Hotel, shmotel -- I'll just shtay in the shtreet (Dave Barry Goes To NYC)

The Miami Herald ^ | 6-2-2002 | Dave Barry

[Luis Gonzalez]

Dave's nuts! There are no bad Hotels in NYC!

[concerned about politics]

What motel? I thought he was describing all of New Your City. There's not much difference.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"The Hotel Shpennsylvania was apparently built around the time that North America became a separate continent. I am told that, at one time, it was quite elegant. Of course, I am also told that, at one time, Elizabeth Taylor was a virgin."

I'm not sure which came first, the continental drift, or Liz losing her virginity.

She seemed quite fond of her co-star in "National Velvet".

[demkicker]

Haven't laughed so hard in ages. This one goes to my e-mail buds... Thanks!

[Luis Gonzalez]

Dave's a great read when you're waiting for news of a nuclear war breaking out across the globe.

[PUGACHEV]

I can't wait 'til Dave goes to Europe. But, then again, what did he expect for $90 a night in mid-town Manhattan?

[demkicker]

Really.... If only the middle east had some Dave Barrys and a sense of humor.

[Luis Gonzalez]

You're right, I seem to recall that it costs $90/night in mid-town Manhattan to be homeless.

[bescobar]

I go camping, I now where my sheets have been, I have a fire and kitchen area, and the views are always the best. Of course I live in Cali.

[bescobar]

I go camping, I know where my sheets have been, I have a fire and kitchen area, and the views are always the best. Of course I live in Cali.

[IronJack]

You're right, I seem to recall that it costs $90/night in mid-town Manhattan to be homeless.

That was pre-911. Nowadays, $90 a night will at least get you double occupancy on a steam grate.

[July 4th]

Lobby of the Hotel Pennsylvania: click

[SC Swamp Fox]

I had a very similar room at the Chicago, Michigan Ave. Shmarriot. $140/night. There was a large convention going on and that was the only room our travel agency could find. I shudder to think of what a cheap room in the area would have been like.

The lobby-bar was very nice and I spent as much time there as possible.

[SC Swamp Fox]

I had a very similar room at the Chicago, Michigan Ave. Shmarriot. $140/night. There was a large convention going on and that was the only room our travel agency could find. I shudder to think of what a cheap room in the area would have been like.

The lobby-bar was very nice and I spent as much time there as possible.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"Of course I live in Cali."

Isn't that sort of like living in New York, but with the ocean on the wrong side, and without Hillary and Schummer?

[firebrand]

The only time I have ever been to this hotel was to a comic-book convention, but I wonder why Barry, with his millions, did not go to the many, many, many beautiful old hotels here? The place is chockablock with them. They are legendary.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Barry may argue the "many millions" thing with you.

Well-off? No doubt.

Many millions? I don't think he's there yet.

[firebrand]

What about his books? I stand by my plural.

[Hildy]

When I was in New York, we stayed in a "Boutique" hotel on W. 49th St. Boutique is a euphamism for "incredibly small rooms with old fixtures." I am not lying when I tell you that the bed took up 95 percent of the room. there was about 1.5 feet between each side of the bed and the wall. Only one person could walk at a time. It was actually pretty funny.

[HHFi]

Sadly, books of humor do not sell. Even a famous name like Dave Barry sells a fraction as many copies of his books as a crappy novelist like Jackie Collins or Judith Krantz. I wrote a book of humor a few years ago that was brought out by a top NY publisher. It took two years to write, got national publicity, was praised and profiled by everyone from "Inside Edition" to "Playboy," and I made exactly $4,250 off it, before taxes. I wish could afford to visit New York at all, much less stay in a palatial $90-a-night hotel like the Pennsylvania.