tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90029609880501278032024-03-13T12:19:23.189-07:00Leslie KochLeslie Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296069389395880136noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9002960988050127803.post-15022773011110293822014-10-11T20:36:00.000-07:002014-10-11T20:41:04.971-07:003 Reasons October is a Fantastic Month for NYC Bloggers
Why is October my favorite month, as the editor of Downtown Traveler? In addition to hosting Halloween, the best holiday of the whole year (no arguments, please), this month brings several exciting and traffic-generating events to the Big Apple. October is traditionally our biggest month for page views, as readers find stories about Halloween, haunted houses and NY Comic Con through Google Leslie Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296069389395880136noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9002960988050127803.post-31562979047832001962013-11-09T10:42:00.006-08:002013-11-09T17:22:42.135-08:00Downtown Traveler turns 3 years old! Our top posts from the past year
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var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')Leslie Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296069389395880136noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9002960988050127803.post-62883574643787331892012-11-02T12:46:00.005-07:002012-11-02T12:48:06.227-07:00Surviving Hurricane Sandy and the Lower Manhattan Blackout
Hurricane Sandy may be history, but the storm's presence can still be felt in downtown Manhattan. My neighborhood, the East Village, is just ending its 4th day without power or cell service.
It's not fun living in "SoPo" (South of Power, the new name for the unfortunate half of Manhattan), but it is definitely interesting!
Click here to read my photo essay about the hurricane and blackout on Leslie Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296069389395880136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9002960988050127803.post-68076141315405130902012-05-28T19:57:00.001-07:002012-07-14T10:03:49.416-07:00My "favorite road trip" featured in the New York Times
What's your favorite road trip? Mine is the breathtaking journey through the canyons and hoodoos of Utah's Scenic Byway 12, which I visited earlier this month.
Coincidentally, the New York Times issued a call for readers to share their most cherished road trips just as I was returning from Southern Utah. I promptly tweeted about the region's marvels using the hashtag #faveroadtrip.
I'm pleasedLeslie Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296069389395880136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9002960988050127803.post-28985250098757754762011-06-01T12:21:00.000-07:002012-04-05T19:08:34.036-07:00Why are bloggers important to the travel industry?
Destination marketers are increasingly courting bloggers to provide immediate, in-depth and influential coverage.
I was asked by the NTA to answer three questions about travel blogging for their newsletter. My task was to explain the importance of blogger outreach and to clarify what bloggers are looking for when they visit a destination.
I accepted without hesitation. The NTA is the leading Leslie Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296069389395880136noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9002960988050127803.post-21811908514103611442011-04-21T14:15:00.000-07:002011-04-21T14:15:47.226-07:00US Travel Leaders Head to Egypt and Jordan on "Restoring the Journey" TourIs it safe to travel to Egypt and Jordan? Travelers aren't so sure, and tourism is down significantly in the Middle East.
The presidents of leading US-based travel associations are heading to the region tomorrow for a six-day trip. Sponsored by the tourism ministries of Egypt and Jordan, the “Restoring the Journey” trip is both a fact-finding mission and a way for the U.S. travel industry to Leslie Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296069389395880136noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9002960988050127803.post-58706505690715768862011-02-11T13:21:00.000-08:002011-02-11T13:21:11.480-08:00Huffington Post review of NYC's indoor pop-up parkNew Yorkers have one more day to visit the Openhouse Gallery pop-up park. The chirping birds, green grass and trees may be artificial, but this is the closest you'll get to the real thing until springtime! Click on my Huffington Post article to learn more about the park:
"New York City's Indoor Pop-up Park Is a Winter Escape"
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Locavore alert: ‘Farm City’ Leslie Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296069389395880136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9002960988050127803.post-54092509471824047252011-01-21T08:41:00.000-08:002011-01-21T08:41:32.942-08:00"Meet the Local Expert" debuts on Downtown Traveler
Aruba expert Keirsin Tjon Pian Gi
During my round the world trip, I often found myself in cities where I didn't know a soul. I was eager to get out and explore but I wasn't sure where to go. Guide books pinpointed the tourist boutiques and theme restaurants, but didn't include the hottest bars or latest attractions.
I discovered that the best advice comes from locals who know their Leslie Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296069389395880136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9002960988050127803.post-61843562476323564512011-01-19T10:41:00.000-08:002011-01-19T10:41:41.726-08:00I'm a featured blogger on OneTravel.comYesterday marked my first day as a featured blogger for OneTravel.com, a travel website offering flights, hotels, and packages to top destinations throughout the world.
Check out my first post, "How to Get the Most Value from NYC Restaurant Week."
I will be contributing travel stories on a regular basis, including news reports, top 5 lists and service pieces.
