NYC Trip Report, Part 1
Jul 23rd, 2003 | 12:04 PM
#1
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Joined: Jul 2003
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NYC Trip Report, Part 1
Part One
First, I want to thank all of you on these boards for your opinions and suggestions. We were only able to plan this trip so well because of all of you.
Overview:
Took a tour bus ride down through Times Square and down to Battery Park, had dim sum in Chinatown, walked through Little Italy, Soho, and Union Square, and bought roses on the street to enjoy in our hotel room. Spent a day at the Met. Sauntered around on the Upper East Side. Strolled through the Park and back via Fifth Avenue. Went to Saks and Bloomingdales and Crate & Barrel (bought a vase for my flowers) and ABC Carpet & Home and Pearl River Mart. Coveted the NY Public Reference Library. Gawked at Grand Central Terminal. Saw Rockefeller Center. Rested at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Went up the Empire State Building. Enjoyed a drink at the Ritz Lobby Bar.
The weather was beautiful, I don't think the temperature went above 78F the entire time we were there. We only had one gray afternoon, the rest of the time the sun shone brightly. Oh, it was just great. And have I got photos!
...continued
First, I want to thank all of you on these boards for your opinions and suggestions. We were only able to plan this trip so well because of all of you.
Overview:
Took a tour bus ride down through Times Square and down to Battery Park, had dim sum in Chinatown, walked through Little Italy, Soho, and Union Square, and bought roses on the street to enjoy in our hotel room. Spent a day at the Met. Sauntered around on the Upper East Side. Strolled through the Park and back via Fifth Avenue. Went to Saks and Bloomingdales and Crate & Barrel (bought a vase for my flowers) and ABC Carpet & Home and Pearl River Mart. Coveted the NY Public Reference Library. Gawked at Grand Central Terminal. Saw Rockefeller Center. Rested at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Went up the Empire State Building. Enjoyed a drink at the Ritz Lobby Bar.
The weather was beautiful, I don't think the temperature went above 78F the entire time we were there. We only had one gray afternoon, the rest of the time the sun shone brightly. Oh, it was just great. And have I got photos!
...continued
Jul 23rd, 2003 | 12:08 PM
#2
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12
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Part 2 (guess I'll post it all under one message)
The Hotels
I've waited all my life to visit New York; waited to go until we could splurge a little. I'm a bit of a hotel-junkie, so have provided a detailed description of our recent stays in two of New York's best.
The Stanhope Park Hyatt
http://stanhopepark.hyatt.com/property/index.jhtml
Elegant, intimate, decorated in the traditional style. If you can get a room on one of the top floors facing Fifth Avenue overlooking the Park at a good price, grab it. We had a King room, recently updated, on the top floor facing Fifth with the most spectacular view of the Park and the City. The room was advertised as 400 sq. ft, but I don't think it's quite that big. While not over-the-top opulent, the decor is quite soft, lovely and felt very Old New York. The large windows open, the sunlight in the afternoon is beautiful. The bath is either marble or granite, quite small but well appointed. Our room didn't have a closet, instead there was a vintage armoire and dresser large enough to store all of our things.
All of the hotel staff was very gracious, friendly and eager to assist. Location is perfect for visiting the Met, but too far to walk for sightseeing in midtown. Subway is a bit of a hike, but taxis are always zipping down Fifth Avenue, and I thought they were very reasonably priced. Staying here was a real treat.
Keep in mind that if you're going to this hotel anytime soon that the Metropolitan Museum (which is directly across the street) is having some work done on it; if you request a room facing Fifth Avenue ensure that it's on a high floor or you'll be looking at the construction scrim on the front of the Met. A little higher up and you're looking at paradise.
If you decide to visit the Stanhope, make sure your AAA membership is up-to-date when you make your reservations. Our AAA room rate was $300 plus taxes, but included breakfast each morning (sans tip) in the dining room (which runs about $50 for two including tip). There are definitely less expensive rooms available, I've heard of $100/night through Priceline. But for us... the outstanding view, excellent service, and wonderful food, you can't beat the Stanhope. My husband and I would stay here again and again.
