We Americanos do not generally use this space to mention our own accomplishments – our goal, after all, is to offer you a timely, if idiosyncratic, guide to neighborhood offerings.  But we feel obliged to mention a single item that might be worthy of your notice.  We are awfully thrilled about it, and hope you will indulge us.

Graphic Impact

Our friends at Pandiscio Co. are very clever designers.  So clever, in fact, that their design for The Americano, our restaurant, has won a most prestigious award.  Yes, that’s right: you can view the work of the recipient of the James Beard Foundation 2012 Award for Outstanding Restaurant Graphics right here at the Hotel Americano.  And on this website (click Food & Spirits).  And on an iPad (you will find one in each of our rooms).

Make Mine Crafty

Back to your neighborhood channel…and, indeed, May is a good time to be out and about in Chelsea and environs.

On May 19, Etsy, online marketplace of all things handmade, brings its caravan of crafts to West 21^st Street.  Spring Crafts in Chelsea will feature handmade goods from Etsy New York artists and artisans.  The festival benefits a local elementary school. May 19^th, 11am – 4pm.

Crafts in Chelsea Spring Festival
West 21^st Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues

Vintage Glam

If you enjoy live music performances in not-too-large theaters, don’t miss the Highline Ballroom, just a stone’s throw away on West 16^th St.  Coming soon:

Thursday, May 24, 8p.  Nikka Costa (Anya Marina opens)
Saturday, May 26, 8p.  David Johansen (of New York Dolls fame)
Thursday, June 7, 8p.  Graffiti6.
See the website for a complete schedule.

Highline Ballroom
431 West 16^th Street (between Ninth & Tenth Avenues)
(212) 414-5994

Tennessee Williams called them no-neck monsters. Kinder souls refer to them as little shavers, squirts, and striplings. In any case, they seem to be everywhere, and if you have one chez vous, you might consider arriving home with a Little Something for your Little Darling.

You needn’t go far.  Here are a few fairly portable gems.

Lucky Charms

The hippest babies and toddlers get dressed at Lucky Wang. Lucky Wang’s signature product, tiny kimonos in florals and stripes ($32-36), make unusual baby gifts, and the store has a well-chosen assortment of infant toys and board books, too.

Cooler still are the t-shirts for toddlers. Bring a little levity to the terrible twos by clothing your toddler in a retro tee ($38) featuring the Beatles, the B-52s, or Ted Nugent (“Monster of Rock”).

Lucky Wang
82 Seventh Avenue (at 15^th Street)
(212) 229-2900
www.luckywang.com

Vroom Vroom

This just in at Posman Books: truly the most gorgeous toy seen in recent memory.  British designer-cum-toymaker Julian Meagher has created sleek race cars and aeroplanes that may remind you of your last turn at the billiard table.  Or the Monte Carlo racetrack.  The race car ($34.99) available at Posman’s is sure to be a hit.

P.S. We won’t tell if you buy one as a desk toy.

Another possibility: these Pick Your Nose Party Animal cups ($7.95 for 24). Your tot will undoubtedly enjoy masking the prominent part of her silhouette with that of a beaver, chameleon, leopard, shark, toucan or zebra.

Posman Books
75 Ninth Avenue (between 15^th & 16^th Streets)
(212)627-0304
www.posmanbooks.com

Match(box) Maker

While Three Tarts is known for petit-fours and gourmet marshmallows, they also have a smattering of gift items for children in their corner store on Ninth Avenue. There is no suitcase that doesn’t have room for this gift: a tiny mouse complete with matchbox bed, pillow and blanket ($29). Choose boy/blue or girl/pink.

Oh, and enjoy a marshmallow when you stop by. Vanilla is fine for purists, but consider expanding your taste horizons with yuzu or strawberry-basil.

Three Tarts
164 Ninth Avenue (at 20^th Street)
(212)462-4392
www.3tarts.com

No doubt many guests of the Hotel Americano enjoy visual art. After all, here you are in the midst of some of the best galleries in the world. But ten bucks says that you enjoy performance art from time to time, too.

If you are visiting the city, Broadway may beckon, but the city is full of other outstanding performance venues. Below are a few right here in Chelsea.

Hehehe

While the odd chuckle with friends or colleagues usually gets you through the day, you occasionally need stronger medicine: the full-on belly laugh. For this, head to the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater.

Years ago (1999 if you must know), your correspondent saw Tina Fey and Rachel Dratch perform at UCBT, and laughed so hard that the rest of the audience averted their eyes. UCBT has been a go-to spot for good cheer ever since, and it’s good value, too: most performances are around $10. Check out the website for the schedule (“ASSScats” is good for beginners) and tickets.

Upright Citizens Brigade Theater
307 West 26^th Street (just west of 8^th Ave.)
(212) 366-9176
www.ucbtheatre.com

Re-Joyce with the Ballet Hispanico

The Joyce Theater is a temple of modern dance. It manages to span both cutting-edge and traditional, and it has created its own traditions in the city: the return of Pilobolus to the Joyce every summer, for example, is a spectacle akin to swallows returning to Capistrano.

Ballet Hispanico performs from April 17 – 29, and they are debuting a new creation, Espiritu Vivo, choreographed by Ronald K. Brown and set to the music of Latin Grammy winner Susana Baca.

The Joyce Theater
175 Eighth Avenue (at 19^th St.)
(212)691-9740
www.joyce.org

Irish Times

From Oscar Wilde to Eugene O’Neill to Samuel Beckett, the Irish have a storied tradition of great theater. How fortunate, then, to be so near to the Irish Repertory Theater, an institution devoted to keeping that tradition vibrant by performing works of both Irish and Irish-American playwrights.

George Bernard Shaw’s Man and Superman kicks off on April 26^th. Written in 1903, M&S is both a comedy and a meditation on the work of Nietzsche. Tickets start at $55.

Irish Repertory Theatre
132 West 22^nd Street (btwn. 6^th & 7^th Aves.)
(212) 727-2737
www.irishrep.org

The Americano, main dining room

The Americano, patio dining

View full Dinner menu

View the Lunch menu

View the Breakfast menu

View the Brunch menu

View the On The Go menu

View the All day menu

Perhaps you have seen the headlines about New York City’s new status as a tech startup wonderland.  And it is true: NYC is home to Foursquare, Tumblr, Etsy and AppNexus, among others.

