THE JOLLY ROGER: August in #NYC (from @RSHotel)
Posted on 03. Aug, 2011 by Birdsong in Community, Hotel
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August 3, 2011 – Issue No. 2
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On behalf of the Roger Smith Community, I’m happy to share with you the second edition of The Jolly Roger. Each month we look to share an insider’s perspective on the places and happenings in NYC + hotel news, offerings, and contests. Send us a note about your stay on Twitter or Facebook or review us on Google, TripAdvisor, or Yelp. We would <3 to hear from you.
Use this QR code or click here for 10% off our best room rate!
Sincerely,
John Birdsong, Editor @Johnbirdsong
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by Galo Romero, Sales Manager @RSHotel
Beating the heat with the help of the FDNY
Whether you’re a hard-nosed New Yorker or a thrill-seeking tourist, summer in the city can be brutal and unforgiving. Just walking a few blocks in the sweltering heat can rob you of several liters of water and raise body temperatures to dangerous levels.
Most of us will duck into the comfort and shelter of an air conditioned environment, say in a restaurant or the local shopping mall. I remember that as a teenager, in the dog days of summer, if you couldn’t get a ride to the beach or find a city pool to take a relaxing dip, the best place to find solace from the heat was the local Cineplex. It was the only place I remember shivering during the middle of summer and wishing for a sweater.
For those lacking air conditioning, the local news suggests visiting a cooling center or taking a ride in a subway to take advantage of air conditioning; it made me instantly recall an episode of Married with Children when Al couldn’t afford an air conditioner and decided to move the family into the local supermarket in the episode titled “You Better Shop Around”. Now that was drastic, but I imagine it was a relief. Suffering in the heat is no laughing matter. So what are some simple suggestions one can do to beat the heat in NYC?
#1: Stay Hydrated: This is a no-brainer: drink plenty of fluids, especially plenty of water. Sweating is the body’s cooling mechanism. You’re going to sweat a lot more as the heat index rises so the body will lose water aplenty. Stay away from caffeine and alcohol which stimulates the promotion of urine and thereby dehydration. More info here.
#2: Stay in the Shade: Park yourself under a tree or beach umbrella with a good book, bask under the oblong shadows of skyscrapers, and avoid the UV rays of the sun. It’s cooler in the shade. If you don’t believe me click here.
#3: Dress for the Summer: What’cha wearing? A tight nylon long sleeved shirt? Black wool pants? Who isn’t going to sweat and melt wearing vampire clothing that strangles your skin and absorbs nine tenths of the sun? Dark clothing absorbs the sunlight, thereby increasing your body temperature. Wearing light colors will reflect the sunlight and absorb less heat. Tight clothes…how’s that comfortable? Maybe in winter but certainly not summer. Wear it loose and let the air circulate on your skin. Choose cotton and natural light fabrics over synthetics and heavy fabrics. As for tourists, the order of the day: shorts, t-shirts, and sandals. Less is more.
#4: Take it Slow: New Yorkers should take some tips from our West Coast counterparts and slow down a bit. A laid back attitude may just be the right mental prescription one needs to beat the heat. Then when things cool down again come autumn, we can revert back to the hyper-nuttiness of our lives. For those visiting Gotham… don’t rush, don’t stress, just breathe, relax, and enjoy our marvelous city : )
#5: Take a Cold Shower: Begin the day with a refreshing shower under lukewarm to moderately cool water. Then, at the end of the day, repeat and wash off that sheen of sweat and stress to rejuvenate the body. You’re body will appreciate it. Undoubtedly you may have your own preferred methods of dealing with the heat. Definitely do what’s best for you, but most of all enjoy the summer!
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by Daniel Mowles
Executive Chef, Lily’s Restaurant + Henry’s Rooftop Bar
When life gives you lemons…make soda.
