Return to Philadelphia Palomar
April 7, 2017
NPS has not been to the Palomar in Philadelphia for a while—six years! So why not. (Just between us, the Philly Monaco takes the win when it comes to Philly. More about why below.)
What’s happened in the last six years at the Philly Palomar is some renovation and some aging, both seemingly in equal parts.
Thanks to Abby Raymond’s magic, we find ourselves in room 2102 which is an exec suite of sorts (but on the small side and with a noted lack of design pop). The bathroom is great, however the rest of the room needs some work.
Did we mention the bathroom? Its great.
Lets start with that.
Yes please. A HUGE bathtub IN the shower. This one is a Kimpton record.
The view from the shower/tub combo package is nice. And you can leave the shades up if you feel like flashing the world while scrubbing your hair.
The hot tub IN the shower.
View from the shower (not the one through the huge window).
Obviously, NPS approves of the shower situation in 2102.
But then there is this view from the door.
Hamster’s view into the room. Nope.
You can see the dated couch thing in the background. Design. Design. Design.
The ’80s called and they want their TV pod thing back.
So the TV pod? Probably used to be nice in some previous decade. We no longer worship the TV. Stop it.
Water damage obvious. Time to haul this thing to the dump.
The rest of the room is small and very gray.
Nice bed. That goes without saying.
Anyway, the shower is nice.
Philly is nice too. After scarfing down a cheesesteak at Jimmy G’s it was off to Friday Saturday Sunday for some world class cocktails. Philly’s outstanding cocktail kung fu persists to this day. Make a point of visiting Friday Saturday Sunday. NPS liked it so much we went two days in a row. Thanks to Alec and Sasha for making Wednesday fun and Paul for the icing on the Thursday cake.
The Cloudbreak is a fantastic cocktail invented by Paul MacDonald who runs the bar program at Friday Saturday Sunday.
1 oz bonal
0.75 oz bols genever
0.75 oz lemon juice
0.75 oz simple syrup
0.75 oz heavy cream
egg white
dry shake. ice. shake. serve up. grapefruit peel + cinnamon
And glass shape does matter. Make sure the foam has a delivery mechanism with each sip.
https://twitter.com/noplasticshower/status/850308487578079234
On our Thursday return, we tried a brand new experimental cocktail by Paul that remains As Yet Unnamed
1 oz mezcal (del maguey vida)
1 oz lime jiuce
1 oz eden orleans herbal (a vermont aperitif cider)
1 oz buddha’s hand, juniper steeped syrup (no heat but 1:1)
Delicious. Paul is a master.
In other Philly news, skip Rouge. Too trendy and a lackluster wine list.
Maybe we just miss Tom Stoppard (it was great to meet Abby though). Four showerheads for the Palomar in Philly.
Park Plaza Pleasant Surprise in Nuremberg
March 14, 2017
Late stage relationship Ehekarussell (loosely, the Marriage-Merry-Go-Round)
Big chains like the Park Plaza chain are generally something we avoid at NPS. But we neglected to set this trip up far enough out and it turns out the Embedded World conference fills up Nuremberg almost completely. That meant that the boutiques we would normally target were full. Only some seriously good detective work came up with Park Plaza (thanks for your help Abbie).
View from 614 Park Plaza
The hotel itself is situated just across a major road from the train station. Turns out to be a great location given the venue for the event (Indabahn). And the Nuremberg Park Plaza itself is much better than expected. Friendly front staff, early check in on arrival over the pond (!!), a modern spacious hip lobby, and get this—no plastic showers.
614
The bathroom is spacious and well appointed. (Sure, the shower pan may be vinyl, but the glass cube is fantastic.
Glass shower cube with two shower heads
LOL
Walking around Nuremberg is a great way to see the sights. The city is very walkable. Use these guides.
