The Insurance Doctor

Tag: leisure

  • Funflation is Here!

    Funflation is Here!

    Recently, I saw a piece covered by two TV stations that mentioned that the “Top of the Rock” was moving towards “Dynamic Pricing!”

    The “Top of the Rock”, also known as the rooftop of Rockefeller Center, is known for its unobstructed views of iconic landmarks, such as the Empire State Building, Central Park, the Chrysler Building, the George Washington Bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge, One World Trade Center and the Statue of Liberty!

    You might be asking yourself, “What does this mean?” 

    Have you noticed in recent years that the cost of attending live events, whether it’s a major sports game, a concert, or a Broadway Show has skyrocketed?  This phenomenon, often called “FunFlation,” refers to the rising prices of entertainment due to increased demand and evolving ticket pricing strategies.

    One of the biggest drivers of ‘FunFlation” is “Dynamic Pricing!”  This is similar to airline and hotel pricing, where vacationers are charged more money during spring break compared to the vacation offseason.  Dynamic Pricing uses an algorithmic model that adjusts ticket prices based on demand, often making events far more expensive than they were just a few years ago.

    The “Dynamic Pricing Model” benefits organizers, artists, and teams by maximizing revenue.  I call it a MONEY GRAB!  It also drives up costs for fans, especially for high-profile events!  Some artists have deflected blame to ticket companies.  The situation is murky at best.

    The “Top of the Rock” is a perfect example of what “Dynamic Pricing” is doing.  I went to their website, which advertises an adult ticket (ages 13+) for between $40-$61.  The prices can change by time slot as the early afternoon prices were $40 each; however, going during the sunset hour can cost $100 each.

    Ticketmaster’s Dynamic Pricing Model can change ticket prices in the middle of the on-sale process based on demand.  In the “old days,” which can be only 3 years ago, ticket prices for entertainment events were fixed, with different tiers based on seat location and venue capacity.  This means that you can buy a ticket, for example, for $100 during a “pre-sale” event that can double in price 15 minutes later, based on demand.  The “re-sale” sites like Stubhub can be even worse as ticketholders can jack up the price even more after or during the ticket sale period. 

    For the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no live in-person entertainment.  I remember when major league baseball and NBA teams were playing in empty stadia with cardboard boxes in seats instead of fans.  Once this ended, demand for live entertainment skyrocketed!

    Live Nation statistics show live music stadium shows are up 60% this year over the first two months of 2024.  Numerous artists are planning big tours for 2025, such as Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce (with Post Malone), Pitbull, Sabrina Carpenter, Billy Joe,l and AC/DC (in Europe, not the USA), to name a few. 

    Some tips to avoid being a victim of “Dynamic Pricing” are:

    1. Pre-Sale: Try and budget your time accordingly so you can buy tickets as soon as the portal opens, before “Dynamic Pricing” kicks in.
    2. Check Other US Cities: Often, other cities have much better pricing than major cities such as New York.  For example, on 4/10/2021, we found much better-priced tickets for The Rolling Stones in Pittsburgh than in New York.  We flew to Pittsburgh and stayed in a hotel for two nights for less than it cost to go to the show at MSG.
    3. Check Other Countries:  During the Taylor Swift “Eras Tour,” savvy concert goers flew to Poland for much better ticket pricing and got a mini vacation out of it for less than going to the USA.

             In closing, it makes financial sense to do your homework when buying tickets for live entertainment!  ENJOY the shows!

  • Pizza = Big Business

    Pizza = Big Business

    Pizza is my favorite food! The passion for pizza goes way back to my early childhood when my Sicilian Grandmother, Anna Intelisano, made her own pizza for us. At our house, for a variety of reasons, we would often have pizza on Friday nights with cannoli for dessert.

    Pizza was invented in Naples, Italy in the early to mid-1800s. The classic Margherita-style pizza was named after the Italian “Queen Margherita!” In celebration of the queen’s visit to Naples in 1889, a popular pizzeria made a pizza to match the white, green, and red of the Italian flag. 

    Pizza became popular in the United States in late 1945, when returning soldiers who fought in Italy in WWII spread the word. The first pizzeria in the USA was Lombardi’s, which opened in 1905. 

    I led a pizza crawl in October 2019 (see the picture) which started at Famous Ben’s, then onto Prince Street pizza (my #1 pepperoni Sicilian slice,) followed by a fabulous sit-down meal in the Lombardi’s basement dining room. 

    Lombardi’s was founded by Gennaro Lombardi.  His employees included Anthony “Totonno” Pero, John Sasso, and Pasquale “Patsy” Lanceri. The 3 pizza makers left and launched their own pizza establishments called Totonno, John’s, and Patsy’s respectively. Thus, the Lombardi pizza family tree was created! Subsequently, two pizza generations branched out to places like Patsy Grimaldi’s (his nephew) and Lucali. 