One of the most refreshing drinks during summer is a homemade soda. As more and more food trends begin to grow and reach new boundaries, homemade sodas are making their way on top menus of NYC chefs. If you want to add booze feel free, just pick your poison and add away. Use about 1 part syrup to 4 parts soda, and of course plenty of ice. Here are a few of my favorites to cool off with. Here is a link to a cool soda gun you can pick up and impress your friends.
Directions for all sodas: Place ingredients in sauce pan and reduce by 1/3rd. Strain through fine sieve and chill in refrigerator. Mix a few tablespoons of syrup with ice and club soda or seltzer water. Enjoy.
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Blueberry and Thyme Syrup
2 pints Blueberries
1 qt Sugar
2 qt club soda or seltzer
Water
5 sprigs Thyme
1 tsp Citric Acid
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Lemon and Rosemary Syrup
12 Lemons (peel and juice)
1 qt Sugar
2 qt Water
1 sprig Rosemary
1 tbsp Citric Acid
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Orange and Ginger Syrup
12 Oranges (peel and juice)
1 qt Sugar
2 qt Water
1 knob Ginger (fine dice)
1 tsp Citric Acid
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(win free stuff!)
Stunning steak at Lily’s
Win a delicious prime aged porterhouse steak for two @ Lily’s Restaurant! How to Win: ‘Like’ our FB page here and answer this question with a comment on our wall.
Question: What is a prime aged steak??
One answer per person. Winner will be picked randomly and notified via facebook before September 1, 2011. Good luck!
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by Danika Druttman, The LAB Gallery
Ryan Trecartin messes with your head – click here to view video
Inside:
Where to eat afterwards: Sage General Store
Maya Zack at The Jewish Muesum
Where to eat afterwards: Yura on Madison
Where to eat afterwards: Vero
David Lachappelle at Lever House
Where to eat afterwards: Lily’s at The Roger Smith Hotel
Outdoors:
Where to eat afterwards: Industria Argentina
The Andy Monument by Rob Pruitt at Union Square
Where to eat afterwards: The Coffee Shop
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by Ulrika Bengtsson
Director of Food & Beverage @RSHotel
Lots to do downtown…
When you’re in New York don’t miss the pulse, shopping, and great food around Union Square. From Grand Central it’s just one stop with the Express Trains (4 and 5). Great Shopping on “Women mile”, 5th Avenue between 14th & 23rd Street. Whole Foods on 14th Street between Broadway & 4th is a magnificent grocery store with a wide selection of ready to eat/take out food as well. You can bring the food with you to the park or go upstairs and enjoy the view of bustling Union Square. Filene’s basement on 14th Street, at the corner of Broadway, is an outlet where you can find great bargains. Paragon Sports on Broadway & 18th Street is my go-to store when I am looking for active wear/gear. ABC on Broadway &19th Street. AMAZING. ABC Kitchen is wonderful. My favorites are the Asparagus salad and wild mushroom pizza. Dogmatic 17th between Broadway & 5th Avenue has wonderful hotdogs.
