Years of Experience: 2
Accreditations: New York City Sightseeing Guide License, Member of Guides Association of New York City (GANYC)
Languages Spoken: English, Greek
Specialties: General NYC Sightseeing and all Manhattan Neighborhoods, with a focus tailored to a guest’s interests – history, art & architecture, food & pastries, the arts, finance, fashion & shopping and transportation. Holiday Tours, including Rockefeller Center, 5th Avenue, Dyker Heights, Bryant Park, NY Botanical Gardens and Thanksgiving events. Museums, including unique collections, building histories and collection highlights. Manhattan Historical District and general tours of Manhattan. Observation Decks, Brooklyn Bridge, DUMBO, Fulton Ferry & Brooklyn Heights, Central Park, Midtown, Chelsea and HighLine and the Upper West Side. Plus, the best places to find a bathroom!
Personal Travel Interests: I grew up visiting family in Europe every summer, and this has shaped how I travel. I seek out the locals to understand how they live, their customs and foods, and what is important to them. I also learn tips on traditional or unusual things to do. This all helps make sense of what I’m experiencing and creates long-lasting memories. So, when I spend time with my guests at points of interest, I try to give them information and perspectives they wouldn’t otherwise get on their own. Not everyone knows what it’s like to live in a skyscraper and travel underground!
Favorite Experiences in NYC: New York is so many things to so many people. On a day that I was nibbling on a croissant from a new bakery, I noticed an exhaust vent painted like a candy cane. I once found a store devoted only to lampshades. I’ve stood in line at the grocery store behind an A-list celebrity. I shared a laugh with a young man doing chin-ups in the subway. I love the stories. I routinely stumble upon unexpected stories even in my own neighborhood, like the apartment building where abolitionist Elizabeth Cady Stanton lived, the church where Babe Ruth’s daughter got married, or the elementary school that actor Henry Winkler attended. One of my favorite things about New York is that history is constantly being written and rewritten as new waves of New Yorkers come and go, and they all leave their mark to be discovered by later New Yorkers.
What I Like The Most About NYC: I have lived in this city for close to 40 years and I love how it is always changing, its astounding diversity of people and how there is always something to discover. In this ever-changing city you can find a new restaurant, store or building on a familiar block. Go to a neighboring section of town and you can encounter different languages and customs. And there’s always an exhibit, show, event, food or fashion trend to learn about. It’s exhilarating whether you sit and watch it go by your window or dive into it head first. It’s an exciting, dynamic place to live and I’m passionate about showing guests how wonderful a place it is.