Some restaurants of note
Atelier Bar for sausages
Sangam nuremberg (very good Indian)
Pillhofer (get the crispy pork shoulder)
Hausbrauerei Altstadthof (house brewed red beer and award winning schnapps)
SchwarzBierBrand gold medal 2008 winner schnapps @MacCocktail pic.twitter.com/HFNf3qTYcM
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) March 15, 2017
We’re still working out the cocktail situation in Nuremberg. Atelier Bar in the Grand Hotel is great. They not only made a cocktail called the Nuremberg Mule…
4 cl Haas gin (a local product)
2 cucumber slices
1/2 lime
freshly ground ginger
muddle ingredients. add ice. Top with Thomas Henry spicy ginger. Garnish with cucumber slice
Nuremberg Mule
…they also accommodated NPS for breakfast 15 minutes before they were even supposed to be open! Get this, the weenies in the restaurant at Park Plaza have no flexibility to serve past their 10:30 cut off (on zee dot, you are late, NEIN). The solution is to walk next door to the Grand Hotel and find some actual service. Let this be a lesson to you and your corporate droids Park Plaza! Minus twenty.
Atelier Bar Nuremberg
In other cocktail news, NPS has confirmed that Bar Nürnberg is in fact a very good bar indeed. From the special cocktail of the night (a dark and stormy derivative with rhum agricole from guadalupe) to corpse reviver #2s to sazaracs, each cocktail was meticulously made with care and expertise. Highly recommended.
We got into the Fernet Branca and stayed until 1 am.
Beat bar in nuremberg you ask? Bar Nürnberg bar none. https://t.co/vKGG92JsOr pic.twitter.com/lEfh04kw2v
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) March 15, 2017
Bar Nürmberg special rums this month @mmadou pic.twitter.com/csnO6U19RT
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) March 14, 2017
On our last day in Nuremberg, we had a very nice chat with Park Plaza GM Carsten Baumann who shared the history of the hotel, talked some politics, and veered on into distilling (predictably given our proclivities). Carsten is an interesting fellow. His outreach was very professional.
The DelikatEssen is a great spirits shop in Nuremberg hidden across the river. Bought some Haas products, an interesting German Windspiel gin, and some high end hazelnut liqueur.
Superb spirits shop in Nuremberg where the proprietor actually knows a thing or seven about distilling https://t.co/sQ0Kg9LR06 pic.twitter.com/1qtd9KSmCe
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) March 15, 2017
Vintage Bar (just across the street from DelikatEssen in fact) is the second best bar in Nuremberg with the most passion of all. Spent a nice evening chatting with the owner.
The second best bar in nuremberg with the most passion https://t.co/2Etj0E2xTi pic.twitter.com/lk8yPL8NwS
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) March 16, 2017
Four showerheads and some training for the breakfast staff at the Park Plaza. Much better than expected and yet also short of the mark.
2017: First Blood to the Lorien Alexandria
January 12, 2017
If the Lorien sounds familiar to you, dear reader, that’s because we stayed here just a few short weeks ago in a last minute mad dash to the Kimpton inner circle finish line. We made it across by the skin of our teeth! But we also got a great meal in old town as a fabulous side effect. Read all about that here.
We’re back, this time in the city on a keynote talk gig. Of course the conference is being held at some awful Hilton or other where NPS would not be caught dead staying. So Kimpton it is!
This time we’re in room(s) 611 and 615. I am here first for an evening and then the rest of the posse comes later. Plenty of room in this set of rooms! And a balcony to boot, which on a 68 degree day in January is awesome.
The balcony would be a great place for breakfast!
68 degrees. Perfect balcony weather @kimpton lorian pic.twitter.com/mQFfbLLNFj
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) January 12, 2017
Sadly, the weather promises to turn to snow by Saturday morning. We might even get stuck here in the mosquito!
Looking in, French doors.
Living room
Living room
The bedroom is tucked away in the corner, but is very nice with doors that open to the outside. It is basically the penthouse corner of the 6th floor.
Bedroom 611
With all of the adjoining rooms, we need a huge shower to fit everyone. Fortunately, that’s all set.
A glass shower big enough for everyone!
The shower barely fits in the mirror.
After settling in, it was time for a drink in the great cocktail bar downstairs with Steph Vogel. NPS recommends highly the practice of having a drink with the big boss. Inner circle karma all around as barman Phil Clark and chef Wiedmaier made cocktail hour special.
