The Drowsy Chaperone on Broadway

 

The Drowsy Chaperone is a homage to American musicals that you can see while you are here with your car rental in New York. The show will take you back to the time of Fitzgerald to the late 1920s.

Play a tune

When you come see the Drowsy Chaperone with your car rental in New York you will be introduced to Man on Chair, who is a Broadway fanatic who listens to an old phonograph of a stage show. The music takes the man to another, magical world. The apartment is decorated with seashell footlights, sparkly peacocks, glittery sugarplum trees, and fantastic costumes.

The plot thickens: better pay attention!

Within the story another story is taking place. It is about a showgirl who is about to marry a man she just met and the producer who doesn’t want to lose his starlet. The plot takes every twist and turn possible, to the point of almost being clichd. There are cases of mistaken identity, spit-takes, gangsters, and a full cast of characters. There is the English butler, Latino Lothario, and the cartwheeling heroine. Man on Chair is watching the action as it happens. He wants to keep watching, but also wants to add his own comments on the action.

A shot in the dark

Before you come see the play with your car rental in New York, you may be interested in knowing that the show got its start in 1999 when a spoof of old musicals was put together for a stag party. In this first version, there was no Man in Chair and the style of the musical ranged from the 1920s to the 1940s and the jokes were a lot more risqu. The play was later reshaped for the Toronto Fringe Festival, for which the Man on Chair was added as a narrator. The Broadway production which you can now see with your car rental in New York finally opened in 2006. This was the first musical written and composed by Canadians to open on Broadway in over 25 years.

Plan your trip

When you are here with your car rental in New York there are many attractions and restaurants for you to enjoy around the theater. Some of the noted restaurants that you may want to visit with your car rental in New York include Sardi’s, Angus McIndoe, Carnegie Deli, Bond 45 Italian Kitchen Streak, Chevys Fresh Mex, Mars 2112, and O’Lunney’s Time Square Pub. There are also many attractions nearby if you are here during the day with your car rental in New York. These include the Museum of Modern Art, Macy’s, the Empire State Building, Central Park, Time Warner, Grand Central Station, Radio City Music Hall, and many more.

The Drowsy Chaperone is a fun play that you can enjoy while you are here with your car rental in New York. It is unique in that it takes many old plays and combines many of the elements that people like.

 

Car Rental New York City and City Island

AAMCAR New York Car Rental travelers looking to turn back the clock are encouraged to visit one of the citys oldest waterside communities. Hidden just beyond Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx, City Island is a treasured New York neighborhood steeped in a rich nautical history and multicultural roots. Connected to the mainland by the City Island Bridge, the community of City Island features picture-perfect postcard looks as well as a down-home New England sort of charm. The perfect place to escape to after a long week in the Big Apple, City Island radiates a comforting old world charm thats simply unlike anything else in NYC! Know for its stunning views and friendly atmosphere, City Island provides AAMCAR New York Car Rentals customers with a little something different, so dont miss your chance to check it out!

History

When City Island was first settled in 1761 it served as a seamans paradise, providing ruddy deckhands with a place to practice sail making, ship building and oyster fishing. A large part of NYCs coastal defense mechanism until the early 20th century, City Island also boasts a wide variety of historical artifacts and wartime stories. A designated port of inquiry for all East River bound steamers during the late 18th and early 19th century, City Island actually played a part in the infamous Fort Totten incident, whereby gunners actually fired an artillery shell at neighboring Fort Schuyler! In 1917 a steamer headed into Eastchester Bay failed to halt at City Island to take on a mandatory pilot, alerting the artillerymen at Ft. Totten. Gunners fired a warning shot across the ships bow, which would eventually ricochet off the water right into Fort Schuylers wall! AAMCAR New York Car Rental travelers interested in investigating the legitimacy of this old shipmans tale are encouraged to visit Fort Schuyler during their upcoming vacation damage and debris is still rumored to be located around the shattered wall!

