Puttin' On The Ritz at the Hilton Hotel

A year ago, I would've never dreamed of moving to New York City, but here I am, several months in and already wrapping up my internship at Family Travel Forum. As tits as it has been, I'm ready to dive headfirst into the travel industry and I'm hoping for a snag or two on some lines I cast out to various PR contacts in the travel world. The fun has all but stopped, however, as I was recently invited to the New York Hilton's exclusive Vogue event, featuring two newly renovated spaces, the Grand Trianon and Mercury ballrooms. The entertainment itself was a highlight of the venue - a man dressed in a silver sequined suit slowly revolved cat-like in the center of the room, as handsome waiters performed acrobatic tricks on pogo-legs (I call them "Gazelle Legs") and a Geisha-faced wig-adorned waitress surrounded by a table waded slowly into the crowd offering hors d'ouerves. Four distinct food tables offered everything from excellent sushi to my personal favorite, pulled pork barbeque, while the former even displayed a large pagoda-shaped ice sculpture. Along with the massive chandeliers dangling overhead and the spectacular light show that danced every which way over the high walls and ceilings, I thought my visit to the Hilton couldn't get any better - until I saw my room.

From the 31st floor, I could peer out into the city streets far below, which were prettily decorated here and there with twinkling Christmas lights and trees. Just down the street, the neon Radio City Hall marquee cast off an electric pink glow, while buildings across the way were simply pretty just for their architectural elegance and accidental patchwork of office lights here and there. After enjoying the complimentary bottle of Champagne and exploring the massive business meeting spaces throughout the hotel's lower levels, I sank into the almost sinfully comfortable bed and fell asleep the minute my head hit the pillow. As for the noise? From my lofty penthouse (or at least that's what I pretended it was), the clamor from the streets below was faint and could barely be heard over the hotel's air system, making for a very peaceful sleep.

My stay at the Hilton was quite an affair to remember - On my scale of event quality, I gave this one the top rating of "ritzy."