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The Michelangelo
An Italian Masterpiece in the Heart of Manhattan
By Barbara Brill
Perhaps it's
because of my fondness for Italy and because of my distaste for
sterile-looking skyscrapers.
Maybe it's
because I admire exquisite furniture, fine imported fabrics, designs
from the Renaissance period, European artwork, Oriental rugs and
unusual objects d'art.
Or is it because
I don't feel as though I will step into the toilet bowl when getting
out of bed - as the guest rooms average 475 square feet and include
marble foyers and sitting areas? Or, still, could it be because
at the end of the day, I am able to soak in the deepest, widest
and longest hotel bathtub in the city and then lounge around in
the softest and plushiest robe before nibbling on the Baci Perugina
chocolates left on my pillow by the candy fairy.
Whatever the
reason, The Michelangelo, the only European boutique hotel in
the heart of Manhattan, has me hooked. It is elegant without pretension,
a true Italian masterpiece where you can get lost in the comfort
and beauty -- but never in a crowd. (There are only 178 guest
rooms, including 55 suites.)
Yes, you will
feel as though you are a guest in an elegant residence in Italy,
with your host offering you warm and personalized service in a
quiet oasis. Every morning in the lobby lounge, a complimentary
continental breakfast - coffees, cappuccinos, teas and Italian
pastries - is served in a relaxed and quiet atmosphere.
Some of the
guest amenities include: complimentary morning limousine service
to Wall Street; twice-daily housekeeping service; multi-lingual
concierge service; a 24-hour complimentary fitness center and
24-hour room service.
Of course,
location is important.
The Michelangelo
is on 51st Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, so it's just
a short walk to Rockefeller Center, Times Square, the Broadway
theater district, Carnegie Hall, Central Park, Radio City Music
Hall, the Museum of Modern Arts and a plethora of other cultural
and entertainment venues.
For shoppers,
Fifth and Madison Avenues, with all their exclusive stores and
boutiques, are just a few blocks away, and many of New York's
finest restaurants are within a four-block radius, although there
are hundreds of eating establishments with cuisine of every culture
and price range, all within walking distance, too.
At the present
time, the Limoncello Restaurant, located off the lobby of the
hotel, is closed, but it will be reopening in January, 2007.
Michael Blackman,
who has been the general manager of the hotel for the past 10
years, explained that many areas are being redeveloped.
There will
be a new kitchen, gym and a private dining room, and to give the
guest rooms a new fresh look, new fabrics, carpets and bedspreads
are being added. (Changing perfect must be tough.)
Fortunately,
the old building that houses The Michelangelo will remain as it
is - old and charming.
It was built
in the 1920s, and after serving as the home for the Taft Hotel
for about 60 years, two-thirds of the building was converted to
condominiums; the other third opened in 1987 at the Grand Bay
Hotel.
In 1992, Starhotels
S.p.a., headquartered in Florence, Italy, and owner of 18 four-star
properties in major Italian cities, took over and opened The Michelangelo,
bringing a classical Italian flair to every facet of its operation,
service and presentation.
The Michelangelo
152 West 51st Street
New York, NY 10019
(800) 237-0990
www.michelangelohotel.com
(Travel &
Real Estate 2006)
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