The Four Seasons Hotel

At the heart of midtown, St. Regis New York asserts itself with a resplendent flourish. This hotel's stately facade and gleaming lobby are trumpeters of a legacy that began in 1904 with the inspiration of Colonel John Jacob Astor I - a man whose place in the elite high society of Gilded Age America has not been forgotten. Simply by stepping inside, St. Regis immediately declares itself a veritable symbol of luxury, elegance and historic status. Those who seek the royal treatment will find a haven in the 229-room hotel, which upholds exceptional service as a foremost column of its prestige. Its signature Butler Service promises constant personalized attention; butlers pack and unpack luggage, perform wake-up calls, press clothes, deliver items, and attend to any number of other tailored requests for their customers. Through its more than century-long history, the hotel has hosted celebrities of every era. Marilyn Monroe was one of the most glamorous to visit, while Marlene Dietrich, William Paley, and Salvador Dalí - with his wife and pet ocelot - lived at the hotel for extended periods. But St. Regis New York is not exclusively a nest of the rich and famous. The more common among us in search of an impressive site for weddings and other exceptional occasions may find the coveted taste of specialness in this establishment. Even I had the honor of walking down the aisle in their magnificent ballroom in 1980, when I was a bridesmaid for one of my dearest friends.

A luxury hotel containing 140 guest rooms and 49 elegant suites, the Pierre is a shining beacon overlooking Central Park. Offering some of the best views and the finest amenities in the city, the Pierre has been the US flagship of Taj Hotels, based in India, ever since the company purchased this iconic building on its seventy-fifth anniversary in 2005. It was first constructed by Charles Pierre, an immigrant from Corsica, with the help of a group of Wall Street financiers whom he had met while rising up through the New York restaurant world. Designed by Schultze and Weaver, the hotel was praised for its architecture and opened in 1930 with a gala dinner to which all high society was invited. It is clear that The Pierre is still a hot spot for high society, and the magnificent architecture and luxury are only part of the reason why: The Pierre delivers top class customer service. When we were visiting Sirio, Sirio Maccioni's eponymous restaurant located inside the hotel, we witnessed the employees being coached on the new art installation in the lobby. And on another occasion, we had the extreme pleasure of participating in a private dinner hosted by Executive Chef Ashfar Biju and distinguished Pastry Chef Michael Mignano in the Two E Lounge. Accompanying this fourteen course meal was international jazz singer, Claire Khodara.

Within a serene, residential environment, the Lowell’s goal is to make its guests believe that they are living in a luxurious private townhouse - a glamorous “home away from home. ” The landmark building, which was built in 1928 and became the Lowell in 1984, has a reasonably small number of guest rooms with twenty-seven deluxe rooms and forty-seven suites emphasizing quality over quantity with no two stays being exactly alike. Before guests arrive, a story is developed for the time they will be on 63rd Street, including bedding, food, and drink preferences. And when welcomed, guests are provided with age-appropriate amenities, a welcome beverage and an in-room orientation. “Guest relations is one of the most important jobs, ” explained Marketing Director Sarah Bolton. Each room has its own set of unique décor, handpicked by designer Michael Smith, revered for his cohesion of European classics with American modernism. Even the bathrooms are garnished with DDC 28 amenities from the hotel owner’s exclusive line, and rare urban amenities like terraces and wood-burning fireplaces are included in many of the rooms. Five of the suites are also themed: the garden suite, the Hollywood suite, the Manhattan suite, and two Lowell suites. The penthouse suite, complete with a full kitchen, Mac computer, and four terraces, controls the seventeenth floor, and every inch of the 2500 square foot space is tastefully decorated. Hand-painted de Gornay wallpaper lines the master bedroom, depicting a natural environment in soft hues. Patterned-rugs interact nicely with specially selected furniture, and shelves are filled with books and intriguing sculptural objects. The suite can also be used as a private event space when not reserved for guests. On the second floor, the Pembroke Room offers breakfast, a daily afternoon tea, and pre-theater dinner. Seating sixty, the room is filled with delicate chandeliers, adorable teapots, beautiful flower arrangements, and cushy seating. The chef de cuisine, Michael Fred, prepares French and American fare. When asking friends to describe the experience that they could recall from their stay at The Lowell a few years back, the words that came to mind for ​them were elegant, small (in the best possible way) and the phrase ​"​attention to detail. ​" ​They described the rooms ​as being decorated so beautifully that ​they felt as though ​they were​ a guest at a friend's elegant Upper East Side penthouse apartment, rather than at a hotel. ​"​Nothing uniform or commercial ​ about the Lowell. ​" The​y went on to say that the​ Lowell staff was the ultimate in professional and met ​their wants and needs before ​they even ​realized that they wanted or needed them. ​And, my favorite was the comment from their daughter, who said it was her favorite hotel and her best memory is of the fresh fragrant smell of flowers in the lobby​. A glamorous “home away from home, ” the Lowell is a perfectly situated on 63rd street - a tree-lined, quiet location just a few blocks away from some of the city’s classiest commercial centers. The hotel prides itself on being timeless – it blends classic and contemporary styles to best create a residential character, and does so impeccably.

