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| Night... |
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| ...and day, NY is the one |
For a recent trip
to New York, I took a chance on one of the lowest-priced joints on Hotels.com.
It was called Ink48 and it was a Kimpton hotel, so how bad could it be; and it
was in Hell’s Kitchen, which my cousin assured me isn’t hellish anymore. And
the hotel was a jackpot.
Once I stepped into
the lobby, I felt at ease immediately, very high ceilings, very mod, shiny, darkish
and hip. OK, the check-in line took a very long time, maybe 10 minutes. But
after that I have very few complaints.
We were upgraded
to a deluxe king room ($289 midweek August) on the 17th floor—it was
spacious and we had a view of the Manhattan skyline to beat the band. There is
a banquette seat by the window that you can sit or stand on and soak up the
rays and the sights.
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| "Greeking" is really "Latining" |
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| Find your favorite font |
The
Ink48 is sure to be a favorite for anyone who has been involved in print
journalism. The building once housed a printing press, and the Klever
Kimptoners decided to hold that theme. The meeting rooms are named after fonts.
A coaster in the room describes the origin of Helvetica typeface, and a napkin
in the bar explains the typesetting process of Greeking letters. They
provide bookmarks with the tab. There is stationery in the desk drawer.
The rooftop bar, the
Press Lounge, and its restaurant, Print, although part of the hotel, are NOT owned
by the hotel. So at 4 p.m. the velvet ropes go up in the lobby and you have to
pass serious bouncer inspection before you can get on the designated express
elevator to the 18th floor. The bouncer failed me for flip-flops the
first time and I was forced to change my shoes.
But keep trying,
because access is a must. Check it out (Memorial Day to Labor Day only).
Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. And that’s hard for me to say as
a writer. But I’m sure you’d rather look at this than see 1,000 words.
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| I am a tiny black and white speck |
At
the Press Lounge you experience old New York, people are truly dressed up in
serious glam fashion. Even the security men look sharp. And whose music is pouring out onto the
rooftop? Why Frank Sinatra, of course.
The chairman rules here, 70 years in office. Since we are invading their
territory, it is only fitting that the food of the gods is served—nectar, figs,
apricots and honey. ($60 for two NA drinks and one appetizer)
Slight room
critique: What? No coffee maker? I found it on the hotel’s helpful list of
things-you-may-have-forgotten-and-we-will-get-for-you. Well, it seems it was
one of the things they had forgotten. I
don’t care how early they put the coffee out in the lobby, I need a couple of cups
in my room first.
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| Extra points for bathrobe selection |
Service was quite
good. The woman at the front desk who caused the delay during check-in quickly became
my best friend. She made sure I was aware of the wine-driven complimentary happy
hour. The valet parking dude, who looked like a character out of Newsies, was
terrific in assuring me that I’d see my car again. (Overnight parking is $55.)
So the ink on the
Ink48 is very positive. Book it and bookmark it.
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| Where else would you find stationary? |
