New York Adventure Club

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1985340770689

As New York City bounced back from the depths of the horrific fiscal crisis of the 1970s, organized crime saw a prime opportunity for big money to be made — and boy did they capitalize. In only a couple of years, a handful of crime families expanded their operation from infiltrating construction industry worker unions to a monopoly of the ready-mix concrete business. So how did it end? This is the true story of how the Sicilian Mafia (aka Cosa Nostra) took advantage of NYC's building boom in the 1980s and gained more influence, power, and cash than they ever had before — and what the U.S. Government did to stop it.

Join New York Adventure Club as we explore the rise and fall of "The Concrete Club," an organized crime syndicate in New York City that flourished during the city's fiscal recovery of the 1980s.

Led by NYC Tour Guide Gary Dennis, our deep dive into New York City's mafia rings of the '80s — and the dramatic criminal trial that brought it all to an end — will include:

• The rise of organized crime in America
• A discussion around the five mafia families that made up The Concrete Club
• The first big dent in the NYC mafia's power structure at the height of their influence
• The development and application of the RICO Act, and how it gave the U.S. Government the tools it needed to dismantle New York's crime families
• Rare photos and stories of the mafia family members, hangouts, and trial

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Gary — any and all questions about organized crime in NYC are welcomed and encouraged!
Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay for one week.
See you there, virtually!

*Immediately upon registering, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar
**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you're using the latest version of your internet browser
***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week
****If the event has already passed, but it's been less than a week, you can still register for it on our website's active replay section!

About Gary
"I am a native New Yorker, NY subway aficionado, and product of an insanely competitive family of "know it alls". My parents, younger brothers, and I all love New York City history, and to get some parental attention I had to be historically correct and entertaining at the same time.
"I love this city and all its peculiarities, and I love sharing it with newcomers, returning visitors or native New Yorkers— I'll tell you these and other fascinating things you never knew about this amazing place I call home because 'there are 8 million stories in the naked city' and I will share with you as many as possible."

Testimonials
"So many stories - I don't know how he keeps it all straight!" -Jessica
"Thorough history of organized crime in New York" -Linda
"The presenter has an incredible wealth of knowledge!" -Lisa
"The speaker was very knowledgeable on NYC mafia history" -Gary
"great presenter so good in delivery and really keeps you interested and entertained. liked the pics of places and people both in the past and current sites of the buildings" -Noelle
"I love the history, cultural context. The crime scene photos were crazy to look at, but I have criminal justice and law background, research experience, so I wasn't as squeamish as I think the average person would be." -Maggie
"I'm very intrigued by the Mafia and found this interesting" -Mary Beth
"The breadth of information covered. The presenter covered nearly a century!" -Marina
"I thoroughly enjoyed the presenter's style and the depth of his knowledge. Really very entertaining. The time flew by." -Chantel
"Best one I’ve seen. Love Gary’s tours" -Barbara
"I will sign up for ANY webinar hosted by Gary Dennis. Gary's presentations are so interesting and entertaining. He's a NY treasure. Get him to host more webinars!" -Diane
"Gary has an incredible wealth of knowledge and stories. He presents in a way that keeps listeners engaged" -Jeffrey
"Great presenter, interesting, fun and entertaining" -Robert
"The depth of information presented! Full of facts!" -Patricia
"Presenter was extremely knowledgeable and provided excellent slides and commentary." -Shirley
"The moderator was very knowledgeable and entertaining." -Frances
"The guide was super informative and his depth of knowledge amazing" -Fiona
"Again the speaker is very knowledgeable." -Robert
"I have loved every webinar that is performed by Gary! This was great!" -Wendy
"This was so informative and interesting." -Lee
"Gary did an amazing job as always! So informative & entertaining, & his research was so incredibly thorough. Loved all the photos & back stories!" -Mary
"The Instructor Gary shared a ton of information-talked for 2 hours straight in an interesting way without even taking a sip of water...super focused." -Marlene
"Wealth of knowledge." -Craig
"Very detailed and informative content." -Fanny
"Lecturer was very interesting" -Carolyn
"The amount of content was great" -Douglas
"Lots of great information!" -Mary Anne
"Good history of the mafia and its timeline. Wowza photos! This was a good webinar. My thanks to the presenter." -Betsy
"Gary sounds like a real New Yorker and he has obviously done a lot of research on this topic." -Ellen
"Knowledgeable presenter. Fast paced. Content was so rich that it could have spammed two sessions." -Linda
"Highly informative. A truly fascinating world; thank you for the presentation." -Patricia
"I had no idea that the mob had gone through so many iterations in the past century." -Julie

