf consultant to settle the dispute.

I love Reykjavik all year round, but it’s especially lovely in the summer when the sun barely sets. These are some of my favorite places to take in the art, the foliage and the unique Icelandic scene.

1. 871 +/- 2: The Settlement Exhibition, is a curious name for a museum. But it makes sense, considering that’s Iceland’s approximate settlement date. Located on the exact spot where they found the ruins of a 10th century longhouse, this archeological museum stands beside a major hotel. If you steer clear of archeologic museums, be warned that this one is hardly chock full of dull exhibits. It’s quite interactive with holographic-type images and sounds of the time, from knife making to cowbells.

2. Not far away along the quay, the Reykjavik Art Museum - Harbor House features the pop oeuvre of noted Icelandic artist, Erro. But the museum also regularly hosts temporary exhibits that are quite innovative. (This is one of the three Reykjavik Art Museums in the city and each is worth visiting for the pastiche of often colorful abstract works as well as inspired landscapes on display.)

3. Nearby is a warehouse that’s home to the Saturday morning flea market. It’s bric-a-brac laden but it’s the food court that’s worth visiting. Often, you can sample some of the typical food items found in every Icelander’s home, including potato bread, rugbraud (malt bread), dried catfish and the infamous fermented shark meat. I was warned to avoid the latter but accidentally sampled a small cube that was offered to me on a toothpick. After finding it tasteless after initially chewing it, the full power of the ammonia-laden meat became overwhelming.

4. I’m not necessarily a big fan of visiting cemeteries but Reykjavik’s is reminiscent of a botanical garden. The 19th century Holavalla Cemetery is dense with foliage and ancient gnarled trees towering over ornate headstones.

The church: Hallgrimskirkja

5. Walk towards the city’s towering landmark, the church named Hallgrimskirkja, and you’ll find the Einar Jonsson Museum with its postage stamp-size sculpture garden. As you explore the allegorical works, you’ll notice that he was very much influenced by mythological and religious themes.

6. Take a long pleasant walk or a short cab ride to get to the Reykjavik Botanic Garden located in the Laugardalur area. There you can wander twisty paths and inspect the plants that come from all over the world, including New Zealand and Asia. It’s interesting to see so many trees here in a country where tall evergreens are a rarity. Housed in a greenhouse laden with flora, Cafe Flora — a perfect lunch spot — is aptly named.

Lush landscape at the Botanic Garden

7. Certainly, one of Reykjavik’s most famous features is the Blue Lagoon with its series of geothermal pools and rejuvenating silica mud where you could luxuriate for most of the day. But, its location midway between downtown and the airport, hardly makes it convenient. Now you can choose from an array of mud and other spa treatments at their downtown location that’s not far from the Botanic Garden. If you choose a treatment, you also have access to the mega health club (Hreyfing) that’s in the same building. Or simply opt for a day pass to the health club.

Nautholsvik Beach

8. And, if you can’t get enough of the water, Reykjavik even has a beach, but, like so much in the city, it’s hardly ordinary. Nautholsvik, a petite half-moon bay that’s easily accessible by bike, bus or cab, is geothermally heated and man made: the sand was trucked in. And if the water isn’t hot enough for you, there are hot tubs located just offshore and on the coast beside the sand so you can bake. Pick a sunny day to visit and you’ll find dozens of Icelanders soaking, lying on the sand, or playing volleyball.

Native New Yorker, Jeanine Barone is a travel, food and design writer. Her blog, J The Travel Authority, focuses in on her hidden treasure travel around the world. She also writes for an array of publications, from National Geographic Traveler to Travel + Leisure. (Iceland, Spain, Portugal and Israel are her specialties.)

All the photos are from Jeanine Barone or courtesy of www.visitreykjavik.is

The sculpture garden at Einar Jonsson Museum

Guest Blogger: Sarah Protzman, NewNewYorkers

Spend an afternoon playing foodie, and walk it off as you admire some architecture. These three pit stops on the West Side of Manhattan are not to be missed.

