Taking Dentistry to the Next Level

Dentists these days don’t have to be such a scary experience. In fact, one particular dental office in midtown Manhattan is calling itself a dental spa, indicating that it can actually be a very positive, relaxing experience. For comfortable dentistry in the midtown area, check out 209 NYC Dental.

NY To Open Luxury Bathroom Facility

Commuting New Yorkers and city visitors will be able to relieve themselves without concerns for their hygiene as soon as this summer, thanks to a new project in Manhattan.

Wayne Parks, an entrepreneur from Fairfield, CN, is opening New York’s first “luxury bathrooms and private day storage”. A self-proclaimed germaphobe, Parks came up with the project idea after touring the city (and its public restrooms) with his family. Posh Stow and Go, as he calls it, will provide commuters with access to clean facilities throughout the day. The first location will be in Midtown Manhattan near Penn Station and Grand Central Station.

Posh Stow and Go will cover 3,000 square feet, and features spacious individual bathroom stalls as well as private showers. The facilities will be open from 9:00am to 11:00pm, 363 days a year. Personal storage lockers will also be provided to members.

Patrons must sign up for a membership in order to use the Posh Stow and Go facilities. The membership fee $15, and there are also packages for three, six or ten days at a time. Those cost $8, $7 and $6 respectively.

 

7-Eleven Expands in Manhattan

7-Eleven, America’s beloved convenience store, has been working hard to expand in Manhattan since 2011. Though the chain struggled a bit in the beginning, it has since opened 37 stores in NY, with its five newest venues opening in the past six months.

In lieu of its rapid expansion, 7-Eleven launched an innovation group aimed at testing new digital offerings for customers. The project, which began two years ago, has tested products ranging from Amazon Lockers to automated key-making kiosks.

"When a retailer comes to New York City, you have to win over the city and earn your spot- you can’t just come in with your normal concept,” Johannes Leonardo’s chief executive Mike Duda said. “Utilities like the Amazon Locker and other things are something smart and extra that you can’t get somewhere else.”

The chain is also making some changes, including its new fresh salad options as well as craft beer sales. It will be changing its appearance a bit as well, softening harsh lighting and colors with new awnings and other aesthetic features. In the past, the convenience store chain has dealt with complaints from local blogs and activists. The store hopes its new improvements will help ease some of the neighborhood’s concerns while continuing to attract business from both Midtown residents and visitors.

 

Midtown Manhattan Hosts Children's Literature Exhibit

The New York Public Library is celebrating children's literature with a new exhibit in Midtown Manhattan. The project, which features books ranging from 'The Cat in the Hat' to 'The Hobbit', lists 100 great books from the last 100 years.
The list also included books such as 'Where the Wild Things Are', 'Pippi Longstocking' and 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.'

Beloved children's author Eric Carle, famous for books like 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar', and 'Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?', as well as Judy Blume, author of  'Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing' and 'Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret', joined several librarians for a reading and panel discussion.

Leonard Marcus, moderator and curator of the exhibit, said: "Viewed over time, children's books are the collected memory of our hopes and dreams. They are the message in a bottle that each generation tosses out to the next generation in the hope that it may wash ashore and be read and be taken to heart."

Blume discussed her book 'Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing', explaining that when she was in fourth grade, the stories were already forming in her head. "But I never told anybody about them because I thought if I did they would think I was weird," she said.

Carle talked about his first book, 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar', revealing that the character was first created by folding paper. Carle originally thought he would be a bookworm, named Willie the Worm. "And I had this wonderful editor and she didn't like the worm so much," Carle explained.

Carle also read his new book 'Friends' to his young audience, a story about a boy on a journey to find his friend.

Minus 5 Opens on Midtown Hotel

Midtown Manhattan recently welcomed Minus 5 to its repertoire of tourist attractions. Located in the lobby of the New York Hilton Manhattan, the ice bar opened earlier this month. The venue, which is essentially an enormous walk-in freezer, has a temperature of 23 degrees Fahrenheit.

For a $20 fee, guests are provided with disposable gloves and parkas. Cocktails are served in ice glasses, or “in the rocks”, and the cavern is decorated with ice sculptures, an ice bar, and ice benches. The ambience is set with a reel of Top 40 hits such as “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”. The Manhattan location is actually the third in the U.S.; two similar scenes can be found in Las Vegas.

VIP reservations can also be made through the hotel. For a fee of $95, this experience includes a drink, a photo and a take-away hat.

 

Bloomberg Plans Midtown Makeover

Michael Bloomberg has made significant changes to the New York skyline during his terms as mayor, and now he hopes to renovate the face of Midtown East.

Mike Slattery, a vice president of the Real Estate Board of New York, supports the mayor’s plan. Indicating a brown brick building on the corner of 42^nd Street and Madison Avenue, he said:

“These are not the kind of buildings that are desirable today.” He pointed across the street and explained: “This is one of the few buildings that have been built in the last 15 years in the district.”

Said building is glass, and twice as tall as the structure across the street. According to Slattery, the
newer building is environmentally efficient, while the high ceilings and open floor space are more modern and high end. Corporate tenants will accept no less, he explained.

The newer building “competes with Tokyo, Shanghai and London. That’s what’s at stake here: New York’s preeminence as a commercial capital,” he said.

Bloomberg’s intended facelift would add five million square feet of office space and generate $100 million in extra tax revenue per year.

 

The Best of Japan in Midtown Manhattan

For those looking for an elegant and well-priced meal before the theater, there is a gem in the Washington Jefferson Hotel. Shimizu, a sushi and shochu restaurant, sits inside the regal hotel owned by hotelier Shimmie Horn.  With its menu of seasonal specials, sushi rolls, appetizers and more, it’s the perfect place for a pre-show meal or for a late dinner after the entertainment.

For those who like to attend the show on a full stomach, Shimizu has the perfect solution. They offer a prix fixe meal from 5:30-7:30 Monday through Saturday and it’s the perfect way to begin the evening. It includes miso soup or salad, an appetizer, the choice of entrée, and a dessert. For less than $30 for the entire meal, it’s an outstanding choice prior to a night on the town.

For people looking for a nightcap, Shimizu offers the authentic Japanese experience with their extensive list of shochu and sake choices. Shochu is a Japanese distilled beverage that is usually distilled from barley, sweet potatoes or rice. With an alcohol content of 25%, it has a higher concentration of alcohol than sake. Sake is made from fermented rice and typically contains anywhere from 9-15% alcohol, depending on how it is made and served.  Both are available in an extensive beverage menu at Shimizu.

Moving off of the beaten path and finding an out-of-the-ordinary eatery can certainly enhance anyone’s experience in New York City. Shimmie Horn’s Washington Jefferson Hotel, and the Shimizu restaurant offer travelers, businesspeople and locals the chance to enjoy a refreshing taste of Japan right in the heart of the city.