Michelle's Musings

Review: The Empire Hotel in New York City

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Pantoja) — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 22:30:00 +0000

The Empire Hotel

A Review for One of the "Luxury" Hotels in New York City

I booked a room at The Empire Hotel, one of the "four star" hotels in New York City through Priceline Express. You can find cheap hotels deals on this site by buying your reservations without knowing which hotel you're actually staying in until after you pay. Sounds a bit scary but with the right research/friends (Thanks Candace!) you can guess the hotel before you actually buy it.

The Empire Hotel is a swanky hotel located on the Upper West Side/Lincoln Center. Conveniently located a block away from the 66th St/Lincoln Center subway stop (1 train) and two blocks away from 59t/Columbus Circle stop (A, B, C, 1 train).

We arrived to our hotel in New York before our check in time (3pm). Luckily, they were able to hold our luggage for free while we explored the area. Unfortunately, we did not get our room until an hour or two after our designated time (3pm).

The elevators were tiny. The lobby, bar and mezzanine seemed fancy. Some of you may recognize The Empire hotel from the popular show Gossip Girl. (Chuck Bass "bought" the hotel and the hotel was featured frequently). This New York hotel also features a pretty small rooftop pool with a lounge/bar area with an amazing view.

The room and bathroom were very small (typical for NY). The room came with a desk, dresser, closet space and cable TV. There was also a mini-fridge in the room stocked with over-priced travel-size drinks. The hotel charged a ridiculously fee to clear out the contents of the fridge so we were unable to refrigerate any drinks or snacks (that we bought at a nearby Duanne Reade/Walgreens.

The shower was clean and the bed comfortable. We had a window with a terrible view of a brick wall.

Overall: I would not pay full price ($400+) for this "four star" hotel in New York City. It was highly conveniently located. If you find the right deal, The Empire Hotel in New York City is definitely worth it.

Summer 2012 Bucket List

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Pantoja) — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 16:03:00 +0000

Another summer is upon us, and I more than excited that finals are finally over (quarter system students get out in June). This year's summer to-do list is longer than other summers. I listed a few items from my summer bucket list.
2011 Summer To-Do List

~~1. Work full-time~~
2. Get my driver's license (Totally have been slacking on that one!)
~~3. Workout/jog four times a week~~
4. Road Trip to the South
5. Volunteer for Obama for America
6. Ride a water taxi
7. Attend ~~Cubs~~/White Sox/~~local~~ baseball games
~~8. Apply to scholarships (college is expensive!)~~
9. Go to a shooting range
10. Go kayaking
~~11. Participate in Policymic's Bootcamp.~~
12. Sit on the Sears Tower Skydeck
13.Attend ~~food~~/~~music~~ ~~festivals~~/carnivals
14. Go on a hot air balloon
15. Improve my cooking skills (will be blogging about easy/great recipes)
16. Go rock climbing
~~17. Beach time!~~
18. Go hiking
~~19. Read more books~~
20. Start food bucket list (so many delicious meals!)
21. Start couponing
~~22. Go camping~~
23. Try many different types of ethnic cuisines.
24. Zip lining, ~~ride a roller coaster,~~ or ~~go tubing~~
25. Be fearless!

What is on your summer to-do list?

Ramblings Part I

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Pantoja) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:58:00 +0000

The second week of school has just concluded, and it already feels like I've been in school for a month! Don't get me wrong; I'm loving every moment of it. I love my classes, enjoy my professors, and my classmates are great. Everything happens so quick in quarter systems (we are already discussing midterms!) that it may get a bit overwhelming. But like the saying goes "Idle hands are the devil's playthings." After a long winter break, I love staying busy. Before I stay up late watching movies now I stay up late to to study. My academics are very important to me. I am paying good money to make the most of my college experience and that includes my grades. Enough of school talk.

The weather has been very odd lately. It has been a very mild winter in Chicago. Certain days this past week my winter coat was obsolete and all I really needed was my leather jacket. This can't be good for global warming. And then today after coming out of my American Novel class, I was engulfed by snow! Very pretty snow. It finally felt like winter. Although it's a hassle to get around, snow makes the city look beautiful, and I'm very happy that it has finally arrived.

If a tree is not filled with leaves, fruit, or flowers, then snow is the next best thing, right?