Island Communities

City Island is currently home to a handful of exciting nautically themed communities including King Avenue, Minnieford Avenue, City Island Avenue, Fordham Schofield and William Avenue. Each area of the island boasts a unique architectural flare quite unlike the prominent skyscrapers of Manhattan. Prominent houses on City Island include the ostentatious castle-like mansion located on Cross Street and Pelham Bay, the North Wind Undersea Institute on the islands northern tip and the islands current skyscraper a residential 6-story apartment building located on Pickwick Terrace! City Island also features a wide variety of Victorian era houses, all of which are kept in mint-condition.

Interesting Facts about City Island

  • During youre trip to City Island remember to take a drive down William Avenue if you cant find William, simply follow Willim. New York Citys Department of Transportation seems to have misspelled this prominent street sign some time ago!
  • In 1962 City Island made it to the silver screen when a house overlooking Eastchester Bay and Pelham Park was utilized in the movie Long Days Journey into Night starring Katharine Hepburn. The house is still located at the end of Tier Street, just west of William Avenue (just look for the tell-tale whale shaped weathervane on the conical steeple!).
  • First time visitors to the Island will want to check out the City Island Museum on Fordham Street, which features the worlds largest collection of maritime-themed books as well as priceless works of watercolor by Professor Harold Walsh. Rooms inside the museum are dedicated to City Islands rich history of boat building oyster fishing and yachting. The museum is currently only open on Sundays and is located in the old Public School 17.

If you would like to learn more about City Island before embarking on your upcoming AAMCAR New York Car Rentals vacation please feel free to the official City Island, Bronx homepage at www.cityisland.com. The City Island Chamber of Commerce also maintains a webpage at www.cityislandchamber.org.

Car Rental New York City and the Childrens Museum of Manhattan

If youre tired of telling your kids No, dont touch! the Childrens Museum of Manhattan is definite must-visit for you and your family! Located between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue on West 23rd Street, the Childrens Museum of Manhattan is a strictly hands-on facility designed to encourage exciting educational interaction through a handful of innovative activities. Recommended for children between the ages of 2 and 12, the Childrens Museum of Manhattan boasts that it is bursting with unique exhibits and daily programs for family fun together. Toy-like displays provide even the youngest of AAMCAR New York Car Rentals travelers with hours of laughter and learning, so why not spend an afternoon indoors during your upcoming Big Apple adventure?! The Childrens Museum of Manhattan currently five days a week, Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 5pm.

Attractions for Every Age

The Childrens Museum of Manhattan is proud to provide AAMCAR New York Car Rental travelers with the ultimate selection of family fun activities and mind-stimulating displays. Designed with bright colors, creative components and interactive enhancements, the exhibits at the CMOM are perfect for practically all levels of learning, especially for the pre-school and kindergarten crew. Previous displays within the museum have featured everyone from Winnie the Pooh and Dr. Seuss, to Dora the Explorer and the Magic School Bus, creating a familiar atmosphere of learning for all kinds of inquisitive minds. If youre considering on visiting the Childrens Museum of Manhattan during your upcoming AAMCAR New York Car Rentals vacation (and you really should be!), remember to do some research on the Time Warner Media Center, which is currently located on the museums second floor. Designed to mimic a big-time news room, the Media Center features two cameras, a news desk, interactive weather map, and a handful of television screens to capture all the hilarious high-jinks that happen on stage. The perfect place for kids to let loose any pent up energy, the Time Warner Media Center features exciting special effects designed to further stimulate your childs ever expanding mind. AAMCAR New York Car Rental customers planning on traveling with toddlers will also be excited to note that the Childrens Museum of Manhattan also features a third floor reading room specially designed to captivate little ones with exciting tales of friendship and fun. Parents are invited to either read with their children, or participate in any one of the museums group story hours.

