Tag: Ian Schrager
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Public New York Will Go Public in Three Years
Good news for people who love the Public Chicago hotel. Ian Schrager is officially bringing his new Public Hotels brand to the Big Apple. The WSJ reports that Schrager has teamed up with developer Douglas Durst to put in a 250-room Public Hotel in the lower 16 floors of a 56-story residential building in Manhattan's hottest new hotel nabe, Herald Square.
Much of what we found (and loved) at the Public Chicago--simple but stylish rooms, the Public Express room service, a happening restaurant and bar scene (over 10,000-sq.ft)--will be at the Public New York but along with a nightclub, a health club, pool and an outdoor garden. And for what it's worth, residential tenants in the building will also have access to the hotel amenities including room service. (Rents for a one-bedroom unit will start at $4,500 if you're interested.)
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All You Need To Know About The Public Chicago
Ian Schrager is hosting the official grand opening for his new Public Chicago today and as much as we'd like to be there (yes, we were actually invited) we've got other hotel business to attend to.
That said, since we visited Public Chicago last month and practically made out with it, allow us to show you all around the property...virtually. After you're done reading through our online diary and want to book a room, rates are currently hovering at $195 a night this weekend for a standard king.
If you're not in Chicago or don't have plans to go to Chicago, don't fret. Schrager is serious about his Public expansion plans as Business Week reports that he has acquired land in both London and New York for his next Public Hotels......aakdj;OIEU8920[paksjfal;wieu0[23prw;/. Sorry, we just passed out on our keyboard from excitement. Public is going worldwide! Shots for everyone!
We'll have more on the Public developments tomorrow but until then, here's all you need to know about the Public Chicago:
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What Does The Public Think of Public?
We gave you the complete lowdown on Ian Schrager's brand new Public Chicago hotel the other week but today we decided to check in with the rest of the general public on TripAdvisor to see what their reactions are. And so far, so good. Or as good as it can be with just three reviews.
The first reviewer claimed to stumble across the hotel by accident but is now a devoted fan, especially of the delicious The Pump Room: The other thing...I don't often eat in hotel restaurants, and I've NEVER done this before but I stayed two nights and ate lunch and dinner in the hotel both days. The Pump Room may very well be my favorite restaurant, so even if you aren't staying there definitely go for lunch or dinner. There's a great bar on the other side of the lobby too where you can get some some of the lunch entrees.
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Inside The (New!) Pump Room at Public Chicago
As with any good meal, we saved the best for last. And we're talking about the revamped legendary Pump Room restaurant from Jean-Georges Vongerichten inside Ian Schrager's new hotel, Public Chicago.
Ok, now that we've got that loaded introduction (Pump Room! Vongerichten! Schrager!) out of the way, onto the good stuff. Oh but first, to be fair, while JGV designed the menu concept, the chef hard at work in the restaurant is chef Bradford Phillips, an Indiana native whose resume includes NoMI at The Park Hyatt Chicago. Now, onto the food!
So we actually took a seat in the hotel's Library Bar on the other side of the lobby hoping to sip a drink and eat some food away from the Pump Room scene. (It was opening night so there was lots of backslapping going on and PYTs clogging up the bar.) But a hostess told us that while they would usually serve food in the bar area, that was not happening tonight. There were, however, some cancellations for dinner and she could seat us in the Pump Room instead.
Eeeee, we hesitated because we were dining by our lonesome. But faced with the possibility of not having tasted the Pump Room before checking out, we said, F it and followed the hostess to a table along the windows and overlooking the hubub in the middle of the restaurant.
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Riding a Bike in Public, Er, At Public Chicago
Our heart-on for Ian Schrager's newest hotel concept, Public Chicago continues with a look at the bikes in front for guests to ride.
We took one of these bad boys, Trek Bicycles, out for a spin on opening night down to Lake Shore and along the beach's bike path. With the wind in our hair on a beautiful warm Chicago evening, admiring the lake and the city views, everything seemed right with the world.
Nevermind that we were wearing tight-legged jeans which made for uncomfortable dismounting and new Chanel flats that got a little scuffed up, because it's life little pleasures like riding a bike that are important, right? Also, this bike ride had us wanting to make Chicago our boyfriend. Until the winter comes anyways.
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Public Express at Public Chicago is a Room Service Game-Changer
Trust us, this brown-bag meal is awesome.
We hope you've had fun looking at some of the room photos and public spaces shots at the just-opened Public Chicago from Ian Schrager. As promised, we've got more to show you from the hotel starting now with Public Express, the Public Hotels' new room service concept.
We love room service but there are times when we just don't want to bothered with all the pomp and circumstance that comes with having room service delivered to your room--you know, the awkwardness of letting the waiter into your room, hoping you are not too disheveled looking and that there isn't any underwear strewn about, waiting uncomfortably while he sets up the tray and then hemming and hawing over giving an added tip.
But now with Public Express, you don't have to deal with any of that. That's because the simple meals and sides are delivered within minutes to your room and left at your door with just a sharp knock from the staffer.
Need a visual on how Public Express works? Peruse our step-by-step photo gallery below!