But there is another type of startup even more pervasive here in the city: the Artisan.  Whether making chocolate or handbags or jewelry, there is a vibrant DIY scene alive in New York.  Some of these producers have a retail presence, but others sell only online; thus, if you are a visitor to the city, you may access a bit of NYC from the convenience of your own home.  Below, our favorite artisanal offerings.

Wrap It Up

Lucy Sisman is the genius designer behind MiddleBlue.  Lucy founded Paper Magazine, and she designed brands for companies like DKNY, Boots, Victoria’s Secret and Diesel.  With MiddleBlue, she is designing “everyday things,” and we particularly like her far-from-everyday multi-purpose sari wraps.

These gigantic wraps, made from beautiful recycled saris, make great throws, skirts, shawls, or table covers, and we like to layer one over the end of a bed for a little punch of color.

Lucy runs MiddleBlue from the Garment District.  The sari wraps are $120 each, come in a variety of hues, and support a small community of seamstresses in India.

MiddleBlue
www.middleblue.com

Cuddly and Studly

It is a truism of busy lives that you can never have too many tote bags.  Why, you may wonder, are we still carrying so much stuff when the world has shifted to digital?  We don’t know.  We just keep buying tote bags.

Yet another genius designer (there are a few of them in New York, it turns out), Soho-based Andrew Kibble, has created a new line of tote bags that are practical but also pack a little surprise.  While the exterior of the “Stud” bag (pictured) is pragmatically rugged, the interior has a cute print.

The Stud is $64 and other totes range up to $98.  All the totes are 100% cotton canvas.

Cuddly Monkey
www.cuddlymonkey.org

Think Ink

Kids need tattoos too.  And not the dorky kind you get as party favors for birthdays – NYC kids are way too cool for that.  Tina Roth Eisenberg, founder of the popular design blog Swissmiss, has created Tattly, a website where kids, with help from their parents, can order temporary tattoos that don’t embarrass anyone.  We liked the ferris wheel (pictured, $5 for a set of two), and there a lot of cool animal tats, too, that reflect Tina’s Brooklyn vibe.

Tattly
www.tattly.com

Perhaps, Americano, you are here in New York on business. Your day is a sprint from one meeting to the next, and dinner is a hectic pitch to a potential new client in a restaurant thronged with noisy trend-followers. Your day has been long, you realize as you pay the restaurant bill, and you are eager to return to the calm of your Americano room.

As you drink in the sleek design, your blood pressure falls. You wonder: is there anywhere else in New York that can offer you such serenity?

Possibly not. But here are a few nearby spots where you might attempt to extend the Americano zen…

Get High

It is everywhere and nowhere in West Chelsea. If you are on it, you see everything; if you are below it, you might not even notice it is there. The High Line park is one of Chelsea’s major attractions – to locals and visitors both – but there is hardly a soul upon it when it opens at 7am.

If you seek a bit of peacefulness at an early hour, a slow walk on the High Line is the perfect nature fix. And it will help you face the hustle and bustle of your day ahead. Indeed, science backs us up on this one: “Performance on memory and attention tests improved by 20% after study subjects paused for a walk through an arboretum. When these people were sent on a break to stroll down a busy street in town, no cognitive boost was detected (Wall Street Journal, 8/30/11).”

Photo Courtesy of the NY Times

The High Line
Enter on 28^th Street (one block south of The Hotel Americano)
www.thehighline.org

Get Even Higher

Where better to get a little zen than at a museum devoted to Himalayan art? The Rubin Museum of Art is a gem hidden in plain sight in what used to be a Barney’s. Its 70,000 square feet displays some of the 2,000 Himalayan treasures donated by the Rubin family, and it is a lovely oasis of peace and quiet.

Consider a walking meditation as you ascend seven stories via the dramatic spiral staircase. Or study some of the sculptures of the Nyingjei Lam Collection, on display through mid-July.

Photo Courtesy of the NY Sun

The Rubin Museum of Art
150 West 17^th Street (at 7^th Ave.)
(212) 620-5000
www.rmanyc.org

Bring it Down(ward)

If you have a chunk of free time, free your mind with a yoga class. The Integral Yoga Institute has classes pretty much all the time, and you can sign up online here. A single class is $17, and mats are available.

Directions: Walk down the High Line from the Americano and “exit” at the 14^th Street staircase. Walk a couple blocks east and one block south and start breathing deeply.

If you are a hot yoga enthusiast, Yoga to the People on 27^th Street has six 50-minute classes each day. Fees are $8 for a class, $2 for mat rental. Directions: head west from the hotel, south to 27^th Street, left on 27^th until you see the “HOT YOGA” sign just before Sixth Avenue.

Photo Courtesy of Aerobic.we

Integral Yoga Institute of New York City
227 West 13^th Street (between 7^th & 8^th Aves.)
(212) 929-0585
www.iyiny.org

Yoga to the People
115 West 27^th Street (between 6^th & 7^th Aves.)
(917) 573-9642
www.yogatothepeople.com

Erika Harrsch’s solo show transforms ArtGate Gallery into a laboratory for thought on the joys and challenges that emerge from the intertwining of our lives in one global community. The thought-provoking installations, kites, entomological boxes, and paintings of Inverted Sky create a weave of intersecting perspectives: lives of individuals in nature, scientific calculation, commerce and trade, and questions of global ethics.

The exhibition invites the spectator to reflect, as the animated fluttering of paper butterflies in the installation Cashcube beckon viewers inside to witness species of currency butterflies. Some of these monetized butterflies are pinned etymologically as extinct specimens ready for inspection. Others migrate across paintings, sometimes freely and unpredictably, at other times suffering from the effects of economic choices on the natural environment. Harrsch invites us to consider how our lives are enmeshed in relations of interdependency.

click here to view article

ArtGate Gallery

Not so long ago, most of the coffee available in Chelsea was generally delivered with a bright green medallion on the outside of the cup. Times have changed, however, and Starbucks’ dominance is waning amidst a growing number of purveyors of exceptional-quality joe.

Should you be in need of caffeine, we highly recommend hitting the Chelsea coffee trail at any – or all! — of these fine establishments, listed from north to south.

Hello, Joe!

