“A welcome glass of Champagne?” Don’t mind if I do.
That was the question asked upon arrival at the Soho Grand Hotel for a mini one-night vacation my husband and I took recently.
It’s strange to refer to New York City as a vacation, since just a year ago it was our home. Albeit a second home — the East End has always been our home first — pre-pandemic, work was split between the two. When Covid hit, like so many, we left.
We actually left the city because of an actual dumpster fire outside of our building, unaware of the dumpster fire year that would ensue, but that’s another story.
I didn’t want to pack up our apartment in August and move out completely. I loved our apartment and was really proud of it — our first “grown-up” apartment in Manhattan. I didn’t want to feel like I gave up on the city I loved, but unfortunately it was the only option that made sense at the time.
Now, with vaccines being administered and the infection rate in Manhattan lower than most, we thought it would be safe to get away for a night. Hand sanitizer and UV sanitizing wand in hand, we headed out on our staycation — a trip in normal-days we’d make multiple times each week.
There are deals to be had right now on New York City hotels. At $150 for the night we secured a king sized room, the aforementioned welcome Champagne, $50 dining credit, and an early check in/late checkout. Look for the Button Up & Boogie Downtown special.
Just ask any of my friends and family, I’m extremely Covid-safe and I take it very seriously. Like many, I’ve really stayed home for the better part of a year and when I’m out, it’s a KN95 mask only. We eat outdoors occasionally. Mostly, I take drives to the beach, walks outside, and I work. That’s life these days, so one night away gave me all the feels of going on most lavish vacation you could ever imagine.
I did want to experience New York City right now, and help support its businesses in a safe way. To see the city without many tourists was different — something I’ve never experienced. Economically it’s not great, but what I did feel was a real sense of community. It was no ghost town — and most everyone on the street wore a mask, which is always refreshing for a germophobe like myself.
Walking down a New York City street felt nice. Like they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder. It was good to be back!
We opted for daytime meals outdoors, figuring it would be the warmest (ha!) time to dine al fresco. Basically, our mission for 24 hours was to eat well throughout the neighborhood. Our first stop was the favorite, Sant Ambroeus. I really wanted the cacio e pepe after a year of no pasta. I have a rule about not eating pasta unless it’s reeaallly worth it — and this one always is.
For dinner, it was room service from the Soho Diner, located at the hotel, which offers a perfect menu for in-room dining, and delivered quickly.
For our second meal out we went to La Mercerie for brunch. After having our temperature checked at the door we found our spot on the sidewalk. The vin chaud — Pinot Noir mulled with seasonal spices and served hot — was perfect for warming the chill in my bones. The brunch was fantastic as well.
It was a few days before Valentine’s Day, so we treated ourselves to chocolate from MarieBelle, a world-renowned bean-to-bar chocolate company created by Chocolatier Maribel Lieberman. Each tasty ganache is designed to tell a story, with paintings on each piece crafted by artisanal and culinary artists.
I also made sure to take copies of the latest issue of James Lane Post with me wherever we went. James Lane went great with a coffee and chocolate croissant from Brooklyn Diamond Coffee. We even took her to Times Square for a photo op — a place in the past I may have avoided because of crowds but was drawn to as we drove (yes, drove) by. The perfect way to conclude our jaunt.
New York City is resilient. It is ever-changing. It’s filled with some of the strongest minded and most creative people in the world. That’s not to say it isn’t without its faults, but that’s not what this New York City appreciation-staycation post is all about.
Has it been a rougher year than most? Of course. But to those who has ever said New York City is dead, they do not understand the heartbeat and soul of the city. New York is diverse. It’s beautiful. It’s rich in history. It’s gone through hard times and will go through more. It’s glamorous. It’s gritty. It’s New York City.
Playlist: It’s Glamorous. It’s Gritty. It’s New York City.
After a short staycation, this is our New York City appreciation Spotify playlist. It’s a mix of songs inspired by the city and/or from the musicians that came out of it — a mix that spans generations. And of course, like most everything in the Big Apple, it doesn’t even scratch the surface. It’s Glamorous.…
