Throwback Thursday "Vintage Flatiron District"

One of my favorite areas of the city is the Flatiron District. This very cool photograph which shows the area in 1884, before the famed building was constructed! Here is some more info from the website where you can purchase this and have in your very home, H.A. Dunne and Co.  :

Looking south at the intersection of Broadway and Fifth Avenue at East 23rd today, you would see the prow of the famed Flatiron Building, but in 1884 you would see a much different "ship." The distinctive shape of the intersection makes the location easily identifiable. At this time, the site was owned by Amos Eno and was known as Eno's flatiron. As can be seen in the photograph, Eno sold advertising on the side of the Cumberland apartment building he owned. Apparently there was a big market for various medicinal plasters.

I think it would be pretty cool to do a whole wall of vintage New York City photographs in one's home. So much history and fabulous architecture from over 100 years ago!!

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Dough Doughnuts Giving Back to Frontline Workers

I received information about Dough Doughnuts (one of my NYC faves) giving back to our heroes "the frontline workers" and wanted to share the information. If you have the ability to help, it would be wonderful. I think it is safe to say we cannot thank these folks enough for all their hard work and dedication during this crisis. I think when it is all said and done, there should be a parade of thanks for them. 

Here is the information and links if you wish to donate: 

It started with taking the proceeds from delivery orders that have already come through and making a generous gift of free doughnuts to Lenox Hill Hospital. A single Instagram story from the frontlines of the hospital made Dough realize they had to do more.  The team kicked into high gear and created Frontline Sweet Support. The idea is to provide even more of the tri-state area’s frontline personnel with something that made them smile.

Dough Doughnuts has already made donations to several hospitals including Manhattan VA Medical Center, VA Medical Center, New York Presbyterian and Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine, Veteran’s Medical Center, NYU Langone Hospital and the Homeless at Bowery Mission.

Contributions will go to supporting our front-line heroes and will cover the cost of producing and delivering the sweets. The contribution not only covers the cost of producing and delivering the treats, it also helps keep Dough’s production staff employed, jobs sorely needed in the hospitality industry at the moment.

How contributions help:

●      $18: Box of 6 Support Doughnuts*

●      $36: Box of 12 Support Doughnuts*

●      $180: Box of 60 Support Doughnuts*

●      $360: Box of 120 Support Doughnuts*

●      $1,800: Box of 600 Support Doughnuts*

*Includes cost of food, individual packaging, wages and delivery; Dough Doughnuts is not profiting from this venture. Thank you for your support. We’d love to feature  Dough Doughnuts and the work they are doing.

People can learn more and make a contribution at https://www.frontlinesweetsupport.org.

Note to Editors| How They Make Their Doughnuts In Era Of Covid-19

Dough Doughnuts is taking extra steps to make sure they are making their Doughnuts safely including the following guidelines while making the doughnuts out of their flagship store in the Flatiron building:

1. All employees wear masks & gloves at all times while in our location. Employees must wash hands when entering the store, and every time they change their gloves.
2. All employees wear clean aprons/shirts/pants for every shift.
3. The kitchen & store are sanitized multiple times a day with commercial sanitizing solutions.
4. When they deliver to hospitals, all doughnuts are individually wrapped and packaged in bags to head out.
5. When delivering, their delivery driver also wears a mask & gloves and meets a health care worker at a designated pick up location, usually off campus of the hospital.
6. Their storefront is still open for takeout / delivery. We only allow up to 2 customers/delivery drivers in the store at the time. All others are asked to wait outside in a line with 6 ft. of distance between themselves.
7. They have glass barriers in our store to separate customers from our employee who is working. Their kitchen is also separated by a door and glass wall from customers.
8. They only have 4 employees (usually roughly 35 - 40) who are currently working and who have been working. They usually only have 2 employees for most of the time in the store. They stay at least 6 ft. apart at all times.