Joe the Art of Coffee was one of the early players in the NYC coffee scene and now has eight locations. Joe is coffee central for London Terrace, the massive 1928 residential building that occupies an entire block between 23^rd and 24^th Street. It is a good place to stop for an espresso charge on the way to hitting golf balls at Chelsea Piers.

Joe the Art of Coffee
405 West 23^rd Street (between 9^th & 10^th Aves.)
(212) 206-0669
www.joetheartofcoffee.com

Port of Call

Ports opened last year and filled a high-end coffee void on one of Chelsea’s main thoroughfares. Ports serves Stumptown and Handsome coffees, baked goods from Scratch, and it has a great artisanal vibe – it feels like the Etsy of coffee-stops. Mast Bros. chocolate appears in various forms, and hard-to-find Monocle and Lucky Peach magazines are on sale.

Ports Coffee & Tea Company
251 West 23^rd Street (between 7^th & 8^th Aves.)
(646) 290-6151
www.portsnyc.com

Frowns All Around

Kudos to Café Grumpy for their social engineering: the café’s no-laptop policy creates an atmosphere in which people read quietly or carry on a conversation. As a result, Grumpy has a magnetic pull – it is hard not to hang out on a stool with some of the regulars or on one of the benches outside. Grumpy roasts its own in Brooklyn, and offers pastries from its own bakery on the Lower East Side.

Café Grumpy
224 West 20^th Street (between 7^th & 8^th Aves.)
(212) 255-5511
www.cafegrumpy.com

Grotto

Within the cavernous Chelsea Market, not far from the clamorous fountain, Ninth Street Espresso turns out espresso shots pretty much as fast as the baristas can pull them.  Morning perfection is a freshly baked pastry from neighboring Amy’s Bread accompanied by an excellent NSE cappuccino.

Ninth Street Espresso
75 Ninth Avenue (between 15^th & 16^th Sts.)
(212) 228-2930
www.ninthstreetespresso.com

Hitting the Bottle

Chelsea now has its own branch of Blue Bottle Coffee, the esteemed San Francisco-based café/roaster. Blue Bottle’s motto appears to be “better living through chemistry” – coffee geeks will marvel at the siphon-prepped joe on the upper level. Stop here as you work your way down the High Line from the Americano to the West Village.

Blue Bottle Coffee
450 W. 15th St. (btwn. 9th & 10th Aves.)
www.bluebottlecoffee.net

Doughnut Day is just around the corner. Shrove Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), falls on February 21^st this year. Since you are celebrating in New York, not New Orleans, consider following the tradition of taking in a bit of fat before the big fast begins. Below, our guide to nearby doughnut offerings (note: pancakes are fair game, too).

Ye Olde Doughnut

A few decades ago, you could not walk far in our fair city without encountering a Chock Full o’ Nuts. The chain was lauded for its coffee, but the doughnuts were nothing to sneeze at either.

Chock is back, with a prototype store in Chelsea. The unusual whole-wheat doughnuts are back, too — and what a treat. Crunchy on the outside, not too sweet — you will be chock full o’ doughnuts in no time.

Chock Full o’ Nuts
25 W. 23rd St. (btwn. 5th & 6th Aves.)
(212) 924-3663
www.chockfullonuts.com

Power Doughnuts

Whatever a laboratory is for mad scientists, consider the Doughnut Plant the equivalent for mad pastry chefs. Blink while looking at the menu, and you may think you have stumbled on a dessert listing for a popular restaurant.

Tres Leches doughnut? Check. Blackout? Check. Coconut Cream? Yum. Don’t miss the square doughnuts, too.

Doughnut Plant
220 W. 23rd St. (btwn. 7th & 8th Aves.)
(212) 675-9100
www.doughnutplant.com

The Essential Doughnut

Your correspondent took more than a little satisfaction from the closure of the pink mega-chain doughnut shop on 14th Street not long ago, particularly because she is certain the mom-and-pop Donut Pub kicked their butt all the way to the suburbs.

The Donut Pub is classic. When you need a jelly doughnut fix, this is the place (if jelly is not your thing, try the chocolate glazed, a lion among doughnuts). Late night? The Pub is open 24/7, and there is nothing like a doughnut (or two) to soak up too good a time. Prove your fandom by sporting a Donut Pub hat or mug on your way home.

The Donut Pub
203 W. 14th St. (btwn. 7th & 8th Aves.)
(212) 929-0126
www.donutpub.com

Let’s drop by the Relationship Hall of Shame. The first exhibit: forgetting one’s anniversary. Second: completely missing your sweetheart’s birthday. A not-distant third: ignoring Valentine’s Day.

Now, it could be that you are a visitor to New York during this important pre-Valentine period. Consider that an opportunity: here are three can’t-miss options for bringing home something special for the 14^th.

Looking For Mr. Chocolate

Let’s begin with the classic. A giganto, 50-piece box of scrumptious Jacques Torres chocolates ($66) is a knockout gift for the Day of Love. If the object of your affection prefers chocolate with a twist, try “The Spanker” ($14), a sizable white-chocolate lollypop. More modest (but just as tasty): a heart-shaped truffle box ($12).

Jacques Torres
75 Ninth Avenue (between 15^th & 16^th Streets)
212.414.2462
www.mrchocolate.com

Lace It Up

If revving up the engines is a little more your Valentine’s style, stop by lingerie expert Sugar Cookies. This lacy negligee from Mimi Holiday (pictured, $144) has been attracting lots of attention in the Sugar Cookies front window. Cosabella thongs ($20), available in black, white, red, yellow, and gray, might earn you at least a kiss. And for a bit of cheesecake, check out the Playful Promises Pin-Up Pants ($30): your choice of ruffles or embroidery (“Call Me”) is packaged in a tin that fits neatly into your carry-on.

Sugar Cookies
203 19^th Street (between 7^th & 8^th Avenues)
212.242.6963
www.sugarcookiesnyc.com

Shaken & Stirred

Sometimes the best gift for Valentine’s is the gift that keeps on giving. One option, particularly for Valentine’s of the male persuasion: The American Cocktail (pictured, $20), a compendium of drink recipes from the editors of Imbibe Magazine that one can enjoy all year long.

You might consider extending the theme with ingredients for one of the more interesting recipes: Sinister Proposal (Cynar & peach amaretto), perhaps? Or how about Murasaki Geisha (Chambord raspberry liqueur, nigori sake, and gin)? At this rate, this year’s Valentine’s could be extra special.