Making the Most of your Visit to the Childrens Museum of Manhattan

If youre planning on visiting the Childrens Museum of Manhattan during your upcoming AAMCAR New York Car Rentals vacation remember to note the following tips and points from staff members and previous customers:

  • Call the museum in advance, especially if youre planning on visiting during the summer months. The Childrens Museum of Manhattan often features in-house classes and camps which, when in operation, can often tie up many of the facilities most popular attractions. Calling the museum ahead of time will help you schedule around these events, providing you with plenty of time to experience every inch of the CMOM.
  • Try to avoid the museum on rainy days. As tempting as it is, the Childrens Museum of Manhattan is always jam packed on rainy days, as local familys let their kids burn off energy theyd normally exert at the park. If you can afford to waste a sunny day inside AAMCAR New York Car Rentals encourages you to visit the CMOM as crowds will be much smaller, making attractions much easier to enjoy.
  • Save the fun floors for last! The Childrens Museum of Manhattan is well worth the admission price ($8 for kids and adults, $5 for seniors) especially if you save the game floors for later on in the day. Educational exhibits are much more alluring to children earlier on in the morning so go ahead and check these attractions out first before letting your kids loose inside the fun zones.

If you would like to learn more about the Childrens Museum of Manhattan before reserving your upcoming AAMCAR New York car rental, please feel free to contact the museum by phone at 212-721-1234. The Childrens Museum of Manhattan also maintains an interactive website at www.cmom.org.

Support your small business in NYC!

cargo-van-rentalIn the great city of New York, one is always on the move.  Whether they are moving themselves, others or stuff, sometimes trains and buses just don’t suffice.  Have you ever found yourself purchasing that lovely book case in the flea market that came pre-assembled but cannot be transported easily in a cab?  Or how about this scenario, the same bookcase, you standing at the corner of 66th and Broadway with nary a cab in site.  Oh, there are plenty of cabs zipping by, but what YOU need for your nifty new bookcase is a Minivan.  Of course, ALL the minivans seem to either be missing your raised hand or just missing in general.

Here is a great solution, rent one!  Especially if you rent them during the weekdays, prices are phenomenally low AND you may just be able to negotiate a better price by simply calling. By doing a quick web search using Kayak. I found Minivans ranging in price from $100-$120 in Manhattan.  I love Jersey, but it adds up to the same costs in time and money to go rent a cheaper vehicle across the water.  In fact, I am moving some things to storage at the end of the month, so I decided to call a couple of area car rental companies.  Their lowest posted price was $109.95 plus tax.  We negotiated and settled on an agreeable $100 total thereby saving the additional 20% in tax!  That is a deal and usually can only be obtained by trying your luck with the small, local rental companies.  National car rental companies are stuck to their prices which are apparently written in stone.  I learned a valuable lesson, deal with the smaller guys AND support local businesses.

Activities near NYC

2010_kia_sorento_official.thumbnailThe last of the winter months seem to draw out like no other.  After the holidays are over, the city seems bleak with snow and ice everywhere. However; a short road trip to some of the most amazing ski resorts on the Eastern Seaboard can be nourishing to the soul.  Ski season is almost over but there are many beautiful slopes all over the east coast to take advantage of. Last weekend to celebrate the long weekend, a bunch of friends decided to go to Vermont.  We decided to go to Stowe ski resort.  I was tasked with finding an SUV that would fit all five of us and keep us within the budget.  My first stop was AAMCAR, the company I use right next to my house on the Upper West side.  I checked their web-site and found exactly what we needed but the price was a little higher.  Some of the rental locations in LGA airport were offering the same type of vehicle for $50 cheaper.  I called AAMCAR and spoke with the agent who said that normally they would match the rate but they were almost sold out of the vehicles so the best he could do was meet me half-way.  Now, I must digress here.  Anyone who lives in Manhattan knows the travails of going to any of the area airports.  It is expensive, time consuming and generally not worth it unless you are actually going to the airport to leave NY. So it was a no brainer for me.  I made the deal and we had a wonderful time in Vermont.  The resort was amazing, the route was scenic and safe because of the all wheel drive vehicle. I was especially happy when we got back that night and I was able to drop off the vehicle and be in bed all by midnight.  Definitely worth the trip and it was a very smart decision to do some comparison shopping before deciding on AAMCAR!