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Evelyn Hotel Review July 2019

Classification : Four Star
Room Category : Premier Room
Month of Stay :  July 2019
Resort Fee: $28.68 per night

Trip Advisor Ranking 16 of 508 (as of 12/14/19)

Trivago Rating  7.6 out of 10 (as of 12/14/19)

What kind of history goes with this hotel? Built in the Beaux Arts style, the historic hotel opened in 1905 as Hotel Broztell. In 1992 it was the Gershwin Hotel. Following a multi-million-dollar renovation and a name change as a tribute to Evelyn Nesbit, the original it girl, The Evelyn Hotel was reintroduced in 2014.

When you arrived, how was the lobby and customer service? The lobby is very well done in an Art Deco (one of my faves) designs keeping with the Evelyn Nesbitt theme. It is a relaxing spot to await for your room to be ready, or just chill at the end of the day after exploring the city. The staff was eager to get my room ready as quickly as possible, even though I arrived around 10:30am.

How fantastic or not so fantastic was the room? This was my second time staying at the hotel, prior stay was in one of their suites, this was a Deluxe Room with King bed. It is for sure much smaller than the suite at but it was fine for one person. Two people it may be a bit tight. 

The cleanliness of the hotel and room itself ? The room was clean, no issues whatsoever as well as the overall hotel itself.

The All-Important bathroom subject? This bathroom much smaller than in the suite but nicely appointed. Fine for one person but would be tight with two people in the room. The heated floors are a nice treat.

What kind of shower treats awaited you? Coffee maker in the room? The shower treats were okay, this is soon to be going away in hotels which is sad as I always love to bring them home. No coffee maker in the room, unfortunately.

Were you able to have sweet dreams with the comfy bed? Yes, the bed is very comfy for a good nights sleep as has an Alberta mattress. 

I LOVED having an empty fridge to put any personal items in such as water or pastries from Maison Kayser! I wish all hotels would do this without you having to ask for it. 

Did room service blow your mind or was just okay? There is no room service but they do have a lovely cafe in the lobby which you can take back to your room. This may have been upgraded as they do have 3 restaurants in the hotel but for me it isn't a game changer. 

Everyone wants to know, is Wi-Fi included? Yes, it is (yay) 

                    Is Fido allowed come with you? No pets are allowed at this hotel

I really love the lobby decor! 

Location is key, how does this hotel measure? I LOVE this location, right near Madison Square Park. You can pretty much walk everywhere and there are so many sights to see as well as restaurants, shops.

What was the best part of staying here?  I would say 2 things - the price and location. This will always be one of the hotels I check when staying in the city.

Would you change anything? I probably would add a coffee maker to the room and 24 hour room service. A gym would be nice addition as well.

Is this hotel worth it and why? Yes, because of the location. The decor is lovely with all the history that goes with it and rooms are clean and fun. It is hard to beat their prices in this location.

Overall Rating: 8/10

Conclusion: As I stated prior, this will always be a hotel I check out when going to stay in the city. If you have 2 people staying, I would do the suite as you will have much more room. The location is awesome to walk around Flatrion district, Union Square and even the Village. It is for sure a treat staying here and I cannot wait to do it again! 

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. You also want the ability to change hotels if you should find a better option closer to your date of arrival. 

Resort fees are something I am seeing at more New York hotels, about 82 of the over 400 hotels in New York City now charge. These fees can run you between $30 to $60 per night for your stay. They list services such as newspapers, in room coffee or WiFi for these fees, and if you book with a hotel that has this fee, you are obligated to pay it. When checking your prices, be sure to look for the small print if there is an additional resort fee and make your decision whether you want that additional charge. Some of the hotels in New York City that charge the fee are: Park Central Hotel $40.16, WestHouse New York $53.93, Avalon Hotel $22.95, Royalton Park Avenue $40.00, The James New York Soho $45.90, The James New York NoMad $38.11, The Warwick $25.00, The Benjamin $38.11, The Quin $21.78, Crowne Plaza Times Square $34.43, Hotel 48Lex $60.00, The Redbury New York $32.66, The Knickerbocker $34.43, The Viceroy Central Park $29.00. These prices are as of 03/25/18. 