Three Tarts
164 Ninth Avenue (between 20^th and 21^st Streets)
212.462.4392
www.3tarts.com

There are plenty of guides to the sights, sounds, and certainly the tastes of New York, but your correspondent believes the scents are sorely underrepresented.

New York is a fragrant city. Indeed, many a visitor has fled from the reek of a late garbage pickup in mid-July. But winter is a time to savor only the loveliest scents as they escape through storefront ventilation systems. Here are a few notable nose experiences not far from the HA.

Flora, I Adore Ya

First, head east from the Americano to the flower district on 28th Street between 6^th and 7^th Avenues. There is something almost jarring about encountering deep woodsy scents or a floral burst in the middle of the city, and the flower district is one sensory surprise after another. And that, my friend, is just while walking down the street. Pop indoors to any floral purveyor and get blown away by the variety of scents from highly unusual flora.

The district caters to wholesale buyers, but retail customers are generally welcomed.

Flower Distrcict
W. 28th St. (btwn. 6th & 7th Aves.)

The Best Vices are Slices

It is difficult to avoid the aroma of New York pizza while visiting the city; it is far more difficult to find truly excellent New York pizza as the source of the scent, however.

If you are in search of great pizza, let me tell you how lucky you are. You are a few short blocks from Pizza Suprema, which not only smells divine but happens to be really quite superb. In all honesty, it looks pretty much like your average New York slice, but the crust is just killer – somehow crunchy even when reheated in the very busy pizza ovens.

Pizza Suprema
413 Eighth Ave. (at 31^st St.)
(212) 594-8939
www.nypizzasuprema.com

Yes, Whey

It is a short segue from a discussion of pizza to a discussion of cheese. We will avoid the controversy of stinky cheese (does it smell good simply because it tastes good?) and focus on the magnetic aroma of grilled cheese sandwiches at Lucy’s Whey in Chelsea Market.

It is a challenge to pass the tiny Lucy’s Whey shop (in the center of the market, not far from the fountain) at lunchtime without stopping to take in a noseful of melty cheddar. Lucy’s offers three grilled cheese sandwiches each day. One is always the delicious and dependable cheddar with fig spread, a bargain lunch at $6.

Lucy’s Whey
75 Ninth Ave. (btwn. 15^th and 16^th Sts.)
(212) 463-9500
www.lucyswhey.com

In The Round

Trek to Magnolia Bakery in the Village if you must, but Chelsea offers tour group-free cupcakes at Billy’s Bakery – and, boy, do they smell good. Park yourself on the bench out front one morning and enjoy the scents of cakes and cupcakes just out of the oven. It is a lovely place for cake and coffee in the afternoon, too.

Billy’s Bakery
184 Ninth Ave. (btwn. 21^st and 22^nd Sts.)
(212) 647-9956
www.billysbakerynyc.com

It’s a Real Grind

One last scent to savor: urban coffeehouse. Café Grumpy’s coffee is outstanding – they roast it themselves on the Lower East Side – and Chelsea knows it. The place is generally jammed with regulars who come to converse with other real live people (laptops are outlawed) or get a bit of reading done. The volume means the smell of coffee is generally wafting out the front door, and on a pleasant day it is a lovely thing to sit on the bench out front and have a chat while sipping cappuccino.

Café Grumpy
224 W. 20^th St. (btwn. 7th & 8th Aves.)
(212) 255-5511
www.cafegrumpy.com

These four galleries were some of the original galleries established in West Chelsea in the 80′s, helping to make the neighborhood the art mecca that it is today.

Matthew Marks Gallery
522 West 22nd Street
Marks was a wunderkind who organized his first show at the age of 20. All grown up now, his gallery represents artists such as Ellsworth Kelly, Nan Goldin, and Brice Marden. Upcoming Exhibitions.

Paula Cooper Gallery
534 West 21^st Street
Paula Cooper, a pioneer in both Soho (1968) and Chelsea (1996), represents Donald Judd and Sol LeWitt among many others. And don’t miss the bookstore she owns with her husband, Jack Macrae: 192 Books (192 Tenth Avenue between 21^st and 22^nd Streets). Upcoming Exhibitions.

Barbara Gladstone Gallery
515 West 24^th Street
530 West 21^st Street
Gladstone’s 24^th Street gallery was designed by Selldorf Architects. Coming January 13 to the 24^th Street location: photographer Shirin Neshat’s exhibition, The Book of Kings. Gladstone also represents Anish Kapoor and Matthew Barney, several of whose movies she has produced. Upcoming Exhibitions.

Metro Pictures
519 West 24^th Street
Founded in 1980 by Janelle Reiring and Helene Winer. Moved to Chelsea from Soho in 1995. Opened with an exhibition of photographs by Louise Lawler. Upcoming exhibitions.

Where there are Americanos, there are pioneers. Even in a city as densely inhabited as ours, some brave splinter group will conjure a frontier, plant a flag, and hunker down till the other settlers arrive.

West Chelsea, now swarming with visitors to the High Line and other attractions, was once prime frontier land for a few wise gallery owners. Indeed, the hundreds of galleries populating the West 20s are a fairly recent development in the history of the neighborhood.

Most West Chelsea history focuses on early roots – nineteenth-century tales of Clement Clark Moore (the gentleman who penned ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas) or snapshots of Titanic-era ocean liners docking at the Hudson River piers. But West Chelsea’s more recent history is no less remarkable.

In the 1980s, West Chelsea was a sea of warehouses, light industrial businesses, and the occasional nightclub. Art galleries had either highly civilized uptown addresses or trendy high-ceilinged outposts in Soho. The only art in Chelsea was the graffiti sort found on unattended walls.

As is so often the case with pioneers, shifts in power helped drive the first intrepid souls. First, retail stores began to gain a foothold in Soho. Landlords swiftly realized they could rent at street level for rates far higher than the typical gallery owner could stomach. Second, the Dia Foundation opened Dia:Chelsea on West 22^nd Street in 1987. It quickly became an unlikely success, a go-to spot for large installations by artists such as Jenny Holzer and Richard Serra.

