The New England Aquarium (Private)

Our delicious Brunch menu includes all of the following: Smoked Salmon with Sliced Tomato, Onion & Capers Croissants & Assorted Bagels with Cream Cheese, Butter & Jams Granola & Yogurt Parfaits Fresh Sliced Summer Fruits Assorted Muffins & Danishes Smoked Turkey with Bacon & Cheddar Wrap Quiches: [spinach & mushroom] [ham & onion] Mini Brioche Sandwiches: [watercress, cucumber & goat cheese] [black forest ham with brie & honey mustard] Tea/Coffee Service Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice Unlimited Champagne (did someone say mimosas?)   Shearwater is a classic Newport-style schooner yacht, only recently recognized as a national landmark in 2009. The vessel was built by Rice Brother Corporation in East Boothbay, Maine, back in a time when yachting was a rare combination of elegance and adventure; Rice Bros. were well known for building luxury pleasure yachts and produced some 4,000 hulls over a period of 64 years. The keel was laid down on January 4, 1929 and a news clip from the Boothbay Register reflects alongside a photograph "Tyler Hodgon at the old Tide Mill is getting out timbers for the schooner to be built at Rice’s. Vessel to be built of native white oak." Traditionally built from hand-hewn native white oak, she was the last boat to be constructed at that yard - likely due to the ensuing Great Depression brought on by the Stock Market Crash that occurred later that autumn. East Boothbay was a small coastal town with shipbuilding being its only industry. About 40 workmen were employed for the construction of SHEARWATER. Her designer Theodore Donald Wells was born in Hudson Falls, N Y on October 22, 1875. He was a naval architect and marine engineer, a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers and also the Institute of Naval Architects London. His education included post-graduate work at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. He began his career as a member of the firm Herreshoff and Wells, N. Y. City in 1902. Working with Herreshoff no doubt had an influence on his designs, which bear similarities to many of the famous Herreshoff designed yachts of that time. From 1903 to 1907 he worked for Wintringham and Wells and then began practicing his profession under his own name. Mr. Wells joined the Navy Department in March 1917 and became Superintending Constructor of the Baltimore District U. S. N. Notable yachts designed and constructed under his supervision are "Viking" a 272 foot steel motor yacht built for George F. Baker in 1929 by Newport News and "Karina" a three masted schooner built for Robert E. Tod in 1932 by Staten Island Shipbuilding. Mr. Tod was a well-known offshore yachtsman as was his former yacht ‘Thistle", which competed in the Emperors Cup ocean race. SHEARWATER was launched on May 4, 1929 and photographs in the Boothbay Register reflect her graceful and elegant lines. Her first Captain, Leon Esterbrook of Edgarton, MA, arrived to take charge of the fitting out. Her owner Charles E Dunlap was a member of the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, Oyster Bay, NY and this became SHEARWATER’s first homeport after her completion in late September 1929. It was there in Oyster Bay that she first started to thrill those who sailed in luxury aboard her and those who were privileged to crew her on race day. Since her launching and documentation in Lloyd’s Register of American Yachts in 1929, she has had a colorful history and has been carefully maintained and restored to standards that few contemporary vessels are able to match and is truly a piece of American Maritime History. On November 7, 1942 SHEARWATER was requisitioned by the War Shipping Administration and became a member of The United States Coast Guard’s Coastal Picket Patrol during World War Two. She was painted gray and bore the numbers CG67004. Based at Little Creek, Virginia she patrolled the waters east of the Chesapeake Bay entrance and south towards Cape Hatteras. Her skipper during that period reflected on how they used their free time while out on submarine patrol to race against other yachts and in his own words "sailed in tandem with the schooner Lord Jim, racing in and out of port, up and down the east coast and winning." She was designed and built as a gaff rigged schooner but during this period was changed to a Marconi rig. She carries over 2,550 square feet while under full sail. A true veteran world cruiser, she first transited the Panama Canal in July 1946 and in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s completed a two and a half-year global circumnavigation. In December 1971 Mrs. John B. Thayer of Rosemont, wife of a former trustee and treasurer, donated SHEARWATER to the University of Pennsylvania’s Institute of Environmental Medicine. She was used by the university as a laboratory for research on physiological responses to the stresses of living and working underwater. Captained by James Shearson, she was fitted with compressors, generators, monitoring instruments and a small decompression chamber. She has participated in many Ancient Mariner and Classic yacht races in U S waters as well as racing in the Bay of Islands in New Zealand while on her circumnavigation in the early 1980’s. It is rumored she was once dismasted in the famous Newport to Bermuda race. She was last raced by the current owners in San Diego in May 1995 in the American Schooner Cup and finished second overall. She entered the yacht charter industry in 1966 whilst on the West Coast sailing to the Channel Islands and was again used to generate income to keep her shipshape while owned by the University of Pennsylvania. During the chartering industry’s infancy in the Caribbean, SHEARWATER was known as the " Queen of the Fleet". Today she continues this tradition offering the most unique sailing experience and has passed rigid Coast Guard inspections and can carry up to 49 passengers. We welcome you to join us for an excellent opportunity to experience the ambiance of a vintage sailing vessel while delighting in the splendors of The Manhattan sky-line, the Statue of Liberty or the beauty of the oceans beyond.