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

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 trust my opinion, & it is important to me to be as honest as possible.  All opinions are my own. Thank you so much.

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Kimpton Hotel Eventi Review April 2018

Classification : Five Star
Room Category : City View Deluxe King Room
Month of Stay :  April
No Daily Resort Fee (as of 06/25/19)

Trip Advisor Ranking 74 of 500 (as of 05/11/19)

Trivago Rating  8.9 out of 10 (as of 05/11/19)

9/10   Location: The Kimpton Hotel Eventi opened in summer 2010 in an area of northern Chelsea famous for its knock-off vendors, and was a big step in the neighborhood's slow and steady march toward hipification. The Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden, Penn Station, Madison Square Park, the New York Public Library, and Times Square are all within walking distance. The hotel is four blocks south of Herald Square, which is home to seven subway lines (D, F, M, N, Q, R, W) and the world's first Macy's. My favorite The Morgan Library and Museum is a little over a half a mile walk. It's a five-minute walk to the the 1, 2, 3 subway lines, Penn Station, and Madison Square Garden.

8/10  Style & Character: This lovely boutique hotel has a wonderful living-room type lobby, with many charging facilities for your devices. Wonderful works of art hang on the walls and the soothing color tones are very inviting. The Vine restaurant, one of two, has an awesome elevated living room with a fireplace and leather sofa.

8/10 Amenities: For IHG Rewards Club Members (which is FREE to join) Complimentary WiFi and $30 spa credit; hotel bikes available; Complimentary tea and coffee in the lobby; evening wine hour in the lobby living room. The hotel can provide loaner iPads, MacBook Pros, wireless speakers, and other tech items. Bathrobes and Atelier Bloem products are provided. Pet friendly, no matter the size and no additional charge. Fitness Center with gym and workout room, Spa.

9/10 Rooms: 292 rooms - All rooms and suites come with floor-to-ceiling windows, flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, minibars, and yoga mats. Beds are dressed with Frette linens and marble bathrooms have rainfall showers. The most basic King Room, is 275 square feet, which is huge for NYC and can have views of the Empire State Building. I stayed in this room my first experience at this hotel, with the ESB view from my bed. For this stay, I decided to upgrade to the City View Deluxe Room and it was well worth it as a corner unit up to 300 square feet. I felt like I was going to my NYC apartment each night! The bathrooms are one of the best I have stayed in the city. A gorgeous rain shower, marble throughout, lots of room to dress as well. When I took my shower later in the morning, water was very hot and pressure was excellent.

9/10 Food & Drink : This hotel has 2 amazing restaurants titled The Vine and L'Amico with Executive Chef Laurent Tourondel and both have fantastic dining choices. I have had wonderful breakfasts at The Vine and dinners at L'Amico and would stop in even if not staying at the hotel. The Vine is open Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch and Dinner and L'Amico is open for Lunch, Brunch and Dinner.

Family Friendly: Yes. Adjacent corner rooms join to create larger suites. Cribs are available upon request and are complimentary.

Access for Guests with Disability: Yes. ADA-accessible rooms are available. Some of these rooms include showers with grab bars and added facility, and some include a roll-in shower. The hotel will work with you based on your needs.


Overall Value: $253 - $575 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room) Join the IHG Rewards Club to receive free WiFi and credits towards spa and mini bar.

Overall Rating: 8/10

In the Vicinity: A seven-minute walk will bring you to the beautiful Madison Square Park, home to Shake Shack, Eataly; and many wonderful shops. Nordstrom Rack is right next door to the hotel, which can be very dangerous. Gregory's Coffee is at W. 31st and 6th Avenue a great place for amazing coffee, quick breakfast and charge for your phone. Museum at FIT is right around the corner at 7th and W. 27th Street. The amazing location of this hotel, you can walk everywhere and not really have to use a subway or cab which is the best way to see NYC!