Are there any topics you would Leslie Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296069389395880136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9002960988050127803.post-8740003489442406132011-01-16T23:18:00.000-08:002011-01-16T23:18:32.073-08:00Lifetime Digital publishes my quiz, "Which Celeb Dad Is Like Your Man?"It's official: I can now add "quiz writer" to my list of accomplishments! Lifetime Digital just published my first celebrity quiz, one of several I wrote on assignment for the website.
If you've ever wondered "which celeb dad is like my man?" this is the perfect time to find out!
I enjoy writing quizzes because they unleash my creativity. I've always been a pop culture junkie; I grew upLeslie Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296069389395880136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9002960988050127803.post-14513234383447950982011-01-13T08:38:00.000-08:002011-01-15T21:28:23.280-08:00My first video post: Free activities in Salt Lake CityI spent the first week of 2011 skiing and sledding in Salt Lake City. While I missed New York's epic "Snowmageddon" storm, I saw plenty of snow in Utah.
Check out my first video post to see what free winter activities are available in the Beehive State. This video appeared on Downtown Traveler and was filmed with Kodak PlaySport and Canon PowerShot Elph cameras.
>> For more photosLeslie Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296069389395880136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9002960988050127803.post-67672279839667970302010-12-12T14:14:00.000-08:002010-12-12T14:14:20.255-08:00Just launched! DowntownTraveler.com features arts, culture and adventureAs you may have noticed, I haven't updated the LeslieTravel blog in several weeks. I've been focused on developing a new travel website, downtowntraveler.com.
I'm proud to announce that Downtown Traveler has launched! At just over two weeks old, the site is already attracting a growing community of independent travelers who crave arts, culture and adventure.
My new travel website, Leslie Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296069389395880136noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9002960988050127803.post-37293754300196244132010-11-21T17:47:00.000-08:002010-11-21T17:47:36.087-08:00GotSaga.com names the 50 most inspirational travelers on TwitterOnline travel community GotSaga.com recently named the Top 50 People on Twitter who Inspire the Travel Industry.
I was pleased to discover I made the cut! "LeslieTravel" is listed alongside such travel luminaries as Evelyn Hannon, the editor of Journeywoman.com, and JD Andrews of earthxplorer.com. Evelyn has over 9,000 Twitter followers while 40,000+ people follow JD.
I'm honored to appear Leslie Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296069389395880136noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9002960988050127803.post-74499639185660639312010-10-25T19:50:00.000-07:002010-10-25T19:50:59.357-07:00Photo Essay: The 20th Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog ParadeThis Saturday I covered the 20th Annual Halloween Dog Parade in Tompkins Square Park for The Local East Village, a new "hyperlocal" website from the New York Times.
Eli the Chihuahua as an Egyptian pharaoh. (Photo: Leslie Koch)
I met interesting New Yorkers and took photos of their fashion-savvy pets. Standout costumes included Gracie the Pug as Scarlett O'Hara, Sauce the Pomeranian as Tron, Leslie Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296069389395880136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9002960988050127803.post-67802984152591701102010-10-25T19:07:00.000-07:002010-10-25T19:07:13.337-07:00Halloween 2010 guide: Free costume ideas, NYC haunted houses and a pagan history lesson (photos)Are you ready for Halloween 2010? Don't be left out as New Yorkers take to the streets to celebrate our most festive holiday (if you don't count the Gay Pride Parade).
That's me on the left! I dressed as Michael Jackson for the 2009 Village Halloween Parade.
This weekend New York City will be packed with vampires, zombies and Lady Gaga lookalikes. Lecherous celebs Mel Gibson and Brett Leslie Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296069389395880136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9002960988050127803.post-14164857338186744502010-09-26T09:14:00.000-07:002010-09-26T09:14:16.073-07:002010 'Fab! Festival' showcases East Village art, dance, music (photos)I was heading to the DUMBO Arts Festival in Brooklyn on Saturday when I hit a detour in the East Village.
Mike Estabrook and Ernest Concepcion work on a large pastel drawing, part of their "Kangarok" series.
(Photo: Leslie Koch)
East 4th Street was filled with people, performers, craft tables and food stands. Artists were creating a masterpiece in oil pastels right on the street.
A man in aLeslie Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296069389395880136noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9002960988050127803.post-34672822139323147412010-09-22T18:20:00.000-07:002012-08-11T06:57:18.987-07:00Art in Park Slope: Farm City and G Train Salon
On Sunday I explored the art scene in Park Slope, Brooklyn with Krista Saunders as my trusty guide.
Krista curates the G Train Salon and has a show running at Urban Alchemist, a design co-op located on 5th Street off of 5th Avenue.
After checking out Jae Hi Ahn's exhibit at Urban Alchemist we ran into 'social sculpture' artist Tattfoo Tan at the Old Stone House.