In the end, Chelsea’s immense success as an art center owes a debt to seven original gallery “homesteaders.” Matthew Marks, the first, opened just down the street from Dia in 1994. The other six followed over the next couple of years, and it didn’t take long for the neighborhood to explode with gallery development. Current counts range between 250 and 320.

Who were the original Seven? Perhaps you would like to pass by each pioneer and imagine West Chelsea 15 or so years ago? Sadly, several of the pioneers are gone. But below you will find an itinerary to guide you to those that remain.

Matthew Marks Gallery
522 West 22nd Street
Marks was a wunderkind who organized his first show at the age of 20. All grown up now, his gallery represents artists such as Ellsworth Kelly, Nan Goldin, and Brice Marden.

Painting from an upcoming exhibition at the Matthew Marks Gallery: Terry Winters: Cricket Music, Tessellation Figures, & Notebook, February 4 - April 14, 2012

Paula Cooper Gallery
534 West 21^st Street
Paula Cooper, a pioneer in both Soho (1968) and Chelsea (1996), represents Donald Judd and Sol LeWitt among many others. And don’t miss the bookstore she owns with her husband, Jack Macrae: 192 Books (192 Tenth Avenue between 21^st and 22^nd Streets).

Barbara Gladstone Gallery
515 West 24^th Street
530 West 21^st Street
Gladstone’s 24^th Street gallery was designed by Selldorf Architects. Coming January 13 to the 24^th Street location: photographer Shirin Neshat’s exhibition, The Book of Kings. Gladstone also represents Anish Kapoor and Matthew Barney, several of whose movies she has produced.

Barbara Gladstone Gallery: photograph by Shirin Neshat: Rebellious Silence, 1994

Metro Pictures
519 West 24^th Street
Founded in 1980 by Janelle Reiring and Helene Winer. Moved to Chelsea from Soho in 1995. Opened with an exhibition of photographs by Louise Lawler.

Paul Morris
465 West 23^rd Street
Gallery closed.

Pat Hearn Gallery
530 West 22^nd Street (closed)
Hearn passed away in 2000.

American Fine Arts Gallery
530 West 22^nd Street (closed)
Run by Pat Hearn’s husband, Colin de Land, who died in 2003. Sources conflict a bit on exactly when AFA moved to Chelsea, but at least one source mentions the gallery as one of the original seven.

To Market, To Market

Take a ride on the High Line. Head south on our elevated pedestrian parkway (enter on 26^th St., just west of 10^th Ave.) and exit at 16^th Street. You will find yourself at the door of Chelsea Market, an old Nabisco factory now home to office tenants and an array of one-of-a-kind retail on the ground floor, which occupies a full city block.

Most of the shops in Chelsea Market have to do with food, much of which is prepared on site, so we’ll leave you to sort that out on your own. Meanwhile, those original gifts…

1. Chelsea Market Baskets. Select your basket, fill it with gourmet specialties, and have the CMB folks make it gorgeous and ship it for you. We particularly like the unusual seasonings and condiments (Halen mon Welsh organic celery seed sea salt, for example) and have created gift baskets for our Friend Who Grills Every Meal, our Seasonal Décor-Happy Sister-in-Law, and our Cousin with New Baby who Misses New York.

2. Jacques Torres Chocolates. A bright orange box of JT chocolates slipped into your suitcase wherever you are headed this holiday season, will guarantee a warm welcome upon arrival. Killer truffles, chocolate snowmen, hot cocoa, and that dark chocolate bark with nuts, are just a few of the offerings.

3. Posman Books. Yes, we know everyone is reading on some sort of device, but we still like our cookbooks to withstand spatters of hot oil and cake batter without complaint. Posman has a great selection, a nicely curated selection of children’s books and toys in the back of the store.

Chelsea Market
75 9th Ave. (at 15th & 16th Sts.)
(212) 243-6005
www.chelseamarket.com

Un Bon Cadeau

Once you have exhausted the food theme, exit Chelsea Market on Ninth Avenue, and enjoy its Francophile-inflected gift offerings. Just to the south, find a newly opened L’Occitane (48 Ninth Ave.), with its offerings of bath and beauty products in fragrant lavender, shea butter, and verbena. Head north and stop in at Maison 140 (140 Ninth Ave.), a tiny emporium full of home décor, much of it imported from France. Recharge with a café au lait et croissant at La Bergamote (177 Ninth Ave.) before picking up a gift for your pet at Barking Zoo (172 Ninth Ave.). (There is nothing particularly French about the merchandise at Barking Zoo; however, many of the dogs who visit this store speak the language.)

Chocolate Mice at La Bergamote

Chelsea’s Midsection

Head east on 20^th Street toward an area of Chelsea with several real retail gems. First, if you missed coffee at La Bergamote, be sure to stop at Café Grumpy (224 West 20^th St.), one of New York’s best sources for single-origin coffee and home to an unusual Clover brewing machine (seeing it in action is worth the price of a cup of coffee). Coffee beans, in any case, make a useful gift. One block away, on 19^th Street between 7^th and 8^th Avenues, you will find Sugar Cookies (203 West 19^th St.), a lingerie boutique full of sweet nothings where it is difficult not to find a lovely gift for the discerning female. Continue west on 19^th Street to Les Toiles du Soleil (261 West 19^th St., and, yes, French again), designers of striking striped outdoor fabrics sold as yardage but also on offer in the highly giftable form of espadrilles, tote bags, table linens, and patio umbrellas. If you happen to have any nasty boys in your life, stop by Nasty Pig (265A West 19^th St.), Chelsea’s purveyor of high-attitude apparel for men and some of the most rockin’ window displays in the city.

Pastries at Cafe Grumpy

In “three suites” of photogravure etchings, Belge artist Carsten Höller explores – yes, you guessed it – birds and mushrooms. The small room has a 19th-century parlor vibe, with Alice in Wonderland mushrooms that quiver in a way that feels 3D, and bird portraits that have a Civil War daguerreotype feel.

Taken from Höller’s own experiments in cross-breeding canaries, the feathered personalities stare at the camera like aging aristocrats – skinny old men, women in furs, sleepy generals. Our verdict: A beautiful, muted series. Closes December 23, 2011.

