Category: Belleclaire Hotel

Belleclaire Hotel

Upper West Side Art…With a Difference

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Art is so important to the very fabric of New York city.  In fact, if you take Ayn Rand’s word for it, you’ll realize just how intertwined NYC and art actually are by the fact that the actual city itself is artistically comprised.  She said: “The skyline of New York is a monument of a splendor that no pyramids or palaces will ever equal or approach.”

Thankfully the city truly appreciates its art and indeed its artists.  Take Philadelphia-born Stephen Galiczynski who now lives not only in New York City but within a piece of memorable art itself – right by the Cylindrical Gallery that was at one time, a West 83rd Street Block Association bulletin board! In 2017 local sculptor G. Augustine Lynas re-designed a new one (the first was knocked down during an infrastructure change) and it now features Galiczynski’s art. 

Galiczynski isn’t the first local artist to have his work displayed there though; he’s actually the fourteenth! His exhibition – Three in One – features architectural pieces, abstracts and sketches.

Lynas’ goal with this project is “to take something really that most people will bypass, something that’s mundane to them, and elevate it to art.”  This fits perfectly with Galiczynski’s modus operandi of “I sketch and I paint, therefore I am.”

Galiczynski’s work will be displayed at the kiosk until the end of December 2021.

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Have the Ultimate New York Winter Experience

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It is busy, it is bustling, it is even a bit brassy, but New York City winter is also irresistible. Here are some tips to have the best time in New York City this (and every) winter season.

New York City winter lights

Plan Ahead: Do your research and get as many reservations on the books as early as possible. Tables at that new place(s) you want to try, rooms at the hotel in the midst of all the action, tickets to the show(s) you want to see…get it all in advance.  

Come Prepared: The previous tip notwithstanding, expect long lines and crowded attractions. Dress in layers and bundle up warmly. It can get mighty cold outside as you visit many of the outdoor attractions, especially those that are prettiest at night.

Turn on the Glitz: Midtown Manhattan is the center of New York’s winter fete. Trek up trendy Fifth Avenue from 40th St to Central Park and see all the lights and glamour. Go to Saks Fifth Avenue’s light display, Tiffany’s dazzling diamonds, and the iconic trees at Rockefeller Center, the New York Public Library, the Empire State Building, Bryant Park, and others.

Make a List: Check it Twice: New York’s winter markets are charming venues worth exploring. They are filled with local artists and designers selling gifts and trinkets that you and your family will adore. Grand Central Terminal holds a unique Holiday Fair, in the stunning Vanderbilt Hall, focusing on socially responsible business and handmade craft gifts.

The wind-down of every calendar year is an exciting time in New York City. Come enjoy the post-Thanksgiving magical air; see the city transformed into a singing, dancing, sparkling Tinseltown.

Belleclaire Hotel

Beacon Theater

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Over the summer if you happen to be vacationing at Shimmie Horn’s Belleclaire Hotel – or even staying there for work meetings – make time to check out some of the local happenings.  Situated in the midst of a mass of cultural happenings, one of these is the Beacon Theatre where there are some fabulous upcoming events.

For example, today and tomorrow, alternative rock Matchbox Twenty singer-songwriter Rob Thomas will be playing there.  August 1, Beacon Theater attendees will be subject to the dulcet tones of award-winning pianist, singer-songwriter Herbie Hancock.

For events later on in the summer click here.

Belleclaire Hotel

Central Park Tour

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In this video, the NYC Traveler begins his tour in Central Park, Manhattan. Located close to Shimmie Horn’s Hotel Belleclaire, the NYC Traveler takes us inside one of the world’s largest museums – the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH).

The museum features 28 interconnected buildings which have 45 permanent exhibition halls, a planetarium and a library. There are more than 33 million specimens[5] of plants, animals, fossils, minerals, rocks, meteorites, human remains, and human cultural artifacts; only a fraction of these are on show at any one time, occupying over 2,000,000 square feet.

Belleclaire Hotel

Featuring the Hotel Belleclaire!

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Seems like Laurelle – the US influencer and style blogger – enjoyed visiting the Hotel Belleclaire. On her recent visit to New York she visited the Upper West Side hotel located  near the Beacon Theatre.

In her blog Belle, she talks of her stay for the first part of fashion week at the Hotel Belleclaire.  Describing it as a “lovely boutique hotel,” she commented on the “beautiful” lobby, detailing its “artistic glass chandeliers and luxe velvet couches and chairs.”

But out of everything at the hotel, her “favorite thing” was “being able to wake up and go right down to the lobby for the most delicious cappuccinos and French pastries! [She] love[s] all things French, so starting [her] day with a croissant is a morning-maker!  There were so many options and everything we tried was so, so good!”

