European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 29, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The statue of Liberty turns 100 big crowds expected at birthday party byjoe Hanauer United press International t he statue of Liberty will once again raise her lighted Torch beside the Golden door on july 3 but that door won t be open to would be visitors who Don t plan now for Liberty weekend in july. The new York convention and visitors Bureau has no prediction on How Many people will crowd the sidewalks of new York for Liberty weekend july 3 through july 6, but the statistics speak for themselves. The City has 100,000 hotel rooms other visitors will stay with friends and relatives. Add to that the City s 8 million people and the 25 million that could commute to the City from new Jersey Connecticut and Pennsylvania. That s a big guest list for the statue of Liberty s 100th birthday party. In addition some 40,000 private boats Are expected to Moor in the Harbor. This is going to be one of the most outstanding events that has Ever occurred said Preston Robert Tisch president of Loews corp. And chairman of the convention and visitors Bureau who says he plans to be the City s no. 1 tourist during Liberty weekend. They say the City will be mobbed and certainly there will be a lot of people Here. But they said the City would be mobbed in 1976 for operation sail and Many people including my wife stayed away. As it turned out there was no easier Day for getting around. The same thing happened in 1984 in los Angeles for the olympics. People ran away and emptied the City for six Days. New York is never mobbed we handle so Many people during the average business  and this time his wife will stay in town. For those who decide to go to new York for the big Bash Liberty weekend begins july 3 As the 300 ships of operation sail 1986 and the 50 military vessels of the International naval review assemble in the East and Hudson Rivers. The City s top guest president Reagan will be on hand the night of july 3 to Light the statue and then As the Climax of the evening to press a Button that will relight the statue s Torch As fireworks flare. The Day of july 4 will open with the International naval review and proceed to operation sail 1986, with John Williams leading the Boston pops in an american music spectacular that evening while the sky is alight with an International fireworks spectacular. The statue of Liberty will be open to the Public on july 5, a Liberty flight of historic planes will Roar overhead the tall ships and naval vessels will begin a two Day open House and the Day will conclude with an International classic concert led by Zubin Mehta in Central Park. The sports Salute and closing ceremonies take place july 6 at Byrne Arena and the giant stadium in the Meadowlands in new Jersey. There will be a lot More going on a two Day Harbor festival fair in lower Manhattan boat trips out into the Harbor from the South Street seaport various museum exhibitions and other events now in the planning stage. Visitors planning a trip might first write for the free statue of Liberty kit offered by the new York convention and visitors Bureau which includes information on new York in general and Liberty weekend in particular. The Bureau also offers free a hotel folder and a tour package directory but you must ask for them separately. Write to the new York convention and visitors Bureau department so 2 Columbus Circle new York City 10019. There Are plenty of hotel rooms still available if you go through a travel agent. Call the hotels directly and a photo new Torch held High and with scaffolding removed Liberty s yearlong refurbishing is almost completed. They will say they Are sold out but Many of those rooms have been sold in blocks to travel agents and tour packagers. The prices at new York hotels Range from High priced hostelries such As the Helmsley Palace where single room prices Start at $195 to Small established hotels such As the Algonquin where the rates Range from $92 to $118. On alternate arrangements such As bed and breakfast the visitor is on his own. Bed and breakfast in new York Means the spare room in somebody s apartment said John p. Macbean vice president and spokesman for the Bureau. That can Range from terrific to unsatisfactory. We Don t get into it because we can t guarantee a certain Standard of service and excellence. I m not condemning them but it is pretty much pot  if you have no Luck now in obtaining a hotel room do not give up. April is the month when Many hotels expect purchasers of blocks of rooms to pay up or relinquish their reservations so the room situation currently is in flux. If you have contacted a hotel and been turned Down try again. New York mayor Edward Koch has a further word of encouragement. We re accustomed to crowds and even if they Tell you there is no room in the hotels come anyway Koch said apparently off the cuff during a voice of America Call in radio program. We will find places to stay even if we have to open the  Central Park in Manhattan has been ruled out but Parks department officials Are scrambling for camping grounds in other Parks. Do not rent a car for your stay in new York City unless you need it for Side trips out of town. New York City traffic is congested and exasperating and parking is expensive. Subway and bus fares Are $1 and will take you to within a Block or two of almost anywhere you want to go. The Best View of the statue of Liberty is from the water she was built to Greet ships coming into the port of new York. Your travel agent can find you a place on an excursion boat trip being put together by a tour packager but it will Cost anywhere from $50 to $325 and More per person. Tuesday april 29, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 13