HMGT 1101 – Perspectives in Hospitality – Spring 2015

These are only photos -the real 36 hours report is on the assignment submission link.

Olympics Training Center

Wind Walker Challenge Course

Old Chicago

The Egg and I

Whit’s End/Narnia

Enjoy some of the photos- I didn’t post all of them.

Astoria, Queens
Friday in a Summer
Farfield Inn by Marriot LGA Airport Astoria Queens -10:00 am
This hotel is convenient since it’s 2 miles west of LaGuardia Airport, 1 mile east of Astoria train station, it has free shuttle to LaGuardia Airport from 5 AM-1 AM,free hot breakfast buffet, free Internet in room, and has free parking. The location is also convenient since it’s near the main attractions of this city. The price range starts from $180 per night. The location is 45-20 Astoria Blvd, Astoria, NY 11103.

Lunch at Avenue Cafe -12:00 pm
This is an American, Mediterranean, Greek restaurant. It is very well known for its delicious crepes. For lunch you can have their Avenue club sandwich that has grilled chicken breast, bacon and american cheese, the price is $11. The must try is the Romeo and Juliet crepe that comes with bananas, strawberries and nutella, this is $9. It is located in 35-27 30th Ave.

Photo credit to Avenue Cafe official website.

Museum of the Moving Image -2:00 pm
This mission of the museum is to provide understanding, enjoyment, and appreciation of the art, history, technique, and technology of film, television, and digital media by presenting exhibitions, education programs, significant moving-image works, and interpretive programs, and collecting and preserving moving-image related artifacts. The admission is $12 for adults and $9 for students with a valid ID. It’s location is in 36-01 35 Avenue
Astoria.

Photo Credit to the official website of the Museum of the Moving Image

Photo by Peter Aaron Esto

Dinner at El Basurero -5:00pm
This restaurant is colombian and the way is set up is very unique because it has a lot of random artifacts that look interesting with a simple glance and that’s what will attract you to it. The ambiance in this restaurant is very happy and the latin music that they play is part of what makes it happy. For an appetizer you can order Basurero’s Combinacion which comes with guacamole, skin pork, variety patties, buffalo wings, black sausage, homemade sausage, small corn cake and sauce, price is $13.50. This will fill you up if you are not so hungry. However, if you still want more, something that can be recommended is Encebollado which is grilled steak with sauted onions and comes with rice and beans, this is $16.95. Its location is in 32-17 Steinway St between Broadway & 34th Ave.

Photo Credit to Urban Spoon website

Photo Credit to Urban Spoon website

Summer Waterfront Movie Nights in Astoria Park -8:30pm
In an opposite side to the parking lot of Astoria Park, a big screen is placed and movies are played here from July 28th to August 25th. People can bring their blankets and place them on the grass to be comfortable to watch some of the movies they have played such as: Despicable me, The Wizard of Oz, Dirty Dancing, among many others. The location of the park is 19th St, Queens.

Summer movie nights in Astoria Park. Photo credit: CALDC.

CAVO Nightclub -10:30pm
This is a Greek, Mediterranean night club and it always has weekly events. The admission is free and they have two large bars that seat over 20 people.They also have a dress code which makes it a little more fancy and interesting.They have beautiful fancy chandeliers and drapes , and lit candles with dim lighting in the first room when you enter.There is also an open patio in the summer and a fancy waterfall. On friday nights they have an event called The Dance Movement, where they play all sorts of music from reggaeton, old house music, new house music and old hip hop. People from many different backgrounds such as italian, greeks, latinos and more come to this place which makes it very diverse.The drink prices range from $12- $14 and $6 for a beer. The location is in 42-18 31st Avenue, Astoria.

Saturday
Breakfast at William Hallet -11:00am
This is an American Bistro and Bar. The ambiance of this place is very relaxed and casual. It is perfect to eat breakfast in its outdoor seating. A plate that can be recommended for breakfast is Country Fried Steak which comes with buttermilk biscuit, cheddar grits, scrambled eggs, and gravy, this is $15. The location is in 36-10 30th Avenue.

Photo Credit to Indie loop website

Photo Credit to William Hallet’s official website.

Street Fair in 30th avenue between 29th and 41st Streets -12:00pm
This street fair is filled with a lot of merchants who sell clothes, bags, watches,and more. There are also different types of food that you can try such as toasted corn, hot dogs, halal food, and anything else that you can see along the eleven blocks. The price ranges from what you buy but it is usually very cheap and there are always sales. This fair lasts until 6pm.

