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| Photo by Freeimages.com/danas |
New York travelers looking to stay near Grand Central have a new option: The Renwick just opened its doors at 118 East 40th Street.
Housed in a brick building that was constructed in 1928 as a long-stay residence for sheltering artists, The Renwick aims to take inspiration from its imaginative former residents -- think F. Scott Fitzgerald, Thomas Mann and John Steinbeck. Nods to their works are found throughout the new hotel's 173 loft-style rooms and suites. Other touches include furnishings intended to reference items found in an artist's studio, such as easel-inspired television stands, desks reminiscent of the artist's work bench, nightstands intended to mimic flat file cabinets and a patterned carpet that simulates paint-splattered concrete.
In the hotel's 33 studios and suites, literary quotes from the famous authors and items reminiscent of each famous name are also on display. For a more interactive experience, the hotel houses two Creator Suites: one Artist's Suite with a blank canvas on a wall ledge and an artist easel with paint brushes and a Writer's Suite with a functioning typewriter and an inkwell and pen on the desk. The James Renwick Suite is the hotel's Presidential Suite, with a living room, bedroom, dining area, wetbar, powder room and a large outdoor terrace that showcases views of the Midtown skyline.
Finally, foodies take note: This November will see the debut of John DeLucie's first solo restaurant, Bedford & Co., as the hotel's signature food and beverage venue. Expect modern American cuisine prepared on a custom-made wood-burning grill.