“There are 200 million sandwiches eaten a day in America”, according to Australia’s Ben Gollan. One might say he’s a sandwich aficionado, and he’s not shy to admit it, remarking on a beautiful New York autumn afternoon, “the Sandwich is a global dish that beings people together, which is why I do this tour and…
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When The Phantom of the Opera closed last year, after almost 14,000 performances, it ended its reign as the longest running production on Broadway. While it technically still holds the crown as Broadway’s longest running show (of all time), the move passed the mantle of longest running productions currently on Broadway to the 1996 revival…
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I’ll never forget when I was in New York about a decade ago (July 2015). I was having dinner at the house of a friend from high school, whose husband was a notable Broadway producer. As one would expect, recommendations of shows to see flowed. The Book of Mormon and Matilda were among the hot…
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If you’ve ever been looking for that storybook Halloween experience, look no further than New York State and New England in the northeast of the United States. With picture perfect communities pulled straight from the movies, the day of trick-or-treating is filled with incredible costumes, houses that go all out with decorations, and a seemingly…
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Greenwashing is far too common these days. Shallow attempts at being eco-conscious are expected of just about every business now, and not all of them rise above the bare minimum. I’m cynical about it. I’ve heard the sustainability tagline thousands of times over. But there’s something about the 1 Hotel brand that’s hooked me. Its…
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The Penny is one of only several premium hotels in Brooklyn. And of course, it’s in Williamsburg. Brooklyn’s most attractive neighbourhood for trendy locals and visitors hogs the lion’s share of Brooklyn’s best hotels, while a few others are located over in Dumbo. There’s reason for this. You won’t find luxury hotels in Bushwick (yet)…
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Sitting at the edge of New York’s Theatre District is CIVILIAN, one of Manhattan’s newer hotels and a nice balance between designer charm, premium accommodation and – what is perhaps most important in New York right now – affordability. New York always so desperately needs more hotels to accommodate the constant influx of visitors that…
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The Prince Kitano New York is almost the mid-way point between the Chrysler Building and Empire State Building. It’s also just a 500-metre walk from Grand Central Station and, on the way, Bryant Park. You’ll only walk a short distance to get to the picturesque edge of East River with its many vantage points, and…
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The Historic Hotels in America is a program that recognises over 300 hotels across the Americas, noted for their heritage value and deep connection to local stories. Many of these stories are retold beautifully to guests, expressing the building’s age through design, amenities and dining experiences. Some – the best ones – have so much…
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Named for the Theta brain waves produced during deep relaxation, the latest Kimpton hotel to open in New York City is a welcome escape on the edge of the Theatre District. It’s sister, Kimpton Hotel Eventi, is just a few blocks from Empire State Building and is often referenced as one of the best value…
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Coming from Australia, it’s always fascinating to see just how different hospitality concepts are over in the USA. Particularly New York City. I always return with ideas on how to change a city like Sydney and make it much more the world-class destination it pretends to be (it’s getting there, just not there yet). But,…
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Staying anywhere in Manhattan will break the bank. I don’t care whether it’s a budget hotel, a mid-range or a luxury stay. If you want to stay even one night in Manhattan, you’ll need a hefty savings account. Blame the cost of living, of course. Visiting New York City is prohibitively expensive right now, but…
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There’s nothing quite like New York’s Lower East Side. Casually referred to as the L.E.S, this section of lower Manhattan is where you’ll find many of the city’s best beats, from Katz Deli and Russ & Daughters, to world-renowned cocktail bars like Superbueno and Double Chicken Please. Fanning off from the narrow strip of Sara…
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Right now New York’s iconic theatre district – Broadway – may have the most amount of chart-topping artists represented in its catalogue than ever. And this was well recognised at this weekend’s Tony Awards, with the two most nominated productions being Hell’s Kitchen, featuring the catalogue of Alicia Keys, and Stereophonic, with original music from…
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Each year, James Beard hands me some fresh FOMO on a silver platter. The USA’s most prestigious culinary institution works similar to Michelin but is generally broader in criteria. In the past, I’ve been much more satisfied with something that’s been James Beard-approved rather than just Michelin-approved. Now, that’s not to say Michelin isn’t reliable,…
