| Part One -- East Coast -- New York City's Essex | | | | Man movies. |
| House | | | | The rooms at the Essex House have been restored |
| There's an opening scene in the Peter Jackson film, | | | | to a neo-Deco style that is simple and elegant more |
| King Kong where the camera pans across Central | | | | than antique in feel. Our favorite romantic element |
| Park and you see this big skyscraper with a sign that | | | | (apart from the view and the high thread count |
| says, "Essex House." | | | | sheeted King-sized bed) was the walk-in power |
| The time was the 1930's and the Essex House sign | | | | shower big enough for two, with it's own little tiled |
| was already an icon on the New York City skyline (it | | | | bench (very hot-house harem-like). |
| was built in 1931). Today, it's still a landmark. Smack | | | | Next day we took advantage of the hotel's ipod |
| on Central Park West with a view of the Park that | | | | Central Park walking tour for two and explored the |
| would make Woody Allen cry, it's art deco lobby and | | | | neighborhood like tourists (he's not a native NY'er, I |
| 515 rooms have recently been restored by the | | | | am). I felt a little like Holly Golightly as we tripped |
| Dubai-based Jumierah hotel group, the current | | | | past Tiffany's on the way to buy souvenirs for his |
| management. | | | | daughter at Abercrombie and Fitch nearby. Inside A |
| My own relationship with the Essex House goes back | | | | & F, throbbing music and Mr. And Mrs. American |
| a bit to a time (about ten years ago) when I did | | | | Grandparents picking through tiny t-shirts on the |
| some work with David and Iman Bowie who were | | | | quest for that element of NY style that apparently is |
| living in the penthouse at the time (Angelina Jolie | | | | embodied in the unisex glamour of the new |
| owns it now). I remember the wonderful views from | | | | Abercrombie (I remember the days when they were |
| their home, the lush décor and the fragrant | | | | stuffy safari outfitters). |
| scented candles that Iman loved to burn. I also | | | | We got back to the hotel with our quarry in time for |
| remembered the amazing Art Deco elevators that | | | | drinks with friends at the hotel's new Tony Chi |
| made you feel like a 1930's movie star just standing | | | | designed restaurant, South Gate (Alain Ducasse, |
| in front of them (I always felt like I should be | | | | famous for his over-the top restaurant here has |
| wearing a black beaded flapper gown when I visited). | | | | moved on to another location and the restaurant is |
| So it was with a great deal of anticipation that I | | | | now less rarified but more accessibly comfortable). |
| prepared to indulge myself (and my beloved) in a | | | | Candlelight, carriages clopping by outside and the |
| romantic weekend in Manhattan in a city-view Junior | | | | warm feeling of being inside a glittering, cozy cave on |
| Suite in the Essex House. | | | | a snowy cold day, all lent the evening a romantic |
| We checked in on a wet Friday evening in late | | | | glow. |
| January, just after a sudden snowstorm. Thorough | | | | "You look very much in love," whispered one of my |
| the lacquered black lobby, into the deco elevator we | | | | friends to me, as we headed together out to the |
| were whisked up to our room by the porter who | | | | ladies' room, past my favorite Deco elevators that |
| opened the blinds for us to reveal New York's | | | | opened and closed with a whisper that sounded like |
| rooftops and lights shining through a halo of white | | | | contented sighs from the elegant ghosts of previous |
| frost. | | | | guests like Igor Stravinsky and Marlene Dietrich. |
| A few glasses of champagne later, we were ready | | | | I have to admit that the glow might have something |
| to explore the neighborhood as temporary residents. | | | | to do with the great lighting and the burnished gold |
| Although it was cold, we walked through Broadway | | | | from all that gleamingly restored Art Deco, but yes, |
| to "Restaurant Row" and a shabby chic Balinese boite | | | | love, had a lot to do with it, too. |
| where we drank Indonesian beer and sampled spicy | | | | Do it Yourself: |
| fare to the sounds of exotic Gamelan music. The | | | | The Essex House ( is popular all year long but |
| ultimate luxury was going "home" to a suite with | | | | summer months are high season for touirsts and |
| stunning views of a wintry Manhattan night from our | | | | should be booked well in advance. |
| bed. In the morning, we woke up to breakfast in bed | | | | New York's local tourist authority, NYC & Company, ( |
| (on eggs benedict) in fluffy white bathrobes with | | | | is a great resource for romantic doings around New |
| monograms like Nick and Nora Charles from the Thin | | | | York all year long. |