USA: Tips for Green-Card Winners and other Immigrants

 

THE WHITE HOUSE

 

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington , D.C. 20500 U.S.

 

The White House is one of the most famous and known buildings in the world, it is the official residence and main office of the president of the United States.

 

Except for George Washington every U.S. president resided in this house, which was designed by James Hoban (an Irish born architect) and built between 1792 and 1800 in the Neoclassical style.

 

The British Army in 1814, during the War of 1812, set the house on fire – Burning of Washington -, destroying considerably the interior and part of the exterior. With the reconstruction came some expansion as well restorations over the years: West Wing in 1901 where the first Oval Office was located, some years later the East Wing which was used for social events, the two wings are connected.

 

The building was first named as the “Presidential Mansion”, “President’s Palace” or President´s House”. It is not known how exactly the house got its name but there is a myth that during the rebuilding after the “Burning of Washington”, the house was painted white to cover up the burn spots, probably then originating the namesake. President Theodore Roosevelt made the name official by inscribing on the letterhead.

 

John Adams was the first president to reside in the building in November of 1800, he wrote a prayer for the house:

 

“I pray Heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this House, and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.”

 

At present the White House has six stories, which includes the Executive Residence, West Wing, Cabinet Room, Roosevelt Room, East Wing and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, where the offices of the President and Vice President are located.

 

Originally the White House was open to the public but little by little and for obvious reasons this practice lost its continuity, nowadays the White House is closed to visitors because of security concerns, mainly after 9/11. Nonetheless in 2003 it was decided that some groups subject to prior arrangements and approval might visit the White House but basically it is closed to visitors.

 

The United States Security Service and the United States Park Police are responsible for the security of the White House.

 

 

For more information about the White House you can have a look at the following webpages:

 

White House History:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/History/

http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/facts.html

http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/wash/dc31.htm

 

Rooms in the White House

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Rooms_in_the_White_House

 

 

 

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IN THE BIG APPLE

There is no question about New York being one of the best places in the world for shopping, needless to say for Christmas shopping! The shopaholics will almost feel like they are in heaven: all the trendy shops, all the bargains, the sparkling lights and signs, the top decorations but most of all the atmosphere to be felt almost everywhere, which involve us!

 

The American Dream would not exactly like to promote or encourage consumerism, we know that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ (it is celebrated by millions of people around the world, even by non-Christians!), it is the time of “giving” but not the “giving” associated with the modern Christmas celebrations. The subject will always cause a polemic discussion, opinions vary but one thing is for sure: we all want to have a special and beautiful time with the beloved ones.

 

Nonetheless we would like to give our readers some tips where to go when having the privilege of shopping in the Big Apple, Christmas or not!

 

Keep in mind that December is a very busy month to fly to New York, accommodations will surely be more expensive, if you can wait till January for e.g. you will find great hotel bargains not to mention the legendary sales!! But if you simply want to fly before or around Christmas here we go:

 

You can try to find a cheap flight for e.g. with:

http://www.trailfinders.com/

 

 

Where to stay

 

The Pod Hotel: http://www.thepodhotel.com/

Radisson Lexington: http://www.lexingtonhotelnyc.com/

Other hotels in New York can be found at: http://new-york.hotelscheap.org/

Bed & Breakfast in Brooklyn: http://www.bibisgarden.net/

 

 

Where to eat:

 

Eating in New York can be pricey or cheap, but you must have: Pizza, Hot Dog, Bagel and eventually the famous American BBQ!

 

Pizza/Hot Dog

Famous Joe´s – Carmine Street in the West Village

 

Lombardi´s Pizza – 32 Spring Street

Bagel – 359 First Avenue

 

www.ess-a-bagel.com

 

BBQ

Fette Sau – 354 Metropolitan Avenue

 

Vegetarian

Candle 79 – 154 East 79th Street

 

 

Where to shop:

 

Of course you will find the best and finest shops in Manhattan but The Lower East Side these days is the hippest shopping quarter, you will find many good deal fashion stores. But you also should check:

 

Macy´s – 151 West 34th Street

 

MoMA Design Store – 44 West 53rd Street www.momastore.org

 

Henry Bendel – 712 Fifth Avenue, the best labels and nice accessories.

 

Encore Resale – 1132 Madison Avenue, designer bargains

 

Williams Sonoma – 121 East 59th Street, kitchen cookware, cook tools, food, etc.

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/

 

Filene´s Basement – cloths, home, gifts.

http://www.filenesbasement.com/

 

Economy Candy – Rivington Street, sells classic American sweets

 

Toyshops

 

Dinosaur Hill – 306 E 9th Street

FAO Schwartz – 767 5th Avenue

 

 

Where to have a night out and etc.:

 

Even though it is supposed to be a Christmas shopping trip you might probably want to see the night life, go for some sightseeing or some cultural/recreational event.

 

The Living Room – 154 Ludlow Street http://www.livingroomny.com/

 

S.O.B.´S – 204 Varick Street http://www.sobs.com/

 

Apotheke – 9 Doyers Street

 

 

Some people say that New York is not complete without going to a Broadway show, true but also expensive, you can save some money when you buy the tickets at TKTS booth

 - check it out the booth at South Street Seaport, the queue is not so long. In South Seaport you can also have some seafood.

 

Don’t forget that The Staten Island Ferry is for free, you will pretty much enjoy the ride and the beautiful views of Manhattan and the State of Liberty.

 

A tip for art lovers is the Museum of Modern Art which is free to enter on Friday evenings from 4pm, at other times it costs $20.

 

One very good thing about Manhattan is that you can pretty much walk everywhere… but investing $20 in a “Pay Per Ride” ticket it is a good investment, it gives you 11 rides on buses or the metro for the price of 10!

 

Well did we make you feel like booking the next flight to the “city that never sleeps”? Then our mission is accomplished. Just one more important thing: Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Wherever you are, whatever you do keep the high spirits and the good values