Manhattan Archives - Vagablond

Butcher Paper & Brooklyn Beer: The Spotted Pig, New York

Gil Zeimer — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 18:12:15 +0000

Pubs used to serve beer, brats and burgers. Now, they’re going upscale, big time.

One notable pub is The Spotted Pig in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, where the walls are lined with old butcher paper charts, the bar is lined with plain brown-paper place mats, the menu is filled with seasonal British and Italian offerings like sheep’s ricotta gnudi with brown butter, and you can chase it all with a Brooklyn Organic Porter.

Open 7 days a week:
• Brunch: 11am – 3pm (weekends);
• Lunch: 12 – 3pm;
• Bar Menu: 3 – 5:30pm; and
• Dinner: 5:30pm – 2am.

A: 314 W. 11th Street @ Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10014;
T: 212.620.0393;
W: www.thespottedpig.com

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Eco-Luxury Hybrid Car Service: Not a New York City Oxymoron

Gil Zeimer — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 16:23:07 +0000

I’ve ridden in a Lincoln Towncar, a Limo and dozens of Yellow Cabs in Manhattan. Except for the sidewalk gawkers trying to stare through the smoked windows of the first two, they’re all pretty much the same.

But now, there’s OZOcar –– calling itself New York’s first and only eco-luxury car service. With the entire fleet of hybrid cars — such as the Toyota Prius, Lexus 400h and Toyota Highlander — OZOcar vehicles each use about 70% less fuel than regular car services.

Their slogan is: “Service because you deserve it. Style because you desire it. Sustainability for our future.”

Isn’t it swell that they’re putting their pedals to the medal to make a statement about reducing depending on foreign oil? We think so. Vagablond sends a 21-horn salute to OZOcar.

To reserve one, please call 1-866-OZO-5966 (1-866-696-5966).

Via Charles & Marie.

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Reality Fantasy: The Apprentice Legend Cruise

Gil Zeimer — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 18:07:07 +0000

Can’t separate reality from fantasy? Can’t get enough of “The Donald”? Then you might want to book a stateroom on the Apprentice Carnival Legends Cruise that sails from New York on September 26 to the Caribbean for 8 nights. Expedia Voyages has great rates: balcony cabins from $849 and suites from $1099. To top it off, Mr. Trump will host the VIP Bon Voyage Party.

Join up to 15 cast members from the hit TV show. You’ll leave the Manhattan skyline in the distance, sailing for exotic Caribbean ports-of-call including San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; and Tortola, British Virgin Islands; then return to Manhattan. You’ll be entertained in Trump World style with gala events, luxurious receptions and over-the-top parties. Rub elbows with past cast members and get to know thousands of other fans while you test your competitive edge at the “Apprentice-type�? activities and contests –– come ready to win!

You can take part in the Apprentice Legend Cruise Challenge for $$$ & Prizes: 1 winner will become CEO of Expedia.com for a day and get $15,000; The Simply Hired – Entrepreneur’s Dream Contest — Pitch Your Idea! 2 winners will sit down with Silicon Valley Venture Capitalists; play in a Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament for $$; tee it up in a Cast Member Celebrity Golf Tournament; enjoy Two Comp “Open Bar�? Cocktail Receptions; have fun with Special Cast Member Events (Karaoke, Tours, Deck Party); Apprentice Legend Millionaire’s Forum, and more.

To book your cruise with “The Apprentice” cast members, log onto Expedia Voyages or call 1-877-370-1440.

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I’ll Take Manhattan: NYC Marathon Swim

Gil Zeimer — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 15:38:15 +0000

The film “Marathon Man” was filmed in New York. Now, long-distance swimmers are gearing up for the July 9 annual 28.5-mile Manhattan Island Marathon Swim. This slog through the Hudson River challenges swimmers far beyond pollution. They must beware of boats, inclement weather and sea critters. But they can circle Manhattan Island as they wind through parts of the Harlem and Hudson Rivers.

Sign up by July 4 for the pre-race pasta party and dinner cruise and the post-race awards dinner. See details on the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim site. Or for last minute information, call the MIF hotline at 888 NYC-SWIM (888-692-7946).

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Totally Wired: Mandarin Oriental, NYC

Gil Zeimer — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 13:53:07 +0000

High-speed Internet access is just one high-tech amenity of New York’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel. The management just spent an average of $27,000 per room with cutting-edge technology, home entertainment and communications. So in elegant 1940s style furnishings, you’ll also get large flat-screen LCD TVs to read your text and fax messages, listen to your voicemail, or view your laptop.

With 97 channels (10 in Hi-Def) and dozens of on-demand movies, you may never want to leave your room or even look out the floor-to-ceiling windows for views of Central Park, the Hudson or the Manhattan skyline. Opulence is virtually guaranteed in your choice of Standard, Deluxe Double, or View rooms.

But it will cost you. How’s $600/night for all the techno wizardry you can eat? It’s all made possible, including ports for laptops, iPods and Xbox consoles on request from KoolConnect, a six-year-old firm specializing in offering business travelers the same type of personalized entertainment experience they get at home.

Hippest of the Hip: The Bryant Park Hotel, NYC

Gil Zeimer — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 12:32:07 +0000

How hip is hip? How cool is cool? If the Website for New York’s Bryant Park Hotel is anywhere near as good as the hotel itself, you owe it to yourself to check it out. For one, it was chosen for Conde Nast Traveler’s 2004 Gold List as one of the “World’s Best Places to Stay.”

