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Mister Cartoon Now Accepting Tattoo Reservations at The Marcel Hotel

Where: 201 E. 24th Street [map], New York, NY, United States, 10010

Perhaps we spoke too soon about Hotel Graffiti being the new hot hotel trend. Perhaps Hotel Tattoo Artists are the new new hot hotel service instead.

The Marcel at Gramercy Hotel has announced today an ongoing art series called, M.O.A.R.--Marcel Original Art on Rotation. The program will bring "progressive, burgeoning artists" into the hotel to show off their work. But the first artist to come onboard will not be displaying his talent on the walls. No, try your skin instead.

Famous for tattooing celebrities such as Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Eminem, Mena Suvari and Ryan Phillippe – Mister Cartoon will set up his very own Ink Suite at Hotel Marcel, where he will see his regular clientele as well as hotel guests while working on his masterpiece for the outside wall.

Guests of the hotel will have the unique privilege of skipping the one-year waiting list to get "inked" by Mister Cartoon.

His residency will run in two parts: his first stay will take place from November 15th – 24th 2009, with a two-week return visit at the beginning of February 2010, culminating with the unveiling of his exterior M.O.A.R installation.

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Tags: Celebrity Scoop / New York Hotels / Hotel Parties / Manhattan Hotels / David Blaine / → All Tags

Chace Crawford And David Blaine Make Magic At The Gramercy Park Hotel

GPH's Rose Bar. Do you see David Blaine? No? That's cause he made everyone disappear

Usually when magician David Blaine is in New York, he spends his time hanging upside down from a crane or standing on a pillar in Bryant Park. This week must have been a good period of rest for the magic man, especially when he hit up the Monocle Magazine party at Ian Schrager's Gramercy Park Hotel.

Did he pull doves from underneath his hat or turn some water from the GPH Rose Bar into wine? Thankfully, Fashion Week Daily has the scoop:

On Wednesday night, style magazine-cum-retail venture Monocle hosted a soirée at the Gramercy Park Hotel for a chic set including Jenna Lyons, Chace Crawford, and (naturally) Monocle’s Tyler Brule. But another guest made an appearance at the party…mysteriously enough. None of the girls working at the door saw him come in, but later in the night, David Blaine appeared and entertained Brule with card tricks.

Doesn't David Blaine realize that the Gramercy Park Hotel needs more than card tricks to salvage its image? And a Monocle party isn't exactly helping either, seeing as how the magazine has slowly turned a significant portion of content into undercover advertising. We digress, but let us say this at least: Chace Crawford is really getting around the hotels, right? Maybe we should invite him to guest blog for HotelChatter ... just a thought.

[Photo: Gramercy Park Hotel]

Tags: Hotel Restaurants / Ian Schrager / Manhattan Hotels / Hotel News / Hotel Hype / → All Tags

Can a Danny Meyer Restaurant Help the Gramercy Park Hotel?

Where: 2 Lexington Avenue [map], New York, NY, United States, 10010

What do you do when your once-super-hyped, oh-so-trendy NYC hotel has suddenly become hype-free, is no longer doing so well financially, and — to top things off — its eagerly-anticipated restaurant kinda flopped when it opened?

If you're Ian Schrager and if the property in question is the Gramercy Park Hotel, you bring in the big guns. And as any foodie knows, when it comes to restaurants in NYC, the "big guns" come in the form of a restauranter by the name of Danny Meyer.

The New York Times reports that Mr. Meyer — the man behind popular Manhattan restaurants like Union Square Cafe, Eleven Madison Park, Blue Smoke and Gramercy Tavern — is teaming up with Schrager to cook up a new restaurant concept at the GPH. Per the Times:

The restaurant, Mr. Meyer's first new concept since The Modern opened four years ago, will be "Italian-inspired" and will be designed by David Rockwell. A chef has not been named nor has the restaurant’s name been decided. It is scheduled to open in the fall. Mr. Meyer will also be responsible for the food and beverage operations elsewhere in the hotel, including room service, the private roof-top club and banqueting.

Hmmm. Gramercy Trattoria? No? Okay.

[Photo: Ruby Washington/The New York Times]

Tags: Hotel Promotions / Gramercy Park Hotel / Ian Schrager / Manhattan Hotels / → All Tags

Gramercy Park Hotel Flaunting Their Deals on Social Networks

Where: 2 Lexington Ave [map], New York, NY, United States, 10010

Looks like someone isn't exactly weathering the recession very well: Ian Schrager's goth-licious Gramercy Park Hotel is humbling itself before the altar of hotel discounts to release some pretty sweet room offers for spring in Manhattan. First, the GPH hit the social networks, sending out an email blast to members of the invitation-only ASmallWorld, also known as pretentious Facebook for the older set.

