I’m not often visiting hotels in New York, since I live here in the city. However, I had the good fortune recently of attending a function presented by Central Europe Experience, a marketing organization that promotes tourism to the region, at the lovely Library Hotel. A charming, upscale boutique property nicely situated at 41st and Madison, the Library’s within easy walking distance to many midtown restaurants, popular sights, and excellent transportation (two blocks away at Grand Central Station). The design is classic-contemporary style, which I love. There’s a wonderful lounge (really, a library) on the second floor for reading or taking a snack that feels like a plush living room. On the roof is another, where, when the weather is nice, one can take a drink outside and enjoy the sparkling lights from surrounding buildings. The bar food is excellent, as is the service, which adds to the Library’s effortlessly cool vibe. At the same time, the space is comfortable and warm, which I think is very important to travelers who want a posh yet relaxing place to return to after a day of sightseeing. Read the rest of this post »

I used to live on the Manhattan’s Upper West Side, and residents always bemoaned the fact that there was only a short list of outstanding restaurants. Most restaurants seemed to be “ok,” but rare was the standout for setting and taste. Recently, though, I found Marea, located on Central Park South. While Marea is not a cheap find, it is worth the splurge for a special evening.   Read the rest of this post »

For those visiting New York City, I highly recommend lunch or dinner at Gigino Trattoria, located at the southern part of Battery City (just next to the Holocaust Memorial) in Tribeca. The Italian restaurant, part of Hudson River Park, looks directly out onto the Hudson River and the Statue of Libery (as well as Ellis Island).

Gigino’s is unique because of its impressive views, outdoor terrace, and fine food – some of the best Italian food I’ve had in the city. Prices are upper moderate, and very much worth the splurge.I ate the calamariata (calamari with pasta in a spicy tomato sauce). Outstanding. Read the rest of this post »