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by James Fox
Director of Sales @RSHotel
Nilaja Sun’s one woman show “No Child”
For theatre fans August is a great month: the annual Fringe NYC is in town. First, three ‘off Broadway’ plays to see before they close on August 14th: First time playwright Zach Braff (he played Dr. John Dorian on the TV series Scrubs) has penned the dark comedy ALL NEW PEOPLE. Set in a New Jersey shore beach house in the middle of January, A heartbroken Charlie (Justin Bartha) seeks solitude but is interrupted by a motley parade of misfits who show up and change his plans. Braff recently tweeted “All New People” is a pretty darn R-rated comedy … So leave the kiddies at home.” @ Second Stage Theatre, 305 West 43rd Street
Nilaja Sun’s one woman show NO CHILD…, examines the New York City Public Education system. Sun portrays the teachers, students, parents, administrators, janitors and security guards who inhabit our public schools. NO CHILD played 311 performances in 2006 and along the way won 17 awards including an Obie Award and the Outer Critic Circle Award. Tickets are priced at $40.00. @ Barrow Street Theatre, 27 Barrow Street at 7th Avenue South in Greenwich Village. www.barrowstreettheatre.com
Academy Award nominee Danny Aiello (Do the Right Thing) stars in Susan Charlotte’s THE SHOEMAKER. The story, as audiences discover about 10 minutes into the play, unfolds on September 11, 2001. Set in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen, the drama focuses on a shoemaker, an Italian Jew, who confronts yet another part of his past, present and an uncertain future. Each performance will be followed with a Q & A with Aiello. @ Acorn Theater, 410 West 42 Street
Opening August 9th for a limited run through September 9th is the U.S. premiere of British playwright Simon Stephen’s BLUEBIRD with Olivier Award-winning actor Simon Russell Beale (Spamalot). Here’s how the Atlantic Theater explains the play: “Jimmy MacNeill (Beale) is a London taxi driver who seems to draw personal stories and confessions from his passengers without even trying. Over the course of Simon Stephens’ meticulously observed and deeply compassionate play, the truth of Jimmy’s own life and secret burdens unfurls with each new fare.” @ Atlantic Theater, 330 West 16 Street. www.atlantictheater.org
The big theatre news is the Fringe NYC, celebrating it’s 15th Anniversary August 12-28, 2011, The two week festival, spread across several Manhattan downtown neighborhoods, is the largest multi-arts festival in North America with more than 200 companies from all over the world. With 200 shows at 18 venues there will be something you will want to see.
With titles like “The Brady Bunch: The War of the Families Partridge and Brady”, “Lipshtick”, “The Miss Teen Jesus Pageant”, and “Zombie Wedding” you can expect a unique theatre experience. On a serious side there is “The Rubber Room” a play about what happens when a teacher in New York City is accused of misconduct or incompetence in the classroom. They are sent to the ‘Rubber Room’ while an investigation is launched. They spend months or even years there getting full pay and doing nothing.
You can review all the shows online @ www.fringenyc.org
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by James Knowles
CEO & Artist in Residence @RSHotel
Anna Burden Sings “You’re Gonna Miss Me” (click here to watch)
Everywhere I look music is playing. This music changes me. Some is tonal, some is percussive, some is voice raised in song, the sound of the poets, the melodic line. Some are the odd sounds of a composer and a player. Someone plays the flute. Street noise, street players, street poets, and some playing musical breakfast songs on orange juice glasses, coffee mugs, cereal bowls and spoons. We see a girl playing on a cup rhythmically singing a song, her video.
“Almost every one of the 800+ videos we have produced for Roger Smith News have a musical element, if not a desire, and a playful connection between musical and visual ideas.”
I’m interested in the sounds of our music. The sounds of our environment. The risks music. The intent to be playful. There’s the development and contribution of the person who puts these musical things together which gives to us all. Some perhaps self-conscious. Some practiced and some full of themselves. Some you can appreciate in different ways, but I’m here to say that I am interested in the music.
I look at my little grandson James. He is listening to Peter and the Wolf. I listen to the crying of new little babies or the early morning singing of my local birds.
This music changes me.
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by John Birdsong
New Media Director @RSHotel, Editor, TheJollyRoger
Henry’s is named after an adorable Boston Terrier. No joke.
Henry’s Rooftop bar has been named by Frommer’s Travel Guide as one of the best new rooftop bars in NYC (article here). Amazing drinks and an innovative menu make this laid-back rooftop bar stand out from the crowd, and with a fresh summer menu focused on hot dogs + beer, Henry’s is the perfect place to unwind after work with good company. Join us! Full menu here.
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http://facebook.com/rogersmithhotel
http://youtube.com/rogersmithnews
http://flickr.com/rogersmithhotel
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mmmm…artery clogging deliciousness
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FYI: When you check-in to @RSHotel or Lily’s Restaurant on Foursquare or FB you unlock a special: Free coffee, tea, or #bacon any time of day ; )
Use this QR code or click here for 10% off our best room rate!
