I spent 48 hours (and 48K steps) loafing around NYC for some serious sole searching—where reservations turned into detours, and theater tickets gave way to street scenes. From Broadway lights to Union Square nights (s/o Carrie Bradshaw!), somewhere between a protest and a parade, I realized—this is how you do NYC. And as I peeled off my well-worn shoes and replayed every city-stamped step, I couldn’t help but wonder… can you fall in love with a city the same way you fall in love with a person? (Spoiler: yes—that, and getting lost in this city is the surest way to feel found). Scroll through for some of my fave finds that made the strides worth savoring.
Posh & Prime History and modern day merge with all the necessary creature comforts—and plenty of bougie bonuses to boot—in InterContinental New York Barclay’s posh, ideally located stay, making it just as easy to pop over to the East River, Central Park or Broadway… or just about anywhere your feet will take you. The buzzy Parlour offers a spirited escape just a stumble from your room—or the street—and, pro tip: Unlock the Intercontinental Club privileges—period. Business + social needs, plus unlimited water, wine, beer, breakfast buffet, snacks—it literally pays for itself.
Lore Over Lines A dozen-plus trips to the city later, and—as an SNL and Tonight Show stan—I finally made my way into the Rainbow Room to ogle the lore. Totally worth the effort to sidestep those aimless Rockefeller tourists. But as for the observation deck? Yeah, no… I’m not a “big dumb line” person.
Broadway on Fire This girl is on fire. From grit to glory, Hell’s Kitchen is served as Alicia Keys delivers her Tony-winning truth via this real glimpse into what it means to be raised on the mean New York streets—finding her rhythm to the, ahem, keys to greatness. Among all the star-studded shows I’ve seen—Julia Roberts, Sarah Jessica Parker, Woody Harrelson and Matthew Broderick among them—this one stands out as one of the best, if not the best. Just go. Inside take: You’ll swear Alicia is singing, and mom Jersey (actress Jessica Vosk) steals the show.
Downhome, Dialed Up When they hit me with “y’all” at the door, I knew I’d found the promise land. Every dog has its day, and at this place, with its plated (and pimento) perfection, it’s every day. From homemade Doritos and Ritz crackers (not named that—legal reasons and such) and seriously life-changing pastas, Bird Dog belongs on your must list. Slide in at the OG room (it’s been extended) under the Woof Wall and imagine your own fluffer as a Royal (or don’t imagine and head to The Renaissance Pet for your own fancied frame of Fido). P.S. The bathroom is a neon-drenched dream.
East RiverNew York Public LibraryBlank Street Coffee
Culture Shock Coffee snob mode: activated. Treating the NY streets like a caffeine junkie-fueled scavenger hunt chasing beans across boroughs for the jolt that truly delivered, trust Culture Espresso is where it’s at. WSJ co-signs it—and so do I.
Rooftop Reset Spritz high, snack well, stay golden. Bar Sprezzatura is a mood—and that mood is giving Riviera. Rise above the noise to find a sun-drenched sanctuary with signature sips to elevate your spritz state and a palatable array of cicchetti (aka tapas) to fuel you. As the relative new kid on the block, she’s definitely worth your time, and I’m calling it a keeper.
Words With Weight For an editor, you’d be hard-pressed to top an exhibit celebrating The New Yorker’s literary legacy. But hear me out: New York Public Library is a (Bryant) parkside prose palace carrying words with weight that should absolutely make your bucket list—whether for the exhibit, the history, to get lost in books or marvel at the architecture.
Icon in Green An icon in its own right, Bryant Park is easily one of my faves. Dotted with tables and makers, and tucked beneath the city’s striking skyscrapers, it’s the perfect oasis to meander or sit and stay awhile—whether you’re people-watching, taking in some retail therapy from the rotating markets or sipping some spirits on The Porch at Bryant Park for some peak patio energy.
Tails on Tap Dog days of summer are here, and here for it is Barking Dog NYC. The indoor-outdoor oasis in the heart of Broadway brings major brunch energy—all the bark with the bite (in the best way), whether you find yourself in NYC on the massive patio or at the new vibey North Hills locale this summer. Either way, don’t sleep on the chicken & waffles.
Esplanade Energy East river Esplanade’s been on my NYC bucket list for as long as I can remember—and it didn’t disappoint. A short stroll from Midtown, hit the pedestrian path at 51st and First for a moment of quiet among the chaos—and some serious cinematic views: the water, the skyline and that familiar sliver of freeway frequently splashed across the silver screen. Don’t forget to pause at the benches—those inscriptions carry stories all their own.
Rock the Roof Didn’t make it this time (Broadway ran late, as Broadway does), but I got to visit a few months ago—and my spell at RT60 Rooftop Bar & Lounge on my last visit is still living in my mind rent-free. Think skyline for days, sleek design, plush seating (in winter, they had blankets) and just enough buzz to make it feel like a secret you’re in on. Definitely worth planning ahead—which is precisely what I’m planning for later this year.
