THE BIG APPLE’S LITTLE BLACK BOOK
Delve In To NYC’s Lesser-Known Spots With The Hotel @ Times Square
New York isn’t all burgers and Broadway, it harbours a cool alternative scene including ‘secret’ Speakeasy Bars, unforgettable dining experiences, pretty parks with stories to tell and undiscovered historic haunts. So why not stay in the heart of the action at The Hotel @ Times Square and explore away from the tourist tracks in 2012?
The Hotel @ Times Square (www.thehotelattimessquare.com / Freephone 0808 178 6363) is the perfect base for city explorers. Situated right in the heart of the action, this budget-friendly hotel offers complimentary continental breakfast, wi-fi and phone calls nationwide. Based on two sharing, prices in March start from $194.99 per room per night (approx £63 per person) and from $224.99 (approx. £73 per person) in April. Flights and accommodation taxes excluded.
With The Statue Of Liberty’s doors closed until October, there’s never been a better time to seek out NYC’s less frequented hotspots, such as a visit to the Tenement Museum to explore the city’s eclectic origins. Just a short subway journey from the hotel on the Lower East Side is 97 Orchard Street. Built in 1863, it was home to nearly 7,000 immigrants and, today, educates visitors in the life and times of the people that came to live that American dream!
As New York has always been at the forefront of experimental dining, try Dark Dining, where customers don blindfolds in order to tantalise the taste buds, alternatively indulge at the annual Choice Eats event. Set amid the historic 69th Armory on Lexington Avenue (where the Modern Art movement was first presented to America in 1913), Choice Eats features over 50 restaurants from 35 nations, and stands out as a true hidden gem in NYC’s diverse culinary landscape. Plus it’s only a short stroll through Midtown from The Hotel @ Times Square.
After dark, New York’s speakeasy bars offer a cool, retro change to the uber-flash, celeb-managed bars of Midtown. The unassuming exterior of these bars plunge unsuspecting visitors in to a scene right from a 1920’s black and white movie set and are a throwback to the prohibition-era when alcohol became illegal. Try PDT in East Village for a really dramatic entrance – made through a telephone booth at the back of a hotdog joint.
Finally, steer clear of the tourist hoards around Central Park and head to one of NYC’s many plazas. Nestled between the skyscrapers that tower above, these green oases offer a breather for weary shoppers and are great for people watching. For something quite special, head east from The Hotel @ Times Square to Paley Park on 520 Madison Avenue where visitors will find an unexpected piece of history - five sections of the Berlin Wall, measuring 12 feet high and 20 feet long!
Jo Dey
E-mail - jo@citruspr.co.uk
Office - 01590 676 432
citruspr
Travel PR agency
www.citruspr.co.uk
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