Let us know what you think of The Jolly Roger. Send submissions or suggestions to
Jbirdsong@rogersmith.com or @RSHotel Have a great summer! See you in NYC : )
The Roger Smith is a hub for social media in #NYC. People. Art. Food. Wine. For 10% off our best available rooms rate: bit.ly/RSrooms
twitter: twitter.com/rshotel
fb: facebook.com/rogersmithhotel
blog: bit.ly/RSlife
web: rogersmith.com/
Follow Friday @jgibbard – “Bacon is good for me!” #FF
Posted on 24. Jun, 2011 by JohnKnowles in Community, Hotel, Lily's Restaurant
@RShotel #FF pick is Jeff Gibbard #Bacon
“While I was in NYC last week for the #140conf, I stayed at the Roger Smith, the “social media” hotel.
The Roger Smith did a number of things well, from leaving me a few Vitamin Waters and a personalized note in my room, to quietly upgrading me from double beds to a king.
But what really stood out? Well of course it was the free bacon Foursquare special.
Kudos Roger Smith, you’ve won me over. I used to stay at the Park Central (a very nice hotel BTW) but you, Roger Smith have won my heart with appreciation for my industry, personal care and attention and of course…
BACON.”
This was taken from his tumblr account. http://jgibbard-blog.tumblr.com/
http://twitter.com/jgibbard
Be sure to follow!
Check out related links
The 3 most important things I learned at the 140 conference NYC
Here are a couple of others who enjoyed our bacon special…
Why do people love bacon so much? Me, I can’t eat it. Be sure to stop by and test out our Social Media #Bacon and give us your opinion.
Happy Friday,
Please Comment, Share and Engage.
Thanks
John Knowles
“The Breakfast Dance” Starring @RSHotel #BACON (video)
Posted on 20. Apr, 2011 by Birdsong in Hotel, Lily's Restaurant
Music: “The Blue Danube” by Johann Strauss II
Video by: John Birdsong and Daniel Mowles
Shad Roe, Now at Lily’s Restaurant for a Limited Time. We Have Video Proof.
Posted on 24. Feb, 2011 by Birdsong in Hotel, Lily's Restaurant
by James Knowles
Shad Roe is a true New York spring specialty.
Cream or butter with bacon and in this case some onions and capers.
The fish are taken as they enter the north eastern rivers from the sea to spawn.
They are a delicacy.
Get it at Lily’s restaurant at the roger smith.
video by @johnbirdsong
Looking Back on the Future: Recapping Next Year
Posted on 23. Dec, 2009 by BrianSimpson in Events, Hotel, the LAB
2009 was the year of ‘social media’, gurus, experts, mavens and using ‘TW’ in front of every word possible. In Twenty-10 it was all about social engagement and the idea of ‘social media’ was replaced by the concept of ‘just doing business’. The shills were weeded out and the workhorses shined! The Jets are now drinking wine instead of Gatorade, David Blumenstein now actually knows EVERYONE in the world, Brogan isn’t just talking about bacon anymore, Cupcakes have become their own food group, iJustine is now just known as Justine, Our friends at Panman Production have created a video empire, Julia Roy got COACH tattooed on her arm, We found out what the ‘CC’ stands for in C.C. Chapman, The Lab Gallery goes to MoMA, Jill Hanner becomes a Ferrari Agent, Sarah Prevette finally buys an apartment in NYC (but still stays at The Roger Smith Hotel), Adam Wallace becomes a member of every frequent flyer program available and I ( Brian Simpson ) convinced everyone I know that all you have to do is CARE.
Thank you all for a wonderful year ! Enjoy the Holidays !
Please let us know what you ‘did’ in 2010…
Visit us at: rogersmith.com
Social Media Bacon Pays Off
Posted on 07. Dec, 2009 by BrianSimpson in Community, Hotel, Lily's Restaurant
Back in the Spring Adam Wallace and I (Brian Simpson) wanted a hook to bring people back to the Roger Smith Hotel during Internet Week and Jeff Pulver’s #140conf.
