As a city, New York is considered the best and biggest in many categories. But who woulda thunk that New York would be considered the world's most polite city? You did not misread, I did write "polite" and that honor was bestowed, in a recent survey, by that most wholesome of publications, Reader's Digest. Even the likes of London, Toronto, and Moscow can't match New York when it comes to manners.
One of the criteria in the survey was what percentage of people held doors open for others. In New York it was 90 percent and I'm sure many of those were doormen for hotels where you pay a great cost for those good manners. Not only is New York the most polite city, it also has the most expensive hotel rooms.
Where to Stay
Adding to the luxury hotel market is the grand re-opening of the Gramercy Park Hotel (2 Lexington Avenue; tel. 212/920-3300; www.gramercyparkhotel.com). This 1924-built marvel overlooking exclusive Gramercy Park was the home away from home for numerous artists, writers and musicians. Now boutique hotelier Ian Schrager (The Royalton, Morgan's), collaborating with artist Julian Schnabel on the interior look, has spent $200 million and three years to transform what was a wilting landmark into something unique and, yes, very expensive. Rooms will range from $525 to $740 for a Park Suite.
That other famous landmark hotel, The Plaza, has also been redone with the majority of space converted to condominium residences. There will be, however, 132 hotel residences that are currently on the market ranging from $1.9 million to $9 million. Buy one of those and you'll have a place to stay in New York for up to 120 days per year. The rest of the year the rooms are reserved for overnight hotel guests. Here's the number for anyone that might be interested in purchasing one: tel. 212/588-8000.
James Cagney, Eddie Cantor, and Tommy Dorsey probably stayed at the Plaza at one time during their many visits to New York, but it's at the new Blue Moon Hotel (100 Orchard Street; tel. 212/533-9080; www.bluemoon-nyc.com), where there are rooms named after them. This new Lower East Side boutique hotel is housed in a 19th- Century tenement building and stresses the old with an assortment of period relics and memorabilia, while not neglecting the new with whirpool baths, mini-fridges, and internet access.
Where to Dine
Sirio Maccioni, the owner of Le Cirque (tel. 212/644-0202) restaurant is noted for his manners and charm. He is extremely polite and accommodating to men and women of influence. To us other mortals don't expect much more than a nod and wave from the discerning wait staff. It was that way at Le Cirque when it was located in the Palace hotel and it's that way now in the restaurant's new digs at 151 East 58th Street. Still, dining at Le Cirque, is a memorable experience (good or bad) and that's the way Maccioni likes it.
Many rate the Four Seasons (57 E. 57th St.) as the best hotel in New York, but in the past you would get blank stares if you asked the name of the hotel's restaurant. No longer now that L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon (tel. 212/350-6658) has opened in the hotel. The restaurant is the first foray into the New York market for Michelin three-star chef Joel Robuchon. And like his other restaurants, here you can sample the chef's creation while sitting at his signature counter and watch the chefs prepare your meal.
You won't get to watch the chef's of Rack & Soul (2818 Broadway, at 109th St; tel. 212/222-4800) prepare your ribs and fried chicken, but why would you want to? This new restaurant co-owned by Charles Gabriel, the chef and owner of legendary Harlem soul spot, Charles' Southern-Style Kitchen, brings his deft touch with fried chicken down to Morningside Heights, while the baby back ribs prepared by Mississippi pit master John Wheeler in a custom-made smoker are as good as you'll find in this Yankee town.
While soulful chicken and ribs have traveled downtown, innovative seafood (including a sushi bar) has made its way uptown to the heart of Harlem with the recent debut of Pier 2110 (2110 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd, between 125th and 126th Sts; tel. 212/270-7437; www.pier2110.com).
What to See & Do
Another historic relic, a living, floating one, the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum is scheduled to close on October 1 and move to New Jersey for long overdue repair work on the ship and the pier. The $17 million dollar refurbishment project is projected to be completed by Fleet Week of 2008.
Also closed for rehabilitation is Father Duffy Square, the triangle just below 47th Street between Broadway and Seventh Avenue. Father Duffy Square is most famous as the location of the Times Square TKTS booth. The $12.5 million project will feature an increase in space, a glass staircase 27 steps high -- leading nowhere but facing Times Square to the south -- and a new fiberglass TKTS booth. In the meantime, you can get your discounted same day theater tickets at the temporary TKTS booth in the promenade of the Marriot Marquis Hotel, on West 46th Street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue. This temporary location will stick to the same hours of operation as the original location in Father Duffy Square.
In other, not so welcoming news, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has raised their "suggested admission" charge to $20, equaling that of the MoMA's.
After getting your money's worth at the Met, saunter over to Central Park with your laptop. By mid-October you will be able to check your e-mail while sitting on a park bench or lounging on the Great Lawn. Central Park is one of ten city parks that will be wired with Wi-Fi.
Shopping
And if you really want to get online in Central Park and are having trouble with your Mac, no need to worry, the 24-hour Apple Store Fifth Avenue, (767 Fifth Avenue, between 58th and 59th Streets; tel. 212/336-1440) which opened in June, complete with a 32-foot-tall glass entrance, should be able to help you.
New York City After Dark
Possibly the best news in Harlem was the re-opening of legendary jazz club Minton's Playhouse, 210 W 118th Street (Adam Clayton Powell/7th Ave at St. Nicholas Ave.; tel. 212/864-8346). Closed since the early 1970's, Minton's had a 32-year run where legends such as Count Basie, Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday, Charlie Christian, and Duke Ellington appeared regularly and where Thelonius Monk was the house piano player. We can only hope that Minton's will revive that swinging spirit.
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