#254 - The Warwick in NYC

Midtown Manhattan

Last November Don and I stayed at this famous 36-story hotel, in Midtown Manhattan.

This is how the entrance looked a few hours after our arrival. When our Uber pulled up at 11 am, the entrance was bustling. The doormen did more directing than luggage handling. The festive decorations came later.

Exterior View

I stood on the sidewalk and looked up. Where's the top? I couldn't pause long, since we were moving quickly to join the line inside the lobby. ​But I stepped out later.

I stood on the corner of 54th Street and 6th Avenue (Avenue of the Americas) and looked up. I wanted to be impressed, but scaffolding blocked the lower level. Bad luck.

36 Floors in 1926 

If we'd arrived in the Roaring Twenties, I could have much more easily seen the towering structure. 100 years ago, there were fewer tall buildings surrounding.

When the 36-story apartment hotel was built in 1926, it was one of the tallest buildings in the world.

​William Randolph Hearst & Marion Davies

The Warwick was built by the famous tycoon, William Randolph Hearst. The purpose was mostly so Hearst could gift an entire floor to his mistress. The hotel was very convenient distance to Broadway, for starlet Marion Davies.

Hearst also used the hotel to host lavish parties for his elite Hollywood friends. WRH no longer owned the hotel by the late forties, but The Algonquin still attracted stars for years. Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Judy Garland, Lucille Ball, Cary Grant and endless others, spent time here.

Mid-Century Warwick

This mid-century postcard shows the hotel about 3 decades later. The top of the tower looks a little different, but the hotel is still standing taller than the other skyscrapers.

In the 1950s, Hearst no longer owned the hotel and Marion Davies no longer lived in the penthouse, which occupied the very top floor. I have no clue what's up there today.

Windows!

I wasn't able to view the upper section, when standing on the sidewalk. But I could see lots of windows and some of the limestone and granite base.

There are 426 guest rooms, but I have no clue how many windows. It  would have been fun to have seen the window cleaners at work! 

If we'd stayed on the 36th floor, I'm not really sure what would we would have viewed, besides other soaring buildings. But the guests who stayed in lower rooms (near the glowing letters) probably had a fun view a few days later. The Macy's Parade travels right beside The Warwick!

Lobby

The lobby was crowded when we arrived, the Monday morning before Thanksgiving. We followed others through the entrance, into a somewhat modest lobby. Modest for a hotel of this size.

We joined the check-in line, that ended near the revolving doors.

Murals on 54 & Randolph's

We waited in line at the top of the steps, between 2 inviting doors

Later during our stay, we would enjoy breakfast at Murals and drinks at Randolph's.

Check-In

don and I were in no hurry and enjoyed the people watching. We knew early check in was unlikely, when we saw those before us handing bags over for storage and waiting in the limited seating of the lobby. 

The staff was efficient and friendly even though they'd been dealing with an insane number of guests checking in and out. I wanted to ask if this was unusual to have so many guests checking in at once. But I didn't.

Music Icons at The Warwick
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Instead, I pointed to the wall behind me and asked the clerk if it was Elvis in the photo.

He said that it was. Elvis stayed in 1957, when he was on the Ed Sullivan Show. Less than a decade later, The Beatles would enjoy a stay at The Warwick. The hotel manager told me that Paul McCartney stayed frequently  in more recent years. "Sir Paul loves this place. He has always been very pleasant... used to go to the Starbucks around the corner."  

Cary Grant's Elevators

Don and I didn't join the lounging lobby guests. We headed off and returned when our room was ready. We didn't book the 1,200 square-foot Cary Grant Suite, for over $1,000. But did ride up in an elevator used frequently by the dashing actor. 

I'm sure he used both elevators hundreds of times, since he lived at the hotel for 12 years. Then again, he was an active celebrity when he lived here. Maybe he used a private elevator. Never mind.

Room 1923

​Our more than reasonably priced room was on the 19th floor. Less than $200!

There was nothing overly grand, but the room had been updated in the last decade and we were in an incredible Midtown location, for $193.00!

We made some coffee and had a caffeine toast!

There was a mod-velvet chair for Don and a tub for me! Renovations often loose the tubs, so I was pleased.

And the view! I had to laugh when we opened the drapes a saw the view of brick and tile!

Exploring

After a while, I left Don in the blue chair and headed down to explore the lower level.  

The lobby was quieter and the Christmas decorations had gone up.

The entrance was no longer chaotic with arriving guests. 

2 men were casually putting up festive soldiers and lights.
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​I walked to the corner and found another entrance to the hotel. I spotted a dapper man exiting.

I saw the sign above the door lured me in.

