Staycations?

LASCIVIOUS LOCAL – As gas prices climb higher and higher, local officials and politicians have encouraged people to consider going on ’staycations.’ The idea being that because of the high cost of travel, we should explore the attractions and accommodations in the nearby area. In most parts of the country this would probably sound a bit ridiculous since the local ‘attractions’ are a bit more limited, and for the many New Yorkers who deign to show their faces in Chinatown or the Circle Line when begrudgingly entertaining out of town guests, the idea of a being asked to stay in the city for vacation sounds downright outrageous. But it needn’t seem so distasteful. Despite the dozens of places you can reach for just a few dollars on the train or bus, there is also plenty of fun to be had without even leaving your neighborhood.

It is no secret that New York is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world and the most populated city in the country. Its endless stream of residents and visitors I discussed last week provide unparalleled opportunities for us to find people to meet, get to know, and get to know better. We may see familiar faces in our neighborhoods and bars, but it’s the new dishes on the menu that keep the city interesting. In fact there is such an influx of associates, interns, and of course tourists, during the summer, you are more likely to party with the same old people if you do escape for the weekend to Fire Island or the Hamptons than if you stick around. Staying in town puts your first in line to play host to these charming newcomers.

Of course there are many reasons we sometimes stay in the city for the weekend. Another reality about living in New York is that it is almost always someone’s birthday. The annual dilemma for just about everyone in this town is where is the best place to celebrate. Luckily, one of my more well heeled friends solved this problem this year by renting a suite at an upscale hotel on the cusp of midtown and Hell’s Kitchen.

When I was a senior in college, I thought my spring break trip to Palm Springs would be one of the last times I could in good conscience partake in any activities that resembled MTV’s Spring Break or anything produced by Joe Francis. But as all of you who have made that no so subtle step into adulthood know, having fun with your friends doesn’t end at 22. Just breathing the words ‘hotel party’ seems to immediately conjure images of debauchery, and this party did not prove to be an exception to that rule. Remove us from our overheated and undersized apartments and place us 49 stories above Manhattan with ample seating, air conditioning, and a full bar, and things are bound to get a little crazy. In the morning we were fortunate enough that we only needed damp rag, some carpet cleaner, and crazy glue, to put things back in order.

The best thing about escaping within your own city is that you can pretend for an evening, a weekend, or longer that you are only here to enjoy yourself. There is no laundry waiting to be folded, or dishes to be washed, and you can temporarily forget about the job you must return to on Monday. If you’re single you can take this opportunity to play the part of the sexy stranger or cock-tease tourist, because it rarely takes more than whispering in someone’s ear, “Do you want to come to my hotel?” to ensure you’ll be ordering room service for two the next morning. Of course, couples can also use this as a romantic getaway from the home they may share. What could be hotter than making love on sheets you don’t have to wash?

Even if you only end up crashing in bed with your friends, as eventually my two nights resulted, it’s a lot more fun to greet the blinding sun together as you make your weary, yet fabulous exit from a five star hotel.

No matter if you’re a little worse for wear, it’s comforting to think you won’t have to ever see that bed or room again if your ’staycation’ gets too carried away. Blame it on the summer heat that makes us the sweatiest city in the nation, the crush of people, or a decrease in clothing; but summers here can make you restless and reckless. It’s nice to know that when it happens there are thousands of hotel rooms we can go to escape, if only for the night.

Originally posted: 7/15/2008 http://www.homo-neurotic.com/2008/07/15/everybody-does-it-staycations/