Swing Streets NYC Tours - Off the Beaten Path Things to Do in New York City (NY)

Seller:	SwingStreets
	SwingStreets

Ratings Summary: Rating: 4.7

(43)
(All reviews for this seller)

	# of Reviews	Overall Rating	Positive Points	Negative Points	% Positive	Average Rating
Last 3 months	1	3	3	0	100%	5.0
Last 6 months	6	12	13	1	83%	4.3
Last 12 months	17	43	44	1	94%	4.7
All	45	117	118	1	98%	4.8

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About this seller (SwingStreets)

Ratings by Activity
(Each activity's ratings from the last 12 months)

	Overall Rating	% Positive	Average Rating
The Harlem Jazz Walk	18	88%	4.5
The Bountiful Brooklyn Tour	15	100%	5.0
The United-Nations-of-Queens Tour	10	100%	4.8
The Mad-About-Manhattan Tour	0	0%	0.0
The Greenwich Village Jazz Walk	0	0%	0.0

Date Attended [v]	Reviewer	Gender	Age	Where From?	Group Type?
surprisingly fascinating The Bountiful Brooklyn Tour
Mon, Sep 8 10:00 AM	ziporalevy	Female	40-49	International Tourist(s)	Unspecified
Paul who guids this tour loves Brooklyn and likes to show it off. He does it with passion and in good taste. History, architecture, current politics,people, places, interesting shops, jazz and blues tips, varied neighborhoods are all (and much more) a part of his endless knowledge. He is really a great guy who made our N.Y. experience memorable. Highly recommended !
excellent overview of jazz history of harlem The Harlem Jazz Walk
Sun, Aug 17 11:00 AM	Ralamb	Male	60-69	Local	Family Without Children
Paul is most knowledgeable about a number of areas of Harlem with numerous pictures of several of the neighborhoods and highlights of the historic districts. He knows of the many jazz clubs that used to exist and describes the great jazz musicians that lived in various apartments throughout Harlem. Very interesting to see some of the historic buildings and neighborhoods as they are constantly changing.
What's Outside of Manhattan? The United-Nations-of-Queens Tour
Thu, Aug 14 10:00 AM	danavato	Female	60-69	Domestic Tourist(s)	Group of Friends
My friend and I had new experiences on this tour. Our leader was informative, flexible, and frlendly. We enjoyed new "tastes" in every way. Queen's is definitely a "United Nations." Thank you, Paul.
No connection to Harlem; just a jazz enthusiast The Harlem Jazz Walk
Sun, Jun 29 11:00 AM	swhite	Male	30-39	Local	Couple on a Date
It started great, with the story about the meeting place. What I expected To see the Apollo Theatre; Lenox Lounge; old jazz clubs; local jazz music stores with a connection to jazz musicians in Harlem; historical or famous sites that relate to jazz in Harlem. Stories about some of the sites to provide context. Not necessarily famous stories, but I did expect some story-telling to put what we did see (Harlem) in context. A visit inside to some of the more famous places in Harlem. A connection between the tour guide and the business owners that would allow a tour of the business. What I got A long walk through Harlem. A view of old houses that some famous jazz musicians once lived. (but not much real context. It's one thing to say, Duke Ellington used to live here, but another to say that he lived here when he made this or that record because of some inspiration that came from the home.) Stories about past tours where the group went on an impromptu open house, and the revelation that the home was either really expensive or really inexpensive. Directions about which block to walk down and which side of the street to find the Apollo Theatre. The CDs were a nice gesture. What might have been better is a collection of music that related to the tour besides the fact that it was jazz. For instance, what if one of the pieces was "kind of blue" and one of the places we visited was the place where a very memorable performance of it occurred, or where the inspiration of that piece orginated? That would have been an excellent tie-in to the tour. Then I would have thought of that context every time I listened to the piece. My Sincere suggestions to the guide Get to know the proprietors of the Lenox Lounge, Sylvia's, the Apollo Theatre, the store across from the Tree of Hope. Establish a relationship with them that will allow the participants to tour their facilities. Give the proprietors