Happy Hour at the Hilton and with my Parents
Okay, as I stated yesterday, my parents are coming in for a weekend visit today. My apartments all clean and I’m meeting them at their hotel when they get in, which if all goes well with their flight, will be at five o’clock. They’re staying at a hotel in midtown, so I thought I’d go to the nearby Hilton Hotel and spend this week’s happy hour there, before I meet my folks. In reading about the Hilton online, I just discovered that the Beatles stayed in the penthouse suite when they first played the Ed Sullivan show in 1964. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And here we are in midtown. Not far from the Hilton.
There's Radio City Music Hall.
There's the Time & Life Building where I had several failed job interviews years ago.
And here we are at the Hilton. It's the biggest hotel in New York City.
We'll go through the mammoth revolving doors...
The lobby is huge in here!
This is the lobby cocktail lounge, nothing too exciting, but hey, I'm sure they have beer, so let's let the Happy Hour begin.
And here's the bar, plenty of seats, let's go grab one, I'm thirsty!
And the bartender serves up a beer. I didn't tell him I was doing this for the blog and he thought I was a tourist, after I asked to take his picture. He asked where I was from and I told him, "I'm from Podunk, Iowa." He said, "Great town!" Ha ha ha!
Free potato chips! Cheers!
A longshot of the marble-topped bar.
Obligatory asshole with an iPad at the bar shot.
The view from my perch at the bar.
After a couple beers my phone rang and my parents have arrived! So it's back through the revolving doors and over to their hotel.
And here we are. I always plug the spy hole on the door, my mom says, "Who is it?" And I reply, "It's the police, open up!" This has gone on for 18 years and it never gets old! I tell you the laughs just never stop when you're with the Wombachers!
And here's my mom, eyes closed and all!
And here they are for the first time on TWM, my parents, Anne and Jerry Wombacher! Now the real Happy Hour begins!
And after a nice visit and dinner, an obligatory elevator mirror shot before I walk back home. See you all tomorrow!
Further Reading: New York Magazine, oyster.com and Time Out New York.
It’s a family affair,
It’s a family affair.
Surprise link, click on it...I dare you!
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Happy Hour, Mom and Dad, Mosaic Man Posted on Friday, March 30, 2012 at 10:53AM
Reader Comments (29)
I love those strong cocktails your dad makes. Not for the weak,,,,for sure. They look great, your parents that is.
I stayed at that hotel for a convention once. I was the obligatory asshole in the lobby with a Blackberry.
though i did mainly skip the conference and wander around times square for 2 days.
Déjà vu. Airbrush out the room # on the second door photo.
Nice to see an apolitical sweater-vest. Bonus points for color-matching.
@csp .......... Marty will never learn ! -- UFB !!!
@Al: My dad knows how to mix a good drink! He taught me all I know!
@Dan: Good for you for skipping the conference and checking New York out, next time you're here we have to hang out!
@csp: I knew you'd notice the air-brushed out room number! Even though I'm not revealing their hotel, I'm still protective of them on this thing we call the internet!
@GENE: I never will, learn that is!
Mom is mom, that's all that matters ;) Oh yeah, dad...dad...dad...where'd he go?
great to see your folks on your blog! they look like they're ready for a good time, something you obviously inherited! loved the elevator mirror shot of you and gumby!
Wait! Where was dinner? What did you have? April is here and I need more info for my next donation! HA HA Enjoy your folks as long as you can cause you'll miss them when they're gone. Keep up the good work!
Loved your grumbler alert Marty...you're going to make for one hell of a cranky old man 30 years from now, standing on a street corner with your shopping bags and railing incoherently at all the passersbys who will be to absorbed with their electronic gizmos to even know you're there!
@Mykola Mick Dementiuk: Mom doesn't let dad get too far away, he makes the drinks!
@Bobby D: My parents are always up for a good time and they love New York. It's always great to have them here!
@Art: I didn't want to bug my parents with taking pictures all through dinner. I may save that for this Sunday night when we go to our favorite restaurant. Thanks for the nice wishes!
@Jaws: I'm already a cranky old man! all I need is those shopping bags!
I always plug the door peep hole too!
Welcome to New York (again) Mom and Dad Wombacher!
Have fun Tripping with your Son!
you "just discovered that the Beatles stayed in the penthouse suite when they first played the Ed Sullivan show in 1964."? I thought you knew all that stuff already!
Awesome post!
I love your mom and dad..
and i love they match their clothes..
when I am older I want to do that..
match the clothes yet still be the cool parents!
i dig sweater vests...
please hug your mom and dad for me..
someday i want to meet them:)
bring them cookies..
@"Boris:" I love it that you do the peephole trick too! My parents said to say hi to you!
@night goat: I knew The Beat;es stayed at the Warwick a lot, but didn't know they ever stayed at this Hilton. I guess you really do learn something new every day!
@Gidget: Thanks so much! I will give them each a hug and tell them it's from you! They still remember the cookies you sent for Christmas and always ask about you!
Caretaker Bloomberg just blew a gasket when he saw those complimentary potato chips on the bar.
I don't know if it's technically illegal, but it's a big no-no for a front desk clerk to say your room # out loud. I learned that in Front Desk school when I worked at a Ramada in Houston after college for about a year. I was, shall we say, naive in those days -- a guy checked in once, then a mere HOUR later came back saying he had to check out. I was so perplexed, I assumed there was some kind of emergency. I mean he didn't spend the night -- it didn't seem fair he had to pay. So I refunded him his $70. Let's say management was a little unhappy and had to give me a little talk about the birds and the bees.
Your parents seem cool, and your flashback 365 post was great. I had never read that one.
@JAZ: I'm always happy to get free snacks at the bar, but always wonder why Sardi's got singled out! It's not fair!
@Spike: Ha ha ha! Too funny about the hour stay! I feel lucky to have such cool parents! Glad you enjoyed the 365 post, that was near the end of the run!
The Wombachers. The true heartland of America. Cheers to you all!
Those are the largest revolving doors I have ever seen! Glad you had a nice dinner with the 'rents. It's always nice to see them, and I hope they have a great visit with you (and finally meet that certain elusive celebrity at their favorite restaurant). Hi, Mom and Pop Wombacher!
Hey Marty, I just saw you on 55th and 7th ave.
Wanted to say hi but i lost you in the crowd
You are getting very famous!
@Duncester: Cheers to you and yours from the Wombachers!
@Biff: I'm at their hotel room right now on a laptop, we all send you and everyone else, cheers!
@RayRay: That's too funny! You must've seen the Gumby bag! Send me an email if you want to have a beer sometime, people aren't going to believe this! Okay, time to put the laptop away and have a few beers with my folks. Then it's out for Chinese food. I'll check in later tonight!
Just remembered, Tom Wolfe blasted the NY Hilton in “"The Pump House Gang".
@Duncester: I've never read that book, need to check it out soon!
The Wombachers take NY! Good to see your Mom and Dad on da' blog.
@Marco: Thanks! I've shown them the comments and they are getting a kick out of it! They don't have a computer, so this is the first they've seen of the blog!
Hey Marty, Great blog today. Nice to meet the virtual family.
How about a trip to your former re-located workplace. You could walk in thru the loading bay with a case off Beer & piss off management.
@Danny the Freelancer: Thanks! Too funny about the relocated workplace, but I better not burn bridges!
@Marty: Don't you think you're a little old to be sitting on your parent's laptop? HA HA HA!
@Biff: Ha ha ha! You still gots it, Bifferoonie!