The Regency by Loews
http://www.loewshotels.com/hotels/newyork/default.asp
Another lovely hotel, with contemporary decor and a terrific location at 61st & Park. Ask for a room facing Park Avenue; perhaps you'd like to splurge like we did and get a "Premium Grand Luxury King", which in reality *is* at least 400 sq. ft. and maybe more, almost wall-to-wall windows at one end (that open), a marble bath with double sinks, walk-in glass shower, and huge bathtub, and the best little bathroom television I've seen. There is a mini-bar of course, but in the entryway there is also a small refrigerator and a microwave (though no utensils or dishes of any kind).
This room was HUGE. As I mentioned, this hotel is quite contemporary in feel with dark woods and taupe fabrics; there was a glass-topped dining table for two, alongside a banquet for extra seating, or just a nice place to lounge and look up and out the window. A long work desk, and fantastic bed, and a chair to curl up in and read at the end of the day. It was great fun to watch life go by out the window.
We'd requested a room facing Park Avenue, which is a real "boulevard", three or four lanes of traffic running each way, with a center median running down the street, planted with greenery. Because of the wide street, rooms facing Park Ave. get more light than those facing 61st.
Staff was friendly and helpful. There is a business center where they let me check my e-mail. Pets seemed very at home in this hotel; we saw many little dogs being walked through the lobby and out onto the street. You might want to be mindful of this if you have pet allergies, there was definitely animal dander in the room I was in (which doesn't bother me). Location is terrific, and again, there is always a taxi if you need to give your feet a rest while going from the hotel to all of the sights or out for dinner.
Again, thanks to AAA, I think we got a nice rate for this upscale hotel. We paid $295 per night for our room. If you wouldn't mind a smaller room, or perhaps one that doesn't face Park Avenue, I believe you can stay at this hotel much cheaper - try Quikbook - I think they were offering a "Luxury King" for $199 recently.
...continued
The Hotels
I've waited all my life to visit New York; waited to go until we could splurge a little. I'm a bit of a hotel-junkie, so have provided a detailed description of our recent stays in two of New York's best.
The Stanhope Park Hyatt
http://stanhopepark.hyatt.com/property/index.jhtml
Elegant, intimate, decorated in the traditional style. If you can get a room on one of the top floors facing Fifth Avenue overlooking the Park at a good price, grab it. We had a King room, recently updated, on the top floor facing Fifth with the most spectacular view of the Park and the City. The room was advertised as 400 sq. ft, but I don't think it's quite that big. While not over-the-top opulent, the decor is quite soft, lovely and felt very Old New York. The large windows open, the sunlight in the afternoon is beautiful. The bath is either marble or granite, quite small but well appointed. Our room didn't have a closet, instead there was a vintage armoire and dresser large enough to store all of our things.
All of the hotel staff was very gracious, friendly and eager to assist. Location is perfect for visiting the Met, but too far to walk for sightseeing in midtown. Subway is a bit of a hike, but taxis are always zipping down Fifth Avenue, and I thought they were very reasonably priced. Staying here was a real treat.
Keep in mind that if you're going to this hotel anytime soon that the Metropolitan Museum (which is directly across the street) is having some work done on it; if you request a room facing Fifth Avenue ensure that it's on a high floor or you'll be looking at the construction scrim on the front of the Met. A little higher up and you're looking at paradise.
If you decide to visit the Stanhope, make sure your AAA membership is up-to-date when you make your reservations. Our AAA room rate was $300 plus taxes, but included breakfast each morning (sans tip) in the dining room (which runs about $50 for two including tip). There are definitely less expensive rooms available, I've heard of $100/night through Priceline. But for us... the outstanding view, excellent service, and wonderful food, you can't beat the Stanhope. My husband and I would stay here again and again.
