Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
New York City Marathon
An amazing 30,000 entrants
run the 26.2-mile (42-km) mara-
thon that starts on Staten Island,
takes in all five boroughs, and
finishes in Central Park. New
Yorkers line the route, cheering
and offering water to the runners.
d
1st Avenue above 59th Street is a
good viewpoint
•
Map H5
•
10:45am
1st Sun in Nov
Top 10 Sports Events
U.S. Open Tennis
Championships
The last Grand Slam of the
year.
d
USTA National Tennis
Center, Queens • Aug-Sep
New York Yankees and
Mets Baseball
Perennial rivals compete in
America's favorite pastime.
d
Yankee Stadium, Bronx; Shea
Stadium, Queens • Apr-Sep
Macy's Thanksgiving Day
Parade
New Yorkers take to the streets
and America watches on televi-
sion as cartoon character balloons,
marching bands, lavish TV and
movie star-laden floats, and the
dancing Rockettes announce the
start of the Christmas season.
Santa Claus in his sleigh is the
last float.
d
Central Park West at 77th
Street along Broadway to 34th Street
•
Map G2
•
9am Thanksgiving Day
New York Knicks
Basketball
Fast-paced games that always
sell out. d
Madison Square
Garden, 7th Avenue • Oct-Apr
New York Liberty
Women's professional
basketball.
d
Madison Square
Garden, 7th Avenue • Jun-Aug
New York Jets and
Giants Football
Both teams play in New Jersey;
tickets are scarce.
d
Giants
Stadium, New Jersey • Sep-Dec
Christmas Tree Lighting
Ceremony
America's tallest Christmas tree,
festooned with miles of lights,
stands next to the skating rink in
Rockefeller Center. Trumpeting
angel statues in the Channel
Gardens and animated windows
in 5th Avenue department stores
add to the holiday spirit.
d
Rockefeller Center
•
Map J3
•
1st
week in Dec
New York Rangers
Hockey
Played on ice, requiring speed
and skill.
d
Madison Square
Garden, 7th Avenue • Sep-Apr
Millrose Games
America's fastest runners
compete in this indoor track
meet.
d
Madison Square Garden,
7th Avenue • Feb
Wood Memorial
Race featuring Kentucky
Derby contenders. d
Acqueduct
Raceway, Queens • Mid-Apr
New Year's Eve
Ball Drop
Crowds begin gathering hours
before, ready to cheer when a
giant, illuminated, Waterford
crystal ball lowered at midnight
marks the official start of the
New Year. Other “First Night”
events include dancing at Grand
Central Station or the Empire
State Building and midnight
fireworks in Central Park.
d
Times
Square
•
Map K3
•
Midnight Dec 31
Belmont Stakes
The last of racing's “triple
crown.”
d
Belmont Park, Long
Island • 2nd Sat in Jun
New York/New Jersey
MetroStars
The growing popularity of
soccer draws devoted fans.
d
Giants Stadium, New Jersey.
• Apr-Oct
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