    There are now numerous pizza styles such as Detroit-Style (Emmy’s and Emmy Squared,) a new wave of Neopolitan artisanal personal pizza styles such as Roberta’s, Keste, Best and Motorino. With these hybrid styles have come large price increases.

    Food and Wine recently came out with a report ranking New York pizza #3 behind New Jersey and Connecticut. Their reasoning is that New York pizzerias are in a hurry and rush the process to make more profit. I am not buying this; however, I do have a few places in N.J. and Ct. on my radar to do my own comparison.

    I have found excellent pizza all over the world. From Naples (we went to Pizzeria da Michele, featured in the Eat, Pray, Love Julia Roberts movie) to Sydney, Australia to Bogota, Colombia.

    Since the early 1960s, the price of a regular New York slice has almost matched the price of a subway token. This was called the “Pizza Principle” or the “Pizza-Subway Connection.” This held true until about 6-8 years ago when pizza prices started to ramp up and become a huge money-making business. Now, in many places, a gourmet slice with toppings can run between $4-$5 per slice.

               Courtesy of factretriever.com, my top 10 pizza factoids are:

    1.   In America, annual pizza sales exceed $28 billion per year.

    2.   Over 5 billion pizzas are sold every year in the world.

    3.   Over 3 billion pizzas are sold every year in the United States.

    4.   Americans eat approximately 350 slices per second.

    5.   Recently, Halloween unseated Super Bowl Sunday as the biggest pizza day.

    6.   Thanksgiving is the day Americans eat the least amount of pizza.

    7.   October is national pizza month.

    8.   The average American eats about 46 slices or 23 pounds per year.

    9.   The most popular pizza topping in the USA is pepperoni.

    10.Lady Gaga once bought $1,000 worth of pizza for fans waiting in line for her autograph!

  • 7 Facts About the Forest Hills Tennis Center

    For many years the Forest Hills Tennis Center also known as the West Side Tennis Club stood dormant!  For all intents and purposes, it was rotting away waiting for the wrecking ball to put it out of it’s misery.

    1- The FHTC has history on it’s side: Built in 1923 and renovated in 2013 the FHTC has hosted legendary tennis players such as Arthur Ashe, Billie Jean King, Rod Laver, Chris Evert BJ-Kingand Bjorn Borg to name a few.

    2- Rock and Roll hall of fame bands have played the FHTC: Bob Dylan is coming this summer after his 51 year hiatus as well as Paul Simon.   Iconic bands to play the FHTC include; The Beatles(64’), Rolling Stones(66’)and Jimi Hendrix(67’).  Other bands who also played “back in the day” were The Cars, Asia, Wang Chung, Yes, The Talking Heads and The Doors!

    3- The US Tennis Open left Forest Hills in 1977: After the 1977 tournament the US Open left the West Side Tennis Club and moved to Flushing Meadows, also in queens. There were small tennis tournaments held there and lesser known bands into the 1990’s until the costs to maintain the building become too high and the building was shuttered for almost 20 years.

    4- It reopened in 2013: for the Mumford & Sons concert.

    5- Now the FHTC is on the upswing: There are more renovations in store and it was just announced that the “NY Empire” world tennis team will be playing in Forest Hills.

    6-The FHTC was almost converted to condos: Many people don’t know that the West Side Tennis Club membership voted down 2 separate condo proposals.

    7-Unique to the venue: Other than being walking distance from my house there’s no parking lot or street parking in the immediate area.  It can be accessed by train or bus.

  • 6 Fun Facts about Major League Baseball

    The 2017 major league baseball season opened on April 2nd with the Tampa Bay Rays hosting the New York Yankees. Some MLB teams cater to fans with discounted tickets and food while some play hardball with very high prices. The average price of 2 tickets (cheapest seats available) 2 small beers, 2 hot dogs and parking is about $78. Prices vary greatly from ballpark to ballpark. Fans who enjoy a game at the cheapest stadium ($48 Angels) will pay $110 less than the most expensive ($157 Red Sox). Enjoy some of the these facts:fun baseball facts

    1.Tickets: The least expensive tickets available are surprisingly the LA Angels at $9.80/seat and the most expensive are the Boston Red Sox where it will set you back $48 for Fenway Park upper deck seats.

    2. Hot Dogs: At the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati a hot dog will set you back only $1 whereas it costs $6.25 for a dog at Citi Field to watch the NY Metropolitans.

    3. Beer: A small brouhaha costs only $4 to watch both the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cleveland Indians. It’s a three-way tie for most expensive at $7.75 to watch the Cubs, Red Sox and Phillies.

    4. Parking: Parking is FREE at Tropicana field to watch the Tampa Bay Rays while it will cost you at least $35 to watch the NY Yankees or Boston Red Sox.