an incentive. Perhaps suggest a coupon for a participant when that participant visits the establishment. For example, one free iced tea, or appetizer at Sylvia's when you mention you were on the tour, or you bring in a coupon from the tour; half off at the Lenox Lounge when you bring in the coupon, etc. Then the proprietors will not seem uncaring because it appears that all they care about is their business. Their benefit is the free advertising and a chance to advertise more personally. Tell us a story about when the great deals are at the jazz clubs. Perhaps every Monday, really good local talent comes in, and you can get a seat. But that same group comes in on a Friday, and not only are the tickets much more expensive, but the place is packed solid. And make that story even better by providing personal experience. Maybe you saw one of the first performances of a now famous jazz musician at a particular club. That way, the participants will want to go back because of the possibility of having the same experience. that's it.
New insights The Harlem Jazz Walk
Sun, Jun 15 11:00 AM	martinareich	Unspecified	40-49	International Tourist(s)	Group of Friends
This was a very interesting activitiy, even for people not extremely interested in Jazz. Interesting new views on an otherwise underestimated neighbourhood Harlem with beautiful buildings and historic facts.
great overview of queens The United-Nations-of-Queens Tour
Mon, Jun 9 10:00 AM	carolynkirk	Female	60-69	Domestic Tourist(s)	Family Without Children
I wanted to get a sense of the the various communities of Queens and Paul did that by pinpointing specific neighborhoods to visit and walking around each while describing it. If, like me, you have a somewhat vague idea of what Queens is this is the tour to take. It really specifies the meaning of Queens being the most diverse county in America.
Culturally-rich tour with a delightful guide The Bountiful Brooklyn Tour
Fri, May 23 10:00 AM	DorothyMull	Female	60-69	Domestic Tourist(s)	Individual
Paul Blair did a terrific job of showing me many different areas of Brooklyn, including Park Slope, Prospect Park South, Brighton Beach, Coney Island, and Brooklyn Heights. He even added an hour-long walk through historic Fort Greene neighborhoods to accommodate my special interest in them. Our stop at Ozzie's Coffee, an old pharmacy in Park Slope, and our lunch at Memo, a wonderful Turkish place in Kings Highway - both dutch treat - were highlights. As an anthropologist/professor, I especially appreciated Paul's interest in the various cultures of Brooklyn as well as his architectural expertise. He is a delightful companion who has a wealth of knowledge to share and does so with grace and enthusiasm. I look forward to taking the Queens tour with him later this year.
Loved it! Paul is terrific. The Harlem Jazz Walk
Sun, May 4 11:00 AM	alitarogers	Female	40-49	Domestic Tourist(s)	Other
We loved the program. Paul is very knowledgable on history, jazz and architecture. His enthusiasm is infectious. He has a very strong speaking voice. Good to listen to.
The highlight of my visit to New York City The Harlem Jazz Walk
Sun, May 4 11:00 AM	tritton	Male	60-69	International Tourist(s)	Individual
Harlem is a district that comparatively few tourists visit. They don't know what they are missing! Wonderful architecture, friendly neighbourhoods and, above all, fascinating places associated with the history and heritage of all styles of jazz. Paul Blair was a friendly and knowledgeable guide; for more than two hours he led us at a comfortable pace along street after street , nearly every one of which boasted apartments, houses & clubs where musicians who pioneered the development of jazz of all styles lived and played. We looked in at Big Apple Jazz (a chance to buy CDs and receive free jazz magazines) and Minton's Playhouse and Jazz Club and, as our walk was held on a Sunday morning, we could hear choirs singing as we passed churches of various denominations. These were evocative moments. Thanks Paul.
A wonderful experience The Bountiful Brooklyn Tour
Sat, Apr 19 10:00 AM	lgoodfried	Male	60-69	Domestic Tourist(s)	Couple on a Date