Hey @mmadou it is full tiki in 2017 pic.twitter.com/rtXip1fpIA
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) January 12, 2017
Phil runs a superb bar @kimpton lorien. Drinks with @stephaski pic.twitter.com/ERfHMLxqyX
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) January 13, 2017
Crudo from chef @Kimpton lorien brabo bar @stephaski. Delish. @thedapperdiner pic.twitter.com/9j44xis2jS
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) January 13, 2017
The Apples to Apples
1.5 oz appleton VX rum
1 oz laird’s apple brandy
.5 oz cynar
.5 oz demerara syrup
4 dashes bittermen’s tiki bitters
Shake. Serve on large rocks in a whiskey glass.
After driving off for dinner with an actual sibling, we returned for a midnight snack. The charcuterie plate was remarkable.
Wine, notes, meat, cheese, dessert, sparking water? What more is there in an amenity. Thanks you guys.
Those black sesame things, just wow.
Out of this world charcuterie
Five showerheads for the Lorien. Can’t wait to see the style evolve at this hotel. We’ll be back as often as we can.
2016 Last Licks at the Lorien: Alexandria
December 29, 2016
You know that quandry where you’re just below the threshold for Inner Circle status by one night? That. Somehow it happens every year.
Why leave this?
Fortunately, NPS can always make the best of it by visiting Steph Vogel and finding out what he is up to. A little backstory, Steph has run a number of DC-area Kimpton properties, lifting them every time up into excellence: the Palomar, the George, and the Donovan. Now it’s time for the Lorien.
The Lorien’s main problem is competition from the very fabulous Hotel Monaco just down the street (and much closer to the water). The Monaco seems to have sucked up all of the great design resources, leaving the Lorien marooned in the dreamscape ’90s. That is all starting to change now that Steph is in charge.
For example, the bar and restaurant are already going places. Once a scary exclusively white tablecloth space is now a bar buzzing with life and engaged with the street (not to mention soaked in cocktail excellence). Phil Clark runs a very nice bar.
The Lorien bar program is top notch
Get those drinks right! Attention detail, you are now on call.
Just take a look at the glassware. This is top shelf.
Liberty Punch
Bourbon Crusta
The amenity deposited for NPS in 619 highlighted both the bar and the kitchen to great effect. Just gorgeous, very welcoming, and kind.
Fancy a sweet?
How to make a Liberty Punch: Some Assembly Required
Watching the rooms transform from their current stark, almost bland design to something better will be fun. NPS money says that in six months this property will be the hottest ticket in town.
619 Bedroom
Stark
The shower, we are happy to report, is glass shower excellence (and huge). NPS could shoot a movie in there!
Enter the glass door for showering
NPS approved shower
And off the bedroom and sitting room both, is a balcony overlooking Alexandria. Can’t wait to come back and see what that is like in the summer.
View from balcony of 619
Our visit was punctuated by a drink with Phil and Steph at the bar. And then it was off to the always fabulous Restaurant Eve for dinner. Eve did not disappoint. The five course tasting meal was absolutely delicious and worth every penny (that’s lots of pennies for those counting). Three hours of laughter, great flavors, and fun was just what the doctor ordered after this year.
We returned for a nightcap of Liberty Punch.
Four showerheads and massive velocity towards five for the Lorien. Let the transformation begin.
Great food. Great drinks. Great hospitality. 2016, we bid you adieu.
Lafayette Park (Lafayette, CA) Slightly Dated French Style
December 13, 2016
Lafayette, CA is tucked away in the hills behind Berkeley, CA, through the tunnel and into an HO Railroad time warp. This cute little town is a classic Bay area amalgam of chic and blue collar in only the way that California can be. Lafayette Park fancies itself an upscale destination resort designed like a French Châteaux. In reality it is more like a local wedding location just off the highway next to a row of car detailing places.
All decked out for Santa
Lafayette Park is part of the family-owned Woodside hotel group that includes the Plaza Hotel in Monterey. Frankly, the Plaza Hotel is a notch or three farther up the food chain (and we’re not just saying this because we were in the Presidential Suite last time we were there). That said, Lafayette has a few things going for it and a few things to fix.
