The magic of the Upper West Side

The Upper West Side is a hotbed of high culture and at Country Inn the City we are right in the thick of it. Groundbreaking opera, dance and orchestral productions at Lincoln Center, along with institutions like the American Museum of Natural History and the New-York Historical Society, and the notable Beacon Theater (home to the recent Tony Awards), and Central Park are just a few of the neighborhood’s marquee destinations. Architectural jewels beckon from the palazzo Beaux Arts extravaganzas in the Apthorp and the Ansonia to the former neo-Gothic residence of John Lennon in the Dakota.

Dining and shopping options abound from the big chain stores to the Mom and Pop locations covering all manner of shopping options that define Upper West Side eclecticism and choice. From freshly baked delicacies at H&H Bagels and silky sturgeon at Barney Greengrass to the nearby gourmet food stalwarts in nearby Zabars, Citarella and Fairway, to Latin-Chinese (yes, Latin-Chinese) cuisine at Flor de Mayo, the neighborhood's ethnic eateries, brunch spots and date-night diners run the gastronomic gamut. And with everything from vintage racks to spare high-fashion boutiques, the retail possibilities are similarly diverse. The Upper West Side's nightlife holds its own, too. Where else can you enjoy an aria, a dive-bar beer and some rooftop jazz, all in the space of a few hours?

Copy of a letter to the TAG APPROVED ACCOMMODATIONS directory...

To whom it may concern,

We receive a copy of your tag approved accommodations directory every yr but curiously we have never been it. Our accommodation is gay-owned and gay-friendly. The award winning centrally located Country Inn the City is part hotel, part bed and breakfast and part vacation rental and we have been in operation since 1991. Our target market is the discerning adult traveler (gay or straight) who prefers a superior accommodation at a reasonable price -- at the expense of fewer services. We have been featured in many travel publications such as Frommers, Fodors, Knopf, Eyewitness Guides, National Geographic Traveler, Virgin Travel Guides, 50 through 100 Best Wonderful Little Hotels, Out and About, New York Times, Time Out Magazine, Louis Vuitton Travel Guide, USA Today, Financial Times of LONDON, Guide De Charme, Swissair Magazine, Qantas Magazine, and more.

We think it really is a shame that in an age of big business that small but significant players like us often fail to get recognized by gay publications except in the case of OUT AND ABOUT magazine and the fact that we list on PURPLE ROOFS. When guests stay at unique gay-owned or independent businesses like ours (i.e. not a big hotel chain) they feel like they are contributing to something noble, that is to say to an enterprise that is, by virtue of its independence, more unique, more hands-on, and more identifiable -- and consequently more worthy of attention. When they come here they get to meet the owner and they get the added satisfaction that they are contributing to a real individual's success rather than a corporation while at the same time not sacrificing on quality and reputation. We truly are that rare breed of accommodation that offers a best of both worlds experience, one that is equal parts charm and reputation.

In essence, we believe we would be a great addition to your listings and that we truly represent what your readers are looking for, a small guest-specific intimate residence where gays and non-gays alike can experience a great city like New York while feeling like a native rather than just another tourist. Our central Upper West Side neighborhood/location of course has a big hand in this and I urge you to take a look at our website. A new stunning website with professional images will be launched in JULY.

Regards,


Fergus O'Brien

Bed and breakfast photography

One of the most important things an innkeeper can do is to hire a professional photographer. As the saying goes ''A picture is worth a thousand words." As the innkeeper for the award winning Country Inn the City (since inception in 1991) here in Manhattan, I have tried numerous ways to score top quality photographs at an affordable price with varying degrees of success. However, during this difficult economy I have come to realize that good is not good enough and that in order to survive in these trying times one must spend more to stay ahead. In the last year the inn has spent more on improvements than in the last six. We have upgraded our furnishings, amenities, and we have done a fair amount of re-modeling and maintenance. Nothing irritates me more as an innkeeper than a poorly maintained bathroom. A good caulk and grout job can make all the difference to our guest's comfort.

In order to take advantage of all these improvements we hired an up and coming bed and breakfast specialist in Christian Gianelli who we found through PAII.ORG. He shot the inn today with his wife Melissa. They were a pleasure to work with and we cannot wait for the results. The new photos will launch on our new website which is currently under works. We feel that this one two punch will bring us a great deal of new business. We might be small with a total of just four suites but we know one thing and that is that our establishment is a boon to anyone who seeks more from their stay. More space, more quality, more value, and more privacy -- in an unbeatable central location, one far enough from the typical tourist traps but no so far as to render one's stay inconvenient.