The House of Essex

Did I ever fess up about where I actually lived during the month of May? Well, here it is -- a photo taken from that temporary front yard otherwise known as Central Park.

If you ever get the chance to live in the Jumeirah Essex House - particularly for free - I suggest you take it. Although the joke was that I couldn't afford to live there - or in that neighborhood - for free. However, there is a great little pizza place out the back entrance on 58th St. that provided me with some reasonably priced and decent tasting meals.

White Hot Chocolate: $8.64

I couldn't help myself. I had to have the White Hot Chocolate last night in the lobby lounge in The Essex House. It was a toss up between that and the Mint Hot Chocolate. Now I wish I took a photo of it, but anyway...It seemed so ridiculously expensive, and it was, but it came in a double-layered tall glass covered in whipped cream and milk chocolate shavings, as well as a tray of different kinds of sweeteners and 2 cookies! I allowed my friend to enjoy the cookies while I drank the hot sweet goodness like the Agustus Gloop and we agreed that it was practically worth the absurd price. Especially from our point of view on the white leather banquettes next to the beaded lamps. You have to check this out for yourself.