NYCxDESIGN (http://www.nycxdesign.com) is New York City's official annual citywide celebration of design. The event, slated to take place May 9-20, 2014, is produced by NYC & Company in conjunction with a steering committee, which includes leaders from major cultural institutions, top design schools and firms, designers and design stakeholders and government officials. Participating design communities include, but are not limited to, architecture, cultural organizations, graphic design, fashion design, product design and manufacturing, engineering, industrial design, interior design, interaction design and landscape and urban design. Last year the celebration featured more than 330 individual events.

In May, 2013, NYC & Company announced the city's first-ever Design Collection (www.nycgo.com/designcollection)program, showcasing hotels that exemplify great design in all its expressions. The 18 city hotels in the Design Collection are 6 Columbus; 60 Thompson; Chambers Hotel; Dream Downtown; Dream New York; Eventi, A Kimpton Hotel; Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC; Gansevoort Park Avenue NYC; Gild Hall, A Thompson Hotel; Hudson New York; The James New York; Le Parker Meridien New York; The Muse Hotel; Smyth Tribeca, A Thompson Hotel; W New York; W New York – Downtown; W New York – Times Square; W New York – Union Square.

In March 2013, NYC & Company launched Neighborhood x Neighborhood, a global communications campaign designed to support local businesses and encourage exploration in neighborhoods outside traditional tourist locations across the five boroughs (the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island). The program will continue through 2014 with new Presenting Sponsor Santander Bank, N.A. The sponsorship includes a redesign of the program's web page and production of taxi videos each month, bus stop shelters and street-pole banners highlighting the selected neighborhoods. Each month, new neighborhood highlights are unveiled with a press release, B-roll, photo packages and editorial content on www.nycgo.com/nxn. So far, NYC & Company has highlighted:

To complement the Neighborhood x Neighborhood effort, NYC & Company's Tourism Development team has unveiled three travel trade tool kits (www.nycgo.com/traveltrade/toolkits) for specific neighborhoods including Long Island City, Queens; Downtown Brooklyn and Surrounding Neighborhoods; and Lower Manhattan.

New York City prides itself on appealing to a diverse range of visitors. Growing the family segment is a key focus for NYC & Company. To accomplish that, in June NYC & Company announced Where's Waldo? as the city's fifth official Family Ambassador, providing tips on what families can see and do in the five boroughs (www.nycgo.com/waldo). In 2012, New York City welcomed an estimated 15.2 million family visitors, a 2.7 per cent projected increase over 2011, contributing approximately $15 billion in direct spending to New York City's economy.   

Information on what to see, do and enjoy in New York City this Spring can be found on NYC & Company's official visitor website, www.nycgo.com/slideshows/nyc-spring-guide-2014/.

When visiting New York City, NYC & Company's flagship Official NYC Information Center in Midtown Manhattan at 810 Seventh Avenue (between W 52nd and W 53rd Streets) is the place to pick up the latest visitor guides and maps, purchase attraction tickets and MetroCards, speak to travel concierges and print out itineraries to explore the five boroughs. To find out all there is to see and do and plan your future trip to NYC's five boroughs, visit the city's official tourism website, www.nycgo.com.  

WHAT'S NEW:  BOROUGH BY BOROUGH 

Kingsbridge Armory (www.nycedc.com/project/kingsbridge-armory) in the Bronx, which has been vacant since 1996 and occupies a full city block, will be redeveloped into the world's largest indoor ice arena, a 750,000-square-foot ice sports facility to be known as Kingsbridge National Ice Center. Kingsbridge National Ice Center will feature nine year-round indoor ice rinks, including a 5,000-seat feature rink for major ice hockey and skating events. The project will also include 50,000 square feet of space designated for community use as well as 480 public parking spaces created in the basement levels of the building. It is anticipated that site preparation and construction for the project will commence in late 2014 and the first full year of operation is expected to be 2018.

The New York Botanical Garden's (www.nybg.org) new Native Plant Garden, which debuted in May 2013, is a cutting-edge 3.5-acre installation with a dramatic 230-foot-long water feature as its centerpiece. It is the most contemporary garden design ever created at The New York Botanical Garden. The Native Plant Garden was designed by Oehme, van Sweden, landscape architects specializing in the New American Garden style, to harmonize a stunning designed terrain with the diversity of microclimates across the site. The layout, in the middle of the garden's historic grounds, is both sustainable and visually inventive, a radical blend of modern sensibilities along with environmentally friendly elements. Built to inspire and teach visitors about the beauty of native flora throughout the seasons, it also illustrates how native plants can be used to produce attractive and imaginative gardens.

Discover New York City's “real Little Italy” on Arthur Avenue (www.arthuravenuebronx.com) in the Belmont section of the Bronx. The neighborhood has a large number of establishments offering fine Italian-American foods, dining, housewares and other goods. You can buy bread, pasta, meat, pastries, espresso machines and more. One of the most beloved attractions is the Arthur Avenue Retail Market, an Italian bazaar that brings together under one roof all the shopping also found on nearby streets, from sausage makers to bread bakers and cafés to florists. Arthur Avenue was featured in the November 2013 installment of NYC & Company's Neighborhood x Neighborhood program.

