NYC Pairings: The Intellectual
City Pairings offer thematic itineraries, seasonally adjusted, that answer the six core questions of travel: Where should I stay? What should I do? What should I see? What should I eat? What should I drink? and What should I buy?
This is a New York City pairing for those looking for the exchange of ideas and new perspectives. Think of it as curiosity gone wild.
Someplace to Stay:
The Westhouse Hotel New York
The location of this midtown luxury hotel is best described as “in the middle of everything.” Within 10 blocks of Central Park, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the theaters of Broadway, it evokes the glamour of the art deco era without being fussy.
Something to Do:
Thought Gallery
An excellent one-stop source to discover hundreds of the best and brainiest NYC talks, readings, screenings and more. Includes TimesTalks, 92Y, ThinkOlio and New York Historical Society events.
The World Chess Championship, South Street Seaport
11 – 30 November 2016
This highly-anticipated contest pits 25 year-old reigning champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway against 26 year-old Sergey Karjakin of Russia.
The match arena is within the historic Fulton Market building and offers dedicated Spectator and VIP Lounges with panoramic views of the Brooklyn Bridge. The championship can be experienced in person or digitally: it features Virtual 360 and Virtual Reality provide by FIDE and Agon Limited.
The Disruptive Innovation Festival
7 – 25 November 2016
The Disruptive Innovation Festival (DIF) is an online, open access event that invites thought-leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, businesses, designers and learners to explore the question “The economy is changing – what do I need to know, experience and do?”
Something to Look At:
Pierpont Morgan Library & Exhibitions
Housed in one of NY’s most exquisite buildings, the Pierpont Morgan Library is, without a trace of hyperbole, a treasure trove. In 1924 J. P. Morgan, Jr. gave his father’s extraordinary library to the public. J.P. Morgan, Sr. collected “on an astonishing scale.” The architecture and building details are as enthralling as the contents, which include all manner of rare books, manuscripts, drawings, prints, and ancient artifacts.
The New York Academy of Sciences
The New York Academy of Sciences is the world’s nexus of scientific innovation in the service of humanity, with a mission “to advance scientific research and knowledge, to support scientific literacy and promote the resolution of society’s global challenges through science-based solutions.” Prominent members have included U.S. Presidents Jefferson and Monroe, Thomas Edison, Louis Pasteur, Charles Darwin, Margaret Mead, and Albert Einstein.
Download the Academy brochure to learn more about their mission and initiatives.
Click to see upcoming events.
Something to Drink:
The Den @ The Westhouse
A fresh and modern interpretation of a classic New York City speakeasy, The Den boasts an antique fireplace and bookish bar, offering a curated menu of charcuterie and crafted cocktails.
The Scotch Walk
21 January 2017
A day-long NYC walkabout. Ticket includes premium Scotch tastings at eight of the city’s favorite bars. The walking and brisk winter air should help keep you upright.
The Whitehorse Tavern
Founded in 1880, The White Horse Tavern is one of NYC’s best-loved historic literary hangouts. Welsh poet Dylan Thomas frequented the bar and, unfortunately, perished from his substantially imbibing. Other literary patrons included James Baldwin, Norman Mailer, Anais Nin, and beat writers Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac. It is an inviting place to hunker down during the winter months and the best patio from which to people-watch in the summer.
The Blue Bar @ The Algonquin
Al Hirschfield drawings hang over the leather banquettes of this pricey martini bar in midtown Manhattan. Worth a visit for those waxing nostalgia for the days of Dorothy Parker and The Algonquin Roundtable.
Somewhere to Eat:
Keens Steakhouse
Dining at Keens is like eating inside of an extraordinary museum. It houses the world’s largest collection of churchwarden pipes. According to their website “the tradition of checking one’s pipe at the inn had its origins in…England where travelers kept their clay pipe at their favorite inn” to protect them from everyday damage.
The early inhabitants of New York City, formerly known as New Amsterdam, brought their habits from home; an estimated 50,000 pipes were imported every three years and it was a pipe warden’s duty to register and store the pipes. Pipe storage was so popular that more than 90,000 names – including Teddy Roosevelt, Babe Ruth, “Buffalo Bill” Cody and General Douglas MacArthur – were inscribed on the membership roster of the Pipe Club.
Keens Steakhouse, formerly known as Keens Chophouse, was founded in 1885 and was a recipient of a James Beard Foundation 2013 America’s Classics Award. The menu includes their Legendary Mutton Chop, steaks (as expected), selections from a seafood raw bar and other seafood main course offerings.
Michelin-Starred Restaurants & Bib Gourmands
You are likely familiar with the Michelin-starred rating system, but did you know about their Bib Gourmands collection? Bib Gourmands are restaurants that serve excellent but less expensive food and drinks within a price range that is set for each market ie. $40 for a two-course meal and a glass of wine. Click on the above link for a map of Michelin-rated restaurants in NYC.
Something to Buy:
Bookshops
There are a variety of campus bookstores including the Columbia University bookstore at Lerner Hall, NYU bookstore, and The Cornell Store at Weill Campus.
Two of NYC’s favorite independent bookshops are McNally Jackson Books and Housing Works. Both offer weekly events, including author readings, that are worth checking out.
Our Luxury Hotel Consultants Recommend:
WestHouse Hotel New York was born from a passion: for Art Deco design, style, fashion, luxury and comfort. While the hotel tips the hat to the 1920s, there’s a decidedly modern theme throughout that promises first-rate amenities and services. The 172 guest rooms and suites (located on floors 19 through 25) will please even the most finicky of WestHouse’s “residents” (their term for guests) with a full range of comforts and tasty treats.
Located at the corner of 77th and Madison Ave. since 1927, from the outside The Mark appears to be a beautiful heritage hotel. But step through the doors and you’ll be amazed by the contemporary chic of the interior. Rooms feature custom-made beds, Italian linens, specially chosen furniture, and incredible finishing. And with helpful staff and plenty of nearby shopping, dining and dancing, you’ll be at the heart of it all.
Located in one of Manhattan’s most desirable neighborhoods, The Surrey is an Upper East Side luxury hotel that is elegant and whimsical. Just one block away from Central Park, The Surrey features residential-style accommodations that evoke a home-away-from-home feel, while providing guests with an array of thoughtful amenities and the generous service one would expect from a Manhattan luxury hotel.