For two, its site says: “Drawing the likes of models, designers, fashionistas and industry players from all over the world, the Bryant Park Hotel has become somewhat of a fashion symbol itself…”

And three, you can choose six types of rooms with cashmere blankets, marble baths with deep soaking tubs, and other self-pampering amenities. Each room resembles a dream New York loft.

Address: 40 West 40th Street, near 5th Avenue. Phone: 415.212.869.0100. Web: Bryant Park Hotel.

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The “If You Have to Ask, You Can’t Afford It” Hotel Room :: Ty Warner Penthouse, NYC

Janice Nieder — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 22:55:15 +0000

But just so you know, it’s a jaw-dropping $30,000 a night. The Ty Warner Penthouse — Ty’s the creator of the Beanie Babies — which recently opened in Manhattan’s Four Seasons Hotel is perfect for super-rich globetrotters who demand nothing short of the opulent best.

Warner persuaded I M Pei out of retirement to design the penthouse, along with interior designer Peter Marino, at a cost of $50 million. So what can you expect for the big bucks? Space is usually unheard of in NYC, but here you get the entire 52nd floor of the hotel, with over 4,000 square feet, comprising four main rooms (bedroom, living room, library, spa/exercise room with unlimited treatments from a masseuse).

Just a sampling of the riches include: walls are inlaid with mother of pearl, curtains with gold thread, the bathroom floor with onyx, and the coffee table is appropriately covered with shark skin. And of course, a personal butler is on hand 24 hours a day to cater for your every need.

And just in case you wanna climb down from your ivory tower and rub elbows with the huddled masses, a Rolls-Royce, with driver, is on standby.

Four Seasons Hotel New York
57 East 57th Street, New York, NY 10022
Tel. 212-758-5700
Web: www.fourseasons.com.newyorkfs

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Relax, Refresh & Revive ::: Free Spa Experience, Grand Central Station, NYC

Gil Zeimer — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 20:18:15 +0000

From The LA Times: Grand Central Station isn’t exactly known as a temple of tranquility and relaxation. But from Wed., October 31 through Saturday, Nov. 3, 2007, the Spa Experience will be coming to the landmark train station in New York City. For these four days, busy commuters and visitors to the city will be able to chill out a little and sample a massage before running for the 5:17 train home to the suburbs.

A total of 50 destination spas and spa beauty companies will have booths at the Spa Experience, from Miraval, Life in Balance, the Tuscon, Ariz., spa, to the CuisinArt Resort & Spa in Anguilla.

Best of all, this event is free, open to the public, and includes:
• 3 hours of spa bliss at Four Seasons Westlake Village
• Shiverylicioius: Places to chill in & around Los Angeles
• Caesars Palace: Qua spa is a Las Vegas oasis
• A dozen places in Los Angeles to feel like a movie star
• Boutique cruise ships ramp up the pampering

A spa retreat center will also offer private areas where visitors can receive a sample beauty treatment or mini-spa treatment for free. There will also be some giveaways and samples, and a number of retailers at Grand Central will be offering tie-in discounts to beauty products, food and other merchandise.

In addition, guests will be able to learn more about the spas, book trips or buy a gift certificate from Spa Finder, redeemable at 3,500 spas worldwide.

If the Grand Central event is successful, “Spa Finder will consider whether to expand to other destinations in 2008 and 2009,” said Patrick Kowalczyk, spokesman for Spa Finder. San Francisco, Chicago, and Dallas are under consideration as possible hosts for other events, he added.

The Spa Experience at Grand Central will take place 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on Oct. 31 and Nov. 2 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Nov. 1 and Nov. 3, 2007.

For more info, visit www.spafinder.com/thespaexperience.com.

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Delicious Delicious, Eclectic Eclectic :: Etcetera, Etcetera, New York, New York

Gil Zeimer — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 22:09:15 +0000

There must be thousands of restaurants on Manhattan to feed the eight million New Yorkers who live there. Around the Great White Way at Times Square, there are literally hundreds. But we chose Etcetera, Etcetera last week on our only evening in Manhattan on our way to Boston because my wife had enjoyed dining at Vice Versa, its sister restaurant, last fall.

With a flashy stainless steel bar and 50 seats, Etc. Etc. can accommodate 50 diners downstairs for pre- or post-theatre dining, or another 20+ in a private room upstairs. Every dish was superbly prepared, absolutely delicious to the palate, and the service was impeccable.

My wife and I each thoroughly enjoyed the pre-fixe dinner for $35 with a choice of mixed field green salad with house dressing and shaved Parmigiano Reggiano, eggplant cannoli with fresh ricotta and smoked mozzarella, or chilled tomato and cucumber soup with pesto and Parmesan waffle. We opted for the first two — both perfectly prepared and balanced.

For entrees, I tried the homemade ricotta and cherry mozzarella ravioli with diced tomatoes — savory, sweet and splendid. My wife had the zucchini wrapped monkfish with carrot mashed potatoes, asparagus and lemon sauce — and she had to keep an elbow on the table to keep me from reaching across and stabbing more than a bite — it was that good. Our daughter absolutely devoured her green spaghetti with shrimp, tomatoes, eggplant and basil.

For desserts, we went a bit overboard. First, the waitstaff brought us homemade cookies and biscotti after we’d each ordered one dessert — so we had a serving of three ice creams, three sorbets, a rich and velvety chocolate pudding with cinnamon and orange zest, plus a special tiramisu from the maitre ‘d.

We vow to dine here again on our next swing east.

Etcetera Etcetera
A: 352 West 44th Street, NYC, NY 10036
T: 212.399.4141.
W: www.etcrestaurant.com.

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