Wave Hill House—part of Wave Hill (www.wavehill.org), a public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River, reopened to the public in July 2013.  Wave Hill has undergone transformative improvements to restore major portions of the historic mansion and provide state-of-the-art amenities for conferences and celebrations.

Gray Line New York's Bronx Loop (www.newyorksightseeing.com)provides travelers with the opportunity to experience the legendary Yankee Stadium, the Bronx home of New York's signature baseball team; along with highlights of Harlem including the Malcolm Shabazz Market, a market comprising traditional African crafts and textiles; and famed culinary gems such as Lenox Lounge, Sylvia's and Red Rooster. Complete tour schedules and tickets are available online.

BROOKLYN

The most populous of New York City's boroughs, Brooklyn is home to 2.5 million residents. From trendy boutiques and restaurants in Williamsburg to picturesque brownstones in Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope and Cobble Hill to the new Brooklyn Bridge Park on the waterfront, the borough offers authentic and diverse experiences. Over the last few years, Brooklyn has seen a significant increase in the number of hotels, offering guests everything from bed & breakfast accommodation to boutique hotels and full-service properties (www.nycgo.com/brooklyn ; www.visitbrooklyn.org).

The Brooklyn Historical Society (www.brooklynhistory.org) unveiled two newly renovated floors at its 1881 landmark building on Oct. 24, 2013.  The new facilities include a re-opening of the grand original entrance, a brand new visitor services and retail space, two new galleries, a new technology-enhanced classroom, and a contemporary, remodeled 200-seat 'Great Hall.' The $5.5 million project, designed by architecture firm Christoff: Finio, will enable Brooklyn Historical Society (BHS) to host more public programs targeting New Yorkers and visitors alike. The opening of the renovated and modernized spaces coincides with BHS's 150th anniversary, which includes the launch of new public and family programs, exhibitions featuring rare items from BHS's extensive collection and archives and extended weekend hours for the Museum and the Othmer Library. 

The latest performance venue added to the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Fort Greene campus is the BAM Fisher—a 40,000-square-foot, seven-story building named in honor of longtime friend and BAM Endowment Trust Chairman Richard B. Fisher (1936—2004). The BAM Fisher, completed in 2012 and certified LEED Gold, was conceived to allow BAM—a global cultural organization—to both grow artistically and to make a meaningful community impact. The result is a new model for the 21st-century performing arts center. The BAM Fisher provides BAM with an intimate and flexible non-proscenium performance space (Fishman Space) for both emerging and established artists, thereby inspiring the trailblazing work which has earned BAM a worldwide reputation. It also provides an expanded home for children's and family programming and summer workshops for kids. The building's Fishman Space as well as its Hillman Studio and rooftop terrace (Stutz Gardens) may be rented by non-profit arts and community organizations.

On Oct. 22, 2013, the ribbon was cut on the first permanent home for Theatre for a New Audience (www.tfana.org). The new $69 million theatre, located at the Polonsky Shakespeare Center in the Downtown Brooklyn Cultural District, includes a 299-seat main theatre, a 50-seat rehearsal space and a lobby café.  The new facility overlooks a new public garden plaza and sits along a walking path between the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Opera House and Harvey Theater.  The Theatre for a New Audience was designed by Hugh Hardy of H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture and has a glass façade, gunmetal gray panels, a 35-foot-tall main stage, a second-floor and a central staircase.  Julie Taymor of The Lion King and Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark fame has agreed to direct the official 2013 inaugural production, A Midsummer Night's Dream. Theatre for a New Audience was founded in 1979 by Jeffrey Horowitz. 

Weeksville Heritage Center, a multidimensional museum dedicated to preserving the history of the 19th Century African American community of Weeksville, Brooklyn, opened in late 2013. The original settlement was named for African American James Weeks, who was among a group of African American investors who acquired the property in 1838 to create an intentional land-owning community (www.weeksvillesociety.org).

Reopened in May 2013, Steeplechase Plaza at Coney Island is a 2.2-acre public open space serving as the western anchor of the Coney Island amusement district (www.nyc.gov).  The reopening is anchored by the historic B&B Carousell, newly renovated by the New York City Economic Development Corporation, featuring 50 hand-carved horses. It is Coney Island's last remaining historic carousel and has been under renovation for eight years. Steeplechase Plaza is located on the site of the former Steeplechase Amusement Park, between West 16th Street and West 19th Street, in the footprint of the landmarked Parachute Jump and across from the historic Steeplechase Pier.

