Throwback Thursday "Arthur Ashe"

Since this is the week of the US Open tennis tournament, our throwback Thursday features a great man and tennis player. Arthur Ashe’s dramatic victory at the first U.S. Open, fifty years ago, ushered in a new era for diversity in the game and for the bankability of its stars.

In the early 1980s, Ashe is believed to have contracted HIV from a blood transfusion he received during heart bypass surgery. Ashe publicly announced his illness in April 1992 and began working to educate others about HIV and AIDS. He founded the Arthur Ashe Foundation for the Defeat of AIDS and the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health before his death from AIDS-related pneumonia at age 49 on February 6, 1993.

On June 20, 1993, Ashe was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by the United States President Bill Clinton.

"From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life." - Arthur Ashe

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Hotel Elysee by Library Collection Review

When you see the hotel right off Madison Avenue, it screams classic New York

They really try to make your stay as comfortable as possible 

The bed was a good size and pretty comfortable 

A nice little sitting area was a welcome touch 





The bathroom was small but I have seen smaller.



That door leads to the bathroom, and you have to go up a step. Unique design.



Free bottles of water and Leonidas dark chocolate were great touches to the room



Right across the street from the hotel is a lovely little park, great to relax after a long day in the city! 


The free breakfast in the morning was quite a variety, with healthy and not healthy available.





I loved this staircase's elegance! Here is some history about the hotel:

Hotel Elysée was founded in 1926 as a European-style hotel for the carriage trade by Swiss-born Max Haering. New York's leading hatcheck concessionaire, Mayer Quain, purchased the hotel out of bankruptcy in 1937. After the War, his children eclectically designed every room so that no two rooms were alike. In lieu of traditional numbers, the rooms were named to reflect their personality, such as the "Sayonara" suite assigned to Marlon Brando after his starring role in Teahouse of the

August Moon. Tennessee Williams lived in the hotel for fifteen years and died in the "Sunset" suite.

Columnist Jimmy Breslin, who regards the Elysée as "a great hotel, a genuine New York landmark," succeeded Ruark as the hotel's unofficial chronicler. Upon Tennessee Williams's death at the Elysée in February 1983, Breslin recalled the story of a transient guest who called the front desk at 5:00 am complaining that someone in the next suite was keeping her awake by typing all night. "They knew right away who the culprit was, but they couldn't very well ask Mr. Williams to stop playwriting,     so we simply moved the guest to another room."

In November 1948, Tallulah Bankhead celebrated President Harry S. Truman's stunning victory over Thomas E. Dewey by throwing a noisy party at the hotel that ran non-stop for five days and nights.

The Hotel Elysee in New York City was sold for $55 million, or $533,980 per room. The 103-room hotel was sold to its

current operators Richard Born, Ira Rukier and Henry Kallan




You do feel like you are on a set of Mad Men, no ? 



Lovely sitting area, where the computer room is, to relax and just unwind


Could you see Don Draper on that couch? I could very easily!



Champagne, wine and cheese were served in the evening 

Positives: 

• Old world New York feel in decor and furnishings   
• Free Continental Breakfast  
• Right off Madison Avenue, near major shopping and attractions    
•  Wine and cheese reception evenings from 5pm to 8pm 
• Beautiful lobby 
• A historic property in New York City since 1926 
• Customer service driven staff 
• Room service from The Monkey Bar restaurant 
• Free bottled water, chocolate and turn down service 
• Business center with internet access 

Negatives: 

• $25.00 daily Resort Fee (as of 06/25/19) 
• Only 1 elevator     
• No coffee maker in the room, but can be requested 
• Rooms may be considered small 

The Hotel Elysee Review

60 East 54th Street  
New York, NY 10022
212-753-1066

4 star hotel

Old New York Boutique Hotel
Location: Midtown East     
103 guestrooms  
Laundry Service Available 

Room Service Available 24/7

Paid Parking 
No Fitness Center but passes to NY Sports Club Provided  

Free High Speed WiFi

Guests of the Hotel Elysée are also welcome to enjoy complimentary library of movies, music and books
Monkey Bar Restaurant Attached to Hotel      
Trip Advisor Ranking 6 of 480 (as of 8/26/18)
Trivago Rating  9 out of 10 (as of 8/26/18)
Price Range $259 - $544 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)

Hotel prices are at their lowest in the months of January and February; their highest September and October. Sunday nights are the lowest prices for hotel rooms, in most cases. My go to places for checking prices for hotels are Trivago, Trip Advisor, Hotels.com and Travelzoo. Always remember to check the hotel's website itself, they are really trying to have you   

book direct and sometimes offer specials or a discount with AAA that is cheaper than the websites I mentioned above. 