The High Line
Various entrances; elevator at 14th Street and Tenth Avenue
From there, head to the much-anticipated High Line, a new park built on an elevated railroad overlooking the Meatpacking District. As it gets warmer, those chaise lounges overlooking the Hudson will get crowded, so head over for sun and a stroll! It’s easily navigable, but here’s a great map. When it was in operation (1934 to 1980), the High Line carried meat, agricultural goods and mail to West Side neighborhoods.

Chelsea Market
75 Ninth Avenue at 16th Street
A short jaunt from the Highline, this gourmet paradise will make you wonder why you order takeout so much. Everything from Saltines to Oreos was made at this former site of the National Biscuit Company, now the delightful Chelsea Market. As you meander the hallways, don’t miss The Lobster Place (oysters on the half shell!) and the cupcakes at Eleni’s. They also have sample sales and live music — an events calendar is on the Web site.

Sarah Protzman is full of useful tips for enjoying life in New York City. Check out the NewNewYorkers blog and follow Sarah on Twitter

Guest blogger - Evan Roberts
Evan Roberts is a CityListen audio producer with a passion for helping people capture and share the stories of their lives. (Listen to Evan’s handiwork on our San Francisco tours)

As the founder of Audio Heirlooms, a company that produces audio portraits for families that want to preserve their life history, I am very interested in location-based stories. Every major experience in my life is connected with the plot of earth where it happened. I can walk the streets of Portland, Maine and show you where I was standing when I got my heart broken; or show you the rocky heights in San Francisco where I fell in love again; or the side streets of London, New York and Jerusalem where I inched closer to adulthood.
 
Sometimes our life experiences can overlap on a certain location (our home, our workplace) until it’s hard to tweeze out the most meaningful events that occurred there. But if you’ve ever revisited the neighborhood where you used to live, and walked down your street again like you used to always do, you’ll likely be flooded with sensations and memories from your past. 
 
When preparing for an audio portrait, I brainstorm with my clients about the places in their lives that are of great significance— and then revisit those locations with them. For example, we visited the floor of the stock exchange with our friend Robert, who worked there over fifty years ago. Even though everything had changed since then (even the closing bell is different, he says), this immersion retrieved long forgotten memories and allowed for new reflections.
 
Click here to listen to a personal audio walking tour.
 
Where would the Audio Tour of your life go?

Contact Evan at Audio Heirlooms for more info.

Still putting together you list of New Year’s resolutions? Here’s one: Explore your surroundings, be a local tourist.

Too often we take what we see every day for granted. There is history under our nose at every turn – and if it’s something we walk by every day, chances are that we don’t really take the time to get to know the story behind it.

Traveling in a city is a great time to learn about its history, how it grew, its key historical industries, the leaders that put the city on the map. But how many of us could speak intelligently about this kind of stuff for the city where we work, where we live?

How can you be a local tourist?
1. If your town has a historical society, take a walk in there one day. You’ll most certainly find someone who is passionate about your town and what makes it special. And you will undoubtedly walk out later in the day with a new appreciation for your surroundings. That statue you’ve seen hundreds of times will actually mean something. This street name or that park name will finally have some context and resonance.

2. Hit the local library and grab a couple of books about local history. Once you have the right book in your hand, it will be hard to put down, guaranteed.

3. Finally venture into that local museum dedicated to city history. Today is the day, give it a shot. Just start looking through some old photos and you are sure to be enthralled.

4. Seek out a local resident who has been there ‘forever’ and explore some local history over a cup of coffee. A first-person account is an invaluable way to build a historical picture. Granted this one may take a bit of courage to get the conversation started - but once you do, both you and your interviewee will be very glad that you did.

5. Take a guided or self-guided walking tour. If you live in a major city, chances are you’ll find a number of guided walks to choose from, whether via a local guide, a guidebook or, a personal favorite, an audio tour. Be careful, you may fall in love. In smaller towns, look for scheduled walks in the local papers. As a bonus in smaller towns, local walking tours are a great way to meet some of your neighbors.

2010 is the year. Explore your immediate surroundings and expand your horizons. You’ll find yourself empowered with some wonderful knowledge that all too few of your friends and neighbors have

Here’s a fresh Holiday idea! Are you looking for a gift that is unique and memorable? A gift that takes just a few minutes to send, yet will deliver a long-lasting and unforgettable experience? A gift that your friend or loved may not have thought about buying for themselves, yet one that will most certainly earn their gratitude?