The Regency by Loews
http://www.loewshotels.com/hotels/newyork/default.asp
Another lovely hotel, with contemporary decor and a terrific location at 61st & Park. Ask for a room facing Park Avenue; perhaps you'd like to splurge like we did and get a "Premium Grand Luxury King", which in reality *is* at least 400 sq. ft. and maybe more, almost wall-to-wall windows at one end (that open), a marble bath with double sinks, walk-in glass shower, and huge bathtub, and the best little bathroom television I've seen. There is a mini-bar of course, but in the entryway there is also a small refrigerator and a microwave (though no utensils or dishes of any kind).
This room was HUGE. As I mentioned, this hotel is quite contemporary in feel with dark woods and taupe fabrics; there was a glass-topped dining table for two, alongside a banquet for extra seating, or just a nice place to lounge and look up and out the window. A long work desk, and fantastic bed, and a chair to curl up in and read at the end of the day. It was great fun to watch life go by out the window.
We'd requested a room facing Park Avenue, which is a real "boulevard", three or four lanes of traffic running each way, with a center median running down the street, planted with greenery. Because of the wide street, rooms facing Park Ave. get more light than those facing 61st.
Staff was friendly and helpful. There is a business center where they let me check my e-mail. Pets seemed very at home in this hotel; we saw many little dogs being walked through the lobby and out onto the street. You might want to be mindful of this if you have pet allergies, there was definitely animal dander in the room I was in (which doesn't bother me). Location is terrific, and again, there is always a taxi if you need to give your feet a rest while going from the hotel to all of the sights or out for dinner.
Again, thanks to AAA, I think we got a nice rate for this upscale hotel. We paid $295 per night for our room. If you wouldn't mind a smaller room, or perhaps one that doesn't face Park Avenue, I believe you can stay at this hotel much cheaper - try Quikbook - I think they were offering a "Luxury King" for $199 recently.
...continued
Jul 23rd, 2003 | 12:21 PM
#3
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12
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Part 3 (sorry this is so long, everybody)
We enjoyed some marvelous meals while in New York. These were some of our favorites:
Café St. Bart's
http://www.sageamericankitchen.com/cafe/cafe.html (complete menus and photos available)
Get thee to St. Bart's. Brunch on a sunny Sunday, at the corner of 50th and Park, under bright red umbrellas, on the terrace of a beautiful church, what could be better? Brunch was $20 p/p and absolutely delicious. Try the Eggs Park Avenue, the best scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and cream cheese I've ever had. A few smoking tables are available at the outdoor cafe. I made our reservations a week in advance through www.opentable.com.
The Terrace Café/Dining Room/Room Service at the Stanhope
http://stanhopepark.hyatt.com/proper...ng/index.jhtml (sample menus available)
Every morsel we ate at the Stanhope was super-fresh and perfectly prepared. Though quite pricey, the food and service was always worth it at this hotel. We enjoyed a light supper in our room overlooking Central Park one evening (a cheese plate and fruit plate); breakfast two days in a row in the Melrose Restaurant (waffles and eggs benedict); and also had "Tapas on the Terrace" one evening on the Terrace Café, "sidewalk dining" on Fifth Avenue. Limited smoking tables available on the Terrace only.
Golden Unicorn
18 East Broadway
http://www.chinatownweb.com/GoldenUnicorn/index.htm
We went to the Golden Unicorn specifically for Dim Sum, though our timing wasn't great. We didn't get down to Chinatown until 2:30p, and the restaurant was a little hard to find. Once you're there you'll find an office building, and you go up the elevator (I think) to the second floor. Remember, this is very late for dim sum, but we'd called ahead and were told they were serving that day until 4pm. When we got there we were the only patrons... I laughed right out loud, we have never eaten dim sum "alone" before. It was good, they made some items fresh for us (cha siu bao, hargow, siu mai, cheung fun, etc.), and we certainly ate until we were full ($38 for two including tip). I hear the Golden Unicorn is very popular and if you're planning to go during lunch hour be prepared to wait for a table.
