NYC: Chambers Hotel, Bouchon Bakery

Arrived in NYC this afternoon. Checked into Chambers Hotel on W 56th and 5th; great location. The room I checked into is a decent size (has enough room for a closet and luggage shelf in the hallway, queen bed, desk, side table, reading chair, reading lamp, television and minibar). The desk is set-up like a draughtsman's table, tracing paper unrolls from one side with sharpened pencils and coloured pencils ready for doodles; nice touch. The bathroom failed the JR Luxury Hotel rule (i.e. no separate shower & tub. In fact, no tub at all.). But I kind of expected that of a "design hotel" and at US$295++ per night in midtown Manhattan. I could pay nearly US$400++ at Hotel on Rivington in the Lower East Side and still not get a tub (but you do get a view that makes you smile when you wake up if you get a corner room and despite what people might think about the foam mattresses, they do make for a great sleep). The one grip I do have about Chambers is the lack of service, and I suppose this is the gripe I have at most design hotels. I checked in hungry a bit before 3pm. Between 2:30-5:30pm, neither TOWN, the restaurant, is open nor do they have room service. I asked the front desk where I could print out a confidential document and they asked me to email to their reception email address. And now, as I write, I am calling down to TOWN for room service and nobody is answering (The menu says it runs till 1am, it's only 12:30am right now. Front desk just informed me that room service does not run until 1am on a Sunday, but they'll send up a menu from a nearby deli). But I suppose these things are easily solved by its convenient location.





For my late lunch, I walked over to Time Warner Center for a bit at Bouchon Bakery (where they sell freshly-baked gourmet doggie biscuits!). On the way there, I noticed the LV shop has the exact same window display (currently, it's a collage of vintage hotel luggage stickers set against a blue background) as the shops in Hong Kong! I know I shouldn't be surprised, but I didn't realize window displays were determined internationally. I think the building that the shop is in, but is it just me or does the LV facade look a bit like an obscene hand gesture??



Be careful when you order a bottle of water by yourself, because you will get a 1-litre bottle. The bread here is really great. I had the Rillettes aux Deux Saumons. It was delicious; as I cleaned up the jar with every last remaining crust of bread. Not good for my diet though, as its quite heavy on the butter and I ended up ordering a nice glass of Pinot Noir (can't remember if it was from Sonoma or Oregon) to wash it down. As I was enjoying my late lunch, I could hear people cheering from the Samsung showroom. The World Cup Final between France and Italy was on. When I finished at Bouchon Bakery, I walked over to watch the penalty kicks. I stood next to some French people. I'm not much into World Cup. I totally lost interest when the US team lost to Ghana. But if I had to choose a team to root for, I was rooting for France. The year I was in France, they won the World Cup. Unfortunately, we all know that France lost to Italy by 1 kick. I really felt for the French, they looked utterly dejected. I headed downstairs to pick up a couple National Geographic Trail Maps for Yellostone and Grand Teton National Park. I only have a morning to drive around Grand Teton before I start my pack trip, but I've been told by my uncle WW, that I have to stop by Jenny Lake Lodge.

Can't wait...next stop, Jackson, Wyoming! The Wild West!!

Chambers Hotel ADSL: Free