    5. Ticket Cost Comparison: Although both teams play in California a ticket to see the San Francisco Giants costs more than double the price of a ticket to see the LA Dodgers.

    6. Hot Dog Price Comparison: Although the price to see a game at Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park rank in the top 3 in baseball the price of a hot dog cost 75% more in Boston.
    Keep these things in mind when you decide to visit new ballparks as pricing could be a home run or a total washout!

    Ask Robert how to hit a personal financial home run with your free consultation today.

  • 8 Summer Travel Tips

    8 Summer Travel Tips

    Having touched foot on 5 of the 7 continents, I have learned a lot.  With solid planning, I was able to do 3 weeks in Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia with 1 carry-on bag and 1 computer bag.  My top travel tips are:insurance, New York, travel

    1. Call your credit card companies in advance: and tell them where you are going and what dates. I have had cards frozen because companies see a string of out of town charges and they think your cards were stolen.
    2. Think in body sections when packing: I do this in the morning while getting work ready and start from feet to head.  It can be stressful the last days before a trip so you don’t want to forget anything so do the same with the kids.
    3. Pack a change of clothes in your carry-on bag: 29 million bags are lost/delayed each year. Be ready when it happens to you!
    4. Buy a guide book if going overseas: Can’t stress this enough. Advanced research prevents issues which can ruin a trip.  For example, my research told me that in Myanmar and Cambodia they accept US dollars however not with folds or wrinkles.  I went to the bank in advance and withdrew $500 of new bills in 1’s, 5’s, 10’s and 20’s. I like “lonely planet” and “rough guides” the best.  Look for the most recent edition.
    1. Read negative reviews on hotels: I prefer trip advisor and Agoda for international travel.
    2. If touring by car get a tune-up and GPS: Nothing worse than getting lost or having your car break down.  GPS your destinations in advance for proper time planning.
    3. Buy an off color suitcase: This way you can spot in from a long distance away.
    4. Sign up for the TSA: The TSA pre-check can make the difference between missing and making a flight and decrease travel stress considerably.

  • 5 Top Slices & Best White Pie in NYC

    Pizza is a passion of mine!  After six months, a few extra pounds and visiting 50+ places the results are in.

    1. Di Fara: Located in Midwood Brooklyn, this place is 2nd to none! All slices and pies are made by 90+ yo Dominick Demarco.  Flavors explode in your mouth.  Waits are painful but worth

      Dom De Marco, pizza maker and owner of Di Fara Pizza
      Dom De Marco, pizza maker and owner of Di Fara Pizza

      it.  You have to go at least once.  Cash only.

    2. Lucali: Located in Carroll Gardens Brooklyn, this converted candy store serves only mouth watering pizza and the best calzones I’ve ever had to boot! Cash only.
    3. Nicks: Located in Forest Hills Queens, Nicks has the feel of a 50’s diner. Pies only, they come out perfect every time and Nick’s has the best sausage topping ever! Cash only.
    4. Roberta’s: Hipster-chic Bushwick Brooklyn location, this place serves wood-fired pizza and has a great vibe. With a live Deejay and Christmas lights this place is a must visit.  Cool seating also available in their garden where vegetables are grown.
    5. New Park: In Howard Beach Queens, this no-frills spot has been serving amazing slices for over 70 years. I prefer to order their slices and pies well done.

    Best White Pizza?  Lombardi’s hands down!  The first pizza place in the USA, Lombardi’s has been cranking out pies since 1905.  This Nolita (north of little Italy) landmark restaurant uses a coal-fired oven and is cash only.

    I’m open to feedback, enjoy!

  • 5 reasons to visit Sorrento

    Wedged on a ledge under the mountains and over the Mediterranean, Sorrento is long and narrow.  Sorrento is reasonably priced and can be done either as a day trip or 1-2 nights will suffice.

    1. Stunning Cliffside views: Spectacular stretch of coastline over the bay of Naples and near Capri.

      sorrento
      Shopping in Old Town Sorrento
    2. Lemons and Limoncello: Sorrento takes it to the next level serving all types of edibles with limoncello inside.  Be careful as alcohol contents range from 14-24% potent levels for sure!
    3. Old Sorrento town: Very pleasant old city where many people speak English. Streets are narrow with colorful shops and quaint trattorias.
    4. Shopping: Wide variety of shops offering everything from leather goods, homemade sandals to creative olive and lemon products.
    5. Sightseeing: Easy to walk Sorrento boasts a wealth of elegant historic architecture, Greek, Roman and Medieval buildings
  • 10 Reasons Alex Rodriguez could be a Hall of Famer

    10 Reasons Alex Rodriguez could be a Hall of Famer

    10 Reasons Alex Rodriguez could be a Hall of Famer

    On Friday, 8/12/2016 “A-Rod” will play his last game.  Barring an unlikely return to MLB, he will go on the Hall of Fame ballot in 2021.  The baseball writers’ association will grapple with perhaps the most complex case in history.

