Travel Diaries
New York, Gossip Girl-Style
by Amanda BlakleyDear readers, is there anything more cinematic than a weekend in Manhattan? I dare say not, especially after the recent languorous four-day weekend I spent flitting around town while residing at the famed Lotte New York Palace hotel. This unmatched address in Midtown is known as a temporary home to visiting royalty, heads of state, professional athletes and bright young things, but also the backdrop for late aughts hit show, Gossip Girl.
The Lotte New York Palace felt like the perfect place to gather for a girls weekend while in the city to attend the wedding of my youngest cousin. As luck would have it, my brother made a last-minute appearance crashing our all-female cast for a mere 24 hours, but otherwise it was my sister, mother and I tearing up the town for four luxurious days.
Gossip Girl Here
For our first two nights, we checked into the elegant and spacious Palace Cathedral View Double and pulled a Blair Waldorf by ordering in room service. It was dark and rainy so we donned our robes, applied some face masks and ordered up a round of chicken noodle soup. It was a lovely way to ease into our jam-packed schedule.
After a deep jet lag-induced slumber, we rose to the sounds and sights of the city beyond our 34th-floor room. While Serena van der Woodsen’s youthful glow isn’t included in the room rates, the hotel is home to the first ila Spa in the U.S., to get you as refreshed as possible. We, however, skipped the spa in favor of an indulgent breakfast served in the hushed and storied walls of the former Villard Residence library. We dipped into pillowy brioche French toast smothered in whipped cream and maple syrup from the winter-tapped trees of Vermont, along with fragrant tea, coffee and fresh pressed juices.
Halls of History
The hotel is built upon the historic residence of Henry Villard, then-president of the Northern Pacific Railway. Be sure to join one of the complimentary Saturday tours of this official landmark property where you can hear the delightfully scandalous tale of how this enormous, extravagant mansion came to be woven into the fabric of Midtown Manhattan.
Speaking of Midtown, the Lotte New York Palace’s prime location puts you within scenic walking distance to Central Park, many museums and shopping along Fifth and Madison Avenues. The excursion options are truly endless. We decided to zip downtown on the subway to visit all my old haunts in the West Village and Soho, stopping for coffee and snacks as required before meeting back at The Palace for my sister’s arrival later that evening.
Riddle Me This…
…on a bright and clear evening in Midtown East, where do three generations of women dine out to satisfy every person’s requirements and desires equally? It’s no easy task, but Diego, the head concierge (with a Clefs D’Or designation, no less) was up to the task with an endless stream of suggestions for us to deliberate. He even made some personal calls to ensure we were well taken care of as guests of the hotel. We went with Quality Bistro—our amazing heated outdoor booth was the perfect place from which to enjoy a satisfying menu of brasserie fare, including one of the juiciest steaks north of Broome Street.
If you have the time, you’ll definitely want to take in a show, and you won’t need to go far to see Broadway-quality Chamber Magic, with magician-in-residence Steve Cohen. The spectacle is held Friday and Saturday nights in an elegant salon, the original residence’s former ballroom, and features his now-infamous magic teapot which allegedly pours any drink requested from Negronis to bergamot tea. Instead, we opted to check out the colorful roller skaters at Rockefeller Center, followed by a night cap at Rarities, a distinguished salon for connoisseurs of rare wines, spirits and champagne, housed in a hushed and intimate space in the historic part of the hotel.
High Society
On a sunny Saturday morning we stayed local with a Dan Humphries-inspired diner breakfast and a walk about the neighborhood, popping in and out of shops. By midday, our new room was ready in The Towers, where the personal service and finest amenities did not go unnoticed. This slightly larger Luxury Towers room was well equipped to handle the frenzy of three women preening and coiffing while sipping champagne and reveling in the quintessential 51st-floor skyline view
Waking from a late night of dining, dancing and the contagious warmth of young love, we enjoyed breakfast in bed. By the time we finally emerged from the hotel, the sun shone upon the city streets and we took to the park for a family stroll. We were all in the mood for art and inspiration, to which the Guggenheim fit the bill. After ambling around the museum, we made our way over to Madison Avenue for some window shopping—the whole day gave us major Gossip Girl vibes.
Other weekend highlights included hot chocolate and pastries at Sant Ambroeus, a cheeky matinee at Paris Cinema (walking distance from the hotel) and delicious Mexican at TacoVision. There was also the Sunday New York Times accompanied by room service and coffee in bed, so many deep sleeps and quality time with my siblings, mother and extended family. Not to mention, pre-dinner quaffs at the chicest lobby bar in Midtown—I could go on! It all feels like a dream, and as they say, “Somewhere between living and dreaming, there’s New York.” XOXO.