As a native of Brooklyn, I had the opportunity of seeing things and places that I had not visited in over 50 years. I highly recommend this entertaining and informative walk. Paul Blair is an expert. Don't miss this.
Everything You've Wanted to Know about Brooklyn... The Bountiful Brooklyn Tour
Fri, Apr 11 10:00 AM	TSAFARAS	Male	60-69	International Tourist(s)	Family Without Children
My wife and I had never been to Brooklyn but had read a lot about it. On our recent trip to New York City we decided to take the time to discover Brooklyn and used the web to find a walking tour. We signed up for the 4 hour Bountiful Brooklyn Tour and we were delighted with it. The guide had a thorough knowledge of the borough and we managed to see all the places we had read about, Brighton Beach, Coney Island, Brooklyn Heights, etc. We had lunch at a Turkish restaurant which turned out to be the culinary highlight of our trip. We ate at restaruants that were 6 or 7 times more expensive but the quality of this little neighbourhood diner could not be surpassed. My wife and I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge to get us in the spirit for the tour. The tour met or surpassed our expectations and at the end of it the tour guide presented us with a CD of jazz that has joined our music collection as a favourite.
Surprise Harlem! The Harlem Jazz Walk
Sun, Apr 6 11:00 AM	Leseklubben	Male	70+	International Tourist(s)	Unspecified
My wife and I have been in N.Y. before, with limited knowledge of Harlem. This tour brought us up to date on history, walking thru highlights of architectural beauty, all the while being fed with info about interesting people, not least those of the jazz heritage. Anne and Kjell Habert Norway
a thoroughly enjoyable experience The Harlem Jazz Walk
Sun, Feb 24 11:00 AM	CathyCross	Female	50-59	Domestic Tourist(s)	Other
The Harlem Jazz Walk was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. We were treated to architectural highlights of Harlem, many unexpected. Everything from wooden town homes to stately mansions with incredible views of the city. We learned a good deal about local history, as it relates to NYC and to jazz. Welcome stops along the way included the delightful Settepani Bakery and Cafe, as well as a jazz record shop. Our guide, Paul, was both engaging and knowledgeable. He talked about where people lived and played, both at the places that survived and those that are no more. These were not the burnt broken images of Harlem from the seventies, but a beautiful part of the city with a rich history of change. Thanks, Paul!
Get to see the REAL New York with a friendly local The United-Nations-of-Queens Tour
Thu, Jan 10 10:00 AM	Beeba111	Female	30-39	International Tourist(s)	Individual
This tour comes highly recommended to those that want to escape the tourist roundabout of central Manhattan and see the real New York. Paul is an enthusiastic and friendly native New Yorker who really knows his stuff - he will take you to places you would never have discovered on your own, telling you intriguing and facinating details about the areas along the way. The tour provides you with many photo opportunities - I got lots of great photos, leaving me with special memories of my visit to New York, and friends and family back home enjoyed seeing pictures of areas of New York that are off the beaten track and not usually accessed by tourists. We had a wonderful day together, including a fantastic lunch, Queens is such an amazing place, full of beautiful old buildings, history and as it is very multi-cultural, terrific eating places abound. Do not hesitate about booking this tour, it is worth every cent, I loved every minute of it and I'm sure that you will as well. (The tour is also a great introduction to the city, helping you to get your bearings and understand the subway system, making getting around while you're there a breeze.)
Highlight of our trip The Bountiful Brooklyn Tour
Mon, Dec 31, 07 10:00 AM	JudyParadis	Female	60-69	Domestic Tourist(s)	Other
We were exhiliarated by our trip to Brooklyn, gaining an insider's view due to our knowledgable guide. This tour was well planned yet had an adventurous aspect at the same time. We plan to link up with our tour guide on future trips to the City. The whole experience was a delight.

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