My thoughts on some of the interesting places I’ve been. Having spent a few years in the luxury travel business as a banker, marketing analyst and management consultant, I have traveled all over the world during which time I took down notes, photos and sketches of my travels. My love of architecture as well as enjoyment of the hospitality industry has inspired many thoughts that I’d love to share. I’m really a homebody so when I’m away from home I’m always looking for something comfortable that helps me get to sleep and also inspires me with an interesting way to decorate my own home so that I can feel like my own life is an exotic luxurious adventure even after a long day at work.
” In less enlightened times, the best way to impress a woman was to drive a hot car. Women got wiser and got their own hot cars so they wouldn’t have to ride around with jerks.” – Scott Adams, cartoonist
Yes, my wife laughs about “my ride” just as my mother laughed at my dad and his beat up Volkswagens. My daughter gets slightly embarrassed when I drop her off in school with Herbie, but they just get a kick out of people pointing and giving us the thumbs up with a big smile. Truck drivers, policemen, little kids…you name it, we’ve seen it all! Yes, really -ALL. Seriously, if a car is a person’s identity, then my car is mine. Life is fun, and you don’t need to have the fastest, sexiest or most expensive tastes to make others smile
This past weekend I was at the Marin County Fair and went out to the exhibitor parking lot ( a big pasture) to get my sweatshirt. My car was out back by the horse trailers and as I leaned into my car, on the other side of the car and out the windows I saw a bunch of bare chested teenage cheerleader girls. They had been changing out back behind my car! As a father of a young girl, I quickly grabbed my sweatshirt, shut the door and walked away as the girls giggled and told me how they loved Herbie. Brother! Couldn’t they have picked some huge SUV to change behind?
Anyway, I frequently get told by people that they saw me (my car) etc. So I’ve decided to start posting photos of people with my car. If you ever find Herbie parked around San Francisco, feel free to take a photo and share it with me. I will post it here. Here are a few to start it off.
My Daughter & Herbie go campingMy Business Partner and our other vehicle, the Cowmobile!County Fair Volunteers
“Running is a lot like life. Only 10 percent of it is exciting. 90 percent of it is slog and drudge.”
– Dave Bedford, English distance runner who occasionally put in 200 miles a week in training
GOOOOOOAALLLLL. Nah, this isn’t World Cup Soccer.
Many of you have been asking about my crazy night time running regimen. Well, I finally reached my goal to lose the 30 pounds I gained since I got married 16 years ago. I’ve always said this training and running I’ve been doing wasn’t about me. It isn’t. It is about my wife, my mother,my mother-in-law, my aunts and my cousins who have all had breast cancer. I run for these women and donate each year to the Carol Franc Buck Breast Care Center based upon the number of miles I run. Well the weight loss and conditioning originally were just a side result of my runs, but when I found my cholesterol to be high, I turned it up a notch. The picture below is the result. The move from a 36 inch waist to 30 and the loss of 30 pounds and a well managed cholesterol level were my main targets.
Most everyone is proud of where they are from and holds dear to them many memories.
As a native San Franciscan, I know there are many traditions and memories that keep the natives coming home. Some traditions are gone and no longer can be shared with my children Playland, Doggie Diner, etc.. And yet some other traditions are even better than the past. No matter what, being a native of wherever you are from, you need to embrace change and thus the San Francisco Bay to Breakers is one of those reflective of the culture of the city it represents and what makes San Francisco unique.
The Famous Pink Gorilla
In it’s 99th year, the Bay to Breakers has become known as many things: The Largest Road Race in the World, The San Francisco Fun Run, The Biggest party in Sneakers…. but attracts all types. Where else can you see World Record Kenyans, costumed avatar runners, Centipedes (runners tied together who need to run in a circle at every mile marker), people pushing kegs, and yes, runners au naturel.
I’ve run the race approximately 15 times, my first coming as a 10 year old the last almost 20 years ago, but I took my son out to watch this morning in the chilly damp air in Golden Gate Park for a good laugh, some world class athletics, and a preview of our first run next year to cement his stature as a “True Native San Franciscan”. The race grew to as many as 100,000 runners back on the 75th anniversary and there were around 60,000 registered runners (an estimated 15K “fun runners”.
Make sure to set your plans for the 3rd Sunday in 2011 for the 100th running and look for registration details here: http://www.ingbaytobreakers.com/
Please see attached photos for some of this year’s costumed highlights. Don’t worry, I have edited this for frontal nudity!
Bay to Breakers is a party
Below is a link to my Facebook page with all of my photos (yes, including the nude ones) of the top runners, fun runners, costumed runners, etc.