Washington Heights – Hidden Gem in NYC

Washington Heights, one of the most diverse neighborhoods of NYC was virtually unknown to tourists until recently.  Now that MTV has a show called Washington Heights, interest in the neighborhood has surged.  I have been living in NYC for over 10 years and have never really gone that far Uptown.  So last weekend, on a bright and sunny Saturday we decided to tour “The Heights”.  We decided to rent a small car but were unable to find acceptable rates.  We searched online for keywords such as discount Washington Heights car rental, cheap car rental and found a branch of AAMCAR called Uptown car rental right in the middle of the Heights neighborhood.  After checking for deals AAMCAR has posted online, I was able to rent a car for the day for $90!  My friend and I decided that spending $45 each made sense because we could do things at our own pace without having to worry about train and bus schedules. The garage was open for 24-hour drop offs which made things a lot easier as I didn’t want to be saddled with the car overnight.

We started our day by going to America’s only museum dedicated exclusively to medieval art, The Cloisters.  It is located in the beautiful setting of Fort Tyron Park which was gorgeous with some snow left over from the previous weekend.  After hiking through the park, we were both famished.  Next stop was Patacon Pisao for some yummy Venezuelan food.  The huge portions of delicious food left us well satisfied.  My friend then wanted to go shopping.  We had heard about the plethora of vendors selling everything from children’s clothing to refrigerators in La Plaza de Las Americas so we decided to head there.  It was sold as described.  An array of businesses selling so many different things!  It truly boggled our minds.

We decided to drop off the car after this and then go out.  When I returned the vehicle, the transaction was smooth and there were no additional charges.  There was a Shell gas station right next door so I was able to fill up the gas without any issues.  Overall, both of us were glad that we decided to rent a car to explore the Heights because the park is not very close to the subway station and we didn’t want to waste time waiting for buses or spending ridiculous amounts of money on the gypsy cabs.

UPTOWN CAR RENTAL

As a long time resident of northern Manhattan – currently in Washington Heights (previously in Inwood), I appreciate and value small businesses.  When I spend my hard earned money I want to spend it in the most impactful way.  I want to better my community. Small businesses tend to be run and managed by our neighbors and generally employ in the community.  These businesses understand that the bottom line isn’t the amount of profit that can be shipped back to wherever their corporate headquarters are located -usually out of state, in some cases outside the country!  Instead they know that the enrichment of the community as a whole is as important, if not more so, than trying to maximize every last dollar.

I bring this up because I am reminded of this every time I rent a car from AAMCAR on 181st.  As usual Danny is behind the counter – he’s quick, efficient, and friendly.   I know my car is going to be waiting for me. No delays and no hassles, I am in and out in a jiffy.  Plus their garage is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and unlike some other places there is no drop-off fee to return over night!

While I’m on the topic I should mention some of my other favorite local establishments.  If you find yourself on Fort Washington Ave you should definitely check out Jins on 181st.  And I’ll take Franks Supermarket on 187 st any day over Whole Foods.  For Dominican food you can’t go wrong with El Malecon on 175th st and Broadway.  Maybe my next post will be about all the great restaurant options along 181st.

Renting a Sports Car in NYC

mustangMy wife and I were visiting New York from England and I am a huge gearhead.  After weighing my options, I figured what better way to feed my obsession than to rent a sports car and visit the Orange County Choppers in Newburgh, NY.  I have been a huge fan of the show for a few years and our visit there did not disappoint.  Our trip started (without compass!) out on the right foot when we decided to rent a Ford Mustang from AAMCAR Car Rental on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.  This car rental was not like your typical place. It was a small, privately owned business and I was able to speak to a knowledgeable, “adult” staff who actually knew a few things about cars and bikes too!  The Mustang we rented was wonderful.  It was silver with racing stripes and let’s just say I kept it under 60 MPH the whole time. Do you sense sarcasm in my voice?  Anyway, the Orange County Choppers were amazing.  It’s a shame I didn’t get to see any members of the actual cast out there.  I did, however, get to buy a small souvenir and we made our way back to Manhattan.  The option to drop the vehicle off up until 11:30 pm at night was really helpful.  It allowed us to drive around NY and then not have to look for a parking spot or garage.  What a great day we had!  I wonder if my wife feels the same way. (HAHAHA sorry honey).

