(1888PressRelease)
January 12, 2008 - An attorney from New England named Mike wanted to provide his wife Dana (a lifelong fan of Jackie Kennedy Onassis), with a special 40th birthday surprise she’d never forget so he contacted Jim Dykes of Rich & Famous Tours of New York City. For starters, Jim hired a private bus and then specially designed a Rich & Famous tour around the Big Apple with a twist: viewing sites having to do with the late First Lady. An unexpected treat for the visitors happened when Dykes made a call to a wealthy collector friend, a Mr. Frank Harvey, who invited the group into his Central Park West penthouse to view his extensive private collection of Kennedy memorabilia. “I was completely speechless!” said the birthday girl. “It was the most amazing surprise to be invited into a stranger’s home overlooking Central Park to view his prized collections.”
Among the dozens of items include rare pictures taken by JFK photographer Jacques Lowe (a friend of Harvey’s), childhood notes and reports written by Jackie, pens used by JFK to sign various bills into legislation, and much more. Rich & Famous Tours Co-Founder and guide Jim Dykes thoroughly researched the late Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy’s life and included dozens of Big Apple sites such as Jackie’s former home address at 1040 Fifth Avenue on Central Park, as well as 740 Park Avenue, the elegant building at E. 71st Street she was raised in which was recently the subject of a best-selling book by Michael Gross, 740 Park, The Story of the World’s Richest Apartment Building.
Also featured in the tour were the various churches in Jackie’s life including St. Thomas More, St. Patrick’s and the church of her christening and her funeral, St. Ignatious on Park Avenue. Also included in the tour were schools, shops and hotels such as the Carlyle where Jackie signed her pre-nup with Onassis’ attorney and JFK allegedly had his extra-marital romps and the Waldorf where Jackie was crowned “deb of the year” in 1947.
“I can’t believe Rich & Famous Tours did so much fantastic research,” said the birthday girl. “I’ve been an admirer of Jackie’s for years…I’ve reading bios and collecting memorabilia as long as I can remember-- this tour was the perfect birthday gift.”
Rich and Famous Tours whisks starstruck visitors and curious locals through the most exciting celebrity-filled neighborhoods in New York. Tickets can be purchased at
www.richandfamoustours.com .”
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