Waldorf Astoria

This historic hotel was built in 1926 and has seen everyone from Tallulah Bankhead to Joe DiMaggio pass through its doors. After World War II, it was redesigned to allow each room to be unique, and suites were named after their famous occupants. Marlon Brando called Sayonara Suite home; Tennessee Williams lived - and died - in the infamous Sunset Suite. Today, customers can enjoy the lavish rooms and eclectic history of the hotel, and dine at the Monkey Bar, located just next door.

Pod 51 offers an experience unlike most New York hotels. Rather than merely serving a necessary function, the hotel is a destination in itself thanks to its conceptually fresh architecture, stylish decor, and excellent dining options. The philosophy behind the hotel's design - small is beautiful - finds its roots in the Japanese tradition of capsule hotels. The Pod (and its sibling, the Pod 39) offers lodging that ranges from the "bunk pod, " a tiny but appealing room equipped with bunk beds, to the "studio pod, " a more expansive space, all for relatively affordable prices. Despite the low square footage, the rooms never feel cramped, thanks to bright colors, creative furniture (a hanging chair, window side counters instead of a table), and an economical use of space. The hotel offers a beautiful rooftop, replete with candy-colored deck chairs and a bar. Their cafe has outdoor seating in a lovely, unexpected bamboo garden. Finally, Pop@Pod, the result of collaboration between the hotel and Pop Burger, sits adjacent to the hotel.

In 2015, New York Palace Hotel was bought by the Lotte Group and has been rebranded as the Lotte New York Palace. What has become an iconic symbol of East Side elegance began as a row of townhouses. In 1882, Henry Villard, a successful German businessman, appointed the McKim, Mead, and White architectural firm to construct six private brownstones around a courtyard. The houses were modeled after the sixteenth century Palazzo della Cancelleria, thought to be the oldest Renaissance palace in Rome. Move forward almost one hundred years to the spring of 1974 when Harry Helmsley – a top real estate investor and broker – built a fifty-five-story hotel on the site of the Villard Houses. The Helmsley Palace Hotel opened in 1981 and was run by Helmsley's wife, Leona. Dubbed the "Hotel Queen" (or, alternatively, the "Queen of Mean") Leona was known for her quick temper and, later, for her criminal activity. In a massive scandal, the couple was indicted for evading more than $4 million in income taxes and for the misappropriation of hotel funds. Yet, through all this controversy, the Palace has remained a New York City icon. With a stunning exterior that is brightly illuminated at night, the 899-room hotel is just as beautiful on the inside. The palatial lobby boasts the famed Grand Staircase, a decadent chandelier, high ceilings, and intricate columns.

Together with its restaurant, Tenpenny, the hotel continues a level of intimacy, with a limited number of rooms per floor. The building is shaped like a sail with a curved front, allowing guests a unique perspective on the street below. The real strength of the Gotham lies in its details. Every room has a full glass corner window allowing for a panoramic view of Manhattan. In addition to either the private terraces or balconies in each of these rooms, they also have their own distinctive shelf of books bought from the Gotham Book Mart - a New York institution that lived in the vacinity from 1920 until it closed its doors in 2007. Books are available for guests to purchase, and the hotel restocks each room with new volumes on a regular basis.

Opened in 1992 and originally located on the Upper East Side, Oceana moved to 49th Street in 2009. The Livanos family sowed the seeds for the glorious Oceana long ago when they ran a diner and realized their ambitions to develop it into something more. Having worked hard to make their dreams a reality, Oceana continues to pride itself on the freshness of its food and makes a point to have direct relationships with the fish mongers and farmers. Although some have called Oceana the Mecca of seafood, the restaurant's menu is notably diverse. The executive chef, Ben Pollinger, takes to the broad reaches of American cuisine and mixes elements of different dishes together, often in an unexpected way. The Manhattan Sideways team eagerly sampled a few of the marvelous dishes, including the Copper River Sockeye Salmon Crudo, featuring pickled ramps, parsley oil, and Amagansett sea salt, and the Sea Scallops Ceviche that is topped with peaches, ginger, and cinnamon basil. I was pleasantly surprised by the incredible vegetarian dish that the chef also prepared - Summer Squash & Cranberry Bean Salad, consisting of zucchini, gold bar and pattypan squash, pignoli, purslane and drizzled in lemon vinaigrette. Absolutely delicious. The last member of the Oceana team that we were introduced to was their wine director, Pedro Goncalves. Pedro, who began working at Oceana in 2001, makes a concerted effort to develop drink pairings to accompany the delectable food menu. Standing near the white marble bar, he proudly told us that Oceana has 1100 wine listings and 600 spirits. He went on to report that with forty-seven different gins, Oceana has one of the largest selections of in the city. "There is something to fit every personality, " Pedro said.