Carolina Nitsch
534 W. 22nd St. (btwn. 10th & 11th Aves.)
(212) 645-2030
www.carolinanitsch.com

Bill Jacobson. Into the Loving Nowhere (1989 till now)

Jacobson’s earliest included portraits were made in the midst of the AIDS crisis, and even black and white and blurred, they throb with pain and loss. Jacobson’s landscapes are equally powerful impressions that seem to expand and contract as we fall into them.

Newer works from his Place (Series) are much more angular and less fluid, but provide a great counterpoint. And, as an unrelated bonus treat, three Maira Kalmans sit tucked away in a side room for fans of her New York Times visual essays. Closes December 10, 2011.

Julie Saul Gallery
535 West 22nd St., 6th Fl. (btwn. 10th & 11th Aves.)
(212) 627-2411
www.saulgallery.com

Matthew Brannon. Gentleman’s Relish.

A three-room, three-act, noir detective “play” told through paintings, sculptures, silkscreen and letterpress prints – Brannon’s Gentleman’s Relish is an off-kilter, immersive narrative experience (think Thomas Demand meets Twin Peaks meets 1940s powder room).

Tiny, delicate portraits of strange objects – a bottle of Pepto-Bismol, a green hanger, a syringe, a Sade CD – punctuate large floral pattern paintings and propped up doors that read things like “Adults Only” and “Police Station.” Just wait until Act Three, “Where the play we thought we were watching is over and we realize we’re watching something very different.” Closes December 17, 2011.

Casey Kaplan Gallery
525 W. 21st St. (btwn. 10th & 11th Aves.)
(212) 645-7335
www.caseykaplangallery.com

Chances are that you have some degree of pity for New Yorkers who happen to be golfers. You probably imagine them heading for the suburbs early on a Saturday, golf clubs protruding from their teeny Zipcars.

In fact, golfers who live near the Americano are particularly fortunate. While it is not quite like walking the back nine on a well-sculpted course, golfers enjoying the Chelsea Piers driving range – just a few blocks away – can at least get a glimpse of the occasional stunning sunset over the Hudson while perfecting their form.

Be warned that the rates may inspire an intake of breath for those accustomed to the standards at more pastoral settings, but do remember you are still on the island of Manhattan. The folks at the Piers will kit you out with clubs (starting at $4 for a single club), and they will educate you on their futuristic electronic ball cards (starting at $25).

Chelsea Piers Golf Club: Pier 59
23rd St. & the Hudson River
(212) 336-6400
www.chelseapiers.com

Gadgeteria.

We Americanos like our gadgets. Indeed, our NYC landscape is dotted with glassy gadget temples where the Worshipful gather around the latest Apple release. But when we want to sample serious equipment of a non-Mac kind, we head to the mother of all electronics stores, B&H Photo & Video.

A full block long, and, refreshingly, not part of a chain, B&H is a sort of polestar for the professional photographer or videographer. But it offers great value for us amateurs as well, and it is worth a visit just to see the theater of your purchase arriving via the overhead conveyor belt. Bonus: it’s staffed completely by Hasidic Jews, so come for a brief voyeuristic glimpse into their ultra-Orthodox lives.

B&H Photo & Video
420 9th Ave. (between 33^rd & 34^th Sts.)
(212) 444-6615
www.bhphotovideo.com

Life Jackets.

We firmly believe that a man can never have too many jackets. How handy that NUMBER:lab opened their first store just around the corner so that we can shop for their too-cool-for-school active gear in extra-wearable colors.

The zippered jackets rock, but we are pining for the alpaca tube scarf, a more manly version of the fuzzy neck gaiters we wear to ski. Holiday shopping for all the men in our lives should start here, upcoming ski vacation or no.

NUMBER:lab
317 10th Ave. (btwn. 28^th & 29^th Sts.)
(917) 523-6879
www.number-lab.com

Eight eyes, four tongues, bared teeth — AJ Fosik’s brightly-colored sculptures explode from the wall in a flurry of wooden scales and horns. With a big online following, Portland-based Fosik’s work is all over the web, but seeing it in person is something else. Part Tlingit totem pole, part Hindu deity, Fosik’s creations are the neon rock stars of the talisman world. Final week! Closes Saturday, November 19th.

Jonathan LeVine Gallery
529 W. 20^th St., 9th Fl. (btwn. 10th & 11th Aves.)
(212) 243-3822
www.jonathanlevinegallery.com

Nan Goldin.  Scopophilia.

Known for her color-saturated portraits of young artists, punks, and drug addicts in 1970s and 80s New York, Nan Goldin’s latest show juxtaposes over 400 of her photographs against sculptures and paintings from the Louvre. Organized around themes of love and desire, the echoes of rosebud lips, lounging nudes, and longing expressions are at times uncanny. Through December 23rd.

Images: NAN GOLDIN, Amanda, NYC, 1996, Archival pigment print, 30 x 30 inches, and Jeune orpheline au cimetière, Delacroix, 2011, Archival pigment print, 20 x 15 inches. (Photo courtesy of the artist and the Matthew Marks Gallery.)

Matthew Marks Gallery
523 W. 24 St. (btwn. 10th & 11th Aves.)
(212) 243-0200
www.matthewmarks.com

Various.  Uncommon Threads: A Survey of Contemporary Quilts.

Quilting: not just for grandmas anymore. On view at Kathryn Markel are the blanket wonders of 10 ladies and 1 man, ranging from environmentally charged pieces (see below) to sheer aesthetic beauties, like this larger-than-life, snowflake-kissed piece from Paula Nadlestern. If you were planning to learn how to knit this holiday season, here’s some instant inspiration. November 17 – December 17.

Kathryn Markel Fine Arts
529 W. 20^th St., #6W (btwn. 10^th & 11^th Aves.)
(212) 366-5368
www.markelfinearts.com

Perhaps New York has been slower to integrate biking into the fabric of the metropolis than some other leading cities of the world, but please do not count us out. You may see new, well-traveled green bike lanes not far from the hotel, and their numbers are growing. (Step carefully through the bike lane though, please, because we are all still getting used to each other.)

The notably pleasant folks at Chelsea Truck Rental, sensing a trend, have expanded their selection of rental vehicles to include bicycles — and business is booming.  Stop by their garage on 26^th Street to rent by the hour or the day.  They provide helmets, locks and baskets as part of packages that start as low as $10.

