The Teabodys Visit the InterContinental Barclay
The Teabodys made their semi-annual buying trip to NYC last week and chose to accommodate themselves for two nights in the moderately rarified air just off Lexington Avenue at the InterContinental Barclay on the block adjacent to the Waldorf-Astoria. Within the general area one can also find The Benjamin and an enigmatic Marriott so the location is not altogether as remote as it may initially seem when one is out scavenging for a decent cuppa before seven ayem. An extremely professional young man named Norman was happy to answer Mrs. Teabody's barrage of questions about the pleasant architectural fittings of the lobby and he was kind enough to place the Teabodys in a "newly refurbished" room with a "view" of Lexington Avenue, specifically the aforementioned, enigmatic Marriott. Soon enough the Teabodys were rising in a quiet, mirrored elevator which deposited them only steps away from their assigned room #626. What they found upon opening the door was an entirely adequate, immaculately clean but somewhat nondescript room of average size.
Positive features included a Keurig coffee maker with two decaf and two regular coffee pods, a sparkling if small bathroom with a tub and a nice shower head, and reading lamps attached to the wall on both sides of the bed. Negatives were a somewhat lumpy mattress, have-to-pay-for Wifi at $18 per day and complimentary toiletries that were so terribly organic one could scarcely create a bubble. Doffing their bags and freshening themselves a bit, the Teabodys made their way to the hotel restaurant where Mrs. Teabody was served a most unsatisfactory "very dry vodka martin straight up with a twist" which was served with a small top film of olive juice. Mon Dieu! To the waiter's credit, this was corrected, and the Teabodys did enjoy their scallop and pastrami sliders, but this restaurant, whose name eludes Mrs. Teabody even now, in no way compared to Ed's Chowder House at the Empire or the National at The Benjamin. It was a profound disappointment and the Teabodys did not and will not return. Back in the room the Teabodys found passing entertainment in the comings and goings at the mysterious Marriott across the street including some sort of party prank during which a futon managed to find its way onto the tiny plexiglass- enclosed balcony and some youthful person of indeterminate gender managed to spend the night amidst the traffic noise and fumes and was still abed when the Teabodys struck off for the day at 8:00 A.M. Most entertaining. The Barclay was absolutely adequate for the Teabodys' purposes but missing any "wow" factor.