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TriBeCa – The Venue for Culture

02/28/201302/26/2013 admin

For anyone looking for a bit of extra culture, north of TriBeCa (which also is located right by one of Shimmie Horn’s luxurious hotels – the Cosmopolitan – Tribeca), they will find the bohemian West Village. There, visitors will be treated to an intimate yet buzzing atmosphere. The area boasts a variety of eateries, stores and nightlife to thrill even the most adventurous seeker, for hours. More than that, Harlem has quite an impressive history and today offers something a bit different that has lovingly become known as “soul food restaurants.”

Soul food does not actually traditionally hail from New York. It originates in the Deep South and arrived on the East Coast via waves of economic migration. It dates back to slavery during the time African-American families were basically taking whatever food they had access to and then made something with it. It was a bunch of anything no-one else wanted or stuff from the ground they found. Since at that time pork scraps were left, today one of the traditional “soul food” dishes to be found in Harlem’s soul food restaurants is pork flavors imbuing collard greens. For sides, candied yams are quite common too. It’s definitely food with a difference so worth checking out.

The Return of Manilow

02/21/201305/26/2014 admin

When it comes to music, some artists are one hit wonders. Others manage to grab hold of their audience for a year or two, but then fade out of memory. And then, there are those that are truly timeless. They continue to captivate their audiences, even as the decades march on.

He may be pushing 70, but he still has a dreamy voice. And indeed, while in his prime, Barry Manilow was known for being able to “make the whole world sing.” He did this in larger venues some years ago but during the last few weeks he graced the audience at 246 West 44^th Street at the 1,710 seat St. James Theatre. For those who happen to be in the area – perhaps luxuriating in Shimmie Horn’s West 44^th Street Iroquois Hotel, or the Sofitel – an evening with Manilow makes a wonderful trip down Memory Lane.

As for Manilow himself, he has been reeling from the experience, commenting on the venue’s intimacy and likening it to “going to somebody’s house.” And while the songs are just like his old ones, they are not the same as he “update[s] them so that it never sounds like an oldies show. If you come to the shows, they’re full of muscle.” Following Broadway, Manilow intends to continue doing weekend gigs on the road as well as two new albums.

Shimmie Horn

Empire State Building Run Up

02/14/201302/11/2013 admin

An associate from the Goldman Sachs Group Inc. ran up the Empire State Building in Midtown Manhattan, in order to raise money for charity. Brian Kuritzky’s 320 meter feet climb from the lobby to observation deck raised $20, 000 for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation…and he did it twice! This was the second consecutive year Kuritzky got involved in this venture, having raised $85,000 last year. Organized by the New York Road Runners, this event has been happening since 1978 and has participants from a variety of countries such as New Guinea, Israel and Japan.

Shimmie Horn

Culture in New York

02/07/201302/04/2013 admin

At the end of last month, a culture program was organized by the Vietnamese Culture & Education (IVCE) in New York. It was to mark the Asian Lunar New Year and took place at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). It formed part of the festival program for the Asian New Year. So for anyone who wants to learn a bit about Asian culture, and find themselves in the area, this would have been quite a unique event. Participants could enjoy the Ao Dai Fashion show, the Dong Ho Folk Painting & Calligraphy exhibition and more. And they did since the event attracted more than 500 US and Vietnamese guests.

Shimmie Horn

Pasta for Expensive Tastes

01/31/201301/30/2013 admin

Pasta is usually a relatively cheap way to eat. But it can also be surprisingly expensive. Especially if one chooses the special pasta dish on offer at Midtown Manhattan’s BiCE restaurant, close to Shimmie Horn’s Iroquois Hotel. Indeed, ordering one of their pasta dishes can set one back $2,013! Apparently it is made from mixed wild mushrooms, 2 pound lobster, shaved seasonal black truffles. It arrives on a Limited Edition Gianni Versace Bice plate, which was made specifically for Bice 7 months before the death of Gianni Versace and is signed and numbered. The guest even gets to take it home.

Given that the place is worth a mere$350, this means the guest is still paying a staggering $1,663 for the food. Quite pricey for a bit of pasta.