We decided on Bacon. Even if you don’t eat Bacon, you have to admit the aroma alone is enticing.
It was a hit and through our loyal followers has put us on the social media bacon radar. Chris Brogan even exclaimed during a keynote “if Bacon had a God he would live at The Roger Smith Hotel!”
We cannot just let that go – thanks to our creative sales team we are now proud to offer the following:
The Bacon Package
Travel Dates: January 3rd to March 31, 2010
12% Discount off of the best available rate.
You will receive a free side of Bacon with any purchase in Lily’s Restaurant and Bar and complimentary house-made Bacon Truffles
upon arrival to your room !
To book your room and take advantage of this promotion please call 212-755-1400 and ask for sales
or go to rogersmith.com and use the promo code BACON.
We look forward to seeing you soon and sharing your Bacon !
Bsimi’s Weekly BS part I
Posted on 23. Nov, 2009 by BrianSimpson in Community
The beginning of anything is the hardest – think about it…
The beginning of the day – blah to alarms!
The beginning of a relationship – do I go in for the kiss or wait, ugh… the stress.
The beginning of twitter – How does this thing work? Who is listening to me… I hate this !
Party Bacon !
Well this my friends is the beginning of “Bsimi’s Weekly BS” and for the first time evah the beginning will be easy.
I am going to cover topics from why Chris Brogan is obsessed with our Bacon to what all the cool kids were wearing at
the Wired Store Grand Opening Party.
This weeks post will be easy because I will cheat and focus on Roger Smith Hotel. There was so much going on here, I was lucky to be a part of it and it is all
worth sharing. Since I was not prepared to start this today I am going to list off as many of the awesome people and events that I can recall – in future posts I will be more diligent throughout the week when collecting material, pictures and insight.
Please enjoy the re-cap !
Gravity Summit and the awesomeness that made it happen:
Rodney Rumford – Beverly Macy – Y&R Brands – Mashable – Social Media Club – Operation Smile and an amazing party back at the hotel that thanks to Larry Chiang & Cathy Brooks turned into 3 – parties in – 1 !
The best part of the Gravity Summit party going until 1am was that Social Media Breakfast was the next morning – it was a true test of social media’s hardcore bacon lovers! SMB featured Rachel Rhappe, David Armano and Mike Lewis.
The Chinwag group joined us for breakfast and lunch – it was a pleasure having some of the UK’s most talented digital influencers in-house !
Thanks to a tweet by Julia Roy of Coach, we were alerted to the fact that we were #1 on the Social Great website – better known as Foursquare – (Stay tuned for upcoming, IRL old-school Four Square Tourney in our Lab Gallery)
Thanks to Janine Just for organizing the Skype Event here in our Starlight room with help from Oz Sultan & Brett Petersel
Highlight of the week was the impromptu tweet-up that came from @LvM wanting to get together with a few friends… next thing I know Lily’s is filled with:
@ajleon, @melissaleon, @iamkhayyam, @juliaroy, @emilyspearl, @beebow, @cheeky_geeky, @chrisbrogan, @cc_chapman, @GuruofSales, @Courtenaybird,@garysguide, @foodphilosophy… et al It was one of the greatest groups we have seen here and appreciate you all!
Stay Chaotic !
#SocialMediaBacon @RShotel after the Audience Conference.
Posted on 09. Nov, 2009 by AdamWallace in Hotel, Lily's Restaurant
“If there was a god of bacon, it lives at the Roger Smith Hotel.” – Chris Brogan.
After the Audience Conference on Nov. 6 2009 a crowd of social media enthusiasts gathered at the Roger Smith Hotel. For those of you who do not know, If you tweet you location and food while you are @ the Roger Smith Hotel #SocialMediaBacon @RShotel, you will receive a free order of bacon. The bacon @RShotel is specifically cut to the perfect thickness for your enjoyment. Make sure you ask about Social Media Bacon, when you are at Lily’s in the Roger Smith Hotel.
