Archive for September, 2009

Save on your next meeting at The Roosevelt Hotel New York not once, but twice!  This is a great deal for groups who regularly meet in the city. Book a meeting now and get great savings, like 5% off your Master Bill, 15% off Food and Beverage.  Then book another event for a future date and get additional savinge.  Chlick here for details.

The Roosevelt Hotel New York has 30, 000 square feet of meeting space to accomodate a group of any size!  To contact our sales department, email us at sales@rooseveltnyc.com.

The New York Film Festival (NYFF) has already started this week (on September 25th ) and will continue through October 11th. The NYFF showcases the inspiring cinematic works from directors and artists from around the world. Although it’s smaller than other festivals, this 17 day event selects an average of 28 feature films and 12 short films each year. One of the special showcases is within the section Views from the Avant-Garde. These features premiere non-narrative, experimental film and video.

For ticket and schedule information visit www.filmlinc.org/nyff or follow them on Twitter @filmlinc.

See this years top 5 “must-see” films, as voted by the Village Voice.

With so much to do from day-to-day, and all the hustle and bustle of this great city, don’t you think it’s time to get pampered?  Get out there and relax. Take a load of and enjoy a spa day. NYC is filled with spas and we’ve found the 10 Best Spas in the city, ranging from luxurious to affordable. Check them out:

Spa at Mandarin Oriental
This lavish (and pricey) hotel spa has stellar service and attention to details, like fresh orchids in the treatment rooms. To make the most of it, go ahead of time to enjoy amenities like the “Heat Experience” rooms for men and women and great views.

Ohm Spa
Ohm Spa is a serene oasis that allows its massage therapists to customize a treatment and express their own individual style. I had an incredible massage here, and prices are reasonable. It’s a true gem, but it’s not a place to hang.

Cornelia Day Resort
This lives up to its name of a “day resort”, with a rooftop garden where you can lounge in the sun and order from the elegant spa cafe menu. It’s also the only spa in New York City to offer watsu.

Babor at Takashimaya
This is an exquisite little spa tucked away on the 6th floor of Takashimaya, the luxury Japanese department store.

Great Jones Spa Located in downtown Manhattan, this spa is knows for it “wet lounge solarium” with hot tubs, cold plunge pools and saunas, available to all guests up to two hours prior to and one hour following spa treatments.

Bliss Soho
This is the original Bliss location started by Marcia Kilgore in the mid-90s. It’s sleek and modern, but some customers think they push products a little too much during facials.

Townhouse
This three-story spa that caters to a corporate clientele, down to the leather banquettes and one all-male floor with a barber station. If you don’t like people touching you, SpaOceana is a giant hydro-pool that sprays you with steam and oils.

Juvenex
Juvenex is a Korean spa with unusual saunas, steam rooms and plunge pools, including the Jade Igloo, made from 20 tons of semi-precious stones. It is clothing optional for women only from 6 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Men and women are allowed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., but bring your bathing suits.

Oasis Day Spa
Oasis provides good spa value, with reasonable prices.  Two other locations are at Union Square and the Affinia Dumont Hotel at 34th and Lexington. It also has an airport spa at JFK.

Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa
This was one of the originals — a spa before there were spas! It’s a bit “ladies who lunch-ish” with a loyal following.

Haven
Haven is a serene neighborhood spa with nice facilities.

In honor of The Roosevelt Hotels 85th Anniversary tomorrow, we are offering a VERY special promotion, exclusively to our Twitter followers. At 2:00pm (Eastern) tomorrow, we will “tweet” to our followers a quiz question regarding the history of the hotel. The first ten (10) people who respond to us with the correct answer will get a $19.24 hotel room rate to be used by March 31, 2010. Yes, that’s nineteen dollars and twenty four cents, in case you thought there was a typo!

If you can’t get the first question correct or you just weren’t quick enough, we will be “tweeting” a second question at 2:30pm, this time for an $85.00 hotel room rate. Again, the first ten (10) guests who answer the quiz question correctly will win!

The Roosevelt Hotel New York opened its door on September 22, 1924 and has been proudly serving guests for the past 85 years. We love what we do and couldn’t do it with out the community of loyal guests that stay with us. So this birthday, we want to share this great offer with you and thank you for your patronage and support over the years.

So, spruce up on your Roosevelt Hotel history and be ready at 2:00pm tomorrow! Be sure to follow us @RooseveltNYC

CONTEST RULES:
- Answer must be sent as an @ reply to the hotel @RooseveltNYC
- Winners must be a follower of @RooseveltNYC

*Rates are based on availability. Black out dates may apply. These rates are offered for a three (3) night maximum and do not include sales tax. Must be booked by 12/31/09 and consumed by 3/31/10. Offer cannot be combined with any other offers. Click here for official rules and here for our poilicy.

UPDATE:  Here are the winners of our Twitter Contest!  Thanks for participating anc congrats to the winners!

