Tag: Manhattan Hotels
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5 Things We Learned From Assouline's New 'Luxury Collection' Book
If you're feeling wistful this weekend, a good way to kick back and set out on a magical hotel journey—without ever leaving your home—is to flip through Assouline's new 160-page Luxury Collection book, which is part of their Hotel Stories series.
The Luxury Collection: Hotel Stories devotes a mini-chapter to each of the 80+ hotels under Starwood's chi-chi Luxury Collection brand. There's history, and celebrity interviews, and design details—but you can technically find those things anywhere on the internet. What really makes the book stand out are the photos. Rich, full-color, splashy images of ITC Mughal, Gritti Palace, Al Maha and tons more.
While drooling over the images, we managed to scan a bit of text too. Here are five takeaway facts about Luxury Collection we didn't previously know:
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Coolest Hotel Instagram Of The Day Goes To...
The Midtown Manhattan classic property has kicked off their Drink of the Day specials at Henry's Rooftop Bar (which we'll be talking more about tomorrow!).
This cocktail, called The Hemingway Daiquiri is made with 1.5 oz of rum, 1 oz grapefruit juice, and fresh lime juice. It goes perfect with the stunning view of the NYC skyline.
Sounds refreshing, no? Now if only Mother Nature would make up her mind with this weather. We've had our April showers, time for the May flowers and mojitos!
[Photo: Instagram]
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New Residence Inn Midtown East Names Cat Cora "Mom of the Year"
Somehow a new Residence Inn opened in NYC on March 1st, and we heard not a whisper about it, until we were invited to their grand opening last week. The day happened to coincide with the brands third annual "Resident Mom of the Year" celebration, which always occurs near Mother's Day.
Sister hotel Residence Inn Times Square usually hosts this event (the first honor went to Holly Robinson Peete), however, this was an opportunity to showcase the new, 211-room Midtown hotel.
So, who was bestowed the honor of spokeswoman for Residence Inn's, all-suite, family-friendly properties? None other than Iron Chef, tv-host, and mama extraordinaire, Cat Cora.
Cat dazzled the crowd with her cute southern twang, warm personality, and ability to convince the crowd that cooking quinoa, stir fry, and parfaits is simple as pie in the hotel's kitchen.
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6 Vintage NYC Hotels To Make Jay Gatsby Feel Right At Home
In honor of Baz Luhrman's much-hyped The Great Gatsby hitting theaters tomorrow, we've put together a list of Manhattan hotels where (we think) Jay Gatsby himself would have stayed. From art deco glamor to 1920s-themed cocktails, these are a few 'great' hotels with vintage style all of their own.
This historic hotel opened in 1929 under the name "The Lexington," then for a while it became the Radisson Lexington. Now, nearing completion of a multi-million dollar renovation, it's back to being The Lexington. The new design pays homage to jazz age glamor with "brilliant gold elevator doors, and verses from Irving Berlin's Russian Lullaby…dancing through the room." Rates from $359/night.
Jay-Z and Leonardo DiCaprio showed up at The Plaza on Wednesday night to celebrate the The Great Gatsby's premiere, which didn't surprise us at all. F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda were big fans of this hotel, and in their honor, a Fitzgerald Suite will debut tomorrow (starting at $2,800/night), featuring Art Deco furnishings, photos of the author as well as the cast of the 2013 film, the complete F. Scott Fitzgerald collection, and gramophone-shaped iPhone speakers.
As a bonus, the hotel teamed up with Moët & Chandon to create a Gatsby-inspired cocktail, made with Moët Imperial and a sugar cube soaked in green Chartreuse. The drink is available exclusively at the Plaza, and is a unique way to 'soak up' some history. Non-suite rates from $584/night.
Four more after the jump!
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Joseph Altuzarra Glammed Up 'Girls' Star at the Mandarin Oriental New York
Designer Joseph Altuzarra enjoys the view from his suite
While Anna Wintour was getting floral-fied at The Mark pre-Met Gala last night, hundreds of designers, celebrities and bold names were donning their duds in other hotel suites around the city.
For example, the Mandarin Oriental was quite the hotspot for the ritual of "getting ready," a day-long process which involves makeup artists, final wardrobe adjustments, PR strategizing and, finally, the departure by limo or towncar for the walk up the Metropolitan Museum of Art's red carpet staircase.
Spotted getting ready at the Mandarin Oriental were designer Joseph Altuzarra and his date, Girls actress Allison Williams (whose dress was later named among the Top 10 Most Daring); the Rodarte sisters dressing the Fanning sisters; Emma Watson; Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery; and even "Gangnam Style" singer Psy, spotted cavorting with his entourage in the lobby lounge.
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Anna Wintour Departs The Mark in Splendor for Met Gala
Tonight's the night for New York Metropolitan Museum's star-studded, Met Ball. This year's theme is "Punk: Chaos to Couture".
An A-list crowd will be dressed in their finest frocks and suits and descend up the red carpet of the museum's steps to enter what can only be described as the fashion party of the year.
One such bold name will be Vogue's own editrix, Anna Wintour, seen departing from The Mark in a pink floral custom-made Chanel number and sporting her trademark bob.
If you want to a live stream of all the couture wear and stars (Katie Holmes is wearing Calvin Klein), just go to Vogue's website. It'll also be simultaneously streamed on the websites of Moda Operandi, Samsung, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
[Photo: Instagram]
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Sheraton Tribeca's Saucy 5-Day Cinco de Mayo Special
Just in case you're still hankering to continue yesterday's Cinco de Mayo activities (or missed out),you're in luck!