New Yorkers craving a luxury cinema experience need search no further than LOOK Dine-In Cinemas on W57th Street. The new state-of-the-art theater, located in the award-winning Bjarke Ingels-designed VIA 57 building, offers laser-projected movies on eight screens with surround sound and heated leather reclining seats. Additionally, moviegoers can enjoy a full menu of snacks, cocktails, and meals, from crispy flatbread pizzas to beef and Impossible cheese burgers, all served by "Ninja Servers" who wear all black and pop in quietly to bring whatever you need. LOOK Dine-In Cinemas also has seasonal menu items, including street tacos and signature cocktails, to appeal to local palates. LOOK Dine-In Cinemas aims to create an all-in-one entertainment spot easily accessible to Manhattanites, and it is the only one of its kind near Midtown. The dine-in cinema is one of just a handful of similarly structured movie houses in the city. However, LOOK stands out with its innovative technology, which allows customers to order and pay from a QR code on their phones, ensuring a seamless and uninterrupted movie experience. LOOK Dine-In Cinemas has plans to become the next New York venue for many of the city's annual festivals and will regularly host filmmaker talkback sessions. The theater shows a wide range of titles, from action to horror to independent films, to ensure there is something for everyone. With the summer movie season now underway, LOOK Dine-In Cinemas is poised to become a go-to destination for New Yorkers seeking a night out at the cinema.

Having been on 57th since 1886, the small congregation has been struggling to stay afloat for many years. Its congregants are proud of their church and are deeply committed to the people in their Hell's Kitchen neighborhood.

The legendary Neary’s has been a staple of New York City dining since its opening on St. Patrick’s Day in 1967. Its founder, Jim Neary, continues to grace his customers with the same, unique dining experience - in 2019 - that they have enjoyed since the beginning. The classy dress code, classic red booth seats, walls filled with an assortment of beautiful and often historically significant pictures, and knickknacks around the restaurant such as two Super Bowl rings, are only a small part of why Neary’s is so special. Neary’s is embodied and defined by its founder, Jimmy Neary, whose compassion and famous “Jimmy Neary smile” has made Neary’s the kind of place where there are “no strangers... no matter if it’s their first time walking in, everyone talks to everyone. ”Jimmy was born on a farm in Ireland, and his first job coming into America was at a swimming pool. He eventually moved on to become a bar tender at P. J. Moriarity’s, another Irish-American restaurant, where he met his eventual business partner Brian Mulligan. When Jimmy found his 57th street location - 57th street being the two-way street in the city that runs river to river - he “knew it was the place for him and never looked back. ” Over the years he has slowly added to the décor, and stated that “every picture has a story behind it. ” With the care that Jimmy has put into every aspect of Neary’s - along with the presence of Jimmy himself - he has managed to make his restaurant an important fixture in the lives of many for generations. Offered the opportunity to expand over the years, it is no surprise that Jimmy has refused, for in his words “it would never be the same. ”Jimmy considers Neary’s a family-oriented place, with many of his staff having worked with him for over forty years. Essentially, they have all grown up together. His daughter Una, who works on Wall Street during the day, has worked at Neary’s part time for close to forty years and ascertained that “the food is wonderful, the staff is amazing, but people come for my father. ”Jimmy works seven days a week, and in Una’s words, “to get him to take a day off is a major, major feat. ” While every day at Neary’s is a special day, its devoted following especially looks forward to St. Patrick’s Day, which for fifty plus years was counted down to by a special clock, and the celebration of Jimmy’s annual surprise birthday party. As a place where everyone is not just welcomed, but also family, it is no surprise that when asked what he liked to do to relax, Jimmy responded that he is “relaxed right here. I come through the door and I’m at home and I walk out happy. ”

There are many reasons to dine at BLT Steak, tucked discreetly between The Dorchester and an antique jeweler. Having dined here on varied occasions over the years, I knew visiting with Manhattan Sideways, that we were headed towards something special. As we entered the restaurant, we were greeted warmly by the affable staff and took a seat at one of the dark wood tables. We spoke with John, the Venezuelan maître d', who told us about BLT's secrets for success. "The company feels like family, " he said by way of opening, "I've been here for nine years, which is an eternity in the restaurant business. " BLT has built a following of regulars who come back repeatedly because they are "infallibly made to feel like they're the only ones in the restaurant. " In addition to this impeccable service, the food at BLT is consistently top notch. It is, therefore, not difficult to understand why people keep returning for more. While chatting, the chef prepared a succulent variety of meats, perhaps most famously the enormous Porterhouse steak – a dry-aged masterpiece served with maître d'hOtel butter and a side of roasted garlic. Although meat certainly takes center stage, the restaurant also offers a "sublime" Dover Sole and a Tuna Tartar that, according to John, is the best in the city; "I dare someone to find me a better one, " he said. My favorite moment, however, was when the chef presented Yelena, from our team, her first popover. Hailing from Swaziland, she had never encountered this doughy puff of goodness before. I, on the other hand, have had popovers on the top of my list of favorites since I first tried them as a little girl on Long Island. And I can attest to the fact that the ones served at BLT are perfectly prepared.