Give an audio tour from CityListen this holiday season. It’s easy. They probably don’t have one already. And, your recipient will absolutely love it. Plus, our holiday promotion includes a tour for you, too - at no extra cost! As holiday gifts go, it sure beats a box of chocolates!

Give your friends and loved ones a peek into the history and culture of New York or San Francisco or Chicago or Paris. Whether they are visiting one of these great cities or call any of them home, our tours will let them see the city with fresh eyes, as they have never seen it before. Unique, informative and fun!

In New York City: For the Broadway fan on your list, Walkin’ Broadway - a stroll thru Broadway history accompanied by the likes of Hal Prince, Ossie Davis, James Naughton and a dozen other Braodway greats.

For the music fan, The Rock and Roll Tour of Manhattan - a walk in the footsteps of Dylan, Hendrix, Zeppelin, Springsteen, and Lennon. And there is a tour here for everyone on your list: Central Park, Brooklyn Heights, Greenwich Village and more.

In San Francisco: Our North Beach tour will bring one of San Francisco’s most storied neighborhoods to life - and it includes a beautiful “secret” spot with one of the best views of the city.

In Chicago: Ok, sure, walking tours in the heart of a Chicago winter may not be the first thing that comes to mind - but our Urban Sculpture Garden tour includes a few indoor spots to help folks stay warm. Plus they can always stop along the way and pop inside for a warm (or cold) brew.

And in Paris: If your friend or loved one is lucky enough to live in or be visiting Paris, it’s the least you can do to make sure that they spend some time strolling through the winding, bustling streets of The Marais.

Our Holiday Gift program
Any of our tours will make a great gift. Purchase a tour as normal - and use the promo code: Holiday2009 when prompted. Upon receipt of your order, CityListen will create a customized promo code and send that to you in a pdf card that you can either print out or forward electronically (for the perfect green gift). You’ll also receive a link to download the tour for yourself.

Send an email to info@citylisten.com with any questions.

Have a Happy Holiday season. Don’t let a little chill in the air dissuade you from a walking tour. There’s nothing like a city walk in the winter. Share one with a friend today and may you both enjoy a very Happy New Year. Cheers!

Bethesda Fountain in Central Park in New York City is one of the most photographed fountains in the world. Yet the beautiful terrace and staircase that lead to the fountain are often overlooked. It is on this terrace, Bethesda Terrace, where you’ll find, hidden in plain sight, one this country’s earliest depictions of Halloween.

There are a set of carved pillars by the staircase leading down from Bethesda Terrace to Bethesda Fountain. On one, you’ll see a witch on a broomstick and a jack-o’-lantern.
This carving, like the others, dates to the 1860’s, when Halloween in this country was associated with Irish immigrants.

James Nevius, CityListen tour guide, notes some debate about the roots of this image on Bethesda Terrace. Is this a nod of appreciation to Irish workers, who were instrumental in building Central Park? Or, was it carved as a warning to the Protestant leisure class about the rising tide of Catholic immigration, in response to the abundant anti-Catholic sentiment at the time.

Whether born from innocence or not, there is something quite fascinating about this image tucked into the carvings by this staircase on Bethesda Terrace. There is a long tradition throughout Ireland and Britain of carving vegetables, particularly gourds, into lanterns. Yet historians seem to differ on how this has become an icon of Halloween. Some date this imagery back to historical depictions of Halloween. A documentary on the History Channel claims that “people have been making jack o’lanterns at Halloween for centuries.” Many others note scant historical evidence to support this theory. The phrase jack-o’lantern doesn’t appear as a term until the 1830’s.

It is likely that the seasonal presence of these carved lanterns in North America simply began to blend together with the celebration and imagery of Halloween. And perhaps this little carving on Bethesda Terrace is a missing link in our true understanding of the roots of Halloween.

Spend part of your Halloween this year exploring a bit of hidden history in Central Park. Enjoy the colors of Fall, hear the leaves crunch beneath your feet and go looking for this little seemingly innocent carving with a story to tell.

Happy Halloween!