Brunch at Grand Cafe Lounge -2:00pm
This is a Mediterranean restaurant where they have a pre-fixe brunch menu that is $13 which includes a complimentary drink which can be mimosa, bloody mary, champagne, bellini or juice. Some omelettes that can be recommended for brunch are Eggs Benedict that comes with Canadian bacon, on an English muffin, topped w/Hollandaise sauce, or Mediterranean that comes with feta, tomato, & onion. The location of this place is in 37-01 30th Avenue
Astoria.

Photo Credit to Aplez website

Astoria Park Festival -3:00pm
This festival occurs during the month of June at the parking lot of Astoria Park and it lasts for about five days. In this event you will find a lot of fun rides and a lot of friendly people. The admission is free and the tickets for the rides are $20 per 20 tickets and each ride requires from 3-5. Each ticket is $3.

Photo Credit to Bridge & Carnival by DRodino via the We Heart Astoria Flickr group

Astoria Pool -4:00pm
This is an outdoor pool that is located in the middle of Astoria Park. It has a beautiful view to the Triborough Bridge and it can hold up to 3000 people. This pool is open only during the summer, from the end of June until the beginning of September. The admission is free. However, there are rules that must be followed such as bringing a swimming suit and a combination lock. Do not bring food or other valuable items such as jewelry or credit cards.

Photo Credit to NYC Department of Parks & Recreation

Dinner at Flo Lounge Restaurant -8:00pm
This is an American, Asian Fusion restaurant. The ambience of this place on saturday nights is great, they have a live DJ who plays house music, reggaeton, music from everywhere. This makes the environment more upbeat and great to hang out with friends. Some dishes that can be recommended are: 30th avenue sushi roll, which has Shrimp Tempura & Avocado Roll topped with Spicy Tuna & Spicy Mayo over Eel Sauce, this is $17. Fettuccine Carbonara that comes with Applewood Smoked Bacon, Onions and Aged Parmesan in a Light Sauce, this is $16. Also, try their dessert Chocolate Lava cake which is $9.50. The location is 37-20 30th Avenue.

Photo Credit to Trip Advisor website.

Note: Some of the activities listed above may not accurately start at the time placed.

References:
1. Farfield Inn by Marriot LGA Airport Astoria Queens: http://hotelguides.com/hotels/new-york/astoria/160804.html

2. Avenue Cafe: http://www.avenuecafenyc.com/cms/?post_type=product

3. Museum of the Moving Image: http://www.movingimage.us/about/ contact

4. El Basurero: http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/el-basurero-2/menu

5. Summer Waterfront Movie Nights at Astoria Park: http://weheartastoria.com/2014/06/summer-waterfront-movie-nights-in-astoria-park-2014/

6. CAVO Nightclub: http://www.cavoastoria.com

7. William Hallet: http://www.williamhallet.com/menu.html

8. Street Fair in 30th avenue: http://weheartastoria.com/2015/03/astoria-and-lic-street-fairs-2015/

9. Grand Cafe Lounge: http://www.grandcafelounge.com/

10. Astoria Park Festival: http://centralastoria.org/events/2014-carnival

11. Astoria Pool: http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/astoria-park/facilities/outdoor-pools/astoria-pool

12. Flo Lounge Restaurant: http://www.flocafeny.com/

36hours in Nassau Bahamas

FRIDAY

1. 8am Breakfast at Graycliff                                                                                                               This restaurant has four air-conditioned dining rooms and an outdoor dining area. It’s perfect place to start the day in Bahamas Nassau. Atmosphere is beautiful, charming, like being in a wonderful home, with cozy piano bar.                      
2.   10am Parasailing and beach time at Jukanoo Beach.

   Parasailling is one of the fastest growing sports in the nation, and you can join in the fun.You can Enjoy the exquisite Bahamian scenery of Nassau from 400 feet above the sea on this parasail adventure tour. Parasailing its a the best thing! Unforgettable experience.

   Jukanoo beach is A beautiful beach located in the Harbor area. There are plenty of locations for easy access to beverages le the Bikini Hut. The beach can be especially crowded when cruise ships are in port, but it is a lovely beach with nice views of paradise island. A lot of people like it , because it is open to the public and free . Rental chairs, towels and hammocks are available . Just a 10 minute walk from downtown . price : 75$

3. 1pm  Lunch at Seagrapes

With its views of Seagrapes Lagoon, teeming with colorful tropical fish. This buffet/restaurant is fun for everone. Seagrapes impresses with bountiful breakfast buffet , amazing lunch which and dinner set-ups which include Bahamian specialities.                           