New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) announced in June 2013 that a new major roller coaster, “Thunderbolt,” will be built at Coney Island and open in late May 2014, in time for the summer season. Thrilling riders with speeds of 65 miles per hour, the 125 foot tall roller coaster, featuring over 2,000 feet of track, will sit near the historic B&B Carousell and the new Steeplechase Plaza, and mark another important milestone in Coney Island's rebirth. The Thunderbolt will be built and operated by Central Amusement International (CAI), the operator of Luna Park, entirely through private investment. The rollercoaster is the latest in a series of critical investments that New York City has made over the last decade to revitalize Coney Island's amusement core as well as the surrounding area. Photos can be accessed at: www.nycedc.com/press-image/thunderbolt-coaster.

In January, 2014, the Wildlife Conservation Society's New York Aquarium (nyaquarium.com)celebrated the groundbreaking of Ocean Wonders: Sharks!, a 57,000-square-foot building that will house more than 115 species of marine wildlife, including sharks, skates, and  rays. The historic event marked the beginning of the rebuilding and transformation of the New York Aquarium, post Hurricane Sandy. Ocean Wonders: Sharks! will be a destination for education and conservation programming, with important benefits for the economy of Coney Island, Brooklyn and all of New York City. The building's façade on the oceanside will include a 1,100-foot long shimmer wall constructed of 33,000 individual 4" x 5 1/2" aluminum panels that will wrap the exterior. The transformation will turn a visit to the aquarium into seamless experience with the famous Coney Island Boardwalk and the nearby Atlantic Ocean. It is scheduled to be completed in 2016.

On Oct. 3 2013, BRIC Arts / Media House, (http://bricartsmedia.org/about/bric-house) opened its new 40,000-square-foot multi-disciplinary facility in the former Strand Theatre at 647 Fulton Street in Brooklyn. Its inaugural season features a mix of free activities and low-cost ticketed events in dance, theatre, music and visual art. BRIC House brings BRIC's performing arts, contemporary art and community media programs under one roof for the first time since the organization's founding in 1979. (BRIC's Celebrate Brooklyn! Performing Arts Festival will continue to take place at the Prospect Park Bandshell.) UrbanGlass, New York City's only organization devoted to glass as a creative medium, also launched its Fall programs in the expanded BRIC House location. The two-year, $35 million city-funded renovation project will serve as a destination for artists from around the world to create in glass, as well as being a venue for art and design enthusiasts to see cutting-edge new work. The inaugural exhibition, A Tree Grows, a site specific project by artist Katherine Gray, features almost 800 handmade and recycled glasses.

Brooklyn's Barclays Center (www.barclayscenter.com) opened in September 2012 and is the new home to the professional basketball team the Brooklyn Nets. This 675,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art sports and entertainment venue hosts games, concerts, fine arts performances, circuses and more throughout the year and has already hosted performances by Brooklyn natives Jay-Z and Barbra Streisand. 

MANHATTAN

Much of what many envision of New York City—bright lights and yellow taxis in Times Square, sprawling green of Central Park, the tiered crown of the art deco Chrysler Building—is found in Manhattan. From uptown to downtown, from Broadway to Off-Broadway, East Village to West Village, Manhattan offers the best in hotels, dining, shopping, entertainment and performing arts. (www.nycgo.com/manhattan).

The Statue of Liberty (www.nps.gov/stli) reopened to the public on July 4, 2013, after being closed since Hurricane Sandy hit New York City in late October 2012. Liberty Island and the National Monument will be open to the public via Statue Cruises taking off from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan and Liberty State Park in New Jersey. Tickets are available online at www.statuecruises.com or by calling (201) 604-2800. Crown tickets are only available by reservation. Pre-screening operations will continue to take place at Battery Park.

Ellis Island Immigration Museum (www.nps.gov.elis) reopened to the public on Oct. 28, 2013, a year after Hurricane Sandy submerged the island. Visitors can once again walk the halls of the immigration station where 12 million people began life in America. Open areas on the first and second floors include the Great Hall, where immigrants were inspected, and Journeys: The Peopling of America 1550 – 1890. This exhibition, developed with the support of The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, tells the story of American immigration prior to Ellis Island's years of operation. Repairs to the museum will continue until at least the spring of 2014.

Pier A, a 127-year old, landmarked pier at the southern tip of Manhattan is now undergoing redevelopment, and will offer a catering and event facility and a restaurant complex featuring an oyster bar, biergarten and fine dining restaurant. The pier will also host a venue for live music and art exhibitions. The “Harborhouse at Pier A,” operated by the Poulakakos family, has a planned opening for Memorial Day 2014. 

New York City's iconic Rainbow Room (www.rainbowroom.com), the historic NYC landmark and iconic restaurant and event space atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Rockefeller Center, will reopen to the public in Fall, 2014.  Originally opened in 1934, the Rainbow Room will be operated as a combination of catered event space as well as a restaurant that's open to the public.  In addition, a previously unused outdoor terrace on the 65th floor will be combined with a connecting interior space and transformed into a bar and lounge that will be open to the public five or more days each week, serving cocktails and light fare.  Each day an estimated 350,000 people visit the Rockefeller Center complex, which during the holidays is home to the most famous Christmas tree in the world. 