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If you haven’t travelled to the city since the pandemic, you may have not yet heard of New York’s newest observation deck. Nonetheless, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, set in the city’s fourth tallest building, right next to Grand Central Station, saw some 1.4 million visitors walk through its doors in the year following its grand opening…
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When travelling to a new city, you’ll often find bundle ticket offers that help tourists visit many of the main attractions in that region for a discounted rate. These sightseeing passes can be great ways to save money, and even visit some attractions you may not have considered otherwise. In recent trips to the Big…
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One of the most recent attractions to open its doors at the Intrepid Air & Space Museum on the waters of Manhattan in New York City, is an updated experience for one of the 20 Concorde jets built in the 70s and retired in 2003. The British Airways jet – a record breaking Concorde Alpha…
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From Disneyland in California to Broadway in New York, America has long catered to those looking for an immersive experience, and few do it better. Here’s just ten of my favourite places to visit in the U.S.A. when looking to escape reality; immersing yourself in art, music, scenery, cowboys (you’ll see what I mean) and…
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There’s always something new to experience in New York’s Times Square. And this year has been no exception, with new museums, hotels and Broadway shows opening every month. So what are some of the best new(ish) things to do in the heart of the Big Apple? I headed over earlier this month to get a…
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New York’s The New Colossus Festival has announced its 2023 lineup – and it’s humongous. Started in 2018, The New Colossus Festival has established itself as the first stop in the US for many emerging international artists. Like CMJ before it, the event carries New York City’s long-standing tradition of welcoming artists and are looking…
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Many will know the Hard Rock brand for having delivered music themed cafes/restaurants around the world for the last 50 years – including recently closed locations in Sydney* and on the Gold Coast. However, the brand’s true star power these days is found in their hotel & casino brand. With locations from Sentosa Island in…
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Having opened in September 2019, the Moxy East Village sits as one of the newer hotels in the ever-booming Manhattan – and the most recent of the four Moxy by Marriott hotels to open in the city. For those unfamiliar with the Moxy Hotels brand, they are designed around being playful and affordable, with carefully,…
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Not far from Grand Central Station in New York City sits a striking, tall and thin 35 floor building with four distinct colour strips on it. This is EVEN Hotel’s New York Midtown East location, one of four IHG have for the growing brand in New York. You enter on the ground floor and are…
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A recently remarried Jack White took to the stage last night in Brooklyn’s Barclay Stadium, as part of his North American tour for the brilliant new album Fear of the Dawn – one of the iconic Detroit musician’s finest to date, and the first of two albums he’s set to release this year. The 2…
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A stay at a Moxy Hotel is always a unique experience; it’s a boutique brand that does well to bring in inspiration from its surroundings. Their Chelsea, New York, location – which opened in February 2019 – is no exception. A garden engulfs you as you walk through their cozy lobby, the smells of plants…
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New York outfit HOKO have just released their first fully realised collection of material, HEATHEN. As they look to their home city re-opening following the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the trio share their favourite spots for eats, beats and treats in New York City that will serve as a guide for locals and visitors…
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Aman is a name that often – okay, always – sends shivers down the spines of hotel enthusiasts. I’m one of those, and if it wasn’t for COVID-19 I would this year have had a big, green, proud, enthusiastic tick next to the “stay at Aman Tokyo, finally” underlined a million times on my mental…
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I write this sitting in self-isolation in Toronto, Canada – as countries around the world are closing borders, scrambling to “flatten the curve” as the reality of the spread of Coronavirus sinks in. I, like too many, had been rather blasé about the whole thing – I mean I was sanitizing surfaces, washing my hands…
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This Friday, we’re taking to New York City for our special showcase at The New Colossus Festival. In the wake of the SXSW cancellation, that’s sadly meant one of the acts due to perform at the festival – Singapore’s The Pinholes – have sadly had to pull out. Lucky for us though, Tom West and…
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