Chelsea Truck Rental
549 W. 26^th St. (btwn. 10^th & 11th Aves.)
(212) 564-9555
www.chelsearental.com

Sights by Bike, Bike by Sights

Some of the best views of Manhattan are from the bike paths along its perimeter. If the day is mild and you have an hour or so to spare, we recommend a quick trip along the Hudson River Park bike path, which is directly west of the hotel along the river. Head south, and give yourself an architectural tour:

200 Eleventh Avenue (at 24^th Street). Residential condo building designed by Annabelle Selldorf. “Sky Garage” elevator whisks your car to your floor. (Photo courtesy of LuxuryLoft)

100 Eleventh Avenue (at 19^th Street). Residential condo building designed by Jean Nouvel.

555 West 18^th Street. IAC Office Building designed by Frank Gehry.

West Street, near Perry Street. Three residential condo buildings designed by Richard Meier. Residents include Hugh Jackman, who is currently sashaying, singing and seducing audiences in “Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway”!

Americano Meets English Meets French

We know you love our namesake restaurant, but we also know you may want to stretch your legs for dinner one evening during your stay. No need to go far: the sleek & chic La Promenade des Anglais just opened on 23^rd Street.

La Promenade is the sort of restaurant where one might find Holly Golightly, French-twisted and little-black-dressed, sipping champagne at the bar with a certain sort of gentleman. It would be a shame not to move from the bar to a table, though, and enjoy a splendid meal. We were quite taken with the Salad “Mille Feuilles” — ribbons of romaine topped with applewood smoked bacon and gorgonzola. Our monkfish entree was over the top and the apple tart divine.

In case you are wondering about the building housing La Promenade des Anglais, it is called London Terrace and, when it opened in 1931, it was considered the largest apartment building in the world. It occupies an entire block, has a one-acre garden at its center, and features apartments with wood-burning fireplaces.

La Promenade des Anglais
461 W. 23^th St. (between 9^th & 10^th Aves.)
(212) 255-7400
www.lapromenadenyc.com

Tasty Samples

Here is something to know about New York: even the starving artists and publishing assistants manage to look photo-ready at all times. How do they afford all that style?  Sample sales, of course.

We are not talking about those online sites where you are not quite sure whether the goods have been manufactured just for the occasion. We are talking about honest-to-goodness sample sales, the kind that require a trip to some dusty old cavern in the Garment District. Some ideas:

First, if you would like your apartment to look like the home of a well-traveled bohemian (i.e., you, perhaps?), do not miss the John Robshaw sample sale. It kicks off Wednesday, November 16 for three days only. We love Robshaw’s block-printed textiles, all of which tell a story of exotic India or Turkey. Find bedding, table linens, decorative pillows.

Second, steps away from the Hôtel Americano is sample sale impresario Soiffer Haskin. If you hurry, you can make the Armani sale (ends November 16). Bulgari is next (November 19-22) and Frette just afterward (November 27 – December 1). See SH’s website for hours and details.

John Robshaw Sample Sale
245 W. 29^th St. (btwn. 7^th & 8^th Aves.)
November 16-18, 10am-7pm

Soiffer Haskin
317 W. 33^rd St. (just west of 8^th Avenue)
(718) 747-1656
www.soifferhaskin.com

Americanos, meet Americana, up close and personal. What could be more weirdly American than a big chunk of camper? Braman dissects a scavenged recreational vehicle, combining the results with other materials in a way that emphasizes the true camper-ness of the original object. Through December 3.

SARAH BRAMAN, 8pm, 2011, Camper chunk, steel, plexiglas and paint, 41 1/2 by 52 by 48 in. (Photo courtesy of the artist and Mitchell-Innes & Nash)

Mitchell-Innes & Nash
534 W. 26^th St. (btwn. 10^th & 11^th Aves.)
(212) 744-7400
www.miandn.com

May Stevens. One Plus Or Minus One.

We find May Stevens’ depictions of Rosa Luxembourg remarkably timely. Luxemburg was an anti-war Marxist who led dissent in early 20^th-century Germany. While the nature of Luxemburg’s causes have less resonance today, the form of her protest– occupying offices, calling for strikes–echoes throughout the globe. Through December 22.

Mary Ryan Gallery
527 W. 26^th St. (btwn. 10^th & 11^th Aves.)
(212) 397-0766
www.maryryangallery.com

Boo Ritson. All Aboard.

Vividly attired, latex-coated subjects.

Bravin Lee Programs
526 W. 26^th St., #211
(212) 462-4404
www.bravinlee.com

Art Event: Mika Rottenberg and Marilyn Minter

Stop by the New York Public Library’s Artist Dialogues Series and listen in on a conversation between video artist Mika Rottenberg and her friend and fellow teacher Marilyn Minter. Wednesday, November 9, 6–8pm.

Get Set

Have you noticed that old hotel just down the block? It’s the McKittrick, set for Sleep No More, the “It” show of the moment. Imagine Macbeth chancing upon Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut and you will get the general idea. Murder, mystery, and masks (on you and fellow audience members as you wander through this vast space and stumble upon performances in action) — we’ll say no more.

If you are looking for one of those New York-only experiences, score some tickets before the show ends its run on December 30, 2011. But we think you should bring a friend: a Sleep No More performance requires immediate post-show talk therapy, preferably over dinner at the Americano. File under “Makes You Think.”

The McKittrick Hotel
530 W. 27^th St. (btwn. 10^th & 11^th Aves.)
(212) 904-1883
www.sleepnomorenyc.com

Power Up

When we shop for a new six-figure luxury vehicle, we head to the Upper West 20s, home to dealers of Porsches, Bentleys, Lamborghinis and Lotuses (all along 11th Avenue, if you are so inclined). But there’s a new kid on the block: Tesla on 25th Street. Stop by to blow your doors off.

We are highly entertained by the Tesla website, where we can customize and price our new roadster. But we miss the turn-on of that new car smell, so we decided to check out the new dealership in the chrome.

The dealership is a bit unassuming, presumably to show off the stunning roadsters. We learned about something called a Power Electronics Module, which seems pretty central to the whole silent-but-fast-and-efficient deal, but mostly we learned about going from 0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds. Va-ROOOOM, Baby.

Watch this space for news of when you can test drive Tesla’s new sedan right here in Chelsea.