In October 2013, Madison Square Garden completed a three-year, top-to-bottom Transformation, enhancing every aspect of the historic sports and entertainment arena.  The $1 billion Transformation included a new 7th Avenue entrance that is more than double in size, featuring a new merchandise store; “Garden of Dreams Foundation” area; box office and the addition of a broadcast location as well as two 600-square foot video screens on the ceiling featuring ground-breaking content. Inside the Arena, the two new Chase Bridges provide a one-of-kind view of the action; an all new Gardenvision scoreboard has been added, consisting of 24 individual high-definition LED displays which are curved to mirror the circular design of The Garden, in addition to a Signature Suite Level featuring 18 new suites with “center stage” views for concerts; and restoration of the iconic Garden ceiling.  These enhancements add to what has been completed in two previous years phases, from 2011-2012, including new upper and lower bowl seating with larger, more comfortable seats; expanded concourses; several new suite and club offerings; new locker rooms and star dressing rooms; and the addition of enhanced food offerings throughout the Arena.  The corridors of the entry level of the Arena have been restored to replicate the look of the building when its doors first opened 45 years ago, and every effort has been made to honor Madison Square Garden's unparalleled history throughout the Arena.  (thegarden.com)

Hudson Yards (hudsonyardsnewyork.com)is the largest private real estate development in the history of the United States and the largest development in New York City since Rockefeller Center. It is anticipated that more than 26 million people will visit Hudson Yards every year. The site will include more than 17 million square feet of commercial and residential space, more than 100 shops and boutiques, 20 restaurants, approximately 5,000 residences, a unique cultural space, 14 acres of public open space, a 750-seat public school and a 150-room luxury hotel—all offering unparalleled amenities for residents, employees and guests. The development of Hudson Yards will create more than 23,000 construction jobs. The first phase of Hudson Yards will open in 2018.

In 2013, The Metropolitan Museum of Art (www.metmuseum.org)broke ground on the new David H. Koch Plaza, which will open to the public in Fall of 2014. The $65 million project will feature a renovated plaza, new fountains that will operate year-round, 100 new trees (double the former number), permanent and temporary seating areas and new energy-efficient and diffused nighttime lighting.  OLIN, the landscape architecture, urban design and planning firm, has been retained by the museum as the leading design consultant for the project. The front steps of the museum—which are the primary path for visitors into the museum—have become a popular area for visitors to sit and enjoy the outdoors. Last year, The Metropolitan Museum of Art welcomed 6.28 million visitors. As of July 1, 2013, the museum is open seven days a week, with operating hours of 10am–9pm, Friday and Saturday; and 10am–5:30pm, Sundays to Thursdays.

On May 1, 2013, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) was opened to the public seven days a week on a year-round basis, in response to increasing demand. MoMA's new operating hours are 10:30am–5pm, with the exception of Fridays, when the museum is open until 8pm. In 2012, MoMA received nearly 3 million visitors (www.moma.org).

Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum (www.cooperhewitt.org) is the only museum in the nation devoted exclusively to historic and contemporary design, and is housed in the former residence of Andrew Carnegie, a New York City and National Historic Landmark. The campus also includes two historic townhouses on East 90th Street and the Arthur Ross Terrace and Garden. The museum is currently undergoing a renovation, which will enable it to expand gallery space by 60 per cent, and will reopen in late Fall of 2014. Within the Cooper-Hewitt Museum, a spectacular, new third-floor gallery will be created, as well as an expanded gallery space on the second floor, resulting in four entire floors dedicated to exhibitions and public programing. With more than 16,000 square feet of gallery space, Cooper-Hewitt will be able to showcase significantly more of its collection and present major design exhibitions. The renovation will be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified.

In October 2013, the Howard Hughes Corporation (www.howardhughes.com) officially began the redevelopment of South Street Seaport with a groundbreaking for the Pier 17 building.  Pier 17 will be transformed into one of NYC's most vibrant destinations with a unique mix of retail, dining and entertainment options combined with a 1 ½-acre rooftop that will be suitable for concerts, music and other entertainment events capable of holding up to 4,000 people.  The project will create 40 percent more open space that will showcase expanded views of the New York Harbor, Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan.  The new Pier 17 building will feature a glass façade encompassing a wide range of stores, restaurants, and neighborhood shops.  The redeveloped Pier 17 is anticipated to open in 2016, providing another proof point of Lower Manhattan's revitalization.

Expected to open in mid-2014, the SeaGlass Carousel is Battery Park's new aquatic-themed ride, aimed to entertain, inspire and educate visitors. The stainless-steel and glass structure is shaped like a shell, and will feature an installation of 30 multicolored fiberglass fish in which visitors will ride, imitating an underwater experience on the rotating pavilion. The carousel will also incorporate sound, atmospheric lighting and film projections of marine life to further enhance the experience. In a Topping Off Ceremony on 18th April 2013, the City Parks and Recreation Department, Battery Conservancy, City officials and downtown stakeholders celebrated the final phase of the build-out: the installation of the final roof panel (www.thebattery.org).