The Palm’s Place in Vegas offers the perfect alternative for someone who enjoys the glitz and glamour of the Vegas club scene but likes to retire to the peace and quiet sanctuary that bigger hotels don’t offer, yet keeps the flair and sense of style that made Vegas famous during the Rat Pack years. There is something about driving up to a hotel in Las vegas without seeing any cabs. There is even more when you walk into the lobby of a Vegas hotel and realize there are no slot machines, gambling tables in sight! The peace and quiet was deafening. Oh, and you couldn’t smell a hint of cigarettes or cigars.
Upon a longer stay you will also note there are few chambermaids (not sure if we ever saw one) blocking your hallways or chattering outside your room. The front desk was very helpful with reservations and providing us with amenities into the nightclubs at the Palm’s Casino.
Originally designed as condos only by the Maloof brothers, many went unsold and are used as hotel rooms. Included among the amenities are a beautiful spa, a great restaurant, beautiful pool with cabanas, and a quiet bar. Separated from the Palm’s Casino by a 300 yard indoor moving walkway which protects you from the Winter cold or the Summer heat, one has access to the casino, top concerts, movieplex and 4 top notch clubs (Ghost Bar, the World’s only Playboy Club, Rain, and Moon) without ever needing to step outside, deal with coat checks, valets, or taxis. It should be noted that when makeing a reservation one should also check the Palm’s Place for specials which might get you priotity access to one of the clubs, spa credits, restaurant discounts and/or free drinks. A recent stay in December 2009 netted $50 in restaurant credits, a free entry for two to the spa, and two drinks at the bar (the bartender served us another on the house)
Palm's Place Lobby
The Simon Lounge Restaurant looks over the pool deck which offers a very open feeling and probably some good people watching during the summer months. The food while good probably isn’t up to par with what you would find at Caesar’s or the bellagio, but it was above average and with a $50 credit, we weren’t being picky.
Palm's Place Studio Suite
The Palm’s Place rooms offer private balconies with views of the casino as well as the entire Strip as it sits on Flamingo across the highway (a $10 cab ride to Caesar’s). Each room provides a modern efficiency kitchen, spacious bathroom with jacuzzi bath and walk in rain spout shower. The jacuzzi tub is encased in frosted transluscent glass which seems to be the new architectural feature du jour (see the Thompson LES review) along with the rain spout shower (see Carneros Inn).
As one who believes that cooking while on vacation is not a vacation, I am usually not a fan of condominiums, but this room was very well done. I like full service resorts and hotels with great little amenities, stylistic design and great service. The Palm’s Place is definitely an upgrade over the Palm’s Casino.
Most of the rooms are designed as studio suites. So they might not be large enough for many. A note about a condominium that is designed for a GQ bachelor. The room had two flat screen TVs, a lounging area that you could sleep in, mirrored walls with New Century stone wall accents to make the room feel larger than it is. There still is only one bathroom, one sink, etc. The lighting is subtle and the room might feel like a night club even in the middle of the day.
View from doorway
There is a 2 bedroom option which has a unique feature of a soaking bathtub in the window overlooking the Strip. You can’t get more fabulous that that!
Palm's Place single sink bathroomLuxurious soft white bed
One of the great advantages of living in the San Francisco Bay Area is the ability to find a restful world class resort within a short drive for a long weekend. The Silverado Resort has been a place wher I have attended weddings, corporate meetings, and professional golf events. But mostly I have come here to relax and play some golf.
At the center of the Silverado Resort and Country Club is a mansion constructed in the 1870s. While built with Italian and French architectural features, one can’t help but notice a plantation type feel to the main building and the adjoining administrative facilities (conference center, clubhouse, and tennis and recreation buildings). The mansion operates as the concierge and reception area and also houses a restaurant and bar. While the main building might feel stuffy, the accommodations are Napa Valley casual. The only other bit of stuffiness you might feel is that you must not wear short shorts on the golf course and collared shirts are required for those playing.
Family Pool Area
The resort is a full service resort that can accomodate large corporate meetings, weddings, tournaments, or just local tourist visits. Guests have at their disposal two 18 hole championship golf courses that have hosted PGA, LPGA, and Senior PGA events since the 1950s. Additionally, the hotel provides a new state of the art spa facility, a large pool area with whirlpool spa (there are 6 other pool areas), 17 tennis courts, a large conference and banquet facility, complimentary wi-fi, and bar & dining area. All rooms are supplied with Aveda bath products, and the bathrooms are large with a sit in tub shower although some might find the toilet and shower in the same room to be a little cramped. Rooms aren’t lavishly furnished but have a simple winery decor. We were also supplied a complimentary bottle of Chardonnay from the Silverado winery.
Kitchen area
Located at the Southern end of Napa one block to the East of the Silverado Trail this resort is easily accessible to downtown Napa, the Silverado Trail wineries, and plenty of restaurants in the Napa Valley. Located on over 1200 acres , the resort is very quiet and is surrounded by vacation homes that are rented out by homeowners as an alternative to staying in the hotel. Miscellaneous: Silverado is constantly having sales depending upon the time of year. There are mid-week specials, lovers packages, golf packages, etc. Sign up for their newsletter on their website for details or at least make sure to follow their website. The best deals are in the Fall when the weather is cooler and the crowds are smaller. The Grill serves a nice Breakfast Buffet that you can enjoy inside or out on the patio overlooking the golf course.
