Double whammy! Weekend recaps: Trump Soho - Rhode Island

When I look at a cup of water, it's half empty, not half full.  Do you have a problem with that?  I'm the girl who runs, not walks, away from situations where I *just may* get my feelings hurt or, worse, get my heart broken.  I expect the worst, to a fault; but somewhere, deep down, I hope for the best.  I find it rare to have two absolutely incredible days, much less two weekends, back-to-back. 

Stop.  Put away your tissue boxes.  Because this isn't going to be one of those "woe is me" posts - quite the opposite, in fact.  Believe it or not, I'm here to tell you all about my past two weekends that, just so happened to be fun, fabulous, and exciting. 

The first of the two back-to-back weekend "honeymoons" was kicked off with the celebration of my friend, Theresa's, 30th re-do birthday extravaganza.  She literally handed me the event-planning reigns and, armed with only a couple of her personal non-negotiables, I got to spearhead her 48-hour birthday extravaganza.

Saturday, July 9th, was the celebratory pinnacle of the weekend: cocktails and heavy hors d'oeuvres, at the Trump Soho's Duplex Penthouse Suite's grand indoor/outdoor space, were served from 7:30pm - 10:30pm.  Menu highlights included: a serviced ceviche bar (red snapper, lobster, ahi tuna), and the signature cocktail of the evening, white sangria. 

From there, the party continued at The Box until the wee hours of Sunday morning. 

Trump Soho's Duplex Penthouse Suite: living room outfitted with Fendi furnitureTrump Soho's Duplex Penthouse Suite: check out the view from the living room!Trump Soho's Duplex Penthouse Suite: a view from the bathtubTrump Soho's Duplex Penthouse Suite: bar setupTrump Soho's Duplex Penthouse Suite: a selection of our passed and stationary hors d'oeuvres

Trump Soho's Duplex Penthouse Suite: party favors! Chanel nailpolishesTrump Soho's Duplex Penthouse Suite: a view from our 43rd-floor terrace!Trump Soho's Duplex Penthouse Suite: terrace view!               Trump Soho's Duplex Penthouse Suite: terrace view!~ 

Trust me when I say that it took me a couple of days to recover from Theresa's birthday party.  Ugh, I'm not 21 anymore!  And, just when I thought that I had finally regained my stamina, it was Friday again.  "Round 2" was a bachelorette weekend in Portsmouth, RI, celebrating the upcoming nuptials of my dear friend, Tara.  The bride-to-be's aunt and uncle graciously "ghost hosted" Tara, plus seven of her friends, at their sprawling beach house.  And where were they during the 48-hour-long bachelorette debauchery?  At their primary residence in Boston.  Smart couple!  :) 

Since I had to put in a full day at the office on Friday, I was the last of Tara's friends to arrive in Rhode Island.  The nearly 3-hour Boston-bound train from NYC to Providence, RI was, single-handedly, the most breathtaking and picturesque that I have ever experienced within the US.  The vivid, moving scenery just beyond my window looked almost as if it were fake: rolling green hills were dotted with colonial-style homes and red barns - sea grass swayed to the music of the wind - navy blue ponds and pools were sprinkled with pale-green lily pads - wooden docks, reaching as far as the eye could see, were tied with small, colorful rowboats, that floated atop water as smooth as glass.

The weekend, itself, was mainly spent relaxing, bonding with old and new girlfriends, eating and drinking, laying by the pool, and celebrating Tara, at the beach house.  But, between all of this, we did find time to head in to Newport on Saturday evening for dinner and drinks.  And, speaking of dinner, if you happen to find yourself in Newport, RI, then I highly recommend checking out Cafe Zelda to sample their famous "chicken-fried lobster."  It was, truly, unforgettable and delicious.

*A big "thank you" to Cousin Kerry for planning this incredible girl's weekend!

  Dinner at Cafe Zelda, Newport, RI: chicken-fried lobster    ~ 

Good stuff, right?  Trust me, I was pinching myself the whole time!  Glitz and glam aside, here's to many more incredible back-to-back weekends!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

T's turning 30, again! Plus, NYC's UNhospitality Industry

So, one of my most fabulous and dear friends from out-of-state is having her 30th birthday "re-do" party this weekend in NYC.  And, having enlisted the event-planning help of yours truly, the birthday girl & I have been carefully orchestrating the details of this 48-hour-long soiree for the better part of the past 6-weeks. 