I am also finding that if you book on your mobile device, you can save some money as well. I actually got a better rate via 

my mobile phone than using my AAA discount online direct at the hotel. You should really do some research on your price 

for hotel a few different ways, and ALWAYS book a room that you can cancel, you never know what may happen 

in the future. 

Remember to take into account for your total cost the NYC Hotel tax of 14.75% plus Daily $2.00 per room occupancy fee.

Would I reserve a night at the Hotel Elysée again? I believe I would, for the right price. I enjoyed my stay, the hotel is very elegant and feels like old New York. Everything is done very well as are all Library Collection Hotels. I am beginning to find staying in so many hotels in the last year, I prefer a more modern design. The location is fabulous, you can really walk everywhere and not really need the subway or cab. There are lots of restaurants in the location, as well as shops and MOMA. 
To stay right off of Madison Avenue is pretty fantastic. I would recommend this hotel to friends and my readers. If you are 
more into a modern type of hotel, this would not be the choice. The free breakfast was nice, and the wine hour in the 
evening was a fun, relaxing touch. 

 My rating for this hotel, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being perfect in every way, is a 7. 

Disclosure: This stay was paid for by me. I will always state at the end of each review whether my stay was paid for by 

myself or if I was hosted by the hotel. I will honestly tell you about my experience at this hotel, not being swayed in any way by complimentary services. I know you value my opinion, and it is important to me to be as honest as possible. All opinions are 
my own. Thank you so much.

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Tennessee Williams at The Morgan Library

I was thrilled to check out the fantastic exhibit at The Morgan Library and Museum of Tennessee Williams. He was a great playwright and someone whose work will stand the test of time. 

Here is some information on the exhibit from the Morgan's website: 

The plays of Tennessee Williams (1911–1983) are intimate, confessional, and autobiographical. They are touchstones not only of American theatrical history but American literary history as well. 

During the period 1939 to 1957, Williams composed such masterpieces as The Glass Menagerie, A Streetcar Named Desire, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, cementing his reputation as America’s most celebrated playwright. By 1955 he had earned two Pulitzer Prizes, three New York Drama Critics’ Circle Awards, and a Tony.

Williams embraced his celebrity even as he struggled in his private life with alcohol and drug addiction and a series of stormy relationships with lovers. Moreover, he was often at odds professionally with critics and censors concerned about the sexuality and other subject matter, then unconventional, explored in his plays. He found his safe haven in writing.

Opening February 2 and continuing through May 13, Tennessee Williams: No Refuge but Writing highlights the playwright’s creative process and his close involvement with the theatrical production of his works, as well as their reception and lasting impact. Uniting his original drafts, private diaries, and personal letters with paintings, photographs, production stills, and other objects, the exhibition tells the story of one man’s ongoing struggle for self-expression and how it forever changed the landscape of American drama.

Foto-Life, Tennessee Williams, undated, contact sheet, gelatin silver print, Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin. © Foto-Life.

Very cool typed letter with his signature, which I have to say, I thought was marvelous! Such lovely penmanship.

A letter to his grandfather in his own writing 

Very neat to see his typewriter, I have to say, I do not miss typing on these at all! 

Tennessee Williams (1911–1983), The Gentleman Caller: The Ruins of a Play, ca. 1943-44, Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin. Used with permission of George Borchardt, Inc.

Marlon Brando's little black book was pretty darn cool to see in person and read as well! 

I was familiar with the movie starring Liz Taylor and Paul Newman but not of the play with Barbara Bel Geddes and Burl Ives. I am sure it must have been pretty stellar to see that in person. It opened March 24, 1955 to Nov. 17, 1956 and the film opened Sept. 20, 1958. A true classic. 

I had to show some shots I took as well of the Morgan Library. I just love this place! 

