Travel
The Top 20 Short List for a Perfect Week in Manhattan 1- 10
Where to Sleep, Eat, Play, Relax, and Shop
Dawn Bonner/Contributions from Ernest Shad
List 1-10
Sleep, Relax, Shop
1. Soho Grand
310 West Broadway
US 212.965.3000
UK 0800 7646 4726
Soho Grand is a gorgeous hotel offering summer specials from romantic week-end getaways, birthday bashes, specials for the fourth of July, Bloomingdales shopping breaks, staycation packages; you will see the city their way with an itinerary and plans for a great week or week end.
Some of the Packages Includes:
• Early check-in at 12-noon
• A toast of champagne upon arrival
• A toast of champagne upon arrival
(Friday and Saturday arrivals)
• Cocktails for two at Grand Bar & Lounge
• Cocktails for two at Grand Bar & Lounge
• Personal Concierge Service Fashion, Dining and Nightlife Recommendations
• Late Check-Out at 2 p.m.
• Soho and Tribeca Shopping Discounts
• Breakfast for two in the Lounge
• Late Check-Out at 2 p.m.
• Soho and Tribeca Shopping Discounts
• Breakfast for two in the Lounge
The hotel decor is tasteful, upscale, and guaranteed to make you feel like home-sweet-home away-from-home. Minimal and romantic, all guest rooms are cast in soft natural tones and fitted with the latest in technology.
The amenities are scrumptious:
• Flat-screen TVs
• Digital cable
• Movies-on-demand
• iPods*
• Bose Sound Docks*
• Digital cable
• Movies-on-demand
• iPods*
• Bose Sound Docks*
(*iPods and docks: Provided upon request and based on availability)
• Two-line telephone
• Wireless high-speed Internet access
• DVD player
• Bose Wave radio/CD player
• In-room CD selection
• Personal safe
• Gourmet mini-bar
• Complimentary pet goldfish upon request
• Two-line telephone
• Wireless high-speed Internet access
• DVD player
• Bose Wave radio/CD player
• In-room CD selection
• Personal safe
• Gourmet mini-bar
• Complimentary pet goldfish upon request
• Frette Egyptian Cotton Bedding
Photos courtesy of Soho Grand
The bathroom features:
• Frette bathrobe
• Hair dryer
• Toiletries from Malin+Goetz beauty line
• Frette bathrobe
• Hair dryer
• Toiletries from Malin+Goetz beauty line
Plus, Soho Grand offers a complimentary selection of high-sport Electra bicycles for getting around NYC.
For art lovers, The Gallery at Soho Grand features quarterly exhibits of contemporary photographers from New York and around the world.
Soho Grand also serves delicious food at The Lounge.
The Lounge at Soho Grand is also happening place to see and be seen for night life adventures.
310 West Broadway
US 212.519.6600
UK 0800 028 9874
Photos courtesy Tribeca Grand
Luxury, style, and ultra chic is what Tribecca Grand is all about, you will never forget your visit to NYC when you stay here. This is the sister hotel to Soho Grand and it offers the same amenities. Tribecca Grand also offers some of the same week end specials as Soho Grand, plus it also offers a very cool week end called ‘Director’s Cut’ which is available now to the end of December.
For aspiring auteurs and amateur film buffs, Tribeca Grand is featuring the ‘Director’s Cut’ package; it includes iStudio accommodations along with a hand-held digital video camcorder so guests can record their personal in-room experiences, as well as those in the surrounding neighborhood and city. Once shooting is completed, this slice of New York life can be edited using the G5 computer with pre-installed iLife software (iMovie, iPhoto, iDVD, iTunes and GarageBand) to add special effects, cut unwanted scenes, and lay a soundtrack to create an instant classic…
The Package Includes:
The Package Includes:
• Full American Breakfast in Lounge, or via Room Service
• Popcorn welcome amenity
• Use of the new 20-inch iMac G5 Apple’s top of the line computer equipped with movie editing program.
• Use of the SONY HandyCam Digital Video Camcorder
• Use of iSight easy-to-use personal video conferencing camera installed on your G5.
• Use of iPod with a BOSE Sound Dock programmed with music from Tribeca Grand Hotel.
• Selection of Director’s Cut DVDs
Soho Grand is a pet friendly hotel.
Exquisite Services
80 Columbus Cir. at 60th St.
212.805.8800
866.801.8880
The Spa of Ultimate Luxury, located on the 35th floor of the Mandarin Oriental hotel has 14,500 square feet of total luxury. Bamboo, natural stone and gold leaf set the tone for an unforgettable Manhattan spa experience. Start your spa experience with a soak in the vitality pool, retire to the amethyst steam room, enjoy a Thai yoga massage, and top off your spa day with the Chakra balancing with hot stones. To end the perfect day of relaxation, enjoy a sumptuous dinner at the Asiate, also located on the 35th floor. Asiate offers contemporary cuisine with Asian influences – and presents unforgettable views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline.