Golf facility
Most of the rooms at the resort are located in 1 or 2 story condos/bungalows located in short walking distance from the main building in well manicured grounds. These bungalows can be configured into studio, one bedroom or two bedroom accommodations. The 1 or 2 bedroom configurations come complete with fully equipped kitchen and living room entertainment area and fireplacefor those cold Napa Valley nights. Ground floor units have an outside sitting area as well as a gated little courtyard. Upper units have a sliding door opeining to a balcony. The rooms aren’t perfectly quiet and we often could hear the couple upstairs or people walking by late at night, but overall the environment is fairly quiet and you’ll hear more crickets than anything else.
Silverado bungalows
One of the older resorts in the Napa Valley, it lacks the chicness and intimacy of the new resorts built in recent years, but the resort still holds as a nice larger resort for conferences and young families. Many other resorts such as the Gage House in Sonoma discourage young children.
If you are a golfer, this resort marks one of the better places to stay and play. When you pull up the main circle driveway and see the mansion and the majestic palm trees, you can ‘t help but feel relaxed. The Silverado Spa is located across the street and although fairly new and seems to get a lot of business.
Walking around in the morning you find guests running the pathways, walking hand in hand in jogging suits or doing yoga by the side of the golf course.
I found it easy to just roll out of bed, walk over to the golf course and hit a bucket of golf balls on the range. Playing golf does require you to take a golf cart as the courses are pretty spread out and can be hilly in some areas especially in the heat of summer.
Bedroom
Part of the beauty of San Francisco is that there are so many beautiful places within easy driving distance from the city. Over the years we have taken advantage of the resort for long weekends. Golf specials have been a favorite of mine with my wife or golf buddies where we could stay and play. We have also taken advantage of romantic weekends where we could enjoy a glass of wine or two and not have to drive all the way home. On this particular occasion we took advantage of a 50% off end of summer package with our kids. The resort is very kid friendly and bringing your tennis rackets and golf clubs is recommended for locals. Playing a twilight round of golf will still cost you aroun$80 (with cart).
Yes, bring your bathing suit too. We ran into many friends who were also up their with their young families to enjoy the good weather and pool (Napa tends to be about 10-20 degrees warmer than San Francisco during the summer). I should note that in all the times I’ve stayed there, other than the corporate BBQs and catering, I have only eaten the brunch at their grill ($18 buffet) and had drinks in their bar. There are so many local chocies in the valley for cuisine from the Red Hen Cantina to Mustard’s Grill to Tra Vigne no matter what budget or experience you are looking for.
The Carneros Inn resort, a Plumpjack resort, is actually a small village of 80+ cottages built into miniature neighborhoods. The resort owners advertise the design as “California Farm”. To my wife and I it felt more like a Restoration Hardware catalog. If you like that look, you will love this resort much like we did. The basic garden “cottages” are small pre-fabricated 420 square foot suites that have a front porch and 420 Sq. feet of living space as well as a spacious bathroom with heated floors. In addition to the room is approximately another 420 sq. ft. outdoor living area you can walk out onto via your french doors. or through your outdoor shower. Yes, your outdoor shower. Our room came equipped with a king size bed, fireplace (with duraflame log), flatscreen TV, DVD player, soaking tub, a deck with chaise lounges, heating lamp and the aforementioned and signature indoor/outdoor shower. Some of these outdoor showers have a cutout so you can overlook the vineyards as you lather up.
All together the “farm” feel seemed like a luxurious alternative to our city digs just 35 minutes south of us. A great way to just get away mid-week to celebrate our anniversary, the Carneros Inn took us far away from our normal every day life even if it was just for 24 hours. We couldn’t have been further from home while still have the modern and local luxuries that we enjoy every day.
Indoor/Outdoor Shower
Although they know that you will most likely leave the premises, the Carneros Inn gave us plenty of reasons to never leave. The spa is a great retreat for locals and we found many women there for a “spa day”. There are 3 restaurants. The Boon Fly Cafe for a casual meal (hamburgers, donuts, etc.), the Farm, a high end restaurant featuring locally grown organic and sustainablly raised dishes, with homemade breads, pastries and Artesian charcuteries, and the Hilltop restaurant located near the adult pool. There is also a small grocery where you can pick up deli items for a picnic. Additional amenities include free bicycles which allow you bike the back roads to the local wineries where you can do some wine tasting, a large workout and fitness center, and two pool areas. One pool area has a baby wading pool complete with baby Adirondack chairs. The Hilltop infinite pool is for adults (over 14 only) and also includes an outdoor hot tub. There is a great pool staff waiting to help you with your umbrella, towel and drink orders. The resort has complimentary wi-fi as well as a complimentary stocked mini-bar.
