tourism

“The shapes arise!” Walt Whitman wrote. “Shapes of factories, arsenals, foundries, markets; shapes of the two-threaded tracks of railroads…” In poems written more than a century ago, Whitman celebrated New York City as he saw it: vivid, dynamic, a little mad, but always full of wonder.

Much has changed since Whitman’s day, but New York is still wild and crazy and, as those of us who live or work Downtown know especially well, the shapes still arise.

The number of hotels in Lower Manhattan has tripled since September 11, 2001, and the number of rooms in the district has increased by more than 60 percent, the Alliance for Downtown New York announced today.

“The volume of investment pouring into Downtown’s hospitality industry is further proof that Lower Manhattan is now New York City’s most desirable and dynamic location,” said Elizabeth H. Berger, President of the Downtown Alliance.

The Alliance for Downtown New York, which manages the Business Improvement District for Lower Manhattan, has highlighted a number of Father’s Day specials from local retailers, restaurants, museums and more. “Lower Manhattan’s world-class dining and shopping offer something for everyone on Father’s Day—in a district of historic streets, extraordinary architecture and beautiful waterfront parks,” said Elizabeth H. Berger, President of the Downtown Alliance.

Soldiers. Kings. Sea captains. A pope and a concert pianist. Since the first ticker-tape parade was held in 1886, the Canyon of Heroes has hosted 204 marches up Broadway—celebrating achievements of all shapes and sizes. And the Downtown Alliance has commemorated each one with a granite strip along the parade route—from the Battery to City Hall.

Here is a comprehensive listing of each event:

New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi joined the Alliance for Downtown New York on Tuesday to unveil a new granite sidewalk marker in the Canyon of Heroes commemorating the November 2009 ticker-tape parade honoring the team’s unprecedented 27th World Series championship.

The Alliance for Downtown New York today announced a series of lunchtime holiday shopping excursions for busy shoppers hoping to complete all of their holiday gift purchases during lunch hour.

Downtown Alliance President Elizabeth H. Berger joined several Lower Manhattan museum officials Wednesday at the Museum of American Finance to unveil the Downtown Culture Pass—a three-day ticket that provides admission, shop discounts and other benefits at eight Lower Manhattan museums plus historic tours from Wall Street Walks. The seasonal deal runs through February 28.

The Alliance for Downtown New York is bringing together Lower Manhattan’s business community by sponsoring a free educational and networking event for small business owners, entrepreneurs looking to start a small business and non-profit organizations. The Downtown Alliance’s Small Business Community Expo will take place on Wednesday, June 10th at Capital One Bank, 227 Broadway (at Chambers Street), from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The Alliance for Downtown New York, in collaboration with the co-working facility New Work City, is bringing the world-wide “Jelly” phenomenon to Lower Manhattan by sponsoring a free, informal, one day co-working event for freelancers, independent workers, those who work from home and anyone working on a project or business idea. Begun in 2006, Jelly was born as a means for the freelancing community to come together to work, brainstorm, share and learn. Since then, the Jelly movement has spread to more than 20 cities around the world.

In the current environment, with tighter-than-normal budgets, many New York metropolitan area residents are choosing to stay close to home and visit Lower Manhattan, which offers some of the nation’s most powerful and historic sites as well as exciting entertainment and cultural events. Since people can get to Lower Manhattan by a wide variety of public transportation, visitors can leave their cars at home.

The Alliance for Downtown New York recommends the following programs and activities that are sure to delight, inform and entertain.