NYC Staycation: A Change of Scenery
During the ‘Covid era,” it’s important to keep your mental health in check, not just your physical health! While staying in the best thing to do right now, it’s not always the best option mentally. That’s why we’re putting together a list of the best ways for you to enjoy the city while still staying safe, starting with Hotel Hendricks, a brand new hotel with great food, a proper work from home set-up, and a convenient location near Bryant Park in the heart of NYC.
About Hotel Hendricks:
Hotel Hendricks is the newest addition to Fortuna Realty Group’s collection of Manhattan hotels. The hotel is located at 25 W 38th Street, conveniently situated between Herald Square, Bryant Park, and Fifth Avenue shopping, providing guests with the best of New York City right outside their doors. Property Unleashes Luxury Accommodations, Elevated Latin Cuisine and Two Rooftop Venues in a Space Where Uptown Glamour and Downtown Edge Converge. The 176-room property features modern interiors by LA-based designer Marcello Pozzi, a Latin-inspired restaurant on the ground floor by renowned chef PJ Calapa, and two rooftop bar concepts. Hotel Hendricks is a member of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts Lifestyle Collection.
The hotel greeted us with a private welcoming tour of their breathtaking open-aired rooftop including miraculous views of the NYC Skyline (pictured below):
Being a New Yorker, I can assure you that the views provided by the top of Hotel Hendricks are unparalleled to anything in the area. One can argue that it is all in the details -- from the Murano glass chandeliers hanging from the ceiling to the 37,000 pennies accenting the two bars, and even the cherry blossoms spelling out the ‘H’ motif. Hotel Hendricks is welcomed to the hotel scene alongside its sister hotels completing the ‘H’ pattern; Hotel Hugo, Hotel Henri, Hotel Hayden.
With modern interior designs by LA-based Marcello Pozzi, the boutique ambiance was the perfect recipe for a Staycation. Upon entering the room, the picturesque view of the Empire State Building dramatized my new office. Work-from-hotel approved with a proper desk, a chic yet comfortable chair, pens & notepads and most importantly coffee.
WFH
+
Views
= The Perfect Setup
Time to eat. Hotel Hendricks hosted us for a private rooftop dinner from The Paloma- Latin-inspired restaurant on the ground floor by renowned chef PJ Calapa. Exceeding my expectations, this meal was on our list of great meals. Pan seared salmon with lemon caper butter sauce, churros, vanilla bean cheesecake, and flowing champagne (pictured below).
Safety measures at Hotel Hendricks include:
Distancing will be maintained in common areas
Waitstaff will wear masks and all diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
Each table will be disinfected in between each seating
What to do nearby?
Bryant Park: Situated steps away from Hotel Hendricks, Bryant Park offers ice-skating, seasonal shops in an outdoor market, and countless restaurants and cafes to enjoy. Located between Fifth and Sixth Avenues/ 40th and 42nd street, Bryant Park offers a refreshing break of nature in between the high rises of Midtown Manhattan.
Hudson Yards: With its official debut in March 2019, Hudson Yards provides work, entertainment, shops, and dining. InvitedNYC explored this territory reporting that this megadevelopment is open for business with options ranging from visiting The Edge, Soul Cycle, or Thomas Heatherwick's Vessel (the centerpiece of Hudson Yards pictured below).
Union Square Park: Heading downtown, you can find one of Manhattan's most desired outdoor markets located in Union Square on: Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday. Anything from fruit to plants or artisan dog treats, Union Square market has everything you want and not need on a staycation.
Union Square Greenmarket
Stay tuned and visit InvitedNYC.com for more upcoming events and reviews.
Grand Opening of RFTP at the POD BK Hotel
On Wednesday, July 11, POD BK Hotel presented its guests and visitors with a new bar in town: RFTP. The bar is a lounge located on the rooftop of the POD BK Hotel.
RFTP is the perfect spot for an after-work hangout or a weekend meetup. It features an extensive terrace with a comfy lounging area and a large bar, which offers delicious drinks such as Frosé, Modelo and Pacifico. To complement the drinks, RFTP presents “Vegetable Garden,” which is a mixture of seasonal vegetables served on quinoa with a touch of black olive and burnt leek powder to resemble edible soil, all accompanied by a buttermilk ranch dip. The “Artichoke Dip,” which is a delightful mix of cauliflower, garlic confit, seared fontina, is served with pita chips and guarantees a perfect match to any drink from the bar. RFTP also provides classic side appetizers, such as a charcuterie board and paratha flatbread, which consists of feta, figs, arugula and balsamic.
Extend your visit to RFTP by also staying at the POD BK Hotel, which features a clean and minimalist design with splashes of color. The hotel, which opened in October of 2017, features cozy rooms with bunk beds and queen-size beds, while also emphasizing comfort in a close-knit space. Each hotel room is small, but as one of the staff members pointed out, “You come to New York to be outside of your hotel room.” Indeed, the hotel is a perfect place to rest and re-energize before heading to the city.
247 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Photos courtesy of RFTP
Kevin Johnn Resort 2019 Presentation
On a chilly Tuesday evening, crowds gathered on the rooftop of The Dominick Hotel to celebrate to a fashion spectacle: Kevin Johnn Resort 2019 Collection presentation. The collection, which was appropriately titled, “Urban Resort,” merged the worlds of soft touches of resort collections with the dark color palette inspired by New York City.
