Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/633921
B M & T ••• November/December 2015 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 27 NEW YORK N o place on planet earth exudes living life to its fullest more than the Big Apple. The energy of this great city is palpable. From the bright lights and excitement of Times Square to the sites and sounds of Harlem, New York City is the nation's top travel desti- nation. Everyone knows the iconic entertainment venues and tourist attractions that make up this great city: The Empire State Building, Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Broadway, the Statute of Li berty, Yankee Stadium and the Bronx Zoo, just to name a few. A don't forget Restaurant Row and fine dining. Arguably the most famous of all New York venues is the Apollo Theater. Located on W. 125th Street (Frederick Douglass Blvd), this theater exerted greater influence on popular culture than anyplace in the world, and for African-Americans this is the place where careers are made. Amateur Night at the Apollo started back in 1934 with young, talented new performers such as 15-year- old Ella Fitzgerald. Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, Count Basie, James Brown, Bill Cosby and numerous Motown acts all per- formed and/or debuted at the Apollo. Today, the Apollo continues its fine tradition attract- ing new and seasoned world-class talent. Atlantic City Boardwalk New York city Street Scene Convention Center. The Center, designed to incorporate and reflect Atlantic City's seaside location, features 500,000 sq. ft. of contiguous exhibit space in five halls, 109,100 sq. ft. of meeting space in 45 rooms, and 32,000 sq. ft. of pre-function space. No trip to Atlantic City should be all work and no play. The Atlantic City Boardwalk is the backbone of this seaside resort city, providing access to ho tels, resorts, shops, casinos and more. It's a great place to stroll, people watch, jog, head for the beach, or visit several piers featur- ing a number of attractions and unique shopping venues. Atlantic City has several must see attractions for visitors interested in Black history and culture. The African American Heritage Museum of Southern NJ is the only museum in New Jersey documenting the Africa n-American experience of the 20th century. Over 11,000 treas- ures are showcased on a rotating basis and updated every month. The Museum also holds a collection of Atlantic County soldiers' memora- bilia from World War I to present at the All Wars Memorial Building in Atlantic City. Nearby, the Civil Rights Garden is a tranquil public sculp- ture garden comprised of 11 granite columns, winding pathway s, plants, flowers, Gingko trees and sculptures with inscriptions related to the his- tory, events and people of the Civil Rights movement. The city also offers attractions like the Atlantic City Ballet, Atlantic City Art Center, Atlantic City Aquarium, and the Bay-Atlantic Symphony, as well as golfing, surfing, sea kayaking, sport fishing and bik- ing for outdoor adventure seekers.