I came through the 2 doors, but didn't turn into Randolph's, The bar wasn't open until 5.

So I admired the floor design and walked towards the cozy sitting area with shelves.

I also admired this vintage photo displayed on the wall. I snapped a photo and wished I could go back in time.

I headed through the cozy area and found myself back in lobby. Now it was time to admire the wreaths in the arches above the elevators. I pressed the button.

I rode the slow elevator by myself on this trip. For most other elevator rides there were other guests, waiting together and riding together. Which led to some pleasant socializing actually. The hotel often felt more like a relaxed cruise ship than a luxury hotel.

​Drinks at Randolph's

Don and I had dinner plans, but stopped in Randolph's before heading off.

This cozy lounge nook next to the entrance, was available at 5:30, but Don suggested sitting in a livelier space.

The bar's corner location with walls of windows, added to the festive vibe. The outside activity was entertaining.

The carpet design was appealing, but oh how I wished we'd seen the rose-themed carpet that once covered the floor. Rosebud was the nickname given to Marion Davies, by Hearst. 

Besides tables, there were numerous small group spaces. We grabbed a cozy spot, near a wonderful camel statue. After a while another couple asked to use the remaining seats. We ended up having a wonderful time chatting about travel and grandkids and New York.

This photo was taken by a family member seated behind us, on the other side of the camel. I met the reunion group when I stepped over to take a photo of the camel. They were amused and asked me to play photographer for them, then offered to do the same. Silly.

We enjoyed Randolph's again on the second night. This time we arrived late after being out. I promise I was not as woozy as I look. Just happy.

Morning

Both mornings I wandered early to enjoy the hotel before crowds.

I was thrilled when the very kind manager recommended a trip up the stairs, off the lobby.

​After turning the corner I found walls with photos.

So many famous guests over the years. 

At the top of the stairs I found a quiet sitting area with a fireplace at one end. 

Nice to know this quiet area existed, since there wasn't much sitting space in the busy lobby.

Back down at the base of the stairs, I stopped to look at the crystal chandelier near the lobby desk.

This photo also shows another entrance to Mural's on 54th.

Mural's
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The 2-level restaurant is only open for breakfast and brunch.  

The main attraction for me, was seeing Dean Cornwell's historic murals from 1937.

The murals were commissioned by Hearst for The Raleigh Room, which was the original name of the hotel's restaurant.

Scandalous Murals
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The scenes in the murals are historic. I was actually more curious about the murals' history, than the Queen's history. 

The painting on the left side of the room, showed Sir Walter Raleigh receiving his charter from Queen Elizabeth. For 40 years, this painting was covered because of some obscene additions to the artwork.

When we were seated for breakfast, Don had a good seat for pondering the artwork. We chuckled about what led to the obscene figures that were added.

Years ago there was a dispute between Hearst and Cornwell involving the artist's compensation. Cornwell wasn't happy and responded by painting obscene images in the murals. Cornwell's  images showed a man peeing on the queen and another man peeing on Sir Walter Raleigh! He eventually painted over the outrageous images.

Coffee and Food

​Don and I took a break from mural-gazing and ordered.

I asked our server Rhonda for suggestions. She said she loved the chef's French Toast, but it wasn't on the menu. She disappeared and came back saying he could make it.  

Yum! Thick toast, with powdered sugar, syrup and whipped cream, along with a fresh fruity sauce! I enjoyed my breakfast along with coffee in a mug that had a crown on it. Cheers to Queen Elizabeth for being free of pee.

Don's omelet with grilled ham and potatoes was a feast that Sir Walter Raleigh would have enjoyed.

After we dined, I wandered and got a better peek at the other wall. 

This mural also had some details that Cornwell added to cause a stir. The Indian's bare bottom was considered very risqué in 1938. The mural however was left alone. 

Check Out

Here is my last photo at The Warwick. We checked out, the morning before before Thanksgiving. Don was texting an Uber.

We were sad to leave, since we hadn't even begun to hit all the places that were in a convenience distance from the hotel. But room prices were tripling, due to the parade the next day.

Location

So we left our wonderful location. Below are some of the places we explored, just minutes away from The Warwick.

We weren't really sad to leave. We were going to my brother and sister-in-laws, in Brooklyn!

What's Notable?

The Warwick was the perfect location, with a great room rate and a very decent room. There were lot of rooms packed into this hotel and there were a lot of guests who like us, didn't look fancy. 

The hotel is not glitzy like it was a century ago. But Randolph's and Murals made up for that, with people encounters and curious history. I would say location, price and hotel history made our stay pretty darn good!

I'd be happy to stay again. Maybe when the exterior renovation is complete!
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