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Actor Dominic Chianese is excited to show visitors his favorite spots in town. (Vicky Jiang/The Epoch Times)
NEW YORK—Visitors to New York City will now have the chance to be “greeted” by a celebrity as part of the Big Apple Greeter organization’s new “Celebrity Greeter for a Day” program. The program was launched on Wednesday at City Hall by former football star Tiki Barber, “The Sopranos” actor Dominic Chianese along with Big Apple Greeter representatives, elected officials, and New York business and tourism officials.
Rather than being led around by a tour guide to commonplace Manhattan tourist areas, Big Apple Greeter pairs visitors by their choice of times and destinations, with enthusiastic volunteer “greeters” who offer them a personal taste of all five boroughs of New York, explained Gail Morse, director of marketing and public relations for the organization.
New York City Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding Robert Lieber said that the Big Apple Greeter organization offers visitors a “unique perspective on what it means to be a New Yorker” and makes it “easier than ever to share their experiences with visitors.”
Lieber added that the Big Apple Greeter program will also bring economic opportunity for the tourism industry, which brings in $30 billion for all of New York and supports 300,000 jobs, from international retailers to small businesses.
Big Apple Greeter is a non-profit organization founded in 1992 by Lynn Brooks, who, inspired by her travels around the world, wanted to change the way foreigners perceived New York City—enormous and overwhelming—despite its many colors, said Gail Morse.
Seventy-eight-year-old actor Dominic Chianese of “The Godfather II” and “The Sopranos” fame is excited to show visitors his old neighborhood and favorite haunts.
A native of the Bronx and a “citizen of the world,” Chianese named Arthur Avenue as his favorite spot in town, for the delicious food offered at Mario’s Restaurant.
Barber and Chianese are encouraging other celebrities to join them in the initiative that will bring revenue to the state and give visitors insight to New York from the perspective of a local.
Karen Bell, a professional photographer who has volunteered with Big Apple Greeter for the past five years, entertains a “love and hate affair” with the city. Though a native of Brooklyn, she has lived in Manhattan most of her life. Though she dislikes the noise and dirt of the city, she would like to show visitors the unbeatable food and diverse artistic pursuits offered here.
The Big Apple Greeter organization is a part of a “loose association” of greeters programs around the world, according to founder Lynn Brooks.
The organization currently employs 340 volunteers to greet tourists, 85 percent of whom are from outside of the United States, said Public Relations Director Gail Morse. The multi-faceted group of volunteers range from college age to the age of 90 and caters to speakers of more than 22 languages.
For more information on Big Apple Greeter and other greeter programs around the world, visit http://www.bigapplegreeter.org/ and http://www.globalgreeternetwork.info .
