It's been hotel filming day!

We have spent the entire day in The Peninsula, New York ... and it's been great fun! Yes - you heard me - fun! The PR - Tricia - has kept us on our toes and in-line while guiding us through the day expertly & with a smile.

We started at 0700 in the spa. Loads of shots of massaging, swimming, running ... and relaxing!

The pool is lovely - it's warm and has views down 5th Avenue to Central Park and "downtown".

From there it was The Gotham Lounge - for tea. Every Peninsula around the world does a legendary tea. None will EVER be as good as the original in Hong Kong ... the one here isn't bad ... in fact the egg & cucumber sandwich was quite yummy!

Then the "drive up". We are located on the corner of 5th at 55th. The Pen had arranged for a Bentley to drive me up to the hotel BUT it crashed on the way here! I joke not! IT CRASHED! SO I got a Merc limousine instead ... ! Thankfully as far as I know, no-one was hurt in the accident ..

And so ... after lunch we headed to interview the hotel General Manager - an affable chap called Robert Rechtermann. Surely he MUST have one of the best hotel jobs in the world!

Next up - a "detox yoga" with Elle Barbour ... who pushed and pulled me into positions that I have never tried before including an upside-down move ... it was a head-rush!

FINALLY up to the 23rd floor to the Salon de Ning ... where barman Kris Baljak made me - what else - a Manhattan!! Sweet vermouth, bourbon whisky, bitters ... ice and a cherry! Yum!

The bar has an outdoors - surely one of the MOST romantic places in NYC!

A great day ...

Song of the Day: Englishman in New York - Sting
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vq0FRUjSbA

Weather: Snowy!

where am i?

my own pool!

open wider ...

General Manager - Robert Rechtermann

the downward dog with a sun salutation and left/right/backward twist

the wonderful Tricia ... and a Manhattan or two ... in Manhattan!

A VERY sad start to the day as I checked out of The Mark ... I love this hotel ... and you know, the staff have recaptured a lost essence ... not since The Elysian in Chicago have the boys & me felt "the love" ...

OK - so - next stop Robert Graham. In this last series, I have mainly worn this brand (shirts, jackets, shorts) because each piece is unique, stylish and very "me". I am very pleased that I got to the studio/boutique today to meet & interview the "founding father", the adorable Robert Stock and meet the lovely PR lady - Traci Young! What fun we had ...

Then we checked into The Peninsula on 55th and 5th - my home for the next few nights ... after a quick lunch with gorgeous hotel PR - Tricia - we popped over to Le Cirque - one of America's most famous restaurants ... here we cooked with the excellent Craig Hopson - an Aussie. He's a great chap.

OK - early night ... I am DEAD ... BIG filming day tomorrow!

Song of The Day: Fashion - David Bowie
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX7cv6pZbAg&feature=fvsr

Weather: Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrilliant!

with robert!

with traci!

with craig!

I am exhausted so I will be VERY brief today!

Up at 0500 and in gym with Jimmy.

0700 - leave warm Mark and head to 97 Orchard Street (Lower East Side) to the Tenement Museum to meet David Eng. The building is a time capsule for the history of New York from 1860's to the 1930's. Was condemned in the 1930's as a health risk ... was found in 1988 and turned into this amazing museum. They have recreated 6 "period" homes in the block ... set in different times ... pre-electricity, pre-water ... to the addition of toilets and running water and electricity ... from a Jewish home to a sweatshop to an Italian home ...

This HAS to be one of the most amazing places to visit in NYC and I thoroughly recommend it. I felt like I was visiting people's actual homes ... which is in reality what it is. Each of the apartments tells a REAL story of real people who lived there. Eerie but amazing ...

1030 - off to Bleeker Street to meet with Amy Bandolik from Foods Of New York Tours ... she took us round Murray's (350 cheeses), Faicco's (ham and amazing rice & cheese boules) and finally Joe's - THE best pizza place in NYC! It was fun and tasty and fun and tasty - ESPECIALLY the pizza!!!

I will not be telling you what I did in the afternoon until next week - as it is THAT special!

Sleep ...

