FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 16, 2007
No. 419
www.nyc.gov  

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, NYC & Company and the Times Square Alliance today announced Dining in the District, a special weeklong dining program intended to attract New Yorkers and visitors to restaurants in the Theatre District area that have been affected by the Broadway stagehand strike. The program, which kicks off Saturday, November 17, and runs through Sunday, November 25, will offer a 15% discount on lunch or dinner to all patrons at more than 25 participating restaurants. The Mayor made the announcement this morning on the weekly radio show “Live from City Hall with Mayor Mike and John Gambling.”

“Dining in the District is a great opportunity for New Yorkers and visitors to enjoy some of the best restaurants in the Theatre District,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “While we hope that an agreement will be reached as soon as possible, I encourage New Yorkers and visitors to take advantage of this great deal and help support restaurants that have been affected by the strike.”

“NYC & Company’s Restaurant Week has become a mainstay of New York City’s restaurant scene,” said NYC & Company Chairman Jonathan M. Tisch. “It’s great that we were able to react quickly to local businesses in need of support, and we’re pleased to bring together more than 25 great restaurants in the Theatre District area for a similar dining program that will provide a boost to the neighborhood.”

“We are pleased to join with the Times Square Alliance to create Dining in the District,” said NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta. “New York City is home to many wonderful restaurants, and we hope that this partnership will encourage both residents and visitors to explore the fantastic dining options in the neighborhood.”

“Every cloud has a silver lining, and in this case it’s the chance to get a great deal at some great Times Square restaurants,” said Times Square Alliance President Tim Tompkins. “Come on down, and afterwards stop by any one of the many live entertainment venues still open – jazz clubs like Iridium, comedy clubs like Carolines and live performance halls like Town Hall, the Nokia Theatre, BB King’s, Hard Rock and Roseland, to name a few.”

Dining in the District offers a 15% discount on a lunch or dinner bill at more than 25 restaurants from November 17 to November 25; the offer will not be available on Thanksgiving Day, November 22. Participating restaurants are located between 41st and 55th Streets and between Fifth and Ninth Avenues, including all of Restaurant Row on 46th Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues.

A list of participating restaurants is available online at www.nyc.gov, on NYC & Company’s website, www.nycvisit.com, the Times Square Alliance web site, www.timessquarenyc.org. and through 311. Information is also available at the City’s Official Visitor Information Center, located at 810 Seventh Avenue between 52nd and 53rd Streets and at visitor kiosks in Harlem (253 West 125th Street), the Financial District (26 Wall Street), City Hall Park (Broadway at Park Row) and Chinatown (at the intersection of Canal, Walker and Baxter Streets) as well as at the Times Square Information Center on Seventh Avenue between 46th and 47th Streets. In addition, hotel concierges will have information on the program to disseminate to visitors.

The following restaurants are participating in Dining in the District: ‘21’ Club, Bangkok House Restaurant, Barbetta, The Blue Point, Bombay Palace, Bond 45, Brazil Brazil Restaurant, Brooklyn Diner–Times Square, Broadway Joe Steakhouse, Charley O's (713 Eighth Avenue and 1611 Broadway), El Azteca Mexican Restaurant, Etcetera Etcetera Restaurant, Kyotofu, La Rivista Ristorante, Le Tre Venezie Restaurant, Metro Deli & Ranch 1, Murals on 54, Nocello, Osteria del Circo, Pergola Des Artistes, Rene Pujol Restaurant Cooperative, Restaurant Charlotte, Scarlatto Restaurant, Sofia's Restaurant, Trattoria Dopo Teatro and ViceVersa Restaurant.

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Contact:  
Stu Loeser/Matthew Kelly - (212) 788-2958
Kimberly Spell (NYC & Company) - (212) 484-1270