 Photos courtesy of Tracie Martyn Salon |
59 Fifth Ave.
212.206.9333
One of the celebrity boomers favorite friends is the Tracie Martyn Salon in Manhattan. The salon offers two different types of facials and body treatments. What a great way to start your adventure in the city.
You have a choice of the deep pore cleansing facial with extractions if needed for $250. The signature facial is the resculpting facial, which uses a low current that moves fluid out of the skin to reduce puffiness and stimulates the muscle to recover the lift of the skin. Reportedly, results can be seen 30 minutes after the facial.
The ultimate treat is the resculpting body treatments that retrains the muscles to be tight, improves the appearance of stretch marks, and reduces cellulite. These low currency treatments can be done on your arms, thighs, and tummy for $200 per/hour per/aesthetician.
It is recommended to book as far in advance as possible, especially if two people are coming in together. Bookings often are done a year in advance. If you are going on a whim, still call the salon because they do have cancellations–and have five aestheticians working.
 The Seven J Sisters |
35 West 57th St., Third Floor
212.750.2485
‘Sex and the City’ made Brazilian waxing popular, but the J Sisters from Brazil, are the ones who brought this service to the U.S. J Sister’s is our recommendation for the best His and/or Hers Brazilian Bikini Waxing–yes, you read that correctly, men get it waxed, too, Manscaping/
The seven sisters actually came from Brazil, hence the name, and are pros in their fields. There are several other services you can enjoy, but the Brazilian wax is their forte.
6. Red Door Spa
691 Fifth Ave. at 54th St.
212.546.0200
What visit to NYC would be complete without a manicure and pedicure from Elizabeth Arden’s Red Door Spa, the flagship spa of all spa’s. Red Door Spa was the pioneer of spa’s as we know them now. Known for meticulous service, state of the art procedures, and refined luxuriousness; what better place to pamper your hands and feet? Red Door Spa is open seven days a week for your convenience and offers a menu of eight different pedicures, and six different manicures. About.com says go for the brand new Olive Oil Pedicure (50 minutes $70). According to the buzz in the salon, the likes of magazine beauty editors, celebs (think “Sex in the City” folk) and others have flocked for appointments since its introduction a few months ago.
Shopping
7. Jimmy Choo’s
645 5th Ave.
212.593.0800
Right: One of the Choo’s Carrie Bradshaw made famous in ‘Sex and the City
Left: Every woman needs a gorgeous red handbag and Jimmy Choo has the perfect one.
“Wait, wait, stop. I lost my Choo, I lost my Choo….,” said Carrie while flagging down a cab on an episode of ‘Sex and the City.’
Jimmy Choo offers fabulous shoes and a fabulous store. When in Manhattan you have to stop by and see the latest artistry in foot wear, handbags, and sunglasses. Now that your digits are beautiful from your pedicure, show them off in the most awesome pair of shoes you can find.
991 Madison Ave.
212-628-9898
Photos copyright Vera Wang 2008
Forest chartreuse and orchid placed stripe washed charmuese toga gown from the Vera Wang ‘Resort 2008’ collection.
The Vera Wang Flagship store has it all: Bridal gowns, ready-to-wear fashion, fragrance, eye wear, footwear, lingerie, fine papers, jewelry, and home collections are available at this location. The Vera Wang fine papers collections make great souveners that are easy to pack.
9. Marc Jacobs403 Bleecker St 212.924.0026
163 Mercer 212.343.1490
Marc Jacobs located at 403 Bleecker St., NYC, NY has the menswear line, which is full of simple separates: button-down shirts, perfectly-cut cords, jeans-style jackets of the softest moleskin in muted colors (olive, dusty blue, rust). Marc by Marc Jacob’s bridge line is also featured here; it’s just as stylish as its higher-priced sibling, with a vibe reminiscent of what you may have worn in high school, but with fashion-forward flair.
Marc Jacobs located at 163 Mercer, NYC, NY is where the women’s clothing lives, housed in an unassuming, two-story brick building with virtually no signage, only brass letters beside the black wood doors. This store is fun to watch the clientele that passes through the door. You will recognize his classic pieces from the fashion magazines. Cashmere long-john tops are demure and luxurious, plus the selection of handbags, jeans, an belts will make a shopper’s dream come true.
10. Department Stores
660 Madison Ave.
212.826.8900
Barney’s Home Fragrence
Photos Courtesy of Barney’s
New York
‘If you’re a nice person and you work hard, you get to go shopping at Barney’s. It’s the decadent reward.”
~Sarah Jessica Parker, Vanity Fair
Barney’s New York is a New York icon–instition. It has been a fine purveyor of goods since 1926.
754 Fifth Ave.
800.558.1855
Photographs Copyright of Bergdorf Goodman
Bergdorf Goodman has the most incredible window displays of any department store, it is also incredible inside the store. Currently, the displays are colorful, bright, expansive, and celebratory of everything carnival and circus.