We spent the weekend in NYC at the
Westin Times Square on the 41st floor overlooking the Hudson River. The Westin Junior Suite provides a separate sitting area with couch and a partition which separates the bedroom from the sitting area. There are flat screen TVs on either side of the partition. The bathroom is very big with a tub and shower and then a separate shower stall both equipped with the trademark “heavenly shower heads.” Jr. Suites are located on Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) club level floors giving guests complimentary access to the Westin Workout Gym and to the Atrium lounge located on the 8th floor. The Atrium Club and also the lobby areas have free Wi-Fi otherwise its $11.95 for the day in your room The Club is open for breakfast from 7:00 – 10 AM on the weekends where you can have a complimentary continental breakfast. Lots of fresh fruit, bagels, breads, cereal, yogurt, juices, etc. Light appetizers are served along with beverages during lunch and also from 5:30 – 8:00 PM. You need your room key to gain access and can go through the day to use the free Wi-Fi and also to grab a beverage. Beer, Wine and Champagne are available for purchase.
After check-in our weekend begin with a hot dog from the fairly new
Shake Shack location on 8th and 44th. I opted for a “Shack-cago” dog© at $4.00 and it was the best hot dog I’ve ever eaten! David and I split fries which were equally good and then returned to Bar 10 at the hotel for cocktails. Later that evening we found ourselves in front of Birdland so went in to listen to a “set”. David’s “cuz” owns the joint so we were able to sit down at the bar and be entertained without having to pay the cover charge. Late night munchies had us eating at
Ruby Foo's in Times Square where we sampled several different rolls with the “Ruby Roll assortment” sushi platter which we enjoyed at the bar for $38.
On our second day we walked to the Garment district to buy French macarons from
Macaron Cafe on 36th and Broadway. We bought a box of six assorted macarons for $14.95 and ordered an additional one which I ate inside. It was delicious along with a cup of brewed French pressed coffee. Walked over to
Bryant Park to watch the ice skaters and then visited the New York Public Library which will be celebrating its 100th year this May. Unfortunate for us the free tours offered at 11:30 AM & 2:00 PM didn’t fit into our schedule.
Took subway down to Christopher Street and a quick cocktail at
1849 before the Karamazov Brothers show. What a disappointed that was! We had mezzanine seats but upon entering were told we’d be upgraded to Orchestra. The performance was not good. Initial juggling bit was fun but it wore thin and the slapstick humor bordered on the absurd. As a Kid I watched the Karamazov Brothers on the Ed Sullivan show and found them entertaining but the guys in the show had no relationship to the brothers and were not good. After 45 minutes we ducked out and left as it was getting painful to watch.
Back to the Shake Shack for another Chicago-style hot dog and the famous Shake Shack burger. OMG, delicious and a bargain for $4.25. Weather was cold and the wind was wiping up so we stayed in the immediate area and went to a nice pub called Robert Emmett’s
website on 44th & 8th. Two screen TVs, nice music with typical pub fare and a few Irish treats like fish & chips and Bangers & Mash. Friendly bartender so we stayed for a few drinks before returning to the hotel.
David and I take several mini-weekends into NYC each year and have been going in for Valentines weekend since 2004. It’s fun and nice to have the “alone time” with hubbie.