In December 2012, the Museum of Mathematics, MoMath (www.momath.org), opened to the public. The only math museum in the US, MoMath strives to enhance public understanding and perception of mathematics in daily life. The museum's dynamic, interactive exhibits and programs geared for families and adults will present mathematical experiences that are designed to stimulate inquiry, spark curiosity and reveal the wonders of math. MoMath is located at 11 East 26th Street (between Fifth and Madison Avenues). 

Four Freedoms Park (www.fdrfourfreedomspark.org), a memorial to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, opened to the public on 24th October 2012 on the southern tip of Roosevelt Island. The island lies in the East River, across from Midtown Manhattan. Construction on the park began in March 2010, 38 years after the project's original announcement. Visitors can access Roosevelt Island via the subway or the Roosevelt Island Tramway (www.rioc.ny.gov/tramtransportation.htm).

Macy's Herald Square (www.visitmacysnewyork.com), Macy's world-famous flagship, is undergoing an unprecedented four-year, $400 million renovation. New luxury shops Gucci, Burberry and Longchamp opened at the “World's Largest Store” in winter 2012. The main floor of the store will be the centerpiece of the Macy's flagship, with side-by-side, multilevel shops soaring three levels and spanning a city block. Macy's recently debuted the Herald Square Café in September 2012, within the “World's Largest Shoe Floor” on level 2 of the store. The café features exotic coffees, artisan chocolates and fine champagne. In March 2013, Macy's debuted a modern Italian restaurant, Stella 34 Trattoria. Overlooking Broadway, this Sixth Floor destination features an authentic Neapolitan menu created by Executive Chef Jarrett Appell in collaboration with renowned Lincoln Ristorante Executive Chef Jonathan Benno. On Sept. 18, 2013, NYC & Company joined Macy's to open its newest Official NYC Information Center location, on the mezzanine level of the newly remodeled Macy's Herald Square Flagship.  Still called the Macy's Visitor Center, the newly revamped facility offers state-of-the-art technology, tickets to city attractions, visitor guides and maps and assistance from on-site concierges.

The Space Shuttle Pavilion, housing Space Shuttle Enterprise, the original NASA orbiter that paved the way for America's successful space shuttle program, re-opened in July 2013 at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum (intrepidmuseum.com), located at Pier 86 (46th Street and 12th Avenue), in Hudson River Park. Visitors can walk underneath Enterprise which sits 10 feet off of the ground, view it from a larger observation platform and watch a film narrated by actor Leonard Nimoy. In addition to Enterprise, the pavilion is the new home to the Russian Soyuz space capsule and incorporates new experiences designed to immerse visitors of all ages in the sights, sounds and stories of the space shuttle program.

On Sept. 21, 2012, a groundbreaking ceremony took place to mark the start of construction on the third and final section of the High Line (www.thehighline.org). Located between West 30th and West 34th Streets to the south and north, and Tenth and Twelfth Avenues to the east and west, the final section of the elevated railway, called the High Line at the Rail Yards, extends half a mile beyond the current northern end of the High Line park, which has welcomed more than 15 million visitors since it opened in 2009. The High Line at the Rail Yards surrounds Related Companies/Oxford Properties Group's Hudson Yards project and began construction in Fall 2012. Construction on the estimated $90 million extension of the park will proceed in phases, and be financed by a combination of public and private funds. The first phase is projected to open in late 2014, extending the High Line park to West 34th Street and connecting the Meatpacking District and West Chelsea with the future 7 line subway station, the Javits Center, and the future Hudson Yards neighborhood.

The Javits Center (www.javitscenter.com), the city's premier convention facility, completed its renovation in the Fall of 2013, with the installation of the second largest green roof in the US including high efficiency rooftop mechanical units; the replacement of exterior doors; replacement of curtain wall glazing units; and the repair, replacement and upgrade of building systems including life safety systems, security systems, mechanical electrical and plumbing systems and lighting systems.

The 9/11 Memorial Museum (www.911memorial.org/museum) is scheduled to open on May 21, 2014. It will be the global focal point for preserving the history of the events of 9/11, documenting the impact of the attacks and exploring 9/11's continuing significance. Visitors to the new Museum will enter through a pavilion located between the two Memorial reflecting pools, which includes a private space for 9/11 families and an elegant auditorium for lectures, film screenings, panel discussions, performances and other programming.  The pavilion is a graceful steel and glass building designed by Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta. Installed within the building's glass atrium are two massive steel tridents, which were part of the Twin Towers' façade. The 9/11 Museum's 110,000 square feet of exhibition space are located within the heart of the World Trade Center site, and the Museum is the steward of the site's archaeological assets, which are protected under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Program.  When the Museum opens, a $24 general admission and continued private fundraising will support the operations of both the Memorial and Museum. 9/11 families would not have to pay an admission. There will also be various discounts for various groups, including seniors, youth and NYC schools. The public can also enter the Museum for free from 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. every Tuesday. The Memorial and Museum does not yet receive government funding for its operations, which includes security. The 9/11 Memorial has had more than 11.5 million visitors since it opened in 2011, will remain free and open to everyone. For press photos, go to https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pal2dk2kev6b4rj/PtSg5HxgDD.