According to Down By the Hipster, the elite member of the website would be privy to a buy-one-get-one-half-off deal, or as Payless likes to call it, a "Bogo."

Normally we would ignore such a restricted offer, seeing as how we don't know a soul who even uses ASmallWorld — except for the fact that the Gramercy Park Hotel has opened up the offer to anyone who swings by their own website and clicks on the deal. From Februrary 22 through April 30, every night booked at their "best available rates" will yield you the following night at 50% off.

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Tags: HotelChatter Reader Deals / Manhattan Hotels / Wyndham Hotels / → All Tags

Rooms for Under $100 in NYC at Wyndham Garden Chelsea

Where: 37 West 24th Street [map], New York, NY, United States, 10010

Pondering a little spring jaunt to the Big Apple but feeling the allure of a "staycation" more and more? Luckily, with room rates dropping along with stocks, Manhattan with flowers blooming is a pretty recession-friendly quick trip. To help you out, the Wyndham Garden Hotel Chelsea is extending a 35% off "Friends and Family" discount for stays through April 30.

According to the deal, some nights with this special will reach below $100, perfect "if you just need a night away from your roommate, or have friends coming into town." Add to this the fact that the WiFi here is free and the place is nicely designed by Michael Graves, and we think it's a solid option for a budget, yet comfortable, weekend in NYC.

To book the "Friends and Family" offer, visit WyndhamNYC.com or call 212-243-0800 and use the promo code QandC.

[Photo: Wyndham Hotels]

Tags: Room Rate Drop Watch / HotelChatter Reader Deals / → All Tags

Gramercy Park Hotel and Other Luxe Hotels Offering Great Deals

Where: 2 Lexington Avenue [map], New York, NY, United States, 10010

· The Gramercy Park Hotel: Ian Schrager's baby opened its game-changing doors almost three years ago and back then we stayed at the hotel for an introductory rate of $250 a night. That shortly went up to $500+ a night during the boomtime of the hospitality and travel industry. But like all hotels all over the world, GPH needs to fill its rooms. Which is perhaps why the hotel is offering guests a second-night half-off.

Now through April 30, 2009 for every night a guest spends at the Hotel, at its best available rates, they will receive the next night at 50% off.

Rates start around $330 a night. We just wonder, does this deal apply to Paris Hilton and her ilk? [Click here for more info.]

· JW Marriott Buckhead/Atlanta: If you are willing to book at least five days before your intended hotel stay, the JW Marriott has rates starting at $139 a night and the promotion is available through August 19, 2009. [Click here for more info.]

· Desert Springs Resort & Spa: This Palm Desert, Calif. resort (another JW Marriott) is offering guests who book before March 10 $199 room rates and 25 percent off all on-property dining, golf, and spa. Book through www.spagolfdine.com.

· The Night Hotel: Vikram Chatwal's Times Square hotel has rooms starting at a ridiculous $102 a night via Quikbook.

· Aqua Cancun: This hotel has lowered their rates to $190 per night, plus a free daily breakfast buffet per person. The catch is you must book by March 11, 2009. Go to www.feel-aqua.com to book.

[Photo: CourtneyMay]

Tags: Hotel Hype / Manhattan Hotels / Theater Hotels / → All Tags

What Awaits You At The Wyndham Garden Hotel in Chelsea?

Where: 37 West 24th Street [map], New York, NY, United States, 10010

Wyndham Garden Hotel in Chelsea just opened a few months ago and the good news is that the room rates are holding steady below $200 a night. However, the valiant efforts of the assistant GM might not be enough to overcome the attitude of the hotel's staff.

"For $189/night in midtown it's a good buy," said one reviewer on TripAdvisor. "Very modern and clean," said another. Then there's the "the staff could have been a bit more friendly," comments, including an account of how maid service allegedly told a guest he could make his own damn bed. (Curse word ours.)

Each review—the bad and the good—received a polite "management response" from Carlton Yee, identified as the assistant general manager at the hotel, encouraging everyone to come back again soon.

And with the hotel's latest "Weekender" deal, it might be an invitation worth accepting. On Friday through Sunday night stays through April 26, book a room at the Wyndham Garden Chelsea and have your choice of 50-percent off a second consecutive night or half off an additional room on the same night. Rates start $189 per night so this is a good deal for Manhattan. And if you get a little 'tude from the staff, now you know to go directly to Carlton Yee for any complaints.