Disclaimer
By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.
Categories: Virtual, Moments in History

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1985147228800

London is a city where royal tradition, historic architecture, and vibrant neighborhoods come together to create one of the world’s most fascinating cultural capitals. But what stories lie behind the palaces, streets, and markets that have shaped this global metropolis for centuries? Get ready to journey through London’s iconic sights, rich history, and colorful boroughs in a series that brings its character and charm vividly to life.

Join New York Adventure Club for a four-part series exploring the historic locales, traditions, and landmarks that define London. In Part Two: The Royal Quarter, we’ll step into the ceremonial heart of the capital to explore the places where royal pageantry, political power, and enduring traditions continue to shape British life.

Led by tour guide Kelsey Betzelberger, this experience — featuring plenty of firsthand photo and video walkthroughs, intriguing anecdotes, and expert insights — will include:

• Buckingham Palace — the official London residence of the British monarch, whose grand façade and sweeping forecourt have served as the stage for royal ceremonies, historic celebrations, and iconic balcony appearances
• The Royal Mews — one of the world’s finest working stables, home to the beautifully maintained royal carriages and the Windsor Grey horses that pull them during state occasions and coronations
• The King’s Gallery — rotating exhibitions from the Royal Collection showcasing remarkable paintings, decorative arts, and treasures gathered by monarchs across centuries
• Afternoon tea traditions — the story behind one of Britain’s most beloved rituals, complete with delicate finger sandwiches, warm scones with clotted cream and jam, and beautifully crafted pastries served alongside fragrant teas
• Westminster Abbey & Big Ben — the historic heart of British ceremonial life, where coronations, royal weddings, and state occasions unfold beside one of the world’s most recognizable clock towers

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Kelsey — any and all questions are welcomed and encouraged!
Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay through one week after the entire series concludes.
See you there, virtually!

*Immediately upon registering, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar
**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you're using the latest version of your internet browser
***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week after the series finale
****If the event has already passed, but it's been less than a week since the series finale, you can still register for it on our website's active replay section!

A Walk Through London Series
Part 1: South Bank & Kensington (Thursday, April 9 @ 1:00pm ET)
Part 2: The Royal Quarter (Thursday, April 16 @ 1:00pm ET)
Part 3: The Old City & Tower Bridge (Thursday, April 23 @ 1:00pm ET)
Part 4: The Creative Districts (Thursday, April 30 @ 1:00pm ET)

About Kelsey
I'm Kelsey, from Explore with Kelsey, a passionate tour guide and expatriate opera singer originally from Chicago. With Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Northwestern University, I've traveled to 50 countries, and lived in Austria, Germany, Italy, Croatia, France, England, The Netherlands, and now Valencia, Spain, where I'm happily settled with my husband and our two cats. My mission is to share my love for exploration and cultural discovery with my fellow travelers, igniting curiosity and fostering a deeper appreciation for the world's wonders.

Disclaimer
By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.
Categories: Virtual, Neighborhoods

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1984983218240

What do Rihanna, Anne Hathaway, Reese Witherspoon, and Crazy Rich Asians all have in common? Tucked away on the 7th floor of a building in the heart of the New York City Garment Center is a century-old business that has created fabric flowers for everyone including A-list celebrities and film & television productions. Now's your chance to visit the historic facility where they're all made, one individual flower at a time.

Join New York Adventure Club for a private exploration of M&S Schmalberg, a fourth-generation family-owned business in Manhattan's Garment District that has been hand-making custom fabric flowers for over 100 years.