The new One World Trade Center—also 1 World Trade Center or 1 WTC—tower (www.wtc.com) is scheduled to open in late 2014. Soaring above the city at 1,776 feet, One World Trade Center is America's tallest building - and an indelible New York landmark. Designed by David M. Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the 3-million-square-foot building includes office space, an observation deck and world-class restaurants. The building was initially developed by Silverstein Properties and taken over by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in April 2006. The 104-story building will feature a grand lobby and observation deck with unparalleled views. Currently, the building is 55% leased to tenants Conde Nast, Vantone China Center, and the U.S. General Services.

The One World Observatory (www.OneWorldObservatory.com) is a three-story observation deck atop what will be the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Slated to open in Spring 2015, the new observatory will occupy levels 100 to 102 at One World Trade Center. The guest experience starts the moment visitors purchase their timed-entry tickets, and enter into a cutting-edge, multimedia gallery showcasing the magnificent evolution and construction of the building including heartfelt testimonials from those who built it. The uplifting journey continues on the fastest elevator in the world - ascending 102 floors in 60 seconds - surrounded by a stunning visual evolution of the World Trade Center site and New York City itself. At the top, guests will experience a movie celebrating New York in the "See Forever" theater, enjoy a bevy of dining choices and can explore the observatory, enhanced by interactive exhibits and hosted by friendly tour ambassadors who will interpret and point out the sights. Admission to One World Observatory will be sold online in advance at www.OneWorldObservatory.com and will be paid timed-ticket entry. Tickets will go on sale to groups (20+) for pre-orders during the summer of 2014 (booking fall 2015) and on sale to individuals at a later date to be announced. One World Observatory will also be available for special events and corporate functions, featuring stunning vistas and the finest in hospitality for guests. Multiple customizable spaces can host intimate groups of 10 up to larger groups of 450 for meetings, cocktail receptions, sit-down dinners, galas, premieres and other events, replete with built-in state-of-the-art technology including broadcast capabilities. Email info@OneWorldObservatory.com for 2015 events reservation inquiries.

The Whitney Museum of American Art's (www.whitney.org/Future) new building in the Meatpacking District will debut in 2015.  Designed by architect Renzo Piano and situated on Gansevoort Street between the High Line and the Hudson River, the new nine-story building will greatly increase the Whitney's exhibition and programming space, providing the first comprehensive view of its unsurpassed collection of modern and contemporary American art.  Expansive gallery space, indoors and out, will also be devoted to the Museum's widely influential special exhibitions, artist projects, film/ video, and performing arts programs. The building will also provide state-of-the-art facilities for enhanced education programs, as well as a Works on Paper Study Center, a conservation lab, a street-level restaurant, and a café. The building's projected cost is $422 million. 

Time Warner Center (www.theshopsatcolumbuscircle.com) serves as an anchor to the fashionable Upper West Side and is a key portal to Central Park, drawing nearly 16 million visitors annually. With five-star accommodations, Michelin star dining, groundbreaking entertainment and exceptional shopping, Time Warner Center is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.   Behind the iconic, soaring glass wall that overlooks bustling Columbus Circle is a reimagined destination where shoppers can access the latest in fashion, home decor, music, wellness, technology and cuisine. Comprised of The Shops at Columbus Circle, The Restaurant and Bar Collection, Mandarin Oriental, New York Hotel, and Jazz at Lincoln Center, Time Warner Center is a complete destination for fashion, food and fun.  Highlights of the Time Warner Center 10th anniversary include several new openings including HUGO BOSS Flagship Store (the largest store in the Americas with 15,000 square-feet of selling space across three floors); L.K. Bennett's first NYC location and only New York Flagship for London's iconic fashion house; C. Wonder's New York Flagship; and Moleskine's first US location.  Time Warner Center offers shopping and dining packages as well as a VIP Shopping Pass—visitors can pick up at the Center's Guest Services Desk.

New Manhattan restaurants that opened in 2013 include Andrew Carmellini's Lafayette (380 Lafayette St.), RedFarm UWS (2710 Broadway), The Butterfly (225 W. Broadway), Ristorante Morini (1167 Madison Ave.), Carbone (181 Thompson St.), Juni (12 E. 31st St.), ABC Cocina (38 E. 19th St.), and Brooklyn Fare Manhattan (431 W. 37th St.), Minton's (206 W. 118th St) and The Cecil (210 W. 118th St).   

QUEENS

For a vibrant sample of culture of all kinds, Queens is the perfect destination. It serves up multi-ethnic cuisine, including Indian and East Asian food in Jackson Heights and Flushing, Greek and Brazilian fare in Astoria, Mexican in Corona and Irish and Thai in Woodside. Queens is also a sports and cultural destination. The borough has seen a dramatic increase in the number of hotels, especially in Long Island City, which now has 17 new hotels representing  1,700 rooms with five more properties and 700 rooms under construction  (www.nycgo.com/queens  ; www.queensnyc.com).

