Want to experience authentic Mexican food culture?

Visit the Mexico area at NY Trav Fest (4th floor, get off the elevator and go left before you enter the Grand Ballroom (Mainstage)) and you’ll be able to try Tortas Ahogadas and Mexican Ceviche from “El Mitote”, experience several kinds of Mezcal from Oaxaca, get travel information, recipes, and “must do” activities from different cities of Mexico.

Mezcal?

Yes! It’s an ancestral and traditional beverage. It is made from the heart of the maguey plant, the piña. Mezcal is a unique and complex spirit that is the result of generations dedicated to keeping the tradition alive, this time we will be offering delicious Mezcal from Oaxaca.

Drowned Sandwiches?

Tortas Ahogadas are a typical dish from the city of Guadalajara which consists in submerging the sandwich totally or partially in a sauce made primarily of a dried chili pepper or tomato sauce. The people from Guadalajara claim that no one really visits Guadalajara without making a stop to try a Torta Ahogada.

You can’t leave the Festival without visiting the Mexico area!

With only two days left until the big weekend, we’re very excited to welcome our latest sponsor: Uri Tours.

They will be running a Q&A on travel in North Korea. Be ready with questions.

All paid ticket holders to this year’s NYTF are entered in a drawing to win a trip to DPRK!

(Conditions of drawing: Professional journalists and persons traveling on South Korean passports will have to apply for non-tourist visas in order to travel to the DPRK. Trip must be redeemed before April 20, 2014.)

More about Uri Tours:

Uri Tours has over 10 years of experience specializing in North Korea travel.  Our clients include Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, the Pacific Council on International Policy, Mercy Corps and The Associated Press.  Our goal is to provide you with the broadest possible opportunity to experience the people and culture of the DPRK.  Contact us and begin your journey to one of the last frontiers of global travel.

Lee in Bhutan

Lee Abbamonte, our special guest for our NYTF Game Shows (hosted by AnneLise Sorensen) has been to every country in the world. He’s frequently on television as an expert who knows it all. But does he? Now’s our chance to test him!

If you have any travel-related trivia that you think can stump @LeeAbbamonte, e-mail it to: StumpLee@nytravfest.com.

If your question stumps him and you’re there on Saturday, you win a prize!

Check out our new and easier to navigate schedule at schedule.nytravfest.com.  Here, our schedule is color-coded by room and clickable, to easily find out which speakers are speaking when, and what they’ll be speaking about, not to mention when we’ll be giving away free stuff.  Even further than Saturday, find out all the info regarding the Sunday tours, and our media partners and sponsors.

Even better: Access it via mobile web on your phone and log in with Facebook to see which of your friends are attending which events and when, and have the schedule in the palm of your hand the whole day at the festival.  This schedule will automatically update itself, so you’ll always be connected and never be out of the loo.  As an added plus, we’re going completely paperless for sustainability.

Any questions? E-mail us! contact@nytravfest.com

To purchase tickets: http://bitly.com/NYTF2013

Visit our site: http://nytravfest.com

Follow us on Twitter: @NYtravfest

Use our hashtag: #NYTF

Like us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/NYtravfest 

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Friday, April 19th, make your way to Professor Thom’s on 2nd Ave for Pre-NYTF Happy Hour!

From 7-9PM, Travel 2.0 will be hosting a meet-up with free admission to bring together anyone and everyone interested in travel, mobile startups, and/or technology.  It’s a cash bar for now, but all of that could change to an open bar by the time the event rolls around if a sponsor is found.

For more info, and to let us know you’re coming, click here !

Chef Pierre Thiam

Our VIP package is an exciting offering for anyone interested in international cuisine and culinary experiences.

Saturday: Cooking class with Chef Pierre Thiam

On Festival Day, from 10:30 AM-1:30 PM, enjoy a three-course West African cooking class and degustation with Iron Chef contestant and author of Yolele!, Chef Pierre Thiam.

Sunday: Celebrating Mexico’s Diversity

Mexico is characterized by the extraordinary that exists from its weather to its landscapes; from its culture, cuisine, languages and people. In this tour, you will experience some of Mexico’s nature and culture from the State of Mexico and Morelia in the interesting and entertaining screening Flight of the Butterflies which covers Dr Fred Urquhart‘s nearly 40-year-long scientific investigation into the monarch butterfly, tracking the details of what is considered one of the longest known migrations: The flight of the Monarch butterfly from Central Mexico to The United States and Canada and back, this at the American Museum of Natural History. To continue your exploration of Mexico, we’ll have a Mezcal tasting at Café Frida, where you’ll get to experience and learn about the different flavors and aromas of this traditional spirit from the state of Oaxaca, pairing it with some great culinary additions of Mexican cuisine.

Sunday Schedule

2:00-2:20 pm - Arrival to the Museum

2:30-3:10 pm - Screening of Documentary Flight of the Butterflies

3:20-4:20 pm - Mezcal Tasting at Cafe Frida

Celebrity chef, Marc Murphy, prestigious restaurant publicist, Jennifer Baum, and opinionated food writer, James Mulcahy will team up for a roundtable discussion moderated by prolific food and travel writer Kathleen Squires tackling topical food issues in our Local/Regional Breakout Room.

Possible topics of discussion include: Horsemeat scandal? Do restaurants with tasting menus really “hold diners hostage?” And the entrée: dead or alive? The group may discuss these hot topics and more before filing their predictions on who will walk away with James Beard Foundation Awards this year. They will also take questions that are on tips of the tongues of today’s eaters and travelers.