If the sight of a regular lunch rush doesn’t convince you to try La Bellezza Pizzeria, then their pitch-perfect, classic New York slices will. After a trip in to try their signature pepperoni and tomato slices (a well-seasoned combination of cheesy, crunchy and savory, the Bellezza team has mastered the elusive sauce-to-cheese ratio), we got a chance to check in with the Dedvukaj family who have operated the East Midtown pizza joint for the past 23 years. Founded by Bronx-based Marko Dedvukaj, son Frank Dedvukaj — who started slinging slices in the shop at just 20 years old — took over the business so that, as Marko put it, “I can focus on the most important job of all — spoiling my grandkids, ” he told us, surrounded by visiting family members, some of whom also used to work at La Bellezza. As groups of grateful office workers filed in and out of the intimate storefront for a slice of pizza or La Bellezza’s famous chicken parmigiano hero — “at one point we were voted the #1 Chicken Parm on Yelp” Frank told us, he added that the biggest change he’s seen in business is a post-COVID slowdown of daytime visitors to the block. “The area is quieter, ” said Frank, noting that they still maintain a set of loyal regulars. “We’re still here! ”

One of the oldest congregations (not only in the city, but the country as well), Central Synagogue has been operating out of the same building since 1872. The interior, constructed in the Moorish style by a Jewish architect, Henry Fernbach, appears to be straight out of Central Europe, dappled with colored light twinkling in from the stained glass windows. Right off of the heavily trafficked Lexington Avenue, the calm interior of the synagogue inspires something approaching awe. Many New Yorkers will remember the horrific fire that destroyed much of the building in 1998. Not only did New Yorkers offer support, but so did people from around the world, as they came together in an effort to aid members of this magnificent synagogue. The synagogue reopened its doors in 2001, and today there appears to be no sign of the previous ruination. The Manhattan Sideways team joins me in encouraging people to visit: Tours are given on Wednesdays at 12: 45pm, and it is additionally open to the public on Tuesdays from 12pm-2pm.

As a proud New Yorker for many years, I would always stop by St. Patrick's Cathedral while showing visitors the city. After walking all of the side streets on the Manhattan grid, I have discovered many magnificent churches in New York. I am still incredibly moved, however, every time I step inside St. Pat's. For me, it possesses all the grandeur of a Western European cathedral, yet it is right here in the heart of Midtown. Home to the seat of the archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, St. Patrick's Cathedral was built between 1858 and 1878 (construction was halted during the Civil War). A National Landmark, it was designed by James Renwick Jr. in the image of a thirteenth-century-style Gothic church with flying buttresses snaking up the walls, supporting the almost 340-foot structure, it boasts beautiful stained glass windows that softly diffuse the afternoon light. In the fall of 2014, the church is halfway through their multi-year renovation and cleaning. Although the interior and exterior are currently covered in scaffolding, the church maintains its majestic appearance and generates exhilaration as its restored marble facing is meticulously unveiled from the spires downward.

This historic hotel was built in 1926 and has seen everyone from Tallulah Bankhead to Joe DiMaggio pass through its doors. After World War II, it was redesigned to allow each room to be unique, and suites were named after their famous occupants. Marlon Brando called Sayonara Suite home; Tennessee Williams lived - and died - in the infamous Sunset Suite. Today, customers can enjoy the lavish rooms and eclectic history of the hotel, and dine at the Monkey Bar, located just next door.

St. Bartholomew's, affectionately nicknamed St. Bart's, was built between 1916 and 1930 in the simplified Byzantine style. Sitting on an entire block amidst 50th and 51st Streets, the dramatic exterior has always caught my attention while traveling on Park Avenue. It was not until recently, while I was walking on the side streets, that I finally ventured indoors to appreciate the limestone walls, the magnificent stained glass windows, and the intricately designed dome. Designated as a landmark in 1967, St. Bart's is home to the largest organ in New York - and one of the ten largest in the world.

In 2015, New York Palace Hotel was bought by the Lotte Group and has been rebranded as the Lotte New York Palace. What has become an iconic symbol of East Side elegance began as a row of townhouses. In 1882, Henry Villard, a successful German businessman, appointed the McKim, Mead, and White architectural firm to construct six private brownstones around a courtyard. The houses were modeled after the sixteenth century Palazzo della Cancelleria, thought to be the oldest Renaissance palace in Rome. Move forward almost one hundred years to the spring of 1974 when Harry Helmsley – a top real estate investor and broker – built a fifty-five-story hotel on the site of the Villard Houses. The Helmsley Palace Hotel opened in 1981 and was run by Helmsley's wife, Leona. Dubbed the "Hotel Queen" (or, alternatively, the "Queen of Mean") Leona was known for her quick temper and, later, for her criminal activity. In a massive scandal, the couple was indicted for evading more than $4 million in income taxes and for the misappropriation of hotel funds. Yet, through all this controversy, the Palace has remained a New York City icon. With a stunning exterior that is brightly illuminated at night, the 899-room hotel is just as beautiful on the inside. The palatial lobby boasts the famed Grand Staircase, a decadent chandelier, high ceilings, and intricate columns.