    1. 10 years on the ballot: By 2015, many younger writer’s will reach the 10-year membership mark required to vote.  Steroids are a common issue these days and younger voters may be apt to look past it.a-rod

    2. Alex hit 696 home runs: He trails only Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714).

    3. A-Rod hit 30 home runs and 100 RBI in 13 straight seasons: From 1998-2010 which is the most in MLB history.  Sports writers are looking for this type of consistency.

    4. Alex ranks 25th all-time in games played: This type of both consistency and longevity are what gets you into the HOF.

    5. His 118 WAR* (Wins Above Replacement) ranks 12th all time: He’s sandwiched between Ted Williams and Lou Gehrig.  *WAR is a fantasy/sabermetrics statistic that measure a player’s stats vs a replacement player- the net being how many wins that player is responsible for over time.  This includes defense and can be plus or minus.

    6. In 2013 A-Rod hit his record career 24th grand slam:  He broke the previous record of 23 all time by Lou Gehrig.

    7. He has been named to 14 all-star teams: This includes  9 years in a row from 2000-2008.

    8. Alex has 3114 career hits: This ranks him 20th all-time.  He leads the MLB in hits with 213 in 1998.

    9. A-Rod has won 3 MVP awards and 1 World Series ring: He also was instrumental in helping the Yankees win the World Series in 2009.  Alex’s batting average was .365 and he hit 6 home runs with 18 RBIs (runs batted in) over 15 games played in the 2009 playoffs.

    10. Alex ranks 3rd all-time in RBIs: With 2084 RBI in 2782 games played Arod twice led the major leagues.  He hit 142 RBI in 2002 and 156 in 2007 respectively.

    Although Alex has admitted steroid use and is an enigma, he still may sneak in there after all!

  • 8 Reasons this was the Best NBA season ever

    2016 will go down in the history books as one of the best seasons in NBA history. Here are my eight reasons

     

    1. The Golden State Warriors break Michael Jordan’s Bulls sacred single season record going 73-9.insurance, New York, financial services, Queens
    2. LeBron James’ Cavaliers shock the world coming back from a 3-1 deficit and win the title, breaking the city of Cleveland’s 52-year city championship drought.
    3. MVP candidate Kevin “KD” Durrant signs a free agent contract with the powerhouse Warriors.
    4. The NBA salary cap rises a record 34% from $70-94 million due to TV revenues and a collective bargaining agreement that demands it gets spread to players.
    5. The salary cap increase will help small-market teams lure better quality free agents, however the better teams will be able to spend more as well.
    6. LeBron James and KD lead one of the most talented groups of free agents in one off-season all time.
    7. The large-market Knicks and Lakers are positioned going forward to actually be watchable.
    8. Jeremy Lin brings his “Linsanity” to the hapless Brooklyn Nets team. Where will LeBron James sign?

  • 10 Fun & Not So Fun Facts About Puerto Rico

    After 20+ years I just spent a week at the El San Juan and learned that it’s not what it used to be.  Here’s what I found.

    The streets of San Juan, Puerto Rico
    streets of San Juan, Puerto Rico

    1. Leave your passport home: PR is a U.S. territory hence, you can ditch your passport!  Bring a valid / current photo ID though.

    2. The drinking age is 18 and currency is U.S. dollar    :  It makes things very easy to buy what you forgot to pack.

    3. There are 5 Miss Universe winners from PR: Unfortunately, I didn’t see any of them at the beach.

    4. PR has 270 miles of beaches and is an archipelago: which means there are more islands to explore.

    5. The west coast of PR has some of the best surfing and diving in all of the Caribbean: A hidden gem for sure.

    6. PR has some of the best coffee in the world: Having been on 5 of the 7 continents I rate them in my top 5.

    7. PR is the home of the world’s largest telescope: It’s called the Arecibo Observatory.

    8. PR is almost always between 70 to 80 degrees year round: Weather is steady but no guarantee.  We were just had 2 of 7 days that were sunny.  We did find that the humidity seemed lower and less bugs than before.

    9. PR is in deep debt that is currently $72B: Old town San Juan was noticeably run down with many closed businesses and less people.  There was actually a shortage of luggage earlier this year because so many people are leaving the island.

    Zip line fun in Puerto Rico
    Zip line fun in Puerto Rico

    10. Currently, PR has no bankruptcy protection: PR is in a deep recession and there’s no guarantee that the USA will bail them out.  They are having elections in may and corruption is rampant.  The relationship between the U.S. and PR is a “tricky” one.  We shall see how it plays out.

    In summary,  PR is still a fun place to visit.  That being said if you were there years ago like us you will notice the difference and might be disappointed!