Penn Club of New York

Located in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Times Square lies a hotel that is the perfect blend of old world glamour and modern luxury. A landmark building designed by Stanford White and finished in the early 1900s, it was originally the home of the Lambs Club, an organization of actors, reminiscent of the previous London location. Opening its doors as The Chatwal New York in 2010, architect Thierry Despont oversaw the entire redesign of the hotel. He was incredibly meticulous about maintaining as much of its past as possible while also introducing it to the sophisticated clientele of the twenty-first century. His work has included the restoration of the Statue of Liberty, The Carlyle, Claridges in London and a host of others. After admiring the attractive lobby and bar, where we sampled two of their signature drinks - the Lamb's Club Cup (cucumber, lime, fresh raspberries, ginger syrup, white vermouth, St. Germain, gin, and topped off with club soda), and the Goldrush (honey syrup, lemon juice and bourbon), we were escorted on a small tour of the guest rooms upstairs. It was evident in the Producer's suite with its private terrace and view of Times Square, that they spared no expense in each appointment of the room. The cedar-lined closets as well as the drawer and door handles were wrapped in leather. We also took note of the old movie playing in the elevators and the hallways lined with classic movie posters. Richly decadent, sleekly fashionable, and consciously sexy, the Chatwal is a quintessential midtown hotel that took into consideration every detail necessary for an extravagant stay.

Known as Bryant Park Place today, this Renaissance Revival structure was originally built by Andrew Carnegie, in 1907, to house the Engineer's Club, a professional group of men who were creating an important niche for themselves in the world of business. It was Mr. Carnegie's strong desire to pay tribute to "ordinary men doing extraordinary things. " Members included President Herbert Hoover, Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla. Today, No. 32 is completely residential, with Royce' Chocolate and Gotham Beauty Lounge located on either side of the stunning lobby. The exterior of the building remains almost the same, with its magnificent entryway and white stone facade.

This three-tiered observation deck at the top of Rockefeller Center offers an unobstructed 360-degree panoramic view of New York and beyond. Its view is somewhat different from that of the Empire State Building as one is at eye-level with surrounding skyscrapers, rather than gazing down upon them. Opened in 1933, it was designed to resemble the upper decks of a 1930s ocean liner. When Top of the Rock reopened in 2005 – after having been closed since 1986 – my family was one of the first to ascend to the 70th floor, as it held special memories for my parents when they were dating back in the 1940s. It has since become a favorite tourist stop for me when out-of-town guests are visiting. With its mezzanine photo exhibit and other items of interest on the way to the top, what a phenomenal place to wow people of any age and to begin their journey through the side streets of Manhattan.

Erected in 1898 as a posh residential building, but redesigned to be a hotel in 1988, this sleek and luxurious space exudes sophistication. This was Philippe Starck's first hotel project, and by all counts, he nailed it! The neoclassical facade belies the modernity inside. Giant wooden doors welcome visitors, but once indoors, the bauble lights hang down and softly illuminate the dark walls, leather chairs and couches. The building was one of the first to allow street-level passage between adjacent blocks, thus there are entrances on both 43rd and 44th Street with the glamorous restaurant and bar Forty Four in between.

I can attest to the immediate success of Carmine's on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in the early nineties as my family and friends stood on the lines to get in on a number of occasions. Owner Artie Cutler's concept of serving large, family-style portions to guests, in a warm, friendly atmosphere connected with diners immediately. It did not take Mr. Cutler long to realize that he had a success on his hands and that it was time for expansion. In 1992, the theater district had another hit in Times Square, in the form of a grand, traditional Italian restaurant.

Teddy Roosevelt, Amelia Earhart, and Charles Lindberg are among the noteworthy clients that E. B. Meyorwitz & Dell has been crafting “made-to-measure” frames for since 1875. Today, be it in their New York, London or Paris shops, one can still be fitted for a pair of the same classy, high quality spectacles.

Having spent much of my younger days on a sailboat, and experiencing motion sickness every time, it was with some trepidation that I approached the New York Yacht Club. Fortunately, this magnificent beaux-arts structure has been firmly anchored on 44th Street since its dedication in 1901. Although it no longer houses the coveted America's Cup trophy, the stern-like windows decorated with seashells and dripping seaweed on the facade, and the well-known Model Room on the inside, still provide enough attraction for mariners and landlubbers alike.

Alumni of not only Princeton, but also Columbia (212 719 0380) and recently, Williams College graduates (212 697 5300), are invited to be members of this private club. There is a vast library collection, squash courts, a gym, over night guest rooms, and of course, a restaurant.

Founded in 1889 by Cornell grads as a bastion for their kindred, the club began renting out space for their gathering activities in 1900. After bouncing around midtown, they moved into its current home in the late 1980s. Today, the space serves as a comfortable spot to congregate with fellow alums. In addition to their restaurant, there is a gym, library, and overnight guest rooms for members.

Not until 1989 were female authors and artists invited to become members of this exclusive club where their "main activity is conversation. "