T's first inquiry was in regards to finding the perfect place for her and her out-of-town guests to rest their well-coiffed heads.  She was lusting after a hotel that, aside from a "hip" factor, also listed "outdoor pool" on its menu of amenities.  I returned with the following options:

• Gansevoort Meatpacking District or Park Avenue
• The James Hotel
• Trump Soho

Her choice?  Gansevoort Park Avenue.

With dates chosen and shelter settled, the next task was to plan T's birthday party.  "I don't want to do a sit-down dinner," she said.  "My group of friends are eclectic and most people are coming in from out of town.  I don't want anybody to be forced to sit next to someone and make awkward small talk."  OK, easy enough. 

Now, here were some traits that she was looking for:  

• Evening, preferably from 7-10pm
• Cocktails and heavy hors d'oeuvres
• Outdoor option
• Semi-private

I returned with the following ideas/venues (make sure to read my notes after each colon):

• Veranda Suite at the Eventi Hotel: gorgeous space, reasonably priced, incredibly prompt response from knowledgeable and warm event planner
  
• Gansevoort Park Avenue's rooftop bar: urban "rooftop" view, appx. 2000 sq. feet, took multiple emails to receive a response from outsourced events department - not impressed in that aspect
• Gramercy Park Hotel's rooftop garden: lovely venue, but the $7500 food/bevg minimum was too $$$ - took two emails to receive a response from the events department - not impressed in that aspect
• Above 6, at 6 Columbus: received an initial response from the hotel, who cc'd Blue Ribbon Sushi, the restaurant who runs Above 6, but never heard from Blue Ribbon Sushi - extremely unimpressed in that aspect
• Soho House: perennially cool venue, but no public non-member outdoor rental spaces - events department returned my email inquiry immediately, leaving me impressed
• The Studio & Garden Terrace at The James Hotel: fabulous indoor/outdoor event space, but non-compliant for our particular needs after 8pm - events department was beyond responsive, knowledgeable, patient, and helpful, leaving me very impressed
• Salon de Ning, The Peninsula Hotel: NO RESPONSE.  Are you kidding me?  Really??
• Various options, Trump Soho: lovely indoor/outdoor option on pool level - events department was responsive, though there was a small lag time between emails, coupled with a slight language barrier - I was impressed initially.

Her choice?  Trump Soho

Prior to planning this particular event, the only experience that I'd had with Trump Soho was a fabulous dinner that I enjoyed at onsite restaurant, Quattro Gastronomia Italiana, last summer.  Unfortunately, my opinion of the hotel diminished when a not very "events knowledgeable" employee was assigned to our case, if you will - thus, making the initial planning, communication, and details very challenging.  Come Monday, however, I am confident that I'll be able to report that T's birthday (happening tomorrow night!) was the most knock-out, over-the-top, and fabulous soiree.  Ever.  

With her birthday bash in place, the next item on the agenda was to organize a small, intimate dinner for Friday evening.  "I want something hip, downtown, new.  Fresh, delicious food that isn't over-complicated.  How about The Fat Radish?"  To be honest, we were 1.5 weeks out when T sent me the email with this particular request.  "No offense, T, but I don't think that 1.5 weeks is enough lead time to secure a reservation at a highly coveted restaurant.  On a Friday night.  At 8pm.  For 5-6 people."  After opentable.com spit back a 5pm or an 11pm available seating, I decided to give The Fat Radish a call.  What do I have to lose?  Expecting more heat and disappointment from the hospitality industry, my tensions were already high.  To speak to someone in the office, press #1.  "Hi, how can I help you?"  Shocker.  There was a real person on the other end of the line!  And, from the sounds of it, a nice one, at that!  I explained that it was my friend's birthday next Friday and that she "wasn't from around here," hence the 1.5 week's notice (for a potential dinner reservation).  "I realize that I should have made this reservation a month ago," I said.  The woman must have felt for me - and T - because she was able to squeeze us in for a 5-top table at The Fat Radish at 8pm. 

