Visiting NYC in 36 Hours"
You might be wondering why any visitor to New York City would limit his stay to a short 36 hours when the city is so jam-packed with things to do. The nature of my most recent visit was that of a surprise weekend getaway to celebrate my husband’s 65th birthday…a momentous birthday at that, which called for suitable recognition and a blow-out present.
The idea came to me when I read a glowing review of the play, "Pygmalion" which was due to close its run on December 16, 2007. I was immediately struck with the idea of whisking him away, while not revealing any information. I knew he’d be impressed with my efforts. But, could I keep the surprise?
The components would all have to be top shelf. as this was a birthday for which it was well worth splurging. I began with the choice of hotels. There are a few from which to choose in the Big Apple, but with a personal recommendation from close friends, it made the choice easier. I went with The London NYC which is a chic and sophisticated update of the former Rihga Royal Hotel. From the moment you enter the hotel, you can sense your every need will be taken care of. The sleek, modern lobby may not be vast in size but the efficiency and friendliness exuded by the front desk staff on arrival, more than makes up for whatever may be missing in square footage. The all-suite hotel is furnished in a clean and minimalist décor, with standard suites including two flat screen televisions, spacious work desk (appointed with high-speed access) and beds which have only the finest linens. On the chilly evenings over which we stayed, I comfortably snuggled under their warm comforter.
The hotel’s fine dining venue, Gordon Ramsay at The London, was among the top 4-Star rated restaurants on Forbes’ Magazine’s 2007 "All Star Eateries in New York". Our dining experience there did not let us down and lived up to that auspicious rating.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the hotel’s superb concierge staff. I utilized their services for theatre tickets and dinner reservations. They came through on every count! They recommended our pre-theatre dinner restaurant, Basso 56, where we enjoyed a superb meal.
Our time in New York City was much too short…merely a quick weekend. But we definitely proved that you can still enjoy a lot of the city even in what is aptly described as "a New York minute". The pace, the excitement and the range of activities is so off-the-charts, that you’d be hard-pressed not to have a good time there. It was worth the plane ride, it was worth braving the cold weather and it forever remains a city worth returning to again and again.
P.S. The surprise came off flawlessly...he never suspected a thing until we got to the airport. He was thrilled with the entire weekend and it will go down as one of our most memorable and special trips!