Reef-A-Palooza New York takes over the Meadowlands Exposition Center this month June 25 & 26. Now an annual event that originated in Southern California over 13 years ago and in Tri State Area for its second year Reef-A-Palooza can best be described as an indoor marketplace where sellers/exhibitors, can buy, sell, and showcase their products to the marine hobbyist community.
With exhibitors hailing from all over the place and range from large manufacturers, to retailers, to local coral farmers, and participating hobbyists range from the beginner to the elite coral farmer. It is the perfect venue to showcase new products in the marine aquarium industry.
The doors of the show may open in the morning and close in the evening, but there’s a whole other gathering of reefers at reef conferences which happens primarily after hours. Whether you’re arriving plane, train or automobile or if you’re local, you’ll definitely want to make plans now. On the days leading up to after the show and of course each night, after the show you’ll get to hang out with fellow reef geeks. You can turn the event into a mini NYC Vacation for yourself or you can bring the entire family.
New York New York the city the never sleeps, offers round the clock entertainment. From Wall Street’s skyscrapers to the neon of Times Square to Central Park’s leafy paths, New York City pulses with an irrepressible energy. History meets hipness in this global center of entertainment, fashion, media, and finance. World-class museums like MoMA and unforgettable icons like the Statue of Liberty beckon, but discovering the subtler strains of New York’s vast ambition is equally rewarding: ethnic enclaves and shops, historic streets of dignified brownstones, and trendy bars and eateries all add to the urban buzz.
EMPIRE STATE BUILDING- With a pencil-slim silhouette, recognizable virtually worldwide, the Empire State Building is an Art Deco monument to progress, a symbol for New York City, and a star in some great romantic scenes, on- and off-screen. The views of the city from the 86th-floor deck are spectacular, but the views from 16 stories up on the 102nd-floor observatory are even more so—and yet, fewer visitors make it this far
STATUE OF LIBERTY AND ELLIS ISLAND– for millions of immigrants, the first glimpse of America was the Statue of Liberty, growing from a vaguely defined figure on the horizon into a towering, stately colossus. Visitors approaching Liberty Island on the ferry from Battery Park may experience a similar sense of wonder. The neighboring Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration tells the story not just of Ellis Island but of immigration from the colonial era to the present day, though numerous galleries containing artifacts, photographs, and taped oral histories.
TIMES SQUARE–Times Known colloquially as “The Crossroads of the World” and “The Great White Way,” Times Square NYC is one of the most popular commercial intersections in the world! Located in central Manhattan at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue, this popular NYC attraction, especially among tourists, is home to top destinations such as the Naked Cowboy, ABC’s Times Square Studios, and Planet Hollywood. More than a third of a million people pass through iconic Times Square NYC every day!
CONEY ISLAND–More than a century ago Coney Island ranked among the country’s preeminent seaside resorts, but despite a recent economic resurgence, with new restaurants, bars, and a revamped amusement park opening up, an aura of faded carny glory endures. Decades-old concessions line the boardwalk, and plenty of outsize characters keep Coney Island weird, especially at the circus sideshow and the annual Mermaid Parade. Luna Park (home of The Cyclone), Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, and the New York Aquarium for us fellow reef geeks are the biggest draws for most visitors; Nathan’s Famous and Totonno’s Pizzeria Napolitana are musts when hunger strikes.
Long Island Aquarium & Exhibition Center- Two great attractions in one fin-tastic destination, the Aquarium and Exhibition Center features one of the largest all-living coral reef displays in this hemisphere, a 120,000-gallon shark tank, year-round sea lion shows, numerous touch tanks, and more than 100 exhibits and interactive experiences.
Themed around the Lost City of Atlantis, Long Island Aquarium blends science and nature with myth to create an informative and entertaining environment for visitors of all ages. They offer a rich variety of experiences, from: fascinating marine life exhibits to Aquatic Adventures and educational programs. Named a Top 10 Aquarium for Children by Parents Magazine, Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center is open daily 10:00am to 5:00pm year-round (Closed Christmas & Thanksgiving Days).
PIZZA-Forget about bagels and hot dogs—pizza is New York’s most beloved and iconic food. You can find a pretty good slice in most neighborhoods, but deservedly legendary institutions include Di Fara Pizza, Totonno’s, and Lombardi’s Pizza. In recent years, newcomers to the pizza scene—Roberta’s, Paulie Gee’s, Motorino, Emily—have generated equally fanatic followings.
If you haven’t made plans to attend Reef-A-Palooza New York yet but you live within reasonable driving distance, or a direct flight, attending reef conferences is one of the most enriching thing you can do to further your enjoyment of the reef aquarium hobby and Reef-A-Palooza New York will be well worth it. Keep in mind a HUGE plus that there is FREE PARKING at the Meadowlands Exposition Center! For more show info or if you want to pre purchase tickets with a credit card visit http://reefapaloozashow.net/newyork One very important last thing to keep in mind when attending the show, at the day of the show it is cash only at the door for admission tickets.
