There’s a new Kimpton in town (NYC, that is), the Eventi. I stopped there for a night recently to check it out. Its location is ideal if you are traveling by train as it is close by Penn Station though the immediate neighborhood still doesn’t offer a lot of diversions beyond that. Just south, however, is the heart of Chelsea and the Flatiron District is just a bit south and east.
The hotel delivered typical Kimpton style: a bit playful yet not over the top. The robes now sport only a zebra collar rather than allowing one to be wrapped in a full faux beast. My room was tiny yet spacious thanks to a thoughtful layout, sliding bathroom door, and floor-to-ceiling windows. I can see where it might be a bit too cozy for two but for one it was just right.
I was in town to help host the Executive Council’s Sustainable Cities leadership forum that brought together execs from IBM, Cisco, Siemens, Coca-Cola, and the like for a day of discussion about the intersection of urbanization and sustainability. You can read more about the sessions at richerearth.com.
All that conference work meant that my dining was limited but I can report that the outdoor Cafe at the Bryant Street Grill is still a delightful place to meet for a glass of wine on a spring evening. The crowd is a mix of locals and tourists — fairly low key the evening I was there; any Sex in the City wannabes finding their inner Carries somewhere else (hurrah!) – and Bryant Park is one of Manhattan’s great treasures. Earlier, I met a colleague for a Cuban lunch at Guantanamera on 8th Avenue. While the food wasn’t particularly memorable, it was more than adequate. The place had a nice, neighborhood feel and the service was friendly. It might be more fun in the evening when mojitos could be tossed back with abandon.
For me, however, it was the Acela back home. Just a sack dinner from Pret a Manger and a surreptitious Shiraz accompaniment. After all, your Nomad in Chief is also president of the Acela Wine Club!
Next up — Washington, Atlanta, and London. And check out our updated listings for Brussels.
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