Winners of the $19.24rate:
@g_rote @nataliembrown @JetSetCD @Rhonda_Lea @go_around @simplydab @TravelBks @speriod @NicolePaulino @Betsie

Winners of the $85.00 rate:
@MC6X @LNorman0812 @brandonwenerd @ms_morgan @carmenlroberts @bravegirl @traceable1 @LimeyG @pwolff @GobshyteWhyte

History lives at The Roosevelt Hotel New York. You know that just by walking through the doors into the grand lobby. Referred to as the “Grande Dame of Madison Avenue”, The Roosevelt Hotel has been serving guests of New York City since its doors opened on September 22, 1924. That makes tomorrow our 85th anniversary!

Throughout the years, The Roosevelt Hotel New York has encompassed a variety of historic events and memories. What better time than now to take a walk down memory lane.

Named for President Theodore Roosevelt, the architects of the hotel designed its style in honor of the fondness for early American colonial times of which he had. Its grand façade occupies an entire city block in the heart of midtown Manhattan and was the first hotel in New York City to have street level shops. These shops were designed to offset revenue losses due to the Prohibition. At one time, the hotel was also linked with Grand Central Station by way of an underground passage.

Throughout the years, The Roosevelt Hotel has been host to many great events in history. In 1929, Guy Lombardo and his orchestra performed their first show at the hotels restaurant, the Roosevelt Grill. They continued to play here for the next 30 years and it was at the hotel that he first broadcast the playing of the famous New Years Eve tradition, “Auld Lang Syne”.

In the political forum, The Roosevelt Hotel was headquarters to Governor Thomas E. Dewey from 1943 to 1955. It was in Suite 1527 where he conducted most of his official business in the city and where he returned to in 1948 to hear that he had been defeated by President Harry Truman. This election was known as one of the greatest political upsets in American history. The Chicago Tribune was so sure of Dewey’s victory that it printed the false headline for the following day’s newspaper.

In addition to the luxuries of our 1,015 guestrooms and 52 suites, we have hosted tons of meetings and social affairs in the hotels Grand Ballroom. Its elegant design is the perfect backdrop for any affair and that’s exactly what Major James “J.J.” Walker thought in 1926. The Roosevelt Hotel was chosen to welcome home the crew of the naval ship the USS Roosevelt to New York.

After a few decades of accommodating guests, the hotel closed in 1995 for a $65-million extensive renovation. We maintained much of the original structure and restored the original historic feel with the addition of modern amenities.

The Roosevelt Hotel is in the business of serving our loyal customers day after day and has been doing so now for 85 years. It has been such an honor to give people a comfort during their travels for leisure or business and we will continue to do so for years to come.

PHOTOS: Click here for more historical photos of The Roosevelt Hotel New York.

SPECIAL OFFER:  Follow us on Twitter for exclusive offers!  Tomorrow we will be stepping back in time and offering a chance to win a $19.24 rate in honor of our anniversary, exclusively to our Twitter followers!  Stay tuned for more details!

Happy 85th Anniversary to The Roosevelt Hotel New York!

Skyscrapers. Traffic. Millions of people.

It may seem as if New York City isn’t the most kid friendly of cities, but we have so much to offer the little ones. From restaurants to shopping to museums, the Big Apple is a fun and exciting place to take a vacation with the whole family.

To help plan you’re NYC trip, here are some great places to visit that the whole family can enjoy.

WHERE TO STAY:
With us of course! The Roosevelt Hotel offers great amenities for families that stay with us, not to mention all of the fun places that are only blocks from the hotel, like American Girl, Build-A-Bear and the world’s largest Toys r Us.

WHERE TO EAT:
There are so many dining options in this city, it can be overwhelming. When you have the kids in tow, you want to make sure that you dine in a place that will accommodate everyone’s palate and be a fun experience. Being a mother myself, some of my favorites in the city are Alice’s Tea House, Mars 2112, Peanut Butter & Co, Serendipity 3, S’mac and Shake Shack.

And you simply cannot come to New York and not try an authentic NY pizza slice! You can find a pizza place on nearly every corner, but if you want a true new Yorkers opinion, Lombardi’s Pizzeria has the best in the city.

WHAT TO DO:
Theater:   There are so many fun activities to do in the city. If you like the theater, you should check out The Little Mermaid, The Lion King or Mary Poppins. All wonderful shows for both parents and kids alike.

Museums:   NYC is famous for our museums and we offer quite a few wonders for that the whole family can enjoy. Take a day trip to enjoy the American Museum of Natural History, Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Children’s Museum of the Arts.

Outdoors:    Fall is one of my favorite seasons. The weather is perfectly comfortable to experience some of these places in NYC. Head to Brooklyn and walk the boardwalk at Coney Island. While your there, take a few hours to check out the New York Aquarium.

In Mahnattan, you can spend an entire day walking through the many paths in Central Park. Be sure to head towards the Central Park Zoo,the Central Park Carousel or pack a lunch and have a picnic on The Great Lawn!

Just a few miles north of the city, you can also spend a day visiting the 4,000 animals at the Bronx Zoo. It’s a fun day for all ages.