From now until May 10th, New York's Sheraton Tribeca has a specially extended Cinco de Mayo promo in their Dutch Lounge hotel bar.
This deal ties in with their loyalty program, a subject we've been talking a good deal about lately. So, if you want to get your Patron and points on, for every margarita purchased from the Dutch Lounge from 5-7pm, you'll earn 50 SPG points (max 300 SPG points, per member per day).
To get the points, present your SPG card to the waiter when you place your order.
[Photo: Sheraton Tribeca]
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How Will Langham Place Fifth Avenue's New Lounge 'Measure' Up To the Old One?
While Langham Chicago seems to be going through some minor delays, the wait is officially over with Langham's newly-rebranded property in New York. making its grand debut tomorrow.
Though we gave you a heads up about the change last fall, Langham sent out a formal announcement late last week, confirming that tomorrow, May 7, the former Setai Fifth Avenue will become Langham Place, Fifth Avenue. The announcement mostly tells us what we already knew, except for a few minor details. It turns out the hotel will indeed undergo some cosmetic changes—including new permanent artworks, updated decor, a Chuan spa, and a new lounge/bar concept.
And good news for folks visiting NYC this week: the opening of the new lounge, featuring a menu by former Maialino chef Jeffrey Seizer, coincides with the re-branding of the hotel tomorrow. So come hungry!
(For those of you wondering about the fate of the hotel's celebrated restaurant, Ai Fiori, rest assured. It's staying put for now.)
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Fantasy Friday: Flatiron Hotel's $8,000 Birthday "Pimping" Package
Here's the latest happening in the luxury hotel world as told by JustLuxe.com. Got a question about luxury hotels, the travel biz, and where to stay? Send it in and we'll have JustLuxe answer it.
Whoever came up with that little motto “It’s the thought that counts” for special-occasion gifting is a more spiritually evolved creature than we (or Kristen Stewart …or Johnny Depp’s new piece) will ever be. Loving thoughts are appreciated, but if you really want to make our next birthday memorable, please book us the VIP birthday package at the Flatiron Hotel.
Specifically, the one that comes with a private sushi chef, a classic Cadillac Deville ’65 with chauffeur, four tickets to the New York Giants, and all-day spa treatments for all the friends who are staying with us in the 4000-square-foot Toshi’s Penthouse. Plus a few more little things we haven’t detailed (full package details after the jump). It’s $8000 per person, plus tax and tip, but if you love someone, money’s a small price to pay, right?
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Mandalay Bay's $5,000 Wagyu Special and More For National Burger Month
We've just discovered May is National Burger Month, which apparently is different than National Cheeseburger Day, go figure. However, we won't quibble because anything that gives us a chance to sink our teeth into a juicy beefy sandwich (or turkey, or veggie if our pants feel a bit tight) without remorse, is a-ok in our book.
Naturally we had to think what hotels are serving up stellar burgers for this special time and we've narrowed it down to these:
The $5,000 Fleur Burger by Hubert Keller, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas
Ok, yes, this completely ridiculous and we'll probably never taste this burger at Keller's Fleur restaurant in our lifetime, but it just sounds so completely decadent we can't help but dream about this masterpiece of wagyu beef, foie gras, and truffle served with a bottle of 1995 Chateau Petrus. Need something a bit more reasonable? Come for lunch and order the Wagyu burger with bacon, wild mushrooms, and gruyere, on a potato bun with frites for $22.
Double Brie & Fig Burger, Surf & Sand Resort, Laguna Beach, CA
Anyone can order a plain-old cheeseburger and we often do, but this version at the hotel's Splashes restaurant seems so unusual, we'd definitely give it a try. It's an Angus patty topped with double cream brie, fig marmalade, caramelized onions and Dijon mustard. It just screams "rich", right? But thank goodness the price isn't, coming in at $19.
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What's Sprouting On The Roof At Westin NY Grand Central?
If your first thought is 'Mojito!' when you see this picture, then you're on the right track.
Since last summer, the Westin New York Grand Central has quietly been working on a modest but respectable rooftop veggie garden way up on the hotel's 41st floor. Located smack in the middle of midtown (the Chrysler Building is so close you can touch it), it seems like an unlikely place to be growing…well, anything. But urban farming is trendy these days, and a hotel's gotta go what a hotel's gotta do, right?
383 feet above Manhattan, ten dirt-filled tubs with arugula, mesclun lettuce, rosemary, heirloom tomatoes, and "mojito mint" are being overseen by the hotel's Executive Chef, Brian Wieler (pictured), who tends to his green leafy sprout-lings like a proud dad. And not one to cut corners, Chef Wieler has also ensured the garden is 100% organic, with only organic plants, soil and fertilizer being used. And now, as spring gets going, he is starting to harvest some of the mini-crops.
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Jammin' with Bon Jovi at JW Marriott Essex House
Last night guests who came to celebrate the official re-opening of Manhattan's legendary Essex House into the JW Marriott Essex House, was treated to another classic treat--the musical stylings of Jon Bon Jovi!
The rock legend told the crowd he'd stayed at the hotel "many, many times" (though we couldn't get anyone to confirm if he was staying that night in the occupied Presidential Suite!). He serenaded the crowd with favorite hits like "Dead or Alive" and "Living on a Prayer", who got a kick out of singing the words back to him.
The 40-story Essex House, which overlooks Central Park and has been open since 1931, officially resumed its JW name in September 2012 after operating under the Jumeirah brand. When Strategic Hotels & Resorts acquired the hotel in 2012 from the Dubai Investment Group, they invested several million dollars for a modest make over that you can see in the 509 rooms, spa, and restaurant.
