Avenue78

Kendra Thompson, A Letter from Europe

Originally from Toronto, Kendra Thompson is a young eCommerce professional living in Dublin and working across Europe. Kendra has traveled and lived abroad for most of the last ten years. She brings Avenue 78 a unique view of what it is like to be young and fun in Europe today. Her installments will feature anecdotes from her adventures as well as visiting tips, insider recommendations and impressions of life in Ireland

New York, New York

One of the things we love so much about NYC is that there is so much competition to be the next big thing that even getting a slice of Ben's Pizza can be deemed a unique Manhattan 'experience'. It has been called a modern day Rome: the financial and creative epicenter of the world. New York, New York is the most visited city in the world and we know why. Here is a sampling of things to try next time you're there.

Where to Stay

60 Thompson, in the heart of Soho, is the essence of cool luxury. Decorated in beautiful neutral colors and comfy fabric, wherever we went in this hotel we felt like we were in our own (very chic) living room. Meticulous detail abounds whether you choose a standard room, a suite or (if you've got $3,500 a night to spend) the two story Thompson Loft complete with its own private roof top garden.   No matter what you choose, your fine Frette sheet clad bed will be turned down each night, you'll find a dirty blonde brownie from Dean and Deluca on your pillow and Fresh toiletries in your bathroom.

Don't be surprised if you run into Jennifer Aniston or Paris Hilton in the elevator. This hotel is a hotbed of celebrity. In the summer, the exclusive Above 60 roof top patio, which is only open to guests and members, is supposedly choc a block with star sightings. Unfortunately it wasn't open when we were there so we aren't able to vouch for this.

The staff members are as friendly and helpful as they are beautiful and worldly. We overheard one gorgeous waiter at Thom Bar speaking three different languages in one evening. They are also great at taking care of restaurant and club reservations.

Hot Spots to Check Out

You could easily spend the entire weekend chilling at 60 Thompson and we have a feeling that many people do just that. Thom Bar located on the second floor of the hotel is the place to be on a Thursday night. It was hopping when we arrived at 10:00 pm and didn't show any signs of closing down early. Try a Lychee Belini, they are delicious and far better than the ones we had at Cipriani which is considered Mecca for belini drinkers. Some other good places to go for drinks are Cafe Noir which is a cute little French Bistro on Bleeker St., and the Mandarin Hotel in the Time Warner Building located in Midtown. Another great place for a tasty cocktail is Sushi Samba on Park Avenue (there are others throughout Manhattan). Try the Mojito: way better than the ones we had in Cuba! If you're looking for a place to let loose and dance, there is no shortage of happening clubs in Manhattan. We checked out PM in the Meat Packing District: a well decorated club with buttoned leather booths and chinese lanterns. The doormen are so friendly and it is great for a couple of drinks and a boogie. Throughout the weekend we went to Rock Candy on 47th St., (which was disappointing and far too crowded) and Marquee (10th Avenue at 26th St.) which was a bit generic but lived up to its reputation for being one of the 'it' clubs in NYC. Be sure to get on the guest list if you don't want to pay $20.00 cover and wait in a ferocious line of posers. 60 Thompson can arrange guest lists for you.

Where to Eat

When it comes to dinner your choices are endless. We went to Barca 18 on Park Ave. at 18th St. The service was a comedy of errors, the details of which we will not bore you with, but the food was tasty and the crowd was good. We did complain about the poor service to the Maitre D' and he offered us a a bottle of champagne on the house. Kittichai at 60 Thompson is not, repeat, not to be missed. It is an upscale Thai restaurant beautifully decorated with orchids everywhere and gorgeous wood tables. You simply must order the tuna appetizer and the beef salad. If you're not staying at the hotel, it will be difficult to get a reservation there especially on a Saturday so book in advance. As for brunch, check out The Cupping Room if you want to feel like a local New Yorker, beware: the portions are huge. For a little French fare, go to Balthazar on Spring St. east of Broadway. Tables are so in demand you need a reservation for a 2 pm lunch on a Friday!

What to Do

After all the eating and drinking, there isn't much left to do except shop till you drop and pamper yourself. If you are in NYC on a Friday or a Monday go to Century 21, located across from the site of the former World Trade Center, for deeply discounted designer duds. Be sure to go in the morning before it becomes a mad house. If the weather is nice and you don't mind crowds, head to Soho. The places to check out are Barney's Co-op and Intermix. They have a paired down selection of the hippest outfits and they aren't overwhelming like the big department stores. If you're looking for power suits, however, you won't find them here.

As far as we were concerned, the only way to shop the bigger department stores in NYC on the weekend when you have limited time is to book a personal shopper ahead of time. These P.S.'s are worth their weight in gold as they will get your measurements and personal style before you arrive and have outfits in private dressing rooms waiting for you. Not only that but they can get discounts and line priviledges. Many of the big department stores will waive the P.S. fee if you spend over a certain amount. Please contact us for more information about Personal Shoppers.

We got manicures and pedicures at Spa Belles (202 Spring St.) which is a full service mini spa. You can get a walk-in appointment for anything from a manicure to a back massage. The ladies who worked on our tired toes were fantastic and they give great foot massages. For all you gentlemen reading this, please note: there were just as many men in there enjoying manicures as there were women!