Jackson Hole (delivery)
http://www.jacksonholeburgers.com/
This was truly inspired on our part, I think. It was our last night in New York, and we'd collapsed in our room after a full day of walking around the City. We couldn't manage to rouse ourselves to venture out again to eat, and the room service menu at the Regency showed what I'm sure are delicious meals at prices we just couldn't justify that day. I remembered reading about Jackson Hole burgers on these boards (thanks again, Fodorites). I grabbed the yellow pages and there was even a full menu printed there for the restaurant. We ordered two 7oz burger platters, complete with french fries and lettuce and tomato, and they delivered to our hotel within 30 minutes on a busy Sunday night. Total cost, including a tip to the delivery person *and* the hotel staff person who brought our meal to our room came to $20. We unwrapped our dinner, and plunked ourselves down in front of the television just in time for Sex & The City. And it was a glorious meal.
...continued
We enjoyed some marvelous meals while in New York. These were some of our favorites:
Café St. Bart's
http://www.sageamericankitchen.com/cafe/cafe.html (complete menus and photos available)
Get thee to St. Bart's. Brunch on a sunny Sunday, at the corner of 50th and Park, under bright red umbrellas, on the terrace of a beautiful church, what could be better? Brunch was $20 p/p and absolutely delicious. Try the Eggs Park Avenue, the best scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and cream cheese I've ever had. A few smoking tables are available at the outdoor cafe. I made our reservations a week in advance through www.opentable.com.
The Terrace Café/Dining Room/Room Service at the Stanhope
http://stanhopepark.hyatt.com/proper...ng/index.jhtml (sample menus available)
Every morsel we ate at the Stanhope was super-fresh and perfectly prepared. Though quite pricey, the food and service was always worth it at this hotel. We enjoyed a light supper in our room overlooking Central Park one evening (a cheese plate and fruit plate); breakfast two days in a row in the Melrose Restaurant (waffles and eggs benedict); and also had "Tapas on the Terrace" one evening on the Terrace Café, "sidewalk dining" on Fifth Avenue. Limited smoking tables available on the Terrace only.
Golden Unicorn
18 East Broadway
http://www.chinatownweb.com/GoldenUnicorn/index.htm
We went to the Golden Unicorn specifically for Dim Sum, though our timing wasn't great. We didn't get down to Chinatown until 2:30p, and the restaurant was a little hard to find. Once you're there you'll find an office building, and you go up the elevator (I think) to the second floor. Remember, this is very late for dim sum, but we'd called ahead and were told they were serving that day until 4pm. When we got there we were the only patrons... I laughed right out loud, we have never eaten dim sum "alone" before. It was good, they made some items fresh for us (cha siu bao, hargow, siu mai, cheung fun, etc.), and we certainly ate until we were full ($38 for two including tip). I hear the Golden Unicorn is very popular and if you're planning to go during lunch hour be prepared to wait for a table.
Jackson Hole (delivery)
http://www.jacksonholeburgers.com/
This was truly inspired on our part, I think. It was our last night in New York, and we'd collapsed in our room after a full day of walking around the City. We couldn't manage to rouse ourselves to venture out again to eat, and the room service menu at the Regency showed what I'm sure are delicious meals at prices we just couldn't justify that day. I remembered reading about Jackson Hole burgers on these boards (thanks again, Fodorites). I grabbed the yellow pages and there was even a full menu printed there for the restaurant. We ordered two 7oz burger platters, complete with french fries and lettuce and tomato, and they delivered to our hotel within 30 minutes on a busy Sunday night. Total cost, including a tip to the delivery person *and* the hotel staff person who brought our meal to our room came to $20. We unwrapped our dinner, and plunked ourselves down in front of the television just in time for Sex & The City. And it was a glorious meal.
