Travel Manhattan

by Anthony Verombeck
Editor, GROOM
averombeck@rogers.com

Trump Soho New York

Trump SoHo New York in the fashionable SoHo district is a luxury hotel is a 46-story, 391-room glass tower designed by Handel Architects, left, neighbors numerous art galleries, boutiques and views the city’s spectacular skyline, the Hudson River, Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building.

The hotel has more two-bedroom suites than any other hotel in New York. The amenities include dining at Quattro Gastronomia Italiana, The Spa at Trump with New York’s only luxury hammam, Bazaar Cocktail Lounge and the signature services of the Trump Attaché. Count on this hotel to be on luxury honeymoon lists. Visit www.trumpsohohotel.com.

We’ll Have Manhattan

by Bill Watt
Bill Watt’s Worlds

W

e wanted to revisit New York City but we also wanted to enjoy some autumn foliage. We did both by taking a busy Greyhound from T.O. to N.Y.C. and are glad we did. Travelling by bus between the two cities is comfortable, far cheaper than flying and doesn’t take much longer door-to-door.

The foliage in upper New York State, Pennsylvania and New Jersey on a sunny day is a reviving tonic to one’s spirits, Central Park pictured.

The Big Apple? It’s still recommended if you haven’t seen it but if you have, you’ll agree that it’s a lot like Toronto only bigger. Now, let it be understood that when we refer to New York we actually mean Manhattan, the principal borough that towers to the sky yet still maintains its island perspective. 

We were fortunate enough to be given a deluxe package of attractions by the New York City Convention and Visitors' Bureau. Hugely enjoyed was the Circle Line’s tour of Manhattan Island by boat. "Cruisin’ down the river” indeed as we saw the Manhattan Skyline, pictured above. Of course, any visit to Manhattan must include the Empire State Building.

The Big Apple also overflows with good eating places. Among them we enjoyed Kraft’s, Broadway Joe’s Steak House, Rumors, Olympia Deli and McSorley’s Old Ale House.

McSorley’s is in the East Village and isn’t so much a dining spot as an institution. It’s been in the same location for 150 years and hasn’t changed its décor at all! The wood plank floors are still covered in sawdust and the same photos are on the walls where John McSorley placed them when he opened his establishment. There are still cats dozing in the comfortable ambiance too. Our lunch? American cheddar, raw onions, crackers and McSorley’s own ale. Ambrosia!

And, just to prove again that it’s a small world, we ran into a chap from Toronto at McSorley’s. Not only that, he lives a few blocks away from where we were born. (Nice to have met you, Daniel Ryan.) Visit www.mcsorleysnewyork.com.

Look, we know we’ve hit too few of the high spots of our New York escape; perhaps we can expand upon the others in a future column. For now, just accept our recommendation and take the bus to New York, especially in the fall and especially with someone you love. Visit www.nycvisit.com.

by Lynne Gordon
Reviews & Relationships

hat many people don’t realize about the city, it is a collection of neighborhoods and communities. While New York treasures its historical landmarks, it constantly changes as new buildings, areas and communities spring up, as well as massive restoration projects bring back past memories. New York City is also a walking city.

I suggest when you plan to explore take one area at a time so you don’t waste time running from north to south and back again. Be sure to stop and talk to New Yorkers who touch your imagination and want to share information about new changes in the city.

I was happy to accept an invitation from the Roosevelt Hotel. I remembered dancing to the big bands where the great Canadian, Guy Lombardo, began his cherished New Year’s Eve tradition of broadcasting Auld Lang Syne over American radio airwaves from the famous Roosevelt Grill.

The hotel has been the grande dame of Madison Avenue and 43rd Street since 1924 and was named for President Theodore Roosevelt. When I arrived it was breathtaking to see how a $6.5 million renovation brought back that golden era.

Guests bask in the hustle and bustle of a city that never sleeps, and at once understand why politicians, corporate high rollers, celebrities and film-makers alike are attracted to this historical entity. The hotel can hold receptions for 20 to 1,000 wedding guests and help plan weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners and honeymoon suites.        

In spite of being reminiscent of the 1920s, nothing is spared for all the up-to-date conveniences that leisure travelers would need. Breathtaking ballrooms provide an excellent and elegant space for groups of varying sizes including weddings and historical parties complete with suspenders and flapper gowns. Guests can arrange for any assortment of rooms and suites and the hotel has many options for dining and relaxing.

After a short but pleasant tour of all the hotel’s amenities and friendly conversations with staff and concierge, I began to plan my journey. At first I would find everything of interest within a few blocks, before I would start down town to visit new haunts and old neighborhoods. Visit www.theroosevelthotel.com.

Grand Central Station
Nothing captures the grit and energy of the city like the New York City subway and the Grand Central Station, pictured above, that is over 100 years young. Actually, it is like a fairyland.

You can easily spend a few hours checking out the restaurants, gift areas and historical railroad products that make wonderful gifts from the transit museum store. The subways sparkle with beautiful plastic seats painted in many different colors almost like fun paintings. Yes, air conditioned! Taxi cabs are available at every station.

While I was visiting the Station I found a young bride and groom, pictured right, using the Grand Central Station as a backdrop for their wedding pictures. They were from out of town and wanted a record of Grand Central Station, now part of historical New York City. Visit www.nycvisit.com.

Algonquin Hotel
I decided to have lunch at the Algonquin Hotel at 59 West 44^th Street, made famous by the round table where the members met regularly hosted by Dorothy Parker, left, a poet, short story writer, Oscar nominated screenwriter for the original movie A Star is Born, but best known for her scintillating and scathing putdowns.

Her well-known friends named the “viscous circle” included Robert Benchley, humorist and writer standing far left, Robert Sherwood, drama editor of Vanity Fair, standing in the back with mustache, Harpo Marx, part of the Marx Brothers leaning towards Sherwood, Alexander Woollcott, with glasses, literary and drama critic for several magazines, and many more regulars. The Oak Room Cabaret was revived during the 1980s. It certainly brought back memories of the days I was allowed to interview them.

Be sure to ask for the card, pictured above, with all the participants described on the back. It is a great memento. Visit the Cabaret at www.algonquinhotel.com.

The LQ Club (Latin Quarter)
The concierge had recommended this club which had opened a few blocks away on Lexington Avenue. It is known for two big rooms, one has Latin music and the other, jazz. No partners are needed. Just go on the dance floor and move. It's mainly a young hangout, but if you love music the way I do, and you have the rhythm and enjoy the spotlight you will find that dancers, both men and women, will gravitate towards you, and then move on as others take over.

Dancers in the Latin Room were a little more formal and usually came with partners, but were still willing to take you on a turn around the floor.

Official Guide for the Five Boroughs
There is an unbelievable guide that covers all five boroughs and every area as well as restaurants, theatres, heritage spots, clubs, easy to read maps, walking tours and transportation. You have many areas to consider when you are ready to go.

Check out the lower east side with so much history since the 1940s. It has some of the hottest spots – bars, restaurants, cafés and the Blue Moon Hotel on Delancey Street. It is also where many of the artists and musicians have migrated.

For more information on The NYC Official Visitors Guide visit www.nycvisit.com.

Lynne Gordon has been living and working in Toronto for 40 years as a journalist, broadcaster and author, and continues to return regularly to do stories on her hometown, New York City.

WeddingsHoneymoons.com | Travel: Manhattan | October 1, 2011