| Rating |
Date Attended |
Reviewer [v] |
Gender |
Age |
Where From? |
Group Type? |
|
EXCELLENT-ENTHUSIASTICALLY RECOMMEND
|
| Fri, Dec 5, 08 7:00 PM |
Kleeberg8 |
Male |
60-69 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Family Without Children |
| The tour guide, Tony, was excellent. The tour was well organized, on time, and more than met our expectations. We visit New York twice a year and take several tours each time. The Christmas Lights Tour was more beautiful than one would expect , and we were given the opportunity to walk through several neighborhoods and meet several of the home owners who had decorated. Also, we stopped at a local family run restaurant which gave us opportunity to experience the local fare.
Being from out of town, it is important to us that we always know exactly where and when the tour starts and ends so we can get transportation to our next destination. I was impressed that at the end of the tour Tony asked all of us if we knew exactly where we were and if anyone needed help with instructions for transportation. We have ended other tours in the middle of nowhere which is quite disconcerting to those not familiar with New York.
Our best rating goes to Tony and the Christmas Lights Tour. |
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|
Goodness and Light
|
| Sat, Dec 22, 07 7:00 PM |
khassall |
Unspecified |
Unspecified |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Family Without Children |
| The lights are astonishing for exuberance and profusion. Winter-bare trees with every branch wrapped in light are hung with lighted ornaments. At some homes every shrub, every tree in the yard, every step, every door, every window, rail, ledge, bench on the porch--everything capable of supporting a light is lit. All this light is reflected, and answered, in the faces of grown-ups as well as children.
Tony Muia, whose invention this tour is, is its soul and its greatest asset, a man remarkable for kindness, apparently unflappable good humor, and active concern for all those in his charge. |
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|
Bedazzled and mind-boggling
|
| Sat, Dec 22, 07 7:00 PM |
k0466u |
Female |
40-49 |
Local |
Individual |
| Heard about people in Dyker Heights really going over the top about the Christmas lights, and the story was true. It was definitely an illuminating experience in every sense of the word. The night the tour took place was relatively mild, and as a bonus, we even got to hear the church members singing carols in Bay Ridge area.
Tony was considerate enough to include the restroom stop prior to going to Dyker Heights, which was very much appreciated by several people. Because 2 people from the group went MIA in Dyker Heights, the time spent at a cafe was a bit rushed and the tour ended later than expected. If this tour was not back to back with the pizza tour earlier in the day, I would recommend it to start earlier than 7:00pm - but the logistic may be a problem. I wouldn't have minded if the pizza-to-go was included as a part of this tour with an additional fee. The timing of the tour made it a bit difficult to find a time for a bite beforehand. The Christmas tree at the Rockfeller Center is fine to look at, but this tour is something else altogether, both for the locals and the visitors. |
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|
Like Tony says, "Rockefeller Center? FUHGETTABOUDI
|
| Fri, Dec 26, 08 7:00 PM |
jsalino |
Male |
40-49 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Individual |
| This tour was fantastic! I’ve taken Tony’s pizza tour, but this time he was joined by Big Rick, another tried and true Brooklynite. Both he and Tony are as Brooklyn as it gets. The bus was a large, comfortable coach bus. As the tour starts, Tony gives a brief overview of the Dyker Heights area that you're about to visit, as well as a short clip from the PBS documentary about the area so you can familiarize yourself with what you're going to see. On the way into Brooklyn, Tony and Rick point things out from the bus as well review the history of the areas. I loved seeing the Brooklyn Bridge lit up at at night! The Christmas music that's played on the bus is awesome. Tony has managed to pick songs from the 1940's, 1950's and on that aren't the usual songs you hear on the radio every year. Songs by Kay Starr, Peggy Lee, the Salsoul Orchestra and even theme songs from Chrsitmas TV shows like Charlie Brown and Rudolph. I and a few others asked Tony if he sells the cds, which he doesn't...but he should. They're that good! We also visited the Bay Ridge section where we saw Sam Maloof's(sp?) house. WOW! I can honestly say it's one of the most spectacularly decorated homes anywhere! The family who owns the house actually came out and greeted us and were so nice. They answered all our questions like how long it took to decorate, how many lights, etc. Whenever we got off the bus, Tony and Rick escorted us around and continued explaning and answering questions. Then it was on to Dyker Heights where we got off the bus once again and walked around for about 45 minutes in an area that can only be described as a true Winter Wonderland. An area made up of incredibly large homes trying to outdo each other in a friendly holiday competition. We had plenty of opportunities in both areas to take lots of photos by the way. We then headed over to Mona Lisa Bakery where we sat down and had pastries and cappuccinos. It was the perfect stop after walking around in the cold weather seeing the lights. After reading some of the other reviews on here before posting mine, I think there must have been some real "Scrooges" who took the tour because I loved Mona Lisa and so did the people all around me. Sure, it took a little while to get served, but we arrived with about 50 people! The staff was friendly and we never felt rushed. The place even had a brick oven, so some people ordered brick oven pizzas which they said were fantastic! On the way back to Manhattan after Mona Lisa, we got to watch parts of old Christmas TV specials from throughout the decades on the monitors like Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Sonny & Cher. I felt like a little kid again seeing these vintage specials and reminiscing of Christmases past. All in all a magical night and a tour that I will recommend to all my friends and family and quite possibly take again next year. Thanks again Tony and Rick...great job you guys! |
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A LITTLE PRICEY
|
| Fri, Dec 5, 08 7:00 PM |
joybrosnan |
Female |
60-69 |
Local |
Individual |
| THE ONLY THING PROVIDED WAS TRANSPORTATION, YOU HAD TO PURCHASE YOUR OWN FOOD AT THE PASTRY SHOP STOP.
THEY PROVIDED EXCELLENT TRANSPORTATION HOWEVER AND WERE VERY
KIND AND HELPFUL. |
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|
great lites tour and evening
|
| Sun, Dec 14, 08 7:00 PM |
johnmoore |
Male |
60-69 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Family Without Children |
| The Brooklyn Lites Tour was very enjoyable. The neigborhood descriptions and personal stories were great and provided a wondeful context for the presentation of the residential lite displays. Would recommend the tour to others who enjoy learning about community and neighborhood leaders and histories. |
|
|
beautiful lights
|
| Sun, Dec 14, 08 7:00 PM |
JoanneD |
Female |
40-49 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Family With Children |
| This tour was wonderful, tony was a great tour guide. The homes were decorated so beautifully. It was just amazing and magical. I would recommend this tour to everyone. |
|
|
Lots of fun!
|
| Fri, Dec 26, 08 7:00 PM |
jkrasny |
Female |
20-29 |
Local |
Family Without Children |
| This was a gift to my mother. She'd never been to Brooklyn before, and this was the perfect way for her to see it. Tony was enthusiastic, friendly, and knowledgeable. The only downside was Mona Lisa bakery--the service was slow. |
|
|
Very Enjoyable
|
| Sun, Dec 9, 07 7:00 PM |
JGFire1 |
Male |
40-49 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Group of Friends |
| This tour was very enjoyable and as always Tony is on point with historical information about the neighborhood. Keep an eye on the weather, snow would be nice but rain could be a problem. This tour will help put you in the season's spirit. |
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|
Good time, good lights, Good stories!
|
| Sat, Dec 6, 08 7:00 PM |
jeanniew |
Female |
20-29 |
Local |
Couple on a Date |
| The tour showed beautiful houses decorated wonderfuly, but also gave interesting history about the nieghborhoods and the people that lived there. The tour leaders were very friendly, funny and showed us a good time. |
