You are invited to join the Travel Writers Association

I have started a group on Linked In called Travel Writers Association and it is open to all travel writers, bloggers and publishers free. This is a social network and there are no dues - it's just a way to connect with other travel writers and expand friendships and professional contacts. Here is the link: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?mostPopular=&gid=3261715

Please take a moment to join us. Applications will be reviewed and accepted as they are entered. Our goal is to reach 1000 members by December, 2010. Please provide a link to your book, travel guide, blog or publishing company to speed up the acceptance process.

Travel Writers Association

This is a place to meet other travel writers as well as travel guide publishers and other related industry professionals. Please note: this is a social network.

By registering to be a member of the Travel Writers Association group, you consent to have your name and your email address be accessible by the official representative of the Travel Writers Association group, and to be identified as a Travel Writers Association group member in your profile and the LinkedIn search results. If you do not wish to give such consent, please do not register.

http://www.linkedin.com/groups?mostPopular=&gid=3261715

2010 Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting

It might strike you a bit odd that my first travel related post is about the Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting in 2010, but, in all honesty it is a question I get frequently and it's often hard to find the full information about it until it's a day or two away. And, no, unfortunately, I have no inside information I can share, but, drawing on pure experience here is what I can tell you.

About the tree

Typically, the tree arrives in early to mid November, and, it is hoisted into position and then surrounded by scaffolding so workers can put up approximately 5 miles of lights.

The tree itself must meet certain standards before it can make its way to Rockefeller Center. It must be a minimum of 65 foot tall and 35 feet wide.

The tree remains unlit until the lighting ceremony and from that day forward it is lit from 5:30 AM through 11:30PM daily until Christmas Eve (December 24) when it lit for 24 hour hours in celebration of Christmas. The lights are turned off at 9PM on New Year's Eve in anticipation of the big celebration in Times Square.

2010 Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting

While this information has yet to be confirmed the best guestimation of when the 2010 Rockefeller Center tree will be light is Wednesday, December 2, 2010. Typically the tree is lit the Wednesday after Thanksgiving.

FAQ

Are tickets necessary?
No, tickets are not necessary. The tree lighting event is free but it is very, very crowded and people begin surrounding Rockefeller Center many hours before the festivities begin. Some people begin claiming their spots as early as 2pm in the afternoon. (Keep in mind the lights do not get turned on until 8:55pm that evening.)

Who will be performing at the 2010 Rockefeller Center tree lighting ceremony?
That information has not yet been made public, however, you can certainly count on seeing the Radio City Rockettes who have been part of the ceremony for several decades.

Is there parking at Rockefeller Center?
If you are coming into NYC for the tree lighting ceremony, driving is highly discouraged since it will be a gridlock alert day and mass transit is highly recommended. However, if you arriving on another day or really need to drive for some reason here is a list of places to park

Rockefeller Center Area Parking Garages:

• Park Fast (http://www.parkfast.pth4.com/)
  • 50 W 44th St btw 6th & 5th Ave
  • 307 W 44th St btw 8th & 9th Ave
• Central Parking (http://www.centralparking.com) - Be sure to check out the on-line coupon
  • 10 W 48th St
  • 25 W 48th St
  • 155 W 48th St
  • 257 W 47th St
  • 271 W 47th St
  • 38 W 46th St
  • 100 W 44th St
  • 332 W 44th
  • St252 W 40th St
  • 304 W 49th St

More information about the 2010 Rockefeller Center tree will be posted as information becomes available. I will give a full and complete comprehensive guide as the holidays approach so please be sure to bookmark this site.

My no agenda agenda for today

Can't seem to kick in gear today... One of the frustrations of being a writer is trying to write regardless if you have something to say or not. It didn't help that I had a rather restless night, my mind was "on" but I was thinking about really stupid things - such as how many people my apartment can hold for Thanksgiving this year and why do cats sleep so much? These are not mind-boggling questions and yet they did keep me up.

I just had a second cup of coffee and that isn't helping. So I'm chalking today up as a non-work day or perhaps I'll get in the groove later in the day. What I really need is to go out with my best friend, unfortunately, she has moved out of Manhattan and up to the Albany area. Sure I guess I could meet her half way at Woodbury Commons but she has a normal 9 to 5 job (which we all know means 7:30 AM to 6 or 6:30 PM). So that isn't happening on a weekday...

Perhaps I will go to Mikimoto and finally break down and buy the string of pearls with the sapphire accents I've been eying for the past year. Or maybe just get lost in Bergdorf's for a couple of hours.

I wonder if the stores have started putting holiday decorations up yet. I remember the past few summers that Hallmark started putting up Christmas tree ornaments in late July or early August. While I do understand that retailers make most of their money for the year during the holiday season it's been getting out of control for the past 20 or so years. Each year the holiday decorations come out earlier and earlier.

Ok Bergdorf's it is - I see they are now in "Final Sale" and this is always fun. I love nothing more than finding a pair of shoes that were originally $1500 marked down by 75%! So with that I will wish you a wonderful day and hopefully tomorrow I will have something intelligent to tell you about a travel destination.

Ciao!

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Welcome Aboard - ok so I'm late getting on the Social Networking scene...

Well here I am entering a new stage in life, granted later than most, but, I've finally begun my social networking. If you aren't familiar with me allow me to introduce myself...

I'm Tina Smith and I am a freelance travel writer/journalist. Currently I am writing a guidebook on New York City (insert ooohs and ahhs here) and then I will move on to my next writing assignment. It's hush, hush at the moment but I can tell you that very little information is out there on my next travel topic.

Anyhow, as I said, I'm a freelance travel writer/journalist. I'm a New Yorker, dog lover, traveler, passionate cook, and, yes, still single at 40-something. Unlike many other women I don't have the "need" to have children, in fact, in this line of work, it would halt me in my tracks so I'll stick to my four legged friends for now. Although I most confess that in spite of being a dog lover, my current roommate is a finicky feline whom I adopted about 5 years ago from a shelter. While he isn't the first cat I've ever owned he is certainly the cuddliest.

So enough about me, you'll soon learn of my likes and dislikes and my quirks and idocracies such as the type of man I prefer to date and that I am (in many ways) a real life Carrie Bradshaw complete with my own "Mr. Big" - and the same on again, off again drama. Currently we're in the off again friends stage. So guys, yes, I'm available! (Hey a little self promotion never hurt anyone, right?)

But, I digress... You're probably wondering what to expect from this blog and I'll be honest, it's going to be a lot of different things related to travel. A lot of it is going to focus on Manhattan in NYC so if that isn't your thing, then get now before you become addicted.

At that I will end this introduction and post this blog, and, we'll get things rolling travel-wise in my next post.

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