It's A Small World Afterall

As I mentioned in my last post, I live in a teeny house in West Hollywood, so I am always looking for ways to get organized. Wired did a piece on an East Village store that's taking "tiny" to a while new level.

Created as a response to new york city’s cramped living conditions, Tiny Living is geared to provide solutions for small spaces. They have basics including a tiny iron, tiny juicer, tiny lamp and the most space efficient toilet paper holders I've ever seen. Don't be too weirded out though, you can also pick up some normal size items that are simply better options for a petite living space.

Finally, us urban-ites have a place to shop for out little abodes!

Tiny Living
125 East 7th St.
(b/w 1st Ave & Ave A)
New York, NY 10009
212.228.2748

Affinia Manhattan Gets a C+

Apparently New York hotels and I just don't get along. I booked a room at the Affinia Manhattan Hotel for a last minute business trip to New York (the W's rates were over $700! Yikes).

Here are some of the disaster highlights:
1. Check-In: Upon arrival I was told that my reservation had been cancelled!
2. Room decor: Convalescent home-like...cherry stained & lacquered furniture and art work you wouldn't put out in a yard sale.
3. Business center: An elementary school would be more sophisticated...one computer that could actually take a dvd or cdr.

4. Wake-up Call: Button on the phone didn't actually connect you to anyone who could take wake-up call requests...when I finally did get the request in it was 15 minutes late on delivery...thankfully the street noise woke me up on time.

To be fair, I have to say that the staff was extraordinarily nice and helpful. Whenever there was even the slightest snag they jumped right in to fix the problem. Not a bad place if you are traveling with kids. While it's not fancy, the rooms are huge...small apartments actually and the rates are reasonable (around $280/night). Also, the food in the bar was surprisingly tasty.

It totally could have been worse, I could have been at Dream (see Picky-Chick review).

Affinia Manhattan
371 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10001
212-563-1800

Roof Top Martini

On a crisp, beautiful night in New York City there is no place better to grab a drink than the roof top bar at the Peninsula Hotel.

While it loses it's outdoor charm during the colder months, the expansive patio is the best spot to enjoy a cocktail from April to October. With plenty of open tables and chairs, you won't find yourself cramming for a spot to rest your wine.

Drinks aren't bargain basement prices, but it's worth every dollar to get a glimpse of 5th Ave. from such a remarkable view.



The Peninsula Hotel
700 Fifth Ave. (at 55th)
212-903-3097