Modernity Takes Many Forms

The recent documentary on The Carlyle Hotel shows the time-honored classicism and tradition of The Carlyle. Across the street is The Mark Hotel bar known for its modernism, but I have found it almost Victorian with its dark rooms, modern sconces and accoutrements, in contrast to the open spaces and wide passageways of the Gallery at The Carlyle. Programmatically, the Gallery is my favorite modern space in New York. Five entrances including single, double, triple, and quadruple passageways open this intimate room in four different directions, providing sight lines to Café Carlyle, Bemelmans Bar, a dining room, and Gallery corridor from the hotel lobby. Celebrities, neighbors, performers, and New York visitors are continually drifting through the room as does the music from Bemelmans Bar. On a single evening, I sat next to the table of Miuccia Prada, across the narrow room from John Mayer and his entourage, and bumped into Paul McCartney as he was waiting for a friend outside Café Carlyle. And yet, on an American holiday where do some of those serving our country want to come when they are visiting New York for the first time—the Gallery, of course. From the Princess of England to an American sailor, everyone finds the Gallery, hosted by Mabrouk, to be historic, modern, elegant, and fun.
#Carlyle #Gallery #Modern #Open #Elegant #Sailor #BemelmansBar #CafeCarlyle #Neighborhood #NewYork #NYC #Hotel #Tradition #Contrast #NightLife #UpperEastSide #Passageways #Patriotism #InteriorDesign #Architecture #Art #architect #CarlyleGallery #Restaurant
@TheCarlyleHotel