Uncategorized

New York City’s Theater District

NYC’s theater district is a great place to vacation.  And for those looking for a luxurious place to do just that, the Washington Jefferson boutique hotel is a good choice.   You can be in the center of Midtown Manhattan but enjoy a quiet escape and just before you go out for your show at any of the thousands of theater options nearby, get into Japanese culture with the hotel’s finest Shimzu Sushi and Shochu Bar.

From Hamilton to Pretty Woman, To Kill a Mockingbird to Boys in the Band, there really is something for everyone…and then some at NYC’s Theater District. For more information and ticket booking, click here.

Cosmopolitan Hotel – Tribeca

Taking a TriBeCan Trek

When staying at Shimmie Horn’s Cosmopolitan Hotel TriBeCa, why not make the most of some of the services offered there?  In conjunction with Streetwise New York Tours, Horn’s Triumph Hotel chain has put together a bunch of informative guided tours in various neighborhoods. As a hotel guest, you can enjoy these tours for free.

Scheduled every day except Monday, the tours all begin at one of the Triumph hotels.  Details are below:

Tuesday-10:00 a.m.
Hotel Edison – Times Square
Discover Art Deco New York, Times Square and Rockefeller Center.

Wednesday-11:00 a.m.
Hotel Bellaclaire – Upper West Side
Take a stroll through the best of the Upper West Side and Central Park, including Strawberry Fields and Bethesda Terrace.

Thursday-9:30 a.m.
Washington Jefferson Hotel – Hell’s Kitchen
Discover the hidden gems of Times Square, its Theater District and the neighboring Hell’s Kitchen

Friday-9:30 a.m.
Cosmopolitan Hotel – TriBeCa
Explore the art and fashion near the Financial District and new Freedom Tower.

Saturday-10:00 a.m.
The Evelyn – NoMad
Hotel Chandler – Flatiron
Shop the Italian market and outdoor Union Square Greenmarket in the Flatiron/NoMad District.

Sunday-10:30 a.m.
Iroquois New York – Midtown
Experience classic Midtown Manhattan at Bryant Park, Grand Central Station, and the New York Public Library.

Washington Jefferson Hotel

Six Degrees of Separation

Award winning drama Six Degrees of Separation has been revived on Broadway this year.  Now, close to Shimmie Horn’s Washington Jefferson Hotel, guests can take a stroll along the Theater District and enjoy leading roles played by Allison Janney and John Benjamin Hickey. The production is based on David Hampton’s true story, a con man who turns up at a Manhattan couple’s door pretending to be Sidney Poitier’s son, bleeding from a knife wound.  What transpires is fascinating to watch, how this con man ignites a kind of spiritual awakening in the couple.

Allison Janney has won seven Emmy’s and has been nominated twice for a Tony award.  She is most well known for her acting in The West Wing in the character of C. J. Cregg.

The show opened in New York’s Theater District on April 25 and will play until July 16.

 

Washington Jefferson Hotel

Broadway News

broadwayIt seems like Broadway is getting Jake Gyllenhaal back. Next year he’s returning to the theatrical scene in a short revival of “Sunday in the Park With George.” This will mark the first show in almost 5 decades (40 years) that is being put back onto stage at Hudson Theatre.

In the concert performances Gyllenhaal anchored in October (within the context of a more fully developed version of a four-performance City Center benefit concert), critics were blown away and it was sold out. A New York Times reviewer referred to it as “one of those shows that seems destined to be forever spoken of with misty-eyed bragging rights by anyone who sees it.”

In the nearer future if one finds themselves near Broadway not-to-miss shows currently include: Fiddler on the Roof, The Best of Mormon, Something Rotten among others.