From pastel colors such as shades of baby blue, to sheer fabrics, some of which included chiffon and silk, the collection certainly pleased the crowd with its summer feel. Yet, since the designer is based in New York, there wouldn’t be a collection without including dark-colored fabrics and more structured fits.
The Kevin Johnn Resort 2019 collection offered a few black gowns with intricate cut-outs, striped and solid black flared trousers, a mesh top with chains layered atop for an embellished look, and dark floral motifs that would pop-up within the collection.
The collection intrigued and inspired. The views of Manhattan from the roof of the hotel set an appealing backdrop for the show. The summer skies allowed the audience to imagine their ideal vacation and the wardrobe to match it. The presentation ended with cheers from the satisfied crowd, certainly setting the mood for the rest of the perfect summer evening.
Photography by Evan Angelastro.
Sneak Preview of Borrachito at The Garret East
On Wednesday night, one of New York City’s most reputable cocktail bars, The Garret, located in the Lower East Side, turned into a finger-licking taco concept. As guests walked in, they were welcomed to a drink of their choice at the bar, where they had a chance to strike up a conversation with a compelling stranger. And when the evening went well, invitees continued their night by walking further into a more romantic setup dubbed, “Borrachito.”
Borrachito, which is located in the back area, was once a speakeasy restaurant entitled, “Dinnertable,” turned itself into an intimate and date-appropriate bar and taco spot, filled with lots of delicious tacos to accompany a wide array of boozy cocktails and luscious wines.
Borrachito brings Mexican street food inspired by family recipes to the comfort of a New York City bar. Executive Chef Yuval Ochoa thrills the crowd with tacos filled with pork, steak, and fish, as well as delightfully unexpected fillings, such as burrata. Each taco is a masterpiece of its own: the “Pork Bomb” taco includes roasted pork belly, confit pork shoulder and deep fried pork skin, andpico de gallo and pickled onions; the “Baja Fish” taco is a refreshing creation comprised of fried seabass, grilled pineapple salsa, and guajillo majo. Not feeling tacos but still want a flavor of Mexico? Try “Del Every Dia” soup, or ceviche and guacamole appetizers. And for those with a sweet tooth, Borrachito does not disappoint. There is a choice of paletas (ice pops) with flavors such as pineapple mezcal and strawberry cilantro, and duros (sweet chips) covered in sugar, cinnamon, and served with a side of corn ice cream.
To accompany the flavorful feast, grab one of the delicious cocktails from The Garret’s bar. From “Detroit Dancehall” to “Cheap Furniture,” your night is guaranteed to be a blast. With mouthwatering food and equally delicious drinks, what else could one wish for? In the age of Instagram, it is an aesthetically-pleasing venue, which Borrachito and The Garret most definitely offer.
Looking to experience street style tacos but are on a date, or would just like to enjoy flavors of Mexico with a delicious drink in another hand? Borrachito is for you. It doesn’t have to be #TacoTuesday for you to visit this cozy and flavorful location this weekend by going to 206 Avenue A, NY, NY 10009, located in the back of The Garret East.
Photo credit @fohnyc
Flamenco Night at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola
If you are looking for a place to relax to smooth sounds of jazz in the midst of a busy city, you might want to turn to Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola. Located at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola hosts weekly jazz events featuring a variety of talented musicians, along with the opportunity to wine and dine, for students, members, and fans of jazz.
On Friday, March 23, 2018, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola turned into a destination for anyone who wished to hear the collision of the sounds of jazz and flamenco without traveling to the origin of flamenco--Spain. The evening, accompanied by delicious cocktails and a wine carte, as well as a range of mouthwatering appetizers, such as a gooey mac-n-cheese and roasted brussel sprouts with bits of bacon, introduced the New York crowd to four exceptional artists: DORANTES, Adam Ben Ezra, Chano Domínguez, and a guest musician, Tim Ries.
The quartet created an energetic and picante melange of jazz, flamenco, classical, and Latin melodies in order to bring elements of surprise and curiosity into the audience. With nighttime lights of Columbus Circle and Central Park in the background, the night seemed to take unexpected yet pleasant turns with every note of music.
If you are looking to conclude a tiresome week on an upbeat note, or find a new romantic private spot in the city for a successful date night, Jazz at Lincoln Center is the place to do all of the above and more. Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center holds weekly, two evening sessions: one at 7:30 pm, and another at 9:30pm, as well as a late night session at 11:15pm. There is always time to enjoy jazz for every New Yorker.
Jazz at Lincoln Center is also the destination for students who are looking to indulge in the sounds of jazz by themselves or with a friend, since the tickets are only priced at $20 for most of the sessions. As for the post-studies crowd, have no fear as the jazz destination allows to absorb most of the musical nights starting at $35.
Whether you're a fan of jazz or just looking for a more unique cultural experience, Jazz at Lincoln Center has it all. If you are interested in paying a visit or two to Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in Jazz at Lincoln Center, visit http://www.jazz.org/dizzys/ for more information.