The Hilltop Reception Area
Situated off of highway 121 between the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, you are are conveniently situated for winetasting in either direction. You are only a 5 minute drive to the Napa Outlets and downtown Napa. You are here for the aura of Northern California. Surrounded my vineyards, the only sounds you will hear at night are barking dogsfrom the local kennel, and the occasional scnet of cows and horses. The resort is literally walled off from the highway so it is easy to miss, but if you are looking for the sheet metal walls, you can’t miss it.
The Boon Fly Cafe
The closest Sonoma/Napa resort to San Francisco, the resort makes the perfect little getaway if you want to pamper yourself and get a little quiet and relaxation.
One of the great advantages of living in the San Francisco Bay Area is that we are so close to some of the most naturally beautiful places in the world. Just 45 minutes north of San Francisco is the Napa and Sonoma Valley Wine country. While there aren’t many discounts with this resort we took advantage of a mid week one night stay without an early checkout. The Carneros Inn is a sister company to the Plumpjack Resort located in Lake Tahoe and and is related to the Plumjack Winery as well as the now defunct Jack Falstaff eatery formerly located in San Francisco’s SOMA area.
King Cottage
All around the grounds are small apple trees with real apples. Do not pick them. Apples are placed in your room daily. The Bath products are made by Red Flower of New York. Amazingly for the price of the room, they do want to charge you $30 if you take the bath products home. A little cheap in my opinion given that the mini-bar and the wi-fi are complementary.
Outdoor Shower
The resort itself while located on a highway is walled off from the traffic. Many might look at the resort like a compound or a commune sequestered from its surrounding neighbors by 30 foot high walls, electronic gates and acres of vineyards. In fact I thought to myself this place was laid out like the most beautiful summer concentration camp you’d ever seen. When you check in, you have to go to the front gate, give them your name and then drive to the far back corner of the resort where you will find the Hilltop registration.
Private Deck and Yard
Registration was relaxed with bottled water being offered and then once given our card keys, we followed our bell hop in his golf cart down to our little parking area. Each cottage is grouped into groups of 6 to 8 cottage areas each forming their own mini-neighborhood. While there, only two other cottages were occupied in our neighborhood.
The resort also has larger homes that are available for time share purchases. This group of homes is called “The Orchard” While similar in style, these homes are more sturdily built than the cottages and are gorgeous. Be sure to visit one of the Open Home models when walking the grounds.
Farm Indoor Dining
What separates this resort from other Napa resorts is the peacefulness. We did leave the resort for dinner (Farm restaurant was closed the night we stayed at the resort) only for dinner at Tra Vigne, the restuarant made famous by Chef Michael Chiarello of Napa Style. Other than that, we got everything we wanted. Peaveful night walks and even sitting alone in the hot tub overlooking the vineyards and staing at the stars for several hours. It was so beautiful we didn’t spend much time enjoying our beautiful room.
Dual Sink Bathroom
The outdoor waterfall shower was relaxing and very unique if you’ve never had an outdoor shower. I admit to using it after swimming and again late at night. Showering under a full moon was truly unique experience although I probably let in a few moths into our bathroom when I did that.
It isn’t often that you not focus your thoughts on the bedroom, but the Carneros Inn cottages have you focused so much on the bathroom. When the bell boy showed us to our room, most of the description time he spent with us was on the functionality of the shower which had 4 different sprays, the inverted shower door which takes you outside to the waterfall shower and then locks into place to separate you from your outdoor patio. The bathroom include a separate water closet as well as a soaking tub next to a picture window.
Farm Restaurant Outdoor Lounge
One night was definitely not enough time at the resort. We didn’t have enough time to enjoy all the wonderful secluded offerings such as the complimentary Bianchi bikes, the yoga studio and spa, the Hilltop dining area, or the market and Town hall areas where you can enjoy a friendly game of Bocce ball on their outdoor courts. The resort also offers in-room dining on your outdoor patio which we were planning on trying out . Yes, no reservations necessary.
Bianchi Complimentary bikes
This resort is definitely for those looking for some seclusion and quiet. Sightings of movie stars and other celebrities (San Francisco Mayor, Gavin Newsom, is the Founding partner and his sister , Hilary, is the acting President.
There are no tennis courts or golf courses associated with the property but the resort will make arrangements for those guest looking to play on any of the local course such as Silverado, Chardonnay or the Vintners Club.