...continued
Jul 23rd, 2003 | 12:27 PM
#4
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Joined: Jul 2003
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Part 4 (and the last, I promise)
Nice places where we bought take-out snacks:
- Grace's Market at 1237 3rd Avenue (moderate to expensive)
-Grand Central Terminal Gourmet Market - especially Pescatore Fine Foods (moderate to expensive)
- EAT at 1064 Madison Avenue (expensive)
Eye-catching Retail Stores we loved:
-Pearl River Mart www.pearlriver.com (inexpensive)
-ABC Carpet & Home www.abchome.com (expensive, but they were having a sale!)
Things that made really made us smile:
Café St. Bart's
Roof gardens on tall, tall buildings all around the city
Inside the New York Public Library
Baby ducks in The Pond at Central Park
Things we didn't expect:
How big the City really IS, and how beautiful
Taxis were quite inexpensive
City was actually quite clean
Terrific, non-snobby service wherever we went
Why New Yorkers are some of the luckiest people in the world:
Central Park. Central Park. Central Park.
The tremendous architecture throughout the City.
Oh, and the fact that New Yorkers get to read sections of the NY Times that are not available to the rest of us in the "National" edition. Best newspaper, ever.
Plus a hundred other reasons, just too many to list.
My husband and I had a truly great time. What a wonderful, wonderful place.
Nice places where we bought take-out snacks:
- Grace's Market at 1237 3rd Avenue (moderate to expensive)
-Grand Central Terminal Gourmet Market - especially Pescatore Fine Foods (moderate to expensive)
- EAT at 1064 Madison Avenue (expensive)
Eye-catching Retail Stores we loved:
-Pearl River Mart www.pearlriver.com (inexpensive)
-ABC Carpet & Home www.abchome.com (expensive, but they were having a sale!)
Things that made really made us smile:
Café St. Bart's
Roof gardens on tall, tall buildings all around the city
Inside the New York Public Library
Baby ducks in The Pond at Central Park
Things we didn't expect:
How big the City really IS, and how beautiful
Taxis were quite inexpensive
City was actually quite clean
Terrific, non-snobby service wherever we went
Why New Yorkers are some of the luckiest people in the world:
Central Park. Central Park. Central Park.
The tremendous architecture throughout the City.
Oh, and the fact that New Yorkers get to read sections of the NY Times that are not available to the rest of us in the "National" edition. Best newspaper, ever.
Plus a hundred other reasons, just too many to list.
My husband and I had a truly great time. What a wonderful, wonderful place.
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Jul 23rd, 2003 | 01:14 PM
#10
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 189
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Loved the report live outside Manhattan all my life haven't done that much there LOL..Also love the Stanhope friends of mine got married there and the Penthouse Suite is Magnificent. I believe that back then about 10 years ago the room rented for 3000.00 just t use for the reception they couldn't spend the night there. It is surrounded by a great terrace with views of central park and the museum, antiques, marble just lovely
Jul 23rd, 2003 | 02:22 PM
#12
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,738
Likes: 0
Awww, this is such a nice report. I am sitting here grinning
I want to stay at the Stanhope! and eat a burger while watching Sex & the City, isn't that just the most New Yorky thing??
xien, it was a pleasure reading about your visit and I hope you come back really soon~
Jul 23rd, 2003 | 02:33 PM
#13
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,356
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What a lovely report--makes me sooo want to be in the city right now! And thanks especially for the details on your hotels, it's good to know which floors, which side of the hotel, etc., to ask for.
We were in Manhattan in October 2001 and were treated so warmly, with such friendliness, by New Yorkers, but the Doubting Thomases said this was only because of 9/11 and their gratitude for our visit to their beleaguered city. Nice to know our experience wasn't an exception. Glad you had such a great trip! Thanks again.
We were in Manhattan in October 2001 and were treated so warmly, with such friendliness, by New Yorkers, but the Doubting Thomases said this was only because of 9/11 and their gratitude for our visit to their beleaguered city. Nice to know our experience wasn't an exception. Glad you had such a great trip! Thanks again.
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