THE KITANO NEW YORK INVITES BASEBALL FANS

05-24-2008

 

-The Kitano New York to present guests with baseball memorabilia as a reminder of the historic stadium-

 

NEW YORK, NY -- The Kitano New York, the city’s first and only Japanese-owned hotel, situated in the historic Murray Hill section of Manhattan, invites baseball fans to be its guests for the final all-star game to be played at Yankee stadium. Major League Baseball’s “Midsummer Classic” promises to be a memorable one as the All-Star Game returns to the Bronx at Yankee Stadium July 15, 2008.  This will be the fourth, and last, All-Star Game played at the venerable Yankee Stadium as the team will move to a brand new stadium in 2009. 

To commemorate the final All-Star Game played at Yankee Stadium, guests staying at The Kitano New York during the All-Star game will enjoy a take home Yankee souvenir as a reminder of the historic stadium and its final year. For guests who will be experiencing the All-Star game in-person, The Kitano New York is just a short subway ride away from the stadium, offering a direct route on the 4 subway line from Grand Central Station.

In addition to the All-Star Game, there is plenty of fun reserved for Manhattan's West Side, at the annual DHL All-Star FanFest, to be held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center from July 11-15, 2008. This unique event offers activities and exhibits to please fans of all ages including more than 40 interactive exhibits and attractions, Major League clinics and seminars, free autograph sessions, live entertainment, memorabilia and more. The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center is located within close proximity to the hotel at 34^th Street and 9^th Avenue and can be reached via public transportation or walking. For event ticket and information, call 1-888-FANFEST.

Fans will also enjoy the other events scheduled at Yankee Stadium throughout the weekend, including the All-Star Futures game on July 13 in which attendees can catch a glimpse of the up-and-coming stars of the minor leagues and the Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game pitting some of baseball’s most legendary figures against celebrity in a softball showdown on July 13. The stadium will also host the Gatorade All-Star workday with batting practice and the ever-popular home run derby on July 14.

This year’s All-Star Game will likely feature some of the top Japanese players in the major league, including Hideki Matsui of the Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers closer Takashi Saito, Boston Red Sox Hideki Okajima, and Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki.  Last year, Ichiro became the first Japanese player to win the MVP honor and also became the first Japanese player to homer in an All-Star Game. 

With close proximity to landmarks, transportation hubs, the convention center, and business and banking centers, The Kitano New York is an ideal venue for fans to participate in the festivities. Set amidst blocks of well-preserved brownstones at 66 Park Avenue (corner of 38^th Street), just steps away from Grand Central Station and the shops of Fifth Avenue, The Kitano New York is intrinsically connected to New York, both old and new.  Outside are the sounds of modern urban life while inside guests enter another world entirely, one equally refined, but with a serenity that is unmistakably Japanese. 

The Kitano New York also offers a unique venue for some of New York City’s top jazz entertainers. While the Kitano blends East and West seamlessly within its walls, it also brings together the finest classical and contemporary Japanese and American Jazz artists to the Murray Hill neighborhood.  The Kitano is dedicated to providing the best in Jazz music, showcasing performers from around the world representing different styles of Jazz.

The hotel offers several dining options such as the Garden Café and the Michelin-rated Hakubai, a traditional Japanese restaurant.  The hotel also offers 149 guestrooms, including 18 suites, two restaurants, bar lounge, and a penthouse floor devoted to banquet space. All guestrooms feature tranquil and handsome silk-covered walls, custom-made mahogany and cherry furniture, down comforters, tasteful artwork, and Roman pleated shades over windows that open to views of historic Murray Hill, Grand Central, the Empire State Building and other New York landmarks.

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The Kitano New York opened its doors in 1973 as New York’s first Japanese hotel. Thirty-five years later it remains the first and only Japanese owned hotel and has become an integral part of one of Manhattan’s historic neighborhoods, Murray Hill.  Located on fashionable Park Avenue at 38^th Street, the 18-story hotel towers over some of New York City’s most magnificent turn-of-the-century dwellings, offering spectacular views of some of city landmarks. The hotel features 149 guestrooms, including 17 contemporary suites and a one-of-a-kind Japanese Tatami Suite.  The Kitano New York is home to the critically acclaimed Michelin-rated Hakubai Restaurant where traditional Kaiseki delicacies are served. The Kitano New York is also home to live jazz music featuring live performances by legendary jazz musicians who descend upon the hotel’s bar lounge weekly to perform classic and contemporary jazz music.  The Kitano New York is a member of Summit Hotels & Resorts, a consortium of deluxe hotels worldwide.  For more information, contact The Kitano New York at 212-885-7000, 1-800-548-2666 or log onto www.kitano.com.

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