If you are tired of the midtwon/uptown scene and commericalism of the Times Square hustle and bustle, there are many options in New York popping up each year. The Thompson Hotels and the Lower East side have become a bit of an infatuation for me as I feel like the Lower East Side is not for tourists, but more for the locals and I remember my days fondly working in NEw York. The Thompson LES is a chic artsy high tech luxury hotel. This hotel appeals to those who like modern industrial decor with lots of leather and frosted glass that you can imagine would be the way a New York bachelor would decorate his room. Silver, white and black are the main colors of this hotel. Luminaries such as Madonna have held parties here so you know it is up to snuff.
the King Bed
The signature mark of this hotel is the unique outdoor pool deck on the third floor. It really isn’t a large functional pool more than it is a small lap pool and conversation piece. It’s more for art show than anything. There is a photomural of Andy Warhol on the bottom of pool, although hard to see through murky waters. Adjacent is a also a small gym, a guest only bar on the second floor overlooking Allen St., and a restaurant as well as 24-hour concierge service.
View Uptown off balcony
The Lower East Side of New York offers a great area to walk that is non-commercial and extremely diverse sandwiched bwetween SoHo, Little Italy, and Chinatown. Just three blocks away across Delancey St. is Chinatown, but you are right in the heart of the rock’n’roll club and lounge scene as well as near Clinton St., New York’s Restaurant Row. Just a note. This is truly a local’s neighborhood. If you don’t cab it, you will have to valet park your car or risk your car on the street.
The hotel is a unique experience from the neighborhood, to the beautiful rooms, to the great service and safe and friendly atmosphere provided by the staff.
Bathroom
Located just south of Houston St. and north of Delancey. It is conveniently located near numerous restaurants and stores within walking distance. As I mentioned, this is not commercial Manhattan. You won’t find a Starbucks or an Abercrombie here but they are instead replaced by tattoo parlors and head shops. Check-in was quick and friendly. I felt a bit out of place coming from a conference as everyone else checking in seemed to have instruments with them. There’s something about seeing people checking into luxury hotels with holey jeans and CBGB rock’n’roll t-shirts. There was a rock band checking out as we checked in. Sandwiched in between the niche boutiques and eateries are some of New York’s best late night music clubs like the Living Room and the Mercury Lounge, featured in the 2008 movie, Nick and Nora’s Endless Playlist.
Two TVs and Seating area
Just a year old, this hotel is on the upper end of the Thompson Hotels cost range and its chic style has bands and celebrities staying here frequently. If you book through Quikbook.com, you can get one of their lower end rooms for $175, but prices for the bigger rooms go for $450 and the biggest suites will be in the $800 range. I have to thank my wife for the stay at this hotel for my birthday. It was a perfect date night out after a long year. Rooms with balconies are not available online. you have to call reservations to specifically ask for those rates.
The hotel has an outdoor covered bar for guests only and was perfect for a nice drink or breakfast in the humid New York air. There is also an indoor restaurant dining area which I did not use. You can get to the third floor pool deck via the elevators or up the stairs from the restaurant. I was excited to see this feature but found the water to be a little cloudy and the Andy Warhol photo mural was difficult to see at the bottom of the pool. The spa and workout room area all located on the third floor as well.
Door to balcony
Before I get to the room, just a couple notes, the wireless internet ($10/nt), similar to other Thompson Hotels is a little slow. I’m not sure why they even bother charging you for it. The bathrooms in this hotel do have hairdryers, but once again do not have irons or ironing boards. How gauche that you should want to iron your own clothes! LOL! Seriously, you can order the board from the concierge
My king deluxe corner suite was quite spacious. In fact I might say my bathroom was larger that a King Deluxe room at the sister hotel, 6 Columbus. I was told however that I would not like the King Superrior room and find it to be a little cramped for more than one night’s stay. The bathroom is enclosed in frosted glass walls. When walking into our room the bathroom was on the right and we slid open the frosted wall to reveal a single raised sink bathroom with a very Japanese feel and lavender bath products by C.O. Bigelow that impressed my wife. The walls were not stone but a very smooth gray cold concrete. Behind the frosted glass door on the right was the toilet. Behind the glass door on the left was a separate shower and tub. The shower has a waterfall spout suspended overhead as you enter the room and drains into the floor.
The sitting room has two flatscreen televisions back to back. One for watcing in bed and the other when sitting in the living area. I think they could have just prchased a nice swivel tabble instead. The predicatment is that if both TVs are on (yes I tried it) you would change the channel on both TVs. There was a nice leather couch sitting area with a wet bar.
Overlooking the Bar over Allen St.
In case you are wondering, the sitting room does allow you to look into the shower area. So if you are staying with someone in the room, they would be able to see a vague silhouette when bathing, but you really can’t see anything. The sitting area does open onto a balcony where you can see up and down Manhattan. A couple notes here are that the balconies are all on the west side side of the building and all rooms with even numbers (we had room 600) have those balconies and look over Allen St. on the noiser side of the building. I was told that you have to call and request a balcony room as they are not specified when making reservations. The balconies are contiguous so you must lock your doors when you leave the room as people can walk over to the balcony area outside of your room.Outside bar overlooking Allen St.
