New York City

The Stone Rose Bar & Grill opens in Delta's Terminal 3 at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) - February 2010 - The Stone Rose Bar & Grill opened recently at JFK. According to the HMSHost press release (February 9, 2010), "Stone Rose Bar & Grill at JFK reflects the Gerber Group brand’s trademarks: cutting-edge design and innovative cocktails offered in an atmosphere of casual elegance. While sipping cocktails, travelers can also catch their favorite sporting event on one of the many flat screen TVs while dining on a wide variety of upscale fare. In addition to tasty bites such as Jumbo Shrimp Sugarcane Skewer, Roasted Chicken Buffalo Mozzarella salad, a Caprese Ficelle or Steak Flatbread sandwich, all of which can be followed by a Berries and Chocolate dessert, the menu includes breakfast selections of quiche, scrambles, bagels and more."

The new Stone Rose Bar & Grill joins these other John F. Kennedy International Airport restaurants:

Balducci's Post-Security Food Court
Burger King Post-Security Main Food Court
Burger King Post-Security Upper Food Court Opposite Gate 18
Chili's Too Post-Security Food Court
Ciao Post-Security Gate 18
Dunkin' Donuts Post-Security Gate 14
Dunkin' Donuts/Gourmet on the Fly Pre-Security International Arrivals Area
Healthy Gourmet Post-Security Gate 14
Sam Adams Brewhouse Post-Security Food Court
Sbarro Post-Security Food Court
Starbucks Coffee Post-Security Gate 18
Starbucks Coffee Post-Security Food Court

New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) runway construction has potential to cause early summer flight delays

New York John F. Kennedy international Airport (JFK) - January 2010 -  The program in progress to decrease flight delays at Kennedy Airport will include closure of the airport's main runway, the "Bay Runway" from March until June 2010. When it reopens in July, it will still be with limitations. During the closure, with certain wind directions the airport will have only one runway operational. The Bay runway is the second longest runway in the country. The closure will result in 6 inches of runway asphalt being replaced by thicker more durable concrete, which is intended to ultimately decrease runway maintenance requirements and closures. A second runway will close for 2 weeks in September as part of the program. All of the major airlines operating out of JFK have agreeed to delay the start of theiir summer flight schedule until July 1. This will result in fewer than normal flights in June, and the potential for flight delays, partiicularly if the weather creates runway useage limitations. The largest domestic carrier at JFK is JetBlue and the largest international carrier is Delta. Anyone planning their summer travel should keep this runway closure and potential for JFK flight delays in mind.

Source: New York Times January 7, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/08/nyregion/08runway.html?pagewanted=1&sq=kennedy%20runway%20closure&st=cse&scp=1

New John F. Kennedy Airport Restaurants opening soon

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) (July 2009) -- Slated to open later this year are a number of new airport restaurants in John F. Kennedy Airport Terminal 4. Unfortunately the press release does not give an opening date for these restaurants, and the JFK website still lists all the old restaurants. The line up is quite impressive, though and includes:

The Palm Bar & Grille - this will be the first airport location of the famous steakhouse chain which started in New York City.
Seafood Bar by Caviar House & Prunar - will features a premier selection of wine and vodkas as well as Balik smoked salmon, Atlantic seafood and Prunier farmed Caspian caviar.
ZPizza - features fire-baked 100% organic wheat dough pizza with extensive topping options
Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar - a national chain famous for its chicken wings, but also offering other menu items such as appetizers and burgers
Tigin Irish Pub & Restaurant - features Irish food and European draft beers
Upper Crust & Panopolis - two bakery concepts, with the first featuring fresh baguettes, and the second sandwiches on artisanal bread.
Panda Express - a fast food Chinese chain
Peet's Coffee & Tea

If you have recently visited Terminal 4 please let us know which of these restaurants have opened, and any comments you may have on them. Thanks! - Gus

American Airlines opens "Pet Relief Area" at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Terminal 8 and PetAirways begins operations.

Kennedy International Airport (JFK) (July 2009) -- If you are traveling with a pet through Kennedy Airport Terminal 8 then your pet is in luck! A new "Pet Relief Area" has opened at the departure level, giving pets one last opportunity, like their masters, to take care of their business before boarding the plane. It sound like there's everything a pet would need, like bags for their masters' to pick up their pets' business, some real grass, and a fire hydrant.

On a side note, a recent article in the New York Times has a nice discussion on traveling by air with pets, and some useful links.

Of course, most people have already heard about the recent launch of PetAirways, but in case you haven't or want to learn mor, you can learn about them on their website - petairways.com. Their website also offers some useful tips for traveling with pets and getting things ready for their flight. Initial service which began on July 14 is near 5 major metropolitan airports, which includes Republic Airport in Farmingdale, NY (on Long Island); Baltimore/Washington International Airport; Chicago Midway; Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (Broomfield, CO), Hawthorne Municipal AIrport/Los Angeles Executive Airport (Hawthorne, CA). They fly turboprob planes which have had their cabins refitted to hold the pet carriers (that they provide for your pet), which are held in place by their proprietary restraint system. A Pet Attendant monitors the animals throughout the flight as well as in the Pet Lounge. Your pet's progress can also be tracked on-line. You can check out pictures of the PetAirways planes and "pawsenger" area on the PetAirways web site as well.

Bobbie Van's Steakhouse, a New York City Area Steakhouse, opens a restaurant in Kennedy Airport, in Terminal 8, the American Airlines Terminal

Kennedy International Airport (JFK) - June 2009 -- Bobby Van's Steakhouse has recently opened a restaurant in the American Airlines Terminal (Terminal 8) at Kennedy Airport (JFK). Bobby Van's is a steakhouse that had its beginnings in Bridgehampton, NY, and has restaurants in New York City and Washington, D.C. The reviews for this restaurant so far have been positive. The staff will expedite your order if you let them know that your flight is leaving soon, however some people have mentioned the service can be somewhat slow, and suggest that you tell them your plane is leaving a little earlier to allow yourself time to enjoy your meal. The restaurant has 140 seats, TV's that display flight information, and a full menu, including wine, beer and cocktails. It sounds like it is worth a stop if you are looking for some decent food before your flight. Bobby Van's Steakhouse joins Drink Martini Bar, O'Neals, New York Sports Bar, Soho Bistro and Vino Volo Wine Room in Terminal 8*.

You can learn more about Bobby Van's Steakhouse on their website, although they do not have information posted about the Kennedy Airport location.

*Concession information from JFK website, June 26, 2009.