We just returned from Manhattan where we dove headfirst into the latest modern architecture, design, art, food and culture.  It’s a great time for a trip to NYC because even the design hotels are offering outstanding rates.  We got a screamin deal at the Gramercy Park Hotel this time – an establishment so exclusive that they usually don’t even let rubbish like us into the bar.  Boutique restaurants were hosting recession specials and happy-hours were plentiful.  Below are the spots that we recommend checking out; we must have missed dozens of cool, new, modern places – so hit that comments button and give us the scoop.  As per usual – these will be added to The Modern List where you can find many more.

gramercy-park-hotel-photo-by-bigboyb
[Photo by BigBoyB]

HOTELS
Thompson LES, 190 Allen St, 212.460.5300‎
thompson-les
[Photo courtesy of Thompson LES]

Cooper Square Hotel, 25 Cooper Square 212.475.5700
cooper-square-hotel-by-professor-bop
[Photo by professorbop]

The Standard, 848 Washington at 13th Street, 212.645.4646
standard-hotel-photo-by-archidose
[Photo by archidose]

Stay, 157 W 47th St, 212.768.3700
stay-hotel-01
[Photo by contemporist]

DINNER
Ippudo, 65 4th Ave, 212.388.0088  Extremely good noodles and a lively cool atmosphere.
ippudo-nyt
[Photo courtesy New York Times]

Corton in Tribeca at 239 West Broadway, 212.219.2777
corten
[Photo courtesy Corton]

Craft Restaurant, 43 E 19th, 212.780.0880  We know, we know–Craft has been around for a while now but we can’t hit them all on each trip.
craft-restaurant-by-bicky
[Photo by bicky]

The John Dory, 85 10th Ave, 212.929.4948  Chef April Bloomfield is also the creator of the Spotted Pig in the West Village.
john-dory-photo-by-nymag
[Photo by nymag]

DRINKS
Clo Wine + Shop, Time Warner Center, 10 Columbus Circle at Broadway, 4th floor
clo-wine-bar
[Photo by Sheff Imports]

Bar Veloce, 175 2nd Ave # 6
bar-veloce-by-bar-veloce
[Photo courtesy Bar Veloce]

The Living Room at the Standard Hotel
buildblog-standard-living-room
[Photo by BUILD LLC]

The Aspen Social Club at Stay Hotel
stay-hotel-aspen-social-club-01
[Photo courtesy Stay Hotel]

MUSEUMS
Museum of Art and Design, 2 Columbus Circle
We’ve read a great deal of the controversy about the new museum and building renovation, however we admire the new building, think it functions well and the current shows “Remixing the Ordinary” and “Karim Rashid Does Radiators” are both clever and better than most anything else in town at the moment.
mad-photo-by-peninah
[Photo by peninah]

The Guggenheim has it’s new threads on and is looking fab again.
buildblog-guggenheim
[Photo by BUILD LLC]

GALLERIES
Mary Boone Gallery in Chelsea at 541 W 24th St
The shows here are typically very well executed –but honestly, we usually stop in to see the brilliant integration of the original structure.
buildblog-mary-boone-gallery
[Photo by BUILD LLC]

AIA NYC, 536 LaGuardia Place,  Currently hosting an exciting exhibit called “MAKE IT WORK  Engineering Possibilities”
buildblog-aia-nyc
[Photo by BUILD LLC]

RETAIL SPACES
Vera Wang in Soho at 158 Mercer,  cold architecture but nice peeps
vera-wang-photo-by-nymag
[Photo by NYmag]

Hus, 11 Christopher, a little piece of Scandinavia in Manhattan
hus-photo-by-raredaily
[Photo by raredaily]

BUILDINGS
New Cooper Union Building.
cooper-union-building-photo-by
[Photo by Edward]

Alice Tully Hall by Diller  Scofidio + Renfro at 1941 Broadway
alice-tully-hall-photo-by-interior-design
[Photo by Interior Design]

Although the little stretch of Bond street between Lafayette and the Bowery is most well known for the painfully excessive 40 Bond project by Herzog & de Meuron, the block is a nice collection of buildings and shops.
40-bond-by-coolboom
[Photo by coolboom]

There is a very nice stainless steel panel clad building along the Highline that we couldn’t find information on.  Anybody have the scoop on this one?
buildblog-highline-building-01
[Photo by BUILD LLC]

The New Jet Blue Terminal at JFK by Gensler.  A well designed space with cool restaurants, useful shops and plenty of places to jump on your laptop.
buildblog-deep-blue
[Photo by BUILD LLC]

SHOWROOMS
We refreshed our memory on quite a few showrooms this trip – some of which have been around a while but worth checking in with.
Duravit Showroom, 105 Madison Avenue
duravit-showroom-photo-by-interior-design
[Photo by Interior Design]

Trespa, 62 Greene St in Soho,  Great rainscreen panel materials
buildblog-trespa
[Photo by BUILD LLC]

Bulthaup, 578 Broadway # 306
buildblog-bulthaup
[Photo by BUILD LLC]

Poggenpohl, 270 Park Ave S
buildblog-poggenpohl
[Photo by BUILD LLC]

Boffi, 85 Grand St in Soho
buildblog-boffi
[Photo by BUILD LLC]

3form, 520 8th Ave, 20th Floor
buildblog-3form
[Photo by BUILD LLC]

Virtual martinis to everyone who finished the marathon blog post -cheers!