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. You also want the ability to change hotels if you should find a better option closer to your date of arrival. 

Resort fees are something I am seeing at more New York hotels, about 82 of the over 400 hotels in New York City now charge. These fees can run you between $30 to $60 per night for your stay. They list services such as newspapers, in room coffee or WiFi for these fees, and if you book with a hotel that has this fee, you are obligated to pay it. When checking your prices, be sure to look for the small print if there is an additional resort fee and make your decision whether you want that additional charge. Some of the hotels in New York City that charge the fee are: Park Central Hotel $40.16, WestHouse New York $53.93, Avalon Hotel $22.95, Royalton Park Avenue $40.00, The James New York Soho $45.90, The James New York NoMad $38.11, The Warwick $25.00, The Benjamin $38.11, The Quin $21.78, Crowne Plaza Times Square $34.43, Hotel 48Lex $60.00, The Redbury New York $32.66, The Knickerbocker $34.43, The Viceroy Central Park $29.00. These prices are as of 03/25/18. 

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

CONCLUSION

Would I reserve a night at the Kimpton Hotel Eventi again ? This is my second stay at this hotel, and for 3 nights you can really get a feel for a hotel. The Eventi is becoming one of my favorite hotels in the city. It is rated 5 star, however you can get a good deal on a room, especially if you check on the Kimpton website directly. Join their IHG Rewards Club as it is free and you get some nice perks. The rooms are gorgeous, bathrooms sublime, views can be so wonderful. My biggest issue was the room was not ready at 10:30 am when I arrived, and they wouldn't send me a text or call when the room was ready. I attended the wine hour which was nice but had no small bites with the wine. The doormen could be a bit more helpful getting cabs and with bags, something that is very standard in a 5 star hotel. I feel their customer service could improve greatly, but I love the location so with the prices very good, will stay again. I am testing more options in this area at the moment.  

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 trust 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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Top 5 Best Eats in Flatiron District

The Flatrion district is one of my most favorite areas. It is so wonderful to walk around and check out the unique shops and restaurants. You can also take a break in Madison Square Park from all the walking which is so lovely. I thought I would put together some of the top 5 best places to eat in the area. They are so many good choices, but these are those that I enjoy. 

In no particular order: 

1. Eataly  - I can't really say enough about this place. It is a must visit for any foodie. There are restaurants, food counters, cafe, market and cooking classes. I would recommend everyone to visit here at least once, and be sure to try some of the amazing food! The gelato is one of the best I have ever enjoyed. 

2. Beecher's Handmade Cheese - If you like cheese, you need to visit here! When visiting Beecher's in the Flatiron District, you can grab a sandwich in the cafe and watch the cheesemakers at work or wander downstairs into The Cellar where you can enjoy a glass of wine in the glow of their cheese cave where row upon row of Beecher's cheeses ripen to perfection. It is homemade cheese like no other. 

3. City Bakery  - One of the BEST hot chocolates you will find in the city, the month of February is their hot chocolate festival - one flavor each day! They make wonderful pastries as well, a must stop when in this area. 

4. Eleven Madison Park  - The restaurant is run by Chef Daniel Humm and Restaurateur Will Guidara and it is a top notch restaurant. For special occasions, birthday or anniversaries, it is worth the splurge. The tasting menu will cost you $295 for 8 to 10 courses. Michelin Guide - 3 Stars #1 in the World's 50 Best Restaurants - 2017 #3 in the World's 50 Best Restaurants - 2016 4 Stars in New York Times - It is worth the price, and expect to be in awe. 

5. Madison Square Eats  - Owed by the Urbanspace which brings amazing food vendors all to one area 5th Ave between 25 and 26th Streets. The Spring market runs May through June and the Fall runs through the month of September. I love the idea that you can taste some of the best food vendors in the city all in one spot. Some of my faves are Roberta's, Melt Bakery, Bao by Kaya, Macaron Parlour, Las Sonrisa Foods. Pure genius. 