LES Pool Deck
The centerpiece of the room is the bed. A kingsize bed with a large photobox of a winter black and white photo as a headboard. The one quirk about this hotel is the light switches. They are black on black walls and are hard to find and it took us several minutes to turn off the headboard.
Additionally the light switches have these small levers on the side which brighten and darken the lights. It confused us for a while why the lights weren’t working properly. There are small built in closets as well as a desk work area, although I don’t think much work gets done at the desk. The firm bed featured Italian sheets soft feather down pillows, a large duvet cover, yet no topsheet. There were only side bed mats on the floor and since we were at the hotel in the middle of the summer on the black painted wood floors, that was oka,y but I would guess those floors get cold in the winter.
Waterfall Shower and bath tub
Overall a wonderfully beautiful hotel that is pretty pricey. We ate on Rivington St. at Schiller’s Liquor Bar for dinner and had breakfast once again at the Clinton St. Bakery, a favorite of Martha Stewart! There are lots of great places to eat in the area from vegan to sushi. My wife and I noted that we felt like we were in another country as we heard all kinds of languages except English as we walked the streets at night. If you are looking for a great hotel with a young nightlife, this hotel is one you must try. I’d go soon though as it is only a year old and I could see it getting old and worn down in some areas already. I’d highly recommend but I am not sure I’d come back to this hotel only because of the price and I have so many more to check out!
Hotel Decor: 87 Hip Luxury with a chic Ikea 60’s feel although not always the most functional of decor. Furniture is not of high quality.
Hotel Amenities: 83 There is a Rooftop members Lounge and the Blue Ribbon Bar and Sushi Grill is located in the lobby. Blue Ribbon Restaurant is considered a top 100 restaurant in NYC. Concierge is 24 Hours as it is necessary in NYC where you are always in need of something. The City never sleeps!
Neighborhood Scene: 90 The streets are teeming with traffic all night long around Central Park, Columbus Circle and the Time Warner Center. If the scene isn’t good in the hotel, head on over to the Hudson Hotel or walk a few blocks down to Times Square.
Miscellaneous: There is a Starbucks next door and another 24 Hour Starbucks two blocks away on 60th. Best Buy is on 60th as well for any electronic needs. Need some clothing, the Time Warner Center across the street has all you need.
Overall Wow Factor: 85 the hotel is small and after a night or two the coolness factor wears off. Hey, you aren’t here in NYC to hang out in your room.
The Black Bathroom
6 Columbus, a Thompson Hotel, is located in midtown Manhattan just off of Columbus Circle. It really is on 58th St. (between 8th and 9th, so don’t get confused. It is conveniently located across from the Time Warner Center and is just across the street from the 59th and Columbus Circle Subway station and Central Park. Other “within walking” destinations (5 blocks) include Carnegie Hall, Times Square, MOMA, Rockefeller Plaza, and the Lincoln Center. The hotel has 88 rooms and suites with only 3 rooms per floor facing the street and three rooms facing the back. My room #607, faced out the back looking into people’s apartments.
The Lobby
The Thompson Hotel chain specializes in boutique hotels with chic interior designs and 6 Columbus is no exception. I took advantage of a special rate of $179/nt for a King Deluxe room after an upgrade through Quikbook.com.
The hotel has a small sushi restaurant (Blue Ribbon) in the lobby which also has a small seating area. Check in was quick and very helpful. The walls are a covered with a black fabric that resembles cowhide. In fact all the public walls are that way. Along with a dark blue paint job, the public areas are fairly dark and during my 4-day stay I constantly had to search for the elevator buttons due to the dim lighting. Additionally, the wireless internet ($10/nt) was a little slow as it was not able to download YouTube videos.
My room was fairly small. They advertise pod rooms for a really cheap price, but I was told they were VERY small. The room has a unique look to it with the centerpiece being a wall photo of a woman that I could not identify. I tried to work at the desk and the issue was that all the plugs were covered so I had to unplug the lamp in order to plug in my laptop. Traditional items missing from the room were an iron, an ironing board and a hair dryer. All of these items were available from the front desk as needed though. I was told that the hotel chain prefers to keep non-aesthetically pleasing items as well as hazards such as hot irons out of the room. Once again using the iron in my small room was difficult even trying to find a Additionally, the room does not have a closet but rather a small modern armoire-like cabinet that would not fit a large suit bag or suitcase.
King Deluxe Room
The bathroom was made of black tile and a glowing circular lit mirror and equipped with soaps and hair products from Kiehls (favorites of mine). Like most boutique hotels the room also had an iHome which is useful for docking my iPod nano. The only problem here was the my iHome was broken and my iPod did not play on this one.