If you want to look 'done' when you head out on the town, head over to XO Blow Styling (342 West 14th St.) where you can have your hair washed and professionally blown out in 30 minutes without breaking the bank. If you want a more authentic (and expensive) salon experience try Lacaille on Grand at Broadway. They offer sample size styling gel, shampoo and conditioner when you leave.

If art is your thing, check out the countless art galleries in Soho. Uptown, The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds many of the world's famous Impressionist paintings and an incredible Egyptian collection. The Guggenheim and the Museum of Modern Art are homes to fantastic collections of modern art.

If it is your first time visiting NYC and you want to see everything, you have to do the hop on hop off bus tour. You will learn all sorts of useless trivia from the chatty guides but at least you'll finally know what Soho and Tribeca stand for.

Travel Must Haves

Avenue 78 Rules for Traveling:

1. Don't pack a full bag, only you will know that you're repeating an outfit. Believe us, you'll want room for all those goodies you buy!

2. Don't want to make small talk to the person sitting next to you? Wear your headset.

3. Leave a big tip on your first day with the concierge and housekeeping to ensure excellent service for your whole stay.

4. Learn the basics in another language - you know "please", "thank you" and "do you have this shoe in a size 8?"

5. Keep with you at all times: toothbrush, lip balm and facial mist so you will arrive looking refreshed rather than disheveled.

6. Take it from seasoned travelers - invest in a cashmere travel pillow and a pashmina shawl. You will feel like you are traveling first class even if you get stuck in the middle seat at the back of economy.

Costa Rica

  Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio in particular, learned from other vacation destinations' mistakes when it passed a law prohibiting any beach front property to be built. The beaches are untouched and the hotels and restaurants that do exist must be at least 300 meters away from the beach. They are tucked away in the trees and blend seamlessly into the landscape. Wherever you look you will find examples of Costa Rica’s well kept, eco-friendly atmosphere whether it is the lush rainforest or the abounding wild life.

Getting There

We arrived in San Jose’s International terminal and rolled our suitcases over to the Sansa Airline terminal to take our domestic flight to Quepos on the Pacific coast. See www.flysansa.com or www.travelair-costarica.com. If you only have a week, it is recommended to fly rather than take a cab or a bus which can take over three hours. The 18 minute, picturesque flight over the mountains, rainforest and plantations is well worth the US $100.00 return fare. Most hotels in Manuel Antonio will pick you up and drop you off at the airport in Quepos as long as you make arrangements ahead of time. Taxis are safe and inexpensive and the Sansa staff will call one for you if you haven’t already arranged transportation.

Getting Around

We do recommend renting a car if you want to take day trips and see as much as possible of what CR has to offer. Your hotel can arrange for a car to be dropped off at the hotel. If you decide to use a guide, you can ask them to arrange the car and they can pick you up and drop you off.

                                                               Where to Stay

The Mariposa Hotel www.lamariposa.com is on a sloping property perched atop one of the highest points of Manuel Antonio. It has panoramic views of surrounding areas and a tranquil atmosphere. The property is beautifully maintained and each room or villa has an incredible view. The service is top notch and the staff is very professional and friendly. Since we were so busy, we only spent one full day at the hotel but the pool side service was excellent and the view of the sunset at the end of the day was incredible. In fact, anywhere along the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica is an amazing place to see the sunset, which happens every day at 5:45 pm.

What to Do

Going for only one week will limit the amount of sightseeing and activities to be done; however, you can always go back for a second trip or stay for two weeks. In order to maximize our time, we had an excellent guide, Oscar, who showed us around and kept us busy for most of the week. Here are some activities that Oscar can organize for you: Surfing lessons, surf trips to Jaco or Playa Hermosa, white water rafting, canopy and jungle tours, a guided tour of Manuel Antonio’s protected park, deep sea fishing, snorkeling and trips to Costa Rica’s active volcano. We spent a couple of days just enjoying the sun and relaxing on the beach. For $5.00 you can get a lounge chair with a table and an umbrella. Be sure to try the fresh and tasty “jugo de pipa” (coconut juice) and freshly cut fruit from the vendors on the beach.

Where to Eat

Oscar had some excellent recommendations on where to eat. Before going to Costa Rica we had been warned that the food was bland and unappetizing however we were pleasantly surprised. In particular, Bamboo Jazz in Manuel Antonio had great service, and some of the tastiest appetizers and main courses. Be sure to try the Red Snapper and the Sushi Grade Tuna. On the weekends there is a live band and the place is packed so be sure to make a reservation if you plan to go on a Friday or Saturday. Another great place for dinner is Ronnie’s Place in Manuel Antonio. Try to get there for 5:30 pm so you can see the sun go down while you have a pre dinner cocktail. After dinner, things liven up and everyone is encouraged to dance salsa and meringue! It is a great way to spend the evening and make new friends. If you want to try something other than the hotel (and save some money) for breakfast, go to Café Milagro where you will find an assortment of much more reasonably priced options or El Gran Escape in Quepos. If you are looking for more nightlife, check out the beach disco on Saturday nights and the Lounge on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Your hotel will let you know where to find these places. If you are renting a house, please contact me in order to get more details.