Be a Tourist:    There are just some things that every Big Apple visitor must do. One of those things is heading to the top of the Empire State Building to witness the spectacular views. Once you see the city from above, hop on a Circle Line Harbor Cruise and float around this island and take in one of the worlds most favorite skyline.

Now that you have the rundown on what to do when you get here, check out these great tips on Traveling with Kids.

This year celebrates the 82nd Annual Feast of San Gennaro which is a tradition carried over from Naples, Italy in 1926 that is a celebration of San Gennaro as the Patron Saint of Naples. September 19th is the most religious day of the festival and features a Religious Procession followed by Celebratory Mass at the Most Precious Blood Church on Mulberry Street, the National Shrine of San Gennaro.

There are plenty activities to be a part of for the entire week, most importantly, eating! Leave your diets behind and be sure to come hungry because one of the biggest attractions at these festivities is the amazing food. It is an absolute must that you stop at the street vendors along Mulberry Street and indulge on foods like Sausage & Peppers, Pork Braciole, Zeppoles, Gelato and, dare I say, Fried Oreos. There are also plenty of restaurants and cafes to dine for lunch or dinner.

Along with the food, there will be music performances, carnival games and much more. Click here for a complete schedule of the week’s events.

Feast of San Gennaro
Along Mulberry Street between Canal Street and Houston Street (map)
Take the 6 train to Spring Street or the N/R to Prince Street.

TIP: Crowds tend to be biggest on weekends and in the evening. Go on a weekday if you want to avoid them.

We have been hearing quite the chatter about our non-traditional restroom signs at mad46 so we thought we would share them with everyone.   Every so often we see the giggles and flashes of cameras because people get such a kick out of them.  We won’t give it away, but once you get past the signs and in the restrooms, be sure to keep on eye out for some clever quotes on the back of the stalls.

We give props when props are due and these were all designed by the creative masterminds of The Merdian Group. 

Click here for the full view of the signs. What do you think about these signs?

The tents are up! It’s Fashion Week here in NYC. Starting this Thursday September 10th through September 17th.  Bryant Park will be abuzz with all that is high fashion.  Designers have slaved over their looks for Spring 2010 and will now be showcasing them to the world. Cue the lights, cue the dramatic music and bring on the critiques.  

Entrance to the shows are by invitation only, but fashionistas and tourists alike can walk by Bryant Park for fashion sneak peaks and celeb sightings.  In addition to the on goings at Bryant Park, you can also partake in the events being held around the city for Fashion’s Night Out .  On September 10th,  over 700 retailers and designers will be open late serving up creative events like hosting designer appearances, live windows, celebrity guests, musical performances, food and drink, and other fun events, all in the name of fashion.  Click here for a list of events in NYC.

We would also like to say that Bryant Park is just a few short blocks from The Roosevelt Hotel, perfect for a pre-show snoozing in our hotel.  And we know that  martinis and fashion go hand in hand, so come up to mad46 for a post show drink!

It’s here.  The last summer hoorah.  Whether you’re local or just visiting the city for just the weekend, there is a lot to do this Labor Day in the Big Apple.  Since the weather is looking absolutely perfect, its a good chance to savor a little extra time outdoors before the long winter months approach us.

Here are some fun things to do to fill your long weekend in the outdoors.

Summer in Little Italy
This Friday from 6 to 11pm, stroll down Mulberry Street (which is closed to traffic) and soak up some Italian culture.  Grab a plate of pasta, a canoli and, of course, some gelato and then walk it off by strolling through the area shops.

The New York Botanical Garden’s Edible Garden
You can spend a whole day enjoying these gardens in the Bronx, but this Saturday from 1-3pm, author and horticulturist Sharon Ackland will be at the  NYBG’s The Edible Garden whipping up something delicious by using ingredients fresh-picked from the garden and will teach you how to use local ingredients to make delectable meals of your own.  Tickets are $20.

Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit
Calling all art lovers!  This event will feature more than 200 artists’ work to be viewed or purchased from September 5 to 7, 12-6pm at Washington Square Park.  Fun Fact:  This event was started 80yrs ago by Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning.

Shop, Shop, Shop
Ahhh, Labor Day sales!  If you’re looking for some serious weekend deals,  Woodbury Common Outlets is just a hop, skip and a jump away and offers great discounts.  Looking for designer duds?  Then the Barney’s Warehouse Sale is where you need to be.  One of my favorite things to do is check out the carious Street Fairs and Flea Markets around the city. 

Take a Dip
It is going to be perfect beach weather this weekend, so why not head to one of NYC’s beaches for the day.  Here is a list of the best beaches near the city.  If you wantto sit poolside, check out this listing of public pools in and around the city.  All public pools will be closed after this weekend.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat
There is lots to do in Central Park.  You can literally spend days exploring all that it has to offer.  This weekend, why not take a boat ride on “The Lake” and take in the views of the park and the hovering skyline.  Be sure to grab some brunch at the Loeb Boathouse or pack a little picnic and enjoy lunch on the Great Lawn.