By Terry Trucco
Be seated.
Are these the ultimate high chairs?
Sitting pretty inches from the ceiling at the Museum of Arts & Design in Columbus Circle is Year and a Day, artist Marc Andre Robinson’s circle of chairs. And yes, you could sit on them if they had cushions and were on the floor. (more…)
By Terry Trucco
Trellised — the Palace Gate.
They don’t hand out gold statues for Best Dressed Scaffolding. But if they did we’d vote for the courtyard at the New York Palace.
During the hotel’s $100 million renovation, set to conclude in spring 2013, the lower parts of the exterior are aproned, scaffolded and cocconed in a moody brown scrim that brings Christo to mind.
Much of the work centers on the historic Villard Mansion, the opulent McKim, Mead and White manse that forms the base of the hotel, and the Palace Gate, the hotel’s outdoor lounge in the courtyard. And that’s were things get interesting. (more…)
By Terry Trucco
Caught at The Plaza.
As advertised: they really do have palms at The Plaza’s Palm Court. We spotted this one today, peeking out between closed French doors. It reminded us of a certain scene in Sixteen Candles. But it could just as easily be a palm’s version of a high-five.
By Terry Trucco
The Warwick’s security blocks.
The Queen’s flag – or absence of it – announces whether or not she is in residence at Buckingham Palace. At large hotels flags flown above the entry perform a similar task, hinting that notables are in the house, whether a visiting government or a football team.
The only flags flying in front of the Warwick Hotel this week were the stars and stripes and the red Warwick banner. But anyone following current events who chanced by knew precisely who had checked in.
A fence of concrete police barriers — and a contingent of uniformed police officers — is a lot less subtle than a flag. Then again the paying guests included 140 visitors from Iran, among them President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in town for the opening of the 67th session of the General Assembly. Interesting hotel choice by the Iranian delegation. Press baron William Randolph Hearst, never one to sidestep international tensions, built the hotel back in 1926.
By Terry Trucco
A little more to the left . . .
Actually, the Belleclaire is getting an entire new lobby (and not a moment too soon).
But a chandelier this big commands more attention than a throw pillow. And we happened to stop by as it was being positioned into place.
The new lobby is reason to cheer. It harkens back to a time when the Belleclaire was a Big Deal – a very long time ago.
As indicated by the exuberant Art Nouveau-meets-Vienna Secession exterior, the hotel opened in 1903, a showpiece by architect Emory Roth, the Rem Koolhaas of his day. Other Emory hotels, known for their flamboyant topknots and multiple terraces, included the Warwick and the Beverly (now The Benjamin ) as well as landmark apartment towers like the San Remo and the Beresford. (more…)