Smaller museums are such a treat as you don't have all the craziness like the Met (even though I do LOVE the Met) and you can relax and enjoy your beautiful surroundings. 

These book covers with historic books inside are just so wonderful to view in person. 

The Morgan Library & Museum
225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street
New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 685-0008
Fax: (212) 481-3484

Hours
The Morgan Library & Museum and the Morgan Shop are open
Tuesday through Thursday: 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday: 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Morgan closes at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve and at 5 p.m. on New Year's Eve.
Closed Monday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

Admission
$20 Adults
$13 Seniors (65 and over)
$13 Students (with current ID)
Free to members and children 12 and under (must be accompanied by an adult)
Admission is free on Fridays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Admission to the McKim rooms only (Mr. Morgan's Library, Study, Rotunda, and Librarian's Office) is free during the following times: Tuesday, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 4 p.m to 6 p.m.
Admission is not required to visit the Morgan Shop, Morgan Dining Room, and Morgan Café.


Also on this day, a very Happy Anniversary to my parents in heaven who would be married 51 years today. I am sure they are celebrating with family and friends. They are forever in my heart.

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US Open 2018 Begins Today!

I cannot believe the US Open starts today! Summer is officially winding down. I attended the tournament for many, many years with the last time being in 2011. I don't follow the sport as much as I did, but many of my favorites like Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova are still top players today. I always want to get back to see the changes to the tennis center, but haven't made it yet. Here are some of my shots of the players taken at the tournament.  

Rafael Nadal is the number 1 men's player on the tour. He currently holds 17 grand slam titles. He can win on any surface and is one of my faves to watch!  

Maria Sharapova is someone I have been watching since she started on the tour. She is currently ranked 21 in the world, and has 5 grand slam titles on all surfaces as well as one of the top female earners in prize money at around 38 million dollars. This was a great shot of her, and I do miss photographing the players. Watching live tennis is also very cool and is nothing compared to watching on television.  

Victoria Azerenka is a former Number 1 player in the world with 2 grand slam titles under her belt. She is currently ranked 80 in the world.  

Serena Williams, many who say is the greatest player of all time, with 23 grand slam singles titles which is the 2nd all time to Margaret Court from Australia.  

The ground are really beautiful and they have expanded it many times to accommodate for the throngs of fans from around the world that attend each year.  

I love watching the matches at night as the weather cools down, and it is less crowded than during the day. One of these days, I will be back to check out the grounds and matches! 

One of my favorite photos I took of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at Arthur Ashe Kids Day. I was working for a friend's tennis website and actually sitting in the photographers pit at Arthur Ashe Stadium. It was something I will never forget.  

The tournament runs for 2 weeks and it is best to get your ticket ahead of time as sessions do sell out. The first week is the best time to go as you have lots of matches going on and can see some great players in action. I prefer the smaller courts to the big stadium, I like being closer to the action.

From the US Open website:

Arthur Ashe wins the first ever US Open men's singles crown, defeating Tom Okker of the Netherlands, 14-12, 5-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, in the final. Because of his amateur status, the 25-year-old Ashe, a lieutenant in the U.S. Army, was ineligible to receive the $14,000 first prize in the $100,000 event-at the time the richest tournament in tennis history. Instead, Ashe collects only his $20 per diem. Ashe is the first American to win the U.S. men's singles title since 1955 and the first-ever African-American to win a men's singles title at a Grand Slam Championship. The New York Times calls Ashe's victory "the most notable achievement made in the sport by a Negro male athlete." Virginia Wade of Great Britain upsets top-seeded Billie Jean King for the women's title and collects a check of $6,000.

The richest prize purse in the history of tennis is set to get even bigger with the announcement that prize money at the 2018 US Open will reach a record $53 million.

Happy 50th birthday to the US Open in 2018 !!!

US Open 
Flushing Meadows
Corona Park
Queens New York

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Throwback Thursday "Little Italy"

This cool shot of Little Italy in the 1900's make you wish you had a time machine, doesn't it? I could stare at this photo for hours just to see all the little details. What a change this area has had in the last few centuries. In 2015, Little Italy is shrinking daily, due to high rents and cultural conflict. It will be shame if this part of New York City is no more, and all we have left are these wonderful memories from a bygone era.

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