4. 3pm Check in Atlantis – Royal Towers Hotel.

After check in you can go for a  walk around a resort.

5. 5pm The Heritage Museum of the Bahamas

Excellent display of items from the history of the Bahamas. This museum is filled with amazing artifacts from the 1400s forward. There is everything from swords to furniture, cooking pots to armor. The history of the Bahamas is rich and this museum shares the wonder of their history.

Price : $12

6. 8pm Dinner at DUNE Restaurant

Perched atop a white sand bluff and offering a dramatic ocean view . Stunning spot on the beach! This restaurant is located at the Ocean Club on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. Chef Jean-Georges’ acclaimed restaurant serves an innovative blend of French-Asian fare, flavored with herbs from its own organic garden.  Cocktails, fine vintage wines, and champagnes are served throughout the day at the adjacent beachfront bar.

7. 10:30 pm  – The Daiquiry Shack Bar

The Daiquiri Shack is located  on Cable Beach. This place is absolutely wonderful ! The drinks are great , they are made with fresh ingredients and on the spot. A friendly staff, great atmosphere ,good music and reasonable prices make the Daquiry Shack a must visit.

SATURDAY

8. 8am breakfast at  Shoal Restaurant

This restaurant serves true home-style Bahamian cooking in a fantastic casual and friendly atmosphere.                                                                                                                                                9. 10am Dolphin Cay

Dolphin Cay offers an intimate and one-of-a-kind Atlantis resort experience. Swimming with dolphins it is awesome experience! Well worth the money.

10. 12 pm lunch at MosaicSample some of the most flavorful dishes in the Bahamas and this high-end buffet. The restaurant’s friendly, attentive staff, tranquil atmosphere and breathtaking décor make it standout on the island, while its myriad of Mediterranean-influenced dishes and action cooking” stations, which enable diners to play chef , make it a trie mosaic of creative cuisine. Best of the buffet awards go to the fresh seafood dishes, mouthwatering churrasco and sweet dessert crepes.                                                                           

11. 2pm water activities in Atlantis Paradise

 Aquaventure, Atlantis Paradise Island’s water park, is a one-of-a-kind 141-acre waterscape with complimentary admission for overnight guests at Atlantis. This non-stop aquatic thrill ride features over twenty million gallons of water, incredible Atlantean-themed towers, thrilling high-speed water slides, a mile-long river ride with rolling rapids and wave surges, 20 swimming areas. Aquaventure is connected by a lush, tropical environment that is both immersive and interconnected, and perfect for all vacationers, whether young and older. The water park offers an extreme level of excitement and delivers an “aqua” adventure unlike any other.

12. 6pm- dinner at Blue Lagoon Restaurant.

Blue Lagoon its a beautiful restaurant with tasteful nautical décor . It is located by the sea. The menu covers all the bases , offering both Bahamian favorites and traditional Continetal dishes. Among the most popular options are conch fitters ,conch salad ,grilled shrimp and seafood filled crepes. Desserts are ostly fruit-based . Ideal place for a quiet dinner.                                                                                     

Hospitality is a derivative of the French word hospice which means to provide care or shelter for travelers. In the 17th century coffee houses came about in Europe and the most famous is Cafe Florian which is still open today.
After the French Revolution most chefs lost their jobs since they had worked for the upperclass and they lost most of what belonged to them. This cause a large number of chefs to immigrate to the United States and most of them ended up in the state of Louisiana.
The hospitality industry services are intangible, guests cannot have a “sample” of the service they are interested in. There’s also no days off in the hospitality industry and it runs on shifts which goes beyond the average work day.

I studied Business Administration at Lehman College for two years before deciding that although I do have an interest in Business, pursuing a degree was not the right thing for me. Now my goal is to get a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality management and possibly a PhD in Psychology, but that would be years from now.

Right now the experience I have career-wise is retail, I’ve been working retail for over five years and it is something I think I am really good at. What I would really love to accomplish though is being an executive chef and owning a couple restaurants, the first being a gastro pub.

I have the strength to motivate people which cause me to motivate myself as well. I tend to also take a leadership stance sometimes, but that could just be my needing to be in control all the time.

I do have a love of learning new things, it could be the simplest or most random thing I will research it so I can have a better understanding, so I think that would be an interest that enhances my professional attributes.