For example, the food is remarkably good for hotel food. But the meeting rooms are dated and stuffy. The staff is gracious and well trained. But the same staff has a hard time going off script (as an example, try having the front desk deal with your car valet because the valet line is four deep and there is no time. No really, I am going to want you to do that.) The common rooms have interesting design. But the bathrooms (even in the superior class rooms) need serious redesign.
So it’s hit and miss.
NPS was assigned 354 (not the Presidential Suite sadly). The room has a fantastic ceiling and a real wood burning fireplace (sans wood of course since this is California but rather stocked with a walmart grade fire log?!). But (there it is again that proverbial “but”) who decided to keep the circa 1974 mirrored closet. At least the hangers are real hangers (but you can see on the pole back to the time when they were not).
Excellent ceiling
Dated, but at the same time classic design in 354
A solid wooden writing table
But really, WTF?!
The real drawback as far as this blog and its particular hangups goes is the bathroom design. Just start over.
Nope
So much tile ruined by obesity bar
Why all hotel bathrooms in properties grasping to be upscale still have shower curtains over bathtubs is beyond us here at NPS. We travel for glass showers.
Apparently somebody got some kind of memo WRT NPS arrival, because there was fruit and san pellegrino. Whoever brought this stuff up forgot to remove the default “upsell water” (an NPS pet peeve) and management seems to have overlooked the idea of writing a note. Oh well. So close and so “but.”
Fruit and sparkling water, a nice touch
no
One last quibble or two and we’ll shut up. Outlets by the bed. Get some. Delete the clock radio from a previous decade. And conjur up some espresso to avoid the 5am walk to Starbucks just down the street (past all those car detailing places and Ace hardware).
In lafayette, ca your reasonable coffee supply amounts to @Starbucksnews pic.twitter.com/s1ZksZAVoF
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) December 13, 2016
All in all Lafayette Park earns four showerheads and best wishes for “but”-eradication. I guess we get surly when we travel during no fly noël. Can’t be helped.
Dressed up for Christmas at Lafayette Park
The cocktail scene in Lafayette was surprisingly decent. After dinner at Postino one evening, we went around the corner to The Cooperage for a cocktail or two.
We were ably served by Ryan Wehrenberg who played along nicely with our gin range shenanigans.
Gin range in lafayette pic.twitter.com/GUe9ApLc3v
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) December 14, 2016
Ryan also happens to be a local distillery rep for Bay Area Distilling company.
Lafayette, CA locally distilled pic.twitter.com/Ehu61KhomF
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) December 14, 2016
He mixed us up a cocktail called the chimneysweep which was interesting but not quite ready for prime time.
1.5 oz vodka
.5 oz orgeat
.5 oz lo-fi gentian amer
.5 oz fernet
.5 oz lemon juice
2 dashes bitter girl orange bitters
dash activated charcoal
shake. double strain into glass atomized with laphroig
The drink looked better than it tasted.
The cooperage makes stuff up in lafayette ca pic.twitter.com/pqTHulLqLz
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) December 14, 2016
Back at the Lafayette Park hotel bar, we proceeded to get into the William Larue Weller (2016 edition)
Actual bourbon @LafayettePark. Including an amusing billing mixup. also decent gin. pic.twitter.com/T32MRRMabe
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) December 14, 2016
The next evening we shlepped into San Fran for a business meeting at Forgery. They still have the bottle of Amer Picon that NPS dropped there before opening night.
The bitter liberals were here @forgerysf pic.twitter.com/oS2EvTUVAD
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) December 15, 2016
We were served by a delightful server who dutifully made us a Liberal and then moved on to this “so darn close” cocktail Experiment Fifty-seven
.75 oz tio pepe palomino fino sherry
.5 oz amer picon
.25 oz agave syrup
1 oz partida añejo
.5 oz lemon juice
2 dashes bitter truth grapefruit
shake. serve up with lemon peel.
The concensus at our table was that the grapefruit bitters were overkill. Anyway, we’ll play with that one back at Coal Stove Sink Bar.