What is your favorite place to dine in the Flatiron district? 

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A Visit to Argo Tea Cafe'

As I always say, when you travel be sure to try different restaurants and cafes. The only place I will stop in is Starbucks, mostly for their phone charging ability, which is needed when I am traveling.  Argo Tea Cafe' is a place I would highly recommend to visit. When I first stopped in for a drink, and to chill out from walking all over the city, I was very impressed. I love tea just as much as I love coffee. Argo works with the best local and global tea, coffee and food artisans and contributes back to their communities. 

I LOVE when I walk in, they always have 2 drinks for you to sample. This makes it a bit easier to choose which drink you want to enjoy. A great idea! 

They carry coffee as well here, if you are not a tea drinker, one of the best from illycaffè.  

The many signature blends available for you to enjoy at home 

I enjoyed the whitefrostea with a spinach pastry. 

One of my favorites is below the Earl Grey Vanilla Creme and I did purchase some to make at home. It is so tasty, you really don't need sugar or honey. I love the fact that it is tasty hot or iced. 

The chai is amazing as well, and I am not a fan of strawberries, but I really enjoy their strawberry tea! I think that says alot if you don't normally like that flavor, but you do at Argo Tea Cafe'

I really enjoy loose tea as the flavor is so richer, and if you have never tried loose tea, you must. It has a really big difference. 

Our Passion Statement
We are passionate about bringing teas directly from growers around the world and blending them into unique and delicious signature beverages and teas. We are committed to being a sustainable business by working with the best local and global tea, coffee and food artisans and by contributing back to our communities to promote a healthy lifestyle and the conservation of natural resources.

Our Product Philosophy
Our Signature Drinks are inspired by creative mixologists and intelligent nutritionists. We freshly brew full-leaf teas and infuse them with fruits, flowers, spices and herbs. These all-natural beverages are always made from real ingredients that are free of artificial flavorings, colors or additives. Our healthy blends are a perfect balance of smart nutrition and craveable taste.

Argo Tea locations in New York City: Union Square, New York University, Flatiron, Chelsea, New York University Langone Medical Center, Columbus Circle and Fordham University.


Have you ever visited Argo Tea Cafe' ? How did you like it? Do you have a favorite tea flavor?

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Madison Square Eats Fall 2017

Prior to checking out the amazing Madison Square Eats, I was in need of a pumpkin latte. I know many people are a bit fed up with all the pumpkin items, but I love it. This little cafe called LeCafe' Coffee was a true find. This was the best latte I ever had. I can't wait to get back to the area to pick up another drink here. They just opened in Midtown and I will be sure to stop in next time in the city.  

7 E 14 St (Between 5th Ave and Union SQ)

New York, NY 10003

Tel: 212-365-1060

145 4th Ave

New York, NY 10003

Tel: 212-388-9111

NOW OPEN- Midtown

661 Lexington Ave (Between 55th and 56th)

New York. NY 10022

Madison Square Eats just closed for the Fall season, but I had to tempt you to get ready when they come back in the Spring! I love all the unique food selections you can find here. How great does that photo above look?  

Ice Cream sandwiches from Melt  

I love the free views you get to enjoy while dining!  

These tacos look almost too pretty to eat  

My new obsession is the bao bun - if you have not tried one, you must  

I am getting very hungry just looking at these photos  

These views along with the yummy food make for a wonderful time in the Flatiron district. I believe this area is really my most favorite in the city. 

The dates for Spring and Fall openings are usually around the same dates each year. You can check their website and sign up for emails to see when the Spring 2018 will be opening.

Madison Square Eats 

MARKET DATES
2017 Spring Market | May 13th – June 9th
11am – 9pm Daily
2017 Fall Market | September 2nd – September 29th

LOCATION
Worth Square – 5th Avenue between 25th and 26th Streets.

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