A close look at the Downtown Raleigh developments currently underway.
It’s no doubt exciting to be living in a city on the rise—literally. News of the next big building breaking ground or major project coming down the pipeline breaks seemingly daily, inundating us with tower announcements, floor numbers, random addresses and renderings. Which is also wildly overwhelming to keep up with—or try to envision what the ever-evolving cityscape will look like in the coming year or two or five. Enter your first real visualization of Downtown’s future skyline. Raleigh Magazine’s team recently sat front and center at Downtown Raleigh Alliance’s annual State of Downtown event during which DRA unveiled the above then-unlabeled image as representative of the ~$4.8 billion of projects planned, proposed or under construction in DTR as of now. Our awe was immediately followed by a need to align each building image with its respective project and placement (no small feat), yielding what is now Downtown Raleigh’s first true labeled map of how our skyline will take shape via a range of hotels, office buildings, retail and residential builds (or mixed-use combinations). Said one stakeholder of the illustration: “Maybe we’re finally going to get there, finally going to have some of those iconic destinations that are cool to have—ones that warrant the ‘best place to live’ accolades and give us that wow-factor that other big urban destinations have long had.”
For more on the city of Raleigh’s upcoming developments click here.
Daycation all I ever wanted, daycation had to get away. There’s the ever-elusive vacation and the on-trend staycation. But have you heard of daycation? Adding to your ops for respite, enter HotelsByDay—just three simple clicks on its booking app geniusly allows you to #UnlockYourDay and reserve a hotel room for blocks of three to 12-plus hours (minds out of the gutter; hear us out), with complete access to all the amenities to which overnight guests are privy. Think gym, pool, spa—even that continental brekky. So whether you’re looking for a last-minute #workation to prep that keynote (sayonara, Starbs!), a boujee bed to nap in post five-star meal, a room to primp for a big event, or a place to hunker down and hide from your family for a few hours in quiet retreat (we see you holiday craze), there’s literally an app for that where you’ll “always have room to rest, refuel and recharge.” On the road? Head from redeye to shower and nap; take refuge during a long layover; cut business travel to day trips; or use the service for a block to tack on to your booking for ultra-late checkout (for participating hotels). It’s a “X-cation” game-changer. And, bonus: The app can easily be used as a gifting platform to grant fam and friends some classic R&R. So, really, it’s the gift that keeps on giving. Free, App Store
Looking for staycation inspo in Raleigh? More here and here.
How COVID-19 is affecting the timelines for local development.
Before the coronavirus pandemic hit, Raleigh was booming with development projects all over the city, especially downtown. And while economic downturns, as are happening in the wake of this worldwide pandemic, typically spell bad news for commercial development markets, Raleigh’s, so far, appears to be continuing on its growth trajectory for the most part unscathed.
James Marapoti, the City of Raleigh’s manager for development projects advocacy, says city planners are not seeing a direct impact from COVID-19 in regards to implementing or furthering development projects. Planners guiding complex projects through the city’s approval process have not been slowed by working from home and city workers are still performing inspections, and awarding permits.
But Marapoti warns that if the supply chain for building and contracting materials is temporarily halted—as with what occurred with the meat production industry—it could cause an interruption in project timelines. So far, development-related manufacturers have yet to be affected and construction companies have been able to stay on track with projects.
Marapoti says deciphering “how we want Raleigh to be identified” is a key aspect of his job.“We are working to make Raleigh more visually identifiable as a city, so that when you drive into downtown Raleigh, you can know you’ve arrived,” he says.
Smoky Hollow
Photo courtesy of Leo Suarez | Raleigh Connoisseur
Peace Raleigh Apartments, part of phase one for the Smoky Hollow development project, welcomed its first tenants in May, and Publix, located on the ground floor of the apartment building, eyes an August opening. The other two components of Smokey Hollow—The Line and 421 N. Harrington, both multi-purpose spaces with offices, retail and residential units—are moving ahead with plans to wrap up this November.
A Much-Needed Hotel Boom
It’s no secret that downtown is in desperate need of more hotels and several projects—including Home2 + Tru, Courtyard Marriott and Hilton Garden Inn—are underway to address the shortage. The Willard, an AC Hotels project, is currently under construction at 21 Glenwood Avenue and will offer seven floors of rooms. And permits have been completed for Nash Square Hotel located on the corner of W. Martin and Dawson streets; the site has been cleared and construction should start soon.
West Cabarrus Warehouses
Though still in the design stages, West Cabarrus Warehouses will be one of the first multi-use structures made of heavy timber in North Carolina. Part of a revitalization that’s rapidly expanding downtown’s Warehouse District, the project’s unique design and striking architecture will set the West Cabarrus Warehouses apart from the typical modern steel building. There is no set date for groundbreaking but the plan is to transform two existing structures—a warehouse and former auto shop—to eventually house the largest outdoor seating and live entertainment courtyard in downtown Raleigh.