A Great Day

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Pantoja) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 04:22:00 +0000

Today was a very ordinary day, but it was a wonderful day. I didn't meet Prince Charming nor did I get straight A's. I spent some time with my wonderful family and indulged in a good book for a bit. I cleaned and organized my place. I had dinner with close friends and then explored downtown Chicago with them for a while. Later, I went to my local church for the sixth day of the novena. I assisted in the processes of delicious hot chocolate, and I attended a fulfilling ceremony with the rest of the catechists.

A simple and ordinary day, yet it was a great day. Even though it was a Thursday night, mass was practically filled up like Sunday mass. It pleases me to see so many people intertwined together for such an amazing philosophy that being (Catholicism). I got to spend my time in the presence of God with people I care about. I am very blessed to have such an marvelous church family. We range in age, yet we are all so similar. They are my role models and my friends. And then my night concludes by writing and watching How I Met My Mother.

I love life.:)

Psalm 28:7

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

Chicken or Beef? [college edition]

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Pantoja) — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 06:05:00 +0000

I can't seem to make up mind. I wish I can try all the possible options without wasting any time and school. College is expensive. I don't want to waste money or time experimenting on majors. I don't want to spend all that time on career that I dislike or having degree that is not helpful in this economy. Why can't I make up my mind? I wish I never had to worry about money, that way I can change my major as many times as I want. I can travel the world and get a new perspective on life. I can try out as many career options as I want without a worry.

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Support the Dream Act

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Pantoja) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 23:59:00 +0000

Immigration is an important part of our society. it is vital in recalling and understanding our U.S history; thus, it is is of great importance that Americans seek justice by allowing the DREAM Act to be passed. The Dream Act will give some illegal immigrants to either serve in the military or complete 2 years of college. It will be a slow process, but it will benefit not only the immigrants but the country as well. The Dream Act has been qualifications that must be completed and show proof; thus, not every single immigrant will become a citizen and it will take time to complete.

Decisions, Decision: [College Major Edition]

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Pantoja) — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:12:00 +0000

One of the many things I have to decide on is my major. To many people it no question or doubt on what they want there career to be. I am myself have been troubling with this issue since I can remember. So many options, so much money (for a college education), thus, deciding on major has been very difficult to me. Scratch that. Sticking to a major is the difficult part. I am a very a fickle person. I change my mind constantly. I can't even stick to a research topic for my English class! Not but seriously, how are we supposed to chose and stick a major for FOUR years??!? Am I the only one troubling with this?

After realizing that my dream of being a rockstar, actress & professional softball player were dunzo (i wasn't very good at neither of them!) I stated thinking of more realistic goals. In 7th grade I wanted become a news anchor due to my obsession with the morning news. But my the 8th grade that dream slowly diminished. Thus, when I applied to my high school I chose a variety of major from the Performing Arts section. I had no idea which one I was going to have but it was pleasantly surprise with drama as my major and chorus as a minor [that class was lame bc i did not learn how to sing.=( ]

Now as a college sophomore, my time is limiting....I must stick to my major. (well at least try to). Since my freshman year my major have been...advertisement, marketing, teaching, & PR. Of course it seems like I'm switching one choice to another every week. But at least now my options are down to four well technically two, teaching and PR.

I know I will love being a teacher, but I would feel that I settled and I do not what to resent my choice nor career. Never in my life have I EVER even considered being a teacher. Sure I loved school (still do) but I never thought I would want to be a teacher until I started teaching catechism. Yes, I am a Catholic and teaching catechism on Saturdays. & I love it. I love teaching kids about Jesus Christ and about the amazing religion I am part of. But I'm unsure whether I love teaching because I love Jesus or because I like teaching. I think it's a combo of the two, but I can't picture myself teaching anything other than Catholicism or literature. I love children, so if I do teach I will be an elementary teacher...

Public Relations is so interesting to me & I'm good at it too. I can have my own office and maybe my own firm. It is completely out of the ordinary. There's not one other person who wants to study PR. I need to learn and experience it more before I can really love it. Therefore, it is currently my major. Of course, every now and then, I wonder if I would be working with business I'm against. I know I won't get to always work on projects I completely love, but I hope I don't get ones that go against my values.

Whatever I choose, I know I will do what my gut tells me even though it may not be the most logical choice. I will always think the pros and cons of every choice but in the end I always do what my intuition tells me and It's been pretty good so far. :)

How about you? What's your major?