And guess who showed up? Our great friend Jacques Bezuidenhout himself. What a delight. And CONGRATULATIONS!
Engaged (with special christmas hat and extra love) @LoveTequila @alexisdoc pic.twitter.com/flQeQsDPLs
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) December 15, 2016
Hotel Marlowe in Boston: NPS Home Away from Home
October 7, 2016
Not only is the Hotel Marlowe (in Cambridge, MA really) a beautiful property, it is a well-oiled hospitality machine. GM Joe Capalbo always treats NPS as a friend and colleague. One of the highlights of any Boston visit is catching up with Joe.
Hotel Marlowe
NPS visits do seem to coincide with visits by the owners of the hotel. That keeps Joe pretty busy. It also tends to occupy the presidential suite, but that’s OK because room 621 is fantastic all on its own.
621 Executive Suite
621 Natural Light
Outstanding
Check out this cool decanter.
Barrel aged Boulevardier
The only minor detail left out was still water versus sparkling. But you know, all those blue bottles look the same! The oversight was easily remedied.
621 has a fine bathroom situation. Glass showers!
Dinner at Sportello was very nice. It’s always great to catch up with old friends. Afterwards, our plan was to sneak down to drink by the back stairs. Our plan failed when we were told we would have to stand around for 20 minutes before getting a seat. Things used to be much smoother between drink and sportello three years ago! Ezra was in London anyway.
Fortunately the manager at sportello detected our disappointment and ushered us right next door to Menton’s Gold Bar.
Grappa based cocktails from @MentonBoston pic.twitter.com/2eZr7GkgOH
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) October 6, 2016
Cap’n Cook
.75 oz chamomile syrup (2:1)
.25 oz luxardo lemoncello
.5 oz salers
1.5 oz grappa
1 dash Dr. Adam Elmegirab’s spanish bitters
1 gram olive oil powder
Stir down. Serve over large cube. Spoon powder on cube.
Spectre
1 oz grappa
.25 ransom old tom gin
1.5 oz barolo chinato
The barrel aged Boulevardier that Patrick made was so good that we had to go down to Bambara and get another!
The aged boulevardier was so good, NPS needed another @Kimpton Patrick says hi @LoveTequila pic.twitter.com/K969exDgT0
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) October 6, 2016
Dinner at Craigie on Main was spectacular as always. Whole roasted chicken, great wine, and superior cocktails makes Craigie a top destination.
Nice back bar @craigieonmain pic.twitter.com/IFL861YTox
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) October 6, 2016
A final nightcap or two at Journeyman backbar included house made milk punch and a Liberal made with real Amer Picon. Somebody has been to France!
Backbar @eatatjourneyman has Picon. So liberal. pic.twitter.com/FDTp6XpWl8
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) October 7, 2016
All told this was a five showerhead visit to Boston hands down. Lets do it again!
The Dean to the Rescue: Providence, RI
September 7, 2016
Ever had one of those trips where you arrived just to find out that the arrangements that you thought were made were not made? Like, you go to the hertz lot on the shuttle and they don’t have you in their system? Good thing for the Presidential level status at Hertz. And also good thing the Dean was able to find some room at the inn! (shew)
The news was not all good, though. Room 415 and its type were all booked up. But sometimes providence shines on you (who could resist that line?), and as it turns out room 401 is ever better than 415. Why? Because the bathroom is bigger and the shower is even more glassy! Hot damn.
401 has room for a bed
And a Morrocan bench (is that ivory?)
Plenty of light on a dreary day
Extra chair in the bathroom? OK
The glass cube shower is NPS approved
It’s nice to be back, and nice to discover a cheaper room category more suited to NPS. I think I have a new favorite room.
Next up, a drink or two at The Magdalenae Room and dinner at the recently James Beard adorned Persimmon.
The fabulous magdalanae room @thedeanhotel. Catherine mixes a mean cocktail. pic.twitter.com/UqVI2xqnLD
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) September 8, 2016
The 19th Century
1.5 oz Rye (old overholt)
.5 oz fernet
.5 oz maraschino liqueur
.5 oz dry curaçao
.5 oz lemon juice
Shake. Strain. Serve up. Lemon peel garnish.