400H
Construction will begin soon on 400H, located on the corner of Hillsborough and West streets. The 20-story mixed use structure aims to forge together surrounding neighborhoods, offering high-end apartments and a ninth floor sky hub, with indoor and outdoor amenities including a pool.
A Setback for Dorothea Dix Park
Raleigh’s city council postponed a November bond referendum to support Dix Park (and other city parks). But Sean Malone, CEO of the Dorothea Dix Conservancy, the park’s independent fundraising body, says this is just a timing change and planners are moving ahead with park projects including the design for a children’s destination park within the park from Dix master plan design firm Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates.
Salisbury Square
Located directly across from the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts is the future Salisbury Square, a set of four structures including two 20-story towers, to be used for residential, hotel and parking space. Dominion Realty bought the space from North Carolina Association of Educators, whose headquarters are housed diagonally to the site. Unique to Salisbury Square particularly is a plan to include 63 housing units at below-market rates that will be reserved for low-income tenants. Plans are expected to be submitted to city officials in the coming months.
121 Fayetteville
At more than 30 stories tall, 121 Fayetteville, situated across from the Wells Fargo building, will help to frame the Capitol Building as you’re looking down Fayetteville Street. With soaring architecture and awe-inspiring views, this project will truly “change the landscape of our skyline,” says Marapoti. While there is no start date as of yet, plans are currently under review by city officials.
Tower II at Bloc 83
It’s no coincidence that most of the developments are within walking distance of Raleigh’s state-of-the-art transportation hub, Union Station, and Tower II at Bloc 83, located next to One Glenwood, is no exception. With its prime location on the corner of Hillsborough Street and Glenwood Avenue, Tower II will be a pedestrian friendly, multi-use facility for office, retail, hotel and parking space and will house Raleigh’s largest urban courtyard. Tower II is currently under construction, expected to be ready for occupancy late next year.
WEB EXCLUSIVE It may not be safe to travel just yet, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take a staycation in one of Raleigh’s soon-to-be reopening boutique hotels. As Gov. Roy Cooper slowly begins to lift North Carolina’s stay at home restrictions, both Guest House and Origin Hotel are gearing up to welcome guests back into their rooms with strict social distancing guidelines and additional state recommended safety precautions.
For Origin Hotel, the coronavirus pandemic couldn’t have happened at a worse time. The hotel’s entire team was ready to open the hotel on March 19, only to decide to remain closed as restaurants were shutting their doors and the future was unknown.
“Opening a hotel in the midst of a global pandemic has been quite the undertaking,” says Karlee Tanel, Origin Hotel’s brand activation manager. “Over the past two months we’ve made a series of difficult decisions.”
Origin Hotel Raleigh
Now, Origin’s plan is to start with a soft opening and fully open both the hotel and its restaurant, Good Day Good Night, in mid-June. Both the hotel and the restaurant will operate differently than they normally would, given the circumstances, Tanel says. One of the first components of the new operation will be limiting contact from person to person. The lobby area will be limited to four guests at a time and will have logos on the floor indicating where guests can safely stand six feet apart from each other.
“At Origin Hotel, we love people and are extremely focused on person-to-person connection and connecting our guests to the community,” Tanel says. “While it may take some adjusting, we know that our person to person connection will still be a staple of the brand, only from a safe distance of 6 feet away.”
Origin is also introducing terminals that allow guests to use a self-service tablet to check in, process a credit or debit card payment, make their own room keys and check out of the hotel without any contact with a front desk agent. Guests will be able to check in and out on their mobile devices and use their phone as a key card to enter their rooms. The changes will do away with the typical person-to-person contact that comes with staying at the hotel, but it will make the experience more comfortable for both staff and guests.
Both Origin and Guest House, which reopened at the beginning of May, are practicing heightened sanitation as well, with staff continually sterilizing surfaces that guests use often, including bell carts, elevators and the front desk. Guest House owner Matt Tomasulo says they’re also using UV light baths for smaller items like remotes and pens for another layer of precaution. An eight-room hotel, Guest House is currently only allowing four of their guest rooms to be occupied at once with a minimum 48-hour window between guests staying in each room.
Photo by @guesthouseraleigh
While many will be hesitant to travel to the area in the coming months, Tomasulo says he is testing other ways Guest House can be a resource for Raleighites and other Triangle locals. He sees the boutique hotel becoming a choice spot for a relaxing staycation, where people can celebrate anniversaries or elopements or just get away from their kids for awhile.
“The world keeps turning,” reads a post on Guest House’s Instagram page. “We’re here, ready to host you and your dears, with the utmost care and hospitality that we can offer from a safe distance. It’s also a pretty perfect time of year to sit on a balcony with some tasty local take-out food and sips!”
It’s a bummer that we all won’t get to enjoy that summer vacation we’ve been looking forward to all year, but a staycation at one of Raleigh’s boutique hotels, complete with in-room coffee service and an elaborate takeout meal from a local restaurant, doesn’t sound too shabby right now.