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Iconic Flatiron Building to Possibly Become a Hotel

Hell must have frozen over, because for once, New Yorkers are excited about a possible hotel development. It may be some ten years in the future, but the new majority owners of Manhattan's iconic Flatiron Building plan to slowly convert the office space into pure posh hospitality. According to the NY Daily News, the rumors have both locals and tourists looking forward to it because, "despite the economic downturn, experts say there is demand for more hotel rooms in New York City, where occupancy rates are still way above the national average."

We have to admit that this is a brilliant move, as any hotel chain would die to get their hands on such an instantly recognizable building, so part of the city's history and positioned as well as it is next to Madison Square Park. Here's hoping that they can kick Sprint out of the prime street-level retail and transform it into an innovative lobby space. As always, we'll stay on the case.

[Photo: cfinke]

Tags: Celebrity Scoop / Hotel Bars / Gramercy Park Hotel / Manhattan Hotels / → All Tags

Jane's Addiction Frontman Turns GPH Into Open Mic Night

Where: 2 Lexington Avenue [map], New York, NY, United States, 10010

Well, we can stop now. We may have all missed the greatest evening in the history of Gramercy Park Hotel's super-exclusive Rose Bar. Yes, better than the night Paris was banned, even. Well, we think so, at least.

According to Page Six, Jane's Addiction frontman Perry Ferrell was chillin' there and (perhaps he'd had a couple of drinks prior to this) when he decided it was high time to bust out his guitar and declare it open mic night. Apparently, he started singing "old hits" (as opposed to their new singles?) while Adam Green from the Moldy Peaches (the band famous for that song in Juno), the Libertines' Carl Barat, Sam Endicott from The Bravery and — AND! — Justin Long, the Mac guy from the Mac vs. PC ads, all joined in.

This kind of sounds like one of those random Saturday Night Live sketches, where a bunch of entirely random characters comes onto the stage and joins together in song for no reason at all. And we have to wonder: is every night still this celeb-packed at GPH?

Tags: Celebrity Scoop / Hotel Bars / Anne Hathaway / Gramercy Park Hotel / Manhattan Hotels / → All Tags

Anne Hathaway Retreats to The Gramercy Park Hotel, Again

Where: 2 Lexington Avenue [map], New York, NY, United States, 10010

Bride Wars, Anne Hathaway's new chickie-comedy movie with Kate Hudson in which two BFF's learn that their weddings are booked for the same day, debuts in theaters tomorrow. At an NYC bash for the premier of the movie last night — which was, interestingly, held at Tiffany & Co. rather than at the Plaza Hotel, where the two weddings in question are supposed to be taking place in the movie — Anne Hathaway was apparently not feelin' the scene and quickly bounced to a more exclusive venue to get her drink on.

According to Page Six, she chose one of the most notoriously exclusive bars in the city:

While Kristen Wiig, Dina Lohan and Damien Fahey mingled about the jewelry mecca, Hathaway was spotted by one of our spies "smoking cigarettes and playing pool" at the Gramercy Park Hotel's Rose Bar. Harvey Weinstein was also there with Sean Penn and Josh Brolin, who "were surrounded by girls and loving every second of it," said our source.

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Silent But Chic at The Marcel at Gramercy

Where: 201 East 24th Street [map], New York, NY, United States, 10010

Nowhere is the hotel renovation game better played than in New York City, where not only SRO residences can become boutique hotspots, but formerly 3-star properties can reinvent themselves for four-star heaven. Fresh from a top-to-bottom renovation (literally, since they added several stories to the building), The Marcel at Gramercy is ready to battle the big boys for tourists' bucks, breaking out the animal prints and champagne in celebration of their four stars.

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Inside NYC's The Marcel at Gramercy

Where: 201 East 24th Street [map], New York, NY, United States, 10010

We love when hard work pays off. Yesterday, we dropped in to the newly re-opened Marcel at Gramercy to check out their designerly digs.

Having just completed a massive renovation, including radical upgrades like the addition of new stories to the building, The Marcel has risen in more than just height; this hidden gem in Gramercy just claimed an extra star for their efforts. Now a fully-fledged four-star, the hotel pulls out all the stops in comfort and service while maintaining the impression that they are a delicious secret.

With rates averaging around $330 per night for a large room with cheery stripes and a view of the Empire State Building, The Marcel is a strong player in the "I don't want to stay in Times Square and definitely not the Financial District"-game.

Today we are giving you a video tour from room 907, a regular corner room. Stay tuned tomorrow when we return with the full review.