@LeslieTravel checking out Leslie Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296069389395880136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9002960988050127803.post-41932147415599408892010-09-19T10:05:00.000-07:002010-09-19T10:05:17.928-07:001 year anniversary of the 'NY Destinations' column: My top storiesThis month marks the one year anniversary of my New York Destinations column on Examiner.com.
It's been a year marked by change, both personally and professionally. I got married, changed careers, moved back to Manhattan, landed a cover story in a New York City newspaper, went on my first press trip and became a Twitter addict.
Not too shabby-- considering I was backpacking around the world a Leslie Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296069389395880136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9002960988050127803.post-12384023480661592032010-09-18T08:53:00.000-07:002012-08-11T06:56:48.008-07:00Check out my guest post on Cumi and Ciki - NYC's Top 5 Cheap Eats!
When Ciki approached me on Twitter to write a guest post for the Cumi and Ciki blog, I was excited-- and a bit nervous.
Cumi and Ciki is a sleek food and travel blog with the best food photography on the web. The posts always include tantalizing close-ups of exotic dishes. Malaysian chicken rice, scallop carpaccio and prawn tempura are just a few recent selections.
My assignment was a topic I Leslie Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296069389395880136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9002960988050127803.post-1117681900841168912010-09-12T16:37:00.000-07:002010-09-12T16:39:23.779-07:002010 'Art Around the Park' brings colorful murals to the East Village (photos)Visitors to Tompkins Square Park this weekend saw an unfamiliar sight: the entire perimeter of the park was covered in art.
On Saturday artists were hard at work filling the 50"-60" square foot panels attached to the outer fence. Artwork ranged from paintings and drawings to collages.
One artist was attaching clothing in the shape of a human figure to his panel. Children helped the adults on Leslie Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296069389395880136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9002960988050127803.post-35149105054288962062010-09-09T10:45:00.000-07:002012-08-11T06:56:22.503-07:00Photo Album: TBEX Chapter Kick-off Party in Manhattan
Open bar, free bobbleheads, travel chat and Andrew Zimmern-- what more could you ask for?
My encounter with Andrew Zimmern at the TBEX kick-off party in NYC.
Last night's TBEX kick-off party was a blast. I met interesting travelers and got face time with Bizarre Foods host Andrew Zimmern. He autographed a copy of his new book The Bizarre Truth.
Unfortunately, Zimmern did not eat any Leslie Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296069389395880136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9002960988050127803.post-72331966059656644372010-09-08T08:57:00.000-07:002012-08-11T07:00:39.089-07:00Spotlight on Cambodia: The beaches of Sihanoukville (photos)
White sand. Crystal clear water. The widespread use of English. Located just 115 miles from the capital city.
On paper, the beaches of Sihanoukville, Cambodia seem to have all the characteristics of an upscale resort community.
In reality, this growing city is unlike anything most travelers have experienced before.
An isolated stretch of Independence beach in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, in Leslie Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296069389395880136noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9002960988050127803.post-14337565022064397242010-08-26T16:06:00.000-07:002010-09-12T12:58:45.372-07:00Cajun Country meets NYC: Burlesque, alligator appetizers + music at Louisiana Tourism eventThis week I attended the Cajun Country media event at Bourbon Street Bar in midtown Manhattan. It was sponsored by the State of Louisiana and the Acadiana Tourism Coalition.
I enjoyed live music (by Grammy-winning artists), sipped Pinot Grigio and chatted with a dozen burlesque performers and tourism reps. I learned a great deal about Cajun culture and the thriving arts scene in Leslie Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296069389395880136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9002960988050127803.post-43437153712745322452010-08-24T14:54:00.000-07:002012-08-11T06:50:58.603-07:00NY Destinations: Bachelorette parties in NYC - from tame to wild!
My latest article on Examiner.com is a topic I hold near and dear: bachelorette parties in the Big Apple.
Many of my NYC friends are getting married and I have been to my share of bachelorette parties in recent months. It turns out the countless hours of drinking and dancing at "hen" parties have served a higher purpose: research.
In writing this story, I decided not to include any salacious Leslie Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296069389395880136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9002960988050127803.post-21180510890052347252010-08-22T13:34:00.000-07:002012-08-11T07:00:02.343-07:00NYC Traveler Tweetup: $2 beers, travel talk and all-around good times!
New York City travel professionals flocked to the East Village on Tuesday for a night of $2 beers and bonding.
The second ever NYC Traveler Tweetup attracted a mix of writers, bloggers, editors, and a dynamic PR/publisher duo.
The tweetup coincided with #TravelTuesday on Twitter. It was a testament to Twitter's ability to bring together strangers with common interests and turn themLeslie Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296069389395880136noreply@blogger.com6