Creative and outstanding dinner @PersimmonRI. Thanks chef. pic.twitter.com/XF8q6hw3Gj
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) September 8, 2016
A five shower head visit!
Richmond Rogues
June 11, 2016
OK OK, once again staying at a friend’s house, so no hotel to talk about, but after a day being trapped in a conference room in Tysons Corner, the swing over to The Rogue Gentlemen was a most welcome respite. We invaded by uber.
The Rogue Gentlemen
It being Negroni week, there was a Negroni round.
Ice program
And then there was a Paul Blumer special, which he calls a Sazarac # Infinity, and we call a High Octane Gasoline Sazarac.
1 oz Rittenhouse Rye
1 oz Calvados
Dash of honey syrup
4 dashes Peycahud’s
1 dash Angustora
Rinse the iced serving cup with Absinthe and Ardbeg 10. Serve up.
Anyway, swing on by ya’ll.
Hotel Marlowe and the Ungrateful Bast@%d
June 1, 2016
Spring Rose: Virginia
We left the Spring rose in Virginia for a short visit to Boston on Jet Blue and a quick overnight at our home away from home the Hotel Marlowe. All day meetings and dinner was interrupted by a quick cocktail with GM Joe Capalbo who runs a very tight ship. Joe was rewarded with slightly defrosted pork.
After a fantastic meal at the always great Cragie on Main we finally made it upstairs to 820, our very most favorite room on the property. Maybe we just like the word presidential??
Amenity in the presidential suite
But wait, what is this cocktail? The
Really?? LOL. Nobody suffers at the Marlowe. We can be ungrateful though!
This cocktail needs some adjustment into what we’ll call the Ungrateful Bast@%rd as follows:
1 oz cask strenth bourbon
1 oz Dolin’s dry vermouth
1 oz lemon
stir down. in an ice filled high ball, add Fever Tree ginger beer to the top.
Serve with a cheese plate.
No really, we’re actually very grateful!
820 has some new gear and some old gear. It is a gorgeous room.
Sleeping quarters
Sitting quarters
Bathing quarters
One of my favorite parts of visiting the Hotel Marlowe is the valet guys who I have come to know over the years. It is always nice to see them.
Marlowe circle art.
Is it green? Is it blue? who knows?
Fiver showerheads in perpetuity for the Hotel Marlowe (and some pork ribs xrayed by the TSA).
Hotel Fabric a Perfect Paris Perch
April 28, 2016
Paris in Spring
Hotel Fabric is a fantastic little boutique tucked away on a side street in 11. Checkin was warm and friendly with fresh flowers. The lobby is designed to feel like a living room and includes an honor bar.
We were assigned room 206.
206 sitting area
206 bedroom
Many interesting design elements are included in the room which is in no way a hamster cage.
The bathroom is superb with an excellent shower. The LED lights are very clever
Shower excellence
About the only quibble with the property is these stupid “don’t steal my hanger hangers.” These do not belong in an upscale hotel.
no no no no
Paris in late April is incredible. Mini rainstorms and bright blue sky between grey clouds.
We spent some time at Luxembourg Garden and at the Louvre.
Luxembourg Garden
Since Air France still can’t locate our lost bag after two days, we bought some clothes at a Paris boutique.
Because @airfrance sucks and has not located the suitcase they lost (2 days ago), shopping in paris. pic.twitter.com/A3hRrmYETz
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) April 27, 2016
Dinner at Kitchen Galerie Bis was outstanding—Asian-French fusion done by a master.
And then Prescription Cocktail Club for some excellent cocktails.
An experimental cocktail (hah) at Prescription
Prescription
Humphrey crafted an Experimental Cocktail
0.5 cl fino inocente sherry
20 cl cocchi rosa sernoutit
10 cl calvados
40 cl blanton’s cask strength bourbon
Prescription remains an excellent bar with top notch service.
Hotel Fabric is a fantastic place to stay in Paris in April. Five showerheads and some LED lights thrown in for good measure.
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