Thumbs up to a taste of France in the Upper West Side then.

 

Belleclaire Hotel

The Evolution of the Hotel Belleclaire

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Last week, New York Times contributor Michael Milton described many of the changes the Hotel Belleclaire has endured since its humble beginnings in the early 20th century.   Personifying the hotel – a part of Shimmie Horn’s Triumph hotel network – he had admired it himself for so long that in 1982 he vowed “someday [to be] living in that building.”

The Hotel Belleclaire has seen many faces (including famous ones like Maxim Gorky, Babe Ruth and Mark Twain) and has also endured its share of dramatic action.  But in recent years it has undergone quite the renovation, becoming the quintessentially boutique hotel it is today. As Milton so eloquently describes:

But the lobby has since been recreated with an eye toward the hotel’s elegant past. It is now light-filled and wood paneled, with subtle dark stone insets in the walls near the elevators. After much work, the simple original mosaic — worthy of a prosperous Pompeian merchant’s home — has been unearthed. Hiding beyond a black dropped ceiling and lost to everyone’s memory was a vast expanse of glass which once covered the hotel’s fashionable Palm Court and has now been restored to its full glory.

In addition, the hotel is currently undergoing “a partial exterior restoration, an undertaking which will help bring back much of its original grandeur.”  All the changes themselves have an impact as they are happening, as Hotel Belleclaire Manager Robert Holmes said pointing out that where the limestone was from (Indiana) and how it “pulled up from a site close to one [architecture Emery] Roth used for the original limestone decorations.”

As Winston Churchill once said, “we shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.”  With this statement he must have been referring to the Hotel Belleclaire.

Belleclaire Hotel, Shimmie Horn

Central Park Walking Tours: The Best Way to See New York in the Spring

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Northwoods of Central Park

As the long, cold winter dissipates and the gorgeous New York spring takes hold, why not treat yourself to one of the loveliest activities the city has to offer, at the best time of year to do it: that is walk the park.

Since 1873 New York’s Central Park has been a destination for millions of residents and tourists alike. And why not? Beautiful meadows, incredible wildflowers, sensational blossoming trees, and a host of other attractions to bring pleasure to all your senses just abound within the confines of this mother of all urban parks.

Since the park is so large and complex, with many hidden treasures and tucked-away delights, we recommend that an expert take you to explore the highlights of this wonderful location. Central Park Walking Tours is just the tour group to show you the best the park has to offer.

Next time you are staying in New York, especially if you are at Shimmie Horn’s Hotel Belleclaire, be sure to explore the wonders of the historic and inspiring Central Park.

Belleclaire Hotel, Shimmie Horn

Verdi Square a Small Wonder of New York

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Verdi Square Just Down the Street from Shimmie Horn's Belleclaire Hotel

Visit Verdi Square and experience a bit of New York City history at the intersection of Broadway, Amsterdam Avenue and West 73rd Street, just down the street from Shimmie Horn’s Hotel Belleclaire.

New York City Parks and Recreation acquired the spot in 1887, but did not designate a permanent name until 1921. The area was a favorite place to build villas during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and at the turn of the century the square was a meeting place for musicians. Enrico Caruso and Arturo Toscanini were known to frequent the square.

Verdi Square was bestowed with the status of Scenic Landmark in 1974 by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. Only eight other public parks have been so designated. In 1997 the monument was restored using monies from the Broadway/72nd Associates.

Stroll a few blocks downtown from the Belleclaire and visit one of the small wonders of New York City.

Belleclaire Hotel, Shimmie Horn

Kid Friendly Manhattan at the Children’s Museum

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Traveling with kids in New York? Don’t worry, New York is a great place to show kids a great time. For instance, try a visit to the Children’s Museum of Manhattan

Children's Museum of Manhattan

at The Tisch Building, 212 West 83rd Street. The CMOM prides itself on its mission to be a place for families to come and learn, grow and play together, for the past thirty years. The museum has been a destination for children to come with their families and become happy, healthy and creative global citizens. Over 350,000 families each year are invited to explore at the museums incredible exhibits, unique programs and wonderful performances.
Some exhibits which children can explore are “Monkey King: A Story from China,” “City Splash,” “Playworks,” and many more. There is a large assortment of workshops, programs and performances which are just perfect for the ages and temperaments of every child.
Take a look at what the Children’s Museum of Manhattan has to offer. If you are staying nearby, for instance at Shimmie Horn’s Belleclaire Hotel at 250 West 77th Street, right off of Broadway, then you are closer than you think to having a fabulous time with your child or children in New York City.