Long Island City has welcomed a new market, LIC Flea & Food. Open every Saturday and Sunday from 10am – 6pm, the market offers the chance to enjoy artisan food, find hidden treasures in the market and discover new artists and great local vendors against the beautiful backdrop of the Midtown Manhattan skyline. The market is situated a block back from the waterfront and is accessible by subway or ferry (www.licflea.com).

A great way to experience Queens is on New York City's 7 line subway train, known as the “International Express” (www.mta.info/nyct/service/sevenlin.htm). The train makes stops in multi-ethnic neighborhoods in Queens that are Chinese, Irish, Italian, Turkish, Romanian, Indian and Mexican. The subway line is elevated most of the way and has excellent views of the city, both on and off the train. It begins in Flushing at Main Street, passing Citi Field and Flushing Meadows–Corona Park and then travels through Jackson Heights, Woodside and Long Island City and into Manhattan.

The Museum of the Moving Image (www.movingimage.us), in Astoria, Queens,reopened on Jan. 15, 2011, with a newly expanded and redesigned building. The $67 million project doubled the size of the museum, which is dedicated to the history, culture and technology of film, television and the moving image. New additions to the building include a café, store, screening areas and a 10,000-square-foot outdoor garden. In 2013, Mayor Bloomberg announced that a new Jim Henson gallery will debut at the museum in winter 2014–2015 through a donation of nearly 400 puppets, props and costumes by Henson's family and The Jim Henson Company. Best known for his Sesame Street and Muppets characters, his legacy will live on in the 2,200-square-foot Henson Gallery, which will also showcase Henson's sketches, storyboards, scripts and video clips.

On November 9, 2013, the Queens Museum (www.queensmuseum.org) reopened as a transformed institution. Building on 35 years of success, it has grown to be one of the most interesting and enjoyable cultural institutions in the greater New York area. The museum's expansion doubled its size to 100,000 square feet, creating one of the most refined museum spaces in the country. Grimshaw Architects developed plans for a stunning facility that engages diverse communities and makes the Queens Museum a model for the urban American museum of the future. The $65 million project includes a new 220-foot-long illuminated glass façade and entry plaza on the Grand Central Parkway side of the building, a new entrance and expanded outdoor space on the Flushing Meadows–Corona Park side of the building, and a generous skylit atrium in between.

2014 marks the 75th anniversary of the 1939 World's Fair and the 50th anniversary of the 1964 World's Fair in Queens.  Housed in the former NYC Pavilion from the 1939 and 1964 World's Fairs, the Queens Museum (www.queensmuseum.org) will always be inextricably linked to them, and with a collection of more than 10,000 objects pertaining to the two expositions, the Museum is a key resource to both scholars and fans.  In an effort to provide visitors with a greater understanding of the scope of their enormous holdings of 1939 and 1964 World's Fair artifacts and memorabilia, the Museum introduced the World's Fair Visible Storage and Gallery when they completed their expansion in November 2013.  The second floor space is home to more than 900 three-dimensional pieces providing an opportunity to study a large number of related works of World's Fair objects up close, and to compare and contrast a wide range of items from 1939 and 1964.  The Visible Storage provides unprecedented access to students, scholars, and the general public to explore the collection that was formerly hidden in the Museum's art vault, off-limits to the public.  Many of these objects have never been displayed in the history of the Queens Museum. 

The Resorts World Casino (www.rwnewyork.com)—New York's first casino—opened in Queens in October 2011 with video slots and other electronic games (there are no table games and no dealers). Connected to the Aqueduct racetrack in South Ozone Park, Queens, and run by Genting New York, the casino features 5,000 video gambling terminals, a number of restaurants, electronic table games, including craps and a popular Asian dice game known as sic bo, restaurants and plans for an expansive outdoor terrace.

STATEN ISLAND

With so much to do in such a verdant, multifaceted borough, Staten Island proves an original, bucolic destination worth exploring for any New York City visitor. Ride the free Staten Island Ferry for scenic views of the Lower Manhattan skyline and disembark in St. George, a neighborhood of art galleries, bars and the St. George Theatre. A short walk south, Little Sri Lanka bursts with flavor in the neighborhood of Tompkinsville. Explore the borough further to try some of the City's best pizza; tee off at many of the golf courses, go to one of the borough's beaches such as South Beach and see a Staten Island Yankees Game. Staten Island is home to a growing number of accommodations, including the Hilton Garden Inn New York/Staten Island and Hampton Inn & Suites Staten Island, both of which are a short, 20-minute drive from Newark Liberty International Airport (www.nycgo.com/statenisland ; www.visitstatenisland.com).