Song of the Day: I've Got My Mind Set on You - George Harrison
www.youtube.com/watch?v=u88POFV2Pms

Weather: Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr but sunny!

an old toilet
an old room
sitting in an old room
with young David
GELATO!!!!!!!!! (next door to 97 Orchard)
cheeeese
amy & cheese
agreed!
pork
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ... pizzzaaaaaaa!

Hotel filming day!

It's just ended and I have a nice glass of chilled champagne at my desk to keep me company on this very cold night! Ha!

OK - the hotel has 100 rooms & 50 suites ... (and 10 condos to buy that cost millions)! I have the largest suite - the two bedroom The Mark Premier suite at 1600 square feet on the 11th floor! I have views of Central Park and the city ... The master bedroom has king bed ... comfy ... bathroom ... bath & shower ... Bang & Olufsen HD tvs everywhere ... a full kitchen filled with goodies ... free wi-fi ... all the floors are made of oak ... and fabulous technology that works!

There's a great gym (which I used this morning!), and a "Jean Georges" bar & restaurant who does ALL the catering in the hotel ... there's also a Frederic Fekkai hair salon (which I didn't use) ...

The hotel was "re-opened" in July 2009 after this MAJOR refurbishment...

OK - so first up - the concierge - lovely Isabelle who has "set-up" some good stuff for me to do!

Next filming in the kitchen and gym ... while I had a manicure (hehe).

Then my suite review and finally interview with the adorable GM - James Sherwin. He is - understandably - VERY proud of The Mark ... as am I ... I feel like I am back at home .. !

Song of the Day: Hey, Manhattan - Prefab Sprout
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgIvDI2bmyE

Weather: Cool but clear! Heaven!

the lobby

head concierge - isabelle hogan

front of house!

general manager - james sherwin

my living room

bedroom 1

my friend - carrington edmunds

view at night!

working hard - postcards & this diary! love this t-shirt by the way!

GREETINGS from New York and The Mark hotel on 77th and Madison on the Upper East Side!

It's been a LONG day!

0500 - meet boys at Heathrow

1020 - leave Heathrow (2 hours late) after being frisked and checked 4 times!

1500 - arrive at hotel in NYC - weather stunning! - 7 degrees BUT sunny & just perfect!

Met up with dear old friend the Director of Sales & Marketing - Carrington Edmunds for tour of property. I have a history with this hotel. During the 90's and early 20's ... I virtually lived here. The GM was the legend Raymond Bickson and you could smoke cigars in the bar, drink until 6 a.m. and the hotel served up a mean pizza!

When Raymond left ... I defected to The Lowell (where Carrington is from) BUT then he is now here ... the ex-Lowell GM left also to open The Pierre ... and now I am back HERE as the property has had a full refurbishment! I am excited and happy to be here!

We have a great NYC show planned!

Song of the Day: Brooklyn - They Might Be Giants
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sR0NGFYFzk

Weather: Cold - but - perfect!

Heathrow a go-go
first sighting!

home again? we shall see ...

All packed and ready to rock n' roll ...

I am VERY excited! NYC in the Winter! Heaven!

Have even bought new warm boots ... can't catch cold you know ...

This time tomorrow ...

Song of the Day: New York State of Mind - Billy Joel
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFlsXgw_SFE

Weather: Another perfectly cold, dry and bright day!

"new york state of mind" - brent lynch

It's dry ... but rather cold here. Frost everywhere ... I like.

Almost packed for Monday ... a very early flight and we film on Monday too! My first hotel is The Mark ... which was my favourite hotel in NYC for a decade when it was a Mandarin Oriental (ex-Rafael), was run by Raymond Bickson (hotel God), you could smoke a cigar, homely and was just perfect.

It's been refurbished, has a new management team and apparently is THE hot property on The Upper East and indeed the City ... can't wait!!

Song of the Day: New York, New York - Freddie Mercury (from Highlander)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3894AqB4fYU

Weather: Lovely ...

soon I will be revisiting my original NY "home" ..

Wow! It's 2010 ... !

I have had a lovely day as the sun has been shining, the sky has been blue, the air fresh and chilly ... and I have received (& sent) numerous messages of salutation from/to friends & relatives!

I like January 1st.

3 days until New York! SO - research day ...

Song of the Day: New York - Paloma Faith
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki0xBb2wbr4

Weather: Like a crisp, fresh apple!

Will this happen this year?? REALLY???