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Marc Murphy has been in the business for more than 20 years, and is now the Executive Chef & Owner of Benchmarc Restaurants and Benchmarc Events by Marc Murphy.  He is well-known for his work as a judge on Food Network’s CHOPPED, and is the VP of the Manhattan chapter of the New York State Restaurant Association.  He also serves as a board member of City Harvest, a member of the Leadership Council for the No Kid Hungry campaign, and a member of the Industry Advisory Board for the Food + Finance High School.

This presentation is for New Yorkers who love a good city break and are in need of some fresh getaway ideas—car optional. You’ll have plenty of trip inspiration from NYC-based travel experts in the fields of family, food, biking and outdoor adventure.

Speakers

Kirk Reynolds
Discover Outdoors founder Kirk aims to turn New Yorkers into hikers—one office worker at a time. Hailing from a small Missouri town, Kirk moved to New York City pursuing big dreams and even bigger ideas. Kirk blends passion with excellence to ensure Discover Outdoors is second to none. A competitive sports enthusiast and six-time New York City marathoner, Kirk is committed to sharing his excitement for the outdoors. His worldwide adventures have informed many of his plans for unforgettable, inspiring trips. Under his leadership, Discover Outdoors offers the ability for urbanites to take part in exploration and adventure.

Brendan Spiegel
Brendan Spiegel is a travel writer whose articles have appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, Travel + Leisure, New York magazine, BBC Travel and other publications–including both offMetro NY and offMetro SF. As a born-and-bred New Yorker, he is committed to car-free travel out of both principle and driving incompetence. He is also the managing editor of Narratively, a digital publication focused on in-depth local city stories, and the publisher of food blog EndlessSimmer.com.

Allison Tibaldi
Allison Tibaldi is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributes travel pieces to offMetro, Family Travel Forum, Mommy Poppins Travel and At Home Tennessee. She is fluent in Italian and Spanish and laughably adequate in French. Her background as an Early Childhood Educator gives her an added understanding of what it takes to travel with kids in tow. She firmly believes that the most important part of education takes place outside of the classroom, on the road, around the world. She never misses a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. Follow her on twitter at @Gourmetrav.

Susi Wunsch
Susi Wunsch is founder of Velojoy.com, a popular online source of news, events, how to’s and stylish gear for city cyclists and “bike curious” New Yorkers. The site is dedicated to attracting more people to riding bicycles by celebrating the joys of two-wheeled transportation. Wunsch, who has a background in marketing and freelance writing, is a member of the advisory board of the National Women Bike Campaign of the League of American Cyclists, serves on the board of directors of the advocacy organization Transportation Alternatives and contributes to Momentum Magazine. She uses a bicycle for year-around transportation in New York City and is a weekend road cycling enthusiast. Her most recent cycling trip was to Nice, France for spring training. Wunsch is counting the days until a Citibike bicycle sharing station is installed across the street from her apartment.

Host

Lauren Matison
Lauren Matison is the co-founder and editor of offMetro.com, a green travel guide based in New York and San Francisco. Described by Lonely Planet as one of the top 11 most reliable websites in responsible travel, oM reports on the best day trips and weekend getaways from NY and SF that are accessible without a car. Lauren’s work has appeared in the Huffington Post, Bicycling Magazine, Grist.org, CNN, and NBC’s Today in NY show. A competitive cyclist and strong proponent of making NYC a more bike-friendly place to live and visit, Lauren will be working with Transportation Alternatives this spring to help educate and excite New Yorkers about the soon-to-launch Citi Bike Share program.

oM Event Giveaways!

Woodloch Pines Resort
The Giveaway: Two-night giveaway for a family of four, including accommodations, 3 meals daily, activities, amenities, and entertainment for 2 adults and 2 children 18 years and under.
About Woodloch: Creating a magical experience for families since 1958, Woodloch Pines Resort’s signature warm hospitality keeps guests returning year after year and offers a truly unique all-inclusive family vacation experience fitting for everyone’s taste. An award-winning family resort, championship golf course and sister property featuring a luxury destination spa is just 95 scenic and convenient miles from New York City nestled in the Pocono Mountains Lake Region.

Discover Outdoors
The Giveaway: A day hike for two, roundtrip transportation included. Enjoy beautiful trails, spot wildlife and swim in a secluded lake on a hot summer day.
About Discover Outdoors: Since 1982, DO’s mission is to improve quality of life through meaningful outdoor experiences. Discover Outdoors strives to create a more connected community through the pursuit of outdoor exploration and education.

c/o The Maidstone
The Giveaway: Overnight stay for two at The Maidstone, dinner and breakfast included.
About The Maidstone: Lovers of clever design and arresting photography, c/o The Maidstone is a beautiful luxury property located in the heart of East Hampton. The Swedish-styled spot, which offers free bikes and yoga classes to guests, is the most eco-friendly hotel in the Hamptons, with the ultimate goal of becoming a carbon-neutral operation.

Amtrak
The Giveaway: One roundtrip ticket on the Acela or Northeast Regional trains from New York to Boston or Washington.
About Amtrak: Provides rail service to over 500 destinations via 30 plus train routes in the USA and Canada.

Don’t miss your chance to go on Scott’s Pizza Tours’ Pizza Bus during New York Travel Festival weekend.

Normally $60 for a ticket on the Pizza Bus, it’s only $15 more for a package Festival ticket which includes Saturday Festival admission & lunch!

What you get on the Pizza Bus:

• A 4.5-hour course in pizza history
• Slices at four of the best pizzerias on the planet
• Transportation via big yellow school bus
• The cutest darn goody bag this side of the Mississip’
• Guidance by a certified Pizza Enthusiast and licensed tour guide

Buy your ticket by April 7th: http://bitly.com/NYTF2013