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Inside The Public Chicago Hotel
Yesterday on our latest hotel-hopping adventure, we landed at Chicago O'Hare Airport and caught a taxi cab into the city. When the cabbie asked us where we were headed, we decided to use the hotel's former name instead, "We're going to the Ambassador East Hotel in the Gold Coast, although it's going to be called something different now."
The cabbie nodded his head up and down in recognition at Ambassador East but once we got on our way, he asked, "What do you mean it's going to be called something new now?"
So we explained that the entire hotel had been renovated and was now going by a new name--Public Chicago. Our cabbie's reaction: "What? They couldn't come up with a fanicer name? That sounds like the poor house!" That had us chuckling in the backseat but we weren't laughing when we pulled up to the hotel.
The twinkling lights over the hotel's front entrance and the good-looking bellmen waiting in front had us gasping, "Gramercy Park!" Yes, just five years ago a taxi cab was dropping us off in front of another similar scene directed by the same man, master hotelier Ian Schrager.
But where Gramercy Park was cold and gothic inside, Public Chicago is warm and laid-back without sacrificing any of its high style and at the same time, achieving the perfect balance between affordability and luxury. In short, we like Public. A LOT.
For photos and video of Public Chicago, keep reading!
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We Take a Design Nerd Stroll Through The Delano
Since it opened in 1994, the Delano Hotel has defined what it means to be a chic, South Beach boutique hotel.
Next year, its creative guru Philippe Starck will give the beach a new vision, with his work on SLS South Beach--mere steps away from the hotel that started it all. But can he top the ground-breaking work he produced for Ian Schrager at Delano?
After we took an 'ethos tour' with Delano GM Steven Hiblum, who pointed out the little quirks we'd missed on previous strolls through the lobby, and told us all about Starck's inspiration for his designs, we're not sure he can.
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Schrager + Living Social + Pump Room: A Flurry of Public Activity
The other day we noted that rooms at the soon-to-open Public Chicago had gone up just slightly to $215 a night but now there's a way to get a room for less--on LivingSocial.com.
The daily deal site has rooms at the hotel for $170 a night with a free upgrade to a superior king room. The catch is those rooms are good for stays in January-March, high winter in Chi-town. But you can pay just $25 extra and get a standard king from more bearable months of September to December. Or you could really splurge with $325 a night for a Loft King (again, available September to December.)
More perks include a custom designed Le Cabo candle, continental breakfast for two in the on-site restaurant Public Express, a welcome amenity of fresh fruit and bottled water and late check-out at 3pm.
The site is also offering tickets to the hotel's grand opening party on October 11--two for $900 or four for $2,500 and that includes a stay in a suite, breakfast for two in the Pump Room, champagne and truffles and a 5pm late checkout. (Ok, that last perk is awesome.)
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Room Rates at Public Chicago are Going Up (But Not Too Up)
Looking to stay at Ian Schrager's newest boutique hotel incarnation? Better book fast. Last we checked we found room rates for the upcoming Public Chicago of $135 a night for a teeny 225-sq.ft. queen bed room. But now, standard king rooms are now going for $215 a night. (These have a little more leg room at 275-sq.ft.)
For the hotel's first weekend open, the standard king rooms bump up to $245 a night. And no standard queens seem to be available for the rest of the week.
Of course, $215 and even $245 a night is still totally doable and reasonable. Even the hotel's biggest room, the deluxe one bedroom suite, is just $545 a night on opening weekend. Remember when Ian's other hotel started at $575 a night?
So, we'll be seeing you all in Chicago on September 12th then, correct?
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And The Name of the Pump Room at Public Chicago Will Be...
Ian Schrager asked the public what to name the restaurant at The Public Chicago and the public has spoken. The old Ambassador East's Pump Room restaurant will now be known as...The Pump Room!
Woot! Our vote really did matter!
Ian said:
“It was a landslide,” Schrager says — 85 percent of the nearly 20,000 votes in favor of “Pump Room.”
See more from Ian in a video below.
The restaurant's menu will be overseen by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Although, the chef who will be in the kitchen day after day is Chicago chef Bradford Phillips, an Indiana native whose resume includes NoMI at The Park Hyatt Chicago and most recently, LM Restaurant, a French bistro in Lincoln Square.
Both the hotel and the restaurant will open on September 12.
What do you think--love it or hate it? Sound off in comments below.
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Ian Schrager is Letting The Public Decide the Name for The Pump Room
Ian Schrager is certainly doing the hotel thang differently with his new brand of hotels, Public Hotels. Aside from being affordable yet service-oriented, Public, as its name suggests is gonna be all about inclusion. No too cool for school male models acting indignant when you ask them to retrieve your bags!
And in the first step of going "public", Schrager is asking the the public to vote on whether or not the famed Pump Room should keep the name or use the new moniker, Gold Coast Kitchen.
Voters can call 888-682-PUMP to vote for the name “Pump Room” or 888-943-GOLD to vote for the name “Gold Coast Kitchen.” You can also text "Pump" or "Gold" to 24474.