Tesla
511 W. 25^th St. (btwn. 10^th & 11^th Aves.)
(212) 206-1204
www.teslamotors.com

Siren Song

When walking in our neighborhood, we expect to find a gallery behind every door and window.  How surprising, then, to find a glassy corner exploding with fashionable clothing. Beyond 7 is the boutique we always seem to be looking for—the one where someone else has done the hard work of curating a collection that is stunning but tasteful. Beyond 7 features clothes and accessories from designers such as Issa, Iris von Arnim, and Gudrun Gudrun. We found a killer Allegra Hicks dress. Oh, and let the charming staff tell you about the store—there is a little more personality here than you might expect.

We don’t know about you, but we found that the unusual mannequins in Beyond 7’s windows gave a sort of siren call (above). Let us know what you think.

Beyond 7 Boutique
601 W. 27^th St. (at 11^th Avenue)
(646) 619-6857
www.store.beyond7boutique.com

Speed Demon?

Yes, we know it’s a park, but here’s a little secret from the locals: the High Line is also a sort of pedestrian freeway. Heading south? Hop on the High Line at 26th Street at 10th Avenue. Take the High Line Express to the exit at 16th Street to visit, say, Chelsea Market, or keep moving to the end of the road to wind up in the West Village.

Benefits? 1. Your health: a brisk walk will do you good. 2. Speed: think of all the “Do Not Walk” signs you are missing. 3. A fabulous view: the colors of the changing season are fantastic, although you wouldn’t know it from the color of the grass and trees above, snapped earlier this week.

Located in the heart of the Chelsea Riviera between the High Line and the Hudson River.

“When Hôtel Americano opens next month in New York, it will be the 11th hotel in 11 years from Grupo Habita, a company not well known north of the border but considered Mexico’s boutique hotel pioneer in the Ian Schrager mold…”

View full article

“Home to Manhattan’s most saturated art gallery district, in the past the West Chelsea neighbourhood has suffered from a lack of places to stay…”

View full article

“The new Hôtel Americano in Manhattan nods more clearly to its immediate surroundings than it does to America at large…”

View full article

“‘Everybody is looking for new places to do events, dinners, drinks,’ says Paul Kasmin of the reaction from his fellow Chelsea gallerists to the new Hôtel Americano…”

View full article

“The Hotel Americano, the first U.S. outpost of the splashy Mexican hotel chain Grupo Habita, recently materialized on Manhattan’s West 27th Street…”

View full article

“Get ready for a caliente summer in New York City: The Mexicans are coming, and they’re bring the best of south-of-the-border hospitality…”

View full article

“At the Americano, the sleek dining room set to open in the new Hôtel Americano on Thursday, Olivier Reginensi, the executive chef, will be turning out French food that has an unmistakable Latin accent.”

View full article

“Having spent his childhood splitting his time between a farmhouse surrounded by citrus groves and a beach house where he watched the sun come up, Carlos Couturier seemed destined for a slow walk through life…”

View full article

“‘We didn’t want a trendy hotel,’ says Carlos Couturier, co-founder of Grupo Habita, of the Mexico City-based company’s first hotel in the U.S…”

View full article

“In the shadow of the recently opened second phase of the High Line, an infamous block of West 27th Street between 10th and 11th avenues is experiencing a flurry of new development…”

View full article

“Coinciding with the second-phase opening of New York’s High Line Park is the launch of Mexican Hôtel Americano on West 27th Street…”

View full article

“Mexican-owned, French-designed, Japanese-styled, NYC-outfitted: Like our great national stew…”

View full article

“Located in the heart of Chelsea, the new Hôtel Americano is the first foray into the US by Mexico City-based boutique hotelier Carlos Couturier and his Grupo Habita…”

View full article

“The Hôtel Americano, soft-opening September 6 in West Chelsea, doesn’t limit itself to a single international style…”

View full article

“Hôtel Americano, the latest from those ceaseless purveyors of fabulosity at Mexico’s Grupo Habita, brings a decidedly civilized edge to a stretch of 27th Street that once served as nightlife’s depravity road…”

View full article

“Given its small size and restrained, elegant architecture and interiors, the new Hôtel Americano is generating an over-scaled amount of buzz…”

View full article

“Now that rooftops are the new lobbies among New York hotels, along comes the latest refinement: La Piscine…”

View full article

“WHITEWALL: I read that you always try to break rules in every hotel that you do. For Grupo Habita’s newest property, Hotel Americano in Chelsea, opening this summer, what rules did you break?..”

View full article

“Sexy, global, Latin-spirited – New York City is the inspiration behind the new Hôtel Americano…”

View full article

“Lleva abierto pocas semanas. El último hotel en aparecer en Manhattan es parte del grupo Habita. Este dato no es casual…”

View full article

“When Mexican hotelier Grupo Habita decided to build a hotel in the heart of Chelsea, the home of approximately 300 galleries, they decided that the walls of the rooms would be bare of any art. An interesting choice…”

View full article

“El Hôtel Americano se centra en las opciones simples de la vida, esas que definen la autentica felicidad…”

View full article

“Once a popular stretch for clubs, 27th Street in West Chelsea has more recently become unassuming rue for art galleries. But, with the opening of the two-month-old Hôtel Americano and the buzzy performance arts space the McKittrick Hotel just next door, the neighborhood is quietly growing popular once again – quiet being the operative word…”

View full article

“Hôtel Americano is making headlines for multiple reasons. Not only is it Mexican hotel company Grupo Habita’s U.S. debut, but it’s also the first hotel from French designer Arnaud Montigny…”

View full article

L’hôtel Americano, qui a ouvert ses portes à la rentrée dans le quartier de Chelsea a NYC, est voué à devenir le passage obligé du monde de l’art contemporain…”

View full article

“Com duas Decadas de historia e dez hoteis no curriculo, o grupo de Carlos Couturier e Moises Micha escolheu aventurar-se pela primeira vez nos Estados Unidos, especificamente, no bairro nova-iorquino de Chelsea…”

View full article

View full article

View full article

 
 
Salud!

Click here to see the full Grill menu

Download the iPad app preview on iTunes by clicking here.

Bicycles are available for guest use. Bike one block from the hotel to the Hudson River Greenway Bike Path that runs from the Cloisters down to The Statue of Liberty boat docks.

Uptown Studio

Uptown Queen

Downtown King