The bed was extremely comfortable and I had no problem sleeping at night. The room was aesthetically pleasing but overall a little uncomfortable and small for my own taste. My room did have a nice feel to it though although I wouldn’t recommend it for a long stay or for luxurious travel.
Trademark Thompson dark hallways
As I mentioned, the hotel is central to the Time Warner Shopping Center complex and the subway is only a 20 minute ride to Yankee Stadium. Just a walk down the street will take you to the very sceney crowd at the Hudson Hotel where you can get your groove on to DJ music with a very good looking crowd aged 20-50, although I would venture to guess most of the 50 year old guys were with 20 year old women. For baseball purists I’d avoid the ESPN Zone in Times Square and head over to 59th St. (Central Park South) and check out Mickey Mantle’s Sports Bar where you can see more games at one time. You can also head across to the famed FAO Schwartz toy store.
Small desk and closet
A special note: Going forward in my Travel Reviews you might notice a little fella. His name is Woody. Woody the penguin will be making guest appearances with me on my travel adventures, both pleasure and business. Much like the TV show Seinfeld where there was always a Superman figure, you will find Woody in a photo. Sometimes he will be easy to find. Sometimes he won’t. Can you find him? Woody is a product of Jen Goode, a Colorado based graphic artist. Jen’s work can be found at JGoodeDesigns.com
“Contrary to popular belief, in this day and age it is easier than you think to escape and get away from it all” – Anonymous
Driving the Santa Lucia Preserve
I’ve often used this blog to talk about the journey of life. Well this weekend we took a real journey with real paths and real lessons to help a real relationship. There was nothing really wrong with the relationship with my daughter. It just wasn’t as warm as I would have liked it to be. We always talk about “Momma’s Boys” and “Daddy’s Little Girl”. My wife and son definitely have the former but my daughter and I don’t quite have the latter. So we took the opportunity of a Father-Daughter camping retreat with her classmates to a natural preserve near Carmel, CA. Driving south from San Francisco to the Carmel Valley takes an hour and 45 minutes. Our final destination although only 20 miles further through the Santa Lucia Preserve took an additional hour. The winding climb up the mountain was a Tour de France paradise for cyclists. We encounter many through the winding road barely wide enough for 2 cars. Fortunately Herbie (see above) was small enough to deal with the winding switch backs up Robinson Canyon Road.
As we left the Carmel Valley, my cell phone(s) went dead. I was now “going dark”. No messages from my wife. It was just me and my seven year old daughter. It was our time to be together and a chance to develop more of that dad and daughter bond. Unfortunately my daughter is not like her older brother. She’s quiet and loves to sleep in the car. The drive was mostly in silence other than my DVD player so it gave me a time to get away from it all. No online media, no clocks, no televisions.
Herbie overlooks the Carmel Valley
The deeper we went into the preserve, the narrower the roads became. I was suddenly overcome by how easy it was to get away and leave the world behind.
Just two hours away from one of the major cities in the U.S. I was now dodging chipmunks, squirrels and snakes. I often stopped in the middle of this deserted road for several minutes waiting for another car to come by to confirm the directions, but no cars came along so I ventured forth wondering if I’d ever find the other fathers and their daughters. My daughter woke up from her nap and asked if we were lost. I kidded her that when we are in “Herbie” we are never lost. Part of this trip was to help our daughter realize that her father is equally a parent that she can rely upon.
The 2-way road in life
Our relationship is fine by most people’s standards but we don’t spend enough time together to really bond like a father and his son who play golf. She is daddy’s little girl but hanging alone with her dad is tough for her, I can tell. She has often indicated to me how uncomfortable she is driving with me in Herbie.
This time she screamed with joy and giggled as we rushed up and down over the hills as Herbie took her for a ride until we reached the Northern edge of the Los Padres National Forest. I’ve always driven my car just to show my kids a fun side to growing up as well as to act a symbol that life is not full of material things such as expensive cars and other luxury items. As I mentioned, my daughter is slightly shy and my goal of this trip was to get her out of her shell and to try to be more adventurous and show her the road less traveled. With her mother’s battle with cancer in the past year, she has shown some hesitancy and cautiousness in life and I wanted to make sure she understood that there are risks in life that you can take without getting hurt. Literally, Herbie and I were taking her on a new adventure to show another side of her father other than the working dad. We finally arrived and pitched the tent and took a look around. Some of the girls who arrived earlier were running around screaming. I finally convinced her to put on her bathing suit and got her to join in a class hike.
Water Slide
That jump set the tone for the rest of our weekend as she got brave enough to go down the 200 foot waterslide that she had at first refused to try and later she fished frogs out of the pool with their sliminess in her hands for me to touch. That night in the tent we talked and laughed. For a dad, there is nothing that makes a dad’s heart beat more proudly than to hear his little girl laugh. A close second is when your daughter shows you that she feels comfortable and safe when you are around them. Usually every night I give my daughter a kiss on the cheek as I tuck her into bed. That night out in the valley my daughter gave me the most special hug I’ve ever had. She made me promise that we’d do this again next year. I told her that as long as she had fun and we discovered new things together, we could do this forever. I know this sounds like a simple trip and a simple lesson, but that is what life is all about. Small yet adventurous journeys.