Shimmie Horn

The Frick Collection

01/24/201302/05/2013 admin

For those who want to partake in a bit of culture on their next trip to New York, they should pay a visit to the Portico Gallery. Situated at 1 East 70^th Street, close to some of the city’s most luxurious hotels including The Iroquois, The Pierre, or the Surrey Hotel, the museum and library have a lot to offer to both the tourist and veteran New Yorker. Currently on display until January 27^th, is the “Frick Collection: Mantegna to Matisse: Master Drawings from the Courtauld Gallery.” This is a display of 58 pieces from a London museum and art history institute, covering the Renaissance, Baroque as well as modern periods. Also enjoy Pontormo, Michaelangelo, Rubens, Rembrandt and more.

Cosmopolitan Hotel – Tribeca

New York City Architecture

01/16/201301/16/2013 admin

A new book published by the University of Illinois Press sheds light on riveting NYC architecture and more. Authored by Professor Wallace, “Media Capital: Architecture and Communications in New York City,” examines the few remaining landmarks in the area constructed by media moguls for the express purpose of validating their dominance. This book might be of interest to those with a fascination for New York City, its buildings, architecture and how things have changed. Indeed, for those who frequent modern, luxurious places such as Shimmie Horn’s Cosmopolitan Hotel – Tribeca, the book provides an interesting comparison to what was then versus what is now. Wallace points out in the book how architecture “has served in no small capacity to shore up legitimacy in moments of doubt.” She also believes that the pattern is coming full circle – near the old Newspaper Row, in downtown New York, there is now a resurgence with moves by The Daily News and Condé Nast along with new media in old media space.

Chandler Hotel

New York Gets Donation

01/09/201301/09/2013 admin

The city of New York has just received a substantial donation to be used for the enhancement of its libraries and main park. Mary McConnell Bailey who recently passed away at the age of 88, made a will that requested the city receive a staggering $20m. The generous lady lived a very modest life – her extraordinary wealth was not known. She was just known as a hospital and school volunteer. Even her neighbor was shocked at this, having no idea she had anywhere near this sort of money.

Clearly with such a large donation, the city’s libraries and park will undergo quite a change. For one returning to visit the area – perhaps staying at Shimmie Horn’s Hotel Chandler – in a few years’ time these New York staples might look quite different. Because Bailey spent so little of her money on herself (living out her days in a very basic Manhattan apartment), the city of New York is set to benefit greatly.

Shimmie Horn

Recent Manhattan Excitement

01/02/201301/02/2013 admin

Manhattan encountered a wonderful slice of excitement last week as baby Nassim decided to enter the world – 6 weeks prematurely – at the Holland Tunnel. The event has since been dubbed “the light at the end of the Holland Tunnel.”

Parents-to-be Abdel Elkarhat and Soukaina Nekhlaoui of Lodi, New Jersey, were en route to a Brooklyn hospital for the premature birth when contractions intensified, leading Elkarhat to pull over by the side of the tunnel for the baby’s unexpected fast delivery. Understandably, first time father was reported to have been “really frantic.”

Even though the news is often filled with the craziness of goings-on in the Big Apple, this heart-warming story really shows that there is also potential to encounter a beaming “light at the end of the tunnel” as well.

Shimmie Horn

Things to Do in NYC on New Year’s

12/26/201212/26/2012 admin

There’s probably no more exciting place to be on New Year’s than in New York City, the City that Never Sleeps. Whether you are there on business, vacationing at one of Shimmie Horn’s luxurious Triumph Hotels, or happen to be privileged enough to live in the Big Apple, why not make 2013 the year opening to remember, by getting tickets to the Times Square Party?

Pass prices for the 10^th annual event range from $235 for standard fare from 9pm, to $295 from 7pm. Each add-on (for various dinner packages) is $55. The After Parties Party Pass which gives one complimentary admission to any of the Official NYE 2013 After Parties. These commence at approximately 2am and usually cost around $35 for entrance. The Parties All Access Party Pass gives one admission to some of the city’s most exclusive clubs, lounges and restaurants. For partying in “green” style, check out Greenhouse which is both the city’s Premiere Nightlife Destination and first ever eco-friendly nightclub. There are over 10 after parties to choose from with this pass.

And of course, while in town, check out the crystal ball drop with its “lucky” Number 13. Tim Hopkins is not concerned about the traditional unluckiness associated with the number claiming “we think 2013 will be an amazing year.” Well, for those seeing it start in NYC, it probably will.