Some of the sights you will see: The Statue of Liberty The famed gift from France that served as the symbol of America to millions of immigrants and citizens alike was erected in New York Harbor in 1886. The Brooklyn Bridge Completed in 1883, the iconic Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States, and the view from underneath is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. The World Trade Centre Site See history in the making as the construction cranes rise from the World Trade Centre site where, once completed, One World Trade Centre will be 1,776 feet tall! The Empire State Building Built during the American Great Depression in 1930, this astounding building has 102 floors and 6,500 windows, and is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

AT THE TOP Take your time and take it all in. It's a dramatic view of New York City you just can't get anywhere else. Day or night, three floors of indoor and outdoor decks offer stunning panoramas of the city's energy, wonder, and beauty.  RADIANCE WALL Created by Swarovski, "Radiance" is the first of its kind, a breathtaking wall of glass panels, mouth-blown glass, crystal clusters, and fiber-optic lighting. Look closely - is something looking back at you? BREEZEWAY Step into a room with a mind of its own. You'll be assigned a color and lights of that color will follow your every move. It's great fun for young and old alike.  INDOOR SPACE On the 67th floor, relax in comfortable seating and enjoy views in any weather through the floor-to-ceiling windows. You'll find a Gift Shop here as well as on the 69th floor.  OUTDOOR VIEWING Use the binoculars to explore the unobstructed views through glass panels on the 67th and 69th floors, and in the open air on the 70th floor. On all three levels, you can have your picture taken by a Kodak pro. Retrieve it as you exit and share it on topoftherocknyc.com ​ SHOP & SHARE Pick up a souvenir of your time at the Top, or a gift for those back home. Mementos of this extraordinary destination are available to fit any budget and elight any age. Gift shops are found on the 67th and 69th floors, in addition to the main Gift Shop in the Concourse as you exit.  GIFT SHOPS Pick up a souvenir of your time at the Top, or a gift for those back home. Mementos of this extraordinary destination are available to fit any budget and delight any age. Gift shoppes are found on the 67th and 69th floors, in addition to the main Gift Shop in the Concourse as you exit.  FAQ How long can visitors stay on the observation deck?  There is no time limit as to how long guests can stay on the observation decks during operating hours. The average length of stay is about 45 minutes to an hour. Top of the Rock is a three level observation deck that consists of the 67th, 69th, and 70th floors of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Total surface area of all the decks together is approximately 55,000 square-feet (5,110 m2). The upper deck is 850 feet (260 m) above street level.   Are there restrooms located at Top of the Rock? Yes, restrooms can be accessed once inside the attraction. Can I visit the mezzanine level exhibit after I visit the observation decks? Due to crowd flow purposes, the pre-show exhibit can only be viewed before visiting the observation decks. Is there an outdoor viewing area? The 67th and 69th floors include outdoor terraces which feature fully transparent, safety glass. The 70th floor, the uppermost level, provides a completely open air, unobstructed 360-degree view of New York City and beyond. Is Top of the Rock weather dependent? Top of the Rock is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, despite weather conditions. In the case of inclement weather, portions of the deck may be closed for safety reasons. Guests will be advised about weather conditions and visibility prior to entry. Top of the Rock will not refund tickets in the case of inclement weather, however we will reissue your ticket for a future time and date. Is the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and/or Skating Rink visible from the Top of the Rock? Unfortunately, no. However, both are easily accessible from the Concourse retail shop where guests exit the elevators after their visit. Is Top of the Rock wheelchair accessible? Top of the Rock is in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This includes full wheelchair accessibility.  Are strollers allowed? Strollers are permitted, however they must be collapsible. Can I bring tripods? What about professional video cameras? We do not allow tripods or professional video cameras on the observation deck. Are specific items prohibited from entering the building and/or observation deck? Items that present a danger to the safety of visitors and employees will not be permitted in the building or on the observation decks. These items include, but are not limited to, weapons, lighters, glass bottles and flammable substances. For more information, please contact 212-698-2000. Can I bring food and beverage to Top of the Rock? We do not allow food or beverages on the observation decks. Do you offer any special treatment for marriage proposals? Thank you for considering Top of the Rock as the location for your proposal. While we wish you the best of luck, we do not make special arrangements for proposals.  

