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Lost Gem
Hyatt Herald Square 1 Hotels undefined

Hyatt Herald Square

All my assumptions about the Hyatt Herald Square were dashed upon entering the lobby. I assumed that the Hyatt Herald Square, as part of such a well-known, far reaching hotel brand, would be a reasonably generic, glamorous hotel like one would find in any other major city. I could not have been more wrong. As soon as I stepped inside and saw the fascinating art pieces, chic espresso bar, and unique layout, I realized that this was something special. The concierge is hidden at the back of the lobby, rather than the front, which invited me to explore the lobby’s many treasures before speaking to the staff. A series of clocks on the wall, inspired by Salvador Dali and echoing the shape and color of gourds, displayed the time zones of all the major fashion capitals. Plug ports were located by every seat so that guests could easily rejuice phones or work on laptops. Winding my way to the back, I met Nina Jones, the director of sales and marketing. She explained that all the main Hyatt hotels try to draw inspiration in their décor from the surrounding area’s history and culture. For the Hyatt Herald Square, that means drawing on the publishing and fashion worlds. Nina pointed out that the front desk was made from layers of old newspaper, and the brightly colored books creating a rainbow on the back wall were influenced by media and fashion. Nina went on to say that “Herald Heart, ” the spiraling mobile at the entrance, is made up of 151 sentences, carved from wood, representing the past and present of Herald Square. Having spoken with executive chef Gunnar Steden at Up on 20, I knew that the cuisine at the Hyatt uses local ingredients as much as possible and that even the snack counter around the corner stocks mostly treats from the Tri-State area. As I sipped on a Double Standard Sour in a classy pink hue at the lobby bar, Nina wowed me with the fact that most of the surfaces in the lobby are made from repurposed water tower wood. I left the Hyatt that day feeling like I had received a lesson in the history and culture of New York, as well as having been given a dose of highly-honed hospitality.

Lost Gem
Innside New York NoMad 1 Hotels undefined

Innside New York NoMad

Innside Hotel, a NoMad-based property by Melia Hotels International, effortlessly combines a minimalist, stylish, global sensibility with an artsy and innovative vibe that is firmly rooted in local New York culture. The Manhattan Sideways Team was impressed from the moment we walked through the airy, plant-lined, street-side terrace into the sleek, colorful lobby. Framed by the orange-and-silver paneled wall behind them, two receptionists beamed and waved at us from a desk that emanated a glowing, purple light. The manager of the hotel informed us that the reception staff double as concierges: they are savvy New Yorkers with an encyclopedic knowledge of the city that will serve any tourist extremely well. “We hire people not just for their experience, but for their passion, ” he said. As we went up to the seventeenth floor to check out the room facilities, we caught a beautiful view of the Empire State Building through the windows in the hallway. Location is one of Innside’s biggest draws: In addition to the iconic building, Innside is in walking distance from the High Line, Times Square, and Broadway - Perfect for any tourist. The room we visited had a German-inspired aesthetic that is elegant, modernist, and eminently functional. Everything was clean and white (barring a pair of funky yellow cushions) with ambient lighting, USB outlets, an espresso machine, a complimentary non-alcoholic minibar, and, of course, gorgeous views of the New York skyline. In addition to conference rooms, Innside boasts Google-style “creative rooms” for social or business gatherings geared towards ideas and innovation. These rooms feature fun and colorful décor, comfortable furniture, fitness balls, high tech SMART boards, built-in audio-visual equipment, and an all-inclusive mini-bar and coffee station. To top it all off, Innside manages the restaurant Impero Caffe, which is headed by award-winning celebrity chef Scott Conant and offers outstanding, rustic Italian cuisine.

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Lost Gem
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American Bartender's School

Approaching almost fifty years, the American Bartender's School, owned by Joseph Bruno, has been teaching mixologists the ‘ology of mixing. Having moved in the ‘80s from their original location on Madison Avenue, the school offers forty-hour courses, with students leaving as certified bartenders with a license issued by the New York State Board of Education. Joseph contends that a bartender’s success is determined by conversation, “no matter how good the drink is. ” That being said, technical skill is far from lacking at this institution. Combining lectures and a “lab” portion, we witnessed students attentively toiling over drinks for phantom customers in a room designed to look like one giant bar. The difference, however, is that unlike a culinary school where one might sample their own creations, students do not imbibe here. In fact, there is no alcohol to be found at this bar. Everything is in the correct bottles and the colors all match their potent potable equivalent. What was explained to us is that everything is about measurements. Students are given a recipe to follow, and provided they do it correctly, they can rest assured that it will taste exactly right in the real world. After decades of experience bartending in and managing drinking establishments, Joseph has seen a new devotion to the craft of mixology. Up-and-coming bartenders have tested innovative flavors, homemade syrups, and the “farm-to-table” use of fresh ingredients. He has taken particular pleasure in the resurgence of drinks not popular since the Prohibition era. Perhaps it is a sign that we still have a chance to relive some of the best aspects of the Roaring Twenties.