New York City Car Rental Tips and Tricks

Months of September through mid-November are some of the best times to visit New York City.  In the city, there are deals on Broadway shows, hotels, lots of other fun activities.   How about your car rental?  We hear from many customers who are interested in renting cars to travel all over the state of New York.  They want to visit Niagara Falls, Adirondacks, Poconos, Boston, etc.  Here are some tips in helping you obtain the best deal for your money.

Avoid the airport.  Rentals from off-site locations are much cheaper than the ones at the airport.  If you prefer to pick-up the car at the airport, just speak with an off-site car rental company.  We spoke with Geoffrey Smith who rented a 15 Passenger van that was delivered to LaGuardia airport from a car rental company based out of the Upper West Side of Manhattan.  He said his rental came out to be $250 less than the cost of renting one at the airport location even with including the $60 delivery fee that the rental company charged to drop-off at the airport!  The van was delivered to the airport parking lot and he called the rental car agency after landing.  He was very happy with the service and since his communication with the company was via e-mail, there were no unexpected charges.   He was right.  We recently checked the “extra” charges at LGA airport for a one day rental of a compact car; it was an additional $13.66 per day!

Brand name car rental companies have to charge you the published rate so there is hardly any room for negotiation. In New York City, there are many local car rental companies that have lower operating costs so they typically charge 10 to 25 percent less than rentals from national agencies.

Check your credit card for insurance coverage for the rental vehicle.  Most major credit cards such as American Express, MasterCard, and Visa offer car rental insurance, which saves you an average of $9-$15 per day.  Depending on how long you rent, this can be a substantial saving.

If you own your own home, your liability policy should also cover you against third party loss or damage.  Once again, do your research by contacting your homeowner’s policy and verify if this is the case.  In addition, the Personal accident coverage which offers some medical coverage in the event of an accident is secondary to primary health insurance.  So if you have health insurance, you can decline to take the one offered by the car rental company thereby avoiding any additional charges for insurance.

Reserve the car for a longer period to get a lower rate.  This may sound absurd but most systems are set up to give you a discount the longer you rent.  Of course, you don’t have to keep the car for that period but you still pay the lower rate.  Last weekend, a compact car for a 4-day rental was $299.95 but $339.95 for a 7 day rental.  We kept the car for 6 days and got the best rate with a free upgrade.  Most times when you are dealing with a local car rental company, the best things to do is pick-up the phone and speak with an agent.  Good Luck!

Spring Break Tips for Car Rental

Last year we traveled to Orlando, Florida during Spring break.  The kids got perfect marks during the first part of the school year and this was my way of rewarding them.  Each kid wanted to take a friend so at final count we ended up with 11 people.  I priced the vacation packages that included airfare, hotel and car rental and it came out to over five thousand dollars!  I was starting to feel disheartened that maybe we couldn’t afford the trip.  While discussing this with a friend, she suggested that instead of flying, maybe I should consider driving.  I started thinking, we had 4 adults who can drive so why not check out my options of renting a 12 passenger van.  I called many different places and got prices that varied wildly.  They wanted to limit the mileage, charge exorbitant rates and in general left me confused because it seemed like there were a lot of “add-ons” after the fact.  I was telling my friend this and she suggested I contact AAMCAR.  She said she rented with them on a bi-weekly basis for off-site work related meetings.  She told me to ask for the manager, Henry and he would definitely be able to give me a comparable rate.

Well,  I am glad that I called AAMCAR.  My final cost for this rental was $1600.  Henry even encouraged me to contact my American Express credit card and add premium car rental protection to the card which cost me just $25 more and saved hundreds of dollars in purchasing additional insurance from the car rental company.  He even offered to remove the last seat of the 15 passenger van so we had ample room for luggage.

After a very fun and exhausting trip, I did the calculation of the total cost of this trip.  I am happy to say that driving to Florida from NYC instead of flying, dealing with security for 7 kids cost me much less price wise and save us adults the headache.