The new Staten Island and St. George Area Redevelopment will debut in 2016. The project consists of the New York Wheel (www.newyorkwheel.com) and the Empire Outlets (www.empireoutletsnyc.com). Empire Outlets:  This new retail complex will play a major part in the development of the St. George section of Staten Island. Offering 350,000 square feet of retail space, Empire Outlets will include a mix of fashion, food, and entertainment options.  A 200-room hotel offering 140,000 square feet of hospitality, 1,250 parking spaces and a new, free 20-minute ferry ride from Manhattan to Staten Island will give passengers a view of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Manhattan. New York Wheel: In addition to the Empire Outlets, the complex will be home to the world's tallest Ferris wheel. Located on the northeastern side of Staten Island (St. George), the 630-foot, or roughly 60-story, attraction will be the tallest observation wheel in the world and the only one in New York City. The wheel will accommodate up to 1,440 people per ride, welcoming as many as 30,000 visitors per day and an anticipated 4 million visitors per year. Construction of the wheel is expected to begin in early 2014, and it will open on Labor Day 2016.

The Staten Island Museum (www.statenislandmuseum.org), which serves over 80,000 people each year, is realizing a dream 40 years in the making: the expansion to Snug Harbor Cultural Center, a nationally significant historic site that was saved from demolition through the leadership and efforts of museum members in 1965. In June 2011, the museum broke ground and began the construction of a 21st-century, fully climate-controlled museum facility, housed within the interior of a 19th-century landmarked structure that had been built in 1879 to serve as a dormitory for “aged, worn out and retired seamen.” It is anticipated to open in Fall of 2014 and will employ a geothermal heating and cooling system and meet the requirements to be a green, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental design) Gold–certified structure.

WHAT'S NEW: GETTING TO AND AROUND NEW YORK CITY

On October 17, 2013, Norwegian announced it would launch new flights between London Gatwick (LGW) and New York City (JFK) in 2014. The flights will operate three times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, beginning July 3, 2014. In addition, last year, Norwegian launched service from Stockholm to JFK (Days 1, 3 and 5); Oslo to JFK (Days 2 4, 5 and 7), and Copenhagen to JFK (Days 1 and 5).

In October 2013, Emirates launched new service from Milan Malpensa (MXP) to JFK.

In March 2014, Cathay Pacific Airways launched inaugural Manila-Hong Kong-Newark service.

On June 13, 2013, new air lift launched to New York City on American Airlines from Dublin to JFK. In March 2013, Air China launched four additional weekly flights from Beijing to JFK, bringing the total number to 11.

Delta Air Lines has proposed a second flight between New York City (JFK) and São Paulo, which requires approval by the Department of Transportation. In April 2013, Open Skies launched a new JFK to Paris Orly service — this is the only airline that flies nonstop to the Paris Orly airport from the U.S. The addition of the JFK service to Orly compliments the two daily flights Open Skies currently services from Newark to Orly. Last year, XL Airways launched a new seasonal service from Marseille, France to JFK, which will continue this year from May to October.    

Japan Airlines will add a second direct flight from Tokyo-Narita (NRT) to JFK beginning March 30, 2014. Skymark will inaugurate A380 direct flight serviced from NRT to JKF beginning December 2014. China's China Southern Air will commence service from Guangzhou (CAN) to JFK beginning August 6, 2014. 

On Jan. 21, 2014, Mayor de Blasio announced that weekday ferry service between the Rockaways in Queens and Lower Manhattan, with a stop in Sunset Park, will continue to operate until at least May, with an option to extend until August 2014.  Ferries will continue to connect Beach 108th Street and Beach Channel Drive in the Rockaways, where the New York City Economic Development Corporation has installed a temporary landing, and stop at the Brooklyn Army Terminal (serving Sunset Park and Bay Ridge) and at Pier 11/Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, with free transfers offered between Pier 11 and East 34th Street in Midtown. The service, operated by Seastreak (http://www.seastreak.com/), will continue to operate on its current schedule and charge $3.50 a ride. The ferry service has allowed for more than 200,000 passenger trips since its initial launch after Superstorm Sandy in November 2012.

The Number 7 Subway Line (www.mta.info) extension will bring the Flushing Line to 34th Street and 11th Avenue, at the heart of what will be Manhattan's newest neighborhood. New housing, restaurants and entertainment options are planned for the redeveloped area on the Far West Side. The new $2.4 billion project will extend the line by 1½ miles and service is expected to commence in late 2014. 

Norwegian Cruise Line's newest cruise ship, the NYC-themed Norwegian Breakaway (www.breakaway.ncl.com), was christened in her year-round home port of New York City on May 8, 2013. The 4,000 passenger ship, the largest ship to ever home port in the city, began weekly summer seven-day cruises to Bermuda on May 12, 2013 before cruising from the heart of Manhattan to the Bahamas, Florida and the Southern Caribbean in the winter season (October 2013–April 2014). New York City's iconic dance troupe The Rockettes are serving as godmothers for the ship.

About NYC & Company:

NYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide.

For general information on New York City, see www.nycgo.com and for press information, see www.nycgo.com/press. For images, go to www.nycgo.com/pressphotos (username: media@nycgo.com / password: medianyc11). For the latest imagery and B-roll, see the Neighborhood x Neighborhood folder.