The hike was pretty much a successful mission. We hiked a very treacherous path to a waterfall which was freezing cold. I held her hand along the trail which had areas of 100 foot drops and while she was very cautious at first, she eventually started displaying a sense of assuredness with her footing. Still it was good to get some insight into her personality. She wasn’t too adventurous and always exhibited a sense of caution (this is a good note for 10 years from now). At the waterfall she looked at me when one of the other dads jumped off the top. “Should I do it?” I asked her. She looked at me as if I was kidding and that there was no way her daddy would jump 30 feet down into freezing water. This was my chance. When I ripped off my shirt she wrinkled her face as if to say, “You can’t fool me. I’m your daughter and I know you’ll never do it.” As all the little girls cheered for me to jump I could see me daughter with her hands wanting to cover her eyes. The jump was more invigorating than you could imagine. Freezing cold, if I had any circulatory issues, my body is fine now! As I swam across to the rocks where she stood I could see her clapping and cheering with a hug smile. Her daddy was not scared and was pretty brave and very cold. I’m sure the water in Beijing must have been this cold because I broke any records that Michael Phelps had established at the Olympic Games. Later on, once back from the nature hike, I saw my daughter sitting around the outdoor whirlpool with some of the other girls and talking about the “cool dads”. She had a bright smile when one of the girls said I was cool because I jumped off the waterfall. When we eventually returned home the first thing she would tell my wife (although I told her not to) was about dad’s “crazy jump” off a waterfall.
The Recreation Area
Should you want to visit, there are many semi-private grounds in the preserve. Here is the map to get there if you want to take a drive to one of the more peaceful and beautiful places in Northern California. If you are visiting the famous Carmel by the Sea, the Monterey Bay Aquarium or famed Pebble Beach, the preserve is right there.
In the end though for me, it was just what my daughter and I needed. I needed to find a daughter who’s love didn’t seem so stiff and awkward. She needed to see a dad who was more fun and able to help her when her mother was not around. Seeing her seek out my hand on the hike along our treacherous hike warmed my heart, but at the same time seeing no worry on her face as she held my hand while danger hung below us was a great metaphor for life with my little girl. I smiled knowing “Daddy’s Little Girl” really did need her dad and we had a weekend that would carry us for a long time.
Hiking to the falls
The drive home was still quiet but there was a different vibe as Herbie returned us safely from our little detour in life. A detour that offered a more scenic route for a few days and created a great new rhythm to a relationship between a father and his “daddy’s little girl”.
The Luxe on Sunset is a luxury hotel located at the corner of the 405 and Sunset Blvd at the edge of Beverly Hills. Do not be confused as there also is a Luxe Hotel Beverly Hills located on Rodeo Dr. In fact there are several Luxe Hotels in Los Angeles.
11461 Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90049 USA
800-468-3541
Hotel Decor: 89 Typical of a Los Angeles hotel, The Luxe has great outdoor lounging areas . You feel like you are in your own private garden eventhough you are right next to a highway. The hotel is older but has very modern decor in the rooms although nothing spectacular.
Hotel Amenities: 88 The rooms are spacious and quiet. There are two levels and the back upper level is probably the quieter although older level. The rooms are also closer to the pool. The resort has a great spa thatmany locals seem to use.
Neighborhood Scene: 91 As you can see in the pool photo, the hotel is situated below and near the Getty museum. nothing is walkable and taxis are not easy to find. You are a 10-15 minute drive from Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Westwood and UCLA. Shopping on trendy Rodeo and Richardson are both very near.
Miscellaneous: The closest airport is Burbank and although closer, renting a car is probably the best thing.
Overall Wow Factor: 89 When I was there, President George W. Bush was staying in the main wing of the hotel. As I waited around the lobby bar in the morning, Justin Timberlake walked through the hotel lobby as did Tom Brady. There seemed to be plenty of classic roadster cars being pulled up to the valet one after another. There wasn’t a single car in that lot under $45K-$50K . The hotel is not flashy, but definitely had the coolness factor which showed that the hotel had all the class in the world with any of the pomp and circumstance. This was old school Hollywood and not the Nouveau Hollywood as the conceierge told me.
places in the world. Just 45 minutes north of San Francisco is the Napa and Sonoma Valley Wine country. While there aren’t many discounts with this resort we took advantage of a mid week one night stay without an early checkout. The Carneros Inn is a sister company to the Plumpjack Resort located in Lake Tahoe and and is related to the Plumjack Winery as well as the now defunct Jack Falstaff eatery formerly located in San Francisco’s SOMA area.
