Author: John Beck

The Big Apple… The City of Dreams… The City So Nice, They Named It Twice… NEW YORK, NEW YORK! We’re so excited to finally have our brews in one of the oldest cities in the country. From the history to the art and food, we’re happy to finally be able to offer our friends in the east a chance to enjoy Ghostfish. You can find all of our retail partners using The Beer Finder App on our Website but this blog will help you plan your trip and grab some gluten free beer along the way. 

When it comes to New York City, the first thing almost everyone thinks of is the Statue of Liberty. This symbol of Amerian Freedom and the American Dream is something you can’t miss and should truly be on your bucket list. Before or after you head to the ferry, check out Fraunces Tavern near Battery Park for a taste of Ghostfish and a moment to yourself in all the hussel and bussel. 

After checking out the Statue of Liberty and taking in the view of what thousands of immigrants saw when they pulled into the bay for the first time, wander up Lower Manhattan and check out the Tenement Museum to see where a lot of these dreamers landed between 1862 and 2011. After your history lesson head over to Top Hops Beer Shop to find some of the best beers in the city, including Ghostfish! 

Looking to avoid those spendy restaurants in the big city? Hit up a bodega for some grub and check out Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village. Washington Square Park is a 9.75-acre public park in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Lower Manhattan, New York City. One of the best known of New York City’s public parks, it is an icon as well as a meeting place and center for cultural activity. Once you’ve relaxed enough and are ready for some refreshments, don’t forget to visit The Half Pint nearby for another spot to grab your Ghostfish. 

What’s a trip to New York without a live show? While there are the big musicals and broadway shows, there are also plenty of affordable shows around the city with talented cast often ending up in the bigger shows. Check out the infamous STOMP, The Comedy Cellar, Webster Hall, Gramercy Theater, and Irving Plaza for entertainment. Now that your night on the town is planned, don’t forget to grab dinner and some Ghostfish at any of the three “Smith Restaurant and Bar” establishments. Trendy bistro food complimented by some of our classic brews made perfect for a night on the town. 

There are a world of things to do in this magical city and we highly recommend you add it to your #TravelTuesday list and make sure to keep an eye out for Ghostfish along the way. Here are some fun facts about the city and check the bottom of the page for a list of other retailers in the area. Don’t forget you can always search for Ghostfish near your zip code on our website using the Beer Finder App! 

From the Swedish Nomad: 

1. IT’S NOT ILLEGAL TO GO TOPLESS IN NEW YORK

While you probably won’t see many topless people in The Big Apple, it’s pretty interesting to know that it’s not illegal. In 2018 there was even a “Go Topless Day Parade” where people walked around topless in the city.

2. THE FIRST PIZZERIA IN THE UNITED STATES OPENED IN NYC IN 1895

Another interesting fact about New York and the pizzas is that the price of pizzas and single ride tickets for the subway has remained pretty much equal for more than 50 years! Economists call this the pizza principle.

3. THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS OVER 50 MILLION BOOKS

Consider yourself a bookworm? Then it would almost be a sin not visiting the Public Library which has over 50 million books available!

4. MORE THAN 800 LANGUAGES ARE BEING SPOKEN IN NEW YORK

Considering the fact that 37% of the NYC population comes from another country, you might not be surprised that there are a lot of languages spoken. Some experts claim that there are more than 800 languages spoken in the city, and some others say it’s just a little over 200 different languages, but nonetheless, that’s a lot of languages!

One of the many interesting facts about New York! It’s such a diverse and multi-cultural city.

5. BROOKLYN BRIDGE IS OLDER THAN TOWER BRIDGE IN LONDON

The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most iconic bridges in the world, and so is the Tower Bridge in London, but the NYC bridge can flaunt with being 11 years older.

6. THE AVERAGE RENT FOR A ONE-BEDROOM IN MANHATTAN IS US$ 3,400

Want to move to New York, namely to Manhattan? Then you need to save your bucks ahead. The average rent price is currently around 3400 USD per month. Sure, there are some cheaper ones as well, so it’s good to remember that this number is an average of the most expensive and the cheapest rentals combined.

Nonetheless, quite higher than the average price worldwide for a one-bedroom. To make a comparison, you can easily find a one-bedroom in Greece for 350-400 USD per month.

7. NEW YORK CITY’S FEDERAL RESERVE BANK HAS THE LARGEST GOLD STORAGE IN THE WORLD

Deep down in the heart of the financial district Wall Street, sits the largest storage of gold in the whole world. More than 7.000 tons of glittering gold bars, which is equivalent to about 5% of all the world’s gold ever mined.