Led by one of the company owners, our unique experience with the last custom flower maker in New York City will include:

• An overview of the artificial flora industry, and how fast fashion and offshoring have affected the niche fashion craft
• The history of M&S Schmalberg, from brothers Morris and Sam Schmalberg starting the business in 1916, to becoming the premier fabric flower makers for top fashion designers including Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren, and Marc Jacobs
• A private tour of the historic factory to see the fabric flower process from beginning to end — from cutting out the fabrics in a myriad of different designs, to hand assembling petals into tulips, carnations, or other varieties
• A live demonstration by the company's veteran artisans of the century-old cutting machines and custom-made hydraulic presses still in operation

Afterward, you'll have the opportunity to shop for your own custom-made M&S Schmalberg fabric flowers (at a steep discount), and even go home with a stylish piece of history!

Click here to read a featured article of M&S Schmalberg in The New York Times!

See you there!

*This experience is only conducted on weekdays when the factory is in operation

**Guests are encouraged to bring photos of clothes or dresses they want to pair with a fabric flower so the M&S Schmalberg staff can assist with finding the perfect match after the tour concludes

Testimonials
"The event was so much more that I expected! Not only did we get to see the actual steps (and equipment) to make BEAUTUFUL silk flowers, but we got to hear about a family’s history and how the business came to be. I learned so much. Walking home last night, I passed a store on the UES than had some silk (or otherwise) flowers strewn in its window. Thanks to the instruction from Adam Brand, I was easily able to identify them as NOT M&S Schmalberg’s flowers. I didn’t realize how many of their lovely flowers I’ve already seen on favorite TV shows and runways and galas. Thank you!" -Linda

"The owner giving the tour, the family story, and seeing the workroom. Super interesting." -Kala

"Adam is so passionate about the business, the heritage and present and future. He was fantastic." -Dena

"This was so special! It's rare to see inside a family owned factory like this, especially in NYC." -Justin

"Loved that they took the time to let us into their private workspace. Interesting and beautiful creations!" -Margaret

"Resonate tour and history of a vintage business still operating." -Gabriella

"A rare look inside a historic NYC industry." -Jerry
"The opportunity to see a working factory. Guide had lots of stories about his family and the business and was willing to allow photos." -Meryl

"One of the very best trips I’ve ever taken with you. The machines they’ve used for a hundred years still in use today was fascinating. Completely authentic — workers making flowers as we walked through. A trip that truly surpassed expectations. Nice shopping opportunity at the end too!" -Deb

Disclaimer
Event takes place rain or shine.

By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1985449445739

Did you know that one of the world’s most prestigious truffle companies has a flagship presence right here in New York City? For more than 170 years, the Urbani family has set the global standard for sourcing and sharing Italy’s most coveted culinary treasure. Now, for the first time, they’re opening their doors for an immersive, one-of-a-kind experience where you’ll get up close and personal with truffles — from classroom insight to hands-on discovery and, of course, tasting.

Join New York Adventure Club for an exclusive evening inside The Urbani Truffle Lab NYC, where expert storytelling, interactive exploration, and curated tastings reveal the extraordinary world of truffles.

Led by the expert team at Urbani Truffles — stewards of a seven-generation Italian truffle legacy and leaders in the global truffle industry — our intimate after-hours experience will include:

• An expert-led deep dive into truffles — what they are, how they’re foraged, and why specific regions of Italy produce distinct varieties
• The fascinating history and global rise of truffles — from ancient Mediterranean lore and truffle hunters to modern cultivation efforts and today’s international market
• A guided tasting of truffle-infused bites and chocolates, exploring aroma, flavor intensity, and the craftsmanship behind preserving this delicate ingredient
• A hands-on examination of fresh truffles covering import and storage logistics, grading and sizing standards, quality testing through aroma and firmness, cleaning techniques, and proper shaving methods
• A live truffle shaving demonstration highlighting how to properly slice and serve fresh truffles over crostini (which you’ll enjoy moments later)
• The opportunity to browse the Urbani Truffles store with a special discount, featuring a curated selection of truffle products including oils, snacks, and specialty items

Whether you’re newly truffle-curious or well on your way to connoisseur status, you’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for one of the culinary world’s most celebrated ingredients.
See you there!

*Guests with nut allergies should take precaution as several of the snacks served during the evening are nut-based

Disclaimer
By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.
Ticket price is for an educational lecture with complimentary food and beverages.
Categories: In-Person, Food & Drink