Want an entirely different NightLife experience? Get involved in the VIP nightlife Tour Tickets include: Express entry into the Academy and access to NightLife event 30-minute private reception and two complimentary cocktails per guest Complimentary light bites  A one-hour, behind-the-scenes tour with private viewing of the Vault—home to highlights of the Academy's renowned gem and mineral collection Interactions with Academy researchers in the Project Lab A reserved pass for the 8:30 pm Planetarium show Anyone yearning to geek out inside a multimillion-dollar science museum with the added bonus of booze should head to Golden Gate  Park on Thursdays for NightLife at the California Academy of Sciences. Since 2009, the Academy has stayed open late once a week to give the 21+ crowd full run of the place, with an ever-changing series of themed events and several temporary bars spread throughout the gigantic building. Entertainment / Music Multiple DJs and/or live bands performing in a variety of styles tied to the night’s theme, from house to swing to everything else under the sun. One hundred thousand square-foot museum packed with incredible exhibits, aquariums, a replica of a rain forest, and the largest all-digital projection screen on the planet in the planetarium. Food / Miscellaneous Food stands offer a handful of snacks and entrées that can change weekly but usually include items like pork buns, chicken with fries, and vegetarian dishes. Private lounge available for rental. What to Wear / Dress Code Casual to trendy: everything from white t-shirts and jeans to dolled up duds. Hot Nights / When to Go Only open on Thursdays, but patrons should arrive early to avoid the lines and to check out the rainforest, which closes at 20.00.

There is a security check for entry into the Sainte Chapelle. Sharp objects are not allowed (corkscrews, Swiss Army knives etc.) and may be confiscated. We will make every effort to minimize disruptions to our tours caused by third-party employees We are not responsible for any loss associated with events out of our immediate control. Comfortable walking shoes are advised. There are 422 steps to the top of the towers at Notre Dame. The stairway is vey narrow in areas with small windows. If these conditions make you feel unconfortable you can skip this part of the tour. All of our tours operate rain or shine.        

The exhibition, in association with EON Productions Ltd, has been the most successful in the history of the London Film Museum. Originally scheduled to close in March 2015, it features over 100 original artefacts spanning all 24 Bond films, including vehicles, miniatures, concept art and storyboards.  Public demand for the exhibition was so consistently high that the London Film Museum management decided to keep it open indefinitely. London Film Museum Founder and CEO, Jonathan Sands said: “Bond in Motion far exceeded all our expectations and we’re delighted with the public’s reaction to it. It’s proved a huge hit with families, Bond lovers, movie fans and car nuts alike.