Day 3 Visiting NYC
The sun sets over the Hudson River, as seen from our hotel room. Five minutes later, it is gone.
It's my last day in NYC and I. have plans! A little shopping, a walk and photo shoot through Central Park, maybe a light lunch, some blogging and then a lovely dinner with the husband. It is clear and sunny! Except, the Polar Vortex (freezing cold air) has arrived and the temperatures are bone-chilling. Time for a change of plans. Spa day.
Photos of the Mandarin Oriental Spa from their web site, as they understandably do not allow photographs. That would be creepy.
The Mandarin Oriental Spa is a lovely and tranquil space that does not allow pictures, so I have taken some from their web site. After perusing their treatment menu from the catalog in my room, I choose a massage/mousturizing treatment and a facial. Because it's winter and my skin is like the Sahara. I sign in early as my plan is to swim a bit and maybe hit the steam room. Upon signing in, they take my shoes and replace them with sandals. I fill out a form and receive a lovely hibiscus tea. A woman then gives me a tour of the locker room and pool/steam area. As we tour the pool/steam area I notice a completely naked woman standing in the glass doorway of the steam room watching us. For like three minutes if not more. She reminds me of a puppy in a pet store window. She is actually freaking me out a bit. Most people sit in a steam room on a bench in a meditative state, I've never seen anyone stand in a glass doorway totally nude before. I don't mind naked and I don't mind strange, but I do mind strange naked people in close proximity. No steam room today! Instead, after the tour, I change into my robe and head to the tea room and enjoy the views of the New York skyline. The spa faces east so I am seeing the East River, and there is, as usual, lots of activity to observe.
When it is time for my treatment, the therapist comes to greet me and shows me to the treatment room. She is a lovely woman whose grandparents immigrated from Lebanon, so we talk recipes. Tabouleh, kibbe, falafel, lubieh. She is fantastic at her job and when done I feel completely relaxed and revitalized! Next I wait 10 minutes or so for the facial. My facial technician is a friendly gal and we get started right away. Unfortunately, there is a lot of poking and expressing of pores and aggressive facial techniques. That relaxation state quickly evaporates. I feel like she is going to stick her thumbs through my temples. It gets better after time, but I am happy when the hour is up! Now my hair is a greasy mess and I hate doing it myself, so the hotel sets up an appointment for a shampoo and blow-dry around the corner. Time to go outside.
Salon SCK on Broadway in New York City. Half a block and my hair is now normal! Again I am using web pictures because sometimes it just seems strange to take photos of where you get a shampoo.
It is the kind of cold that makes your lungs hurt, but fortunately, I only have to go around the corner to Salon SCK. They are able to get me in immediately for a quick shampoo and blow dry, because I hate doing that kind of thing myself, I have no patience for it. I get a relaxing shampoo by a young lady, then a guy (I forget his name) dried and styled my hair and we had a nice chat. I will never look better than I do today. I am now hungry, as it is 3:00pm. Time for a snack.
The Time Warner Center is a collection of shops, restaurants, residences and the corporate headquarters of the Time Warner Corporation.
The Time Warner building is right around the corner, thankfully! One block or less. I head in and do a little shopping for shoes and accessories for the upcoming event, but snacktime takes priority, so I head to Landmarc on the third floor. I have been here before. Owned by Marc Murphy (of Food Network fame) and his wife, it is a reliable location for burgers, steaks, basic American cuisine and delicious appetizers. I heppen to get there at the start of Happy Hour and there are Sambal Wings on the menu. They will be mine.
Sambal chicken wings and a tasty cold beverage at Marc Murphy’s Landmarc restaurant in the Time Warner building. I’ve already eaten two. They were crispy, messy and delicious as every good wing should be.
I enjoy the wings and a beverage and now am energized! I do a little more window shopping, then head back to the room to blog a bit and get ready for dinner. I know I just ate, don't judge me. It takes many hours to write this stuff. Write, write, write, edit, edit, edit.
I write for a few hours (and capture that lovely sunset photo) until Bob gets back from his meetings and I have a plan. Apparently, there is a speak-easy inside the Mandarin Oriental and we are going to find it! Secret bar, blah blah blah. It's been done, but I've never been to one, so tonight is the night. We head to the 35th floor, and because I have no patience (we've established this), I just tell the host that we are hotel guests and we want to go to the secret bar. It is called "The Office", and they escort us there promptly.
The “secret speak-easy” at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, which replaced the very public bar they used to have. A dark, banker-ish and quiet space, which is unusual in NYC!
The vibe at "The Office" is very different from the rest of the hotel's public spaces. Most are wide open to the view of the city and very modern; this room is wood-paneled, covered in art and QUIET, which is hard to find in New York -- most spaces are small and noisy. It is a nice respite, even though Bob is on his phone for most of the time. I cannot complain, after all, this is a business trip. I watch people coming in the door and they all seem giddy! People like to feel special, and this whole speak-easy trend feeds that desire. Well played, restaurants and bar rooms!! We finish our beverage and it is time for dinner. Again, back to the Time Warner center, about 100 steps away in the frigid air to Bluebird London.
Don’t ask me how I find these places, I just didn’t want to travel far, as it is freezing cold and we have to wake up at 5:00am for our flight to Montana. It was fabulous!
Bluebird's original restaurant is in London's Chelsea district, and their second location is right in the heart of Manhattan, so they must have something going on. When I looked at their menu earlier, I saw a lot of things that Bob might like and I felt that it would be a hit, even though it is in a shopping center. High-end shopping center, but nonetheless... the entrance is unassuming, but as you walk through, it is a big space with a lot of intimate areas for congregating.
Bluebird London in NYC is large, but has a variety of intimate spaces with varying ambience including several bar spaces, a lounge and a few different dining areas.
We get our seats and immediately like the atmosphere! The menu is appealing, and I thought for sure that Bob would want to do the Beef Wellington for two, but he decides on a New York Striploin and I choose the Venison Tenderloin, because forset animals are my favorite. I start with a salad and Bob chooses some hand cut frites, and adds some brussels sprouts to accompany his main.
My salad, Bob’s NY Strip and my Venison Loin at Bluebird London in NYC. All amazing!
The meal and service is fantastic, so when it is done and time for dessert, we decide to at least look, because looking never hurt anyone before! We decide on the "Banoffee Trifle" with banana, caramel and cocoa nibs because why not? A trifle is typically a big parfait of cake, fruit jam and whipped cream. I have made a trifle or two in my day, but nothing like this!! There is a chocolate mousse component, some fresh banana, some dried banana, a cakey thing and caramel. Bob swears this is the best dessert he has ever had!!
Caramel, chocolate mousse and banana trifle. Enough said.
It is now time to head back to the hotel, a mere 100 steps away in the frigid cold and go to bed, as 5:00am comes up quickly. I hope you enjoyed my trip to NYC. More travels planned in the immediate future so stay tuned and thank you for following Ann!