Now that, my friends, is what you call "hospitality." 

~

Restaurant, Hotel, & Institutional Management is what I studied in college.  I did my internship at a hotel in NYC, where I rotated within all of the in-house food/beverage departments.  And, after graduating with a Bachelor of Science, I worked for ARAMARK - a global outsourcing company - for three years.  My point is this: I know the ins and outs of this field and, with a few exceptions mentioned above, I am pretty horrified by the hospitality (or lack thereof) industry in NYC. 

Case in point: I find it absolutely despicable that I never received a response from The Peninsula Hotel or Above 6.  I sent each venue an inquiry for a semi-private party - NOT a sales pitch!  Blech.

Overall, I found the lack of knowledge - service - courtesy, and slow response-times that I recently encountered to be extremely shocking and disappointing.  I mean, this IS Manhattan, after all - the cream of the crop - the capital of the world.  Shouldn't everyone in this town be on the tip-top of their game?  Seriously, what in the hell is going on here?

OK, enough ranting.  But before I end this post, I want to give a shout-out to a handful of venues that did go above and beyond the call of hospitality.  These places knew their stuff, were courteous, extremely responsive, and were all very willing to help/go the extra mile:

• Eventi Hotel
• The Fat Radish
• The James Hotel

Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for not contributing to ripping yet another 10-years from my life.  I'm serious.

~~~

Wishing all of you a beautiful, safe, and sunny weekend!  Be on the lookout for my follow-up to "T's 48-hour birthday extravaganza" coming next week...

Until we eat again,

The Lunch Belle

TLB Consulting: helping you manage your office's catered meals

For those of you out there who are fortunate enough to be employed at a company who still offers daily catered breakfasts/lunches, I'm not only green with envy for obvious reasons (we have water fountains at my office...does that count?), but for the fact that, at one point in time, feeding hungry professionals used to be my 'day job.'

Most people cringe at the thought, the sheer gravity of handling and being responsible for feeding upwards of 100 hungry employees on a daily basis.  It's no small task!  And to successfully choose unanimously-pleasing, semi-balanced meals, day in and day out?  Well, that's not simple, either.  But here's something that is: I get it. 

So, for any receptionists/administrative assistants out there who have been assigned the laborious task of managing your company's catered meals program - whether it's traditional or via Seamless Web - and are completely overwhelmed ... Or, if you're a disgruntled employee who's unhappy with the catering at your place of work, I am here to help.  For 2+ years, I used to manage the daily catered lunch program at a prominent hedge fund for approximately 100 employees.  This experience is actually what planted the seed for starting The Lunch Belle in 2007...hence the name of my website and "Changing the Way the Street Eats."  Get it?  "Street" equals "Wall Street."  :)   

Shoot me an email with a brief description of what you've been delegated or are up against: Lindsay@TheLunchBelle.com.  I will respond to your inquiry within 24-hours, guaranteed.  

~~~

Your ghost writer consultant & secret to success,

The Lunch Belle 

TLB Consulting: help me help you

Help me help you see the obese, hot-pink elephant in the room.  After all, isn't the eminent death of a restaurant/lounge almost too obvious?  Apparently not. 

But to me, it is. 

Picture it: gorgeous space - awkward location - impossibly difficult menu, both in terms of price and ingredient comprehension - aloof staff, who care more about staring at their own reflection in the decorative mirror located behind their guest's heads, while explaining the evening's specials, than they do about earning a sense of rapport or that highly coveted return visit especially in NYC, when most people don't eat at the same place twice. 

It's a shame how many of these tainted venues and menus I've seen come and go.  What's worse, at least in my opinion, is being me, the outsider, vs. you, the insider, who can see exactly what went wrong.  My point?  I'd like to offer my services - free, for the time being - to any chefs, restaurateurs, bakeries, food trucks, etc. who are looking for some good, old-fashioned, honest feedback on their product, menu, or venue. 

Are you ready to "hear it?"  Because I'm ready to share it.  Email me and let's schedule something: Lindsay@TheLunchBelle.com

~~~

Until we eat again,

The Lunch Belle