Washington Jefferson Hotel

The Theater District: The World’s Stage

theaterShimmie Horn’s Washington Jefferson – set in a relaxed ambience within a tree-lined block but close enough to Broadway’s bright lights – has something for everyone. Whether for business or leisure, travelers visiting Manhattan can take in a show at the nearby Theater District, or just enjoy the other features Manhattan has to offer.
It has been said that even though Shakespeare was the brains behind “all the world’s a stage,” it is actually New York – and specifically The Theater District in Manhattan – that is the world’s stage. With 40 Broadway theaters and many more Off- and Off-Off Broadway locations, NYC has dramas, comedies, musicals and theatrical events in their thousands!
From The Humans, The Front Page, Hamilton and the New Isaac Berlin Musical – Holiday Inn, there really is something for everyone.
So when you’re lounging at The Washington Jefferson and are seeking a real taste of one of the things that makes New York famous, check out more of the available shows  here.

Uncategorized, Washington Jefferson Hotel

Times Square on Christmas

christmasTimes Square on Christmas is a must-see for tourists. Possibly a must-avoid for locals but for those who find themselves vacationing at Shimmie Horn’s luxurious Washington Jefferson Hotel, the theater district is filled with joy and tinsel. Try getting through the spray paint artists, costumed panhandlers, theater patrons and tourist bus ticket sellers though and you might decide it’s time to go back to Shimmie Horn’s hotel!

The holiday season in Times Square is indeed a bit stressful but for tourists, it really is a great place to visit. Granted, on a daily basis, around 170,000 commuters pass through the area so over the holiday season it is going to be really crazy. In fact the figure for this time of year is around 450,000.

But wouldn’t it be a fun after dinner party story to share with friends back home after your vacation? How bad would you feel if you had to reveal that you stayed at the Washington Jefferson Hotel, right smack bang in Times Square and didn’t even venture out at the most colorful time of year?

And don’t forget, it’s not as bad as it seems. There is of course the extra infrastructure that is set up just before all the celebrations begin to deal with this additional traffic. Isn’t it worth just taking a peek? Go on, brave it; everyone deserves a bit of Christmas spirit!

Washington Jefferson Hotel

Spiderman: Times Square Everyday Hero

If you happen to be staying at Shimmie Horn’s Washington Jefferson Hotel, right now there is some extra protection in the nearby vicinity. “Spiderman” (aka the guy dressed up as Spiderman for the kids) actually engaged in quite a heroic act, somewhat akin to his real life character.

A guy on the street at Broadway and West 44th, was harassing street performers and in stepped the Times Square Spiderman to the rescue! Of course it was videoed so see for yourself. And remember, Times Square is protected by superheroes!

Shimmie Horn

Take in a Show

Broadhurst-TheaterThe west side of New York City is home to much culture, including upscale restaurants, recreational parks, theaters and more.  For those who happen to be vacationing in the area, perhaps at Shimmie Horn’s Washington Jefferson Hotel, Marriott Downtown or Hilton Garden, it is probably worth checking the theater schedule ahead of time.

Previews have already started for the upcoming show ‘The Last Five Years,’ a two-character musical by Jason Robert Brown showing at the Second Stage Theater, West 43rd Street.  Or, Broadhurst Theater at 235 West 44th Street is soon to be home to ‘Lucky Guy,’ set in the mid-80s in NYC with Mike McAlary and Nora Ephron.  Whatever your taste in culture, New York City sure does have something for everyone.

Shimmie Horn

Pedicabs for Tourists

Tourists anywhere in the world are, unfortunately, a prime target for getting taken advantage of.  Whether it is at market stores, negotiating with street vendors, or even taking a cab ride, tourists have a generally harder time staying on a budget than locals.  However, there is now good news for those who happen to be taking a vacation in New York, perhaps staying at Shimmie Horn’s Washington Jefferson Hotel, Gramercy Park Hotel, or The Jane Hotel.  The city’s local council just approved new regulations for pedicabs in the area, with the specific goal of safeguarding tourists against greedy, unethical cab drivers. Pedicab drivers are now being legally requested to charge their customers by the minute, with the timer clearly visible.

Until now, it has been more common for pedicab drivers to charge per city block and passenger, with some even putting on additional fees and surcharges.  There was one dreadful case a few months ago of a Texan family paying over $400 for a 14-block ride.  Now, with the new pedicab law, this issue just will not arise.