BIG PLANS

Thursday, February 14, 2008

RECOMMENDED LODGING PT 4

Club Quarters
52 William Street,New York, NY 10005
2 minute train ride across the east river plus 10 minute walk
10 minute cab ride
40 minute walk across the Brooklyn Bridge

I think this is it. It's close and fairly reasonable at around $200 a night. Awesomeness. They have a special wedding program. This is what the website says:

For weddings, Club Quarters has invented the "Wedding Headquarters" Concept.

13 Prime big city locations
Very low cost hotel rooms
Free suite for the Bride and Groom *
Free suites for hospitality*
Complimentary upgrades for parents of Bride and Groom*
Optional Rehearsal Dinner and/or Gala Breakfast (and in some facilities Wedding Receptions)
Transportation and other customized arrangements
Private, with restricted entry
Warm hospitality

*certain restrictions apply

I called and left a message - I expect to hear from them tomorrow maybe? I think this is the way to go.

RECOMMENDED LODGING PT 3

THE MARRIOTT BROOKLYN BRIDGE

333 ADAMS STREET, 11201
$259 per night.
Within walking distance to Pochron Studios
5 minute cab ride
5 minute walk to the F train for a 2 min ride.

Pros, Pros, Pros: Close to EVERYTHING, safe, good customer service, good restaurant, clean, clean, clean.

Cons: They charge for EVERYTHING. Internet is $12.95 a day. I read that a rollaway is about $30 bucks. Extention cords are $8 plus tax.

RECOMMENDED LODGING PT. 2

The Park Slope Inn

www.parkslopeinn.com
917 627 8047

This place has 3 guest rooms at $150 per night and a studio apt for 4 people at $215 per night. This might be a good place for all of your family to stay in one place.

RECOMMENDED LODGING PT. 1

Holiday Inn Express Brooklyn Bridge
625 Union Street, 11215
$187 on GTA.com
15 mins by cab / 30 mins by subway - 2.5 blocks to the station

Exterior View

View from across the street.

This was a pretty honest review from TripAdvisor.

"When you're inside this Holiday Inn Express it seems you could be at most any tollway exit around the country. They're pretty standard, with clean, modern rooms. But this new nine-story hotel (opened in early 2006) has been plopped down in the middle of a Brooklyn block, surrounded by three-flat apartment buildings and auto repair shops.

I was told that this block was filled with drug dealing just a few years ago. The surrounding neighborhood is still rough and walking outside alone at night wouldn't be smart. But a couple of blocks over at 5th Avenue we had a great dinner the night we arrived and good lunch the following day. (OK, so we did see some rats run across the street ahead of us on the way back from dinner and the guys on the stoop of the apartment building next door were sitting outside late smoking pot.)

While skeptical about staying in Brooklyn (my client made the plans) it was the right choice. Not only was our room less than $200 a night (try finding a decent place at that price in Manhattan ), we were close to the business we needed to do in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn .

If you need to stay in Brooklyn , this is a good option."

I think:

I would have no problem staying here or recommending this to anyone This hotel straddles the hood. 2 blocks south is one of the best areas in the city (just like that place that we had brunch at in Chicago). But half a block away is the PJs but its not ghetto - just "community". I would have no problem walking here at night but since it'ill be summer there is a good chance of seeing a few block huggers - not for the high falootin'.

Renee Huber, yes. Jeanne Gray, no.

What say you?

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

WEDDING ANNOUCEMENTS

Gary Coleman, 40 and Shannon Price,22 were married this weekend in "the mountains".

Price, who wasn't aware of his fame, met Coleman just over 5 months ago on the set of the movie Church Ball while handling the sale of his memorabilia on e-Bay. "I didn't grow up with Diff'rent Strokes," she tells Inside Edition. "I actually didn't like watching TV when I was younger."

Gary says that this is his first-time-ever romantic relationship. "I never got the opportunity to be romantic or feel romantic with anyone," he says. "I wasn't saving myself, she just happened to be the one."

As for the 18 years between them, "I don't have issues with age, I have issues with intelligence," says Coleman. "She's more intelligent than I am, and that's what matters to me."

"We may go a week and not speak to each other," he says, while she claims, "He lets his anger conquer him sometimes. … He throws things around, and sometimes he throws it in my direction. I dont like the violence."

Best wishes to the happy couple!