Want to see it for yourself? Quite remarkably, public tours are being offered.

8. THE FIRST EUROPEAN SETTLERS IN NYC WERE DUTCH

Until 1898, the city was known as New Amsterdam. That changed when the city was gifted to the Duke of York on his 18th birthday. He then decided to rename the city to New York, which has stuck around ever since.

9. SMALL CRUSTACEANS CAN BE FOUND IN THE DRINKING WATER

The reasons for this is the fact that the water is not getting filtered, but it’s still pure enough to drink, even though it’s probably best to filter the water before drinking. I recommend bringing a filtered water bottle if you’re coming as a tourist.

And don’t worry, the copepods are totally harmless and not something you notice, but vegans might not want to drink the water without filtering it first.

10. HOME TO THE WORLD’S FIRST UNDERGROUND PARK

The success of the Highline gave rise to the new project and park called the Lowline. This is the first underground park in the world, and it’s located on Manhattan’s West Side.

It’s not yet completed, but the current date for the park to be fully completed is set to 2021.

NYC Ghostfish Retailers: 

Beer Table Pantry, City Beer, The Half Pint, City Hops, Milk & Hops, Top Hops Beer Shop, Food Cellar Market, George Keeleys, City Swiggers, Astoria Beir & Cheese, Danbro Studios The Well, C Town Supermarket, Stinky BKLYN, Park Slope Food, Beer Town & Soda, Half Time, Decicco & Sons, Total Wine & More (Westbury), Cable Beverage

Many thanks to Sarene Craft Beer Distributors for helping us reach even more of the East Coast!

When visiting the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia is a must. One of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes is located just a 2.5 hour drive from Seattle via I-5.  Whether you’re going to mingle with art patrons and eat fine food or you want to get your boots muddy on a trail, British Columbia has got it all. One of the most beautiful attractions in Canada, if you like plants, is the Butchart Gardens. They house many species, are on Canadas national historic register and see more than a million visitors a year.

The Richmond night Market is a great place to browse and people watch.  For a great view of the vastness of British Columbia, take the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish, just north of Vancouver. If something more active is up your alley, check out Yoho National Park, just across BC, near the border of Alberta. Visiting this area will give you the huge mountains, lakes and giant skies that BC is known for. While in this area the Lussier Hot Springs are worth checking out. If you feel like heading towards the Pacific Ocean rather than further inland, check out the Great Bear Rainforest.

This is a huge temperate rainforest that is the home to many bears, including the sacred spirit bear.  If you are not comfortable or familiar with bears, do some research or hire a guide for your excursion. If you’re staying in the city and won’t have time to get out and explore the rest of British Columbia, that is not a problem. Joffre Lakes Provincial Park is located just 2.5 hrs north of Vancouver, and just west, the archipelago Haida Gwaii is a beautiful collection of islands with remnants of a centuries old Haida Nation village. The islands are full of trails, wildlife and old totem poles to appreciate all the history the PNW has to offer.

British Columbia Fun Facts

-British Columbia is the third largest and most westerly province in Canada and it is four times the size of Great Britain. The length of BC’s coastline is over 27,000 kilometres.

-Half of all British Columbians live in the metropolitan area of Vancouver.

-BC has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, six National Parks and over 400 provincial parks, recreation and conservation areas.

-Two-thirds of British Columbia’s land base (we’re speaking of an area larger than France!) is forest land, and more than half of that area has had little or no human contact.

-Among all provinces and territories of Canada, British Columbia has the mildest climate. It has the longest frost-free periods of Canada and flowers often start blooming as early as February.

-British Columbia is one of the top 3 producing regions of cranberries and blueberries in the world.

-Did you ever wonder what the BC flag stands for? We have the answer: On the top part there is a Royal Union Flag, reflecting British Columbia’s British heritage. It is marked by the King Edward crown in the centre, which represents the Royal Family. The lower half shows a setting sun, representing the western location of the province. The blue and white lines behind the sun symbolize BC’s location between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains.

-BC is home to the world’s largest hockey stick! It was originally created for the Expo 1986 and then acquired by the city of Duncan, BC, where it is on display today. The stick is 62.48 metres long, weighs 28.12 tonnes (62,000 lb) and is therefore 40 times the size of a regular hockey stick. Make sure to take a look on your next trip to Vancouver Island!

Where to Find Ghostfish in British Columbia – Link Here

Thanks to Beer Thirst for making our BC distribution possible!