Dreaming of a Room in Manhattan
Ah, lodging in Manhattan. That commodity is becoming slightly more available with the opening of several hotels, mostly renovated from early 20th century buildings. Among them:
* The Hudson: The latest from entrepreneur Ian Schrager, developer of the Mondrian on the Sunset Strip and several boutique hotels in New York and Miami, is aiming for cheap chic, with rooms starting at $95. Located at 356 W. 58th St. in a 1928-vintage structure built by a daughter of J.P. Morgan and most recently used as a TV studio, it has 1,000 rooms, decorated in Philippe Starck minimalism. Opening Tuesday. Telephone (212) 554-6000.
* The Muse: Billed as “a concierge-style, boutique hotel . . . in the heart of Times Square,” this 19-story, 200-room lodging was converted from the former 1913 Leavitt Building, 130 W. 46th St. It opened Aug. 31, but as of last week about 10% of its rooms, plus the restaurant, bar and fitness center, were still unfinished. Rates begin at $355. Tel. (212) 485-2400.
* The Library: Taking a cue from the hotel’s location near the New York Public Library, the gimmick here is floors classified by subject areas (social sciences, technology) and 60 rooms by sub-categories (astronomy, erotic literature) with framed art and books to match. It’s in a turn-of-the-century (20th, that is), 12-story former office building at 299 Madison Ave. Opened Aug. 7. Rates begin at $265. Tel. (212) 983-4500.
* Tribeca Grand Hotel: Opened in June in a newly constructed building at 2 Avenue of the Americas in the TriBeCa neighborhood, the hotel has 203 guest rooms, a 98-seat screening room, fitness room, eight-story atrium, restaurant, business center with computer stations and all the technological goodies, such as high-speed Internet access. Rooms begin at $399. Tel. (212) 519-6600.
* The Bryant Park: A venture by real-estate financier Philip Pilevsky, a former partner of Ian Schrager, this luxury 130-room hotel is being created from the 1925 American Radiator Building, 40 W. 40th St. It will include a restaurant, 70-seat screening room, fitness center and what’s called 24-hour butler service on each floor. The tentative opening date is “late fall,” the reservations desk said last week, but bookings aren’t being taken until January. Rates will begin at $575. Tel. (212) 869-0100.
