Mertropolitan Hotel-NYC
Jul 29th, 2001 | 04:27 PM
#3
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Patty: The Metropolitan was recently extensively renovated. The hotel used to be the Loews Summit. The building was designed by Morris Lappidus, the designer of many of the South Beach, Miami hotels of the 1950's. The Metropolitan has a Miami look and stands out in Manhattan, some people like it and some people hate it. The location is great, Lexington Avenue in the 50's, hotel row. The Waldorf, W, Marriott, and Intercontinental are all within a couple of blocks. I don't think you can go wrong at $149, although I am not familar with the rooms, everything should be fairly recently renovated. The lobby looks fine and the lobby bar has a lively scene.
Jul 30th, 2001 | 01:46 AM
#4
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I stayed there last year when it was still the Loews and being renovated. I loved the location (close to subway/Madison Ave shopping strip) but the rooms were very small. To me it was just an ordinary hotel, certainly nothing special, but if that was the area I wanted to stay I would have no problem with the Metropolitan. Tip, don't eat the expensive breakfast offered in the hotel, go across the road to the Broadway Diner and get a better breakfast at a 1/4 of the price.
Anne in Australia
Anne in Australia
Jul 30th, 2001 | 07:04 AM
#6
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Maggy: There aren't too many sea blue green buildings in Manhattan! You may be from Miami but that doesn't make you an authority on architecture, but read the excerpt from someone who is, Carter Horsely.
"Morris Lapidus gained international fame for his Fontainebleu Hotel in Miami Beach and this was his first major New York project.
By Miami standards, the Summit Hotel would be attractive, neither too garish nor too monumental.
By New York standards, it is awkward, ungainly and rather outré.
But since Manhattan thrives on its chaotic heritage, this in reality was a rather brave attempt to introduce some new geometry into midtown's rigid grid.
Historically, then, Lapidus probably deserves credit for laying the foundation for the avenue's eclectic mix of buildings and for trying to forge a new high-rise, aesthetic in midtown.
Indeed, one year later, Lapidus designed the bent form of the Sheraton Center on Seventh Avenue between 52nd and 53rd Streets.
Sadly, this building does not extend all the way to Third Avenue, or even to 50th Street. Nevertheless, the 51st Street frontage is quite grand in its rather stretched, open "S" curve and the facade patterning with windows tucked between protruding white-brick masonry elements larger than the windows is quite strong.
The problem here is not the form, although the curve is rather weak, but the color. The sea-blue-green color of the nonwhite portions of the facade is too bland.
In recent years, the entrance and avenue frontage have been improved somewhat.
A jolly, modest building, then, and a welcome surprise in the city's grid
"Morris Lapidus gained international fame for his Fontainebleu Hotel in Miami Beach and this was his first major New York project.
By Miami standards, the Summit Hotel would be attractive, neither too garish nor too monumental.
By New York standards, it is awkward, ungainly and rather outré.
But since Manhattan thrives on its chaotic heritage, this in reality was a rather brave attempt to introduce some new geometry into midtown's rigid grid.
Historically, then, Lapidus probably deserves credit for laying the foundation for the avenue's eclectic mix of buildings and for trying to forge a new high-rise, aesthetic in midtown.
Indeed, one year later, Lapidus designed the bent form of the Sheraton Center on Seventh Avenue between 52nd and 53rd Streets.
Sadly, this building does not extend all the way to Third Avenue, or even to 50th Street. Nevertheless, the 51st Street frontage is quite grand in its rather stretched, open "S" curve and the facade patterning with windows tucked between protruding white-brick masonry elements larger than the windows is quite strong.
The problem here is not the form, although the curve is rather weak, but the color. The sea-blue-green color of the nonwhite portions of the facade is too bland.
In recent years, the entrance and avenue frontage have been improved somewhat.
A jolly, modest building, then, and a welcome surprise in the city's grid
Jul 30th, 2001 | 07:43 PM
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Nancy,
You may want to try looking on Quikbook.com for a better rate. Unlike other sites, you can cancel your reservation - which I always do since at the last minute I find better rates. I havent stayed at the Metropolitan but heard it was fine (but very plain - which some people like) - location is very good.
You may want to try looking on Quikbook.com for a better rate. Unlike other sites, you can cancel your reservation - which I always do since at the last minute I find better rates. I havent stayed at the Metropolitan but heard it was fine (but very plain - which some people like) - location is very good.
